Now that the holidays are upon us, we stop and think about all we are thankful for in our lives.

 

While this time of year may be stressful to many, I feel it is also a time filled with hope. As the leader of Groveport Madison Schools, I am proud of and thankful for the families in this school district. I admire the dedication and hard work of our families. Parents, grandparents and guardians of our students are determined to see their children succeed. Our partnership with you is one of the most important factors in each child's success.

 

I am also thankful for the focused and caring staff we have in our schools. Their drive and commitment to make our District thrive is appreciated. Given the number and varied staff positions within our school district, it is remarkable how everyone is determined to guide and support our students.

 

We couldn't do any of this without our community leaders and the partnerships we have forged. I am thankful that we understand the importance of working together to help create opportunities in a community that is rich in civic pride.

 

And finally, I admire and respect the efforts our students make every day to challenge themselves as learners. From our preschoolers to our graduates, we are seeing more and more recognition of our students throughout central Ohio.

 

I sincerely thank you for your partnership and support, and I wish the best for you and your family. The Board of Education and I hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

With the addition of the new synthetic turf athletic field, we are planning to hold graduation exercises in Cruiser Stadium. Having graduation "at home" was a time-honored tradition for many years at Groveport Madison High School. We are very pleased to rekindle that tradition as we prepare to open the new high school.

While there are a number of issues that can cause us to cancel classes throughout the school year, winter weather is most assuredly the biggest factor. Find out how the District handles school closing and delay issues, the notification of staff and parents, as well as other related issues.

It is hard to believe that November is already upon us, and we will be moving into the new high school in less than eight months.

If you have been in a school or the District Service Center, it is readily apparent that our secretaries and receptionist are managing numerous things at the same time - and we are appreciative for how seriously they take their work. To lessen some of that burden, we are asking for your help, particularly when it comes to responding to mass notification calls.

 

Very often, parents do not listen to the message; they simply look at the caller I.D. and call the phone number stating, "You just called me." When you receive a call from the District's administrative office or our schools, we request that you listen to the complete message before calling the number on the caller I.D. Most often, the message is informational in nature and does not require any immediate action on the part of the parent.

 

Our secretaries will be forever grateful!

	Olivia Moye-Isaly

Olivia Moye-Isaly was recognized by the Ohio Association for Gifted Children (OAGC) for earning a high score on the ACT test. Olivia, who is an eighth-grader in the gifted program at Middle School North, took the test last year through the Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS). The program allows students to take internationally recognized tests like the ACT, SAT and PSAT at younger ages than traditionally offered.

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	Katie Van Schoyck

Katie Van Schoyck began this year with a promotion - as the new school improvement coordinator at Middle School Central. Van Schoyck, who has taught at Asbury and Sedalia Elementary Schools, said the role appealed to her because it allows her to be "a problem solver" for students and teachers. "I really want to help teachers streamline their efforts and build relationships with our students," said Van Schoyck, who received her principal licensure and master's degree in May from The Ohio State University.

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	Brooke Incorvaia

After more than a decade of teaching English at Groveport Madison Schools, Brooke Incorvaia decided to put her master's in educational administration to work by becoming a school improvement coordinator at Middle School North.

Incorvaia, who joined the District in 2005, most recently taught at the high school. She pursued the school improvement coordinator role because she liked the idea of helping students by supporting their teachers. "This job allows me to help staff and students interact," she said. "I can offer teachers innovative methods to help improve their lessons."

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The Groveport Madison Schools 2018-2019 school calendar is now available on the District's homepage under the Quick Links section. Next year, school will begin on Sept. 4. The late start will allow much needed time for the demolition of the old high school and the installation of parking lots, allowing for a smooth start to the new school year.

Click to download the 2018-2019 Calendar.

Take some time this holiday season to join the middle school and high school bands and choirs perform seasonal favorites. Several concerts are scheduled throughout December so you'll have plenty of opportunity to listen to some great music.

 

Remember, if you're a Golden Cruiser Club member, you can get into all school concerts and performances for free. Find more information regarding the Golden Cruiser Club on our website, here. Here's the schedule of our holiday events:

Dec. 4	MS North Band Concert	7:30 PM in the GMHS auditorium
Dec. 6	MS South Band Concert	7:00 PM in MSS gymnasium
Dec. 7	GMHS Choir Concert	7:00 PM in the GMHS auditorium
Dec. 12	MS Central Band Concert	7:30 PM in the Groveport ES auditorium
Dec. 14	GMHS Band Concert	7:30 PM in the GMHS auditorium

We have made a change to the 2017-2018 school calendar. The end of the second nine-week  grading period will now conclude on Jan. 5. Grade cards for the second nine-week grading period will go out on Jan. 12.