GEMS Family Newsletter
April 2022
Upcoming Events
- Fri. April 15 - Fri. April 22 - No School - Spring Break
- Tues. April 26 - Free Produce Drive Thru at TCS@ODU - 4:00-6:00pm (1270 Brentnell Ave. 43219)
- Tue. May 3 - Wed. May 4 - Grades K-6 ELA MAP Testing
- Wed. May 4 - In Person Enrollment Session at 6:00pm
- Thurs. May 5 - Fri. May 6 - Grades 7-8 ELA MAP Testing
- Fri. May 6 - Grades K-8 Celebration of Learning/Better World Day - 5:00-7:00pm
- Tues. May 10 - Wed. May 11 - Grades K-6 Math MAP Testing
- Thurs. May 12 - Fri. May 13 - Grades 7-8 Math MAP Testing
- Wed. May 18 - In Person Enrollment Session at 6:00pm
- Thurs. May 19 - Fri. May 20 - 8th Grade Passages and Student-Led Conferences - No School
- Fri. May 27 - Last Day of School
- Wed. June 1 - In Person Enrollment Session at 6:00pm
Haga clic en "Translate" (Traducir) a la derecha para ver esto en español.
Important School Information
Lunch Menu - April
GEMS Front Office is open 8:00am-5:00pm
If your student is absent please e-mail the Front Office at office@gemsschool.org.
Check out TGFS employment opportunities for the 22-23 school year!
Attention GEMS Families
Attendance: Please remember that if your student is absent, you must send a hand-written note or email office@gemsschool.org with the reason for the absence for it to be excused. All undocumented absences are unexcused. This rule also applies when students are tardy in the morning or picked up early. A note explaining the reason for the missed time must be provided in order for it to be excused.
Dismissal changes: Please do your best to notify the office of any changes to your regular dismissal routine by 3:00pm. Of course we understand that last minute changes come up from time to time, but in general, we cannot guarantee timely communication of dismissal changes to your student if they come in after 3:00pm. Thank you for understanding.
Online Annual Registration Available
The 2022-23 Annual Registration forms are now available online.
Please complete your student's registration today!
Already have an account? Use the same login you used for the 2021-22 school year. If you did not create an account last year, you will need to create an account first using the invite code. Your invite code was e-mailed to you this week. Please contact Wesley Owens, Registrar & Community Outreach Liaison at owens.2@gemsschool.org or 614-253-4000 with questions or to request your invite code.
- As you set up your account you will be asked to create your own PIN. You will enter your Invite Code in Option 1.
- Once you enter the site, your student's information should be pre-populated into the forms. Double check that the pre-populated information is correct, fix any wrong information, complete new information, and then submit. Check each Section.
- NOTE: Choose Yes or No at the end of each section BEFORE trying to update the information.
- NOTE: Use the Save and Return button, frequently.
- Once you have completed all seven parts, select Save and Return THEN Save and Submit to District.
Ohio State Testing March 23 - April 28
Every year students across the State take the Ohio State Tests (OST) in English Language Arts and Math in grades 3 through 8 and Science in grades 5 and 8. State achievement tests tell us how well our students are growing in the knowledge and skills outlined in Ohio's Learning Standards. The OST is one data point that is used to determine your student’s readiness for the next grade level, along with their expedition work, unit assessments and projects, small group work, NWEA MAP reading and math assessments, and STAR reading and math assessments. We ask that students try their best on the assessments and show how they have grown in their learning. There will be things on the tests that they do not know yet, and that is okay. What matters most is that they put forth their best effort.
Music Program Fundraiser for FlipForm Risers
Katherine Folger, GEMS music teacher is raising money on gofundme to purchase a set of 4 "flipform" risers. These would help our students to have a more authentic performance experience with risers and a stage setting. Even a small donation could help our Music Program reach their fundraising goal. And if you can't make a donation, it would be great if you could share the fundraiser to help spread the word. Click here to learn more.
Have you completed your Free/Reduced Lunch Application
It is essential for every family to complete the Free/Reduced Lunch application every year. This information directly effects school funding and resources.
Click here to print the application. After you print and complete the application it can be mailed or scanned, OR dropped off at the front desk. Our office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00am-
Have you completed the Tech Needs Survey?
Please take a moment to fill out our brief Tech Needs Survey. This will help us better ensure that all students have access to curriculum both at home and at school. Thank you so much!
Free Produce Drive Thru at The Charles School at Ohio Dominican University - 1270 Brentell Ave. Columbus 43219
K-8 Celebration of Learning & Better World Day!
More Free Covid-19 Tests
Click here to complete the online form to request MORE free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government.
Covid-19 Vaccine Locations:
We need your help with a quick Family-School Relationship Survey!
GEMS needs your help with an anonymous survey. The family survey is an opportunity for you to share how the school can create a more welcoming school environment, support student learning at home, and build lasting partnerships that contribute to student success. Thank you for your help!
Grade Level Updates
Kindergartens
Fri. April 29, 2022 We will be going to the Columbus Zoo.
Children will complete their study of the Animal Kingdom by learning about animals without backbones, the invertebrates. They will meet the arthropods, which include insects and spiders. They will discover that honeybees work together in colonies, each with its own job, and they will compare an insect’s body with that of a human. Students will also learn about butterflies and their life cycles.
First Graders
Are working on using their research to write an informative paragraph about bird beaks or feathers. We will soon begin working on our final product- Expert Bird Riddles! In math, students are working on place value and comparing 2 digit numbers. After spring break, students will start a new unit focused on time and measurement.
Second Graders
Are diving deeper into the world of plants by discovering the importance of pollinators! Students will begin to research how bees are great pollinators and why they are so important! In math, students are studying shapes and will begin to use those shapes as we explore fractions.
Third Graders
Are starting our unit on telling and writing time to the nearest minute. In expedition we are currently rehearsing our revised Peter Pan scenes and designing the props and set. We are excited to begin filming! Our field work to Sharon Woods Metro Park will be on Tuesday, April 12th.
Fourth Graders
Are mastering different skills using fractions. They are working on creating and identifying models for fractions as well as adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing them. Next they will conquer money and time!
In English, students are currently studying fables in order for them to complete their final expedition. Their final animal defense mechanism expedition is a research poster paired with a fable narrative in which the animal they researched will be the main character. In the fable the character must utilize their defense mechanism to solve or avoid a crisis of their choosing.
Fifth Graders
Have been focusing on the different biomes throughout the world. We have successfully created a food chain for each biome. Students have also picked a biome that they would like to focus on to prepare for our end of the year expedition. In math, students have learned long division along with learning about improper fractions and mixed numbers. We continue to practice our multiplication on a regular basis.
Sixth Graders
Are finishing our body systems unit and creating a 3D replica of the body systems we have covered. In math we finished our integer unit and are moving into talking about budgeting and saving!
Seventh Graders
Have officially kicked off our expedition with back to back fieldwork at Alum Creek Lake! We explored vernal pools, observed salamanders, collected water chemistry data, journaled and played games. It was a great start to the quarter! We are continuing this expedition in science by looking at vernal pool food webs and the threats that come from humans and climate change.
Eight Graders
Are investigating the volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres. Students will be completing a project after spring break that involves volume and is connected to our expedition about food justice.
In humanities, students are reading Micahael Pollan’s “The Omnivore's Dilemma”, and learning about how the four food systems work in our country. Students will begin working on an EXTRA EXTRA Project where students will write informative news articles about major events that led to the American Revolution.
K-4 Music
This month in music, before we go on spring break, we are filming performances! Be on the lookout after we come back from break for the ukulele performance song and expedition connection song films! In 4th and 3rd grade we are also working on composing our own melodies and reading the music staff. This will help us with our piano unit which will start when we come back from spring break. 2nd grade students are finishing the ukulele unit and reviewing their rhythm and solfege comprehension. 1st grade students are working on hearing melodies with solfege and rhythm notation and matching them to songs we already know. Kindergarten is working on a new expedition connection song this month all about living creatures. They are also finding the rhythm notation that matches words they know.
7-8 PE
This month in P.E. we’re finishing our Healthy Living/Food Justice Case Study. This case study is two parts: They must create and complete a Strength Training Routine as well as a Healthy Living Journal. On April 11-12 they will present their routines to the class and turn in their journals. Then after spring break, we will finish our 5 components of health related fitness assessments.
Counseling
8th grade families: now is the time to make decisions about high school! If you have questions or need help choosing a high school or figuring out applications, please reach out to Sydney Frazier (5-8 school counselor) at sfrazier.1@gemsschool.org.
Calling all GEMS 8th Grade Families!
NOW is the time!
If you are considering enrolling your 8th-grade student at The Graham School (TGS) or The Charles School at Ohio Dominican University (TCS@ODU) please complete an online application ASAP.
Your family MUST complete an application to be considered for enrollment.
Completing an online application does NOT:
commit your student to attend OR
complete their enrollment for either high school.
GEMS students are not guaranteed placement at either TGS or TCS@ODU.
Use the following links to complete an online application:
If you’d like a paper application for either school please contact Wesley Owens at 614-253-4000 to have the 2022-23 application mailed out to you.
Virtual Enrollment Information Sessions are offered Wednesdays at 6:00pm at The Graham School and The Charles School at Ohio Dominican University.
Do you know anyone who might be interested in attending GEMS? Please share this information!
When you shop at Kroger, and/or Amazon you can help GEMS raise money for expeditions!
Kroger
Go to: www.krogercommunityrewards.com or call 1-800-837-4483 to enroll in the program. Add GEMS to your card. You can search for GEMS by name or use our school code: FD086. Shop! Every time you shop and use your Kroger Rewards Card GEMS gets rebates. Kroger totals those rebates and sends GEMS a check.
Amazon Smile
When you make a purchase on Amazon Smile they will donate 0.5% of your total purchase to GEMS. Go to http://smile.amazon.com/ch/26-4350069 to get started!
EL Education
Our partnership with EL Education empowers our teachers to unleash the potential of their students. EL Education is built on ten design principles that reflect the educational values and beliefs of Kurt Hahn, founder of Outward Bound and co-founder of EL Education. These principles also reflect the design's connection to other related thinking about teaching, learning, and the culture of schools. The 10 design principles are: The Primacy of Self-Discovery, The Having of Wonderful Ideas, The Responsibility for Learning, Empathy and Caring, Success and Failure, Collaboration and Competition, Diversity and Inclusion, The Natural World, Solitude and Reflection, Service and Compassion.
GEMS School-wide Title 1
GEMS is a School-wide Title 1 program, enabling us to receive Federal Funds to ensure that our students receive the support they need to reach and exceed grade level goals particularly in reading and math. We welcome parent involvement in planning, review and improvement of Title 1 programs. Please contact Debbie Addison at addison.2@gemsschool.org with any questions.
RESIDENCY VERIFICATION NOTIFICATION
Per House Bill 21 community schools are required to perform a monthly review of student files and randomly select families for residency verification. Please contact the school immediately in case of an address change. Proof of residency must be submitted within two weeks of an address change. If evidence is not provided, requests for additional documentation or a home visit may occur.
GEMS
Email: office@gemsschool.org
Website: https://www.thegrahamfamilyofschools.org/gems_home.aspx
Location: 140 East 16th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201, USA
Phone: (614) 253-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Graham-Elementary-and-Middle-School-109578509098428