Violet Views August 2019
HOME OF THE SUPERVIOLETS
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
On behalf of the staff at Violet Elementary School, I am excited to welcome you to the 2019-20 school year! We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, our children need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities. We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring that he/she:
1) Attends school daily and arrives on time, ready for the day’s learning experience
2) Completes all classwork and homework assignments given by teachers
3) Reads daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skills
4) Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life
5) Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject
6) Knows that you expect him/her to succeed in school
Please consider joining our school volunteer program as our students can greatly benefit from your involvement and contributions to the school’s program and its operations. Parent engagement in a school has been researched and proven to be a key determiner of academic, social, and emotional growth. We seek volunteers to help us with the following activities:
1) Teacher-led instructional support, usually in the classroom
2) Reading with children who need extra help
3) School-wide events
4) Student recognition events
5) Field Trips
6) Outreach and recruitment of parent and community volunteers
I believe it to be critical to read over and understand our school and district code of conduct so that you and your child can be knowledgeable about them together. If you have any questions about the rules and expectations, please feel free to contact me or to discuss them with your child’s teacher. It is very important that you and your child are fully informed regarding standards related to appropriate behavior for a safe and productive school year. Please feel free to review the PLSD Student Handbook which can be accessed on our district website, https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/student-handbooks/.
The wonderful Violet staff and I feel privileged to be a part of this school family. We thank you for your support and look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Dee Copas
School Principal
Back to School Forms
Back-to-School Open House Night
- 5:00-6:00 pm for students in PM Kindergarten, 3rd Grade, and 4th Grade
- 6:00-7:00 pm for students in AM Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade
The Open House will begin in the cafeteria where Mrs. Copas will give an introduction. Students and parents will then go with their teachers to the classroom. There will also be time to explore the school and get information about our PTO. Students must be accompanied by parents at all times please. Also, supplies can be dropped off in the classroom.
INCLUDED BELOW IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES AND POLICIES FOR YOU TO REVIEW AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
School Day Schedule 2019-20
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Bus riders will be loading and unloading in the front of the building. No cars should be parked in this area during arrival (8:50-9:45am) and dismissal times (3:50-4:15pm). Parents dropping off or picking up students, please drive to the blacktop playground area, follow the serpentine pathway, and circle around to entrance "L" for entering and exiting. As you exit the school parking lot, turn right only and exit onto Education Drive. The right turn applies during school arrival and dismissal times only. Please do not park on the playground blacktop area. Children from daycare centers will be dropped off at this same location. Bus riders will be dropped off in the front of the building.
At dismissal time, walkers will be dismissed first. If your child is a Melrose walker, they will exit in back and walk down the path. If your child is a Chevington walker, you or your adult designee may meet them in front by the light post. Your child must be an assigned walker in order to exit this way. All other students must be picked up in the back parking lot or ride a bus or daycare van. Do not park on Education Drive or Ravine Drive and ask your child to meet you. This increased traffic creates an unsafe condition for students. You may only park on these streets if your child is an assigned Chevington walker. This means that they live in that subdivision and you have designated that you want them to walk. We would like to remind parents the safest crossing points are the crosswalks at Melrose Boulevard and Ravine Avenue. The traffic flow runs fairly smoothly, however, inclement weather conditions will certainly impact dismissal time. We ask for your patience and cooperation in helping us dismiss your student directly to you in a safe and timely manner. We will assign a last name card that corresponds to your child. We ask that you display these on the front passenger side.
Please remember students are not permitted to go to their classrooms until 9:05 am. Please do not drop off students early because supervision is not available before 8:50 am. Students are not permitted to be on the playground before school starts unless supervised by a parent. Students must be in their classrooms by the tardy bell at 9:15 am. Please drop them off in plenty of time to walk to their classroom. We appreciate all your help and cooperation in helping us keep your child safe while at school.
Dismissal Changes/Absences
While we all know that consistency is important in a child’s life, it may become necessary to change your child’s dismissal plans. If you must change the way your child is to be dismissed, we ask that you send a note in advance to your child’s teacher. They will then inform the office. Please allow enough time to come into the building to sign your child out. Students will be called from class to meet you in the office.
Please call the school if your child is absent. State Law requires a daily check of students who are absent. A 24-hour answering machine is available to receive absence or tardy calls. Please call 614-548-1500 and press "1" for attendance. Homework requests must be placed by 9:30 am in order to allow teachers time to prepare these plans. They must be picked up by 4:15 pm. Please make sure that you make arrangements as teachers spend quality time preparing these materials. Please make yourself familiar with district policy regarding attendance, as well as excused and unexcused absences.
School Lunch Information
Elementary lunch prices this year are:
Regular Lunch: $2.75
Extra Milk: $ .50
Breakfast: $1.50
Extra Entrée $2.00
Parents can pay online at MyPaymentsPlus and monitor lunch balances, view purchase history, and set up email reminders. Students can also bring in cash, check, or money order and give to their teacher. These will be forwarded to the foodservice department and placed on the student's account. Checks should be made payable to PLSD Foodservice.
Custody Counts
To serve requirements of a child custody order, a parent should present an official order to be placed on record for the guidance, attendance, and administrative offices. Ohio Revised Code 3313.673 states “…the custodial parent of the child shall notify the school of those custodial arrangements…”
Our primary concern is knowing the legal custodian, residential parent, and knowing the answer to the question, “Can your child be dismissed to a non-custodial parent?” Schools are obligated to follow court documentation regarding the rights of a non-custodial parent. Please inform the office of any address or custody changes from last year.
Violet Birthdays
A birthday is a day to celebrate the life of a wonderful, unique and special person: YOUR CHILD! Violet Elementary will be honoring your child in the following ways:
- Your child’s birthday will be announced during the morning announcements.
- Your child will receive a birthday pencil from the office on his/her birthday.
Due to serious concerns about allergies and dietary restrictions, absolutely no edible treats are to be brought to school. Thank you for helping to keep all of our students safe and healthy!
School Visits
Behavioral Expectations
Behavior Rating Checklist Procedures
If you need a staff member to complete a behavior checklist, please note the following guidelines, when requesting information from teachers, counselors and administrators.
- All requests must be handled through the school counselor.
- A written release of information must accompany the request.
- A pre-addressed envelope with sufficient postage or a correct fax number should also be provided by the parent. The parent will receive a copy of these forms, indicating the date mailed/faxed.
- Allow at least two weeks from the time the counselor receives the form(s) to the date the physician/agency needs the material.
- Identify, specifically, which teachers are to complete the forms.
Safety Drills / Safe School Tip Line
Safety drills will be conducted periodically throughout the year. Fire drills, tornado drills, lock-down, medical emergency, and evacuation procedures will be practiced during the school year. Each classroom is provided with a crisis management plan.
The SaferOH Tip Line
The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Public Safety have launched 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. School safety analysts may ask for additional information, but the caller can remain secret or leave his or her contact information for later follow-up.
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 Pickerington Schools, local law enforcement agencies, and others, if necessary.
Important Dates
August 12 Violet Community Popsicle Pop Up Event 10:30-11:30 am
August 14 Violet Open House 5:00-7:00 pmAugust 15 FIrst Day of School Grades 1-4
August 15 Preschool Parent Meeting at Tussisng Elementary 5:30 pm (all preschool parents)
August 16 Preschool Open House 10:00am and 2:00pm
August 19 First Day of Preschool
August 21 First Day of Kindergarten
August 21 NCH Moblie Clinic at Violet
August 30 No School, Staff Professional Development Day
September 2 No School, Labor Day
September 9 PTO Flower Sale Kickoff
September 11 2-Hour Late Start, Staff Professional Development
September 18 Picture Day
ABOUT US
Email: dee_copas@plsd.us
Website: http://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/violet-elementary/
Location: 8855 Education Drive, Pickerington, OH, United States
Phone: (614) 548-1500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperVioletES/
Twitter: @VioletElem