The Lions' Pride

Dear Lincoln Families,

We are excited to share that our Stay in the Game kickoff for September was a huge success! Over 300 students signed the pledge to do their part in getting to school on time and ready to learn each day.

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping our students build strong attendance habits. Together, we are making a difference—because every day in school matters!

Thank you,

Claire Giardino

Please see the video message from Dr Deagle about Attendance

Starting strong in September makes a big difference for the whole school year. Research shows that students who miss just 1–2 days in the first month are much more likely to become chronically absent later on. That’s why we’re working together to build positive attendance habits now!

When students come to school every day they:

• build routines that help them feel confident

• stay connected with friends and teachers

• have the best chance to succeed academically and socially
  
  

This year, as an All-Star District in the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network we are celebrating Attendance Awareness Month as a part of our campaign. Each week, we’ll celebrate attendance with fun activities, and students will have chances to:

• Win prizes sponsored by the Columbus Crew
• Be featured on Stay in the Game! social media
• Most importantly, we want you to know that we are here for you. If your child faces challenges getting to school, please reach out. Together, we can find solutions—because showing up today builds a stronger tomorrow. Inspiring Learners. Building Futures.

Thank you for being our partners in helping every student become an Attendance All-Star!

Do your part in ensuring you get to school on time and ready to learn! If you haven't done so already, take the pledge!

Dear GJPS families,

During the 2025-26 school year, all students in kindergarten through 10th grade will participate in district assessments for reading and mathematics. These assessments, Acadience Reading K-6 and NWEA MAP, help us better understand each student's academic progress throughout the year.

• Acadience Reading K-6 measures early literacy skills.

• NWEA MAP measures student achievement and growth over time in reading and math. It also provides a way to compare our students' progress with that of their peers nationwide.

Students in kindergarten and first grade will take the Acadience Reading and MAP Math assessments, while students in 2nd through 10th grade will take both the MAP Reading and MAP Math assessments.

These assessments will be administered three times throughout the school year: once in the fall, winter, and spring. Your building principal will share the specific testing dates for your school. After each testing period, you will receive a report detailing your child's performance and growth.

The results from these assessments provide a valuable set of data that helps us create a more complete picture of your child's learning. This information helps our staff plan and deliver instruction that is tailored to meet your child's individual needs.

Please contact your child’s teacher or principal with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Tia P. Holliman

Director of Curriculum

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools

Pursuant to House Bill 410, student attendance is calculated in hours. This includes absences that have been identified as both excused and unexcused by the school, as well as planned absences. Being late or tardy to school does calculate into the total hours absent.

If your child is going to be absent for any portion of the school day, please notify the school. You may report an absence by using our Online Absence Reporting available in the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. To enter a request follow these simple steps:

1.Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.

2. Select your child’s profile.

3. Navigate to the Absence Request section.

4. Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.

5. Submit your request.

You will be able to view the status of your request using the View Requests button.

You may also call Lincoln 614-478-5555 or email our secretary at pedrottya@gjps.org

Welcome Back-to-School from Lincoln's counselors, Nick Rediger and Jenny Hayhurst. Mr. Rediger covers grades K, 2, and 4 and can be reached at redigern@gjps.org. Mrs. Hayhurst covers grades 1, 3, and 5 and can be reached at hayhurstj@gjps.org.

Our school coordinates with Gahanna Residents in Need (GRIN) to provide the weekend supplementary food program for students. The program provides for students who are in need of help with food at home. If you would like to participate in this program, your student will receive a bag of non-perishable food items every Friday to bring home. If your child received a weekly bag last year, you will need to sign them up again this year. Please sign up here:

Weekend Food Program Sign-Up.

Please email hayhurstj@gjps.org if you are interested in the new student group

PTO MEETING - Tuesday, September 9th 3:00PM

We would like to invite all families to join us at our first PTO meeting of the school year! We will be talking all about the Walk-a-thon and all of the other events we have planned for the school year.

Walk-a-thon - Friday, October 17th

We are excited to bring back our Walk-a-Thon this year! It’s a fun-filled day and also our ONLY fundraiser of the year. We invite all families to come out, support our school community, and walk alongside your students!

We are looking for auction items - if you have any items or services you’d like to donate, we would greatly appreciate your support. Please email us at lincolnPTOboard@gmail.com

We are also seeking corporate sponsors. If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring Lincoln, please see here for details: onecau.se/pawstowalk

More information will be shared soon - stay tuned!

Stay Connected

• Facebook: Gahanna Lincoln Elementary PTO

• Instagram: Gahanna Lincoln Elementary PTO

• Website: Gahanna Lincoln Elementary PTO

• Google Calendar: Subscribe Here

Upcoming PTO Dates

• September 9th - PTO Meeting (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM)

• September 19th - Carnival for Students

• September 26th - Outdoor Movie Night (8:00 PM - 10:00 PM)

• October 17th - Walk-a-thon

• October 24th - Trunk or Treat

November 11th - PTO Meeting (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM)

For the safety of all students, please follow the provided drop-off and pick-up map for car riders. All vehicles must enter through the car loop, where we will be operating two lanes to help traffic flow efficiently.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping arrival and dismissal safe and orderly for everyone.

Parent Portal Annual Update - Beginning August 1

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 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

If you need assistance - please call the school office at 614-478-5555.

A plate lunch is $2.75.

Breakfast is $1.50.

*New this year - 2 hot lunch options will be available for students to choose from for lunch each day. Please see the lunch menu for details. Students not interested in the hot lunch options will be able to select Yogurt/roll, Wowbutter sandwich, Garden Salad, Cheese Sandwich, or a Turkey Sandwich.

Families are again asked to complete and submit a 2025-2026 Free/Reduced-Priced Meal Application if they believe they may qualify. Applications are available in the Lincoln school office or online at: GahannaSchools.org. If approved, the completed application will cover the student for the entire 2025-26 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.

GJPS Elementary Student Handbook 25-26

Wit & Wisdom is our English Language Arts curriculum.

Here is a Curriculum Overview for Families.

Bridges is our Mathematics curriculum.

Check out Bridges Family Information if you would like to learn more by clicking on your child's grade level.

Ohio State Testing Dates are ready for the 2025-2026 school year. Please avoid scheduling vacations or appointments over these dates.

September 1 Labor Day No School

September 5 Picture Day

September 18 First Grade Vision Screening

September 19 Carnival during the day

September 30 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 2 Professional Learning Day for Staff - No School for Students

October 3 Conference Comp Day - No School for Students and Staff

October 17 End of Quarter 1

October 20 Staff Work Day - No School for Students

October 24 Report Cards for Quarter 1 go home with students