East Weekly

As we wrap up the quarter, I’m excited to share that our students finished on a high note! Today, we celebrated their hard work and dedication with an exciting dodgeball tournament between houses — filled with energy, teamwork, and plenty of loud cheering.

A friendly reminder that there is no school for students on March 10, though we will still hold our evening PTA meeting as scheduled.

Looking ahead, I’ll be meeting with each grade level next week to reinforce our school expectations for the 4th quarter. This will serve as a refresher, as we re-established expectations at the semester following the holiday break. Notably, some changes implemented at that time include:

• 6th Grade Book Signatures: Reduced to 2 per week before resulting in an after-school detention.
• SmartPass & Book Signatures: To align with district-wide middle school practices and help students prepare for 8th grade, 7th grade students now receive a book signature if they exceed the 4-minute pass limit without returning to class. Passes are used for restroom breaks, quick nurse visits, principal check-ins, or quick errands, and the 4-minute window helps ensure minimal classroom disruption. If a student returns to class exceeding the 4-minutes, with no additional pass then they are given a book signature.

These measures are in place to promote responsibility and consistency across our school, helping students build habits that support their learning and personal growth. Thank you for your continued support in reinforcing these expectations.

At Middle School East, we use Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to promote a positive school culture and recognize students for meeting expectations. Through PBIS feedback, students have shared what they appreciate most — like supportive teachers, fun school events, and opportunities to connect with friends. They’ve also identified areas for growth, such as improving hallway behavior and using respectful language. This valuable input helps us strengthen our school community, celebrating successes while addressing areas where we can grow together!

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health. When implemented with fidelity, PBIS improves social emotional competence, academic success, and school climate. It also improves teacher health and wellbeing. It is a way to create positive, predictable, equitable and safe learning environments where everyone thrives.

https://www.pbis.org/pbis/what-is-pbis

As part of our ongoing efforts to foster a respectful and positive school environment, I want to remind families of the importance of encouraging appropriate language use at school. Recent PBIS data highlights student concerns about inappropriate language in hallways, and over the past two weeks, I have personally addressed incidents involving swearing and the use of racial slurs.

I will be addressing this directly during next week’s quarterly grade-level check-ins, but I kindly ask families to have conversations with their children about using respectful, academic language while at school. Reinforcing this expectation at home helps us maintain a supportive atmosphere where all students feel safe and valued.

Thank you for your partnership in promoting kindness and respect within our school community!

• Our PBIS team implemented and presented to staff a new "House point" weekly focus.
• Students leading is "House points" are recognized on the daily announcements and given a raffle for a larger prize.
• The PBIS team has created House lessons about respect and other hot topics. Future lessons will be planned to address positive peer-peer behavior, positive academic language while at school, and positive student-staff/staff-student interactions.
• A "Paws-itive vibes" wall was started this week for students to recognize their peers. This is displayed on the wall near the cafeteria.
• The PBIS team created a 3-year plan moving forward to implement new structures, incentives, and more student voice for positive recognitions!

March 7: End of Q3

March 10: No School for students

March 10: PTA Dine-out evening-- City BBQ! (See flyer below)

March 10: PTA Meeting

March 11-14: Complete Applications for the MSE Talent Show

March 13: 6th & 7th grade Band Concert

Mar 18 - Mar 21: Fitness Fundraiser Collection

March 20: Orchestra Concert @ MS West

Mar 31 - Apr 4: Spring Break, No School

April 7: Cheer Tryouts

April 9: ELA State Test

April 10: ELA State Test

April 14: PTA Meeting

April 15: Math State Testing

April 17: Math State Testing

April 18: No School

April 22: Science State Test (8th grade only)

April 23: Fitness Fundraiser Raffle Picks

April 24: 8th Grade Shadowing Day

May 1: Fitness Fundraiser!

Ready for a mouthwatering meal that supports a great cause? Join us at City Barbeque (108 S Stygler Rd) on Monday, March 10th between 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM and make a difference!

With every order you place, 20% will be donated to Gahanna Middle School East PTA.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to dine for a purpose! RSVP & details here: https://grouprai.se/s299803

#groupraise #gahannamiddleschooleastpta #citybarbeque #fundraiser

Boys Tennis

Where: Blacklick Elementary - Tennis Court around back

Date: Monday 3/10,11,12

Time: 5-6:30pm

MS East, 3/11/25

4:30pm boys track

5:15pm girls track

5:45pm boys lax

MS South, 3/13/25

5:45pm girls lax

6:00pm 8th softball

6:15pm boys tennis

MS West 3/12/25

5:00pm 7th softball

5:15pm 7th baseball

5:30pm 8th baseball

As spring approaches, I know schedules get busy. Please be aware of the final choir dates for 2025:

May 12, 2025

6th and 8th Grade Choir Concert @ GMSW

7:30 p.m. (7:00 call for 8th - 7:15 call for 6th)

May 13, 2025

7th Choir Dress Rehearsal (Soloist and speakers ONLY!!)

7-9 p.m. @MSE

May 15, 2025

7th Choir Dress Rehearsal (ALL 7th grade CHOIR STUDENTS)

7-9 p.m. @ MSE

May 19, 2025

7th Choir Musical Review ( Regards to Broadway)

7:30 @ MSE

The MSE Talent Show will be May 21, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. Applications will be available March 11th - 14th during lunch and from Mrs. Harding.

Auditions - April 24. (4-6 p.m. or by special arrangements)

Rehearsal - May 14 (4-6 p.m.)

Dress Rehearsal - May 20 (7-9 p.m.)

ACE 7/8 students have been studying various angle relationships that are formed with parallel lines and transversals.

All 6th grade math & ACE students need to be sure to have their TI-30XII calculators in class daily. Thank you!

Our one stop shop for students’ assignments: The Launchpad

ACE 7/8 students have been studying various angle relationships that are formed with parallel lines and transversals.

Social Studies: Students have been researching African Kingdoms. Next week we will pick an African Kingdom to do a creative project on.

ELA students are moving into their second historical fiction book. Ask them what they are learning!

Job Shadowing permission slips went home through ELA today! Please discuss with your student possible options. We are still working on school sponsored options and will share that information when it’s available.

Hello Travelers and Families!

Happy New Year to you all! We are officially in 2025 and are less that 5 months away from the D.C. trip! I wanted to send out a couple of reminders and an update about the trip so that you know what to expect over the next few months.

Reminders

• Payment dates were scheduled for January 10th, February 7th, March 7th, and April 4th. These dates were set to help families spread out the payments, but no one's trip will be cancelled, nor will fees be added for late payments. However, they do ask that the balances be paid by the last payment date of April 4th. If you have any questions about your account or payments, please reach out to Prodigy Student Travel at 614-436-8747.

• When students were registered, you were sent forms to be completed through Infinite Campus (IC). The Behavior Contract was sent to students and parents/guardians to be signed. The other forms were only sent to parents/guardians. Please make sure to complete these forms. Students cannot participate in the trip if these forms are not completed . Also, if you marked "no" on the medication form for any medication that your child needs to take with them on the trip, make sure to complete the appropriate additional medical forms linked in the "additional medical forms" document sent to you through IC.

Updates

• In March students will go through the process of selecting their roommates for the trip. We do our best to honor these requests and can normally do so unless we have cancellations or other issues that arise.

• In April we will have another virtual meeting to discuss the final itineraries for the trip, what to pack and what not to pack, behavior expectations while traveling, and the details about the morning we leave (where and when to meet, checking in, etc.) and our return.

• All medications, prescription and non-prescription, must be turned in to your school nurse in their original containers no later than two weeks before we leave for the trip.

Michael Hunt

Fitness Fundraiser information coming soon!

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.

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

Meeting dates:

• March 10

• April 14

• May 12

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.

Mar. 10, 2025: Staff Work Day - No School

Mar. 31-April 4, 2025: Spring Break- No School
April 18, 2025: Comp Day - No School
May 2, 2025: PD Day - No School
May 23, 2025: Last Day of School for Students
May 24, 2025: Class of 2025 Commencement