Welcome Back to School

Welcome back Chapelfield Lions!

We are looking forward to an exciting new school year full of new learning opportunities, creating lasting memories, developing strong friendships, and watching the incredible growth of our students. I cannot wait to see new and familiar faces on the first day of school on Thursday, August 17.

This is our weekly update that you can expect from me every Friday starting on August 18. Check this newsletter for important dates and information that pertain to our school community. You can also find our newsletters on our new and improved website. This welcome back newsletter will be longer than usual to give you the most important and relevant information to prepare for school next week.

On Tuesday, August 15 from 3:30-5 p.m., we will welcome students and families to Chapelfield to drop off school supplies and meet their teachers. Make sure to stop at the PTO table to get a ticket for a sweet treat. We are honored to have a dedicated PTO that is able to sponsor events such as these to make Chapelfield a welcoming community.

We are eager to partner with our families to support your child/ren in their education journey. If you have any questions, please reach out to me at millern@gjps.org.

Sincerely,

Nikki Miller

Hello Chapelfield Families!

My name is Krysten Jasin and this is my first year as the School Counselor at Chapelfield, but my 14th year teaching in Gahanna. I have spent the past 13 years serving as an Intervention Specialist in the district. I started my career at Middle School West and spent the past 8 years at Jefferson Elementary. I am so eager and excited for this shift into the role of a School Counselor!

I received both my bachelor's degree in Special Education and my master's degree in School Counseling from the University of Dayton. I reside in Gahanna with my husband, Brad, and two young children, Leo and Rosie. I am proud to live, work, and raise my own children in this amazing community!

Please take time to say hello to our newest staff members and welcome them to the CES team and family:

• Megan Pijor; Kindergarten Teacher
• Kristi Stummer; 1st Grade Teacher
• Morgan Weimer; 4th grade English Language Arts teacher
• Lydia May; K-2 Intervention Specialist
• Lauren McIsaac; ELSS teacher
• Sierra Smith; Occupational Therapist
• Jeff Lenczowski; Adapted Physical Education Teacher
• Diana Rees; Math Alternative Instructor
• Jessica Ellison; Smart Lab Facilitator
• Aida Mbodji; Teacher Assistant
• Eunice Verrilli; Teacher Assistant

TEACHER ASSIGNMENTS FOR 2023-2024

Class assignments for 2023-2024: Families of students in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be able to see which teacher your child(ren) will have for the 2023-2024 school year by logging into the Parent Portal through Infinite Campus on August 1a (after 1:00 PM).

Kindergarten staggered entrance dates were mailed out to families at the beginning of August. Please call the school office at 614-478-5575 if you have any questions. Kindergarten class assignments will be shared at curriculum night, Tuesday, August 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Arrival

Our doors open at 7:40 a.m. for students who will be eating breakfast at school. All other students are able to enter at 7:50 a.m. Buses will dismiss students at 7:50 a.m. Kindergarten, first, and second grade students enter through the doors on the right, if you’re facing the building. Third, fourth, and fifth grade students will enter the doors on the left. Students who are driven to school by parents or guardians may be dropped off beginning at 7:50 a.m. They will exit their vehicle and follow the sidewalk to the front of the building. In the case of inclement weather, students will be permitted to come into the building rather than waiting outside. However, this is not until 7:50 a.m, when student supervision begins.

Dismissal

Buses/Shuttles:

Students riding the bus will exit at the front of the building. Students riding shuttle or early buses will leave either at 2:10 p.m. or 2:15 p.m. depending on the bus they ride. Students who will be transported to a daycare will leave at 2:20 p.m. and exit the door next to the music room. All other bus riders will leave at 2:25 p.m.

Car Riders:

Students being picked up by car will use the door near the music room, the west door. These students are dismissed at 2:25 p.m. This is a car rider lane ONLY. It is not for parents or guardians to park and pick students up in person. We kindly ask that you refrain from using your cell phone at this time in order to keep all students safe.

Parent Pick Up & Students Walking Home (NOT IN A CAR): Dismissed at 2:30 p.m.

If you wish to pick your child up in person, and not sit in the car lane, please go to the front of the building or pick up at the designated location.

• Kindergarten and 1st grade students are dismissed at the side door that is at the front playground; the first east side door.
• 2nd and 3rd grade students are dismissed from the front doors.
• 4th and 5th grade students are dismissed at the door exiting from the back hallway; the further east side door.

A plate lunch is $2.75.

Breakfast is $1.50. *Breakfast runs from 7:40 - 8:00 AM each day at Blacklick.

Families are again asked to complete and submit a 2023-2024 Free/Reduced-Priced Meal Application (PDF) if they believe they may qualify. If approved, the completed application will cover the student for the entire 2023-24 school year, and no other steps will be necessary unless there is an income change during the 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.

Infinite Campus is our parent portal and student information system. This site will allow parents/guardians to access school information electronically. For example, Infinite Campus will allow you to update email addresses and other important information regarding your child as well as view your child's report card electronically.

ALL Families (either new to Chapelfield or returning families) need to update your information in the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus. Directions for how to update Infinite Campus are linked below:

1. Log into the Parent Portal on Infinite Campus at: https://gahannajeffersonoh.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/gahanna_jefferson.jsp

2. Click MORE from the left hand column

3. Click on ONLINE REGISTRATION from choices on the right

4. Click START next to "Existing Student Registration"

5. Go through each step to complete the registration

Families New to Chapelfield Elementary: If you are a new family to Chapelfield (including all of our kindergarten families), you will receive an email from Mrs. Gilzow, school secretary, soon detailing directions on how to log into the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus to update your information.

Returning Families: If you need assistance - please call the school office at 614-478-5575. Mrs. Gilzow will be happy to help.

Things to know:

• Campus Payments will be ready for lunch deposits starting August 10, 2023. Fees can be paid when they are finalized later in August.
• Checking accounts, credit cards, and debit cards will be accepted.
• Families will be able to deposit lunch money and pay school fees in a single transaction.

To complete these activities, please log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal. This webpage also includes a Portal Help button which provides other helpful Infinite Campus documents and support resources.

The related links below provide step-by-step guidance to pay fees, deposit funds into meal accounts and complete the Annual Information Update on Infinite Campus. If you continue to need assistance, please complete the Parent Portal Help Request Form, and the GJPS technology department will get back to you as soon as possible.

To increase safety and security protocols, all GJPS volunteers who may have the potential to interact with students in an unsupervised setting or may have access to confidential information will be required to complete an online application that includes a background check. The district will provide the background checks at no cost to the volunteer. Background checks are required EACH school year. If you completed a background check last school year, you will need to complete the process again for the 2023-2024 school year a year after receiving the completed check. For example, if you received a background check for the carnival in May, you will NOT need a new background check UNTIL the following May.

EXAMPLES

• Examples of volunteer experiences include but are not limited to: cafeteria helpers, reading aides, mentors, hall monitors, field day volunteers, library helpers, office helpers, tutors, field trip chaperones, small group or individual student work in the hallway, party helpers, concession workers, fundraising volunteers, book fair volunteers, mobile dentist volunteers, etc.

STEPS TO VOLUNTEER

1. Contact your principal or teacher to express an interest in volunteering.
2. Your principal or teacher will send you a link to the Online Volunteer Application and background check.
   
3. Complete the Online Volunteer Application and Background Check at least 5 days before your initial volunteer experience.
   
4. Renew your Volunteer Application and Background Check yearly from the date of issuance.
   

Updated Volunteer Procedures (PDF)

Routing information for the 2023-24 school year is available. Please use Transfinder to search for your route. This web-based service provides Gahanna-Jefferson families 24/7 flexibility and access to route information based on their home address!

Be sure to enter only the street number and street name. Do not enter the zip code or grades or school. (Entering more than the street number and name may cause inaccurate information to display.)

When you receive your bus information, please check over it carefully. If something does not make sense please contact transportation at (614) 751-7581.

BUS SCHEDULE AND ROUTES FOR 2023-24

Please review the checklist that is listed below to ensure that your family is ready for the new school year:

____ Log in to Infinite Campus and update your child's information for the 2023-2024 school year. This is a requirement for ALL families (new families and returning families).

*If you do not have access to the internet or are unable to download the information, please call the school office during summer office hours, 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Mrs. Gilzow our school secretary, will be available to assist families in updating information in Infinite Campus.

______ Lunch Menu (Online now at gahannaschools.org). Students can choose to pack their lunch or eat a lunch provided by the school cafeteria.

______ Chapelfield Calendar of Events is on the Gahanna Schools website (gahannaschools.org), and included in our weekly emails throughout the year.

_______Chapelfield School Supply List **Available on the Gahanna Schools website - on the Chapelfield page - gahannaschools.org or by clicking the links below:

2023-2024 Chapelfield School Supply List

______Bus Transfer Request Form (Return only if applicable to your child, if your daycare provider says that you ride a Gahanna bus, you must complete this form; available on Gahanna website under transportation tab)

______ Medication Form (If your child will be taking medication at school including over the counter medication; on Gahanna Schools website under health services)

______ Food Allergy Forms (must indicate online and have a written doctor’s note with alternatives (You will turn in the doctor's note to the school office).

______ Pay School Fees through Campus Payment in Infinite Campus Parent Portal (beginning August 10, 2023).

______ GJPS/Chapelfield Student Handbook (acknowledge on Infinite Campus; a copy of the GJPS Student Handbook is located on the Gahanna Schools website at http://www.gahannaschools.org).

*Welcome to our 2023-2024 PTO Board Members:

President: Andrea Agan

Vice President: Justin Winslow

Co-Treasurer: Cheryl Glenn & Taylor Winslow

Co-Secretary: Tina Green & Kristen Muenster

Communication Coordinator: Kristi Sayers

C0-Volunteer Coordinator: Alicia McGovern & Holly Williamson

• Please stop by the PTO booth to get a ticket for a sweet treat and sign up to help us to provide wonderful events for our school community.
• See our Spirit wear booth for fun GJPS and CES clothing that night as well to support our 5th grade committee.

*Want to purchase school supplies in an easy way? Check out this sale here.

*Breakfast with Buddies: Join us on Friday, September 1st from 7:15 a.m.-8:00 a.m. for all students and their family. Come have breakfast with your child/ren.

• We need a chair and volunteers in order for this event to happen.
• We will cancel the event on August 25th, if we do not have a chair and volunteers to host this event.

*Our first PTO meeting will be Tuesday, September 12th at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapelfield Library.

*Volunteers Needed: In order for us to give back to our school community and provide fun events, we need volunteers. Please sign up here to join our team.

Tuesday, August 15:

*Welcome Back to School Icee Social sponsored by PTO from 3:30-5 p.m.

Thursday, August 17

*First Day of School for Students

Thursday, August 17-September 21:

*KRA testing for Kindergarten Students

Tuesday, August 22:

*Kindergarten Curriculum Night from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 23-September 11:

*PTO Mum Flower Sales (Paper orders due August 30 & Online orders due September 11)

September 4 Labor Day No School

2023-24 GJPS District Calendar (PDF)