Ridgeview STEM Junior High

November 16, 2018

Team B celebrates reading "THE OUTSIDERS"

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Be ready for winter weather alerts

It's that time of year when the possibility of school delays or cancellations due to winter weather is a possibility.

Pickerington Schools reminds parents to be prepared for the possibility of school delays and cancellations.

CHECK YOUR CONTACT INFO ON INFINITE CAMPUS
First, parents are reminded to make sure their contact information and preferences are up to date on Infinite Campus. Pickerington Schools announces emergency closings and delays through telephone calls and emails, based on these contact preferences. Go to INFINITE CAMPUS PARENT PORTAL for details and to update your contact information.

We also post information to our district Facebook and Twitter feeds, our website, and with the local TV stations.

HOW DO WE MAKE UP SNOW DAYS?
If the district uses a calamity day before Presidents Day on February 18, we will use that day as a make-up day.

If necessary, the second, third, and fourth snow/calamity days will be made up with student “blizzard bags.” These bags are assigned to students by their teachers. For grades 5-12, the assignments are posted to your child's Google Classroom page.

For complete information about calamity days, check out the PLSD WEBSITE.

Every-1-Connected Hot Spots

Starting in November, students with limited or no internet access in their homes can gain access to WiFi for their homework and other school projects thanks to a new Pickerington Schools program.

Through the Every-1-Connected program, the district will offer a limited number of free wireless hotspot devices to students who have limited or no internet access at home. Students can borrow the devices from their building media center.

This program is open to Pickerington School students who are fully enrolled in one of the 15 district buildings. Priority will be given to students on the free/reduced lunch list and who have little to no household internet access.

“Every-1-Connected gives students with the greatest need the opportunity to borrow a free hotspot device for two-week periods during the school year,” said Brian Seymour, Director of Instructional Technology. “These devices hook up to district iPads and Chromebooks and allow free access to the internet.”

Seymour said the devices will help students who need internet access complete homework or other major projects. Because multiple students can sign on to a single hotspot, the devices also can be used to facilitate group projects.

There is no cost to students to borrow the hotspots, which were funded by the district and through a grant from T-Mobile.

“The reality is that not every household can afford internet connectivity in the home,” Seymour said. “With our emphasis on one-to-one technology, we knew we needed to find ways to bridge the digital divide and ensure educational equity for all our students. These hotspots are a step in that direction.”

The devices use internet content filtering, and student browsing history is recorded, Seymour said. While only one device may be borrowed per household, the hotspots can be signed out repeatedly throughout the year, based on availability.

For students to participate in the program, parents must complete a form (available from the school and on the district website). The form indicates that parents will assume financial responsibility for the equipment if it is damaged due to intentional reckless, willful, wanton or malicious conduct. The devices are covered under the district’s existing Technology Protection Plan, which is already available to families to cover district-provided Chromebooks and tablets.

Complete information about the program, including instructions for requesting a hotspot, are available online under “Every-1-Connected Program.”

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Operation StreetSmart

Operation Street Smart, hosted by Lakeview JH, is open to all Junior High and High School families. This program is designed to educate parents, teachers, social workers, community partners, and anyone with a nexus to children about current drug trends, terminology, and paraphernalia.

The goal is to arm parents and teachers with the information necessary to recognize the influences of the drug culture on their children, familiarize them with the many different drugs our children face, and share with them the experience and knowledge of undercover narcotics officers so they are better prepared to help their children make the right choices.

Street Smart is a collaborative effort between D.A.R.E. and the Sheriff's Office undercover narcotics branch, Special Investigations Unit.

You can see more information on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/291896016900/

Please be aware that all attendees must be at least 21 years of age.

Academic School Fees are due

Please note that the final deadline for paying 2018-19 student fees is TODAY, November 16th. For details regarding any outstanding students fees, go to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal at https://pickeringtonoh.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/pickerington.jsp

There are three available payment options:

1. Go to https://pickeringtonoh.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/pickerington.jsp and pay outstanding fees online with a credit card or e-check.

2. Mail payments to Pickerington Schools, Treasurer's Office, 90 N. East Street, Pickerington, OH 43147.

3. Pay in person at Ridgeview or stop by District Office during normal business hours at 90 N. East Street.

All checks or money orders should be made payable to Pickerington Local Schools. To ensure proper posting, please reference your student's name and student ID. Cash payments cannot be accepted by mail.

If you have questions regarding fees, please contact Mrs. Vensel at (614)- 548-1715, or call the Treasurer's Office at (614)-833-2112.

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Holiday Assistance - last chance

The holiday season will be upon us before we know it, bringing with it all the wonderful memories that make this time of year special. The holidays are an enjoyable time with family and friends, however, that does not mean they are not stressful. We realize some families may need a little extra assistance providing a more memorable holiday for their children. Pickerington Schools are once again teaming up with The Violet Twp. Fire Department to help provide some holiday assistance for families in need during the holiday season.

As you are out and about doing your holiday shopping, you may wish to pick up an extra toy or gift and drop it into one of the big red boxes that will be found throughout the community and in the school buildings. Gift cards and monetary donations are also welcome and should be given to the school office or a counselor.

If you would like to request a form to apply for holiday assistance this season, please contact Eileen McGarvey at 614-548-1700 or eileen_mcgarvey@plsd.us. The request form will then be provided to you; only one request form per household, please. This request will be handled in a confidential manner, however, the information will be shared with local partnering agencies. More details will be shared with families requesting holiday assistance. The forms must be turned in the a PLSD school counselor by Monday, November 19th.

Yearbook Orders

Capture all of the memories of the school year by purchasing a yearbook. Yearbooks are $30, and orders are now being taken online at YEARBOOK ORDERS using order number 13607.

Yearbooks will be delivered in May, allowing all of the events and activities to be captured throughout the year.

Don't delay - purchase today!