CES Weekly Communicator

Happy Friday, Chapelfield Families!

This month you will see that we will be conducting mid-year testing to see if your children are making the progress we would expect from them at this point in time. We will take NWEA MAP Math and Reading assessments. In grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade, students will take our Acadience reading universal screeners. Assessments can be exciting for some because a child wants to show off how much they have grown or they can cause stress. Please encourage your child to do their best. Let them know that you believe in them and so do all of the staff at Chapelfield. Having a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast can set them up for success. Please reach out to me if you have any questions about those assessments.

Enjoy your weekend.

Sincerely,

Nikki Miller

Students will be taking the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment during the month of January. Students in kindergarten and grade 1 will take the MAP Math Assessment. Students in grades 2 -5 will take the MAP Assessment in both Reading and Math. Parents/guardians will receive the results of these assessments at our February parent/teacher conferences.

The assessment schedule is listed below for your reference:

Tuesday, January 16: Grade 2 Reading Assessment

Wednesday, January 17: Grade 2 Math Assessment

Thursday, January 18: Grade 5 Reading Assessment & Kindergarten Math Assessment (Pijor and Oberlin)

Friday, January 19: Grade 5 Math Assessment & Grade 1 Math Assessment

Monday, January 22: Grade 4 Reading Assessment

Tuesday, January 23: Grade 3-Williams' Reading Assessment & Grade 3-Ginn & Trouman's Math Assessment

Wednesday, January 24: Grade 3-Williams' Math Assessment and Grade 4 Math Assessment
Thursday, January 25: Grade 3-Ginn & Troutman's Reading Assessment

*Mrs. Bhatt's Kindergartners took their math test this week.

*The test dates could change, please look for updates here.

Students in our English Learner (EL) program will take the Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA) in February. The OELPA is a required test for English Learners in the state of Ohio. There are four parts to the test: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. This will help us know how your child is growing with their English language skills.

Your student does not need to do anything to get ready for the OELPA. What we are doing in school will help them prepare for this test.

We will receive the test results in May. A family report will be emailed to you by the end of June. Translated reports can be mailed home to families who ask for them.

The test scores are used to help us plan your student's English Learner services for the 2024-25 school year. Students who score “Proficient” on this text will exit the EL Program.

If you have questions about this test, please contact Mrs. Melville at melvillm@gjps.org.

Kindergarten and first grade artists learned where clay comes from and the stages of clay before, during and after firing. After a few practice days, students made their own pinch pots and slab bowls. To finish this project, students were able to have choice art time while small groups worked on glazing. Clay units always take some time but everyone was so proud of their work in the end! Currently, kindergarten and first grade are exploring printmaking and making art inspired by the book “Maybe Something Beautiful.”

This quarter, second graders made art from found objects in nature. Then we collected sticks from the school grounds and used colorful yarn to wrap around the sticks. Our yarn wrapped sticks are proudly displayed around our school. Next, we explored color theory and created warm and cool paintings. This week, we finished our clay projects made from coils. Coming up next, we’ll create portraits inspired by author and illustrator Todd Parr.

Big shout out to third grade who has been working on our portrait unit. First, we read “The Colors of Us” and painted papers to match our skin tones and hair, and a background of our choice. We have been using these beautiful papers to create a collage self-portrait that will be displayed at our upcoming Community Night and Art Show this spring.

Fourth and Fifth graders completed a choice art project this quarter. The goal was to allow students to explore their own interests and ideas in a way that also challenges them in the use of materials and creativity. Students chose a medium we’ve already used in art this year- paint, collage, or drawing. First, we brainstormed and created a plan in our sketchbooks. Then got to work creating. Over the course of a few weeks, students overcame many challenges. I’m so proud of them and how they independently navigated through unique processes and management of supplies in the art room. We concluded with a reflection and art share to celebrate and discuss what we learned. This included an analogy of an iceberg that illustrates how the visual outcome (above the surface) does not always reflect lessons learned (beneath the surface). Since finishing our choice project, students have been working on a silhouette self portrait that will be displayed at the spring art show and community night.

As you all know, the weather in Ohio is constantly changing. Some days are warmer than others while other days are just plain cold! Please make sure to check the forecast so that your child is prepared as we will be going outside for recess as long as the temperatures are above 20 degrees.

As the weather turns colder, it is important for families to know the procedures for closing or delaying school. Closing and delay information will be communicated in the following ways:

Local news stations: WTVN, WCOL (FM & AM/WJFX), WCLT, WKRZ, WMNI-AM, WUFM, WCMH NBC4, WBNS 10TV, WSYX ABC6, WTTE FOX 28, and the Columbus Dispatch. *Look for Gahanna-Jefferson Schools.

Website: www.gahannaschools.org (All delay/closing information is posted on the district homepage).

Facebook: Search @GahannaJeffersonSchools on Facebook to find this page easily

Email/Phone Call: The Infinite Campus system will send an email and make a phone call informing parents/guardians of the closing and/or delay as soon as the decision is made in the early morning.

If you believe your family may qualify for free/reduced-price meals, please apply online for free or reduced-price meal benefits with these easy steps:

1. Sign in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
2. Choose "MORE" in the left-hand column.
3. Choose "MEAL BENEFITS".

RELATED LINKS

GJPS Food Service Webpage

Free/Reduced-Price Meal Benefits Online Application Tutorial (PDF)

Free/Reduced-Price Meal Benefits Paper Application (PDF)

Events:

*Friday, January 19: Boy's Bash at 6:30-8:00 p.m. Please sign up on this link to volunteer for this fun event!

GJEA Gala-Ways we can support

The PTO is selling raffle tickets! The tickets are $10 per raffle ticket or 3 for $25. The raffle is for $1000 CASH! If you'd like to purchase raffle tickets, email Andreaagan1@aol.com. Good luck! By the way, Chapelfield gets back 50% of all raffle ticket sales, so you're directly supporting Chapelfield with your raffle ticket purchase. The winning ticket will be announced on 2/24/24. The winner does not have to be present at the night of the gala to win! Cash is accepted or a check written out to GJEF!

Other ways to help with the gala are listed below:

• If you'd like to be a donor for the gala or donate an item for the auction, please contact Dianna Bessignano at BessignoanoD@gjps.org or Tricia Mueller at twiggt@gjps.org.
• If you'd like to donate an item to the gala from their Amazon Wish List, here's the link https://tinyurl.com/2024GalaWishlist.

In 2022-2023 this is what the GJEF brought to our school district:

$65,475 awarded to 39 Grants of Excellence

$22,765 awarded in Mini Grants

$14,000 Fund A Need donations for Elementary Sensory Hallways

$33,320 for donor designated programs

$98,400 in Scholarships to 34 students

Thank you for supporting GJEF so that they can continue to support Chapelfield and all the schools in our district.

Volunteers Needed:

*In order for us to give back to our school community and provide fun events, we need volunteers. Please sign up here to join our team.

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools has multiple ways to engage with the District during the month of January. We have a Coffee and Conversation on Jan. 17 at Dunkin' at 1-2:30 p.m. There will also be the State of the Schools and District Information Expo on Jan. 31 at Middle School West at 7 p.m. Check out the flyers for more information on how to join us!

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.

Thursday, January 11-Friday, February 1: NWEA MAP testing

Monday, January 15: MLK Day; No School

Friday, January 19: PTO Boys Bash @ 6:30 p.m.

Monday, January 29-Friday, February 15: Acadience Testing for K-3 students

Monday, January 29-Friday, March 22: OELPA testing for EL students

Tuesday, January 30: Yearbook candid pictures

2023-24 GJPS District Calendar (PDF)

2023-2024 School Menus

BUS SCHEDULE AND ROUTES FOR 2023-24

24-25 School Calendar

25-26 School Calendar