Dear GIS Families,
With winter/spring/summer weather happening each week, our students are feeling the impact of this unpredictable weather pattern. If your student becomes ill and is absent due to a contagious illness (i.e. doctor diagnosed influenza A or B, strep throat, pink eye, Covid, etc), please remember to make the office aware by sharing this informaion in the comment section of Safe Arrival. This greatly assists the district clinic staff in being aware of what specific infections and illnesses are going around in the community. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Amy Petryk at [email protected]. Thank you!
Take care,
Tracie Lees
NEWS & INFORMATION
Rising 7th Grade Scheduling Information for the Class of 2030:
3/5: Family information session @ 6:30pm in the GHS Theater
3/8: GMS Principal Mrs. Ormond and School Counselor Ms. Frazier will be at GIS to speak with 6th graders
3/13: Mrs. Ormond and Ms. Frazier will host open zoom sessions for Q/A (links sent closer to date)
3/15: 6th grade students will enter their schedule requests during Ace Period with Ms. Baker
Schedules will be ready in August.
Other Important Dates
Incoming 7th grade (and any new 8th grader) orientation dates:
August 13 from 9-11am, last names A-K
August 14 from 9-11am, last names L-Z
If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Lisa Ormond, GMS Principal, or Ms. Sidney Frazier, GMS School Counselor.
GIS Physical Education News:
The classes are finishing up Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart, now known as the Kids Heart Challenge. We are encouraging students to donate at least $10.00 to help the American Heart Association (AHA) fight heart disease. This is the 100th year of the AHA and schools partnering to combat heart disease. For those who raise $100.00, the students' names are entered to win an apple warmie. If or when students complete Finn's challenges on the KHC site, their names will be entered into a drawing to be held in May for TWO 2025 SUPER BOWL TICKETS. We will continue to collect donations until March 8th.
Pickleball will be the next unit in PE. Please be on the lookout for Skatetime permission slips as well. We will be skating in the GIS gymnasium starting April 15. Students will be required to wear a helmet. We are looking forward to an exciting spring!
Strong and Worth Defending
The GIS ROX girls spent Friday learning verbal and physical self-defense strategies with their ROX Leaders. Strong and Worth Defending is an 8-year tradition in Granville Schools with the intention of equipping girls with the skills they need to live safe, happy and healthy lives. Check us out on Instagram for pictures of this impactful & rewarding day!
GIS Music Concerts:
6th Grade: March 12, 2024 (Tuesday)
5th Grade: March 13, 2024 (Wednesday)
4th Grade: March 14, 2024 (Thursday)
Time: 6:00pm
Place: Granville High School Auditorium
Dress: Nice clothing (No blue jeans/shorts/athletic wear, please! Dresses, skirts, or pants are acceptable!) *Students will be discussing appropriate concert attire in class.
K-6 PTO Spiritwear Flash Sale!
All Granville K-6 PTO Spiritwear is 20% off now through February 29 at 10 PM! Stock up on Granville gear for your favorite Blue Ace! Pick up will be available on March 1 in the GES or GIS vestibule. 100% of profits go back to GES and GIS! Click here to visit the PTO store.
Cancel Your Dinner Plans on 2/28:
Junior GHS students are currently working on a project to benefit the Central Ohio Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the quest to end childhood blood cancer. Our goal is to raise money($20k by mid-May) in support of the LLS’s “Pennies for Patients/Hero Squad” initiative. GHS led the state of Ohio in 2023 and finished 11 in the United States, totaling over $18,000 raised. We are humbled to be volunteering on behalf of a group that has raised more than $400 million since 1993 in support of the mission to cure childhood blood cancers and improve the lives of patients and their families. That said.. CANCEL YOUR DINNER PLANS ON 2/28 and head to City BBQ! Click here for more information.
PAX Tools Parent/Guardian Workshop March 19:
PAX Tools are a collection of nine evidence-based strategies to improve cooperation and self-regulation with children and youth. The tools draw on decades of science to create strategies that support parents, youth workers, and caring adults to create a nurturing environment that helps kids thrive. PAX Tools are rooted in the same science used in many of our schools, including GES. The PAX Tools strategies, which have successful outcomes, are fun for children, teens, and adults. This program is funded by Licking Memorial Health Systems and supported by Mental Health and Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties and by Our Futures in Licking County. Click here for more information.
Daddy/Daughter Dance:
The annual Daddy-Daughter Dance sponsored by GHS Wrestling will occur on March 23 from 6:00-8:00 PM. Click here for more details. Tickets can be ordered here.
Granville PTO-Sponsored Mother/Son Dance:
Granville PTO is sponsoring a Mother-Son Dance on April 13 at GHS from 6:00-8:00 PM. Click here for more details. All proceeds will benefit resurfacing the GIS playground.
Reading Curriculum Update:
The State of Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) is requiring all school districts to adopt Science of Reading specific materials for grades K – 5 for the 2024-25 school year. The State was supposed to come out with a list of approved materials/curriculum schools could select in the fall. That list was pushed back to November/December, and now was recently released in late January. The implementation timeline is still for the 2024-25 school year. We have been reviewing reading and writing curriculum over the past two school years in preparation for this change. That review process includes use of EdReports and other research agencies that compile data on alignment, usability and effectiveness of all reading programs. The World Class Education Committee, composed of Granville Schools’ residents and parents, was involved in this review as well. From the feedback from staff, committee members and administrators, Granville Schools intends to propose Wit & Wisdom (with Geodes) as the curricular choice for Granville Elementary and Granville Intermediate Schools language arts classes. The Board of Education will review this request at their March Board meeting. We invite any community member to review the Wit & Wisdom curriculum, as samples are located at the District Office (2nd floor) at 130 N. Granger St.
?If interested in reviewing those materials, please contact Granville Schools Assistant Superintendent Ryan Bernath ([email protected]) to arrange a time for review and/or to offer any feedback for consideration.
GIS Battle of the Books:
Battle of the Books is a voluntary reading incentive program that is offered each year for grades 3-6. Students read the books throughout the winter and spring, choose their teammates, then compete against other teams during a school day in May. Students are quizzed on their knowledge of the books in a variety of fun formats. Students do not need to commit to participating at this point, however, they are encouraged to start reading now so they’ll be ready! More info will come in the early spring, but for now, let’s GET READING! Here are the lists of this year’s books:
GIS Dates for Ohio State Testing 2024:
Please use this link to access the GIS OST (AIR) testing schedule - GIS State Testing Schedule 2024.
A Message from Ms. Baker:
Talking to Kids About Food and Their Bodies
It’s important to have regular conversations with your child about how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking about. But when it comes to food choices and body image, it can feel challenging to know how to talk about it in a way that won’t be damaging to a child’s mental health. Check out these ideas & tips for talking about food and body image in healthy ways.
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?Questions? Email Ms. Baker [email protected]
WELL NOTE
Daily exercise for just 30 minutes is a proven stress-reducer for students and adults. It helps with sleep, digestion, focus, a healthy body, and provides a boost of endorphins for the day. Help your students build exercise into their schedules.
CALENDAR & EVENTS
February 26- PTO Meeting (9:30, GIS)
March 18- PTO Meeting (9:30 AM, GES)
March 20- Spring Pictures
March 22- End of 3rd Quarter
March 25-29, April 1: Spring Break
April 8: No School; Staff PD
Click here for the 2023-2024 GEVSD calendar
Click here for the 2?024-2025 GEVSD calendar.
REMINDERS
GEVSD Alternative Learning Experiences:
Under state attendance laws, vacations are considered unexcused absences unless specifically stated in District policy. Vacations are now referred to as Alternative Learning Experiences, or ALE, as the District values and recognizes the learning that can take place with travel. Click here to apply for an ALE.
Reporting Student Absences:
All absences need to be reported to the GIS office as soon as possible. Absences should be reported in SafeArrival. You are asked to report your child’s absence using any of these three convenient methods:
Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://go.schoolmessenger.com). The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
Use the SafeArrival website, https://go.schoolmessenger.com. The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
Call the toll-free number (866) 294-5982 to report an absence using the automated phone system.
These options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time.
End of the School Day Requests:
The end of the school day is one of the busiest times of the day. If you have a change in transportation, please let the main office know prior to 2:50 pm. This will allow us time to communicate the changes to students. If you do have transportation requests, please email Janine McCullough at [email protected] or call 587-8103.
School & Office Hours:
Student Start Time:8:40 am (entry @ 8:30 am)
Student Dismissal: 3:25 pm
Main Office Hours: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
School Lunch Prices & Accounts:
For the 2023-2024 school year, lunches at school will cost $3.00. A school lunch includes entrée, fruit, vegetable, and milk/water. Families will need to add money to the child's online lunch account to pay for lunches. Individual milk or water is $.50. If anyone is need of assistance in purchasing lunches, please complete this form.
GES/GIS PTO Meetings:
The Granville K-6 PTO will host regular meetings on the third Monday of each month (some exceptions do apply). Meetings will be held in the GES cafeteria at 9:30. All K-6 parents are invited to join. Contact the PTO members directly at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Volunteering at GIS:
All volunteers must complete the steps in the brief Volunteer Training Program (click here) prior to starting their volunteer service.