CES Chapelfield Communicator

Happy Friday, families!

We were thrilled to welcome our newest Lions on Thursday for the very first day of kindergarten! It was wonderful seeing so many families at Curriculum Night connecting with our kindergarten team and building our school community.

• Living Our PAWS Values: Students continued practicing how to show PAWS in the classroom (Be Positive, Act responsibly, Work hard, Show respect).

• School-Wide Read-Aloud: Students in 1st through 5th grade read They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel. The story highlights perspective, showing how different animals see the exact same cat in their own unique way—a great lesson on empathy and understanding that we all view the world differently! Kindergartners will read it next week.

• Upcoming Spirit Week: Next week is our very first Spirit Week as we celebrate our first full week with our kindergartners! We will wear a different color of the rainbow each day, starting with red on Monday.

Have a wonderful, restful weekend!

Sincerely,

Nikki Miller

All students can wear the color next week!

Hello Families!

Raise your hand if you ask your child about their day and they immediately respond with one-word answers like ‘fine’ or ‘good.’ To spark deeper conversations and help your child share more about their school day, try asking some of these questions listed in the graphic below.

Don't forget! GRIN has partnered with Chapelfield to offer a "Weekend Snack Pack" program for our students. If you would like to participate, your student will receive a bag of non-perishable food items every Friday to bring home. In order to participate, please send Mrs. Jasin an email (jasink@gjps.org), Talking Points, or contact your child's homeroom teacher.

Best,

Mrs. Jasin

Welcome back! It has been great seeing old faces and new ones this week in the art room. As an introduction, we read a social story about Mrs. Karr’s room that walks through a typical day in art class. Then we familiarized ourselves with the art room with an interactive scavenger hunt! Students worked together to find art supplies and important art storage spaces, line-up spots, sinks and art tools they’ll be using this year. In the coming weeks, students will design sketchbook covers and collaborate on a school-wide artwork to kick-off the year. We’re excited for another creative year with our amazing artists!

Did you know?

The Columbus Museum of Art now offers free admission to anyone under 25? In addition, one adult caregiver gets free admission as well! There is a vibrant and interactive kids space that is fun for all ages. Click here to learn more!

Be an Attendance HERO (Here, Every day, Ready On time)! Every minute matters for student success, and we miss our students when they aren't here. It's not the same without all of us learning together!

Please help us follow this schedule:

7:50 a.m.: Doors Open for Students Eating Breakfast At School

7:55 a.m.: Doors Open for All Students

8:05 a.m.: School Starts-Students need to be in their class ready to learn. Students entering the building after 8:05 a.m. will need to be signed in to the office by a parent/guardian.

2:45 p.m.: School Ends; please read the end of the day procedures for more details of when we release students.

Arrival

Our doors open at 7:50 a.m. for students who will be eating breakfast at school ONLY. All other students are able to enter at 7:55 a.m. Buses will dismiss students at 7:55 a.m. Kindergarten, first, and second grade students enter through the doors on the right, if you’re facing the building. Third, fourth, and fifth grade students will enter the doors on the left. Students who are driven to school by parents or guardians may be dropped off beginning at 7:55 a.m. They will exit their vehicle and follow the sidewalk to the front of the building. In the case of inclement weather, students will be permitted to come into the building rather than waiting outside. However, this is not until 7:50 a.m, when student supervision begins.

Dismissal

Buses:

Students riding the bus will exit at the front of the building. Bus riders will leave at 2:42 p.m.

Car Riders/Day Car Shuttles:

Students being picked up by car will use the door near the music room, the west door. These students are dismissed at 2:35 p.m. This is a car rider lane ONLY. It is not for parents or guardians to park and pick students up in person. We kindly ask that you refrain from using your cell phone at this time in order to keep all students safe. We will be extended the pick up lane to make this process faster.

Parent Pick Up & Students Walking Home (NOT IN A CAR): Dismissed at 2:45 p.m.

If you wish to pick your child up in person, and not sit in the car lane, please go to the K-1 playground.

• All students will go out the east side doors to exit onto the K-1 playground. Please wait for your child there.

Please note with the change of times, we may monitor and adjust our plan. Please continue to read for updates.

The front office is a bustling place! To help us keep our school day running smoothly and ensure all students stay safe, please keep these quick guidelines in mind:

• Vestibule Waiting Area: If you are dropping off a forgotten item or picking up a child, please wait in the front vestibule until a staff member assists you.

• Be On Time: Please ensure your child arrives before 8:05 AM, when our learning day officially begins.

• Plan Transportation Ahead: Please make all end-of-day transportation plans with your child before they leave home in the morning.

• Cut-Off Time for Changes: If an emergency change is unavoidable, please call the office before 2:00 PM.

• Dismissal Closure: The front office closes at 2:15 PM until all students are safely dismissed. We will reopen the doors at 2:45 p.m.

Thank you so much for your partnership in making the start and end of our school day a success!

If you are picking up a student because they are sick or have an appointment, the guardian must let the office know who is responsible for picking up. We will not release a child to an unknown adult without permission and a photo id! Thanks for your support.

If your student is in need of after school care, the YWCA Columbus offers after school services right here at Chapelfield. If you are interested, please follow the link to the website to register. or call Ms. Hill at 614.806.6444.

Infinite Campus is our parent portal and student information system. This site will allow parents/guardians to access school information electronically. For example, Infinite Campus will allow you to update email addresses and other important information regarding your child as well as view your child's report card electronically.

ALL Families (either new to Chapelfield or returning families) need to update your information in the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus. Directions for how to update Infinite Campus are linked below:

1. Log into the Parent Portal on Infinite Campus at: https://gahannajeffersonoh.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/gahanna_jefferson.jsp

2. Click MORE from the left hand column

3. Click on ONLINE REGISTRATION from choices on the right

4. Click START next to "Existing Student Registration"

5. Go through each step to complete the registration

Families New to Chapelfield Elementary: If you are a new family to Chapelfield (including all of our kindergarten families), you will receive an email from Mrs. Gilzow, school secretary, soon detailing directions on how to log into the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus to update your information.

Returning Families: If you need assistance - please call the school office at 614-478-5575. Mrs. Gilzow will be happy to help.

Please complete your Online Registration/Emergency Medical Authorization forms for your student for the 26-27 school year. This information is necessary to ensure the health and safety of your student while on school grounds, as well as traveling for field trips. This needs to be updated by September 18th.

Please follow the link below to get to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal:

https://gahannajeffersonoh.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/gahanna_jefferson.jsp

You will need to have your user name and password ready. If you do not remember your user name and/or password, you are able to request to have it re-set. There are also instructions attached to this email to assist in logging in.

If you are visiting Chapelfield for any reason, you will need to enter the building through the front doors.

We kindly ask that ALL visitors follow the steps below each and every time you visit Chapelfield:

1. Once at the front, exterior doors of the school, press the buzzer. A member of the office staff will ask your reason for visiting Chapelfield.

2. Once inside the vestibule, you will enter your drivers' license or state ID into the scanner. ALL visitors/guests/guardians need to scan their drivers license EACH and EVERY time they visit Chapelfield.

3. Once your license has been scanned and processed you will be permitted to enter the main office area to pick up your visitor/volunteer badge.

**As a reminder, if there is a non-guardian planning to visit Chapelfield for any reason (to eat lunch, read a book in the classroom, visit the bookfair, take your child to an appointment etc.), we ask that the guardian email the teacher and front office (gilzows@gjps.org ) to let us know prior to the visit.

Background Checks are needed each year for all volunteers!

To increase safety and security protocols, all GJPS volunteers who may have the potential to interact with students in an unsupervised setting or may have access to confidential information will be required to complete an online application that includes a background check. The district will provide the background checks at no cost to the volunteer. Background checks are required EACH school year. If you completed a background check last school year, you will need to complete the process again for the 2024-2025 school year.

EXAMPLES

• Examples of volunteer experiences include but are not limited to: cafeteria helpers, reading aides, mentors, hall monitors, field day volunteers, library helpers, office helpers, tutors, field trip chaperones, small group or individual student work in the hallway, party helpers, concession workers, fundraising volunteers, book fair volunteers, mobile dentist volunteers, etc.

Interested in Volunteering?

Click on the link below and fill out the necessary information:

Volunteer Form - Link is currently activated for the 25-26 school year!

2026-2027 Food Service Information

A plate lunch is $2.75.

Breakfast is $1.50. *Breakfast runs from 7:50 - 8:05 AM each day at Chapelfield.

Breakfast Menu

Lunch Menu

Families MUST complete and submit a 2026-2027 Free/Reduced-Priced Meal Application if they believe they may qualify. Families MUST DO THIS EVERY YEAR. These forms will go LIVE on Monday, August 10. Applications are available in the Chapelfield school office or online at: GahannaSchools.org. If approved, the completed application will cover the student for the entire 2026-2027 school year, and no other steps will be necessary unless there is an income change during the school year.

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools Food Service Department is committed to assisting families and making this transition back to normal operations as easy as possible. Please feel free to contact Food Service Supervisor Stephen Ismael (Ismaels@gjps.org) if you have any questions.

PIN Numbers Will Be Used. Students in 1st-5th grade will need to know their student ID number to access their lunch accounts in the cafeteria. ID numbers can be found on Infinite Campus under your child's profile. Please help them start to memorize this number prior to school starting. Teachers and staff will assist students for the first couple of weeks.

Fidgets from home stay at home this year. If your child has a fidget in their IEP/504 plan, we will provide it and teach them how to use it as a helpful learning tool.

*Meet our 2026-2027 PTO Board members!

• Elizabeth Faasse-President
• Cheryl Glenn-Vice President
• Erica Wright-Secretary
• Taylor Winslow- Co-Treasurer
• Britney Murphy- Co-Treasurer
• Kristen Muenster- Communications
• Holly Williamson-Volunteer Coordinator

*Kindergarten Popsicles on the Playground Event-August 22nd 11 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Bring your kindergartener and an adult to meet the newest class of Chapelfield students.

*Breakfast with Buddies: Join us on Friday, September 4th from 7:30 a.m.-8:05 a.m. for all students' whose last name starts with A-L and their family. Come have breakfast with your child/ren. M-Z will be on September 11th.

*Saturday, September 5th is our first restaurant night at Whit's all day!

*Our first PTO meeting will be Tuesday, September 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. This will also be our Title 1 parent meeting.

Our big-school wide fundraiser will kick-off next week. You will receive an email from 99 pledges to register your student(s). If your emails are not up to date, please make sure you visit the office to do that. Whatever email is on file, that is where the registration link will go. The last day of the fundraiser will conclude with the Move-a-Thon (Sept 18). We will be outside on Middle School West Track. The goal is for each student to raise $50.00. Below is also a paper to send out to businesses for sponsorship opportunities.

A percentage of your purchases are donated to our school when using your Kroger Plus Card when you register Chapelfield PTO as your Community Rewards recipient. This is a great way to give back to the school without any added expense.

Website Registration Instructions:

1. Visit www.kroger.com

2. Click Sign In if you already have a Kroger account or click Create an Account if you don't already have one.

3. Once logged in, click the person icon at the top of the page and select My Account.

4. Scroll toward the bottom of the page and select Community Rewards.

5. Click Enroll on the Community Rewards webpage.

6. Search for Chapelfield and click Enroll.

Kroger App Registration Instructions

1. Click Sign In if you already have a Kroger account or click Create an Account if you don't already have one.

2. Once logged in, click the person icon at the top of the page and select "Payment & Resources"

3. Then select "Community Rewards."

4. Search for Chapelfield and click Enroll.

Note: If you've registered Chapelfield PTO with your Kroger Community Rewards in the past, please take a moment to log-in to your account to verify that you still have Chapelfield PTO enrolled as your charitable organization.

One Pride, Big Strides — Roaring into Middle School!

Fifth grade is our students’ last year of elementary school, and the One Pride 5th Grade Planning Crew is working with our teachers and PTO to make it a year they’ll truly remember. Our goal is simple: create meaningful experiences, build school spirit, and give our 5th graders an incredible send-off to middle school. Throughout the year, we’ll help support special traditions and events including the 5th Grade Breakfast, Clap Out, spirit activities, and the big end-of-year Kings Island trip.

This year, the PTO is taking on more of the heavy lifting through its annual fundraiser, allowing our students to spend more time learning how to plan, organize, work together, and help execute a few meaningful events rather than constantly fundraising.There will still be easy ways for families to help throughout the year—bake sales, donations, volunteering, attending events, spirit wear, skating fundraisers and more—but no one is expected to do everything.

Pick what works for your family. Every little bit helps us make their final year at Chapelfield something special. Together, we make memories. Together, we are One Pride.

Welcome back to school, Chapelfield families!

To help kick off the new year, our PTO is excited to host our annual Breakfast with Buddies event! It is a wonderful morning for our school community to gather, celebrate, and reconnect.

To help make this special tradition run smoothly, we are looking for our 5th-grade parents and students to lend a hand. We need volunteers either for setup the night before or during the event itself.

• Attending the breakfast? No problem! If you would like to volunteer during the event, please just sign up for a time slot other than your designated family day so you can still enjoy breakfast together.

Thank you so much for your support and for helping make this event memorable for everyone!

Warmly,

CES 5th Grade Committee

This year, the operation team worked hard on the following items at Chapelfield over the summer:

• Building Mulch Installation around the building and playground
• Painting the hallways and cafeteria
• Fixing the speed bump in the parking lot
• Heat Pump Replacement
• Domestic Water Heat Replacement
• CO Detection Installation
• Rooftop HVAC for room 141
• Floor Drains in the 2 restrooms
• Handicapped buttons at 2 doors

Monday, August 31-September 4: Spirit Week; Wear the Rainbow

*Monday-Red

*Tuesday-Orange

*Wednesday-Yellow

*Thursday-Green

*Friday Blue

Friday, September 4: PTO Breakfast w/Buddies for families with last names starting A-L @ 7:30 a.m.

Monday, September 7: Labor Day-NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, September 8: PTO and Title 1 meeting in the cafeteria at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, September 9: School Pictures

Friday, September 11: PTO Breakfast w/ Buddies for families with last names starting M-Z @ 7:30 a.m.

Monday, September 14-Friday, September 18: Start with Hello Week

Wednesday, September 16-Monday, September 28: PTO Fall Flower Sales

Friday, September 18: PTO Move A Thon

Monday, September 21: Staff Training; NO SCHOOL

Friday, September 25: 5th grade BizTown

Ohio State Testing Dates are ready for the 2026-2027 school year. Please avoid scheduling vacations or appointments over these dates.

2026-2027 District Calendar

2026-2027 School Calendar

Student Handbook

Bus Schedule and Routes