A Trip Down Goshen Lane

Hello, Families,

Upcoming School Break: Please enjoy the long weekend with your family!

• Monday & Tuesday: No School (Enjoy the break!)

• Wednesday, October 21: Classes Resume

THANK YOU to our incredible PTA and families for supplying staff with conference night meals. The meals were amazing - we felt the love!

With PRIDE!

Mrs. Suriano

Hello there! It feels as though the school year has been flying by. This month has seen all students be introduced to a coding device called a microbit ai. The microbit ai is a computer that is smaller than a credit card. We are lucky enough that through both book fair profits, and a grant from GJEF we now have a class set of 24 microbits and a set of 14 coding accessories such as led lights, buttons, speakers, circuit boards and so forth to build elaborate coding programs. The students and I are figuring it out step by step since it is new to us all.

As we are getting used to the microbits, all students are learning what is a machine and how do we program those machines to do what we want them to do. The younger students did this through sorting building items. We sorted waffle blocks, legos, and so forth into piles. We would discuss how different color items and different shaped items would need to be programed to hello the computer sort. Then students were given a “code” to build something. We then talked about how if a code didn’t work right it needs debugged.

Older students have been getting acclimated to the microbit coding program and have been seeing what they can do. They will also have a special job to code the chips for 1st grade to use for a future lesson.

K-1 students are continuing to discuss fiction and nonfiction texts. They are understanding how to find books that interest them and are working on their skills.

The older students 2-5 have been asking questions wondering more about computers and coding and have built on what they know in order to figure out what they want to know next. They also looked at how we are influenced in ads and how media can be made by different creators like authors, cartoonists, filmmakers and so forth.

I am really excited about something I am working on which is bookmarks. I am in the process of making bookmarks with nursery rhymes, and one minute short stories on them. The goal of these bookmarks is to help get more reading materials to students and also to hope you can spare a minute or so to read a short story to grow as a reader. Be on the look out for those., I hope you can carve out a couple minutes at night to share a short story.

Questions to ask your student:

• How have you been programming the microbit? What all have you been able to make it do?

• What is one book you have checked out and enjoyed? Why?

Each year school districts in Ohio are required to offer an opportunity for students in grades K-12 to be identified as gifted in the area of Visual and Performing Arts. The identified areas of giftedness for Visual and Performing Arts include Visual Arts, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Drama/Theater, and Dance. If you know of a student that may be gifted in an area of the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and would like for them to be screened for possible gifted identification in that particular area, please complete the Visual and Performing Arts Nomination Form found through this link.

Click here to learn more about the two-phase VPA gifted identification process. Please keep in mind that this evaluation is for identification purposes only. There are no specialized classes offered to students identified as gifted in VPA; however, teachers can use this information to differentiate their lessons.

Please note: Once a student is identified as gifted in one of the Visual and Performing Arts categories (instrumental music, vocal music, dance, visual art, theater/drama), the student is not eligible to go through the nomination process again for the same category.

Nominations will be accepted until Sunday, November 15, 2026, and will only be accepted using the Google link above.

If you have any questions, please contact Colleen Boyle at gjpsgifted@gjps.org.

We are committed to making sure families are aware of the opportunities for connecting with and receiving support from school. Click here to read the 26-27 Goshen Lane Parent Involvement Policy/Plan.

• To access the Assessments section:

1. Login to the Parent Portal

2. Choose a Student

3. Select the Menu icon at the top of the page (three lines on the top, left side)

4. Select “More”

5. Select “Assessments”

Classroom fall parties are at the end of the day Friday, October 30th. Please see your child's teacher's communication for your party details.

Information for All Goshen Lane Students:

• To ensure a fun and safe day for everyone, please help your child follow these school-wide Costume Guidelines:
• Wearing a costume is optional. Students who choose to wear a costume should already be dressed in costume when they come to school.
• Costumes must be school-appropriate — nothing scary/gory, no weapon-like props, and modest coverage of the body.
• Pieces/Accessories like hats should come to school in a book bag and can be worn during the party.
• No face paint
• Staff will monitor costumes, and adjustments will may be made if necessary.

Our 3rd graders will take their state reading test on Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 28. We are so proud of how hard our students have been working to get ready!

Here are a few ways you can help your child do their best:

• Make sure they get a good night’s sleep before each testing day.

• Eat a healthy breakfast each morning.

• Arrive to school on time so they can start the day calmly.

• Offer encouragement and confidence—remind them to take their time and do their best!

We know our 3rd graders will shine! 🌟

Middle School West is selling these fun Gahanna Lions blankets if interested!

To report an absence, please call the front office at 614-478-5580 or email mcfaddene@gjps.org by 8:30am if possible. Please also let your child's teacher know.

If you have a planned absence, please fill out this form and send it in to the office. For more information or questions, please visit the GJPS website.

Did you know your child can access their online educational apps at home like they do in school? These resources include Lexia and DreamBox, educational accounts to build reading and math skills. Click here to read how.

Visit the 2026-27 GJPS Calendar for several important dates in the year ahead.

2026-27 Ohio State Tests Dates

Oct. 19: Conference Comp Day - No School

Oct. 20: Staff Work Day - No School

Oct. 21: Picture Re-take Day

Nov. 9: Staff Professional Development Day - No School

Nov. 10, 7:00 - 8:00p: PTA Meeting in Library
Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving Break - No School

Dec. 8, 6:00 PTA Decorating Night
Dec. 23 - Jan. 4: Winter Break - No School (Jan. 4: Teacher Work Day)

Feb. 11: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Feb. 18: Parent-Teacher Conferences

FIND GJPS NEWS AND UPDATES

Yearlong Color-Coded Lunch Menu , and with Pictures

2026-2027 District Calendar

Student Handbook

Bus Schedule and Routes

GJPS Forms