East Weekly

I’m not quite sure what it is about October. Maybe the kids are settled into school and starting to test boundaries. Maybe the weather is changing, the emotions are running high, or everyone is just getting a little tired. Honestly, I’m not sure. What I do know is that this week was a tough one when it came to student behavior.

And I want to be honest with you. I’m seeing it at school, and I’m dealing with it at home, too.

My oldest son is 9, and his behavior has earned him some trick-or-treating restrictions for the past two years. Parenting is humbling, isn’t it? This year, I decided to take a different approach. We talked early about expectations at school and at home, and I’ve been checking in regularly with both him and his teachers. I’m sharing this because I know how easy it is to get caught up in our busy lives and assume everything is going fine. Sometimes our kids need us to be a little more intentional about those conversations.

I’m asking you to do the same at home. Check in with your kids. Ask them how things are going with their friends. Talk about how they are treating others and what it means to be respectful, even when they think they are just joking around.

This week, across all grade levels, we had a lot of conversations and warnings about student behavior. These weren't necessarily behaviors that called for immediate disciplinary consequences (some were), but there were a lot of reminders about expectations. One thing that stood out was the unkindness students are showing toward one another. Some of the things being said to friends are being brushed off as “jokes,” but the impact of those words matters. If the joke comes at someone else’s expense, it’s worth asking whether it’s really a joke at all.

Both of my boys participate in Jiu Jitsu, and one of the first things they learned at age four was the definition of respect: Treat others the way you want to be treated. It’s a pretty simple concept, but apparently, even our middle schoolers need a reminder sometimes.

We talk a lot about the culture we want to build at East. That culture isn't just about how students behave when an adult is watching or whether they follow directions in class. It’s about how they treat each other in the hallways, at lunch, in the classroom, and even in their group chats outside of school. We want our students to feel safe, valued, and respected. That means we all have a role to play in helping them understand that their words and actions matter.

Next week is the last week of the quarter, so please take some time to check in with your student about their grades. Ask if they have any missing assignments, assessments to complete, or work they need to make up. A quick conversation now can make a big difference before the quarter closes.

We’ll end the quarter with Spirit Week and a House Celebration on Friday! I’m looking forward to ending the week on a positive note and celebrating our students.

Thank you for partnering with us, for having the hard conversations at home, and for helping us reinforce the expectations we have for our kids. None of us gets it right every day, and our kids won't either. What matters is that we keep showing up, setting boundaries, holding them accountable, and reminding them that being kind and respectful is always expected.

Have a great weekend!

Take care,

Megan Kirsten

Oct. 12: 7th and 8th grade Choir Concert & Chipotle Fundraiser Night see flyer below & PTA Meeting!

Oct.12 - Oct 16: Book Fair

Oct. 13: Parent Teacher Conferences (ALL grade levels)

Oct 14: Western Adventure Meeting (see flyer below) -- NEW!!

Oct. 16: End of Q1

Oct. 19: Conference Comp Day - No School
Oct. 20: Staff Work Day - No School for students & 8th grade Washington DC meeting. Please refer to email from Michael Hunt on 9/10/26.

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

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.

Parent/Teacher conferences are next week. One thing we like to do is provide the staff with delicious dinners but we could use some help with providing the drinks. If interested, please use the link to sign up! All donations are greatly appreciated!!

Hello MSE Staff and Families!

As many of you know, I have had a visiting artist for the past 3 weeks. Vicki Murphy is a teaching mosaic artist and has been working with small groups of students that are taking art to create beautiful mosaics that will be installed around the school building in the Spring.

We are presenting a Special Opportunity for staff and our school families to come contribute to the creation of the mosaics and learn about the process on Oct. 13th during Parent Teacher Conferences! She will be set up near the front office/cafeteria area so people can stop by and look, cut, glue, or just learn about the process! We would love to see you!

Current Gahanna 7th graders are invited to attend Western Field Studies annual field trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The trip will depart on June 1, 2027 and return on June 9, 2027. The link below has information about the trip and the evening parent meetings you can attend to get more specific information. This is not a school sponsored trip, however it is chaperoned by current and retired Gahanna teachers.

2027 Western Adventure

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 Electrician.

An electrician is a skilled professional who installs, repairs, and maintains electrical systems in homes, schools, and businesses. Electricians may work on everything from lights and outlets to wiring and circuit breakers. They use tools, math, and problem-solving skills to figure out why something is not working and help keep buildings powered safely. Most electricians learn through an apprenticeship, which combines paid hands-on training with classroom instruction. This means they can earn money while learning their trade! Check out the links to learn more!

-Mr. Burt & Mrs. Williams :)

Careers that Work | Electrician | Season 2 | Episode 3 | PBS

https://www.pbs.org/video/electrician-jsjfht/?utm_source&scrlybrkr=a02a1829

Electricians Career Video

YouTube video • ‪1 minute‬

Electricians : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm?utm_source

ACE 7/8: Patterns have been our focus this week. Next week we are going to use the patterns we explored and use them to make predictions. Through our study of patterns we will be able to make sense of equations that have no solution and equations with infinite solutions.

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

General:

• Conferences are next Thursday, October 8 and the following Tuesday, October 13. If you would like to schedule a conference, please call the office at 614-478-5550 between the hours of 10 am and 3:30pm. Thank you!
• All 8th grade families should have received an email from Michael Hunt, K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator, about the 8th grade Washington D.C. trip. Below is a flyer to remind you of the details! The link for the virtual meeting will be sent by Michael Hunt closer to the meeting date. If you cannot attend the meeting but have questions, please email either contact on the flyer below.

Spanish:

• We will have our first Spanish Test over Unidad Preliminar Parts 1 & 2 on Monday 10/12. We reviewed for the test by checking over the Study Guide answers together in class. Students also need to complete the Wayground by Monday to help them study (80% minimum due for full completion points).

ACE ELA:

• Starting Quarter 2 late work will no longer be accepted. However, if a student is absent for X days, they will have X days to make up their work. We will be starting our Dystopian Unit around 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.

• *If you don’t feel the need to come in for a conference, but would like a quick note about how your child is doing, please don’t hesitate to email me at varsanyim@gjps.org. Please include your child’s name in the subject line.

ELA:

• Please be sure to check grades on IC. We are putting the last few grades in the gradebook for the Quarter 1. Students need to bring headphones to class on Monday 10/12.

• Orchestra Concerts
• Band Updates for all grades can be found here!
• 7th and 8th grade Choir Concert- 10/12/26 @ 7:30 p.m. at Gahanna Middle School West

• Hands-On Mosaic Opportunity for Families and Staff!

• 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