Toll Gate Times
November 2018 Newsletter
Letter from the Principal
A Letter From The Principal
TGE is proud to be a Leader in Me School. Students learn and grow through the 7 effective habits identified by Stephen Covey as promoting student success. Talk with your child about which habits they see as strengths in themselves. The 7 habits are:
v Be Proactive
v Begin with the end in mind
v Put first things first
v Think Win Win
v Seek First to Understand and then to be Understood
v Synergize
v Sharpen the Saw
v All Habits together allow students to Find Their Voice.
Our journey began five years ago when our staff began training and preparing to become a Leader in Me School. Through book studies, formal training, and school site visits we learned more about the powerful impact of students recognizing their strengths as leaders. I can truly say that over the last five years, students are more involved in their learning by goal setting, data tracking, and identifying their strengths. We look forward to continuing this educational journey with your family.
Educationally Yours,
Kristi Motsch
Kristi Motsch, Principal
Growing Leaders
Important Dates - November 2018
Nov. 6 - NO SCHOOL - Professional Development Day
Nov. 12 - Veterans Day - Wear red, white & blue - Students may invite a Veteran to Lunch
Nov. 15 - PTO Meeting @ 7pm in media center
Nov. 21-23 - NO SCHOOL-Thanksgiving Holiday
Weeks of Dec. 3 & 10 - STAR Reading & Math Testing
Dec. 5 - Two Hour Delay - Professional Development
School Day Schedule as follows:
Gr. 1-4 - 11:15 am-4:05 pm
AM Kndg. - 11:15 am - 1:15 pm
PM Kndg. - 2:00 pm - 4:05 pm
Dec. 21-Jan. 6 - NO SCHOOL - Holiday Break
Jan. 7 - Classes Resume
Holiday Assistance
The Holiday Season is quickly approaching, along with all the joy and memories it brings. However, it is not a joyous time for all families due to financial hardship or difficult family situations. PLSD is once again partnering with the Violet Fire Department to collect toys and gift cards for families within our school district. If you are out and about and can pick up needed items, please bring or send them to Toll Gate elementary School the week of December 5th-9th. We will have a large red collection box by the media center. We will also be accepting confidential applications for assistance through November 18th. Please contact Mr. Drake for an application. (darren_drake@plsd.us or 614-834-6315 - it is OK to leave a detailed voicemail it is password protected).
Only one application is required per family.
NEWS FROM THE NURSE
The state mandated Vision and Hearing screenings are in the process of being done for all Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd and 5th graders. If your student does not pass, you will be notified that further assessment by a professional eye or ear specialist is recommended. If your child is not in Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd or 5th grade, and you are concerned about their vision or hearing, please let me know and I will gladly do a screening for your student. Also, as we get closer to cold and flu season, please remember to follow the district guidelines in regards to medications at school as well as keeping your child home when ill. You can find the details for this information in the packet of information sent home at the beginning of the school year, as well as at the Health Services section of the PLSD website:
http://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/health-services
Stay Healthy!
Tami Tackett, RN, BSN
School Nurse
Toll Gate Elementary: 834-6300
Toll Gate Middle: 834-6400
FLU SEASON IS COMING
Which of these symptoms describe influenza?
2. Stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea.
3. Runny nose, sneezing and normal temperature.
4. High fever, headache and cough.
If you picked #3, you are right! Vomiting and diarrhea are not the flu at all, but you will hear many people saying they have “the flu” with these symptoms. Actually they may have an infection in their stomach or intestinal system called gastroenteritis.
A cold is described in #2. Headaches and fever do not commonly occur with a cold, but cold symptoms are present with influenza. You may also have body aches, feel tired, have chills, a cough and a sore throat with the flu.
Like many illnesses, the influenza virus is spread from the respiratory tract. If the mouth or nose is exposed to the virus particles in the air, or on a surface that has been contaminated with the virus, you are likely to get sick with influenza. Someone is contagious from one day before symptoms start until five days after becoming ill. You can help to prevent illnesses by using good personal hygiene. Persons with colds or the flu need to cover their mouths when sneezing or coughing. Then immediately afterward wash their hands because any article they touch after sneezing may carry a virus. The other way to prevent spreading the illness is by washing your own hands frequently. This is especially true before eating.
The best way to prevent getting infected by the influenza virus is by getting a flu vaccine every year. The earlier in the season that you get the shot, the stronger your immunity will be to fight the virus. The flu vaccine is safe and recommended for most of the population. The people who should not get the vaccine are children under six months of age, those with a severe egg allergy, having a history of developing Guillain-Barreí syndrome after a previous vaccine, and people who have a moderate or severe illness accompanied by a fever (you just need to wait until the fever is gone before getting the vaccine).
The vaccine is especially recommended for those at high risk, which include children from 6 months to 19 years, pregnant women, people over 50, those with a chronic medical condition and those living with or caring for those who are at high risk of getting the flu. The flu vaccine contains killed virus with which the body will build defenses. Since there is no live virus in the vaccine, you cannot get ill from getting the flu shot.
See if you can identify the true statements from the myths.
True or False (answers at bottom of the page)
1. More than 200,000 people each year have complications from the flu that put them in the hospital.
2. People with asthma should not get the vaccine.
3. It is not safe to return to work or school after resting for a day or two of having the flu since you are still contagious.
4. You have to get a new shot every year, because different viruses cause the flu each year.
5. Over the counter medications can help relieve some of the symptoms of the flu.
6. The flu can be diarrhea and vomiting rather than cold like symptoms.
7. A cough can last for weeks to months after the other flu symptoms disappear.
8. When sick with the flu, you need to drink a lot of liquid and get plenty of rest.
One last note, if you or a loved one comes down with flu symptoms, you should go to your doctor right away. If caught in the first day or two, the doctor may give you anti-viral medication that will decrease the symptoms and length of your illness. Some great Internet resources about influenza are:
*For influenza information in languages other than English:
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/flu.html#cat57
Answers to quiz above: 1-T, 2-F, 3-T, 4-T, 5-T, 6-F, 7-T, 8-T
Follow the Pickerington School Nurses on Twitter for school health updates in the district! @PLSDNurses
Dental News from the School Nurse: The Smiles Program Mobile Dentist is coming to Toll Gate Elementary on Wednesday, December 12, 2018! Dental care remains the greatest unmet health need among U.S. children. Over 50% of children have a cavity, which can cause pain leading to missed school. Enrollment forms will be sent home with your child as soon as they are available. To take advantage of this convenient opportunity and have your child see the dentist at school, please fill out and sign the enrollment form and return it to the school with your child. If you have not received a form, please contact the school and ask for one to be sent home with your child. Together, we can keep our children healthy, in school, and learning! In good dental health, Tami Tackett, RN, BSN, School
Newbery Reader Club
BECOME A NEWBERY READER AT
TOLL GATE ELEMENTARY!
Read 10 of the most distinguished children's books of all time!
Challenge yourself with these rigorous literary masterpieces and join the Newbery Club!
Toll Gate Elementary School’s prestigious Newbery Reader Club is in its seventh year and would like to invite you to become a member. To be recognized as a distinguished reader you must read 10 of the Newbery Medal Winners and pass the accompanying Accelerated Reader Quiz for each book. You may earn this achievement in one school year or over multiple years. At the end of each school year the names of all students who have earned this award will be permanently placed on a plaque in the library. These winners will also be invited to a year-end celebration. If you have questions or would like help selecting books please see your media specialist or gifted education teacher. Congratulations to Evie G., our newest Newbery member!
Find a complete list of all Newbery Medal Winners at: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberywinners/medalwinners.cfm
G.O.O.D. Students
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: Caiden R.,Makenna H., Teresa L., Chanah W., Aryanna S., & Julian D., Congratulations!
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.
Delanie L. Aarav A. Ilie C.
Jayden K. Levi R. Maya M.
Collin V. Bella C. Cali H.
Kamryn B.
College & Career Family Night
District Junior High, Middle School Families Invited to College & Career Family Night
It’s never too early to start thinking about your child’s college and career, and an event planned for Nov. 15 will start the planning process for Pickerington junior high and middle school students and their parents. The third annual College and Career Family Night will be Thursday, November 15. While the event will be held at Lakeview Junior High, it is for all district junior high and middle school students and their families. The free event will begin at 5 p.m. with pizza, followed at 6 p.m. with our keynote presenter, and then a showcase of informational presentations from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Parents can register online to attend at https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/news/collegecareer2018/.
“The sessions at College and Career Family Night are designed to help build the foundation for families to start seriously thinking about their children’s college and careers,” said Kris Owen, school counselor at Ridgeview. A highlight of the evening will be our keynote speaker, Professor Kelli Nowlin, with her presentation “College Success Skills 101: A Successful Journey Begins Years Before You Step On Campus.” Informational sessions would cover a variety of relevant topics, including:
· What to Expect in Junior High: A Guide for Parents and Students
· Gifted Third to Eighth Grade
· High School Pathways
· NCAA
· College Preparedness and Preparation
· Military
· Preparing Yourself to Earn Scholarships
· Intro to Naviance
· College Credit Plus
· Digital Citizenship and Social Presence
· Grit and Growth Mindset
· College Panel
· Helping Our Kids Cope
· ACT
· 529 Plans
- Admissions 101
- The Career Center
- Battelle and STEM Careers
- Application Review Process