Ridgeview STEM Junior High School
February 19, 2021
Important Message Regarding the Transition to In-Person Learning 5 Days/Week
Dear Pickerington family,
As you are aware, it has always been the plan of PLSD’s leadership team to return to the traditional 5-day per week, in-person learning model as soon as it was deemed safe for students and staff. We are happy to report that day is finally near and we have some important information to share with you!
The first round of COVID-19 vaccinations are scheduled for PLSD staff on February 26th, so this day will change to a virtual learning day for all students. The final shot of the staff vaccination cycle will be administered at the end of March. After staff vaccinations are completed, 5-day per week in-person learning will begin on April 5, upon return from Spring Break. Virtual Learning Academy students will remain in the VLA. We realize that an April 5 return date is later than some of our neighboring school districts, however, our safe return date has been directly dictated by the order with which vaccinations were made available to staff.
Additionally, we have been listening to your concerns regarding the imbalance between Cohort A versus Cohort B in-person learning days, which has occurred due to holidays and inclement weather. As a result, any Monday or Tuesday missed by Cohort A (from February 15th on) will be made up by requiring students to attend in-person classes on Wednesdays, beginning on March 3, and then on any subsequent Wednesday after that date, if applicable. This will occur up to a maximum of four days (if it happens before the full-time return of in-person learning 5 days per week for all students). Below is an example timeline to help clarify this rule:
- If in-person classes were cancelled on Tuesday, February 16, Cohort A (Monday and Tuesday Cohort) would make up this in-person learning day on March 3.
- If in-person classes were cancelled for a second time on the following Monday, February 22, Cohort A would be required to make up this in-person learning day on March 10.
- If in-person classes were cancelled for a third time on Tuesday, February 23, Cohort A would be required to make up this in-person learning day on March 17.
- If in-person classes were cancelled for a fourth time on Monday, March 1, Cohort A would be required to make up this in-person learning day on March 24.
- If in-person classes were cancelled a fifth time on a Cohort A day, that day would not need to be made up.
The implementation of this new rule will begin on March 3 because we have ACT testing already scheduled for Wednesday, February 24.
We are also very concerned about the number of failing students, especially in our high schools. To work to alleviate this problem, we have identified and will require these students to begin attending in-person classes on Wednesdays, in addition to their regular Cohort days, starting on Wednesday, February 24. Virtual Learning Academy students will remain in VLA.
Our administrative team has been working on the full 5-day per week learning transition plan, which will be presented to the community and the Board of Education at their February 22 meeting. At that meeting, we will also provide details on transportation, staffing and a robust summer school plan.
It is an exciting time as we remain #InThisTogether and work to safely transition back to our traditional school setting. While the “new normal” school environment will look different than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic, we are confident that when all students are back in their classrooms, the highest level of learning can and will be achieved. We ask for your continued support and patience as we work through the specifics involved with implementing this new phase.
With sincere thanks,
Dr. Chris Briggs
Superintendent
From Mrs. Richardson
Just a reminder:
- Cohort B will be VIRTUAL on Friday, February 26 due to scheduled teacher vaccines. Teachers' availability may be altered due to their appointment times.
- Cohort A will be attending IN PERSON on Wednesday, March 3 due to the snow day on February 16.
Current 7th Grade SCHEDULING INFORMATION for 2021-2022 School Year
Starting on Monday, February 22nd, school counselors and teachers will be sharing scheduling information with the 7th grade students. We will be sending the Junior High Scheduling Hub out to the seventh grade families on this day as well. Please plan on taking time the week of February 22nd to look over the hub with your student. There are videos and other documents to help them through the scheduling process. School counselors and administrators will be available during the E/I times to answer questions about courses.
Attached is the scheduling timeline with the links to the March 1st virtual parent meetings. The meetings will be a brief overview of the scheduling process followed by a Q&A session with school counselors and administrators. Our families of 7th graders going into 8th grade can join at 7:30 PM.
For our current 8th graders heading up to Central:
On March 3rd at 1:00, there will be a Virtual Informational Meeting for Parents or guardians of current 8th-grade parents. This virtual meeting will include the information you will need to help your students appropriately schedule for their move to the high school. Additionally, all 8th-grade students will be viewing scheduling presentations the week of March 8th. During these presentations, all 8th-grade students will receive the information they need to aid in their scheduling for their Freshman year. All scheduling for 8th graders moving to 9th will be due by March 16th. Continue to monitor the JH newsletter for more updates.
PTO Fundraiser
Who likes pizza? Who likes FREE pizza?
The PTO is offering the Domino's Slice the Price Card today through March 2nd. For only $10 you will receive a Slice the Price card which gets you a FREE large pizza for every large pizza you purchase. The card can be used over and over and is good til December 31st 2021!
How do you get this card you ask?
-Just go to https://slicethepricecard.com/35193 and follow the steps. *Be sure to put your child's name so that he/she receives credit.*
-Then share the same link with friends, neighbors, relatives who live near and far (verify your Domino's location accepts the card) so that they too can receive this awesome savings card.
For every 12 cards sold by your student you'll receive a FREE card yourself. There are also other prizes that can be won based off the number of cards you sell including cash. To see more details here's the link http://www.stp.cards/35193db
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Jennifer Sander - jennsanderpto@gmail.com
Spring Sports
- Softball Tryouts - Monday 2/22- Thursday 2/25, 3:00pm-4:30pm in the Ridgeview gym!
Athletes must have all forms filled out in final forms, a current OHSAA physical on file and the symptom check document must be filled out each day prior to start time so they will be eligible to participate that day.
- Boys lacrosse practice-begins Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7pm in the gym. Questions? Contact asst. coach Mike Vega at 614-230-9774. New players are welcome!
- Track Conditioning - Monday, March 1-see more info below
**must be registered in Final Forms and have a current OHSAA physical on file with the athletic office**
Parents, you are able to sign up for ALL SEASON's sports online. This will enable you to start receiving communications from the coach/program when anything is going on. Winter sports are starting some open gym workouts at this time.If you sign up now, you will receive all the necessary instructions for registration / physicals / communication from the coach prior to the start of the season. Visit Pickeringtontigers.net and click on "Final Forms" to register your athlete today. Also remember your athlete needs a current OHSAA physical on file. All athletic announcements and updates can be found at the website as well.
Black History Month
As part of our celebration for BHM we announce a "did you know..." and trivia question each day. Mrs. Richardson is tweeting out her BHM announcements, but for those who do not have a Twitter or if your student is in the opposite cohort, here are the facts that were shared this week.
Black History Month Playlist #1
Did You Know:
Did you ever enjoy water gun fights as a kid? Well, meet Lonnie Johnson, the man that gave us the most famous water gun — the Super Soaker. Lonnie wasn’t a toymaker, he was actually an Aerospace Engineer for NASA with a resume boasting a stint with the US Air Force, work on the Galileo Jupiter probe and Mars Observer project, and more than 40 patents.
Scholar and activist W.E.B. Du Bois became the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1895. He wrote extensively and was the best-known spokesperson for African American rights during the first half of the 20th century. Du Bois co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.
From the Nurse
- If your child is absent from school for reasons due to Covid-19, please be sure to call the School Nurse as soon as possible. This is very important when recording absences and tracking Covid-19 cases in the school building.
GUIDANCE IF YOUR CHILD HAS COVID-19 SYMPTOMS:
What's Going on in PAW Time?
In February, PAW Time classes will work through a choice board that highlights and celebrates Black History Month as well as teaches our students about Implict Bias. Students will utilize these videos that aired on WOSU that explains what Implicit Bias is and how we can adjust and adapt to overcome the individual Bias that we all have.
Implicit Bias: Peanut Butter, Jelly and Racism; Implicit Bias: Make Friends to Tackle Bias
We Want Your Artwork for the Yearbook! Deadline to Order Online is March 8, 2021
- Calling all Artists! We need your artwork for the yearbook. Draw something that shows what Ridgeview means to you. Turn it in to Mrs. Chumley or Mrs. K. The winner gets a free yearbook!!
- We would love to have art from our VLA students too. Please email artwork to marianne_krebs@plsd.us or erniellen_chumley@plsd.us.
- To order your Ridgeview Yearbook please go to Yearbookordercenter.com and use the School Code 13607.
Odds and Ends
Friday, February 26-VIRTUAL DAY FOR ALL STUDENTS as staff members are scheduled to receive vaccines.
Wednesday, March 3-IN PERSON day for Cohort A
March 4 and March 9-Parent-Teacher Conferences 3:40-7:15
- Students should leave airpods/beats or other bluetooth devices such as those at home.
- Students should carry a spare mask in their bag. We have extras if the mask gets soiled as well.
- Students are reminded to turn cell phones off during the day and keep them in a safe place if they need to bring them to school. The district policy for K-8th grade is to have them off during school hours. We appreciate your support in this. If you need to reach your student, please contact the main office and we will have them come down to the office to call you.
- Students should bring a refillable water bottle to school as our water fountain mouth pieces have been turned off. We have bottle filling stations that they may use throughout the day. Students may also purchase a bottle of water through our vending machines for $1.25.
- Please see the bottom of the newsletter for links to: Free Meals on Virtual Days, Weekly Classroom Information, Parent Hub, Technology Troubleshooting, Virtual Attendance.
Sign Up for Meals on Virtual Days
The deadline is every Monday by 10am. FREE for ALL students
An important reminder: Please sign up weekly as this helps control food waste and monitor inventory levels.
The ODE Child Nutrition Department announced that all meals are free through June 2021! If you would like to receive breakfast and lunch for the days your student is virtual, please click on the correct link below to sign up. Remember that you need to do this every week.
Ridgeview Values
Ridgeview STEM Junior High School
Email: beth_richardson@plsd.us
Website: pickerington.k12.oh.us
Location: 130 Hill Road South, Pickerington, OH, USA
Phone: 614-548-1700
Facebook: facebook.com/RidgeviewStem
Twitter: @RSJHSPrincipal