GJPS Preschool Weekly Update

Please work with your child's teacher to see if they will be exchanging valentine's. As a reminder, there should not be any food items provided with valentine's.

Our annual Spread the Word Day is coming back in March at GLHS and our theme this year is: I belong, you belong, We ALL Belong. We will be taking the time to celebrate people of ALL abilities during the week of March 25th-29th with our big celebration with Gahanna Schools on Wednesday, March 27th. T-shirts are on sale NOW through Feb. 19th at https://www.gahannapawprint.com/stw. Thank you for your support!

Reminder there is no school for students on February 16 (professional development day) or February 19 (President's Day)

Please join us for a preschool dance at Goshen Lane Elementary from 4:30-6:00 on February 20, 2024.

There will be a cost associated with the event: $1.00/child, $5.00/family or a food donation to GRIN. The donations will fund the end of the year event.

NOTE: Children are not to be left unattended. A sibling/guardian must stay with the child during the event.

Our Parent/Guardian Advisory Committee is looking for families to sign up for drinks and fun glow in the dark items for the dance. If you would like to donate, SIGN UP HERE.

Clark Hall Conferences: Sign up BELOW to contribute to food for the conference nights.

February 13 Food Sign Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054BAFA62CAAF85-46324840-winter#/

The classrooms have recently run out of play doh and tissues. If you would like to donate any of these items, please send them in with your child.

Dear Families,

Last week, children learned that transportation is a way of traveling from one place to another place. This week, children will focus on the places that transportation gives us the opportunity to visit. They will learn about destinations on all seven continents.

This week’s Family Connections activities can be found at:
https://portal2.frogstreet.com/wp-content/uploads/prek2/familyconn/ENG-FC-T6-W3.pdf

This week’s storybook, “Gram is Coming to My House” can be found at: https://portal2.frogstreet.com/ebook/?bookname=EXCEL709-Gram-is-Coming_eBooks.

We’re so excited to continue learning with your little one!

Age for Kindergarten: Your child must be 5 by August 1, 2024 to go to Kindergarten.

Enrollment for Kindergarten: If your child is age-eligible to go to Kindergarten and currently attends our preschool, you will NOT need to enroll them for Kindergarten. We will send all information to the building principals.

Pink forms were sent home with age-eligible peer models to communicate if your child will be transitioning. If you are planning on keeping your child in preschool, we MUST receive the form back or communication to hold a spot for your child for the 24-25 school year.

Preschool enrollment for peer models will begin on February 5, 2024 for the 24-25 school year.

• If your child is currently enrolled in our program and you plan to have them attend for the 24-25 school year, we MUST receive communication in order to hold a spot for your child. You can email Mary Ann Stevens at stevensm@gjps.org to communicate if your child will be returning.
• Any siblings/new peer models must complete registration online.

Our preschool licensing rules require us to have an updated medical statement on each student after EACH annual exam. The medical statement form is attached below. Take this form to your child's yearly exam to have completed by their pediatrician. If you need a form sent home, please let us know and we would be happy to print and send it home!

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.

Black History Month

BLACK HISTORY MONTH- Black History Month is an annual celebration of African American heritage and achievements (a time set aside for all to recognize black people’s contributions to the United States). This celebration was the brainchild of Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Woodson, the son of slaves, was a sharecropper who fought many obstacles and went on to become the second African-American to earn a Ph.D from Harvard in 1912. Black History Month started as ‘Negro History Week’ in 1926. The month was selected by Woodson because it contained the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. As early as the 1940s, efforts began to expand this week into a longer event. These efforts were included in the rise of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Since 1976, every President has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

World Hijab Day

February 1st is World Hijab Day, which was established 10 years ago as a day to promote religious tolerance and reduce the stigma and controversies associated with Muslim women and girls who choose to wear hijabs and identify as Hijabi.

Saint Brigid's Day

Saint Brigid's Day is celebrated on February 1st and is an important Irish Festival in Folk Tradition, celebrating fertility, blessings, and protection. St. Brigid’s Day celebrates Ireland’s only female patron.

Additional Notable Dates in February

February 2 - Groundhog Day

February 10 - Chinese New Year/ Lunar New Year

February 10-12 - Losar

February 14 - Ash Wednesday

February 14 - March 28 - Lent

February 14 - Valentine’s Day

February 20 - World Day of Social Justice

February 21 - Presidents' Day

February 24 - Makha Bucha Day/Māgha Pūjā

February 13: Clark Hall Conference Nights

Feb. 16: PD Day - No School
Feb. 19: Presidents Day - No School

February 20: Valentine's Dance (Goshen Lane Elementary Gym)
Feb. 24, 2024: The Gahanna Gala

2023-24 GJPS District Calendar (PDF)