Blacklick Bulletin

Dear Blacklick Families:

On behalf of the Blacklick Elementary staff, it is truly my pleasure to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to you as we begin the 2023-2024 school year. My name is Kristen Groves and I am honored to serve as the principal of Blacklick Elementary. I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know our new students and families, as well as, welcoming our returning students and families.

This year we will be welcoming many new faces to Blacklick Elementary! In addition to our new students, we will be welcoming several new staff members to Blacklick Elementary this school year, as well. Please join me in welcoming the following staff members to our Blacklick family:

Mrs. Cheryl Steger (Kindergarten)

Mrs. Jennifer Taylor (Grade 2)

Mrs. Tara Nevius (Grade 3)

Mrs. Danielle McGrew (Librarian)

Mrs. Nina Kelly (Intervention Specialist)

Mrs. Casie Taylor (Instructional Support Coach)

Mrs. Sara Swisher (Kindergarten Alternative Instructor)

Mrs. Amy Scott (Math Alternative Instructor)

Mrs. Ciaira Warfield (School Counselor)

Mr. Cody Gatewood (Custodian)

Mr. Kanyon Norris (Custodian)

*There are some updates and new information listed below for both new and returning families! Please make sure to read through all of the information listed below! I know that there is a lot of information! I appreciate the time and energy you will take to make sure that your child is prepared for the beginning of this school year!

In addition to all of the information outlined in this communication, I have also created a document titled "Everything You Need To Know About Blacklick Elementary - The Blacklick Basics". Please keep this document for your reference throughout the school year.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns at 614-759-5100 or by email at grovesk@gjps.org.

Respectfully,

Kristen Groves

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 10 (after 1:00 PM). Kindergarten teacher assignments/staggered entrance dates were mailed out to families in early July. Please call the school office at 614-759-5100 if you are the parent of a kindergarten student and do not know the name of your child's teacher.

1. Back to School Bash - sponsored by the Blacklick PRIDE Partner PTO

Thursday, August 10, 2023

6:00 - 7:30 PM

Casual event for families on the Blacklick Elementary Playground

Food trucks will be on site (Donatos Pizza and Kona Ice)

2. Meet the Teacher Event

August 15, 2023

2:45 - 3:45 pm for families with last name A-M

4:00 - 5:00 pm for families with last name N-Z

*Students meet their teacher, visit the classroom and drop off school supplies

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 Blacklick 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 Blacklick Elementary: If you are a new family to Blacklick (including all of our kindergarten families), you received an email from Mrs. Lindsey, school secretary, detailing directions on how to log into the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus to update your information. She emailed you an ID that you will need as you log in for the first time.

Returning Families: If you need assistance - please call the school office at 614-759-5100. Mrs. Lindsey will be happy to help.

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

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.

Bus Riders:

All students that ride the school bus to school will enter the building through the front doors at 7:40 AM each day for breakfast. Students that do not want to eat breakfast at school will walk to their classroom. There will be duty teachers outside to assist students from the bus to the building. In addition, duty teachers will assist students that will be riding a shuttle bus to another elementary school.

Car Riders:

All students that are car riders to school will enter the building through the doors by the cafeteria. The doors will open at 7:40 AM each day for entry into the building for breakfast. Students will be permitted to walk to classrooms beginning at 7:45 AM. The car rider line follows the perimeter of the back parking lot.

*Duty teachers will be outside in the back parking lot until 8:00 AM. Any student arriving after 8:00 AM need to enter the building through the front doors and be signed in by a parent/guardian.

If you plan to drive your child to school, please follow the directions below:

1. You will need to enter the back parking lot and drive along the perimeter of the parking lot.

2. You can access the back parking lot from Reynoldsburg New Albany Road and follow the back access road or from Havens Corners Road.

3. Please follow the car in front of you - please do not try to drive around other cars - stay in the car rider line.

4. Pull up to the drop off sign - they are numbered.

5. Please have your child exit the car from the right side of the car.

6. Please do not get out of the car. If your child needs assistance, we will have duty teachers available.

7. Your child will enter the school using the doors by the cafeteria. We will have duty teachers available to walk your child to the classroom.

If you plan to pick up your child from school in the afternoon, please follow the directions below. Dismissal is at 2:25 PM each day:

1. You will need to have your child’s FIRST and LAST NAME in the windshield of your car.

2. You will need to enter the back parking lot and drive along the perimeter of the parking lot.

3. You can access the back parking lot from Reynoldsburg New Albany Road and follow the back access road or from Havens Corners Road.

4. Please follow the car in front of you - please do not try to drive around other cars - stay in the car rider line and do not get out of the car.

5. Pull up to the pick up signs.

6. Once you pull up, we will bring your child out to your car.

This drop off/pick up process takes awhile. We will try to move as quickly as possible. I thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we work through the beginning of the day drop off and end of the day pick up routine.

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.

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.

Interested in Volunteering?

Click on the link below and fill out the necessary information:

Volunteer Form

Check out the most up to date information from the Blacklick PRIDE Partner PTO by clicking on the link below:

PTO Newsletter - August 2023

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.

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 stop by the school office during summer office hours, 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Mrs. Lindsey, 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.

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

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

2023-2024 Blacklick School Supply List K-3

2023-2024 Blacklick School Supply List 4-5

______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/Blacklick 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).

August 10 Back to School Bash on the playground (6:00 - 7:30 PM)

August 14 Convocation for Teachers

August 15 Professional Learning Day for Teachers

August 15 Blacklick Meet the Teacher Event (2:45 - 3:45 PM for last names A-M, 4:00 - 5:00 PM for last names N-Z); Bring school supplies and drop them off in the classroom!

August 16 Work Day for Teachers (building closed)

August 17 First Day of School for Students

August 17 - 23 Staggered Entrance for Kindergarten Students

August 24 Second day of school for all Kindergarten Students

September 4 Labor Day No School for Students and Staff

September 12 PTO Meeting in the Blacklick Library at 6:30 PM

September 14 First Grade Vision Screening

September 15 School Photos

September 25 Teacher PD Day No School for Students

September 28 Parent/Teacher Conferences

September 29 Custodian's Day at Blacklick

October 5 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 10 PTO Meeting in the Blacklick Library at 6:30 PM

October 16 -20 Blacklick Book Fair

October 19 Blacklick Community Night (Details coming soon!)

October 23-24 No School for Students

October 27 Report Cards go home with students

2023-24 GJPS District Calendar (PDF)