A Trip Down Goshen Lane

It's an exciting time as we are only a few days away from welcoming our students, faces of new and old! The staff is officially back together tomorrow for launch meetings, trainings, and collaboration. We can't wait to see so many of you at Tuesday's grade 1-5 Open House and Thursday's grade 1-5 first day of school.

There was A LOT of info in last week's newsletter. Rather than add too much to that, please see below for a review of those important details for a smooth start to the year.

Grade Kindergarten: Parents may walk with students to their classrooms on their staggered start day, then again on Thursday, August 27th, and Friday, August 28th. Starting Monday, August 31st, kinders will say goodby to families at the school doors and students will enter the building.

Grades 1-5: Parents may walk with students to their classrooms on the first two days of school. Starting Monday, August 24th, students will say goodby to families at the school doors and students will enter the building.

Families New to Gahanna Schools: If you are a new family to Gahanna Schools (including all of our kindergarten families) you will need to be provided your Infinite Campus access code. Please stop by the school office during Open House, call the school office at 614-478-5580, or look at a Talking Points message you will receive the first few days of school.

Here's to 2026-27 together!

Sharon Suriano

Dear Goshen Lane Families,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! My name is Jenn Diol, and I am so excited to introduce myself as the new school counselor at Goshen Lane Elementary. I am very excited to join this incredible community and look forward to partnering with you to support your child’s growth, happiness, and success.

As an elementary school counselor, my primary focus is to support the social, emotional, and academic development of all students. I am here to help them navigate their feelings, build strong friendships, solve problems peacefully, and feel safe and confident at school.

Throughout the year, I will support our students and families through a variety of programs:

• Classroom Lessons: I will visit classrooms regularly to teach valuable lessons on kindness, empathy, emotion management, and conflict resolution.
• Small Group Counseling: I will host small groups for students who could benefit from extra support in areas like friendship skills, managing anxiety, or adjusting to life changes.
• Individual Support: I am available for short-term individual check-ins with students who are having a tough day or facing a specific challenge.
• Family Collaboration: I am always here to act as a resource for you. If you have concerns about your child’s emotional well-being or behavior, we can collaborate on strategies to support them. Please also reach out anytime if your family is in need of any resources such as food, school supplies, backpacks, clothes etc.

This school year will be my 26th year in education. I was previously a teacher and school counselor in Columbus City Schools before joining GJPS in 2019 as the High Point school counselor. My husband and I have five kids ranging in age from 14-23. We love to travel, go to concerts and spend time with our kids.

I cannot wait to meet all of our Goshen families! Please feel free to reach out to me anytime via phone or email (diolj@gjps.org) if there is anything I can do for you or your child.

Warmly,

Jenn Diol

Please review the checklist that is listed below to ensure that your family is ready for the new school year:

____ Log in to Infinite Campus and update your child's information for the 2026-2027 school year. This is a requirement for ALL families (new families and returning families).

______ Bus Transfer Request Form (Return only if applicable to your child, if your daycare provider says that you ride a Gahanna bus, you must complete this form; available on Gahanna website under transportation tab)

______ Medication Form (If your child will be taking medication at school including over the counter medication; on Gahanna Schools website under health services).

______ Food Allergy Forms (must indicate online and have a written doctor’s note with alternatives (You will turn in the doctor's note to the school office).

______ Pay School Fees through Campus Payment in Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

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 Goshen 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 Gahanna Schools: If you are a new family to Gahanna Schools (including all of our kindergarten families) you will need to be provided your Infinite Campus access code. Please stop by the school office during Open House, call the school office at 614-478-5580, or look at a Talking Points message you will receive the first few days of school.

Our first-fifth grade families can now see their homeroom assignments in Infinite Campus.

The 2026-27 school supply lists can be found by selecting the link here or by scanning the QR code below.

Meet the Teacher Details:

• Tuesday, August 18, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. -- Grade 1-5 students and caregivers
• Wednesday, August 26, 5:00-6:00 p.m. -- Kindergarten students and caregivers

There will be one Meet the Teacher Open House for students in grades 1-5. There will be a different Meet the Teacher Open House for students in kindergarten. On each night, those grades' families can meet their child's teacher, drop off their school supplies, meet classmates, and grab a Kona Ice treat from our PTA. There will also be information on how you can join the Parent Teacher Organization!

Kindergarten families will receive their child's classroom teacher name as they enter the building for their August 26th Meet the Teacher Open House. Students unable to attend this event will be given their teacher's name when arriving at school the following morning, August. 27th.

This can be a bittersweet time and it's natural to feel a mix of emotions. Please know the staff of Goshen Lane will welcome your little one with an open heart and arms.

Kindergarten at Goshen Lane begins with a staggered start. A staggered start means that small groups of students will come to kindergarten for one day. Teachers and students will begin to learn about each other, and students will begin to learn school routines. Below is the schedule to see what day each kindergartener will arrive for their small group staggered start day. Each kindergartner only attends ONE of the staggered start days.

Then, kindergarten students will learn their classroom teacher at the Wednesday, August 26th Meet the Teacher evening event, and ALL kindergarteners come to school every day starting on Thursday, August 27th.

If you have questions about when your child should come to school, call the school office at (614) 478-5580.

• 8:05 AM - 2:45 PM School Hours
• 7:45 AM Student drop off begins; doors open for K, 1st, and 2nd grade students eating breakfast
• 7:55 AM Doors open for all other students; interested 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students may go to the cafeteria to pick up breakfast at this time
• 8:05 AM School starts & tardy bell rings (in classroom when bell rings)
• 2:35 PM Dismissal begins
• It is important that car riders remain in vehicles until 7:45 at drop off and are picked up by 2:55. There is no district supervision for students prior to 7:45 AM or after 2:55 PM.

Guardians in vehicles will enter the drop off/pick up line in the back of the main building following the designated traffic pattern.

Guardians dropping students off at school after 8:05 must come to the main office through the front door and sign their student(s) into school.

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:

• 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 at 478-5580.

• Dismissal Closure: The front office closes at 2:15 PM until all students are safely dismissed.

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

The elementary students handbook has been prepared for the purpose of answering questions that are frequently asked by students and families. It contains essential details about our Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools. Please take time to read this information, review it with your students, and keep it for your reference throughout the school year.

**One important update in 2026-27 is that GJPS students are not permitted to have food delivered to school from UBER eats, Grubhub, DoorDash, etc..**

2026-27 Elementary Student Handbook

Your student's bus route for the 2026-2027 school year is available on Transfinder. The web-based service provides Gahanna-Jefferson families 24/7 flexibility and access to route information based on their home address!

When using Transfinder, be sure to enter only the street number and street name. Do not enter zip code, grades or school. (Entering more than the street number and name may cause inaccurate information to display.)

When you receive your bus information, please check over it carefully. If something does not make sense, please contact transportation at (614) 751-7581.

We are excited to offer the mobile device app Here Comes the Bus. This app allows families to view the real-time location of your child's school bus on a smartphone, tablet or computer using GPS technologies with which each school bus is equipped.

How to Get Started with Here Comes the Bus:

1. Download the Here Comes the Bus app or visit www.HereComesTheBus.com.
2. Click the “SIGN UP” button at the bottom of screen.
3. Follow directions on screen to create an account using the GJPS school district code: 29231
4. You will be sent an email to verify your email address and activate your account.
5. Return to app and add your child’s last name and STUDENT ID number.
   (STUDENT ID NUMBER IS THE SAME AS STUDENT CAFETERIA PIN NUMBER)
6. Click “ADD STUDENT” to add other children in your household.
7. You are now ready to begin following the location of your child’s bus!

Families are asked to complete and submit a 2026-2027 Free/Reduced-Priced Meal Application if they believe they may qualify. Applications are available in paper form in the Goshen Lane school office, in a printable form here, or you can fill out information digitally starting Monday, August 10th in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

Breakfast

Each student has the option to eat breakfast at school every morning.

Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders eating breakfast can enter the building beginning at 7:45.

Grade 3, 4, and 5 graders can enter the building at 7:55.

**Please let your child know if they should/should not be eating breakfast at school as this will help some students from being confused in the mornings when they see others going to the cafeteria.**

Breakfast is $1.50.

Lunch is $2.75.

Money can be added to your child’s lunch account through Infinite Campus.

Menus can be viewed in a yearlong color-coded version or by clicking on the Breakfast Menu and Lunch Menu digital versions. Here you will find a Friday pizza schedule. Students also have the option to pack their lunch.

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.

To report an absence, please call the front office at 614-478-5580 or email mcfaddene@gjps.org by 8:30am if possible.

Due to House Bill 410, student attendance is now calculated in hours. This includes absences that have been identified as both excused and unexcused by the school, as well as planned absences. Being late or tardy to school does calculate into the total hours absent.

In an effort to encourage regular, on-time attendance and avoid habitual truancy, families are encouraged to:

• Make getting to school on time every day a high priority.

• Discuss the importance of regular school attendance and the negative impacts of excessive absences.

• Create a safe space for students to discuss what is keeping them from school.

• Develop a backup plan for getting your student to school when transportation challenges, illness, or other challenges arise.

• Schedule vacations during a time when school is not in session.

• Monitor your student’s attendance records to identify any disruptions or patterns of change.

• Contact your student’s school to discuss preventative services and supports available to promote regular attendance.

PLANNED ABSENCES (Such as vacation):

The time missed will be counted as an authorized, UNEXCUSED absence but shall not be a factor in determining grades unless the make-up work is not completed. Students who are absent 38 hours in a month or 65 hours in a school year with or without legitimate excuse are now considered Excessively Absent. These students will receive a letter from the District and will be required to follow the District Truancy Plan.These hours include approved planned absences. Planned absences will not be approved if your child has already met or will meet (based on this request) the absence threshold for Excessive Absence and/or Habitual Truancy.

If you have a planned absence, please fill out this form and send it in to the office. For more information or questions, please visit the GJPS website.

If you are visiting Goshen Lane 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 Goshen Lane:

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 Goshen Lane.

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 Goshen Lane.

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 Goshen Lane for any reason (visit the bookfair, take your child to an appointment etc.), we ask that the guardian email the teacher and front office (mcfaddene@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 2025-2026 school year.

EXAMPLES

• Examples of volunteer experiences include but are not limited to: fundraising volunteers, book fair volunteers, mobile dentist volunteers, etc.

Interested in Volunteering? Volunteer Form

Wit & Wisdom is our K-5 English Language Arts curriculum. Here is a Curriculum Overview for Families.

Bridges Mathematics is our K-5 Mathematics curriculum. Check out details about your child's grade level by visiting the Bridges Family Information.

There are three opportunities, Eager Artists, Eager Engineers, and Drama Kids, for afterschool enrichment this school year for grade 1-5 students . Please see the fliers below for information including dates, cost, and registration info. For questions, please reach out to the email addresses or phone numbers included on each flier.

Register here for Drama Kids.

Visit the 2026-27 GJPS Calendar for several important dates in the year ahead.

• Tuesday, August 18 4:30-6:00 (Grades 1-5)
• Wednesday, August 26 5:00-6:00 (KINDERGARTEN only)

2026-27 Parent-Teacher Conferences

• Thursday, October 8
• Thursday, October 15
• Thursday, February 11
• Thursday, February 18

2026-27 Ohio State Tests Dates

Did you know your child can access their online educational apps at home like they do in school? These resources include Lexia and DreamBox, educational accounts to build reading and math skills. Click here to read how.

Aug. 13, 4:00: Class assignment posted digitally in Infinite Campus

Aug. 18, 4:30-6:00 (Grades 1-5) Meet the Teacher Open House

Aug. 20: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for grade 1-5 STUDENTS

Aug. 26 5:00-6:00 (KINDERGARTEN only) Meet the Teacher Open House

Sept. 7: Labor Day - No School

Sept. 8, 7p - 8p: PTA Meeting in Library; Meet Mr. Tolbert, our new Assistant Principal!

Sept. 11: School Picture Day

Sept. 21: Teacher PD Day - No School

Oct. 8, 3:00 -7:00p: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Oct. 13, 7:00 - 8:00p: PTA Meeting in Library

Oct. 15, 3:00-7:00p: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Oct. 19: Conference Comp Day - No School

Oct. 20: Staff Work Day - No School

Oct. 21: Picture Re-take Day

Nov. 9: Staff Professional Development Day - No School

Nov. 10, 7:00 - 8:00p: PTA Meeting in Library
Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving Break - No School

Dec. 8, 6:00 PTA Decorating Night
Dec. 23 - Jan. 4: Winter Break - No School (Jan. 4: Teacher Work Day)

2026-2027 District Calendar

Student Handbook

Bus Schedule and Routes