Toll Gate Times
January, 2019
A Letter from the Principal
January 2019
A Letter From The Principal
Traditionally the New Year is a time to reflect on past practices and look forward to new challenges. I would like to ask you to reflect on your child’s past attendance practices and challenge you to keep his/her education a priority. Since the first day of school to present, collectively our students have acquired over 1800 attendance instances of missed instruction. This includes days out of school for sickness, vacations, early dismissals & late arrivals. Missed school means missed instruction, and missed instruction means missed learning, which can lead to lack of progress. Understandably, there are times due to sickness, that students must miss school and sometimes this occurs more frequently in certain years.
It is our hope that you have planned and organized to make school a priority in your family. By making carpooling arrangements, planning trips during school holidays and break times, and having a back-up person available to take your child to school if you are ill or otherwise unable to do so, can be of great assistance in achieving this goal.
We work very hard to ensure that your child receives the best education possible. We cannot do that if your child is not in school – on time, every day, when your child is healthy. Please help us to provide the outstanding education your child deserves by championing for your children with great attendance.
Thanks you very much for your cooperation.
Educationally Yours,
Kristi Motsch, Principal
Growing Leaders
Upcoming Events
Toll Gate Elementary
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan. 7 Classes Resume – WELCOME BACK!
Jan. 12 Achievement Records
Jan. 18 NO SCHOOL – Professional Development Day
Jan. 21 NO SCHOOL – Martin Luther King Day
Jan. 24 PTSO Meeting @ 6 pm in media center
Early Dismissal
EARLY DISMISSALS DUE TO EMERGENCY
At the beginning of each school year, you are asked to complete a “Calamity” form that details, for each day of the week, what your child should do in the event of an emergency early dismissal. To avoid a great deal of anxiety, please make sure your children know what their plans are. We ask that you review your calamity plan and revise it, if necessary, and then discuss with your child. Please report any changes to your child’s teacherEveryday Ways
There are so many simple and free ways to support Toll Gate Elementary. From clipping Box Tops to registering and swiping your loyalty cards at Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Meijer. You can earn money and much-needed supplies for TGES. These "everyday ways" helped earn approximately $3,000 last year alone.
Open Enrollment
OPEN ENROLLMENT REQUEST for 2019-20 deadline – July 31, 2019. Form is available on the district web site.
Contact Information
UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION: ALL Students K-12
Update or verify your phone number(s) and email address(es) to ensure you are receiving important news. Submit your information through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal by going to the Pickerington School website: http://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us and then:
I WANT TO:
Access Infinite Campus
Can't remember your parent portal log in or password? Go to Infinite Campus, Getting help.
Complete an online help request and they will be happy to assist you in retrieving that information.
Thank you for partnering with us to ensure effective communication between home and school!
Making a Difference
This past month students joined our local firefighters in collecting toys for TOYS FOR KIDS. In February we will be collecting items for our local pantry. Look for more information to come home soon.
Emergency Dismissal
EMERGENCY SCHOOL DISMISSAL
During the course of the school year, it may become necessary to send the children home due to an emergency. Weather, electrical outage, or other types of emergencies as determined by emergency personnel could cause an emergency dismissal. These emergency situations could occur suddenly leaving no time for parent notification other than radio announcement. In order to help our staff prepare for any such emergency, please complete the Calamity Form included in your back to school folder. Please list on the form the instructions your child is to follow when leaving school and returning home. For example:
Do they know how to enter your home?
Do they go to the neighbors?
Who do they call when they arrive?
Do they have a list of phone numbers?
Do they ride another bus with a friend?
As a reminder, our phone system does not operate during electrical outages and waiting at school to be picked up is not an option if we are told to evacuate by emergency personnel. Please take time to consider your emergency plan and help us keep your child safe.
Birthday Book Club
Birthday Book Club Members
The following students have helped our library grow by purchasing a book from our Birthday Book Club Collection. Thank you for supporting our school library.
Juliana S. Eldeena M. Yonadab M.
Callie M. Jayson P. Madi M.
Ella T. Vivian L. Amir O.
Shiloh A. Vivian Z. Yianni S
Hannah C. Logan S. Grace T.
Isaac T. Nolan M. Morgan S.
4th Grade G.O.O.D. Students
Our 4th grade students participate annually in the G.O.O.D. (Going On Or Defeated) program. Ron Derry, former educator, discusses his handicap with the students and talks to them about the decision he had to make when he lost his sight. He could either go on or be defeated. He encourages the students to always try their best and each 9 weeks one student who exemplifies the spirit of this program is chosen from each classroom to receive a G.O.O.D. t-shirt. The students chosen for this 9 weeks are: Samantha B., Logan G., Rowan E., Melanie G., Keira M., Annie G. Congratulations!