East Weekly

It’s been a chilly week, and next week looks to be even colder! Please remind your students to dress accordingly as today we had a fire drill and spent some time outside.

This week, our students did a great job completing their ELA MAP assessments. Next week, they’ll tackle the Math MAP assessments.

Also, a reminder that there is no school on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

I also want to share an important reflection from this week. Unfortunately, I had to address several incidents of unkind behavior across all grade levels. I’ve had meaningful conversations with many students about why unkind actions are not aligned with the values we uphold at GMSE. As a school community, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, and I ask for your partnership in reinforcing kindness at home.

Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you enjoy the long weekend!

Gahanna, OH – January 3rd, 2025 – The middle school robotics team, Classy Chassis [89453A] and their alliance partner, Scorpions [41120A] from Zanesville Middle School, secured 1st place at the V5 Robotics Competition that took place in Mt. Vernon this past weekend. The team competed with and against 49 teams from Cleveland, Zanesville, Brecksville, Findlay, Union County and Bellefontaine. The action-packed day required middle school students to execute the 2024-2025 game V5 Robotics Competition High Stakes presented by the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation. As champions, the team has qualified for the 2025 Ohio VEX V5 MS Robotics State Championship in March extending their journey as they seek to qualify and compete in the VEX Robotics World Championship.

GJPS Families,

Please be the biggest cheerleader for GJPS by volunteering for the 2025 Biggest Pep Rally Ever!

Please click on the following link, review available slots and sign up today! Volunteer Sign Up

Thank you for being involved! Go Lions!

January 20: Martin Luther King Day - No School

January 22: Math MAP Testing

January 23: High school scheduling meeting for students (during school)-- 8th grade only

Jan 24 - Feb 28: Yearbook Sales

Feb 3 - Feb 7: Book Fair

February 6: Parent/Teacher Conferences-- 7th & 8th grade only

February 13: Parent/Teacher Conferences-- all grades

February 13: PTA FUNDRAISER-- EAT AT MOD PIZZA (SEE FLYER BELOW)

February 14: Teacher professional development -- No School for students

February 17: President's Day-- No School

Feb 18 - Feb 25: 7th grade students will schedule for 8th grade classes

Our one stop shop for students’ assignments: The Launchpad

8th Grade General Announcement: We are in desperate need of tissues! Please consider donating a few boxes and send some in with your student next week- please label for 8th grade. (Clorox, paper towels, and hand sanitizer are also appreciated!)

ELA Map testing happened this week! We will test for Math MAP testing next Wednesday, January 22.

ELA: Students started a new unit this week on Narrative Nonfiction! Please see the email about book choices from your student’s ELA teacher.

Caudill American History: Students will need a poster board or trifold poster by February 10th for our Black History Month projects. More information about the project & our showcase coming soon.

Parent Teacher Conference information will be coming soon. Conferences will be on Thursday, Feb 6th and Thursday, Feb 13th.

Hello Travelers and Families!

Happy New Year to you all! We are officially in 2025 and are less that 5 months away from the D.C. trip! I wanted to send out a couple of reminders and an update about the trip so that you know what to expect over the next few months.

Reminders

• Payment dates were scheduled for January 10th, February 7th, March 7th, and April 4th. These dates were set to help families spread out the payments, but no one's trip will be cancelled, nor will fees be added for late payments. However, they do ask that the balances be paid by the last payment date of April 4th. If you have any questions about your account or payments, please reach out to Prodigy Student Travel at 614-436-8747.

• When students were registered, you were sent forms to be completed through Infinite Campus (IC). The Behavior Contract was sent to students and parents/guardians to be signed. The other forms were only sent to parents/guardians. Please make sure to complete these forms. Students cannot participate in the trip if these forms are not completed . Also, if you marked "no" on the medication form for any medication that your child needs to take with them on the trip, make sure to complete the appropriate additional medical forms linked in the "additional medical forms" document sent to you through IC.

Updates

• In March students will go through the process of selecting their roommates for the trip. We do our best to honor these requests and can normally do so unless we have cancellations or other issues that arise.

• In April we will have another virtual meeting to discuss the final itineraries for the trip, what to pack and what not to pack, behavior expectations while traveling, and the details about the morning we leave (where and when to meet, checking in, etc.) and our return.

• All medications, prescription and non-prescription, must be turned in to your school nurse in their original containers no later than two weeks before we leave for the trip.

Michael Hunt

See Gahanna Gala information above!

Gahanna Middle School East PTA will receive 20% of fundraiser sales* during this fundraiser. Participate on Feb 13, 2025 by ordering online using the code MODGIVES20 or by visiting this MOD (333 S. Hamilton Road) location and showing attached fundraiser flyer or mentioning the fundraiser at checkout.

* Tax, gift cards and retail sales are excluded from the donation. Offer void if flyer is distributed in or near the restaurant.

DIGITAL CODE

Order online at modpizza.com or with the MOD app and apply this digital code.

Offer valid only on the date(s) and at the MOD location identified on this flyer. Offer valid for dine-in, takeout, or delivery when ordered through the MOD app or website only. For online or in-app orders, please use the code provided by GroupRaise. For delivery, customer must live within delivery boundary.

Only nonprofit organizations and nonprofit schools are eligible to participate in the MOD fundraising program. MOD will donate 20% of food and beverage sales to the organization. Tax, gift cards, and retail sales are excluded from the donation. Offer void if the flyer is distributed in or near the

restaurant. For more information about fundraising, visit https://modpizza.com/fundraisers/

To report an absence, please call the front office at (614)478-5550 or email fischerj@gjps.org by 9:10am if possible.You also have the ability to login into Infinite Campus and mark your child's absence there. Please ONLY do this if your child will be absent for the entire day.

The Heart and Pride Award recognizes two outstanding staff members each month who make a profound impact on our students and Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools.

The Heart & Pride Nomination Form will remain available year-round and is open to any member of our staff, regardless of position.

PTA meetings take place on the 2nd Monday of each month in the GMSE library at 7:00pm. All are welcome!

Meeting dates:

• February 10

• March 10

• April 14

• May 12

Help support and fund numerous initiatives for students and staff throughout the year. Stay tuned to our Facebook page, “GMSE Parents” (new members be sure to answer the questions to be admitted), and upcoming newsletters for more information about what we do and how you can help.

Please consider joining the Middle School East PTA.

Jan. 20, 2025: Martin Luther King Day - No School
Feb. 14, 2025: PD Day - No School
Feb. 17, 2025: Presidents Day - No School
Mar. 10, 2025: Staff Work Day - No School
Mar. 31-April 4, 2025: Spring Break- No School
April 18, 2025: Comp Day - No School
May 2, 2025: PD Day - No School
May 23, 2025: Last Day of School for Students
May 24, 2025: Class of 2025 Commencement