Ridgeview Junior High School
October 29, 2021
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Hello Ridgeview Families,
First thank you to all the families that reached out on how we can come together to make Ridgeview a fantastic building and school for our students. The overwhelming support and motivation is truly what community is about. I want to report that the language in the hallways is getting better! Of course we can always improve but by far the incidents have decreased from last week. Our major sticking point is still the touching of others and others' stuff. In truth many students are playing in the hallways, it looks a lot like tag. But the issue still remains that when we think we are playing with someone they may not be in a playful mood and situations escalate or someone who is not playing (a bystander) inadvertently gets hit. If you are interested in being involved in our school and parent group please check out the google form below so that we may contact you in regards to upcoming meetings on how we as a community can pull together for our students.
https://forms.gle/HQEf3mV4JmKFcJ3V6
When students start the 2nd trimester we will have a review of expectations called Ridgeview Restart 2021. We will reiterate how students can set up meetings with administrators, counselors or our social work interns to come talk through how they are feeling before escalations occur. We will remind them that talking to one of us does not constitute "snitching" but rather letting us help them navigate through adversity in a healthy manner. We want to teach coping and de-escalation skills to help students be able to manage situations on their own.
*REMINDER: NO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND!*
We do have an upcoming Teen Night for our 8th grade students! Make sure that students are listening to the daily announcements for more information! Also Student council is having a Chipotle night fundraiser Nov 9th! Make sure to be on the lookout for the flyer to help support student council and their fundraising efforts to help families in need this holiday season.
Please be on the lookout for my upcoming video on morning drop off! Again we are doing our best to get you in and out efficiently so please be sure that your student is ready to get out of the car when your car gets to the sidewalk. Students can use both entrances to get into school and remember it is all right turns out of the parking lots in the morning.
Have a great weekend!
Beth Richardson
Principal
Ridgeview STEM Junior High
LPDC Co-Chair (RSJHS, PHSN & DO representative)
Trimester Important Dates
At the junior highs, we are on trimesters so our dates for grading periods do not align with the other levels in the district. Here are the trimester dates.
TRIMESTER 1: AUGUST 16-NOVEMBER 5
INTERIMS: SEPT 24th
TRIMESTER 2: NOVEMBER 8-FEBRUARY 11
INTERIMS: DEC 22nd
TRIMESTER 3: FEBRUARY 14-MAY 20
INTERIMS: APRIL 1st
Pickerington Local School District Needs YOU!
PLSD has a critical need for substitute paraprofessionals, health care assistants, duty aides, custodians, and food service employees! Do you love working with kids? Do you need a job that will work around your schedule? If so, please apply online at https://www.applitrack.com/pickerington/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Substitute+Positions&fbclid=IwAR0WbQ0l5J_O4KbMRDbQsHphmBptPL5rS5W1pC_yQp8u_QpXTSgLZClEUgE
School wide expectations reminders
Cell phones are off and away all day. If you have any questions regarding cell phones please review Board Policy 5136
One way hallways have been in place for 6 years at Ridgeview, students need to follow the one way hallway traffic all day and that includes going to lunch.
Language there is vocabulary that is not appropriate for school. We continue to remind students curse words are not appropriate at school and give students other vocabulary to vent their frustration. We also are having conversations about what students refer to as "dark humor." If it is inappropriate to say, saying that one was just kidding or only a joke does not negate the conversation from being inappropriate.
Lockers students should access their lockers at the beginning of the day, lunch time and at the end of the day. Students can carry their book bags from class to class.
Hands to ourselves and our own items: Our hallways do get crowded and sometimes students do accidentally bump into each other. However we have made announcements that we cannot play around, play fight, or grab others as it creates a safety concern. We address each of these as they occur, remind them that horsing around or rough house play is not appropriate at school and could escalate into something more so we ask that they do not do that at school. This also goes for our personal items as well and not touching items that do not belong to us.
LET'S ERADICATE BULLYING AT RIDGEVIEW!
Message from the Clinic
- If anyone in the household is being tested for COVID-19, do not send your student to school until you have test results!
- 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 (614-548-1708). This is very important when recording absences and tracking Covid-19 cases in the school building.
- Please remember to screen your student daily for signs/symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever over 100, sudden onset of severe headache, sore throat). If your student has any of these symptoms, please do not send them to school/extra curricular activities.
- If your student is a close contact and has been vaccinated, they may continue to attend school and extracurricular activities if they are asymptomatic. They will be required to wear a mask for two weeks after exposure.
- We received clarification from the health department regarding modified quarantine. If your student is correctly and consistently wearing their mask in the classroom setting, they may be eligible for modified quarantine and continue to participate in school/extracurricular activities.
Questions about Close Contacts and Quarantining
Please see the following flow chart that will guide our decision making about quarantining for students and staff who have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case.
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Marcia Stewart (marcia_stewart@plsd.us) our school nurse.
Tis The Holiday Season 2021
2021-2022 YEARBOOK Information
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
Below is a list of dates for our National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) students to meet in the cafeteria immediately after school this year. This is ONLY for 8th Graders who completed the process last spring.
*Note: All dates are Mondays; from 2:10pm - 3:00pm.
November 22
December 13
January 24
February 28
March 28
April 24
*NJHS dues/fees this year will be $5 and may be bought to the front office for collection by Mrs. Ross or office designee.
For any questions, please contact Leanne Ross at Leanne_Ross@plsd.us.
P.A.W. Time Update
October is bullying prevention month and we will spend PAW Time examining how to treat others and how to promote a culture that welcomes and values everyone.
Students were presented with a "rule of thumb" video on how to change complaining into something productive. 8th grade continued the conversation to include how students can invest in being disciplined (making purposeful choices) to help create the best versions of ourselves.
Preview YouTube video Ep 14: The #1 Rule of Thumb for Complaining || Daily Discipline w/ Brian Kight
Ep 14: The #1 Rule of Thumb for Complaining || Daily Discipline w/ Brian Kight
Ep 6: Prioritize Long-Term Rewards Over Immediate Impulses || Daily Discipline w/ Brian Kight
ATHLETIC INFORMATION & UPDATES
Ridgeview Wrestling:
Start Date: November 15
Practice Time: 3 - 5pm
Location: Ridgeview Auxiliary Gym
*Wreslting athletes may attend study tables 2:15 - 3:00 if a study table contract is on file.
Ridgeview Student Council Presents their 1st Fundraiser!
PTO INFORMATION
Our continued goal is to hear from each of you, any ideas you may have, events or fundraisers you would like to share, and or feedback you may. We want to do all we can for our students (children) and the faculty and need your help to make this happen! With the pandemic still very alive, we want to have as much fun as we can and be safe at the same time. With that being said, we look forward to meeting and speaking with you all.
Want to be a part of the Ridgeview PTO Family??
Please feel free to contact President Kelly Martin at kelly.martin_rvjhpto@hotmail.com; Catharyne Henderson at catharyneh@yahoo.com or Qiana Johnson at qsmith6@hotmail.com.
IT'S TEEN NIGHT - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH
This is limited to RIDGEVIEW JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS ONLY!!
THIS IS A PTO SPONSORED EVENT.
*Tickets will be on sale during lunch periods beginning NOV. 4th thru NOV. 11th.
*PRE-PURCHASE TICKETS will be sold at school for $10.
There will be SNACKS, GAMES & FUN!!
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