Gahanna Lincoln High School

Homecoming is right around the corner, and we are excited for the school spirit, traditions, and celebrations that come with one of the most memorable weeks of the year at GLHS!

Our Homecoming festivities will include our Fall Pep Rally on Friday, October 2, followed by the Homecoming football game Friday evening. We look forward to bringing our students together during the school day to celebrate our fall athletics, performing arts, Homecoming Court, and the many students who make GLHS such a special community.

The celebration continues on Saturday, October 3, with our Homecoming Dance from 8:00–11:00 PM at GLHS. We hope our students will take advantage of these opportunities to participate, show their school spirit, and create great memories with their classmates.

As Homecoming approaches, families should continue watching the newsletter and school communications for important reminders about tickets, guest forms, and other Homecoming details. We are looking forward to an exciting Homecoming celebration!

One PRIDE. One Family. Go Lions!

Because shortened school weeks may affect our normal A/B rotation, families and students should continue checking the GLHS A/B Calendar rather than assuming the regular weekly pattern.

Ohio law now requires schools to track and report all student absences, regardless of whether they are excused or unexcused. Because of this, you will soon receive an update from us regarding your student's current attendance status. This outreach is simply to keep you fully informed and to ensure our school remains in compliance with state regulations. We appreciate your partnership as we work together to support your student's education.

Herff Jones will provide the official cap and gown, graduation announcements, and senior accessories for the Class of 2027.

All seniors must register for cap and gown sizing.

Students should visit gradmidwest.com/my-account/ to submit their cap and gown measurements and activate their online ordering account.

The cap and gown cost is $54.95 plus tax and may be purchased individually or as part of a graduation package. Online Early Bird Pricing is available through December 20, 2026.

Additional senior gear, official school announcements, and other graduation items are also available through Herff Jones. Click here for more details.

Questions? Families may contact the Herff Jones representatives:

Kirk Thompson (kthompson@gradmidwest.com) or Casey Phillips (cphillips@gradmidwest.com)

We're excited to welcome Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools to GLHS on Wednesday, September 30. They'll meet with sophomores to share information about the programs and opportunities available at the Eastland and Fairfield campuses. During the presentation, students will also learn how to sign up for upcoming field trips to explore these programs firsthand:

• Eastland Career Center - Thursday, October 29
• Fairfield Career Center and Satellite Programs - Thursday, November 5

If you have questions, please feel free to contact school counselors Chelsey Stalnaker (stalnakerc@gjps.org) and Dr. Julie Nelson Slagle (nelsonslaglej@gjps.org)

As we continue expanding our use of Minga and improving student check-in and access procedures, students will begin using a physical student ID for several school functions.

Students should plan to keep their ID with them, as it may be used for:

• Minga-related check-ins and activities
• Signing in and out of school
• Entry to school events
• Other student identification needs throughout the year

More information about distribution and when students will need to begin carrying their ID will be shared soon.

This is just a heads up so students and families know what to expect as we continue rolling out these systems.

We are excited to celebrate some outstanding national recognition for Lincoln Live and several of our student journalists!

Lincoln Live has been named a 2026 Broadcast Pacemaker Award Finalist by the National Scholastic Press Association. Only 18 news programs from across the country were selected as finalists, with the final honorees to be recognized at the NSPA Convention in Orlando this November.

We are also proud to celebrate the individual accomplishments of two 2026 GLHS graduates:

• Brooke Thomas is a finalist for Broadcast Journalist of the Year. Brooke earned this national award in 2025 and is once again being recognized among the top student journalists in the country.
• Brooke’s story, “The Final Roar,” about the lion at the former GLHS building, is a finalist for Broadcast Feature of the Year.
• Isaiah Banks’ story, “Ace with Love: The Wolfe Park Tennis Association,” is a finalist for Sports Feature of the Year.

These recognitions reflect the talent, creativity, and hard work of our Lincoln Live students and staff, and we are proud to see their work recognized on a national stage.

Broadcast Journalist of the Year Finalists

Broadcast News and Sports Story of the Year Finalists

We’re excited to welcome students to the GLHS Homecoming Dance on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 8:00–11:00 PM!

Here’s what families need to know:

• Tickets: $15 + HometownTicketing fees, available starting Monday, September 14, at 5:00 PM.

• Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to purchase a ticket.

• Emergency Medical Authorization Form: A current Emergency Medical Authorization Form must be completed in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal before a student can purchase a Homecoming ticket.
• Guest Forms: Students who plan to bring a guest who does not attend GLHS must complete a Homecoming Guest Form and submit it to the Main Office by Monday, September 28. Access the guest form here.

• Ticket Sales & Eligibility: Students will only be able to purchase tickets once their Emergency Medical Authorization Form is updated—don’t wait until the last minute! To help you plan, below is a schedule showing when tickets will be available for purchase based on the date the form is updated.

For questions, please contact the GLHS Main Office at (614) 478-5500.

Fall intramural sports registration is now live! After a great first semester last school year, intramural sports are back this semester with two new sports. This fall, we're offering pickleball and dodgeball. Both boys and girls are encouraged to participate.

Intramural sports are a great way to compete with your friends in a relaxed environment. It's also completely free! Students can also earn PRIDE points in the Minga app by registering for and attending intramural sports game days, and they can win an intramural sports champion T-shirt. We will determine the schedule once all teams have registered.

The registration deadline is September 21. If you have questions, please contact our Intramural Sports Director, Max Edling, at edlingm@gjps.org.

The link to register is https://forms.gle/aGDVDvZCkZiyT1hS7

If you have not provided your immunization record to the clinic, please do so ASAP. Seniors require their 1st and/or 2nd dose of the Meningitis (MCV4, A, C, W, or Y) vaccine depending on when the first was given.

If you wish for your student to be exempt from this vaccination, please fill out an exemption form and return it to the clinic. Contact Nurse Shelby Graham at grahams@gjps.org to obtain the exemption form.

If you would like your student(s) to be vaccinated, please call and schedule an appointment with their primary care doctor or call Franklin County Public Health or Columbus Public Health to schedule an appointment. If you do so, please send Nurse Graham the record to grahams@gjps.org.

*Please do not confuse this vaccine with Meningococcal B. That is a different, non mandatory vaccine.

For the safety of our students and families, please remember that parent drop-off takes place at the South Entrance of GLHS off of Hamilton Road.

Families should not stop on Havens Corners Road to drop students off in traffic. Stopping along the roadway creates an unsafe situation for students, drivers, and other vehicles traveling through the area.

Please use the designated parent drop-off route on the south side of the building and follow all posted signs and staff directions.

Thank you for helping us keep morning arrival safe and moving efficiently.

Attention families of current 8th grade through 11th grade students who are interested in traveling to Japan. There will be a parent/student informational meeting on Tuesday, September 29, at 6:30pm in the Media Center (The Exchange) @ Lincoln High School.

Students do not have to wait until they are failing a class to ask for support. GLHS has several resources available to help students stay on track:

Classroom Teachers
The classroom teacher should always be the first point of contact for questions about assignments, missing work, grades, or course progress.

PASS Room
Students can access math support in the PASS Room during the school day with an appropriate hall pass. After-school tutoring support is also available Monday through Thursday across a variety of content areas in room C-2511 from 3:40–5:00 p.m. See the after-school schedule below.

School Counselors
Students who need additional academic, organizational, or personal support should reach out to their school counselor.

Small problems are much easier to solve when we address them early.

High school is about more than attending classes. Some of the most meaningful high school experiences happen when students find a club, activity, team, organization, or interest that helps them feel connected.

GLHS offers more than 40 extracurricular activities, providing students with opportunities to meet new people, build leadership skills, explore interests, serve others, and create lasting memories.

We encourage every Lion to find at least one way to get involved this year. VIEW GLHS CLUBS & ACTIVITIES

Not sure where to begin? Try something new. You may discover an interest, talent, or group of people you did not know you were looking for.

School fees for the 2026–27 school year are now available for payment through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Fees are due by October 16.

Before submitting payment, families should make sure their student's class schedule is finalized, as individual course selections may impact school fees.

Families can also use Infinite Campus throughout the year to monitor attendance, grades, assignments, and other important student information.

Thank you to our students and families for helping us establish focused learning environments as we begin the year.

Our schoolwide expectation remains:

Power it off. Store it away. Use your district Chromebook for school.

Cell phones and unauthorized personal electronic devices should remain powered completely off and stored during the school day.

This includes personal laptops, MacBooks, iPads, tablets, earbuds, headphones, and other personal electronic devices unless specifically authorized.

Students have access to their district-issued Chromebook for instructional technology needs.

If a student needs to contact home during the school day, assistance is available through the Main Office or Student Services. Families who need to reach their student may contact the GLHS Main Office at 614-478-5500.

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us keep students focused on learning.

With a school as large as GLHS, knowing whom to contact can help families get questions answered more quickly.

Questions about a class, assignment, missing work, grade, or classroom concern?
Start with the student's classroom teacher.

Questions about schedules, academic planning, graduation planning, college and career planning, or personal support?
Contact your student's school counselor.

Questions about attendance, behavior, school procedures, or the overall student experience?
Contact your student's CARE Team administrator.

Need to report an absence?
Contact the Attendance Office at 614-478-5515 or submit the absence through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

Not sure where to begin?
Call the GLHS Main Office at 614-478-5500, and we will help connect you with the appropriate person.

Please add these upcoming dates to your family calendar:

• September 14–25 — Fall NWEA MAP Administration Window
• September 21 — Professional Development Day — No School
• October 2 — Fall Pep Rally
• October 3 — Homecoming Dance @ GLHS

• October 7 — PSAT Administration

• October 7 — Family Conferences
• October 13 — Family Conferences

• October 14 — School Picture Retakes

• October 16 — End of Quarter 1

• October 23 — Quarter 1 Report Cards Released in Infinite Campus

Additional events, reminders, and school updates will continue to be shared through our weekly family newsletter.

Thank you for staying connected with GLHS!

2026-27 GJPS District Calendar (PDF)