The Goshen Gazette
October 2021
From the Principal - Mr. Graves
Greetings Goshen Families,
Welcome to the fall season, the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer. Students and staff have settled into the routine of school, and lots of teaching and learning are occurring each day. Consider supporting your students learning by taking advantage of some of the cooler weather and some of the final warm days spending time outdoors and observing the changes taking place all around, especially with the trees and the leaves. The outdoors provides many learning opportunities and experiences that your child will enjoy experiencing with you. As the school year roles out please consider these tips to help make the school year a great one for your student.
Physical Activity: Physical activity is good for your child’s body—and his/her brain. Have him/her make a list of active things he/she likes to do (play volleyball, jog, ride her bike), and encourage him/her to spend 60 minutes each day doing things from his/her list.
* Consistency and routines matter: Children function best when there’s stability and guidance, and this is especially the case during challenge or times of transition. Sometimes behaviors or circumstances change or get “rocked,” and this can be hard for kids to manage. Help them get back into a pattern or routine so they feel at ease, and less pressured. They’ll be more inclined to move forward, and to use their productive energy.
* Convey pride: Celebrate the small successes as well as the bigger ones. Show that you believe in children’s ability to succeed. This will help build their self-confidence and optimism, so they’ll feel good about themselves, and be better prepared to tackle life’s ups and downs.
* Give thanks. Be grateful for all that we have, all that we can accomplish, and all that our children can accomplish. Continue to foster and fortify their developing plans, capabilities, sensitivities, virtues, aspirations, enthusiasms, and value systems. In the whole scheme of things, these are what really matter. (*Found in The Creativity Post EDUCATION August 22 2018/Joanne Foster, Ed)
SAFETY FIRST
In this time of COVID, from the beginning of the school year we have taken various actions to ensure the safety of our students here at Goshen Lane Elementary School. You have been very supportive of those actions, and for that we say "Thank you!"
Part of keeping students and faculty safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times. In a continuing effort to ensure that safety, we have resumed use of our Visitor Management System (VMS) know as Raptor. The Raptor system will allow us to track visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools, providing us with a safer environment for our students and staff. When visiting the school you will be asked to present an ID, which may be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian is undocumented or for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff can use another form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not entering our buildings. The Raptor system only checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded. The system is not connected to any other database such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, and information is not shared with any outside agency. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork. The Raptor system is based on the Board of Education-approved recommendations of a safety audit conducted in 2018/19. Therefore, all visitors to the school must be entered into the system and obtain a visitor badge. Thank you, in advance, for your understanding and support of enhancing school safety protocols in our school. If you have any questions regarding the Raptor Visitor Management System, please contact me at gravesd@gjps.org or by phone at 614-478-5580.
Traffic Safety
During the beginning of the school day and the end of the school day there are many vehicles moving in, around, and out of our lot. Students are also navigating their way in and out of those vehicles. Please refrain from texting while in line waiting to pick up or drop of your students.
Identifying Gifted Students
The new universal screener used in our district - NWEA Map - can be used to identify gifted students in reading and math beginning with the second grade. If your child has scored at the 95th%ile or higher and has not previously been identified as gifted in reading or math, you will receive an email with an attached identification letter.
In order to receive gifted services, students in grades 3 - 8 will also need a qualifying cognitive ability score. (Please see the linked table, or the GATE brochure for additional information.) Second and fifth grade students will take the CogAT test in December; if your child is not in this grade and you would like him/her tested, please complete and return the Gifted Referral Form. Testing will occur in late spring. Click the link for qualifying score and service level information.
If you have questions about our Gifted program, please contact Debora Binkley, Ph.D.
Administrator of Student Services binkleyd@gjps.org 614 479-1306.
Scholastic Book Fair - Coming Soon!
We are hosting a Scholastic Book Fair in person from October 4 - October 7. Every student will have their assigned day to shop during library class. Parents, you can shop with your child in the following ways.
- During the October 6 Parent Teacher Conference Night from 3:00-6:00 p.m.
- Online from September 29- October 12
- E-Wallet A safe cashless way to pay
Please click the link to access our book fair website.
Book Fair Information Video - English
Book Fair Information Video - Spanish
Volunteers are needed to help the students browse and make purchases during the book fair. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our school librarian, Ms. Slone at 614-478-5580, slonea@gjps.org, or sign up using this link - Book Fair Volunteer
NOW ENROLLING!
CDC Headstart at Goshen Lane
Do you, or do you know someone who has a child ready for pre school?
The Child Development Council of Franklin County is now enrolling children ages 3-5 for the Headstart program at Goshen Lane. For questions, or to enroll, please contact:
Natalie Riggs, Center Coordinator: 614-643-8240
Kelly Suszczynzki, Family Service Worker: 614-643-8241
Child Development Council of Franklin County
*Enriching the lives of Children & Families!
Information For Parents
Coming Soon - More Food
Goshen Lane Elementary School
Email: gravesd@gjps.org
Website: https://gahannaschools.org/Schools/Goshen_Lane_Elementary/goshen_lane_home.aspx
Location: 370 Goshen Lane, Gahanna, OH, USA
Phone: 614-478-5580
Twitter: @GoshenLane
Happening in October
- October 4-7: Scholastic Book Fair
- October 6: Parent Teacher Conference Night
- October 8: No School (Teacher Comp Day)
- October 11: Teacher Professional Development Day (No School)
- October 11-17: PTA Fundraiser (See Demonye's Greenhouse Flyer)
- October 12: PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
- October 27: School Picture Retake Day
- October 29: Fall Parties