January 26, 2024

Our annual Spaghetti Dinner will take place on February 8th from 5:00- 7:00. Your child should have brought home an order form for dinner tickets. All orders are due by January 31st. If you need an additional order form please call the office to request one be sent home. 614-478-5560

Jefferson families, our second and final book fair of the year is fast approaching! It will take place February 20-23. Set-up and clean-up volunteers are still needed! There are a few slots left for helping during the sale as well. Please sign up today! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!

The clinic is in need of gently used clothing for students who need a change of clothes at school. Pants size 6 and up are especially needed at this time. Shirts and sweatshirts are also accepted. If you are cleaning out some closets and have an item to donate, Mr. Genton would be happy to accept your donation.

Whenever possible, we want students to be able to get outside for recess. As a general rule, anytime the temperature is above 20 degrees we will go outside, so please make sure your child has a coat, gloves and hat as needed. As I am sure you are aware, we have had a lot of rain which causes us to stay inside for recess. We love to get the students outside for a break, so even if there is a little mist in the sky, there is a chance we will go outside. This was the case on Friday, and even with the mist (heavy at times) the kids enjoyed being outside.

Safety is always a top priority. Our drop off and pick up lines are very busy and there is lot happening at those times. We need your help to make arrival and dismissal safe and efficient for all students. Reminders:

1) No cell phone use in the drop off or pick up lines.

2) Turn signals, please use your turn signals when entering and exiting the school driveways.

3) If you are parking and walking with your child please park in the lot closest to the baseball fields.

4) Please do not exit through the enter driveway during pickup and drop off.

5) If your student is unable to independently exit through the right side car door with assistance from the patrols, then please use the other parking lot by the baseball fields. (We do not want parents to exit their vehicles, nor do we want children exiting to the left and walking around cars.)

As a reminder, it is important for families to know the procedures for closing or delaying school. Closing and delay information will be communicated in the following ways:

Local News stations: WCMH NBC4, WBNS 10TV, WSYX ABC6, WTTE FOX 28, and the Columbus Dispatch. *Look for Gahanna-Jefferson Schools.

Website: www.gahannaschools.org (All delay/closing information is posted on the district homepage).

Facebook: Search @GahannaJeffersonSchools on Facebook to find this page easily

Email/Phone Call: The Infinite Campus system will send an email and make a phone call informing parents/guardians of the closing and/or delay as soon as the decision is made in the early morning.

Over the past two weeks, I have been in 4th and 5th grade classrooms talking about self discipline. You may have seen a paper come home where students evaluated different areas of their life in regards to their self discipline.

We talked about how they already use self discipline in their lives, tricks and tips to make it easier to do things we have to do when we don't feel like doing them and how there is no such thing as perfect when it comes to self discipline.

They did a wonderful job participating and sharing what works and doesn't work for them. I reminded them as they get older, they will want more and more opportunities for independence and the ways to show the grownups in their lives they are ready for this is through self discipline and being responsible.

We are sad to say goodbye to Gillian Sapp, the Concord provider, who has been with us since the start of the school year. We are also excited for her as she starts her new endeavor as a full time counselor in private practice. Gill has been a wonderful resource for Jefferson students, families and staff and will be missed. Over the next few weeks I will introduce a new Concord provider Jefferson will receive support from three days a week.

-Mrs. Haringa

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools has multiple ways to engage with the District. The next major event will be the State of the Schools and District Information Expo on Jan. 31 at Middle School West. The Expo is from 7:00- 7:55 with the State of The Schools Presentation starting at 7:55. Be sure to stop by the GJPS Foodservice table and sample some of our students' favorite lunches! Check out the flyers for more information on how to join us!

Thank you to all the families that joined us for Family Movie night. It was a great evening of community, socialization and family time. The planning committee and volunteers have already made notes for improvements and ideas for next year's event. Thank you also to the kids who were so patient as they were waiting for their second of third helping of popcorn! We served 280 bags of popcorn, and we are confident the kids could have eaten more if the machine could keep up!

Classroom coordinators who signed up to support the Valentine's Party will receive additional information this week. We are still looking for some coordinators for the following roms: Rogers, Callihan, Baker and Nilsen - please click this link to add your name to the list.

February 8, Spaghetti Dinner/Raffle 5:00- 7:00

February 14, Valentine's Day Party 1:15

February 16, No School- Professional Development Day

February 19, No School - Presidents Day

February 20 & 22 Parent Teacher Conferences

February 24- Chiller Skate Night

A look ahead to the rest of the year....

Skate Zone 71 March 13, 5:00-8:30 pm

State Testing April 2-May 2

Spring Break April 8-12

School Dance - April 26

Carnival- May 17

Sharpen the Saw/ Field Day May 22

Last Day of School May 24, 2024

2023-24 GJPS District Calendar (PDF)

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.