A Trip Down Goshen Lane

Hello, Families,

Welcome to 2026! I hope you each rang in the new year with anticipation of some great things ahead. Students returned excited and ready to go! Many set goals for their new year.

Report Cards came home today and can also be viewed on Infinite Campus. Our teachers and students are working hard. Please use this time to talk at home about areas the student is proud of and areas the student would like to give more attention to in this second semester. This is a perfect time for reflection and goal setting. Please return envelopes to school next week as we will use those again for each student.

This Week's Question Around the Dinner Table:

• What is one goal you have for home?
• What is one goal you have for school?

Sharon Suriano

Principal

Way to set those new year goals, first graders!

We love our fifth graders' "one word" for 2026!

During the month of November, all of 4th grade participated in Book Jackets, a reading incentive sponsored by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Each child was given a scorecard to keep track of their reading minutes throughout the month. At the end of the month, we totaled all the minutes and turned in our results. In total, the 23 students who participated read over 28,000 minutes. Each participant received an opportunity to get a Blue Jackets game ticket as well as receiving an awesome Blue Jackets bucket hat. The fourth grade teachers are so proud of their readers!

5th graders have been growing as digital citizens and working to understand the media that they consume. They have had discussions about what influencers do and how we can find influencers online and in different fields. Students have also been discussing how media can make people feel by understanding logos (using facts), pathos (using emotion), and ethos (using an endorsement from a person). Students have worked to look closer at the messages different media platforms can present and are working to develop critical thinking skills when they use media.

4th graders have been dipping their toes into research and understanding how to pull facts and information from different resources on infohio. Students first looked at Pebble Go Next which allowed them to look into science categories like the ocean, animals, landforms and more. Students were tasked with creating a slide show with the facts they learned on the topic they chose and adding images into the slides to grow their google slides skills. Currently students are now looking at another resource called Culturegrams and are creating slides on a country or state of their choosing.

2-3 have been also looking at infohio and working on navigating there on their own on classlink. Students are able to find the resources in the yellow folder on classlink and can click to infohio. This allows students to know how to be able to access infohio anywhere in the state of Ohio since it is a free resource to all students in the state of Ohio. Students were shown how to access free ebooks on Capstone Ebooks and got to explore different genres of books that are available. As students have been exploring resources, they have had the discussion of what makes a good reader, and students came to the conclusion that readers can read physical print books, ebook and e media, and can also enjoy reading through audio books which help support them.

K-1 has been working to understand the basic fundamentals of research. Students walked through a research topic of understanding parts of a turkey as a whole class. They were introduced to infohio and their resources and they looked through different resources as a class to figure out if they were helpful to answer the question. Students determined that World Almanac for Kids was the best resource to help them. Students then discussed how different resources can help find different answers and more information. Students got time to explore different resources as a whole group so they know what the resources can do. Later in the school year the resources will be revisited and expanded upon.

As we wrapped up before winter break, all students participated in Hour of Code Week. This is a week set aside where students get experience working with coding and programming skills and understanding how this is an up and coming job field. Grades 2-5 worked on programming their own video games such as a Star Wars game, or Flappy Bird. Younger students built a code program together as a class to move a character as well as participate in other fun and engaging coding activities.

Questions you can ask at home:

1- What was your favorite part about learning how to code? Did you enjoy the process of programming something new to enjoy?

2- Is there a platform on infohio thats your favorite one to help you find information? Ask your student if they can show you how to access it, or visit it through www.infohio.org or through classlink.

3- What new things have you learned as you have been conducting research?

4- What has been one of your favorite books you have checked out this year?

We want students to be engaged in learning and not distracted by devices. You may have seen that Ohio's new cell phone law was officially effective on January 1, 2026, however, there are no changes to our previously communicated expectations outlined in the Elementary Student Handbook.

"CELL PHONES & SMART WATCHES - from the Elementary Student Handbook

Cell phones are permitted at school, but must remain off and in the student’s book bags throughout the school day. Smart watches are also permitted, but should only be used as a clock while at school. Students are not permitted to send or receive text messages or phone calls on cell phones or smart watches during the day. Additionally, photos may not be taken with cell phones or smart watches at school. On state testing days, smart watches are not permitted to be worn. If a parent/guardian needs to reach their student during the school day, they should call the school office at 614-478-5580. The school is not responsible for cell phones or smart watches that are lost, stolen, or damaged."

Winter Session 1 will be starting Jan. 28th for interested Grade 1-5 students. See below for details.

Ongoing Fundraisers:

Goshen Lane Spirit Wear

Kroger Community Rewards-- Use code: GA915 for Goshen Lane

Box Tops for Education--Download the app today!

Thank You,

It's that time of year when weather might affect the school day. If school is canceled or there is a 2 Hour Delay, you will receive a message from Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools early in the morning before school starts. This comes as a text, an email, and/or a phone call and voicemail. The kinds of messages you receive depend on what you chose in your Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. You can also check the Gahanna-Jefferson Facebook page, the Goshen Lane PTA Facebook page, and news station apps and websites.

The message will either tell you that school is canceled or that there is a 2 Hour Delay.

Important 2 Hour Delay Details:

-There is no breakfast served at school.

-Buses pick up 2 hours after their normal time.

-9:45 Car drop off may begin

-9:55 All students may enter the school

-10:05 School begins

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.

Lions Locker is an anonymous pantry located at Gahanna Lincoln High School. They provide food, toiletries, school supplies and other basic necessities to PreK-12 students of Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools.

If your family is in need of these basic items please reach out to Mrs. Cellar, School Counselor (cellarl@gjps.org) and she will work with Lions Locker as well as other local organizations to support your family through these need based programs.

If your student is in need of after school care, the YWCA Columbus offers services right here at Goshen Lane. There is an option to receive publicly funded childcare for those who apply and qualify. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact them directly.

Ohio State Testing Dates are ready for the 2025-2026 school year. Please avoid scheduling vacations or appointments over these dates.

Jan. 9: Quarter 2 Report Cards

Jan. 19: No School, MLK Day

Jan. 20, 7:00PM - PTA Meeting

Jan. 30 - PTA Movie Night

Feb. 10, 7:00 PM - PTA Meeting

Feb. 12 - Valentine Parties

Feb. 13: No School for Students, Staff PD Day

Feb. 16: No School, Presidents Day

Feb. 25: Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 5: Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 9: No School for Students, Staff Work Day

March 10, 7:00 PM - 7:00 PM - PTA Meeting

March 13: Quarter 3 Report Cards

March 20: No School

March 30-April 3: Spring Break, No School

May 1: No School for Students, Staff PD Day

May 12, 7:00 PM - PTA Meeting

May 22: Last Day of School

May 28: Quarter 4 Report Cards

2025-2026 District Calendar

Student Handbook

Bus Schedule and Routes