PICKERINGTON ELEMENTARY NEWS
August/September 2020
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Families,
It’s almost time to welcome your children to the 2020-2021 school year at Pickerington Elementary. Even though this year will start completely different than any we’ve ever had, there’s still excitement as we prepare.
Watch for Infinite Campus messages all through the week as we send information and videos to help you feel comfortable sending your sons and daughters to us. Your children’s teachers will also have videos to share later in the week. These will show you and your kids the teachers and classrooms that they will be a part of since we aren’t able to have the usual “Meet the Teacher” the night before school starts.
If you are new to our school or the community, we truly hope you’ll like it here. Our school and district have a positive reputation, and we presume that is one of the reasons you chose to move here. During the 2013-2014 school year, our school received the “Hall of Fame” Award, only one of six schools in the State of Ohio to do so. We will continue to work hard for our students and families to show that we are indeed, an exemplary school.
Finally, it is with mixed emotions that I share that I will be retiring at the end of December. It has been a pleasure to be here and see the growth in students for so many years, and I will miss everyone greatly. I would like to introduce Mr. Dave Zwiebel who will start the year as your Assistant Principal, moving to Interim Principal as of January 1, 2021. Dave will share more information about himself in the near future.
Enjoy the last week with your children, and we’ll see them soon for another great year!
Melissa Moriarty
Principal
SAVE THE DATE
Sept 7 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day
Sept 11 - Picture Day Cohort BSept 14 - Picture Day Cohort A
WELCOME NEW STAFF
Sarah Butch - Intervention Specialist - am only
Sarah Jones - Technology
Mark Kilanowski - Music - pm only
Ellie Mescher-Miller - Art
Joshua Muncy - Grade 4
Melanie Thompson - School Nurse
Aimee Weber - School Psychologist
Kate Whitt - Grade 1
Dave Zwiebel - Assistant Principal
BUILDING TIME SCHEDULE
OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
STUDENT DAY: 9:15 a.m. - 4:05 p.m.
Students may arrive at school at 9:05 a.m. Please do not drop off students before this time, as there is no adult to supervise students. Dismissal time for students is 4:05 p.m.
ABSENTEES/STUDENT SIGN-IN/SIGN-OUT PROCEDURE
Please call the school office if your child is going to be absent or late. 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 use this machine for all calls after 4:30 p.m. and before 8:30 a.m. The phone number is 614-548-1400, option 1. Thank you for helping us comply with the state requirements.
- If your child is going to be late, please call the school office. When you do bring your child to school, there will be a new procedure which will be shared with you.
- If you need to pick up your child early, please send a note to your child's teacher.
- It is important to make arrangements with your child before school each morning so they will know what to do at dismissal. In emergencies, please contact the school office and we will inform your child of any changes in arrangements.
We ask for your patience and understanding in this matter. We have a tremendous responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for all your children. Thank you for your assistance.
SCHOOL FEES
Kindergarten - $19.00
Grade 1 - $17.00
Grade 2 - $17.50
Grade 3 - $22.00
Grade 4 - $23.50
SCHOOL ARRIVAL AND DISISSAL
MORNING ARRIVAL
In all of our elementary buildings, the buses will be unloading at 9:05 a.m. We encourage parents to send children to school on the bus if assigned. If you are dropping off your child in the morning, please adhere as closely as possible to the 9:05 a.m. time. Families dropping off children will follow the arrows on the Diley Rd side of the building. Walkers should also wait until 9:05 a.m. as explained in the walking information below. Since school does not begin until 9:15 a.m., we believe this provides plenty of time for our children to get to their classrooms. Students will not be permitted to go to their classrooms until 9:05 a.m. Also know that we will stagger entry into the building due to COVID-19.
AFTERNOON DISMISSAL
Each day as school ends, we dismiss the same 435 students. We have buses, cars and daycare vans picking up children.
We will use the following procedure for dismissal:
- Children who are being picked up will wait on the West, Diley Road side of the building with an adult on duty.
- If you are picking up your child, please remain in your car, following the arrows on the parking lot blacktop. Your child will be released to your vehicle.
- Walkers will be dismissed to the front of the building as explained below.
- Bus riders are dismissed to board the buses that are parked in the bus lane in front of the building. Again, we will stagger dismissal due to COVID-19.
The teacher and the office need to be notified of any changes that will occur at dismissal. Thank you again for your help in allowing our arrival and dismissal procedures to operate smoothly.
FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WALKING
1. Practice walking with your child so he or she knows what the route is with particular attention to crossing streets.
2. After you’ve practiced, time the walk so your child knows when to leave the house in the morning.
3. Find at least one buddy for your child to walk with to and from school.
These are important considerations because students walking will enter the building at 9:05 a.m. when the bell rings. Walkers will enter through the main doors just like our bus riders. We do not want children in bus traffic, so please be sure your child isn’t at school early. Students will then walk to class, or the cafeteria, if they are buying breakfast. Please note that students should not arrive before 9:05 a.m., as there is no adult supervision prior to 9:05 a.m. If your child arrives after 9:05 a.m., he or she may walk in the main entrance doors. At dismissal, walkers will be dismissed before the bell so they are able to exit the building prior to the bus riders and leave school grounds before the buses pull out. As with our bus riders, we will stagger arrival and dismissal into the building due to COVID-19.
If your child will be in Kindergarten, AM students will be dismissed to the front of the building at 12:15 p.m., while PM arriving students will begin entering the building at 12:55 p.m.
LUNCH
Students may pay for meals in advance. Money can be deposited into the student's account with cash, check or money order as the child is going through the line. No change will be given for cash. The extra money will be deposited into your child's account. Checks should be made payable to "Pickerington Local Food Service". You may also make deposits and check account balances for your student online. Visit www.mealpayplus.com and have your student's account number ready for reference.
LUNCH PRICES - $2.75
MILK - $.50
EXTRA - $1.75