The Diley Digest
April 28, 2023
May Calendar
MAY
May 16: 5th Grade Field Trip to Eastland Career Center
Diley Orchestra concert Tuesday, May 16 at 7:00pm at PHSC.
Mat 17: PTSO Meeting 7pm
May 24: Last Day of School
Principal's Message
Diley Parents,
Next week is teacher appreciation week (May 1-5). Help me in thanking our staff for everything they do. I really do think we have wonderful people helping mold our students for the future. If you get a chance send them a quick note/email thanking them for their hard work. Thank you in advance for helping me celebrate our staff! :)
Every year as we get closer to the end of the school year we see an increase in student behavior. I tend to think this is because everyone gets excited about the summer. Please help us in reminding your child/student to be kind and respectful to others. There are still lessons to be taught and content to learn. Please reinforce at home that they need to stay engaged and they should not get out their cell phones. During the school day, cell phones should be turned off and put away. This would include during lunch and recess. The classroom should not be disrupted by behavior that is inappropriate and students need to focus on staying engaged and working. I know this is hard at times, especially since the weather is getting nicer, but our hope is that everyone finishes the school year on a good note.
I would also like to give families a heads-up about the behaviors on social media. We are starting to see more negative comments in group chats either through texting or other forums like SNAPCHAT. This behavior is typically happening outside of school hours, however, it can and has led to drama/disruptions within the school. I have been making announcements about this the past couple of days reminding students to be careful about what they are doing and saying online.
Our last I-Ready diagnostic begins next week. Please stress to the students how important it is to try their best on this assessment.
May 1st - 5th - Reading
May 8th - 12th - Math
Please visit the following link if you would like to learn more about i-Ready diagnostic.
Understanding your students i-Ready Diagnostic Video - English
CommUNITY Fair Participation/Volunteers
Pickerington Local Schools is celebrating its 6th annual CommUNITY Fair! The fair is scheduled for April 29th, 2023 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at Toll Gate Middle School. Our goal is to highlight and celebrate the diversity and community in Pickerington! We need volunteers who are willing to share about their countries and cultures. To sign up to volunteer, please complete this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4WtdC_5iPcjqDHlzSYfz8zOMl-x_psAnSpatAFhEbmJ7ArA/viewform
If you have questions prior to your submission, please contact Dr. Michael Jackson at michael_jackson@plsd.us. We appreciate your willingness to share your culture and talents with our community!
5th Grade Field Trip May 16
The Career Services Team at Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools (EFCTS) is planning a 5th Grade Career Discovery Day event! The career center team has invited Diley Middle School students to participate in this event.
Here are the details of the event:
Event: EFCTS 5th Grade Career Discovery Day
Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Location: Ohio University - Lancaster Campus
Time: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Students and staff will board the bus at 9:30 AM and be driven to Ohio University Lancaster Campus. Everyone will return to Diley Middle School around 12:30 PM.
We will be asking all students to fill out a form if they would like the cafeteria to make them a sack lunch for when they return. If students do not want a packed lunch from school then we are highly encouraging your student to pack and bring their own lunch to school. The teams will be eating in their classes and or outside if it is nice when they return!
In order to attend the field trip all students must have a completed emergency medical form in Infinite Campus for this school year and have given consent for your student to attend field trips. If the emergency medical form for this school year has not been completed in Infinite Campus, then your student can not attend the trip.
Students who do not attend the trip will stay back and attend a class where they will be asked to do their work during this time frame.
Families and students who do not have this form completed will be sent a message via Infinite Campus and Talking Points. Please check your email and apps for directions in order to complete this information online.
Important information from our Food Service Team
f your student has a negative balance in their food service account, please pay it off before the end of the school year. You can send cash, a check made payable to "PLSD Food Service" with your student to school, or pay online at mypaymentsplus.com. If you need assistance with My Payments Plus you can reach their parent helpline at 877-237-0946.
Questions? Please call the food service office at 614-833-3645.
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 April's Bulletin Board: https://rb.gy/l84wrt
Click here to see the Family Resources Board: bit.ly/PLSDfamilyresources
Family Resources
Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 1st-5th! The PTSO has a couple options for you to show your appreciate for the awesome staff at Diley. We will be providing lunch as well as have a school supply buffet for teachers to choose what supplies they need for their classroom! Thank you for your help in making this week special for our staff!
2022-23 Volunteers: Educator appreciation week (signupgenius.com)
CommUNITY Fair
You are invited to the 6th Annual Pickerington CommUNITY Fair: Expanding Our Global Reach. Pickerington families come from over 70 countries and speak more than 50 languages. The CommUNITY Fair celebrates the many different cultures and traditions from around the world. We will feature: student projects, presentations, performances and much more.
Come and learn about your neighbors. Come and enjoy the fun!
EL Listening Campaign

Ridgeview Cross-Country
We will have a brief meeting at Diley on May 11th (during the school day) for any students interested. Hope to see you there!
Girls PHSC Golf Team Information & Golf Club
PHSC Basketball Camp
2nd-8th Grade
June 19th - 21st
9:00am-12:00pm
PHSC Main Gym
Parents get your future Tigers signed up today and come camp with the 2023 Div. 1 State Runner Up!!
REGISTER HERE: bit.ly/tc2k23


A note from the nurse
Immunization Requirements for Students Entering Grade 7
Per the Ohio Department of Health, all students entering grade 7 must show proof of vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap vaccine) and meningococcal disease (MCV4 vaccine).
You may take the following document with you to your doctor to use as documentation of these vaccinations, or you may submit an immunization report with the dates of
both vaccinations. Please return this documentation as soon as possible to your child’s school nurse. If this is not provided during the grade 6 school year, you will need to send this information to the junior high that your child will attend prior to the beginning of the next school year. The middle school nurses will forward all immunization documentation received to the junior high nurses at the end of this year.
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