September 1, 2023

Students did a fantastic job this week. The second full week of school and a full moon can be a recipe for adventure and challenges. I am happy to report that our students have been doing a great job showing what it means to be a Jefferson Leader. Please take a moment to read this issue and be sure to see important information about our Jog For Jefferson fundraiser event, tips and reminders for drop off and pick up, and some picture highlights from the week. Enjoy the long holiday weekend- we will see everyone on Tuesday!

The Jefferson Elementary community is an awesome place to grow and learn. We know your kindergratener's have come home talking about their new friends. We would like to invite kindergarten students and their families(siblings welcome) to meet and play on the playground and have a popsicle courtesy of the PTO! This is an informal opportunity to meet and socialize with other kindergarten familes. The principal will be on hand as well that evening to welcome familes to Jefferson. The event will take place on Thursday, September 7 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

This week I have enjoyed going into kindergarten, 4th and 5th grade classrooms to introduce myself to the students and let them know how I will work with them this school year. I have three more classrooms to visit next week and then I will have been in all the rooms. Your kindergarten and first grade students may talk about "the feelings teacher" coming into their room.

Getting a full night sleep is an important part of your child's happiness and success at school. Please check out this resource from Nationwide Children's Hospital with tips to help your child get a great night's sleep.

GRIN provides food to be sent home on Fridays for families in need. If this is something you would be interested in, please fill out this form and send it back to me. You can also email me at haringah@gjps.org.

If you have a social, emotional concern for your child that impacts them while they are at school and would like to share this with me to see how we can help support your child, please fill out this form. Family Counseling Referral Form

Thank you for following our safety procedures and the directions of our safety patrol. We want to make drop off and pick up as smooth as possible. Here are a few reminders.

1) Please, no cell phones when you are in the active drop off or pick up line- we need your attention focused on the students and driving- thank you.

2) Pull all the way up to the crosswalk and then fill in all available space. This will allow us to load or unload five cars at a time.

3) For pick up, write your child's name with a bold black marker and display it on your car's dashboard or visor.

4) If you are exiting your car and walking to the front lawn to pick up your child, please use the west parking lot near the baseball diamonds.

• It is extremely important that students arrive on time to school.

• Students can enter the building at 7:45 AM.

• 7:40 AM if they are eating breakfast.

• Instruction begins daily at 8:00 AM.

• Students must enter through the front office with a parent/guardian if they arrive after 8:00.

• The back door for car drop off will be locked after 8:00 AM.

• Please make every effort possible to notify the school in ALL cases of student absence. Calls should be made to the school office (614-478-5560) between the hours of 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

• If you have an upcoming trip/vacation that will cause your child to miss school, please notify the classroom teacher and Mr. Williams (williamsc@gjps.org) in the front office. You will also need to complete the planned absence form.

• Students will be considered excessively absent if they are absent thirty-eight or more hours in one school month or sixty-five or more hours in a school year with a non-medical excuse or without legitimate excuse. If this happens, you will be notified via an excessively absent letter.

• Students will be considered habitually truant if they are absent without legitimate excuse for thirty or more consecutive hours, forty-two or more hours in one school month, or seventy-two or more hours in one school year. If this happens, you will be notified in writing via a habitually truant letter. **In addition, Mr. Schmidt or Mr. Williams will also contact you to schedule a meeting with the truancy officer to develop an absence intervention plan.

Questions about student attendance? Please contact Mr. Williams (williamsc@gjps.org)

Due to excessive negative meal balances across the District, all Gahanna-Jefferson schools will be reinstating a previously used meal charge policy. Starting Sept. 5, 2023, any student with more than five lunch charges this school year will receive a substitute meal in the cafeteria. At the elementary level this means accounts with more than $13.75 in negative charges and at the middle and high school levels, this includes accounts that have accrued more than $15 in debt. The substitute breakfast will consist of a breakfast bar, fruit and milk and the substitute lunch will include a cheese (turkey for dairy substitute) sandwich, fruit and milk.

Families will receive a phone call and/or email starting with the second negative charge to alert you of the deficit in your student's account.

If you need to add funds to your student’s account, you can do so through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal or with a check or cash. Additionally, if you think your family would qualify for free or reduced meals, you can apply via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, print a paper application from the District website or fill out a paper application found in the office at each building. Any student that is approved for free or reduced lunch for the 2023-24 school year will receive a regularly menued meal. Families with a negative balance from a previous school year will be contacted by the District office to ensure full payment by the end of the 2023-24 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 Megan Schweller if you have any questions.

September 4 Labor Day No School

September 7 Kindergarten Popsicles & Playground 6:00- 7:00 PM

September 15 Jog for Jefferson

September 16 Whit's Dine Out Event (All day- no flyer needed- just mention Jefferson Elementary)

September 22 Picture Day

September 25 Teacher Professional Learning Day, No School for Students

LUNCH MENU LINK

2023-24 GJPS District Calendar (PDF)