The Goshen Gazette
November 2020
From The Principal - Mr. Graves
This has certainly been an exceptionally unique calendar year and start to the school year for us all. COVID-19 has presented challenges for everyone to navigate, and continues to present more challenges as we enter the fall season. However, thorough the challenges, the Goshen Lane community has been patient, resilient and supportive. I cannot express enough how appreciative I am of all you have done and are doing to support the students and staff.
For those who made the decision to have your child(ren) return to learn in the building in the hybrid model, please know that the staff has been thrilled to have students back in the building. It has allowed everyone to have some sense of normalcy. In my observation and conversation with the students they too have shared with me how happy they are to be back in the building. For those who made the decision to continue with distance learning. I honor and respect your decision as well. I enjoy and look forward to those times when I can peek in on the teacher's computer screen to talk with those students. I can hear and see in them how happy they are to be engaged with their teacher and fellow distance learning classmates.
Title 1 Meeting
Under normal circumstances around this time of the year, and even earlier, I would take time to share with you information about our Title 1 program. However, because we are not having parent gatherings I need to use the opportunity through this newsletter to share with you information about Goshen Lane and what it means to be a Title 1 School.
What is Title I?
Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides financial assistance to states and school districts to meet the needs of educationally at-risk students.
In short, Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) provides financial assistance to schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards; most specifically in math or English/language-arts. The goal of Title I is to provide extra instructional services and activities which support academically at risk students to meet the state’s challenging performance standards.
Title I schools:
- Identify the students at their school who need the most educational assistance based on the criteria that school has chosen. Students do NOT have to be from low-income families to receive Title I services.
- Set goals for improving the skills of educationally disadvantaged students at their school.
- Measure student progress to determine the success of the Title I program for each student.
- Develop programs for each individual student in order to support/supplement regular classroom instruction.
How does our school receive Title I money?
First, the federal government provides funding to each state. Then, each State Educational Agency sends money to its school districts, districts then allocate money to Title1 eligible schools. How much money each school receives is determined by the number of low-income students attending that school.
What do Title I programs offer?
Title I programs generally offer:
- Smaller classes or special instructional spaces
- Additional teachers and aides
- Opportunities for professional development for school staff
- Extra time for teaching Title I students the skills they need
- A variety of supplementary teaching methods
- Additional teaching materials which supplement a student’s regular instruction
What will Title I programs do for my child?
The Title I program will provide academically at risk students with supplemental educational assistance beyond the regular classroom.
Title 1 at Goshen Lane
Goshen Lane offers a Targeted Assistance Program model that uses Title I funds to support its students academic success. A Targeted Assistance Program, offered through a Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) centers academic and other support and related interventions and services on an identified group of students who are at risk of not meeting state standards.
Students recommended for MTSS are done so using multiple measures of academic performance. For an overview of this Title I funded program offered to students at Goshen Lane, please click the link Multi-Tiered Framework . This program is dedicated to not only closing gaps but also bolstering students academic confidence while achieving success with our district curriculum.
Having your child enrolled in a Title 1 schools gives you the Right to Know:
- Whether the teacher has met the Ohio teacher licensing criteria for the grade level and subject areas in which the teacher provides your child instruction.
- Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or temporary status that waives state licensing requirements.
- The undergraduate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate degree or certification (such as National Board Certification) held by the teacher and the field of discipline of certification or degree.
- Whether your child is provided services by instructional paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
How can I get involved?
Parents, you can influence the success of your student in school more than any teacher or federal program. By becoming an active participant in the Title I parent involvement plan at your school, you will:
- Serve as a role model, showing your student that you support his/her education.
- Assure that you are aware of your student’s educational progress; thereby demonstrating how important that progress is to you.
- Teach your student that your input at the school is appreciated and that you support its efforts.
- Review and complete the School Parent Compact that identifies staff commitments, parent/guardian commitments and student commitments.
- Review the Parent Involvement Plan that speaks to participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities.
What does research tell us?
Research shows that how well students do in school depends a great deal upon how much their parents get involved in their education. You can become more involved by:
- Joining local and national school/parent organizations
- Supporting school extra-curricular activities
- Volunteering at the school
- Attending parent-teacher conferences
- Communicating with your student’s teacher regularly, by writing notes, telephoning the school, etc.
- Keeping your student’s teacher informed about events in his or her life which may affect his/her performance at school
- Discussing with your student’s teacher and parent organizations other ideas for parent involvement
With this Newsletter is a survey for you to complete as well as the School Parent Compact . Please take some time to complete both documents. To access the survey click on the survey link: Your feedback is very much appreciated. If you would like more information on Title 1, please contact the school office.
Title 1 Document Links
- Multi-Tiered Framework
- Right to Know
- Title 1 survey (Please complete)
- School Parent Compact (Please complete)
- Parent Involvement Plan
Scholastic Book Fair at Goshen Lane
The Scholastic Book Fair is back! While the Fair will be exclusively held online this year, we still plan on making it a fun and joyous experience for our students.
The Online Fair will include features like: Goshen Lane’s own online store, games for kids, virtual store walk-throughs and more.
Remember, every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!).
Save these dates and view our school’s Fair site:
Fair Dates: November 9th – November 23rd
Online Store: Goshen Lane
We can’t wait to “see” you at the Fair!
News From the PTA
Our PTA is a great way to get involved with the school and support our Goshen Lane students. Even during this time of distance and hybrid learning, the PTA is organizing, meeting and planning exciting events for our students. To become a greater and stronger organization your support is needed. Please consider supporting and joining the Goshen Lane PTA. See the below links for more information.
Free Breakfast
Gahanna Residents in Need
Where: Peace Lutheran Church, 455 Clark St. Rd
When: Saturday, November 21, 2020 10-noon
Registration is required, clink the below link to access the registration form.
Happening in November at Goshen
November 9th - 23rd: Scholastic Book Fair
November 10, PTA Meeting 7:00pm - 8:00pm via the Zoom link
November 25th - 27th - Thanksgiving Break
November 30: IOWA Math Assessment for Distance Learning Students Grades 2 and 5.