Pickerington Elementary
July 30, 2021
Pickerington Elementary
Upcoming important dates:
August 13 - "Peek at Pick", 4pm - 6pm
August 16 - First Day of School Grades 1-4
August 16, 17, 18 - Kindergarten Assessment
August 20 - First Day of School for Kindergarten
Pickerington Elementary: @PickeringtonES
Pickerington Elementary PTO: @PickElemPTO
Email: dave_zwiebel@plsd.us
Website: https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/pickerington-elementary/
Location: 775 Long Road, Pickerington, OH, USA
Phone: 614-548-1400
Facebook: facebook.com/pickeringtones
Twitter: @pickeringtones
NOTE FROM MR. Z
Welcome back Pickerington Elementary families!
I hope all of you had an enjoyable and relaxing summer. I could not be more excited to be your principal in my first full year at the helm. I am looking forward to continuing the high-quality education that Pickerington Elementary has been known for. We strive to create an environment that nurtures all students who enter our doors and have fun while doing so.
My philosophy in learning is simple…
Everyone learns differently and approaches their learning with a different perspective. This school will be a safe, accepting, and fun environment for your student to truly thrive at what they set their mind on accomplishing. Our teachers will nurture this process to bring out the very best for all students. I have always been one to learn so much more when the process was enjoyable and I hope that this school year will be an enjoyable experience for all our students and their families.
We have many exciting things planned for this year and I cannot wait for you to be a part of them all. I implore you to partner with us throughout the school year. Join our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), read our newsletters, communicate openly and honestly with our teachers (they want what’s best for your child too), and connect with us on our social media platforms (PES Facebook / Twitter). Never hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have during this year. I look forward to meeting you and creating a relationship with your family that will support the education of your student(s), not only academically but emotionally as well.
If you ever need to reach any of us, please call the school at 614-548-1400. You may also email me at dave_zwiebel@plsd.us Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and let’s have a great year!
Principal
Mark your calendars! 📅
We are thrilled to begin the 21/22 school year! Friday, August 13th from 4-6pm will be our "Peek at Pick" (cheesy right?) night! This will be our back-to-school night. More details will be coming shortly. Please make time to come out and see the exciting things we have in store for your kiddos. Also, Kona Ice of Lancaster and Buckeye City will be there from 3:30 - 6:30pm to help welcome everyone back!
HOMEROOM ASSIGNMENT
On August 6th you can find out who your teacher will be. This information will be available on the Infinite Campus parent portal. Make sure you are ready to log in!
https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/parent-portal/
Kindergarten parents please remember that your students will be taking assessments on August 16th, 17th & 18th. These assessments will help us identify the best placement for your child. We will contact you on August 19th with your child's final homeroom placement.
2021 BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATON
From supply lists to student handbooks, from school menus to easy ways to update your family's information online, this page is your one-stop shop with all the information you'll need to get your kids ready for school at Pickerington Elementary!
Masks Will Be Optional for Students, Staff to Start School Year
At the July 26 regular Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Chris Briggs stated that masks will be optional for students and staff in Pickerington Schools’ buildings at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.
“The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is recommending that staff and students who are not vaccinated wear a mask in the school buildings,” said Briggs. “As such, we continue to move forward with masks optional. While I am pleased to share that a large portion of our staff is vaccinated, we are establishing an environment that is ‘mask welcome’ for unvaccinated students and staff alike.”
Briggs also noted that while the district strongly recommends masks for the unvaccinated, students, staff and other persons entering the school will be on the ‘honor system.’
“We realize that we are once again operating during a difficult time regarding the COVID-19 virus. However, we also believe strongly that the best place for students to learn and grow (both academically and socio-emotionally) is in the classroom. Therefore, when school begins on Monday, August 16, we will welcome everyone back and trust that those parents with unvaccinated children will send them to school with a mask.”
Briggs stated that the district will develop procedures for notifying school personnel when a parent wants a student to wear a mask in school. The district will communicate with the community in future newsletters or other communications about what that process will be.
Board of Education members also discussed how policies and procedures may need to be modified or adapted as the district progresses through the 2021-2022 school year.
Briggs acknowledged that district administrators had been waiting on guidance from state and local health departments before making a decision; however, the guidance received has been mixed.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said yesterday that he won’t mandate masks, and the ODH also won’t require facial coverings in class. The Ohio Department of Education recommends that unvaccinated students, teachers and staff wear masks this fall, and the Centers for Disease Control has advised mask use for all K-12 students. Meanwhile, the American Academy of Pediatrics advocates that all students wear facial coverings in classrooms because no vaccine has been authorized for use in children under age 12, and only the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been approved for ages 12 and up.
Briggs said administrators will continue to watch for additional mask guidance from the ODH or Governor DeWine, and that the “mask optional” decision could change before the first classes begin on August 16. When students return, district staff will continue the same increased sanitizing practices that were in place at the end of last school year.
District leaders will continue to develop additional health and safety measures as needed, including contact tracing protocols as directed by the ODH, and will release information about any new precautions as soon as possible.
Back to School Forms are Now Online
NEWS FROM THE NURSE
ADMINISTERING MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
Prescription medications
In the event your child needs to take prescription medication while at school, the Request for Administration of Medication by School Personnel form must be completed by the child’s physician and parents.
Prescription Administration Form.docx
Nonprescription medication such as Advil, Tylenol, cough drops, etc. may be administered to students if the parent/guardian brings in the medication along with written permission for the medication to be given. All medications must be sent in the original container. Dosages cannot exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations for age and weight. We must have a note from the doctor to give a dose of medication that is different from the dose stated on the bottle.
***Both prescription and nonprescription medications must be brought to the school by a parent or guardian. You can drop off medications during “Peek at Pick” on August 13th, or you can make arrangements by emailing melanie_thompson@plsd.us
IMMUNIZATION CLINICS
If any student is due/overdue for their routine childhood vaccinations, Harmon Middle School will be hosting immunization clinics on August 5th and 6th from 9am-2pm. Please see attached flyers for information.