Ridgeview STEM Junior High School
September 11, 2020
THIS AND THAT
SEPT. 11, 2020-FALL NON-CONTACT SPORTS 2nd Payment Due:
Please pay on Infinite Campus so your athlete remains eligible to play.
September 14-September 25-Diagnostic Testing-see details below
September 18-Cohort B Picture Day-info went home 9/10/2020
September 21-Cohort A Picture Day -info going home 9/14/2020
September 25-DEADLINE to purchase the Technology Protection Plan
SEPTEMBER 30-Just a reminder, any student receiving an INC last spring during the building closure needs to turn in completed work to their former teacher by 9/30 to have those grades changed to a P. If this is not done the grade will change to an F for that trimester.
From the Principal
Hello Ridgeview families!
We have been pushing along these last 2 weeks. Thank you so much for your continued support and patience as we hit a few bumps with attendance and getting logged in. Students are making their ways to their classes, navigating the building, making friends and building connections with the staff.
We will begin diagnostic testing for ELA next week. The data from the diagnostic helps inform instruction and allows us to understand where we can best help our students succeed. Please encourage them to get a good night's sleep and try their best. Please remind your student to pick up a breakfast in the morning. We will have stations at the entrances and in the cafeteria, so that they can have a full belly before starting this test.
Speaking of breakfast, as you may have heard, Pickerington Local Schools breakfast and lunch are now free to all students until funding from the federal government runs out. Please read below for more information.
Finally, remember to check Infinite Campus to see how your student is doing in their classes. Use the Classroom Information page to see what your student is doing in their classes. We are off to a great start! Let your students know to keep up the great work!
Beth Richardson
Principal
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT WORK FOR INCOMPLETES IS APPROACHING!
Inspirational Quotes by Mrs. Knox's Students
Parent Communication Page-Weekly Classroom Information
Please check this page to find weekly classroom lesson updates.
Diagnostic Assessment Information
Dear Parents and Guardians,
This year, all students attending school in person will be taking the i-Ready Reading and i-Ready or ALEKS Math Diagnostic assessment at school. The Diagnostic is important because it will let us identify what your student knows and what they need to learn. The assessments help us better understand students’ strengths and areas for growth, but only when that data is accurate. Regardless of where students take the assessments, it’s critical that you prepare and motivate them to put forth their best effort.
This is a different type of assessment. Your child will benefit from your support and encouragement to ensure the information received accurately reflects what they know and still need to learn.
Junior High School Testing Calendar
On testing days, teachers will administer the test during the students ELA and Math classes.
9/14 & 9/15 Reading Diagnostic Cohort A
9/17 & 9/18 Reading Diagnostic Cohort B
9/21 & 9/22 Math Diagnostic Cohort A
9/24 & 9/25 Math Diagnostic Cohort B
What is i-Ready and ALEKS?
i-Ready and ALEKS are online programs that help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready and ALEKS allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.
The assessments are adaptive assessments that adjust its questions to suit your child’s needs. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning.
Additionally, based on the recommendations of i-Ready and their research partners, PLSD will not be using i-Ready Diagnostic results administered at home to make decisions associated with Ohio’s prescreening and identification of gifted students. Instead, we will use the data from the Diagnostic taken at home for classroom instructional decision-making only.
i-Ready and ALEKS Instruction provide students with lessons based on their individual strengths and areas for growth. These lessons are interactive and provide strategic supports to keep your child engaged as they learn.
What can I do to help?
To help prepare your child for the Diagnostic, encourage them to:
Get a good night’s sleep and eat a full breakfast the day of the assessment.
Try their best on each question and try not to rush.
Try not to worry about questions they do not know—remind them that it is expected they will only get about half of the questions correct.
Be respectful of other students who take longer to finish.
Revised Virtual Attendance Directions
CHECK YOUR SETTINGS FOR PARENT COMMUNICATION!
1. In your parent portal, click on the PERSON ICON
2. Click on SETTINGS
3. Click on NOTIFICATION SETTINGS
4. Check each box to receive notifications
Please see the screen shots below to manage your parent settings. Thanks for your involvement and support!
STEP 1
Step 2
Step 3
A Message From the Pickerington Public Library
The Pickerington Public Library staff look forward to seeing students again this fall, and are happy to assist them find library materials for schoolwork or for their own enjoyment. The library is committed to connecting young people with the resources they need to be successful.
In the buildings:
New safety protocols have been put in place to keep visitors safe. Some changes will be familiar and others will be very different from where we were last spring. All visitors are required to wear masks at all times while in the library. With that change, food and drinks are not permitted at this time, vending area is closed and snacks through the Homework Help Center will not be available. Table seating, computer stations and copy/scan/fax services are by reservation only. Appointments may be made on the Reserve a Service page of the website or in person with a staff member. Please be aware that only two people are permitted at each table. Restroom access is also limited.
In order to help maintain social distancing, visitors are not allowed to sit on the floor in public areas of the building; at this time, the library is not a hang-out destination. Customers are asked to make their visits brief. Due to social distancing guidelines, the library may reach capacity limits. If this occurs, we will need to limit the amount of customers in our buildings.
Homework Help:
Students learning remotely, and their families, are welcome to visit our locations during all open hours. Again, tables may be reserved online or in person. We can support students who need homework help, access to WiFi or devices, or assistance with their own device. We are exploring offering a mix of in-person and remote learning homework resources this year, including online resources that are always available with your library card. Check the Homework Help page on our website for more information.
The library appreciates the cooperation of parents, caregivers, and students in following these rules to keep the library a safe and welcoming place for all library visitors.
As always: To keep up to date on library communications, subscribe to the library’s social media channels, opt-in to the e-newsletter and download the mobile app. For questions or more information, contact Colleen Bauman, Community Engagement Manager, cbauman@pickeringtonlibrary.org.
BIG BREAKFAST/LUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT!
As of Tuesday Sept 8th, all meals served at Pickerington Local Schools will be FREE. All students can receive a free breakfast and free lunch until December 31st, or until funding runs out, because of an extension granted through the USDA National School Lunch Program. Families who would like to receive these benefits beyond Dec 31st should complete the free/reduced lunch application on the PLSD food service web page. If you are interested in receiving the lunches for 3 days (hybrid) or for all 5 days (VLA) when your student is not present in the building please continue to fill out the google form on Ridgeview's SMORE newsletter that was sent out on Friday to email and also located on our FB page. (Google forms below)
Ala Carte items or extra servings will be available for sale and students will be charged for only those items.
Meals for Virtual Days-Cohort A
******PLEASE BE AWARE YOU MUST SUBMIT A FORM EACH WEEK THAT YOU WANT TO RECEIVE MEALS.******
Meals for Virtual Days - Cohort A
We will be offering a 3 day meal pack for the days your student will be virtual learning. Please fill out the form below if you wish to participate in this program. Note all meals can be sent home at the end of the day with the student on Tuesday.
All Order forms will go out on Friday. Deadline to order meals is Tuesday morning at 10 AM.
Please note that all meals are either Paid, Free, or Reduced. Please check our website for Breakfast and Lunch pricing and menu choices. Note that menu is subject to change.
PLEASE SUBMIT ONE FORM PER STUDENT.
Meals for Virtual Days-Cohort B
******PLEASE BE AWARE YOU MUST SUBMIT A FORM EACH WEEK THAT YOU WANT TO RECEIVE MEALS.******
Meals for Virtual Days - Cohort B
We will be offering a 3 day meal pack for the days your student will be virtual learning. Please fill out the form below if you wish to participate in this program. Note all meals can be sent home at the end of the day with the student on Friday.
All Order forms will go out on Friday. Deadline to order meals is Tuesday morning at 10 AM.
Please note that all meals are either Paid, Free, or Reduced. Please check our website for Breakfast and Lunch pricing and menu choices. Note that menu is subject to change.
PLEASE SUBMIT ONE FORM PER STUDENT.
Meals for Virtual Learning Academy (VLA)
******PLEASE BE AWARE YOU MUST SUBMIT A FORM EACH WEEK THAT YOU WANT TO RECEIVE MEALS.******
We will be offering 5 day meal packs for those students attending the Virtual Learning Academy. Please fill out the form below if you wish to participate in this program. Note: All meals can be picked up on Wednesday at either Tussing, Ridgeview, or Harmon, whichever school you select below, from 11 am to 12 noon.
All Order forms will go out on Friday. Deadline to order meals is Tuesday morning at 10 AM.
Please note that all meals are either Paid, Free, or Reduced. Please check our website for Breakfast and Lunch pricing and menu choices. Note that menu is subject to change.
PLEASE SUBMIT ONE FORM PER STUDENT.
Technology Troubleshooting and Password Help
My student can’t remember their password / Their account says it is not active/ Issues logging in to Google accounts.
- All PLSD students have a Google Account, their username is their email address, which follows a similar pattern of firstname_lastnameXXX@students.plsd.us (where the XXX is the last three of their student ID#.
- If the student is in grades K-4 please try their student ID + 00 as their password.
- If the student is in grades 5-12 they have created their own password.
- If that password does not work or your student has forgotten their password please fill out this form below and we will reset it as soon possible.
- *Please only submit the form once per student. Multiple submissions will delay the response or cause more confusion with the passwords.
My student’s device says that it is lost/ stolen.
- Power off the device completely. Wait 30 seconds then power back on.
- Make sure it is connected to wifi and try to log in again. (Connect my CB to Wifi)
- If that does not work please sign up for a support day and if we can we will try to fix it remotely before you come in.
Sign up for a support day here
My student is having an issue with their device not working properly. (VLA STUDENTS ONLY)
- Reach out to your teacher and see if they can assist.
- If not please sign up for a support day.
Sign up for a support day here
My student is having an issue with their device not working properly. (HYBRID STUDENTS ONLY)
- Please try the following some basic troubleshooting steps (if possible).
Link for Chromebook troubleshooting - Please have your student visit their building’s media center to submit a technology help desk ticket
My student can’t log into Classlink, iReady, or other software on my device.
- Please work with your teacher to see if they can assist.
- If not please have the teacher will submit a technology help desk ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions from the past week:
Q: My student’s device says “lost/stolen.” What do I do?
A: There are a number of reasons that this might happen.
- Are you still currently enrolled in PLSD? Once a student is unenrolled we do lock their PLSD-owned device.
- Are you currently on the “Holds” list while the Welcome Center verifies your address? Students that fall under the Friends and Family provision might experience this.
- You might have reported your device as lost or stolen. If you found your device please bring it back to the media center so it can be unlocked.
- We did have a slight problem with VLA students and their devices being locked. We have fixed this issue.
- If you still have this issue, please talk with your student’s teachers and they can create a PLSD Technology Help Desk ticket for us to investigate.
Q: My student’s device seems to be registered to another student. How can I remove the other student?
A: This should only impact elementary students with Chromebooks. Since our past model was to keep the devices in the elementary schools, the devices that we handed out this year to 3rd and 4th grade students have been used by other students in the past. You can simply delete the other student on the login screen, but clicking on the down arrow next to their name and pulling down to remove this user.
Q: I’ve missed the pickup date for devices, when and where can I pick up my student’s device?
A: Students who did not pick up on scheduled dates will receive devices on their first face to face day of school.
Q: We have my student’s device but we don’t remember the username or password.
A: All PLSD students have a Google Account, their username is their email address, which follows a similar pattern of firstname_lastnameXXX@students.plsd.us (where the XXX is the last three of their student ID#.
- If the student is in grades K-4 please try their student ID + 00 as their password.
- If the student is in grades 5-12 they have created their own password.
- If that password does not work or your student has forgotten their password please fill out this form and we will reset it as soon possible.
- *Please only submit the form once per student. Multiple submissions will delay the response or cause more confusion with the passwords
Q: My device needs to be repaired, where do I go, and when?
A: If your student is in Cohort A or B, they can bring their device to their school’s media center on any of the days they are in school.
A: Additionally, the Technology Team will hold repair days every Wednesday throughout the school year from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 – 3:30 p.m at the District Office (90 N East Street). This is open to all PLSD students. Please fill out this form so we know you are coming and we are aware of what to expect.
Q: I need a hotspot, where and how can I obtain one?
A: PLSD has the Every-1 Connected Program, which allows PLSD families to have one hotspot per family. Please fill out this form and bring it to the weekly Wednesday repair days at the District Office (we will have copies available as well). Please see further information on the PLSD Technology Department page under Every-1 Connect Program.
Q: I don’t know my or my student’s Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal account information.
A: Please take a look at the PLSD Infinite Campus website for more information. You can also submit this Google Form for help with your username/password for Infinite Campus.
Technology Troubleshooting and Password Help
Click to link below to reset your student’s password:
Who Do I Call at PLSD?
As we begin the new school year, we’re making it easier for you to get the information you need! We’ve created a downloadable staff contact list, organized by topic, to give you a direct line to get your important questions answered. We’ve included the full list below, or you may download the list at the following link:
You can also email your questions to plsd_communications@plsd.us.
Sign Up Now for All Athletic Seasons!
Parents, you are able to sign up for ALL SEASON's sports online. This will enable you to start receiving communications from the coach/program when anything is going on. We are now transitioning from summer workouts to in-season practices/tryouts. Some winter/spring sports have suspended any activity for now, but likely will resume mid-September. If you sign up now, you will receive all the necessary communication from the coach prior to the start of the season. Visit Pickeringtontigers.net and click on "Final Forms" to register your athlete today. All athletic announcements and updates can be found at the website as well.
Did You Miss the Pickup Date for Your Pre-Ordered Yearbook or Want to Purchase an Extra?
To make arrangements to pick up a Pre-Ordered Yearbook or to purchase an extra ($30.00 cash or check), please call Carolyn Weidner in the main office (614) 548-1700 or email Carolyn_Weidner@plsd.us and she will set up a time for you.
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