Ridgeview STEM Junior High
Back to School UPDATE - July 25, 2018
Welcome Back Letter from Mr. Koch
Greetings, Tiger families!
I cannot believe that the 2018-2019 school year is almost here! We are extremely excited to welcome everyone back to the building, The entire staff has been working hard this summer to prepare for a great school year.
To simplify things for busy parents, PLSD has created an online "one-stop shop", BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION, with all of the information you will need to get ready for the school year. This includes our back to school forms, school supply lists, student handbooks, transportation information, school lunch information, and more, all placed online in order to reduce printing and mailing costs.
Parents must complete all back-to-school forms online before the start of the school year. Forms for the junior high and high school students MUST be completed before student course schedules will be released. You will need your child's student ID number (lunch code) to complete this process. **Note, due to a number of technical problems with the 2017 online forms process, PLSD has changed vendors. You will find that the new system, OneView, is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
In addition to completing OneView, please take a moment to update your information on the Infinite Campus parent portal. We frequently send emails to parents containing updates, calendar events, and other important information. Make sure we have a good email address, as well as all current phone numbers where we can reach you in the event of an emergency.
Make sure you read the STUDENT HANDBOOK. Please note, there is a newly revised policy regarding personal communication devices. Grades K-8 may use PCD's (personal communication devices including cell phones, tablets, iPads, e-readers, iPhones, and androids) ONLY BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL. Use of these devices at any other time during the school day, except with the approval of a teacher or administrator, is prohibited. Devices must be completely powered off and stored out of sight. Please discuss this with your child so they are aware of the new PCD policy.
Also, while reviewing the Student Handbook, please note the Attendance Policy. Attendance is critical to your child’s success. Whenever possible, make routine appointments and travel plans outside of school hours. Note: travel / vacations are NOT an excused absence.
We will also host Back to School Night (Open House) on Monday, August 13th, 5-7 PM.
8th grade - 5:00 - 5:50 PM
7th grade - 6:10 - 7 PM
Parking is limited, so please observe your designated time by grade, thank you.
Still have questions? EVERYTHING you need to know to start school is on the district BACK TO SCHOOL PAGE. Check it out !
The Ridgeview staff and I look forward to collaborating with you during this upcoming school year in order to ensure the best and most successful educational experience possible for your child. Enjoy the rest of your summer and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Eric Koch, Principal
Student Schedules - What you need to know
We begin building our schedule for the upcoming school year in February. There is a great deal of time and consideration put into the overall master schedule, as well as the individual student schedules. At the junior high, students are fortunate to be given a wide range of elective course options. We do our very best to create student schedules that contain the electives of their choosing; however, that is not always possible. Your priorities when scheduling are 1.) scheduling students into the correct core classes (math, science, ELA, & social studies), then, 2.) we give priority to electives of band, orchestra, choir, and world languages, and then 3.) remaining electives.
Our scheduling system will first try to schedule the electives that the students requested in the spring. It will then consider alternates that were chosen. At times, students may be placed in an elective that the did not choose, simply because, for that trimester, during that time of day, none of the electives requested are available, or there are not any seats remaining in that class.
A schedule change request may be made IF there is something significantly wrong with the student's schedule (missing a core class, missing a lunch, etc). However, we will not change schedules for students that would result in having a core class taken on another team just to secure an elective, for students wishing to be with friends in class or lunch, or for the purpose of changing instructors.
Welcome, Ms. Cobbs
Your PTO Needs YOU!
Don't forget to sign up for the PTO. Membership forms can be found online and in the main office. The PTO has some great things planned for our students and staff this year and they need your help to make it a success. Please consider joining today! Volunteers are always needed for events throughout the year, as well as filling a few leadership/officer positions. All donations are tax- deductible. Thank you!!
From the School Nurse
Grades 7-8
4 DPT
3 or 4 polio (depends when last dose was given)
3MMR
3 or 4 hepatitis B
1Tdap
1 Varicella & Meningococcal
For more Clinic / Health information, including the medication policy, please of the PLSD webpage/ Health Services.
Students who are ill or injured while at school must report to the clinic. The school nurse or clinic assistant will contact the parent, or allow the student to contact the parent, if it is determined that the student needs to be excused to go home. Students are not permitted to call or text parents directly from their cell phones requesting to be picked up without first being evaluated in the clinic.
Fall Athletes - Mark Your Calendars
Student- athletes should attend the required rules meeting with the Athletic Director. This is required of all athletes every school year, prior to participating in school athletic tryouts or competition.
Student athletes also need an OHSAA athletic physical on file annually. Copies are also available online and in the office.
COMING UP AT RIDGEVIEW
Tuesday, August 7 - Welcome Days/ Schedule Pick-up, RJHS, 8-11:00 AM
Wednesday, August 8 - Welcome Days/ Schedule Pick-up, RJHS, 4-7:00 PM
Monday, August 13 - Open House, RJHS, 5-7:00 PM***
***8th grade: 5 - 5:50 PM
***7th grade: 6:10 - 7:00 PM
Wednesday, August 15 - FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
Thursday, August 23 - School Pictures
Friday, August 31 & Monday, September 1 - NO SCHOOL
Ridgeview STEM Junior High School
Email: eric_koch@plsd.us
Website: www.pickerington.k12.oh.us
Location: 130 Hill Road South, Pickerington, OH, United States
Phone: 614-548-1700
Facebook: facebook.com/RidgeviewStem
Twitter: @RidgeviewPLSD