Header Graphic

January, 2023

We're very excited to share our electronic newsletter, Cruiser Connections. Our goal is to keep our Cruiser community informed of the happenings, celebrations, and news of the school district, our students, staff, and schools.

January Edition at a Glance

  • Superintendent’s Message
  • Deputy Superintendent Resumes District Safety Committee Work
  • Seeking Volunteers for K-3 Reading Buddies Program
  • Owe Lunch Money? Apply Now for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch
  • Seeking Candidates for Permanent Substitute Teacher Openings
  • GMHS Skilled Trades Expo a Huge Success!
  • Asbury ES and MS North Named State PBIS Honorees
  • Construction of PrimaryOne Community Healthcare Center Well Underway
  • Life Transformation Church Donates Gift to Every Dunloe ES Student
  • GMHS Students Participate in Model United Nations Event
  • How to Report Safety Concerns
  • State of the Schools Planning is Underway
  • Winter Weather/Calamity Day Information
  • Important Dates to Remember

A Message from Superintendent Jamie Grube

Getting to know the community, its residents, and business owners is very important to me. One idea that came to me was to have a time each month when I could meet with community members to answer questions, discuss any ideas or concerns you may have, or opportunities for us to improve.


Since I'm a big coffee fan, we decided that "Java with Jamie," would be a good moniker for this new endeavor. On Friday, January 13, from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., I'll be at the Starbucks located at 3770 S. Hamilton Rd.


We'll be doing the coffees at different locations throughout the school district once per month. If you can't join me this Friday, you can catch us on Feb. 10, Mar. 3, Apr. 14, or May 12 (locations to be announced).


Should you have any questions, please contact our communications office at 614-916-1163 or email gm.communications@gocruisers.org.


I hope to see you this Friday, and I wish you the best for the new year.

Deputy Superintendent Resumes District Safety Committee Work

Approximately 25 parents, staff members, students, and other officials joined Deputy Superintendent/Safety Director Paul Smathers on Dec. 7 for the first meeting of the reprised District Safety Committee.


Mr. Smathers initially formed the Safety Committee in the winter of 2020, but it became dormant when schools were closed by the COVID-19 pandemic.


Co-chairs for the committee are Ms. Kimyata Conwell and Mr. Joe Butts. The group will meet monthly to discuss various safety-related issues throughout the school district. Information from the meetings will be posted on the District's website: www.gocruisers.org/SafetySecurity.aspx

Seeking Volunteers for K-3 Reading Buddies Program

Research confirms that children who develop strong reading skills when they are young are more likely to succeed in school and throughout their adult lives. An extra hour per day of one-on-one reading with an adult can provide children with the literacy foundation they need to become successful learners.


GM Schools has partnered with the United Way of Central Ohio to provide "Reading Buddies" for students in kindergarten through third grade – and we're looking for volunteers who would like to help. We provide the books – you provide the time and a smile.


We're asking that Reading Buddy volunteers spend one hour reading with their student(s) twice weekly. Morning time slots are 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and afternoon time slots are 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.


Participants must complete a background check (cost covered by GM Schools). To sign up to volunteer, please go to: volunteerunitedcbus.org/need/index?s=1&need_init_id=7230. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Tina Starner at 614-227-2707, or email her at tina.starner@uwcentralohio.org.

Owe Lunch Money? Apply Now for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch

We understand that students may run short of lunch money or leave their packed lunch on the kitchen table before jumping on the school bus. In these unexpected situations, students may "charge" their lunch. Charges are considered a debt and must be repaid.

• Regular Lunch Service (all grades) – No more than five (5) days of outstanding charges are permitted.

• Reduced-Price Lunch Service (all grades) – No more than five (5) days of outstanding charges are permitted.


Many families in Groveport Madison Schools qualify for their child(ren) to receive free or reduced-price lunch through the National School Lunch Program. Qualified students can receive free or reduced-price lunch daily, and applications can be completed at any time of the year as circumstances dictate.


In addition, to qualify to receive the P-EBT (Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer) card, families must apply and qualify for free or reduce-price meals.


We encourage all families to complete an online application through their PaySchools Account. The information provided is confidential and is only used to determine eligibility for the Federal Lunch Program.

GMHS Skilled Trades Expo a Huge Success!

The high school’s administrative team and counseling staff realized that many of our students were unaware of the incredible opportunities for them as working tradesmen and tradeswomen following their graduation from high school.


The counseling staff reached out to the Ohio Contractors Association, the Associated General Contractors of America, the Columbus Building & Construction Trades Council, and the Ohio Army National Guard to set up a skilled trades expo for our students.


On Nov. 15, more than 500 GMHS sophomores were bused to the Ohio National Guard Recruiting Center, where they met with representatives from more than 25 trade organizations and construction-related companies. The students tried their hand at cold-fusion plumbing, spreading fresh concrete to form a sidewalk and even knocking down bowling pins using the boom digger bucket on a backhoe.


Students did a tremendous job of engaging with the field representatives, and they were amazed to learn how much they could make right away as an apprenticed worker – and that some trades pay $80,000 or more per year for journeyman workers.


GMHS is planning for another skilled trades expo this spring for our seniors so that they can potentially have a job already lined up following their graduation.

Asbury ES and MS North Named State PBIS Honorees

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) recently recognized Asbury ES and Middle School North for their work using the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system. PBIS aims to establish and implement social, emotional, and behavioral supports and expectations to improve academic outcomes for all students. Asbury is a 2022 Silver Award Winner, and MS North is a Bronze Award Winner. Congratulations to both schools!

Construction of PrimaryOne Community Health Center Well Underway

Work is moving quickly to complete the PrimaryOne Community Health Center under construction at the rear of the District Service Center (DSC) building. Once completed, the center will provide comprehensive health services, eye exams and vision care, dental services, health screenings, routine physical exams, sports and work physicals, immunizations and vaccinations, and routine lab tests. We expect the facility to open in the spring of 2023.

Life Transformation Church Donates Toys for 500+ Dunloe ES Students

Dunloe ES students were over the moon with excitement when they learned that each of them was getting a new toy to take home for Christmas. Pastor David Williams of Life Transformation Church in Dublin presented each student with their own toy to take home at the end of the day. We’re truly grateful for their generosity – and we can even

forgive the pastor for being such a proud Michigan fan!


Pastor Williams' wife, Tanja Williams, is the Lead Enrollment Specialist at the District Service Center.

GMHS Students Compete in Ohio Model United Nations Event

Groveport Madison High School students recently competed in the Ohio Model United Nations simulation at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. The students role-play delegates of a selected nation. They research, present, and debate humanitarian issues from the current agenda of the United Nations in front of 1,000 others from across Ohio. A panel of peer judges advance debates and give awards, with Aminata Sow-Mamoudou being voted among the top five "most outstanding delegates."


Congratulations to all our OMUN student delegates for their dedication, hard work, and sportsmanship over the two-day competition. We are proud of the students’ interest in becoming tomorrow's leaders, focused on peace and conflict resolution.

How to Report Safety Concerns

The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Public Safety sponsor the SaferOH tip line that will accept both calls and texts 24 hours a day. This tip line allows students and adults to anonymously share information with school officials and law enforcement about threats to student safety – whether that involves a threatened mass incident or harm to a single student. Every tip can remain anonymous.


Calls or texts to 844-SaferOH (844-723-3764) are answered by analysts in the Ohio Homeland Security's Threat Assessment and Prevention (TAP) Unit. When action is needed, the TAP Unit immediately forwards information to local school officials, local law enforcement agencies, and others, if necessary.

State of the Schools Planning is Underway

We're excited to announce that the 2023 State of the Schools Celebration will take place on Tuesday, March 14, at 7 PM, at Groveport Madison High School. We'll once again hold our annual art show as part of the celebration activities and have student performances throughout the evening. Superintendent Jamie Grube will also provide a brief update and our plans for the future. Be sure to save the date in your calendar.

Winter Weather/Calamity Day Information

Inclement weather often is the primary reason schools have to close or experience a delayed start to the day. When determining whether schools can safely open for the day, many factors are considered, including:

  • Building conditions, such as whether the buildings have electricity, heat, and water
  • The ability to clear ice and snow from school parking lots and sidewalks
  • Information on road conditions from our transportation staff and local officials
  • Whether the conditions are expected to worsen or improve throughout the day
  • Ambient temperature and wind chill factors
  • Weather forecasts


Our goal is to have a decision by 5:15 a.m. so that our Communications Office can notify staff, parents, and students, inform local radio and TV stations and post the updates on our social media outlets and the GoCruisers.org website.


For detailed information regarding our school closing process, go to https://www.gocruisers.org/SchoolCancellationInfo.aspx.

Important Dates to Remember

  • Wed., Jan. 11 – Board Organizational Mtg., 7 p.m., District Service Ctr.
  • Wed., Jan. 11 – Board of Education Regular Mtg., 7:30 p.m., District Service Center
  • Mon., Jan. 16 – NO SCHOOL – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
  • Fri., Feb. 3 – Interim Reports Mailed/Posted in ProgressBook
  • Mon., Feb. 20 – NO SCHOOL – Presidents Day
  • Tue., Feb. 21 – NO SCHOOL – Teacher Release Day
  • Fri., Mar. 10 – End of Third Grading Period
  • Mon., Mar. 13 – NO SCHOOL – PD Day for Staff
  • Tue., Mar. 14 – State of the Schools Celebration, 7 p.m., GMHS
  • Fri., Mar. 31 – Two-Hour Early Release Day
  • Mon., Apr. 3 thru Apr. 9 – Spring Break
Share Good News About Groveport Madison Schools!
We know that great news occurs every day. We invite you to share positive news items with us via our social media outlets as well. News and information can be shared via personal messaging on Facebook (GroveportMadisonSchools). You may also email us at gm.communications@gocruisers.org, or call us at (614) 492-2520.
Stay Informed - Follow us on Social Media
We are committed to keeping you informed, as we use a variety of communications tools to make it as easy as possible for you to know what is going on in the Groveport Madison Schools District. In addition, many of our schools use social media as well. Look for them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Twitter: @GMSchools
Instagram: @gmschools
Groveport Madison Schools | (614) 492-2520 | gocruisers.org

Office of Communications & Community Relations
gm.communications@gocruisers.org