The Diley Digest
September 30, 2022
September/October Calendar
SEPTEMBER
September 30: Technology Protection Plan Payment due
OCTOBER
October 3: Cyber Safety Presentation
October 5: Virtual Learning Day (Professional Development)
October 10: No School (Parent/Teacher Conferences)
October 17-21: Scholastic Bookfair
October 18: Mobile Dentist
October 19: PTSO Meeting (7pm)
October 24: No School (Professional Development)
October 25: Virtual Learning Day (Professional Development)
PTSO donations needed
The Diley PTSO needs your donations to help provide a yummy dinner to our teachers during evening conferences AND the Wine and Dine tree for the Pickerington Education Foundation raffle.
Please sign up below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49AEAB2FA4F9C61-teacher
Plan for Progress Update
If passed, what will the Nov. 8 bond issue cost residents?
Pickerington Schools estimates that passage of the Nov. 8 levy will not increase tax rates (measured in mills) for our residents. The county auditor has estimated that the $89.930 million bond issue will require 2.80 mills for debt payments. But, because property valuations are forecasted to increase by an average of 24% for 2022, and due to the structure of the proposed new debt, district leaders forecast that the county auditor will actually be able to decrease the total tax rate needed to pay district debt service by ½ of a mill.
The tax rate collected by the district to pay debt payments has decreased as outstanding debt has been retired, refunded for better interest rates, and as district valuation has increased. Visit https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/bond-issue-info/ under the “What Will It Cost?” section to read more on how the tax rate has changed since 2015, and the forecasted tax rate for the 2022 tax year (which will first be paid in 2023).
October date reminders!
We have several days in October that the students are not in school. Here are the dates and the expectations for those days:
Wednesday, Oct 5th - Virtual Learning Day (students will have assignments, please have them check their Google Classrooms and school email)
Monday, Oct 10th - Parent Teacher Conferences (no work assigned on this day)
Monday, Oct 24th - Professional Development Day (no work assigned on this day)
Tuesday, Oct 25th - Virtual Learning Day (students will have assignments, please have them check their Google Classrooms and school email)
Becoming CyberSafe October 3rd
SentinelOne’s CyberSafe.edu curriculum is
an in-school program designed specifically
for grades K-8 and is built to introduce the
concept of cybersecurity and provide a
range of ways that kids can think about their
online activities and privacy.
Students will learn:
-Some of the dangers of being online
-The importance of protecting your online identity
-The importance of protecting your online privacy
Get your fall decor
Dashain/Dashara
Dashain is also called “Bijaya Dashami”. It is a religious Hindu festival celebrated annually between the months of September and October. This year, Hindu Nepalese are celebrating Dashain from 10/04-10/08. All government agencies, educational institutions, and other public sectors will be closed down during these festivals in Nepal. This is the longest festival celebrated in Nepal. Usually, Nepalese celebrate this festival for fifteen days. The festival is celebrated by Hindus in Nepal, some parts of India, and elsewhere in the world.
The significance of the festival is the triumph of good over evil, commemorating the victory over the wicked ones, and honors the Victory of God over Demons.
This is a great time for family reunion. Basically, families and relatives visit their elder’s house, get tika(a mixture of rice and red color) and Jamara(yellow plant made of maize, wheat and rice) and blessings, exchange gifts, share sorrow and happiness, and prepare local/traditional dishes and eat together. If a family member has been abroad for education/job/business, they will come back to their home during this festival. Kids and teenagers make colorful kites and enjoy flying them over the sky . Build bamboo swings (Pings) , and get involved in different kinds of entertaining activities. Decorating houses and getting new clothes are part of celebrating this festival too. It is a relaxing time of the year.
The Bookfair is Back!!!
Get Ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!).
Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them to become bolder, prouder, and stronger readers. AND- as always, every book they buy earns rewards for our school.
Here is what you need to know about the Fair:
When: October 17 - October 21.
Where: Diley Middle School
This year, we are adding the super popular eWallet—your child's digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute!
Share each child's eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.
Students will have an opportunity to shop during their library time or you can always shop at our school's Online Book Fair. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school.
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/dileymiddleschool2
Catch you at the Fair! Happy reading!
Want to help???? We need volunteers for various shifts. Click on the link to sig up!
The Counselors Corner
Welcome to the Counselor’s Corner! Every month, the middle school counselors will share a bulletin board with the following information: hot topic, theme, and family resources.
Click here to see September's Bulletin Board: https://rb.gy/l84wrt
Click here to see the Family Resources Board: bit.ly/PLSDfamilyresources
Family Resources
Gifted Testing for 5th graders
Dear Diley 5th Grade Families,
In accordance with the Pickerington Local School District assessment policy, second, third, and fifth grade students will be administered whole grade testing for the purposes of the identification of gifted students. Second grade students will be administered the Naglieri for cognitive identification. Third grade students will be taking the Cognitive Ability Test for cognitive identification. Fifth grade students will be administered the Terra Nova for Science and Social Studies and the InView for cognitive identification. The results of these assessments will be used to inform teachers of student achievement in comparison to national norms and to identify students as gifted and talented.
The testing window for 5th grade will be October 17 – October 26. Diley will be testing 10/17, 10/19, & 10/20. We respectfully ask that you do not schedule appointments during this testing window. Results of the assessments will be available once the scores are reported back to the district at the beginning of the second semester.
If you have any questions, please view the Pickerington Local School District’s Gifted Education website. The website can be found at http://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/gifted-services/
If you have any questions, please contact gifted services coordinator Todd Stanley at Todd_Stanley@plsd.us.
Thanks,
Todd Stanley
Gifted Services Coordinator
Pickerington Local Schools
Twitter @the_gifted_guy
Special Note from the Nurse
The in-school dentist is coming to Diley on 10/18/22!
Smile Programs…the mobile dentists is an in-school dental program designed to address today’s dental crisis and keep children healthy. Our innovative model offers state of the art dental care to students in the comfortable and familiar surroundings of their school; keeping them in class and learning. Easy and convenient for parents at no cost to them*.
Many children sadly find themselves without affordable access to dental care. Our program uses the latest technology in portable equipment, bringing dental services directly to your school. We use our network of locally licensed dentists, hygienists, and assistants to provide high quality care to your students. Our program sets up a mini dental clinic directly in your school.
Your Students Will Receive
- Complete Oral Exam
- Cleaning
- Fluoride
- Sealants
- X-Rays#
- Fillings#
- Pulpotomies#
- (Treatment of the nerve inside of a baby tooth)
- Simple extractions#
- Oral Health Education
- A Report Card from the dentist
- A Free Toothbrush
- # As needed, in select areas
- * In most states for children with Medicaid
Celebrating the Kindness Challenge with Popsicles and Extra Recess!!
Language Assistance Plan
In English:
Pickerington Schools will take reasonable steps to ensure that persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access and an equal opportunity to participate in all services, activities, and programs available throughout the district. It is the policy of PLSD to ensure meaningful communication with LEP students and families and to communicate information related to the education of all students. All services needed to comply with this policy will be provided for students and their families in need of such assistance free of charge. For assistance, please call 614-833-2110.
(In Nepali)
भाषा सहायतासम्बन्धी सूचना:
Pickerington Schools ले सीमित अङ्ग्रेजी प्रवीणता (LEP) भएका व्यक्तिहरूसँग डिस्ट्रिक्टभर उपलब्ध सबै सेवा, क्रियाकलाप र कार्यक्रमहरूमा अर्थपूर्ण पहुँच र सहभागी हुन पाउने समान अवसर छ भनी सुनिश्चित गर्नका लागि उचित कदमहरू चाल्ने छ। LEP भएका विद्यार्थी र परिवारहरूसँग अर्थपूर्ण सञ्चार सुनिश्चित गर्ने र सबै विद्यार्थीहरूको शिक्षासँग सम्बन्धित जानकारी सञ्चार गर्ने PLSD को नीति हो। यो नीतिको अनुपालन गर्न आवश्यक पर्ने सबै सेवाहरू यस प्रकारको सहायता आवश्यक भएका विद्यार्थी र उहाँहरूका परिवारहरूलाई निःशुल्क रूपमा उपलब्ध गराइने छ। सहायताको लागि, कृपया 614-833-2110 मा कल गर्नुहोस्
En Español:
Las escuelas de Pickerington tomarán medidas razonables para garantizar que las personas con dominio limitado del inglés (LEP) tengan un acceso fácil y la misma oportunidad de participar en todos los servicios, actividades y programas disponibles en todo el distrito. La política de PLSD es asegurar una comunicación significativa con los estudiantes LEP, sus familias y comunicar información relacionada con la educación de todos los estudiantes. Todos los servicios necesarios para cumplir con esta política se proporcionarán a los estudiantes y sus familias que necesiten dicha asistencia de forma gratuita. Para obtener ayuda, llame al 614-833-2110.
Keep informed!
Follow Diley on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMS_Proud?s=20
Follow Principal Koch on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mrerickoch?s=20
Follow our PTSO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2085717574996931
Is social media not your thing? You can find all sorts of information on the Pickerington School District's website located at: https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/
Diley Middle School
Assistant Principal: Ashleigh Jackson
Secretary: Heather Ferns
Office Assistant: Stacy Gallion
Counselor: Gina Neilson
Nurse: Rhonda Carmel
Health Assistant: Robin May
Email: heather_ferns@plsd.us
Website: https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/diley-middle-school/
Location: 750 Preston Trails Drive, Pickerington, OH, USA
Phone: 614-830-2900
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Diley-Middle-School-401947110003982
Twitter: @DMS_Proud