The Diley Digest

April

April 8: No School

April 11: 5th grade ELA test part 1

April 12: 5th grade ELA test part 2

April 16: 6th grade ELA test part 1

April 17: 6th grade ELA test part 2

April 18: 5th grade SCI test part 1

April 19: 5th grade SCI test part 2

April 23: 6th grade Math test part 1

April 24: 6th grade Math test part 2

April 25: 5th grade Math test part 1

April 26: 5th grade math test part 2

Dear Diley Families,

The OST Testing schedule for each grade level is listed above. We encourage you to ensure your child is well-rested and prepared for these assessments. Encourage them to review their study materials, engage in relaxing activities, and maintain a healthy balance of rest and recreation.

A couple reminders when it comes to testing. Students can not have and or use cell phones/tablets, blue tooth devices, wireless headphones, and or smart watches while taking the test. These items should be left at home and or turned off and put away during testing. If these items are used and or disrupt the testing environment it could negate the test as it would be a testing violation according to the guidance by the Ohio Department of Education. In addition, it is very important that our students are on time to school these dates. Late students will not be permitted into the room once testing starts. Please make sure your student(s) are well rested and on time so we can get them tested during the scheduled times and dates.

As always, your continued support and involvement in your child's education are greatly appreciated. Together, we can empower our students to excel academically and reach their fullest potential.

Warm regards,

Mr. Koch

1- Please make sure you have paid your school fees through infinite campus

2- Our late bell rings at 8:40am. Please make sure your student arrives to school before this time.

Please read the following letter about SB288 and the instruction that will take place in classrooms this spring. Thank you.

March 2024

Dear Families,

In accordance with Ohio SB 288, your child will receive instruction on Child Sexual Abuse Prevention this year. This is a sensitive topic, and we wanted to notify you and provide some important information.

• In accordance with the law, beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, schools are required to provide developmentally appropriate instruction in Child Sexual Abuse Prevention to students in grades K through 6.

• To learn more about this mandate, here is a link to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Child Sexual Abuse Prevention page.

• As a parent or guardian, you may opt your child out of the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention lesson.

For your preview, here is the link to the Fight Child Abuse resource. Fight Child Abuse was selected from an approved list of resources set by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. This approved curriculum was used to design the lesson for our students. Students will be watching videos 1 and 2. 5th-grade students will be completing these activity sheets 5th Grade.pdf. 6th-grade students will be completing these activity sheets 6th Grade.pdf.

If you wish to opt your child out of the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention lesson, please send an email to gina_neilson@plsd.us by Monday, April 1. Your child will be provided with an alternative environment and activity for this portion of the day. Please let me know if you have any additional questions, and I will be happy to answer them.

Thank you for your partnership.

Ms. Neilson

School Counselor

gina_neilson@plsd.us

Phone: (614)830-2922

Welcome to the Counselor’s Corner! Every month, the middle school counselors will share a bulletin board with the following information: hot topic, theme, and family resources.

Click here to see April's Bulletin Board: https://rb.gy/l84wrt

Check out the amazing information supplied by our school counselor on our family resource board! You can find everything from student planners to food assistance to information on dealing with stress and anxiety. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/PLSDfamilyresources

This aspect of the newsletter will provide parents and guardians with the building's PBIS initiatives and expectations. PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. Throughout the school year, PBIS messages and information will be shared here.

PBIS Challenge:

1. No more than ONE missing assignment in each class.

2. Having no more than ONE assigned ISS consequence

3. And NO OSS consequences

4TH QUARTER

For our 4th quarter our primary focus is on “Attitude of Gratitude”. Students will be actively engaged in lessons that focus on the importance of seeking the positives from every experience and being thankful for all that we have. Through this mindset, we learn that we can use the positives or the negatives of our lives as the foundation on which to build. Choose the positives, and we are on our way toward extraordinary success; choose the negatives, and we embark on path toward disappointment, resentment, and suffering. In lessons, we will guide students to focus on all the things they have, leaving no time to be distracted by what they don’t.

Our last quarter can be a fun quarter, but it can also be stressful too! Students will engage in the OST state tests and in our last diagnostic for iReady. It’s important to check in with your student during this time because they will have so many emotions as they complete these requirements. Some ideas to help your student during this time is having a good breakfast, limiting screen time, getting to bed on time, having their school supplies prepared (chromebook charged, headphones, etc.), and having daily talks about how they are feeling this week. Also, don’t forget to keep it positive, “You’re doing a great job. I know you tried your best.” Those few words can go a long way!

Our 4th quarter incentive will be an outdoor grade level recess with blow up bounce houses and etc.

Click on the picture below to order your yearbook today!

Per the Ohio Department of Health, all students entering grade 7 must show proof of vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap vaccine) and meningococcal disease (MCV4 vaccine). You may take the following letter with you to your doctor to use as documentation of these vaccinations, or you may submit an immunization report with the dates of both vaccinations. Please return this documentation as soon as possible to your child’s school nurse. If this is not provided during the grade 6 school year, you will need to send this information to the junior high that your child will attend prior to the beginning of the next school year. The middle school nurses will forward all immunization documentation received to the junior high nurses at the end of this year. Your student will not be able to start school until documentation of the required vaccines or a signed exemption form are on file.

COVID-19 Updated Guidelines

• CDC and ODH updated COVID guidance - Isolation on 3/01/24

• Individuals can return to normal activities when symptoms have been getting better for 24 hours.

• Individuals who had a fever as a symptom can resume normal activities when the fever as a symptom has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

• Once the individual returns to normal activities, they should take enhanced precautions for the next five days including:

• Wearing a well-fitting mask when able

• Keeping a distance from others

• Using available test methods to inform individual actions

Respiratory Illness Prevention Guidelines

• Please keep students home when sick. This includes all illnesses such as cold, flu, COVID, and other respiratory infections.

• Additional precautions upon returning to school:

• Physical distancing

• Masking

• Cover your cough and sneeze using your elbow or tissue

• Hand washing - wash with soap and water for 20 second or use hand sanitizer often

PHSC/RSJH CHEER TRYOUTS 2024-2025

Football, Basketball, and Competition

Tryout Registration Link: https://forms.gle/JGaBaskDu8ao3kW59

Date of our pre-tryout meeting: April 15th from 6:30-7:30PM in the PHSC Commons

Clinic & Tryout Schedule

*DATES MAY CHANGE SLIGHTLY*

4/15 - Pre-Tryout Meeting @ PHSC Commons from 6-8PM

4/27 - Clinics Day 1 @ PHSC Main Gym from 5-7PM

4/28 - Clinics Day 2 @ PHSC Main Gym from 5-7PM

4/29 - Clinics Day 3 @ PHSC Field House from 6-8PM

5/01 - PHSC SIDELINE Tryout @ PHSC Main Gym from 3:30-7PM

5/02 - RJHS SIDELINE Tryout @ RJHS Main Gym from 3-6PM

5/02 - PHSC and RJHS COMPETITION Tryout @ PHSC Field House from 6-8:30PM

Language Assistance Plan Please click on the links for more infromation.

1. Notice to LEP Parents of Free Language Assistance: (NOLA) poster, NOLA - for use

• Needs to be shared from each schools and classrooms

• Most frequently encountered languages - Spanish and Nepali

2. Eligibility for Assistance - parents or guardians could have a need in any language domain

3. No Special Verification Needed

4. Identification of Parents in Need of Language Assistance and Related Centralized Database

• Families that require language assistance have a Phone flag in IC

• New for 2023-2024 - language questions included in the annual enrollment for all families

5. Reports and Logs Regarding Services to LEP Parents

• The district will maintain a list of who needs language assistance

• The district will maintain reports of assistance provided

Contact information to our PLSD liaisons. See below:

There are a number of ways you can stay up to date on all things Diley.

Follow Diley on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMS_Proud?s=20

Follow Principal Koch on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/mrerickoch?s=20

Follow our PTSO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2085717574996931

Is social media not your thing? You can find all sorts of information on the Pickerington School District's website located at: https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/

Principal: Eric Koch

Assistant Principal: Amanda Stemm

Secretary: Heather Ferns

Office Assistant: Stacy Gallion

Counselor: Gina Neilson

Nurse: Rhonda Carmel

Health Assistant: Robin May

Email: heather_ferns@plsd.us
Website: https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/diley-middle-school/
Location: 750 Preston Trails Drive, Pickerington, OH, USA
Phone: 614-830-2900
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Diley-Middle-School-401947110003982
Twitter: @DMS_Proud