A Trip Down Goshen Lane
Issue 22: Jan. 16, 2026
Principal's Message
Hello, Families,
⏩ Enjoy your THREE day weekend! ⏪
We look forward to seeing our students again Tuesday, January 20th!
This weekend especially, we thank Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for reminding us that kindness, fairness, and doing what is right can help make the world a better place. His legacy encourages us to care for others and make positive choices every day.
This Week's Questions Around the Dinner Table:
- What was a time you chose to do what is right?
- What positive choices are you proud of this week?
Have a wonderful three day weekend!
Sharon Suriano
Principal
Congratulations, Golden Opportunity Donut Winners!
Congratulations to the following students who exhibited above and beyond interactions in December and earned a Golden Opportunity ticket. Names were pulled from a drawing and announced at our December celebration Town Hall this week.
The following students and a special guest are invited to attend the upcoming Golden Opportunity Donut Celebration next week. These students came home Thursday with a tshirt, certificate, and note about the celebration details. We're proud of you!
K: Fiona W., Easton F., Nalion G.
1: Itzamara L., Abdirahman A., Ashwin D.
2: Abdimalik A., Ahmed A., Evelyn B.,
3: Iris C., Cayden P., Hajra K.
4: Felix M., Abdullahi A., Tommy F.
5: Oliver R., Josiah T., Oumou B.
From the District
Shoe Boxes for our EL Department
The EL Department at Goshen is looking for donations of shoe boxes for an upcoming school project. If you have any, please send them with your child. Thank you so much!
Related Arts Corner with Mrs. Stifler in the Gym!
The second quarter was a blast in PE class! All grade levels finished the quarter by participating in the Powerplay Challenge provided by our local NHL hockey team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Your student(s) should have come home with the final nutrition challenge worksheet and on the back is a BOGO offer for tickets to go to a CBJ game!
Beginning February 2.. Goshen Lane’s third, fourth, and fifth grade students will be participating in the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge in efforts to help build a healthier and stronger Ohio. Students will receive a packet and complete SMART Goals in 5 different areas: cardio, strength, flexibility, nutrition, and sleep. Thousands of students across Ohio have participated in this program, and I am so excited to bring this opportunity to Goshen Lane!
Questions to ask your student:
What was your favorite part of PE class today?
How did you show kindness in PE class today?
Related Arts Corner with Mr. Downing in Music!
Happy 2026! Students have returned to making music together celebrating the New Year and preparing for our musical learning throughout the rest of the year. We have a lot to look forward to in discovering new pitches and rhythms, exploring instruments, and engaging with music from a wide variety of cultures and historical time periods. There is a lot to celebrate!
Students are learning this week some of the important musical moments and ideas that contributed to Dr. Martin Luther King’s leadership and empowered many voices within the civil rights movement. As famously quoted in his powerful 1963 book Strength to Love, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.”
Questions to ask your student:
What can you tell me about the relationship of beat and rhythm?
How do some different cultures celebrate the start of a new year?
(e.g., Rosh Hashanah, Diwali, Lunar New Year, 1st Muharram, etc.)How can you be a “light” to others in our community?
Cell Phone Policy
We want students to be engaged in learning and not distracted by devices. You may have seen that Ohio's new cell phone law was officially effective on January 1, 2026, however, there are no changes to our previously communicated expectations outlined in the Elementary Student Handbook.
"CELL PHONES & SMART WATCHES - from the Elementary Student Handbook
Cell phones are permitted at school, but must remain off and in the student’s book bags throughout the school day. Smart watches are also permitted, but should only be used as a clock while at school. Students are not permitted to send or receive text messages or phone calls on cell phones or smart watches during the day. Additionally, photos may not be taken with cell phones or smart watches at school. On state testing days, smart watches are not permitted to be worn. If a parent/guardian needs to reach their student during the school day, they should call the school office at 614-478-5580. The school is not responsible for cell phones or smart watches that are lost, stolen, or damaged."
From the PTA
Ongoing Fundraisers:
Kroger Community Rewards-- Use code: GA915 for Goshen Lane
Box Tops for Education--Download the app today!
Thank You,
Goshen Lane PTA
New Round of Eager Engineers
Schedule Change Reminders
It's that time of year when weather might affect the school day. If school is canceled or there is a 2 Hour Delay, you will receive a message from Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools early in the morning before school starts. This comes as a text, an email, and/or a phone call and voicemail. The kinds of messages you receive depend on what you chose in your Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. You can also check the Gahanna-Jefferson Facebook page, the Goshen Lane PTA Facebook page, and news station apps and websites.
The message will either tell you that school is canceled or that there is a 2 Hour Delay.
Important 2 Hour Delay Details:
-There is no breakfast served at school.
-Buses pick up 2 hours after their normal time.
-9:45 Car drop off may begin
-9:55 All students may enter the school
-10:05 School begins
Home Access to School Resources
Did you know your child can access their online educational apps at home like they do in school? These resources include Lexia and DreamBox, educational accounts to build reading and math skills. Click here to read how.
Lions Locker - Another Resource for our GJPS Families
Lions Locker is an anonymous pantry located at Gahanna Lincoln High School. They provide food, toiletries, school supplies and other basic necessities to PreK-12 students of Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools.
If your family is in need of these basic items please reach out to Mrs. Cellar, School Counselor (cellarl@gjps.org) and she will work with Lions Locker as well as other local organizations to support your family through these need based programs.
Afterschool Care at Goshen Lane
If your student is in need of after school care, the YWCA Columbus offers services right here at Goshen Lane. There is an option to receive publicly funded childcare for those who apply and qualify. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact them directly.
Ohio State Tests - Save the Dates!
Ohio State Testing Dates are ready for the 2025-2026 school year. Please avoid scheduling vacations or appointments over these dates.
Mark Your Calendars!
Jan. 19: No School, MLK Day
Jan. 20, 7:00PM - PTA Meeting
Jan. 30 - PTA Movie Night
Feb. 10, 7:00 PM - PTA Meeting
Feb. 12 - Valentine Parties
Feb. 13: No School for Students, Staff PD Day
Feb. 16: No School, Presidents Day
Feb. 25: Parent-Teacher Conferences
March 5: Parent-Teacher Conferences
March 9: No School for Students, Staff Work Day
March 10, 7:00 PM - 7:00 PM - PTA Meeting
March 13: Quarter 3 Report Cards
March 20: No School
March 30-April 3: Spring Break, No School
May 1: No School for Students, Staff PD Day
May 12, 7:00 PM - PTA Meeting
May 22: Last Day of School
May 28: Quarter 4 Report Cards