Weekly Update February 25, 2022
COVID-19 Updates
Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools continues to be committed to the safety and health of our students, staff and community. Parents/Guardians will continue to receive information whenever there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a student or staff person at your child’s school. Cleaning and disinfecting of the exposed locations will continue to take place.
We ask you to continue to check your student for COVID-19 symptoms during this pandemic. Symptoms include:
- Fever of 100.4 or chills
- New or worsened cough
- Shortness of breath
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- New onset of severe headache.
If your student develops any of these symptoms please consider keeping them home. You may want to contact your health care provider to identify the cause of the symptoms and determine if COVID-19 testing is needed. It should be at least 24 hours since your student had a fever (without using fever-reducing medicine), vomiting and/or diarrhea before they return to school.
If your child develops symptoms and you would like to request a free COVID-19 at-home rapid test kit please complete the Rapid Test Kit Request Form.
If your child tests positive for COVID-19 please report this information to the school office so further guidance can be provided. The district continues to track and monitor COVID-19 cases and possible school spread.
Please note:
If your child tests positive for COVID-19 they need to stay home for 5 days from when they first experienced symptoms or received a positive test result; and
Once they return to school they need to properly wear a mask days 6-10 while at school/athletic.
For additional information about COVID-19, visit covid-19.myfcph.org. Thank you for helping to keep people safe and to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and school.
Canceled OMEA Performance Won't Stop GLHS Gold Band
Gold Band to Perform Sunday, February 27
Before the snow fell, the Gahanna Lincoln High School Gold Band had been invited to perform at the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) State Conference in Cleveland on Friday, February 4. Chosen from an audition as one of five high school bands to play at the annual conference, it was an honor to be selected. Unfortunately, the Gold Band was unable to attend and perform at the conference due to unsafe road conditions caused by our latest snowstorm.
“It was a huge deal for us and we are incredibly honored – only five bands across the state are selected each year,” said Rob Cebriak, the Gahanna Lincoln High School band director. "We are excited that we will finally get to present that program this Sunday, February 27, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. in the GLHS Auditorium."
The Gold Band will be giving the world premiere of a piece called Through the Valley composed by Major Ryan Nowlin, the assistant director of "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band in Washington, D.C. The piece explores family relationships, including foster care and adoption, as well as the mental challenges that students face.
"The music is a celebration of hope and resilience, as well as an opportunity to discuss depression and other challenges facing today's youth," said Cebriak. "We are honored that Scott Rogers from Defiance, Ohio who commissioned the piece will be in attendance with family members for the premiere."
The Freshman and Blue Bands will also perform earlier in the day at 2:00. Admission to the concerts is free and no tickets are required.
The Gold Band performed at a holiday concert in December.
Hiring Continues at GJPS
We are officially starting our hiring process for next school year, and we are excited to recruit new staff to join our team. Our first round of teacher job openings for next year have been announced and posted on our GJPS website. Our administrators will be participating in job fairs at colleges and universities all over the state of Ohio starting in March.
We are also recruiting and hiring all employee groups including teachers, aides, secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, and kitchen staff, and recruiting will continue into the summer months.
We know we are in a very competitive market, and we are putting a great deal of time and energy into this effort. If anyone you know might be interested in working in our schools, please encourage them to check out our openings.
Free Books for Children from Birth to Age 5
Did You Know?
Reading aloud to children and giving them access to books is the best way to ensure they are prepared to enter kindergarten.
The Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library mails young children one book each month until their 5th birthday. The program is available to all children in Ohio from birth to age 5 at no cost to their families. Parents and caregivers can enroll their children at OhioImaginationLibrary.org.
This service is available through a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and various local affiliates. For more information, complete this contact form.
Language Translations Available on GJPS Website
Tell a Friend or Neighbor
Language for the majority of the content on our GJPS website can be changed for families with other language preferences. Just select a language from the drop-down menu in the top right corner of the blue bar on our website that says “SELECT A LANGUAGE”.
All content that is placed directly on the site will be translated. Unfortunately, images with words and PDF attachments cannot be translated at this time.
www.GahannaSchools.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
Feb 19 - 26 Gahanna Gala Sponsored by GJEF
March 4 No School - Teacher Comp Day
March 8 Second Dose COVID Vaccine
Mar 28 - April 1 No School - Spring Break
Apr 15 No School - Good Friday
May 24 Last Day of Classes for Students
May 28 Class of 2022 Commencement
2021-22 GJPS District Calendar (PDF)
COVID-19 Dashboard
February 18 - February 24
CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES
Students: 5
Staff: 0
On January 26, 2022, Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) updated its recommendation that local school districts shift away from universal COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing for individual cases of COVID-19.
GJPS continues to work hard to simplify communication about COVID-19 so you can find the resources that matter most to you and your family. Our GJPS COVID-19 | 2021-22 Update Webpage contains the COVID-19 Dashboard, safety protocols and resources, and the latest email updates from GJPS.
You can access the GJPS COVID-19 | 2021-22 Update Webpage two ways:
- You can find the GJPS COVID-19 | 2021-22 Update Webpage housed under the "District Tab" in the top menu bar of the GJPS district website.
- The COVID-19 | 2021-22 Update Webpage is always linked on the GJPS district website homepage under "What's Trending.
BinaxNOW At-Home Rapid Test Kits Available for Symptomatic Students and Staff
BinaxNOW At-Home COVID-19 Rapid Test Kits are currently available for students and staff currently enrolled in GJPS schools who are EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS of COVID-19.
REQUEST FORM MUST BE COMPLETED IN ADVANCE
While supplies last, you may request kits for:
The number of students you have enrolled in Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools in your household who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
The number of GJPS staff in your household who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
A confirmation email will not be sent.
PICK UP TIMES AND LOCATION
After completing a Rapid Test Kit Request Form, kits are available for pick up at:
GJPS Administration Building
160 S. Hamilton Road
Please ring the bell inside the front door for service.
While Supplies Last
Monday - Friday
9:00 - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Let's Be Social
GJPS has very active Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube accounts.
Please check us out and LIKE US, give us a comment or tweet and SHARE us!
Have a question about something school related? We bet you can find the answer on our Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools website at www.GahannaSchools.org.
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The newsletter that you are reading right now (the GJPS NEWS TO KNOW District Newsletter) is emailed to our families and GJPS community on most Friday afternoons.
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Gahanna, Ohio 43230
(614) 471-7065