April 17, 2025

April 17, 2025
Principal Priorities
Spring Dance!
The Spring Dance is just one week away, and we need Volunteers to make it a success!
Adult supervision is required for all attendees, but we also have some specific volunteer needs. Click the link below for full details of how you can help make the dance a success.
K-2 Students 6:00- 7:10 with doors opening at 6:00
3-5 Students 7:30 - 9:00 with doors opening at 7:30
Kindergarten Registration
2025-26 Kindergarten Registration now OPEN!!!!
Kindergarten registration is NOW OPEN! If your child will be 5 years old by August 1st, they are ready to embark on an amazing educational journey! Register online today and spread the word to your friends and family—let’s make this a fantastic year for our little learners!
Mark your calendars for the Kindergarten Kick-Off event at Jefferson Elementary on May 6 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM! 🎉 Come visit the school, and participate in a fun scavenger hunt. It’s a great opportunity to meet teachers, make new friends, and get excited about your child’s upcoming kindergarten journey! We can't wait to see you there!
Ohio State Testing
Below is our spring Ohio State Testing Schedule for grades 3, 4, and 5 students. Testing will begin in the morning. We kindly ask that you avoid planned absences or planned medical appointments on these dates. Thank you for your support and understanding.
Counseling Corner
Free Summer Programs
We are excited to share that a partner agency we work with, Concord Counseling, will be offering some free summer group programs this year. Students going into grades 1st-6th for the 2025-2026 school year will have the opportunity to attend day camps that address various social-emotional skills. Here are the following groups that will be offered within Gahanna as well as Groveport and Westerville. Students can attend group in any of the 3 locations:
Emotion Explorers: Addresses identification of various basic emotions, how they feel in the body, how we can appropriately express those emotions to others, and various coping skills to help manage those big emotions
Worry Warriors: Addresses identification of worry triggers, meaning of worry vs. anxiety, how worry feels in the body, and coping skills to help decrease worries
Keys To Success: Addresses executive functioning needs such as planning/organizing, identifying/eliminating distractions, self-control, and attention/focus
Let's Be Friends: Addresses positive social skills to utilize within friendships, such as active listening, conflict resolution, appropriate emotion identification/expression, and how to make new friends
PTO News and Events
Earth Day & Playground Refresh
Volunteer Opportunities
Office Volunteer Sign-up
General help at a time that works for you! This can be 30 minutes or three hours! Help make copies, sort papers, organize materials, collect or distribute materials, and other office-type activities needed to support classroom instruction.
Instructions will be provided, so no experience is necessary!
Lunch Helpers Volunteer Sign-up
Our school is in need of volunteers in the cafeteria to help students open food containers, help with general cleanup, and wipe off tables for others.
Playground Helpers- Volunteer Sign-up
Help the staff at Jefferson have extra eyes on the playground. Walk around the playground, monitor activities, talk with students, or join in and play a game with them!
Upcoming School Events
Mark Your Calendar...
April 24 5th Parent Orientation Meeting at Middle School East, 5:30 pm
April 25 School Dance: Grades K-2 6:00- 7:10 pm. (Free Event)
April 25 School Dance: Grades 3-5 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm (Free Event)
May 2 No School - Professional Development Day
May 6 Kindergarten Kick-Off Event 5:30-6:30
May 16 Family Fun Night(Free Event)
May 21 Field Day
May 23 Last Day of School
ical Link to add Jefferson Calendar to your phone
Pizza Rotation for Jefferson Elementary
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Heart and Pride Nominations
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. Families are encourage to nominate a staff member today! The Heart & Pride Nomination Form will remain available year-round and is open to any member of our staff, regardless of position.
Resources
Please visit www.gahannaschools.org You can find almost anything you need on our website
- Infinite Campus: Please log in to the parent portal and complete the Annual Information Update. Update all Emergency Medical Forms, make sure all contact information is current, apply money to lunch accounts, and more! Click Here for DIRECTIONS
- Bus Information: find your student's bus route, contact information, and download the bus app.
- Free and Reduced Lunch Applications: Apply for free or reduced price lunch using the Parent Portal. Directions and more information can be found on the Food Service Website. If you need assistance please contact our head cook, Kim Karshner Karshnerk@gjps.org
Family Facebook Group
Join our Facebook Group and be part of the community. This group was created for Jefferson families and staff to support and celebrate our students and school. It's also a great place to ask questions of other parents and have support as you navigate the school year.
We are excited to see all the amazing and encouraging ways our families and staff connect with each other! This is a place for positive comments and a helpful resource for families. This is not the place to voice concerns. If you have an issue you would like to discuss, please get in touch with the staff member directly via email or call the school. This is a place to build on the sense of community within our Jefferson Family.
Gahanna, Ohio 43230
614-478-5560
