February 2016 Volume 7 Issue 6 The Toll Gate Times Mrs. Kristi Motsch, Principal 12183 Toll Gate Road Pickerington, OH 43147 TGE-Growing Leaders Phone: 614-834-6300 Fax: 614-834-6310 February 2016 As our staff looks forward to this semester, it is equally important for us to refer back to our earlier work this year. One document that we use to guide us is our building continuous improvement plan. This plan was developed by our Building Leadership Team, and acts as a vehicle to move us towards better instruction. These plans have led us, as both educators and learners, to effective methods that improve student learning & generate more authentic teaching practices. We acknowledge that our students need to be competent in communication (oral & written), collaboration, and critical thinking skills. Providing lessons that utilize these practices makes learning more relevant to our students. I am excited and honored to continue our journey towards offering the highest quality services for your children. Educationally Yours, Kristi Motsch, Principal Growing Leaders _____________________________________________________________________________ DATES TO REMEMBER February 2016 Feb 12 Father/Daughter Dance – 6:30– 8:30 p.m. Feb. 15 School is in session (1st make up snow day) Feb 15-26 PTO Spring Fundraiser Feb. 19 Student Leadership Teams TGE Spirit Day – wear your Toll Gate spirit wear Feb. 25 PTO 7:00 p.m. Feb. 29 State of the Schools & Celebration of Excellence Expo – 6:30@CHS _______________________________________________________________________ State of the Schools & Celebration of Excellence Expo We hope you will join us on Feb. 29 beginning at 6:30 at Central HS for our annual School Expo. All schools will feature informational displays, followed by a presentation by our Superintendent & Treasurer at 7:15. Last year students displayed and explained their STEM projects. This year students will be presenting our newest TGE robots from our Student Leadership Robotics Team. Please come and see all the great educational opportunities Pickerington Schools have to offer and hear about our school district’s finances and operations. Kindergarten Registration Kindergarten registration is March 9, 2016. Please contact our Welcome Center at 614-920-6140 for 2016-17 Kindergarten Registration. OPEN ENROLLMENT REQUESTS FOR 2016-2017 Deadline – March 30, 2016 Form is available on the district website under District forms, Enrolling and Open enrollment. The application is necessary for the district to consider allowing students to attend a school outside their normal attendance boundaries. Interested K-6 parents must submit an application each year they are requesting intradistrict open enrollment. Application is not a guarantee that students will be open enrolled. Approval is based on staffing and space availability. District Financial Report Pickerington School District is in strong financial shape into the foreseeable future, according to the five-year forecast included in the 2015 Popular Annual Financial Report released by the district. The PAFR can be viewed at http://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2015-PAFR.pdf. SCHOOL FEES If you have not paid your school fees this year please do so as soon as possible. You now have three payment options available to you to pay your student's fees. 1. Go to the link campus.pickerington.k12.oh.us/campus/portal/pickerington.jsp, and pay online via credit card or e-check. Your child’s fees can be viewed in the parent portal. For more information on how to access this information visit the following website: www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/contentPage.aspx?schoolid=0&cid=482. The district has posted instructions for activating accounts, using the Infinite Campus portal, and getting help for portal- related issues on this website. 2. Mail your payment to: Pickerington Local Schools Treasurer's Office 90 N. East Street Pickerington, Ohio 43147 3. Pay in person at your student's building, or the Treasurer's Office. All checks or money orders should be made payable to Pickerington Local Schools or PLSD and reference your student's name or student ID. Cash payments cannot be accepted by mail. Any questions regarding your student's fees, please contact their building of attendance or the Treasurer's Office (614) 833-2112. Please note that a $2.00 fee will be added to your student's fees to process any electronic or credit card payment. Fees for 2015/2016: KINDERGARTEN $20.50 GRADE 1 $18.50 GRADE 2 $19.00 GRADE 3 $20.00 GRADE 4 $20.00 4th Grade G.O.O.D. Students Our 4th grade students participate annually in the G.O.O.D. (going on or defeated) program. Ron Derry, former educator, discusses his handicap with the students and talks to them about the decision he had to make when he lost his sight. He could either go on or be defeated. He encourages the students to always try their best and each 9 weeks one student who exemplifies the spirit of this program is chosen from each classroom to receive a G.O.O.D. t-shirt. The students’ chosen for these 9 weeks are: Victoria T., Isaac S., Olivia K., Emily H., Kara B. BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB MEMBERS The following students have helped our library grow by purchasing a book from our Birthday Book Club Collection. Thank you for supporting our school library. Hailey G. Brennen T. Grace S. Julian Z. Aya A. Annabelle G. Ciciley L. Olivia G. Mikayla W. Katie C. Adryanna C. Sydney L. PROPER SCHOOL DRESS The students continue to go outside for recess during the winter months when weather permits. Indoor recess will be held only on those days of inclement weather or when the wind chill factor is below 25 degrees. Students should always come to school prepared for outside recess. This includes coats, hats, gloves, etc. Please discuss with your child dressing appropriately for school during this time of year. VALENTINES DAY – Valentine’s Day is traditionally a day of celebrating friendship and love. Please keep in mind our district policy on food due to many allergies. We encourage healthy snacks that are pre-packaged. Your child’s teacher will be sending more specific information home about how they will celebrate Valentine’s Day depending on classroom medical conditions and allergies. Most students will be exchanging Valentines and enjoying a snack on Feb. 12. TGE CARNIVAL Our annual PTO carnival is coming April 1. This is a fun evening where kids can try their hand at different carnival games, win prizes, eat great food & enjoy time with family & friends. In order to continue this great Toll Gate tradition, we need tons of volunteers. An informative flyer will be coming home soon. Please consider donating some of your time for this fun event. Also, please fill out a volunteer form if you haven’t already done so. Volunteer forms can be found on the school website or in the office. 2016-17 School Calendar Next year’s calendar can be found on the PLSD website. BECOME A NEWBERY READER AT TOLL GATE ELEMENTARY! Newbery Club Read 10 of the most distinguished children’s books of all time! Challenge yourself with these rigorous literary masterpieces. To be recognized as a distinguished reader you must read 10 of the Newbery Medal winners and pass the AR quiz for each book. You can earn this achievement in one school year or over multiple years. This month’s winner is Elizabeth W. Congratulations! For a complete list of all Newbery Medal Books go to: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/ne wberywinners/medalwinners.cf Closings and Delays The Pickerington Local School District (PLSD) reserves the right to close or delay the start times of schools based on inclement weather. We understand that these decisions have a big effect on families as they plan their day, and now is an excellent time to establish your family emergency plan. TWO-HOUR DELAYED START When school is delayed District wide due to inclement weather, students will report to school two hours later. The junior highs and high schools will utilize shortened periods, while the elementary and middle schools will run a normal schedule from the time of arrival. Building Regular Regular 2 hr. Delay 2 hr. Delay Level Start Time Dismissal Start Time Dismissal High School 7:20 a.m. 1:55 p.m. 9:20 a.m. 1:55 p.m. Jr. High 8:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Middle School 8:40 a.m. 3:05 p.m. 10:40 a.m. 3:05 p.m. Elementary (Gr.1- 9:15 a.m. 3:40 p.m. 11:15 a.m. 3:40 p.m. 4) A.M. 9:15 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 11:15 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Kindergarten P.M. Kindergarten 1:00 p.m. 3:40 p.m. 1:55 p.m. 3:40 p.m. CALAMITY DAYS For the 2014-2015 school year, PLSD has five calamity days. A calamity day is a day in which a school cancels instruction for any of the following reasons: • Hazardous weather conditions; ! Information on road conditions from transportation staff, law enforcement and road crews. (We must give careful consideration to the most dangerous roads in the District; they can be treacherous, even if your street looks clear.) > Accumulated snow and ice; > Temperature and wind chill > Impact on transportation services (school bus diesel fuel begins to gel at temperatures of zero degrees or below); > Weather predictions (including those from a weather alert service); > Building conditions (such as whether there is electricity and heat); • Disease epidemic; • Inoperability of school buses or equipment necessary to the school’s operation; • Damage to a school building; or • Temporary utility failure rendering the building unsuitable for school use WHO MAKES THE DECISION? The superintendent makes the final decision, based upon the factors and recommendations from the Transportation and Buildings & Grounds Departments.