August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025
Principal Priorities
Keep Reading, Reading, Reading!
We've officially started our One School, One Book journey with everyone's favorite hamster, Humphrey! We hope you've been enjoying the hilarious and heartwarming adventures of The World According to Humphrey.
Now that we've begun, it's more important than ever to keep the momentum going. We encourage you to continue to set aside time each night for reading. Just 15-20 minutes a night can make a huge difference in keeping up with Humphrey's escapades.
Remember, reading together is a time for bonding, for laughing, and for exploring new worlds. It's a chance to discuss the book's themes and characters, and to share your own thoughts and feelings. Don't forget, reading is a family activity, a family activity, a family activity!
Let's continue to turn off the screens, open our books, and enjoy this fantastic journey with Humphrey. Let's make this a memorable experience for everyone.
Happy reading!
EMA Due Now!
MUST BE COMPLETED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JOG!
- Please complete your Online Registration/Emergency Medical Authorization forms for your student for the 25-26 school year. This information is necessary to ensure the health and safety of your student while on school grounds, as well as traveling for field trips. This needs to be updated by September 15th. Students without the update will not be permitted to join the Jog for Jefferson Activities.
Here is the link to get to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
You will need to have your user name and password ready. If you do not remember your user name and/or password, you are able to request to have it re-set.
YEARLY UPDATE: Please make sure you do your yearly update on Infinite Campus. Even if you don't have to make any changes, please do the update. There are questions we have to ask yearly to make sure your student is allowed to be in our parent directory, photographed, and able to go on field trips and more!
NOTE: We will be creating a DIGITAL Parent Directory this year with our PTO please make sure you determine if you want your information included in the directory in your update. An example is below.
If you need assistance, please contact Ms. Schilling.
Stay In the Game! Attendance Network!
Starting strong in September makes a big difference for the whole school year. Research shows that students who miss just 1–2 days in the first month are much more likely to become chronically absent later on. That’s why we’re working together to build positive attendance habits now!
When students come to school every day they:
build routines that help them feel confident
stay connected with friends and teachers
have the best chance to succeed academically and socially
This year, as an All-Star District in the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network we are celebrating Attendance Awareness Month as a part of our campaign. Each week, we’ll celebrate attendance with fun activities, and students will have chances to:
- Win prizes sponsored by the Columbus Crew
- Be featured on Stay in the Game! social media
- Most importantly, we want you to know that we are here for you. If your child faces challenges getting to school, please reach out. Together, we can find solutions—because showing up today builds a stronger tomorrow. Inspiring Learners. Building Futures.
Thank you for being our partners in helping every student become an Attendance All-Star!
Do your part in ensuring you get to school on time and ready to learn! If you haven't done so already, take the pledge!
State Testing
Save the Date:
Ohio State Testing Dates are ready for the 2025-2026 school year. Please avoid scheduling vacations or appointments over these dates.
PTO News and Events
JOG FOR JEFFERSON DETAILS!
Our primary fundraiser of the year, "Jog for Jefferson"!
The students at Jefferson Elementary are lacing up their sneakers and getting ready to run their best at our annual "Jog for Jefferson"!
In support of their Jog, students will raise money, which helps support our school's Music, Art, Phys Ed and Library, brings in special guests, supports technology & equipment upgrades & allows the school to have fun events like our school dance & movie night!
Last year, students raised over $40k and were able to:
- renovate the teacher's lounge to enhance our administration's experience!
- refresh the school's landscaping and playground
- install an outdoor learning experience
- approve additional equipment and funds for teachers, library, gym and music
- bring in an Author to visit the school
- just to name a few!
This is our main fundraiser of the year! This is not a "per-lap" fundraiser - each student just does their best in the allotted amount of time they have to run their jog, so any donation you make is a one-time donation. It's simply a donation to encourage them to do their best that day! The jog itself is a great day full of camaraderie and joy for the students and all involved.
Our students also earn a raffle ticket for every $25 they raise, to attempt to win fun prizes like sports gear, trading cards, gift cards, local experiences, and more!
If you are able to participate in our Fundraiser in other ways, such as providing an in-kind donation for our Raffle, please contact us at gahannajeffersonelementarypto@gmail.com.
We appreciate your support of Jefferson Elementary, our students, and the community. Thank you for being a part of our children’s education.
TIERS OF DONATIONS FOR CORPORATIONS:
Platinum Level Sponsor ($1,000 or above)
Large name & logo on the back of Jog t-shirts, logo on the fundraising website, name recognition in a letter sent out to the entire school, and an ad in the Jefferson Elementary 2024-2025 school year yearbook.
Gold Level Sponsor ($500 or above)
Medium name & logo on the back of Jog t-shirts, logo on the fundraising website, name recognition in a letter sent out to the school.
Silver Level Sponsor ($300 or above)
Small name or logo on the back of our Jog t-shirts, name recognition in a letter sent out to the entire school.
Bronze Level Sponsor ($200 or above)
Name recognition in a letter sent out to the entire school.
Jog Schedule
Opening Ceremony/Lap 8:25- 8:45
Fifth Grade 8:45- 9:40
Fourth Grade 9:40- 10:30
Third Grade 10:30 - 11:15
Kindergarten 1:00- 1:30
First Grade 1:30-2:15
Second Grade 1:30- 2:15
Jog Donation Website
Family Facebook Group
Join our Facebook Group and be part of the community.
This group was created for Jefferson families and staff to support and celebrate our students and school. It's also a great place to ask questions of other parents and have support as you navigate the school year.
We are excited to see all the amazing and encouraging ways our families and staff connect with each other! This is a place for positive comments and a helpful resource for families. This is not the place to voice concerns. If you have an issue you would like to discuss, please get in touch with the staff member directly via email or call the school. This is a place to build on the sense of community within our Jefferson Family.
VOLUNTEER LINKS:
Upcoming School Events
Mark Your Calendar...
September 1 Labor Day No School
September 19 Jog For Jefferson Event (Sept. 26th rain date)
September 23 School Picture Day(individual) & 5th Grade Group Picture
September 25 Parent Teacher Conferences
September 30 Parent Teacher Conferences
October 2 Teacher Professional Learning Day, No School for Students
October 3 Teacher Comp Day, No School for Students