Blacklick Bulletin

Dear Blacklick Families,

Last week was a big week at Blacklick! Students met with their buddy for the first time this year!

*5th graders are buddies with 2nd graders.

*4th graders are buddies with 1st graders.

*3rd grade students are buddies with our kindergarten students!

Students spent time getting to know each other - finding things they have in common and discovering what makes them unique! Students will work together this year during our four service learning projects!

We also had school pictures last Friday. It was great to see all of the smiling faces! If your child was absent on Friday, they will have their photo taken on our Picture Retake Day which is scheduled for November 9.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns at 614-759-5100 or by email at grovesk@gjps.org.

Respectfully,

Kristen Groves

We are very lucky to have an amazing related arts team at Blacklick! We look forward to highlighting the wonderful work your students are doing in related arts classes in future newsletters!

Below is a list of classrooms that each related arts staff member works with throughout the week:

Mrs. Ball (librarian) - balls@gjps.org

Mrs. Garrison, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Henry, Mrs. Nicholson

Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Thomas, Miss Cardaman, Miss McCarter

Mrs. Honeycutt, Mrs. Nevius, Mr. Dashner, Mrs. Routson

Mrs. Madison, Mr. Heider, Mrs. Woo, Mrs. Pershing

Miss Hutchinson, Miss Turley, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Sengstock

Mrs. Park, Mrs. Schirg, Mrs. Paskett, Mrs. Steger

Mrs. McGrew (librarian) - mcgrewd@gjps.org (At Blacklick on C Day)

Mr. Henry

Mrs. Snider

Mrs. Reinhard

Mrs. Taylor

Mrs. Henderson

Mrs. Sitz

Mr. Bower (PE) - bowerj@gjps.org

Mrs. Garrison, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Henry, Mr. Henry

Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Thomas, Miss Cardaman, Mrs. Snider

Mrs. Honeycutt, Mrs. Nevius, Mr. Dashner, Mrs. Reinhard

Mrs. Taylor, Mr. Heider, Mrs. Woo, Mrs. Pershing

Miss Hutchinson, Miss Henderson, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Sengstock

Mrs. Park, Mrs. Schirg, Mrs. Sitz, Mrs. Steger

Mr. Harvey (PE) - harveyc@gjps.org (At Blacklick on A Day)

Mrs. Nicholson

Miss McCarter

Mrs. Routson

Mrs. Madison

Miss Turley

Mrs. Paskett

Mrs. Wolfe (Music) - wolfem@gjps.org

Mrs. Garrison, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Henry, Mrs. Nicholson

Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Snider, Miss McCarter

Mrs. Reinhard, Mrs. Nevius, Mr. Dashner, Mrs. Routson

Mrs. Madison, Mr. Heider, Mrs.Taylor, Mrs. Pershing

Miss Henderson, Miss Turley, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Sengstock

Mrs. Park, Mrs. Schirg, Mrs. Sitz, Mrs. Steger

Mrs. Dawson (Music) - dawsonk@gjps.org (At Blacklick on B Day)

Mrs. Henry

Miss Cardaman

Mrs. Honeycutt

Mrs. Woo

Miss Hutchinson

Mrs. Paskett

Mrs. Schwarck Perkins (Art) - schwarcks@gjps.org

Mr. Henry, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Henry, Mrs. Nicholson

Mrs. Snider, Mr. Thomas, Miss Cardaman, Miss McCarter

Mrs. Honeycutt, Mrs. Reinhard, Mr. Dashner, Mrs. Routson

Mrs. Madison, Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Woo, Mrs. Pershing

Miss Hutchinson, Miss Turley, Mrs. Lewis, Miss Henderson

Mrs. Park, Mrs. Schirg, Mrs. Paskett, Mrs. Sitz

Miss Petree (Art) - petreet@gjps.org (At Blacklick on D Day)

Mrs. Garrison

Mrs. Thomas

Mrs. Nevius

Mr. Heider

Mrs. Sengstock

Mrs. Steger

At the PTO meeting last Tuesday, Mrs. Groves shared the Standard Response Protocol that GJPS has adopted for all safety/emergency situations at school.

Our school has adopted The “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Students and staff will be training, practicing, and drilling the protocol. We practiced a Secure drill last week! The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based on an all hazards approach as opposed to individual scenarios. The premise is simple - there are five specific actions that can be performed during an incident. The SRP is based on the following actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.

Please click on the link below to learn more about the Standard Response Protocol:

Standard Response Protocol Information for Families

The next PTO meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, 2023 in the Blacklick library at 6:30 PM. Mrs. Groves will be sharing information about the new dyslexia law and the third grade reading guarantee.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for September 28 and October 5, 2023. The PTO provides dinner for the Blacklick staff staff on these dates. Please click the links below if you would like to donate an item for our staff dinners. Thank you! The Blacklick staff really appreciates your kindness!

Donations for Thursday, September 28:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054DADAB2CA6F49-40142747-thursday

Donations for Thursday, October 5:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054DADAB2CA6F49-40142746-thursday

Check out the most up to date information from the Blacklick PRIDE Partner PTO by clicking on the link below:

PTO Newsletter - September 2023

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Karen Davidson, PTO President, at ptoblacklick@gmail.com.

As a school community we will be collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio. Please check your child's PRIDE folder for information regarding this collection.

WHAT: The Pop Tab Program is a fundraising project that supports Ronald McDonald House Charities. By collecting tabs from aluminum cans, RMHC of Central Ohio is able to recycle them in exchange for money that is then put towards paying the utility bills for the Ronald McDonald House.

WHEN: September 5, 2023 - May 1, 2024

WHERE: Students can drop off pop tabs in the boxes located in each hallway at Blacklick Elementary.

Ensuring students' success hinges on a good night's sleep. Healthy sleep helps children and teens learn in the classroom and excel in sports and extracurricular activities. Wondering about the ideal sleep duration for kids and teens? Discover the AASM's sleep recommendations for school-age children. https://bit.ly/3jHMQrx

Need support for your child?

K-1: Contact Mr. Rediger by email: redigern@gjps.org or by phone: 614-643-0817

2-5: Contact Mrs. Warfield by email : warfieldc@gjps.org or by phone: 614-643-0773

Mrs. Dawn Jenkins will also support students in a new role of Mental Health Specialist. Mrs. Jenkins can be reached at Jenkinsd@gjps.org.

We know many of our parents have already seen the new spaces, but please share with your neighbors who may not have children in school and have not had a chance to see the improvements to our building.

On May 11, 2023, the federal government declared the COVID-19 public health emergency to be over. In this light, Franklin County Public Health has rescinded the Franklin County COVID-19 public health emergency. This update ended school districts’ obligation to contact trace and report COVID positive cases within the community.

FCPH and CDC guidance remains as follows: “After testing positive, you should stay home for 5 days regardless of vaccination status. After 5 days, you may end isolation if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without use of fever-reducing medicine) AND your symptoms are improving.”

Gahanna Residents in Need (GRIN) will once again provide weekend snack bags to families who need support with food. This program is meant for those with a need to supplement food at home for their children.

You may follow this link - https://forms.gle/UBsm7G85rhHaVyg66 - to access and sign-up for the program. Please fill out the form and note any special dietary needs.

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)

September 20 Family Night Out: Hot Chicken Takeover (Hamilton Road)

September 25 Teacher PD Day No School for Students

September 28 Parent/Teacher Conferences

September 29 Custodian's Day at Blacklick

October 5 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 10 PTO Meeting in the Blacklick Library at 6:30 PM

October 11 Family Night Out: City BBQ (S Stygler Road)

October 16 -20 Blacklick Book Fair

October 19 Blacklick Community Night (Details coming soon!)

October 23-24 No School for Students

October 27 Report Cards go home with students

2023-24 GJPS District Calendar (PDF)

2023-2024 School Menus

BUS SCHEDULE AND ROUTES FOR 2023-24