Violet Views August 2021
HOME OF THE SUPERVIOLETS
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the school year 2021-2022! I know that we are all a little concerned about how school will play out this school year. I just wanted to ensure that we will continue to have productive partnerships with all parents so that your children can be the most successful students reaching their highest potential. We recognize that the end of the previous school year brought back a familiar structure for you and your family. As partners, we share responsibility for our student’s success and we want you to know that we will continue to do our very best to carry out our responsibilities. We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring that he/she:
Attends school daily and arrives on time, ready for the day’s learning experience
Completes all assignments and homework given by teachers
Reads daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literary skills
Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life
Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject
Knows that you expect him/her to succeed in school
I believe it to be critical to read over and understand our rules and expectations so that you and your child can be knowledgeable about them together. If you have any questions about school expectations, please feel free to contact me or to discuss them with your child’s teacher. It is very important that you and your child are fully aware of standards related to appropriate behavior for a safe and productive school year.
Please feel free to review the PLSD Student Handbook which can be accessed on our district website.
On behalf of all staff, we feel privileged to work with you and your child. We thank you for your support and look forward to meeting you.
Dee Copas
School Principal
Classroom Assignments
First Day of School
August 16th - Grades 1-12
August 20th - Kindergarten
August 23rd - Preschool
Violet Back-to-School Open House
- 4:00-5:00 pm for students in PM Kindergarten, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade
- 5:00-6:00 pm for students in AM Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade
The Open House will begin in the cafeteria where Mrs. Copas will give an introduction. Students and parents will then go with their teachers to the classroom. There will also be time to explore the school and get information about our Parent-Teacher Organization. (PTO) Students must be accompanied by parents at all times. Also, supplies can be dropped off in the classroom.
Back to School Forms
School Supply List 21-22
Summer Birthdays
** INCLUDED BELOW IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT VIOLET PROCEDURES AND POLICIES FOR YOU TO REVIEW AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. **
School Day Schedule 2021-22
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Bus riders will be loading and unloading in the front of the building. No cars should be parked in this area during arrival (8:50-9:45am) and dismissal times (3:50-4:15pm). All students will remain on the bus upon arrival at the school building. The staff member on duty will begin dismissing students to go to breakfast and at 9:05, the remaining students to go directly to class. At dismissal time, each bus will be dismissed in a staggered release at the end of the day.
Parents dropping off or picking up students, please drive to the blacktop playground area, follow the serpentine pathway, and proceed around to entrance "L" for entering and exiting. Once you have pulled up on the serpentine, all students will wait in their cars until a staff member directs them to exit. Please note this change in procedure for entering the building. We will have the cars parked along the curb, that's usually about 5 cars, release their students and enter the building to go to breakfast or line up along the sidewalk. We will continue to have students enter the building in this manner until all students have exited their cars. For the sake of safety, please pull all the way forward, listen to the directions of the staff, and do not release your children until directed by them. As you exit the school parking lot, turn right only and exit onto Education Drive. The right turn applies during school arrival and dismissal times only. Please do not park on the playground blacktop area. Children from daycare centers will be dropped off at this same location. For end of the day Parent Pickup, we will assign a last name card that corresponds to your child. We ask that you display these on the front passenger side. The traffic flow runs fairly smoothly, however, inclement weather conditions will certainly impact dismissal time.
In the morning, walkers will not have access to the building until the bell rings at 9:05 a.m. unless they are eating breakfast. Please have students time their arrival to school so they can come directly into the building to go to breakfast or to their classroom. At dismissal time, walkers will be dismissed first, by grade level and neighborhood. If your child is a Melrose walker, they will exit in back and walk down the path. If your child is a Chevington walker, you or your adult designee may meet them in front by the light post. Your child must be an assigned walker in order to exit this way. All other students must be picked up in the Parent Pick Up Line, or ride a bus, or a daycare van. Do not park on Education Drive or Ravine Drive and ask your child to meet you. This increased traffic creates an unsafe condition for students. We would like to remind parents the safest crossing points are the crosswalks at Melrose Boulevard and Ravine Avenue.
Please remember students are not permitted to go to their classrooms until 9:05 am. Please do not drop off students early because supervision is not available before 9:05 am. Students are not permitted to be on the playground before school starts unless supervised by a parent. Students must be in their classrooms by the tardy bell at 9:15 am. Please drop them off in plenty of time to walk to their classroom. We appreciate all your help and cooperation in helping us keep your child safe while at school.
We ask for your patience and cooperation in helping us dismiss your student directly to you in a safe and timely manner.
Early Dismissal/Absences
While we all know that consistency is important in a child’s life, it may become necessary to change your child’s dismissal plans. If you must change the way your child is to be dismissed, we ask that you call the main office by 2:30 p.m. and send a note in advance to your child’s teacher. Please allow enough time to come into the building to sign your child out. Students will be called from class to meet you in the office.
Please call the school if your child is absent. State Law requires a daily check of students who are absent. A 24-hour answering machine is available to receive absence or tardy calls. Please call 614-548-1500 and press "1" for attendance. Homework requests must be placed by 9:30 am in order to allow teachers time to prepare these plans. They must be picked up by 4:15 pm. Please make sure that you arrange to pick these up as teachers spend quality time preparing these materials. Please make yourself familiar with district policy regarding attendance, as well as excused and unexcused absences.
School Lunch Information
All meals will be FREE to all students during the 21-22 school year due to government funding related to the pandemic. All buildings will serve both breakfast and lunch. A la carte items will be available for purchase so if you would like to put money on your student's account, go to www.mypaymentsplus.com or have them bring cash or a check payable to PLSD Food Service. Please make sure money is designated for Food Service so the teacher knows what it is for.
If you are having problems with the My Payments Plus system, please call the helpline at 877-237-0946.
Important Information about Free and Reduced Applications: You only need to submit a Free/Reduced Application if you are interested in applying for the P-EBT program (Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Tranfser) or school fee waiver. Free and Reduced Applications should only be submitted for students new to our district or with a change in circumstance. (if there are new household members or a decrease in income.) **Those with an approved application from 19-20 and 20-21 will automatically be in our system to receive benefits.** Please note that the 21-22 Free and Reduced Application form will be available at the link below on August 9th.
For more information and menus please visit PLSD Foodservice. (Lunch and breakfast menus will be posted soon.)
Custody Counts
To serve requirements of a child custody order, a parent should present an official order to be placed on record for the guidance, attendance, and administrative offices. Ohio Revised Code 3313.673 states “…the custodial parent of the child shall notify the school of those custodial arrangements…”
Our primary concern is knowing the legal custodian, residential parent, and knowing the answer to the question, “Can your child be dismissed to a non-custodial parent?” Schools are obligated to follow court documentation regarding the rights of a non-custodial parent. Please inform the office of any address or custody changes from last year.
Violet Student Birthdays
A birthday is a day to celebrate the life of a wonderful, unique and special person: YOUR CHILD! Violet Elementary will be honoring your child in the following ways:
- Your child’s birthday will be announced during the morning announcements.
- Your child will receive a birthday pencil from the classroom teacher on his/her birthday.
Due to serious concerns about allergies, dietary restrictions, and an overall disruption of instruction, absolutely no edible treats are to be brought to school. Thank you for helping to keep all of our students safe and healthy!
Volunteering at the School
Behavioral Expectations
Behavior Rating Checklist Procedures
If you need a staff member to complete a behavior checklist, please note the following guidelines, when requesting information from teachers, counselors and administrators.
- All requests must be handled through the school counselor.
- A written release of information must accompany the request.
- A pre-addressed envelope with sufficient postage or a correct fax number should also be provided by the parent. The parent will receive a copy of these forms, indicating the date mailed/faxed.
- Allow at least two weeks from the time the counselor receives the form(s) to the date the physician/agency needs the material.
- Identify, specifically, which teachers are to complete the forms.
Safety Drills / Safe School Tip Line
Safety drills will be conducted periodically throughout the year. Fire drills, tornado drills, lock-down, medical emergency, and evacuation procedures will be practiced during the school year. Each classroom is provided with a crisis management plan.
The SaferOH Tip Line
The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Public Safety have launched the SaferOH tip line that will accept both calls and texts 24 hours a day.This tip line allows students and adults to anonymously share information with school officials and law enforcement about threats to student safety—whether that involves a threatened mass incident or harm to a single student.
Every tip can remain anonymous. School safety analysts may ask for additional information, but the caller can remain secret or leave his or her contact information for later follow-up.
Calls or texts to 844-SaferOH (844-723-3764) are answered by analysts in the Ohio Homeland Security’s Threat Assessment and Prevention (TAP) Unit. When action is needed, the TAP Unit immediately forwards information to Pickerington Schools, local law enforcement agencies, and others, if necessary.
Important Dates
August 13 Violet Open House 4:00-6:00 pm
August 16 FIrst Day of School Grades 1-12
August 16-18 Kindergarten Assessments
August 20 FIrst Day of Kindergarten
August 23 First Day of Preschool
September 1 2-Hour Late Start, Staff Professional Development
September 6 No School, Labor Day
ABOUT US
Email: dee_copas@plsd.us
Website: http://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/violet-elementary/
Location: 8855 Education Drive, Pickerington, OH, United States
Phone: (614) 548-1500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperVioletES/
Twitter: @VioletElem