Fairfield Panther Paw
October 7, 2022
From Mrs Tennenbaum
Dates to Remember
October 6-14: Book Fair
October 10: All day conferences for K-4th grade
October 11: Kindergarten conferences only all day
October 11: Marcos Pizza FES fundraiser
October 12: PTO meeting 7:00 pm
October 13: PM Conferences
October 23: PTO Trunk or Treat 3-5 ( Time correction)
October 27: Picture Retakes
Hope bags (Panther bags)
We are extremely fortunate to have a community resource called the H.O.P.E Packs Program. This free program provides bags of food for families on a weekly basis and is meant to be kid-friendly, easy to prepare and a supplemental food supply for families. The bags are sent home with your student every Friday, beginning September 9th.
If you feel your child could benefit from this free service, please contact our school counselor, Nikki Arnold at nikki_arnold@plsd.us
Celebrating the path to Awesomeness!
We are all in this together!
Assistant Principal: Lea Ann Yoakum
Secretary: Daniella Schmidt
Attendance Secretary: Jennifer Todd
School Counselor: Nikki Arnold
School Nurse: Liz Moody-Ganoom
School Nursing Assistant: Jayna Smith
Email: stacy_tennenbaum@plsd.us
Website: www.pickerington.k12.oh.us
Location: 13000 Coventry Avenue, Pickerington, OH, USA
Phone: 614-834-7600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PickeringtonSchools
Twitter: @ms_tennenbaum
Notice of 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.
News from the YMCA before and after school care program
This year we have scheduled a Professional Development Day for all YMCA Before and After School Child Care employees.
We will not be running before and after school programming on Friday, October 14th. Our families have been alerted and will send out reminders.
The day is set to include, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Trauma Informed Care, Behavior Management, Working with diverse abilities, state licensing expectations, YMCA policies/best practices and more.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Martez Scales
From the PTO
Donations from Sam's Pumpkin Patch
Is your family picking out some pumpkins this weekend? Reminder that Sam's Pumpkin Patch is running a special promotion until this Sunday, Oct 9 with a portion of sales going back to school PTOs! Please see attached flier for details.
Fall Book Fair - Volunteers Still Needed!
Did you know that every dollar spent at our Book Fair will benefit our school directly by providing additional books for our school library and in classroom libraries? Our Book Fair shopping days will be Oct 11-14 during students' library time.
We are still looking for some parent/adult volunteers to help students select books during the school day. We have a critical need for volunteers on Wednesday morning and all day Thursday. Volunteers can sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4ca4a62fa0fd0-fall (The link also includes the dates each classroom will be shopping at the book fair.)
Trunk or Treat
We are so excited to bring back our Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, October 23 from 3pm to 5pm. Join us in the Fairfield Elementary parking lot for costumes, games, balloon twisters, a trunk decorating contest, and CANDY! Kona Ice and Zapata's food trucks will be here as well.
Register your family before October 20th to receive a discounted price! Use this link to sign up today: https://forms.gle/i5Ea3CNufEgvyZsj9
The PTO needs candy! The PTO is looking for some candy donations to use as prizes for our carnival games. Can you donate a bag? Send in any candy to the office with your student marked for "PTO" and we'll pick it up throughout the month. THANK YOU!
PTO Meeting: Wednesday, October 12th from 7-8 pm
It’s a busy month for the PTO! Come learn about our fun upcoming events like Book Fair and Trunk or Treat. Plus, hear an update from our principal, Mrs. Tennenbaum. We will meet in the Media Center at Fairfield Elem.
If you can't join us in person, we will also have a Google Meet link available (assuming our WiFi works!) Video call link: https://meet.google.com/qgp-qfwr-aeo
Clinic Clothing Drive
The Fairfield nurse's clinic has a critical need for gently used pants that can be given to children after accidents, especially in smaller sizes (4 to 8.) As the weather gets cooler, you might be swapping out your kids' shorts for pants. But (surprise!) maybe they grew A LOT over the summer? Send those too-short pants to school! Help our school nurses and make some room in your closets. It's a win-win!
Why Bond Passage Nov. 8 Would “Feel” Similar to a Renewal Levy
In case you missed the article in Pickerington Magazine this month, we wanted to share a useful explanation of tax rates as they pertain to Pickerington School’s Nov. 8 bond issue.
As home values appreciate in the district, tax rates are reduced so that the aggregate tax collections for the school do not increase. The graphics at the end of this article show an assumed 24% increase in district taxable value, and the impact on 3 different homes. The graphic is showing ONLY taxes calculated for the district.
As the chart shows, 3 different homes appreciate at 3 different rates — Home A at 15%, Home B at 20%, and Home C at 30%. The taxes calculated for these homes in 2022 are shown at the bottom of the chart.
Although home values are increasing, the calculated taxes are not increasing by the same amount. In fact, Home A's tax bill would fall by 1.37%; Home B's tax bill would only increase 2.91%; and Home C's tax bill would increase 11.49% even though Home C's value increased by 30%. That's because the tax rate falls from 34.769 mills (or $1,217 annually per $100,000 of market value) to 29.784 mills (or $1,042 annually per $100,000 of market value). So, while market values increase by 24%, tax rates will fall by 14.4%.
What does this mean for the Pickerington Schools 2.80 mill bond issue that is on the November 8, 2022 ballot? Even though the levy is a new levy, the existing millage for aggregate bond collections, even if the bond issue passes, is forecasted to fall by ½ a mill. This will make the new levy ‘feel’ like or be similar to a renewal in that tax rates won’t increase while the community continues its commitment.
You can learn more about the upcoming bond issue here. Information about voting is available at the Vote Ohio website. Don’t forget: The deadline to register to vote for the November election is October 11.
Holiday Assistance Program
Dear Families,
Pickerington Schools are once again teaming up with the Violet Township Fire Department to help provide some holiday assistance for families in need during this holiday season.
In need of assistance?
Request an online form for holiday assistance by contacting me at nikki_arnold@plsd.us or at 614-834-7600. The request link will then be provided to you, only one per household please. This form is handled in a confidential manner with more details from your school counselor. Please remember that we will only be able to supplement your holiday. The online form must be completed by Friday, November 18th.
Wanting to donate?
There are several ways to donate this year:
The traditional big red boxes throughout the community and in the schools accepting donations of new toys/gifts.
Gift cards are also appreciated.
Cash donations through Paypal.
Another way of donating this year is through Amazon and Target. If you would prefer to donate in this way, click on the links below. Be sure to ship to Violet Township Fire Department Toy Drive (address will appear as an option).
Target. Amazon. Paypal
Pickerington Education Foundation Charity Auction
Get your tickets now for this year’s fun-filled Pickerington Education Foundation Charity Auction! The event includes dinner, drinks, entertainment, silent & live auctions, and a Reverse Raffle. It will take place on Saturday, November 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., at the Wigwam Event Center, 10190 Blacklick-Eastern Rd. NW, Pickerington, OH 43147. The event is a truly enjoyable and fun way to support our schools!
Tickets are $60 per person and are on sale now on the Pickerington Education Foundation webpage.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FUN AND PRIZES: You may opt to purchase a Reverse Raffle Ticket for an additional $50. Got a lucky number? Pick it for a chance to win! Using the 'seat finder' application, pick a number between A1 through A300 for your Reverse Raffle Entry number.
Dinner will be catered by Berwick Manor.
The silent auction includes upscale baskets and themed, decorated trees.
Proceeds from this event provide grants to Pickerington teachers and buildings for a variety of classroom projects. PEF awards over $20,000 each year that goes directly back to support our schools. Founded in 2004, PEF is a permanent public charity as a fund within the Fairfield County Foundation. As a public charity, all contributions to the Foundation will receive the maximum tax deduction allowed by law.
We hope to see you at the PEF Charity Auction!