Ridgeview STEM Junior High School
April 9, 2021
Important Dates
From Mrs. Richardson
Hello Ridgeview families,
With our first full week of face to face learning almost in the books, we have seen many emotions from our students, ranging from excitement to feelings of anxiousness. Our staff is working hard to make sure students feel comfortable and are adapting. We are doing our best to keep students spaced 3 feet apart in our classrooms. Because we have quite a few students, there may be instances that they are less than 3 feet apart for 15 minutes or more. If you are not familiar, Ridgeview was formerly Pickerington High School and the building has been around since 1968. While it has had classrooms added (when it was the high school) and undergone renovations, we service nearly 775 students this year. This does not even include our virtual students who do not come into the building. Please help us emphasize our safety protocols that are within our control like consistent hand washing and use of hand sanitizer; wearing our masks over our nose and covering our chin (we do have extra masks if your student's mask gets soiled); walking on the right hand side of any 2 way hallway and following our one way hallway directions.
Also, there will be a PTO meeting on 4/14 at 9:30 AM. We will be looking at the transition in PTO leadership for next school year. The Superintendent and Treasurer will be in attendance as well to speak about the upcoming bond issue. If you are interested in attending, please email Mrs. Richardson by Tuesday and she will email you the google meet link. There will be no manner to watch the meeting play back, but notes will be in the upcoming Newsletter.
DROP OFF INFORMATION
NOW THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE BACK, WE RECOMMEND YOU GIVE YOURSELF AN ADDITIONAL 10 MINUTES OF TRAVEL TIME TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXTRA TRAFFIC. THANKS!
In order to help alleviate traffic backup onto Hill Road, the cafeteria is open for student drop off beginning at 6:45 a.m.. If you drop off your student before 7:00 a.m., they will use the cafeteria to enter and wait there until dismissed by the bell.
Please help us in the drop off line by following the additional procedures below to keep traffic flowing after 7:00 a.m.:
1) Encourage your students to be ready with their belongings for the day as soon as you hit the front curb of the school. There should be anywhere from 8-10 cars releasing students at a time.
2) If no one is in front of you, please pull all the way down to the yellow sign in front of the welcome center. This will allow as many cars as possible along the curb to let their students out.
3) Students can enter through either the main entrance or the cafeteria door.
We appreciate your cooperation in this matter, as we want to get our students into the building in as safe and efficient a manner as possible.
New Horizons to Present SOS Program to 8th Grade Students
On Monday April 19th New Horizons will be coming in to present Signs of Suicide (SOS) to our 8th grade students. SOS is a prevention program to improve students knowledge about suicide risk and depression.
If you would like more information about the SOS program: https://www.newhorizonsmentalhealth.org/copy-of-recovery#:~:text=Warning%20Signs%20and%20Symptoms&text=Talking%20about%20suicide%2C%20death%2C%20or,Withdrawing%20from%20family%20and%20friends
Ohio's State Testing Information
Schedule for In-Person Students
Schedule for VLA Students
IMPORTANT Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) TESTING INFO
If your student is currently in the Virtual Learning Academy, here are the building specific details for coming in to take the state tests. Below is the video that Mr. Smith created on the plan for the junior high VLA students, as well as the written plan and the slide deck from the video.
YouTube Video Explanation of VLA Testing Plan
Please make sure that your student is to their home building no later than 7:10 AM so they may have plenty of time to get situated and find the Auxiliary Gym.
INFO FOR 2021-2022 VIRTUAL LEARNING ACADEMY
PLSD has finalized our plans for the Virtual Learning Academy for the 2021-2022 school year.
All of the information can be found on the new PLSD Virtual Learning Academy website:
https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/virtual-learning-academy/
Major Points of Interest:
Official Registration for the VLA will be from April 26th - May 9, 2021. Registration will happen in the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus.
Issue #1 of The Virtual Direction (the VLA newsletter) is now available.
Courses offered are available on the site.
If you have any questions about the PLSD VLA please email vla@plsd.us
Spring Sports
Pay to Play Fee Due Dates:
- 4/16 - 2nd pymt of $75
SPORTS PICTURE DAYS:
- Wednesday, April 21
- Boys and Girls track @ 3:00 pm.
Spring Ticket Guidelines
In anticipation of extracurricular activities for the remainder of the year and the limitation on the number of tickets we can sell at both indoor and outdoor facilities, we are continuing the ticket plan that was established in the fall. The plan for the rest of the 2020-21 school year can be found at: https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/news/spring-ticket-guidelines/
Technology Support Hours for April
With most students returning to class full time, Technology Support days will be limited through the month of April. Students returning to class will be able to get technical assistance while at school through their teachers or the Media Canter. We will still have shorter sessions each week for VLA students. Please see below for times and sign up using the link!
Monday, April 5th: 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Thursday,, April 8th: 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Tuesday, April 13th: 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Monday, April 19th: 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Thursday, April 22nd: 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Monday, April 26th: 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Thursday, April 29th: 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Pickerington Schools is on the May 4 Ballot
Watch: Ask PLSD on Facebook, YouTube or our website
You asked - we answered! Our team responds to your questions about the upcoming May 4 ballot issue in our ongoing Ask PLSD video series. You can watch the latest videos on PLSD's Facebook page, on our website, or on the PLSD Communications YouTube channel.
Pickerington residents will decide the future of Pickerington Schools with the May 4 ballot issue. A rapidly growing community is leading to a rapidly growing student body and many of our schools are already at capacity. The ballot issue represents our Plan for Progress and will fund solutions to the District’s facilities needs including:
- the construction of a new junior high school, which would allow for the subsequent redistribution of the student population to alleviate overcrowding.
- reconfiguration of the current Ridgeview Junior High to house elementary school, middle school, and Gateway Academy (gifted) students.
- reconfiguration of Heritage Elementary to house a special needs preschool and the Welcome Center.
- 18-24 classrooms built at both high schools and additional cafeteria space at Pickerington High School Central.
- All buildings would receive some updates to accommodate flexible learning environments.
- Additions or upgrades to current junior high and high school extracurricular spaces.
- New secure entryways would be constructed at both high schools.
If you have a question we haven’t answered yet, please send us an email to ask@plsd.us, and you may see your answer on a future video!
Information about voting is available at: www.VoteOhio.gov. The voter registration deadline is April 5 and early voting begins April 6.
Summer Learning Opportunities Announced
PLSD Families,
We are excited to be able to share with you the multiple opportunities available to students this summer!
Please visit our Summer Learning Opportunities webpage for a complete list of the summer programming options at each grade level.
With the exception of PE for new credit, participation is free, and transportation will be provided. All sessions are face-to-face.
Registration information will be forthcoming, and all summer programming options are contingent upon available personnel and student enrollment.
From the Nurse
- 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. This is very important when recording absences and tracking Covid-19 cases in the school building.
GUIDANCE IF YOUR CHILD HAS COVID-19 SYMPTOMS:
PTO News
PTO is looking for new officers
The PTO is currently looking for new officers for next school year. We have President, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable positions available. If you are interested or know someone who may be coming up from the middle school that is interested, please feel free to contact Jennifer Sander jennsanderpto@gmail.com for more information.
Odds and Ends
JUST SOME REMINDERS:
- Students should leave airpods/beats or other bluetooth devices such as those at home.
- Students should carry a spare mask in their bag. We have extras if the mask gets soiled as well.
- Students are reminded to turn cell phones off during the day and keep them in a safe place if they need to bring them to school. The district policy for K-8th grade is to have them off during school hours. We appreciate your support in this. If you need to reach your student, please contact the main office and we will have them come down to the office to call you.
- Students should bring a refillable water bottle to school as our water fountain mouth pieces have been turned off. We have bottle filling stations that they may use throughout the day. Students may also purchase a bottle of water through our vending machines for $1.25.
- Please see the bottom of the newsletter for links to: Weekly Classroom Information, Parent Hub, Technology Troubleshooting
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