A Note from Mr. Graves

Happy New Year!

I trust everyone had a safe and enjoyable winter break, a great holiday season, and are ready to take on the second half of the school year. For some the start of a new year is an opportunity to reset or establish some goals. For students it can be a great time to work on organizing themselves. Here is something to consider.

Here’s how your child can practice setting, tracking, and achieving goals—skills that will serve her well now and in the future.

Be specific

What would your youngster like to accomplish? Maybe she wants to earn higher grades or become a better gymnast. Suggest that she narrow down the goal so it’s more targeted. Her goal might be “I will turn in all of my assignments on time” or “I will move up one level in gymnastics this year.”

Map it out

Breaking a goal into small steps makes it feel more manageable. Your child could draw a winding road on paper, add lines to divide it into segments, and write a step in each one. Examples: “Put my planner in my backpack when school ends” or “Do my beam routine five times in a row without falling off.” She can color each step as she completes it.

Check in

Support your child in sticking to her plan. Say she falls behind on a long-term project. Together, look at her planner and find slots of time where she can catch up. Or if she has to miss gymnastics class one day, offer ways to practice at home like using a strip of duct tape as a balance beam.

There may be times when Gahanna Schools will be placed on a 2 hour delay. This includes Goshen Lane Elementary. When this happens, please be aware of the following.

• Classes will begin at 10:05 for elementary students
• Students should not arrive to school prior to 9:45
• Students who ride a school bus should expect the bus to pick them up from the regular bus stop 2- hours later than the regular pick up time
• Breakfast will not be provided on days when there is a 2-hour delay
• Lunch and recess will occur as scheduled
• Students will be dismissed from school at the regular time

Winter weather has arrived! As a reminder, students will be outside every day for recess unless it is raining or bitterly cold. Please make sure that your student wears a hat and gloves, or be sure to send hat and gloves in your child’s book bag every day. We will use 23 degrees (including wind chill) as our threshold for going outside. Temperatures below 23 degrees will result in an indoor recess for our students.

School volunteer opportunities come in all shapes and sizes to fit anyone’s schedule. Consider these ways you might help your youngster’s school.

● Contribute supplies. Offer to save recyclables to use in the classroom. Ask the teacher what he/she needs—perhaps plastic bottle caps for math games or babyfood jars for snow globes. Note: If you have clothes your child has outgrown, find out whether the school nurse could use them.

● Share a talent. See if you can help with an after-school or evening activity. If you’re a runner, you might help coach a running club. Or if you enjoy arts and crafts, volunteer to make scenery or sew costumes for a play. For more specific way to support your child's school, reach out to his/her teacher for ideas. If you are interested in volunteering for Gahanna Jefferson public Schools. Our district offers a variety of activities you may choose from when volunteering your time. Simply complete and submit a volunteer application and upon approval you will receive instructions on next steps.

• January 10: Report Cards Sent to Parents/Guardians
• January 14: PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
• January 15: Eager Engineers Winter Session Begins
• January 16: Eager Artists Winter Session Begins
• January 20: Martin Luther King Day - No School