The Lions' Pride

Dear Lincoln Families,

This past week was a powerful reminder of the Lincoln Elementary spirit. From the warm greetings each morning to the fun and creativity of our spirit week, our staff, families, students, and community came together to make sure every child felt welcomed, included, and special.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped spread kindness throughout our building. Whether it was wearing spirit day colors, offering a smile or high-five, or encouraging a new friendship, each act made a difference. Together, we showed what it truly means to live out our motto: One School, One Family.

Thank you,

Claire Giardino

Parent/Teacher Conference sign-ups are now open! Please use the link provided to schedule a time that works best for your family. We ask that you double-check the available dates carefully, as a few conference dates are different from previous years.

Your partnership is essential to your child’s success, and conferences are a valuable opportunity to celebrate progress and discuss next steps together.

Thank you for your continued support—we look forward to seeing you! https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Lincoln_Elementary_14

Please see the video message from our Middle School South Principal about Attendance

Starting strong in September makes a big difference for the whole school year. Research shows that students who miss just 1–2 days in the first month are much more likely to become chronically absent later on. That’s why we’re working together to build positive attendance habits now!

When students come to school every day they:

• build routines that help them feel confident

• stay connected with friends and teachers

• have the best chance to succeed academically and socially
  
  

This year, as an All-Star District in the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network we are celebrating Attendance Awareness Month as a part of our campaign. Each week, we’ll celebrate attendance with fun activities, and students will have chances to:

• Win prizes sponsored by the Columbus Crew
• Be featured on Stay in the Game! social media
• Most importantly, we want you to know that we are here for you. If your child faces challenges getting to school, please reach out. Together, we can find solutions—because showing up today builds a stronger tomorrow. Inspiring Learners. Building Futures.

Thank you for being our partners in helping every student become an Attendance All-Star!

Do your part in ensuring you get to school on time and ready to learn! If you haven't done so already, take the pledge!

Pursuant to House Bill 410, student attendance is 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.

If your child is going to be absent for any portion of the school day, please notify the school. You may report an absence by using our Online Absence Reporting available in the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. To enter a request follow these simple steps:

1.Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.

2. Select your child’s profile.

3. Navigate to the Absence Request section.

4. Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.

5. Submit your request.

You will be able to view the status of your request using the View Requests button.

You may also call Lincoln 614-478-5555 or email our secretary at pedrottya@gjps.org

Welcome Back-to-School from Lincoln's counselors, Nick Rediger and Jenny Hayhurst. Mr. Rediger covers grades K, 2, and 4 and can be reached at redigern@gjps.org. Mrs. Hayhurst covers grades 1, 3, and 5 and can be reached at hayhurstj@gjps.org.

Our school coordinates with Gahanna Residents in Need (GRIN) to provide the weekend supplementary food program for students. The program provides for students who are in need of help with food at home. If you would like to participate in this program, your student will receive a bag of non-perishable food items every Friday to bring home. If your child received a weekly bag last year, you will need to sign them up again this year. Please sign up here:

Weekend Food Program Sign-Up.

Please email hayhurstj@gjps.org if you are interested in the new student group

Outdoor Movie Night - Friday, September 26th 8:00 - 10:00 PM

Come watch “A Minecraft Movie” on the playground! Bring blankets or chairs! The PTO will be selling concessions to raise money for candy for Trunk or Treat. Kona Ice will be there as well! Cub Scout Pack 898 will be selling popcorn, water, candy, and buckeye keychains and necklaces to raise money for their pack.

Staff Conference Meals

The PTO provides the main meal for our staff on conference nights. We ask for help with sides, desserts, drinks, and help with set-up and clean-up. Please sign up HERE

Paws to Walk - Walk-a-thon - Friday, October 17th

You can find all Walk-a-thon info HERE

Our annual fundraiser is here! Paws to Walk brings together students, families, and staff to celebrate school spirit while raising funds for classroom materials, field trips, family events, and special programs. Since it’s our only fundraiser, every dollar makes a big difference!

We need auction items - if you have any items or services you’d like to donate, we would greatly appreciate your support. Please email us at lincolnPTOboard@gmail.com

This is our LAST few days to get corporate sponsorships to be added to our t-shirts! Email the PTO (lincolnPTOboard@gmail.com) if you’d like for your business or family name to be added to our t-shirts! You can find more info here: onecau.se/pawstowalk

Our raffle items are now live! You can start purchasing tickets HERE

Stay Connected

• Facebook: Gahanna Lincoln Elementary PTO

• Instagram: Gahanna Lincoln Elementary PTO

• Website: Gahanna Lincoln Elementary PTO

• Google Calendar: Subscribe Here

Upcoming PTO Dates

• September 26th - Outdoor Movie Night (8:00 PM - 10:00 PM)

• Free for all Lincoln Families!

• Watch “A Minecraft Movie” on the playground!

• Bring chairs or blankets to sit on.

• September 30th and October 1st - Conference Meals

• Sign-up to donate items: HERE

• October 17th - PTO Meeting (6:00 PM - 7:00 PM)

• October 17th - Walk-a-thon

• Flyers being sent home this week! Make sure to check your child’s backpack!

• Raffle is now live - purchase tickets HERE

• October 24th - Trunk or Treat (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)

• Trunk sign-up coming soon!

• November 11th - PTO Meeting (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM)

For the safety of all students, please follow the provided drop-off and pick-up map for car riders. All vehicles must enter through the car loop, where we will be operating two lanes to help traffic flow efficiently.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping arrival and dismissal safe and orderly for everyone.

Parent Portal Annual Update - Beginning August 1

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 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

If you need assistance - please call the school office at 614-478-5555.

A plate lunch is $2.75.

Breakfast is $1.50.

*New this year - 2 hot lunch options will be available for students to choose from for lunch each day. Please see the lunch menu for details. Students not interested in the hot lunch options will be able to select Yogurt/roll, Wowbutter sandwich, Garden Salad, Cheese Sandwich, or a Turkey Sandwich.

Families are again asked to complete and submit a 2025-2026 Free/Reduced-Priced Meal Application if they believe they may qualify. Applications are available in the Lincoln school office or online at: GahannaSchools.org. If approved, the completed application will cover the student for the entire 2025-26 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.

GJPS Elementary Student Handbook 25-26

Wit & Wisdom is our English Language Arts curriculum.

Here is a Curriculum Overview for Families.

Bridges is our Mathematics curriculum.

Check out Bridges Family Information if you would like to learn more by clicking on your child's grade level.

Ohio State Testing Dates are ready for the 2025-2026 school year. Please avoid scheduling vacations or appointments over these dates.

September 18 First Grade Vision Screening

September 19 Carnival during the day

September 30 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 2 Professional Learning Day for Staff - No School for Students

October 3 Conference Comp Day - No School for Students and Staff

October 17 End of Quarter 1

October 20 Staff Work Day - No School for Students

October 24 Report Cards for Quarter 1 go home with students