East Weekly

This week’s East Weekly includes information about our upcoming Veterans Day presentation as we prepare to honor the men and women who currently serve or have served our country. You’ll also find details about our RaiseRight fundraiser, which helps support your children as they look ahead to their trip to Washington, D.C. Thank you for your continued support of our students and school community. We hope you have a great week!

Take care,

Megan Kirsten

Oct. 25: GJEF Monster Dash --- See flyer below

Oct. 28-29: Signs of Suicide presentations (7th grade only)

Nov. 11: Veterans Day Presentation

We are excited to invite you to our annual Veterans Day Presentation at Middle School East on Wednesday, November 11, from 9:35 to 10:35 a.m.

This is a special opportunity to honor the men and women who currently serve or have served our country and celebrate the veterans who are part of our Middle School East community. Our students will share reflections and speeches, and our color guard will present a special tribute to honor our veterans. In addition to recognizing veterans who are able to attend in person, we will also have a slideshow celebrating the veterans who currently serve or have served our country.

Please use the links below to RSVP and share information about the veteran in attendance you would like us to recognize.

• MSE Veterans Day Presentation RSVP/Sign-Up 2026
• Veterans Day Honors

If your veteran is unable to attend the program, we would still love to recognize them in our slideshow. Please use the link below to share information about their service so we can include them in this special tribute.

• Veterans Day Honors

If you plan to attend in person with your veteran, you will receive an email with additional information to share with them before the event. We look forward to celebrating and honoring our veterans with you!

The Gahanna Middle School East PTA (GMSE PTA) is excited to offer the Raise Right program to help families offset the cost of the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. This fundraiser gives families the opportunity to earn money toward their child’s trip simply by purchasing digital or physical gift cards for everyday expenses like groceries, gas, shopping, and dining out.

At the end of October, students will participate in Signs of Suicide (SOS) presentations and conversations focused on mental health awareness, recognizing warning signs, and how to seek help for themselves or a friend. These conversations are an important opportunity to remind students that they are not alone and that trusted adults are available to support them. We encourage you to continue checking in with your student and keeping the conversation about mental health open at home.

Please see the form below if you are opting your child out of SOS.

PTA meetings take place on the 2nd Monday of each month in the GMSE library at 7:00pm. All are welcome!

Here are the agendas and past meeting minutes!

Meetings 7:00-8:00 pm

• October 12 -- a virtual option will be added! Link will be sent on Monday.

• November 9

• December 14 - Virtual

• January 11

• February 8

• March 8

• April 12

• May 10

Help support and fund numerous initiatives for students and staff throughout the year. Stay tuned to our Facebook page, “GMSE Parents” (new members be sure to answer the questions to be admitted), and upcoming newsletters for more information about what we do and how you can help.

Please consider joining the Middle School East PTA.

This week's career is an HVAC Technician.

We should all have a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C for our futures. Don't forget... it is ok to grow and change your mind as new things interest you. If you have an idea for a career for us to showcase, email your school counselor :)

An HVAC technician is a skilled professional who installs, repairs, and maintains heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in homes, schools, and businesses. HVAC technicians help keep buildings warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and comfortable all year long. They use tools, science, math, and problem-solving skills to figure out why heating and cooling systems aren't working properly. Many HVAC technicians learn through technical school programs or apprenticeships, which combine hands-on training with classroom instruction. Check out the links to learn more!

• https://wosu.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/hvac-specialist-career-video/careers-that-work/?student=true
• https://youtu.be/GktnK0h3iQM?is=1vjTcKccOxlL4lMo
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm

The students in ACE 7/8 have been exploring relationships between equations and graphs. They have also experienced when equations can have more than one answer and sometimes no answer. Ask your student about the patterns we have been discovering.

Here is the 6th grade launchpad link for you to bookmark: Launchpad. This tracks the daily work and homework.

ELA- All grades for Quarter 1 are final. Students have planned out their Compare/Contrast Literary Essay for Suspense and we will begin typing in class on Wednesday - Friday. All Literary Essays will be due Wednesday 10/23 at the end of each class period. Students will not be permitted to work on this essay outside of class due to the overuse of AI.

ACE ELA - All grades for Quarter 1 are final. Students have planned out their Compare/Contrast Literary Essay for Suspense and we will begin typing in class on Wednesday - Friday. All Literary Essays will be due Wednesday 10/23 at the end of each class period. Students will not be permitted to work on this essay outside of class due to the overuse of AI. We will be starting our Dystopian Unit October 26th. We will read The House of the Scorpion as a class. I have enough books for all of the students, but if they would like their own copy to mark-up please have it by then.

• Orchestra Concerts
• Band Updates for all grades can be found here!
• 8th grade choir will visit GLHS on 10/26 from 9:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. If your child is at GLHS for 1st period, they are to remain in the North Commons of the High School. Permission slips can be found in the Infinite Campus portal!

• 6th Grade- We are getting our hands dirty with custom clay tic-tac-toe boards

• 7th Grade- We are using new clay building techniques to create small lanterns.

• 8th Grade- Students are using different weaving techniques and materials to represent a memory in their art.

• 8th grade 3D- Students are finishing up custom clay salt and pepper shakers.

To report an absence, please call the front office at (614)478-5550 or email fischerj@gjps.org by 9:10am if possible.You also have the ability to login into Infinite Campus and mark your child's absence there. Please ONLY do this if your child will be absent for the entire day.

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.

October 19, 2026: Conference Comp Day - No School

October 20, 2026: Staff Work Day - No School
November 9, 2026: PD Day - No School
November 25-27, 2026: Thanksgiving Break - No School
December 23, 2026-January 1, 2027: Winter Break - No School
January 4, 2027: Staff Work Day - No School
January 18, 2027: Martin Luther King Day - No School
February 15, 2027: Presidents Day - No School
March 8, 2027: Staff Work Day - No School
March 9, 2027: PD Day - No School
March 26, 2027: Conference Comp Day - No School
March 29-April 2, 2027: Spring Break- No School
April 30, 2027: PD Day - No School
May 27, 2027: Last Day of School for Students
May 28, 2027: Staff Work Day - No School
May 29, 2027: Class of 2027 Commencement