GEMS Family Newsletter
October 2023
Upcoming Events
- Fri. Oct. 20 - Groovy Gryphon Friday
- Fri. Oct. 20 - Middle School Dance - 7:00-9:00pm
- Wed. Oct. 25 - End of Quarter 1
- Thurs. Oct. 26 - Fri. Oct. 27 - No School - PD Days
- Wed. Nov. 15 - GEMS Family Crew Game Night and Bake Sale - 6:00-7:30pm
- Mon. Nov. 20 - Tues. Nov. 21 - No School - PD Days
- Wed. Nov. 22 - Fri. Nov. 24 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
- Wed. Nov. 29 - Fri. Dec. 1 - No School - PD Days
Haga clic en "Translate" (Traducir) a la derecha para ver esto en español.
Important School Information
- School Year Office Hours - 7:45am-4:30pm - office@gemsschool.org
GEMS Halloween Costume Dance! (For Grades 6-8)
Friday, October 20, 2023 - 7:00pm-9:00pm
Grades 6-8 are having a Halloween Costume Party on Friday, October 20th from 7pm-9pm! Cost is $2.00 (money to be brought to the dance only). Students who have an 85% or higher positivity rating on Kickboard from September 20th - October 18th are eligible to attend.
Every Friday, students get their kickboard paychecks which has their positivity score on it. Please ask your student to see their checks to see where they are at. Students can come to the dance dressed in costume (must be school appropriate)! Lastly, students who receive a suspension or reset day the week of the dance will not be eligible to attend.
New and Returning Famlies - Have you completed your student's Annual Registration? Turned in your Proof of Residence and/or your Free and Reduced Meals Application? Paid your School Fee?
GEMS 23-24 Annual Student Registration (ASR) online - Log into your OneView parent account and complete the 2023-24 Annual Student Registration. When you enter the site you should select the Enrolled Student tab and look for the 23-24 Annual Student Registration on the left hand side of your screen. OneView Parent portal link
Please note that you must select Yes at the beginning of each section to complete or change any information in the section below. The online Registration should only take a few minutes to complete and supplies us with information we need, so please complete it as soon as possible.
Proof of Residence - Every year Community Schools are required to ask all our families for a current proof of residence. This can be a copy of a utility bill, mortgage statement, or lease agreement dated after 7/1/23. You can submit this information via email to: office@GEMSSchool.org or turn it in at the GEMS front desk. If you have any questions contact us at: office@GEMSSchool.org or call 614-253-4000.
Free and Reduced Meals application - Also available in the OneView Parent portal link is the 2023-24 Free and Reduced Meals application. If your family hasn’t completed it yet, now would be a good time. You only need to complete one application for your family.
School Store - Please visit the GEMS School Store to add money to your student’s meal account and to pay the $35 fee School fee. We ask that you contribute as your means allow.
GEMS Book Blast
In the past 24 hours, so many families answered our call by sending out emails and text messages to friends and family worldwide! We are so excited to see that expanding home libraries and supporting our students is as important to you as it is to us. We know this program can help our school build lifelong readers.
The response was so amazing! If you did not have a chance to register and send 10+ invitations to family and friends, you still have time.
CLICK BELOW TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS AND THEIR CLASSMATES:
http://bookblast.booksarefun.com/GrahamESMS43201
Invite 10+ friends/family and your child/children will receive the 3 fun rewards. Invite 15+ friends and family and your child/children will be entered into the remaining prize drawings. There’s still time to help! It’s never too late to make a difference.
Success Tip:
- First, register and invite friends/family.
- Don’t forget to add 15+ invitations so that your child has a chance to win a Treasure Chest or even an iPad!
- Then, post your student's personal link to social media.
GEMS Family Crew Game Night & Bake Sale
Wednesday, November 15, 6:00-7:30pm
Join us for an evening of board games and family fun!
Proceeds from the bake sale will support future Family Crew activities for teacher appreciation week in the spring. If you're interested in helping or donating goodies please click here.
TGFS Is Hiring!
Uplift Youth Volunteers - Monthly Bag Sign Up
Hello! Our names are Sarah and Eva, and we are undergraduates at The Ohio State University. A few years ago, we founded Uplift Youth Volunteers in order to serve children in the Columbus community by providing them with bags that include food, books, and activities. Bags will be distributed monthly and are of no cost to you. You can sign your child up to receive a bag by using the QR code or the link below. If you have more than one child, please fill out the form separately for each child. We are also continuing to grow our program this year by reading to Kindergarten and First Grade classes biweekly, and we will be putting on a career fair for the older students as well. We are excited to see what this school year will bring! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at upliftexec@buckeyemail.osu.edu.
GEMS After-School Program
GEMS After-school Program is a collaboration between Graham Elementary & Middle School & Communities In Schools of Ohio. The purpose of this collaboration is to surround students with a community of support, empower them to succeed in school and achieve in life. GAP Middle (5-8) After-school Program is funded through a Nita M. Lowery 21st Century Community Learning Center grant through the Ohio Department of Education. Click here to learn more!
Grade Level Updates
Kindergarteners
Have been hard at work learning how we play together, and defining rules and norms that make playing safe and fun. We are also working hard to build a high quality map of our school. Students are working together to learn who lives in what part of the building, and map out how to find them. We are also counting up to the 100th day of school. Students are practicing grouping tens and early foundational place value skills each day by gearing up for our 100th day. In skills block, students have learned the letters t, a, p, h, c, and n. Next we will be learning the letters m and r!
First Graders
Are in on our deep dive into Tools. We have been working on reading The Most Magnificent Thing. This will lead into use creating a Magnificent Tool for the classroom. In Math we have been working really hard on counting with our JARS. We have also been working on addition and subtraction within 10. We have also been working with data and how we read it. This will lead into our Unit 1 Test and then we will be moving on to Unit 2.
Second Graders
7th graders have reading buddies with 2nd graders! Both grade levels visited the library last week.
Third Graders
In unit 2 of our Overcoming Challenges expedition students moved from analyzing challenges others face in accessing schools to analyzing challenges faced in accessing books around the world. Students read excerpts from My Librarian is a Camel, which describes ways people living in different countries access books. In the second half of the unit, students will switch gears to writing an informational text. Using what they have learned they will plan, write, revise, and edit an informative paragraph describing how people from their expert country overcome their geographic challenges to access books.
If you are a tiger-eye look out for our newsletter email on Fridays. Your students are ready to share what amazing things we do each week!
Fourth Graders
As we close Quarter 1, 4th graders are working on following norms and expectations. Sharing the air by respecting the speaker and allowing others the opportunity to be heard is our KEY to success. We are hoping to finish our original poems by the end of the month. Ask your child about the writing process (i.e. brainstorm, rough draft, collaborate, revise and final version).
In Math class we are learning to celebrate mistakes, grapple with tough topics and persevere. We built arrays to practice factors, multiples, and final products. Ask your young person why celebrating mistakes is so important. Ask about high quality work and how we can revise in mathematics! Fun with fractions is next. Let’s persevere together in making wise and wonderful choices inside and out (recess).
Fifth Graders
Happy October! This month we have been working on teambuilding and positive communication. Math centers around double digit times a single digit multiplication. We are beginning our unit on fractions. The question that have our kids stumped is: is 3/2 the same as 1 ½? By the end of the unit will be be able to multiply and divide fractions. Please help your child by having them draw fractions and or have them add and subtract fractions with like denominators.
In science, we are still going through the solar system; Gas giants here we come! By the end of the month we will be moving into our new science curriculum, Amplify. Students will be working together as astronomers and finding clues to solving our mystery chapter question.
Sixth Graders
In Math, we are finishing our area of polygons unit and moving smoothly into ratios! We will complete exciting hands-on activities and create quality works that we are excited to share with you! We are working hard and making great progress!
In Science, we finished our unit on our microbiome and the microorganisms that influence our health. We will be moving into cells and molecules that help our body and body systems function. We cannot wait for you to see the amazing things we do as we move forward!
In Humanities, we just finished our assessments on Point of View and Analyzing words. We are starting on Theme. The students will be working towards a Socratic text based Seminar as their next assessment.
The students also have pen-pals with OSU Bio-engineering students. They received their first letters last Thursday and are writing their replies in class. We will give these letters to the OSU pen-pals on Sunday, Oct. 22 for STEM day. Please check your student's backpack this week for more information. We are continuing our work with The Contemporary Theater of Ohio on Wednesday afternoons.
Seventh Graders
In math we are finishing our work with integers. Students will take their assessment, and then we will move on to proportional relationships. I am excited for our next lesson where students will find the hourly rate for their dream job, and then look at the proportional relationships between the hours worked and money earned.
In humanities, we will finish reading A Long Walk to Water and thinking about how refugees need to rebuild their lives once they relocate. In the coming month, we will begin writing a children’s book to communicate what we’ve learned with younger students.
In science, we are working on writing our own research paper. Students will spend the week citing sources and typing their papers. Students will create a visual project to go with their paper.
Eight Graders
In math, students have been exploring scientific notation by looking at the salaries of athletes and social media usage. Next, students will be investigating equations and will use their knowledge to compare prices at local grocery stores.
8th grade students visited Jacquemin Farms to continue their Food Justice Expedition. They learned about how Industrial Private Farms function in the state of Ohio.
Counceling
I have enjoyed talking with kids and their parents about all things GEMS! Students have been working on active listening skills; regulating their emotions while in sessions as well as expressing their thoughts using a growth mindset. Keep up the good work! Parents, you have been super responsive and supportive, thank you for all that you do.
Reading - K-8
My name is Sarah Solley, and I am one of the Reading Intervention teachers here at GEMS. If you would like guidance in helping your child to read at home, please reach out. Reading 20 minutes a night is essential for children to develop their vocabulary. My email is ssolley.1@gemsschool.org
Art - K-5
Students in 5th grade are working with paper mache as we create and design our own 3D pumpkins. 4th graders are completing their name sculptures and will begin to venture into the realms of portraiture. 3rd grade has been practicing using oil pastels and we have been working hard on our blending techniques. 1st-2nd grade have been working on their drawing skills to learn how to use shapes and lines to create forms. Kindergarteners have been experimenting with all sorts of materials and processes. We are very excited to watch them each grow as an artist.
SEL - K-5
SEL Students will be working through the Second Step Curriculum by grade level this school year. 5th grade SEL scholars are working on Respect and actively using Empathy. They just started their Kindness project this week and will be completing tasks at home and in school. 4th grade is working on Empathy and Respect as well as Listening and Attention. 3rd grade is learning how to be respectful learners and incorporating self talk in making better decisions. Second graders are learning skills to focus their attention, Listen, Be Assertive, Use positive self talk. First grade is using Listening to Learn, Focusing Attention, Following directions, and Positive Self Talk. Kindergarten is learning the basic building blocks for Learning to Listen, Focusing Attention, Following directions and Self-Talk for staying on task. All the SEL classes K-5 are using music and song as well as fun activities to identify their feelings and emotions. I have been very impressed with how the students have embraced talking about their feelings and practicing empathy and kindness towards one another.
GEMS is on Facebook and Instagram! Please like and follow!
Do you know someone interested in attending GEMS?
GEMS is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. Please share this newsletter with anyone who is interested in learning more about GEMS. Please e-mail Alisha Porter at aporter2308@gemsschool.org with questions.
OSU Parent Studies
When you shop at Kroger you can help GEMS raise money for expeditions!
Kroger
Go to: www.krogercommunityrewards.com or call 1-800-837-4483 to enroll in the program. Add GEMS to your Kroger card. You can search for GEMS by name or use our school code: FD086. Shop! Every time you shop and use your Kroger Rewards Card GEMS gets rebates. Kroger totals those rebates and sends GEMS a check.
IMPORTANT SCHOOL MEAL INFORMATION
The Graham Family of Schools participates in the National School Lunch Program that allows for all families to apply for free or reduced meals. Lunch is available to all students. Should they choose not to participate in the school meal program, students may bring their lunch from home. NO OUTSIDE FOOD MAY BE ORDERED OR DELIVERED AS THIS DIRECTLY VIOLATES THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM POLICY.
Breakfast Information
EL Education
Our partnership with EL Education empowers our teachers to unleash the potential of their students. EL Education is built on ten design principles that reflect the educational values and beliefs of Kurt Hahn, founder of Outward Bound and co-founder of EL Education. These principles also reflect the design's connection to other related thinking about teaching, learning, and the culture of schools. The 10 design principles are: The Primacy of Self-Discovery, The Having of Wonderful Ideas, The Responsibility for Learning, Empathy and Caring, Success and Failure, Collaboration and Competition, Diversity and Inclusion, The Natural World, Solitude and Reflection, Service and Compassion.
GEMS School-wide Title 1
GEMS is a School-wide Title 1 program, enabling us to receive Federal Funds to ensure that our students receive the support they need to reach and exceed grade level goals particularly in reading and math. We welcome parent involvement in planning, review and improvement of Title 1 programs. Please contact Debbie Addison at addison.2@gemsschool.org with any questions. Follow this link to the Parent Pact.
RESIDENCY VERIFICATION NOTIFICATION
Per House Bill 21 community schools are required to perform a monthly review of student files and randomly select families for residency verification. Please contact the school immediately in case of an address change. Proof of residency must be submitted within two weeks of an address change. If evidence is not provided, requests for additional documentation or a home visit may occur.
GEMS
Email: office@gemsschool.org
Website: https://www.thegrahamfamilyofschools.org/gems_home.aspx
Location: 140 East 16th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201, USA
Phone: (614) 253-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Graham-Elementary-and-Middle-School-109578509098428