Blacklick Bulletin

Dear Blacklick Families:

On behalf of the Blacklick Elementary staff, it is truly my pleasure to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to you as we begin the 2024-2025 school year. My name is Kristen Groves and I am honored to serve as the principal of Blacklick Elementary. I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know our new students and families, as well as, welcoming our returning students and families.

All students in grades 1-5 will start back to school on August 15. Our kindergarten students will begin on a staggered entrance schedule. Please contact our school office at 614-759-5100 if you do not know the date of your kindergarten student's date of staggered entrance.

This year we will be welcoming many new faces to Blacklick Elementary! In addition to our new students, we will be welcoming several new staff members to Blacklick Elementary this school year, as well. Please join me in welcoming the following staff members to our Blacklick family:

Mrs. Cassidy Rhodes-Snyder (Kindergarten)

Miss Sydney Siegenthaler (Grade 2)

Mr. Cory Pulles (Grade 3)

Mrs. Ashley Sands (Grade 5)

Mrs. Tanya Featherstone (Intervention Specialist)

Mrs. Erica Beegle (Intervention Specialist)

Mrs. Sara Hawks (Reading Specialist)

Mrs. Molly McCrary (Instructional Support Coach)

Mrs. Liz Hall (Speech/Language Pathologist)

Ms. Toya Hall (Educational Aide)

Ms. Dawn Doubleday (Educational Aide)

Mr. Paul Froelich (Educational Aide)

Mrs. Denna Day (Behavior Prevention Specialist)

*There are some updates and new information listed below for both new and returning families! Please make sure to read through all of the information listed below! I know that there is a lot of information! I appreciate the time and energy you will take to make sure that your child is prepared for the beginning of this school year!

In addition to all of the information outlined in this communication, I have also created a document titled "Everything You Need To Know About Blacklick Elementary - The Blacklick Basics". Please keep this document for your reference throughout the school year.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns at 614-759-5100 or by email at grovesk@gjps.org.

Respectfully,

Kristen Groves

7:50 AM Breakfast offered in the cafeteria for interested students.

7:55 AM Students enter classrooms.

8:05 AM School starts - Students are to be in classrooms and ready to learn by 8:05 AM! Students entering the building after 8:05 AM will need to be signed in to the office by a parent/guardian.

2:35 PM Dismissal begins.

Class assignments for 2024-2025:

Families of students in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be able to see which teacher your child(ren) will have for the 2024-2025 school year by logging into the Parent Portal through Infinite Campus on August 8 (after 3:00 PM).

Kindergarten teacher assignments/staggered entrance dates were mailed out to families in late June/early July.

Please call the school office at 614-759-5100 if you are the parent of a kindergarten student and do not know the name of your child's teacher or your child's date of staggered entrance.

1. Back to School Bash - sponsored by the Blacklick PRIDE Partner PTO

Thursday, August 8, 2024

6:00 - 7:30 PM

Casual event for families on the Blacklick Elementary Playground

Food trucks will be on site (Donatos Pizza and Kona Ice)!

2. Meet the Teacher Event

August 13, 2024

3:00 - 4:00 pm for families with last name A-M

4:00 - 5:00 pm for families with last name N-Z

*Students meet their teacher, visit the classroom and drop off school supplies

If you are visiting Blacklick for any reason, you will need to enter the building through the front doors.

We kindly ask that ALL visitors follow the steps below each and every time you visit Blacklick:

1. Once at the front, exterior doors of the school, press the buzzer. A member of the office staff will ask your reason for visiting Blacklick.

2. Once inside the vestibule, you will enter your drivers' license or state ID into the scanner.

3. Once your license has been scanned and processed you will be permitted to enter the main office area to pick up your visitor/volunteer badge.

**As a reminder, if there is a non-guardian planning to visit Blacklick for any reason (to eat lunch, read a book in the classroom, visit the bookfair, take your child to an appointment etc.), we ask that the guardian email the teacher and front office (lindseyk@gjps.org) to let us know prior to the visit.

Background Checks are needed each year for all volunteers!

To increase safety and security protocols, all GJPS volunteers who may have the potential to interact with students in an unsupervised setting or may have access to confidential information will be required to complete an online application that includes a background check. The district will provide the background checks at no cost to the volunteer. Background checks are required EACH school year. If you completed a background check last school year, you will need to complete the process again for the 2024-2025 school year.

EXAMPLES

• Examples of volunteer experiences include but are not limited to: cafeteria helpers, reading aides, mentors, hall monitors, field day volunteers, library helpers, office helpers, tutors, field trip chaperones, small group or individual student work in the hallway, party helpers, concession workers, fundraising volunteers, book fair volunteers, mobile dentist volunteers, etc.

Interested in Volunteering?

Click on the link below and fill out the necessary information:

Volunteer Form - Link is currently activated for the 24-25 school year!

Infinite Campus is our parent portal and student information system. This site will allow parents/guardians to access school information electronically. For example, Infinite Campus will allow you to update email addresses and other important information regarding your child as well as view your child's report card electronically.

ALL Families (either new to Blacklick or returning families) need to update your information in the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus. Directions for how to update Infinite Campus are linked below:

1. Log into the Parent Portal on Infinite Campus at: https://gahannajeffersonoh.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/gahanna_jefferson.jsp

2. Click MORE from the left hand column

3. Click on ONLINE REGISTRATION from choices on the right

4. Click START next to "Existing Student Registration"

5. Go through each step to complete the registration

Families New to Blacklick Elementary: If you are a new family to Blacklick (including all of our kindergarten families), you received an email from Mrs. Lindsey, school secretary, detailing directions on how to log into the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus to update your information. She emailed you an ID that you will need as you log in for the first time.

Returning Families: If you need assistance - please call the school office at 614-759-5100. Mrs. Lindsey will be happy to help.

Routing information for the 2024-25 school year is available. Please use Transfinder to search for your route. This web-based service provides Gahanna-Jefferson families 24/7 flexibility and access to route information based on their home address!

Be sure to enter only the street number and street name. Do not enter the zip code or grades or school. (Entering more than the street number and name may cause inaccurate information to display.)

When you receive your bus information, please check over it carefully. If something does not make sense please contact transportation at (614) 751-7581.

BUS SCHEDULE AND ROUTES

Things to know:

• Parents and guardians can now deposit funds into their students’ lunch accounts online and pay school fees through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. First, log into the Parent Portal at portal.gjps.org.
• School fees are $35.00 per student enrolled at GJPS.
• If you need help logging into the Parent Portal, click on Portal Help at portal.gjps.org.
• Checking accounts, credit cards, and debit cards will be accepted.
• Families will be able to deposit lunch money and pay school fees in a single transaction.

A plate lunch is $2.75.

Breakfast is $1.50. *Breakfast runs from 7:50 - 8:05 AM each day at Blacklick.

Families are again asked to complete and submit a 2024-2025 Free/Reduced-Priced Meal Application if they believe they may qualify. Applications are available in the Blacklick school office or online at: GahannaSchools.org. If approved, the completed application will cover the student for the entire 2024-25 school year, and no other steps will be necessary unless there is an income change during the school year.

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools Food Service Department is committed to assisting families and making this transition back to normal operations as easy as possible. Please feel free to contact Food Service Supervisor Stephen Ismael (Ismaels@gjps.org) if you have any questions.

Bus Riders:

All students that ride the school bus to school will enter the building through the front doors at 7:50 AM each day for breakfast. Students that do not want to eat breakfast at school will walk to their classroom. There will be duty teachers outside to assist students from the bus to the building. In addition, duty teachers will assist students that will be riding a shuttle bus to another elementary school.

Car Riders:

All students that are car riders to school will enter the building through the doors by the cafeteria. The doors will open at 7:50 AM each day for entry into the building for breakfast. Students will be permitted to walk to classrooms beginning at 7:55 AM. The car rider line follows the perimeter of the back parking lot.

*Duty teachers will be outside in the back parking lot until 8:05 AM. Any student arriving after 8:05 AM need to enter the building through the front doors and be signed in by a parent/guardian.

If you plan to drive your child to school, please follow the directions below:

1. You will need to enter the back parking lot and drive along the perimeter of the parking lot.

2. You can access the back parking lot from Reynoldsburg New Albany Road and follow the back access road or from Havens Corners Road.

3. Please follow the car in front of you - please do not try to drive around other cars - stay in the car rider line.

4. Pull up to the drop off sign - they are numbered.

5. Please have your child exit the car from the right side of the car.

6. Please do not get out of the car. If your child needs assistance, we will have duty teachers available.

7. Your child will enter the school using the doors by the cafeteria. We will have duty teachers available to walk your child to the classroom.

** If you plan to walk your child to the classroom, you will have to follow our visitor procedures by entering the building through the front doors, scanning your license, and wearing a visitor badge.

If you plan to pick up your child from school in the afternoon, please follow the directions below. Dismissal is at 2:35 PM each day:

1. You will need to have your child’s FIRST and LAST NAME in the windshield of your car.

2. You will need to enter the back parking lot and drive along the perimeter of the parking lot.

3. You can access the back parking lot from Reynoldsburg New Albany Road and follow the back access road or from Havens Corners Road.

4. Please follow the car in front of you - please do not try to drive around other cars - stay in the car rider line and do not get out of the car.

5. Pull up to the pick up signs.

6. Once you pull up, we will bring your child out to your car.

This drop off/pick up process takes awhile. We will try to move as quickly as possible. I thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we work through the beginning of the day drop off and end of the day pick up routine.

GJPS Elementary Student Handbook 24-25

School supply lists are included on the district website at www.gahannaschools.org. Once on the website follow the steps below:

1. Click on SCHOOLS (yellow button the right)

2. Click on BLACKLICK ELEMENTARY

3. Click on BLACKLICK ELEMENTARY 24-25 SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST

The first PTO meeting of the school year is scheduled for September 10, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Blacklick library. All parents/guardians are welcome and encouraged to attend!

PTO Officers for 2024-2025

Karen Davidson - President

Kristin Stewart- Vice President

Ashley Dean - Treasurer

Jess Waxler - Secretary

Need to contact the PTO?

PTOBlacklick@gmail.com

The elementary Chinese Enrichment Program is now accepting registrations for the 2024-2025 school year. This program is open to all students in grades 2 through 5 with classes taking place before or after school. Please visit our website for more details. Registration will be accepted online now through August 30, 2024.

August 8 Back to School Bash on the playground (6:00 - 7:30 PM)

August 12 Convocation for Teachers

August 13 Professional Learning Day for Teachers

August 13 Blacklick Meet the Teacher Event (3:00 - 4:00 PM for last names A-M, 4:00 - 5:00 PM for last names N-Z); Bring school supplies and drop them off in the classroom!

August 14 Work Day for Teachers (building closed)

August 15 First Day of School for Students

August 15 - 21 Staggered Entrance for Kindergarten Students

August 22 Second day of school for all Kindergarten Students

September 2 Labor Day No School for Students and Staff

September 10 PTO Meeting in the Blacklick Library at 6:30 PM

September 12 First Grade Vision Screening

September 13 School Photos

September 23 Teacher PD Day No School for Students

October 3 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 8 PTO Meeting in the Blacklick Library at 6:30 PM

October 10 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 18 End of Quarter 1

October 21 Conference Comp Day - No School for Students/Staff

October 22 Staff Work Day - No School for Students

October 25 Report Cards for Quarter 1 go home with students