GJH Parent Portal

February 2-6 is National School Counseling Week, and GJH is thankful to have two of the best! Katherine Christoffersen is our 7th grade school counselor, and Vilma Padilla is our 8th grade school counselor.

These ladies play a vital role in supporting the academic and personal growth of our students. Our school counselors work closely with students to help them navigate challenges, set goals, and build skills that foster confidence and resilience. They help students feel seen and supported, they provide valuable resources for families, and they can always be counted on for a smile and a listening ear — for both students and staff. Their dedication, compassion, and expertise make a lasting difference in students’ lives and in our community. Encourage your child to take a moment to thank their school counselors for the important work that they do!

Parents of Current 8th Graders: During this second half of the school year, our 8th grade students will be busy preparing for their upcoming transition to Goshen High School. Watch for important information and timelines for creating class schedules and learning more about life at GHS! Please note: Due to weather, the meeting for 8th graders and their parents/guardians was rescheduled for Wednesday, February 4th, in the Goshen Junior High auditorium. The same information will be shared at both 5:30 and 6:30, with time for questions.

Parents of Current 7th Graders: See the important announcement below about scheduling forms for next year.

We certainly hope that the worst of the winter weather is behind us! Just in case we have any more eLearning days, here are the protocols for synchronous and asynchronous eLearning. More information and FAQs about eLearning can be found at: https://www.goshenschools.org/scheduleselearning .

On a Synchronous eLearning day, students learn from home by following a set schedule. Teachers provide live, real-time instruction through online platforms, and students are expected to log in during specific times for lessons, discussions, and activities. Attendance is taken, and assignments are due the same day unless otherwise noted. Synchronous eLearning mirrors a regular school day as closely as possible, ensuring students stay connected with their teachers and classmates while learning remotely. Goshen Junior High synchronous instructional hours are 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. On synchronous days, attendance is based on student participation in scheduled live sessions.

On an Asynchronous eLearning day, students also learn from home, but on a more flexible schedule. Teachers provide assignments, recorded lessons, and activities that can be completed independently throughout the day. Students are not required to log in at a specific time, but they are expected to complete the assigned work and submit it by the deadlines set by their teachers. This model gives families more flexibility while still meeting learning expectations. If a student does not have their school-issued device, they will have 5 days to complete the assigned work. Lessons will be posted to Canvas by 9:00 AM, and teachers will have office hours that are communicated to parents/students. On asynchronous days, attendance is based on assignment completion within the required timeframe.

For the safety of students, car traffic is not allowed in the front parking lot during our arrival (8:45-9:15) and dismissal (3:45-4:15) times. At any time when there are buses in the front lot, parents must drop off or pick up students in the North or South lot. Please communicate with your child ahead of time so s/he will know where to find you after school.

• If you need to pick up your child early from school, please call at least an hour ahead of the pick-up time. The welcome center can get quite busy, and we need time to notify students and have them ready for you.

• We also ask that you arrive at your stated time to pick up your child in order to reduce students' time out of class.

• If your call is not answered, please leave a voicemail in English or Spanish. In your message, please include:

• Student's first and last name

• Student's Grade

• Caller's first and last name

• Time for pickup

The German Club will take a field trip to Staatskongress, the state German conference, on Saturday, February 6th at Hamilton Southeastern High School. The German Club will meet each Tuesday in one more time on Tuesday, February 3rd, to finish preparing their projects for the conference. See Frau Bruder for more information.

The GJH STEM Club is gearing up for an exciting competition at Purdue University on February 27–28! From late-night brainstorming to hands-on testing and teamwork, our members are pushing their skills to the next level as we prepare to represent our school on a big stage.

We’re proud of the dedication, innovation, and collaboration our team has shown—and we can’t wait to put our hard work to the test. Stay tuned for updates and wish us luck!

The P.E. in the Rockies Backpacking Trip is an elective summer course and travel experience offered to a maximum of 20 eighth-grade students who complete the school year in good standing. Students are selected based on teacher, counselor, and principal recommendation and approval and should not have serious behavioral referrals.

Students will participate in three six-hour classroom sessions in April and May, followed by a fifteen-day sightseeing and backpacking trip to Colorado. The tentative trip dates are July 1–15, pending board approval. Students who successfully complete the classroom portion of the course will earn one high school Physical Education credit.

The travel portion of the course includes visits to Colorado Springs (Garden of the Gods), Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Telluride, the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area, the Ouray Hot Springs, and whitewater rafting on the Colorado River. Students will tent camp throughout the trip, sharing a tent and camping equipment with a partner of their choosing from the group. The experience culminates in a five-day wilderness expedition during which students hike, explore, and apply the wilderness skills learned in the classroom.

The cost of the trip is $550.00 The application process will begin in February, and additional information will be shared during students’ science classes.

If you have questions, please email Ana Medina Kaufman at akaufman@goshenschools.org and/or Matthew Katzer at mkatzer@goshenschools.org.

Friday night, Feb. 6th, Advanced Theater Arts performs "Pantalone's New Pantalones" at the Goshen Theater downtown. Shows are at 6pm and 7:15pm. Tickets are $3 at the door. Cash only. Poster advertisement attached.

Friday night, Feb. 13th, the Beginning Theatre Arts classes perform their first show of the year: Ancient Greek Mythology. Shows start at 7pm, tickets at door only for $3. Cash only.

Students will have a reward field trip opportunity at the end of the school year for those who qualify based on attendance, behavior, and being on time to classes.

Qualifying 7th graders will have the opportunity to go to Deep River Water Park.

Qualifying 8th graders will be able to go to Cedar Point.

Students must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for these trips:

1. Six or fewer absences (excused and unexcused absences count)
2. Thirty or fewer tardies to class
3. One or less referral (excluding major referrals)

Administrators will make the final decision about eligibility for any exceptional cases.

Click on the documents below to see details about February events for teens at Goshen Public Library.

February 16 - Presidents Day - No School

March 20 - Staff Data Day, No School for Students

March 30, 4:30-7:30 p.m. - GJH Parent-Teacher Conferences (by appointment only)

April 3 - Good Friday, No School

April 6-10 Spring Break

Goshen Community Schools Dress Code can be found in the online student handbook at Student Handbooks - Google Drive

Our goal is to help students understand and evaluate appropriate settings for formal vs. informal attire, which is a skill they will use in the world beyond school. Students will see this addressed starting on the first day of school.

We appreciate parents working with us on this. If you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact an administrator.

Click this link to access student handbooks in English and Spanish:

https://gjhs.goshenschools.org/about/

Do you know of a GJH staff member who has "gone the extra mile" to make a difference in the life of a child? Take a moment to recognize and thank someone who has shown the Heart of a Redhawk! Click on the link below to fill out a nomination form. This is a simple, meaningful way to thank someone for a job well done.

www.goshenschools.org/heartofaRedHawk

Email: lherschberger@goshenschools.org
Website: https://gjhs.goshenschools.org/
Location: 1216 S. Indiana Avenue, Goshen, IN 46526
Phone: (574)533-0391
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goshenjrhigh/
Twitter: @GoshenJrHigh