The Diley Digest
October 21, 2022
October/November Calendar
OCTOBER
October 24: No School (Professional Development)
October 25: Virtual Learning Day (Professional Development)
October 26: Spooky Stories due
NOVEMBER
November 1: Picture Retakes
November 8: Virtual Day (Professional Development)
November 23-25: Thanksgiving Break
October date reminders!
We do not have students in the classroom on Monday and Tuesday!
Monday, Oct 24th - Professional Development Day (no work assigned on this day)
Tuesday, Oct 25th - Virtual Learning Day (students will have assignments, please have them check their Google Classrooms and school email)
Holiday Assistance
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 gina_neilson@plsd.us or
at 614-830-2922. 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.
Please remember, the deadline to request holiday assistance is Friday, November 18th.
Thank you,
Gina Neilson
School Counselor - Diley MS
(614)830-2922 - Office
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 October's Bulletin Board: https://rb.gy/l84wrt
Click here to see the Family Resources Board: bit.ly/PLSDfamilyresources
Family Resources
How Pickerington Schools Has Managed Its Resources Wisely
As you consider the Pickerington Schools bond issue on the Nov. 8 ballot, it is important that we share information about how wisely the district has managed its resources over the past dozen years. Pickerington Schools has not sought levies for operations from the community since August of 2011. During that period of time, the district has consistently carried adequate operating reserves to meet its needs. For the 2020-21 school year, the district spent the 3rd lowest among its comparison peers in expenditure per pupil.
Perhaps even more importantly, the district’s administrative expenditure per pupil is also the 5th lowest among its peer groups, which indicates that we concentrate our expenditures on the programs and activities that impact our students the most.
Further, Pickerington Schools offers a fantastic value compared to its Ohio Department of Education (ODE) similar district grouping. The charts below show the expenditure per equivalent pupil (EPEP) calculated by ODE for the 2020-21 school year. The EPEP weights the enrollment for expenditures for students in certain categories (e.g. special education, gifted, English Learners, etc.). The weights on these learners are added to recognize the additional staffing and other programmatic expenses to meet their needs. The EPEP is then compared to the Performance Index (PI) score on the 2020-21 Ohio School Report card. The district ranks 3rd highest in PI score, and does so by spending the 3rd lowest in the group.
Learn more about the bond issue on our website. Don’t forget that early in-person and absentee voting by mail is open now, and election day is Nov. 8. More information about voting is available on the Vote Ohio website.
PEF Charity Auction = A Night of Fun, Food and Philanthropy
Tickets are going fast 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 you can get yours 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!
Trick-or-Treat Story Contest
Deadline for submission is October 26th
We want all students to have a chance to have some fun in an
educational way this year for trick-or-treat! The PTSO will be holding a
contest for the best trick-or-treat story about an individual experience
(actual or made-up).
Here are the rules for submission:
1. Theme – My favorite trick-or-treat experience
2. Story must be school appropriate (no cuss words, gore, and/or violence)
3. Story can be fictional or nonfictional
4. Must be 1 page typed (single spaced)
5. Font must be Arial and no larger than 12
6. Be sure to include name, homeroom teacher and grade
7. All stories must be turned in to the office by October 26 th
*We will select 1 winner from each grade (5 th & 6 th
Grade). Their story will be read over the intercom on
Halloween (October 31st )!
We need your donations!
When consumers are unaware of or do not have access to recycling bins, they are much more likely to toss unused, old, or damaged garments into the trash and ultimately into landfills, where they decay over time and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Reusing clothing and reducing the need for manufacturing new clothes is also an easy way to combat the heavily polluting fashion industry, which uses large inputs of fossil fuel, water, fertilizer, and pesticides to produce clothing fibers.
The next time you clean out your closets, consider donating your items to the big yellow container and join us helping the environment and our school!
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.
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
Email: heather_ferns@plsd.us
Website: https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/diley-middle-school/
Location: 750 Preston Trails Drive, Pickerington, OH, USA
Phone: 614-830-2900
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Diley-Middle-School-401947110003982
Twitter: @DMS_Proud