March 18th, 2026

Check out the link to the newsletter from our wonderful technology teacher, Mrs. Rogers!

3rd Quarter Technology Newsletter

Notice of Language Assistance Plan:

In English:

Pickerington Schools will take reasonable steps to ensure that persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access and an equal opportunity to participate in all services, activities, and programs available throughout the district. It is the policy of PLSD to ensure meaningful communication with LEP students and families and to communicate information related to the education of all students. All services needed to comply with this policy will be provided for students and their families in need of such assistance free of charge. For assistance, please call 614-835-2083.

(In Nepali)

भाषा सहायतासम्बन्धी सूचना:

Pickerington Schools ले सीमित अङ्ग्रेजी प्रवीणता (LEP) भएका व्यक्तिहरूसँग डिस्ट्रिक्टभर उपलब्ध सबै सेवा, क्रियाकलाप र कार्यक्रमहरूमा अर्थपूर्ण पहुँच र सहभागी हुन पाउने समान अवसर छ भनी सुनिश्चित गर्नका लागि उचित कदमहरू चाल्ने छ। LEP भएका विद्यार्थी र परिवारहरूसँग अर्थपूर्ण सञ्चार सुनिश्चित गर्ने र सबै विद्यार्थीहरूको शिक्षासँग सम्बन्धित जानकारी सञ्चार गर्ने PLSD को नीति हो। यो नीतिको अनुपालन गर्न आवश्यक पर्ने सबै सेवाहरू यस प्रकारको सहायता आवश्यक भएका विद्यार्थी र उहाँहरूका परिवारहरूलाई निःशुल्क रूपमा उपलब्ध गराइने छ। सहायताको लागि, कृपया 614-835-2083 मा कल गर्नुहोस्

En Español:

Las escuelas de Pickerington tomarán medidas razonables para garantizar que las personas con dominio limitado del inglés (LEP) tengan un acceso fácil y la misma oportunidad de participar en todos los servicios, actividades y programas disponibles en todo el distrito. La política de PLSD es asegurar una comunicación significativa con los estudiantes LEP, sus familias y comunicar información relacionada con la educación de todos los estudiantes. Todos los servicios necesarios para cumplir con esta política se proporcionarán a los estudiantes y sus familias que necesiten dicha asistencia de forma gratuita. Para obtener ayuda, llame al 614-835-2083.

En Francais:

Le district scolaire de Pickerington prendra des mesures raisonnables pour s'assurer que les personnes ayant une compétence limitée en anglais (LEP) ont un accès adapté et une chance égale de participer à tous les services, activités et programmes disponibles dans le district. La politique du PLSD est d'assurer une communication efficace avec les étudiants et les familles LEP et de communiquer les informations relatives à l'éducation de tous les élèves. Tous les services nécessaires pour se conformer à cette politique seront fournis gratuitement aux élèves et à leurs familles qui en nécessitent. Pour toute assistance, veuillez composer le 614-835-2083.

Please contact amy_mckinney@plsd.us with any questions. Thank you!

Please check your child’s headphones if they bring them home each night, or consider checking in with your child’s teacher to ensure they are working properly. Headphones are used regularly during the school day, so your child may need a replacement if they are no longer functioning well.

Thank you for your continued support and assistance. It is greatly appreciated.

4th GRADE CLAP OUT:

The 4th graders will have a clap out on the last day of school. The clap out will begin at 1:30 with dismissal starting at 1:45. More information will come as the end of the year gets closer.

FUN DAY:

This will be on May 19th and PTO will be sending more information closer to the date. PTO will be seeking volunteers so look for information as they plan.

GLOW PARTY:

The students at Sycamore Creek Elementary will be having a Glow Party for our Quarterly Monthly Incentive. It will be on March 25th during the school day. Make sure you are at school on this day to participate in all the FUN!

Testing season is just around the corner, and we are so proud of the hard work our students have put in this year! With the Ohio State Tests kicking off the first week of April, we want to partner with you to ensure every student feels confident, prepared, and ready to shine.

While these assessments are just one way to measure growth, we know that a little extra support at home goes a long way in reducing "testing jitters." Here are a few proactive tips to help your family navigate the upcoming weeks with ease:

Tips for a Successful Testing Season

• The Power of Rest: A consistent bedtime is a game-changer. Aim for a full 8–10 hours of sleep so your student wakes up refreshed and focused.

• Fuel for the Brain: A protein-rich breakfast provides the sustained energy needed for concentration. Whether at home or at school, a healthy start makes a huge difference!

• Attendance Matters: Try to avoid scheduling appointments during testing mornings. Being in the classroom with their peers helps students stay in their routine and feel more comfortable.

Additional Tips By Grade Band

Grades 3-6 OST Family Tips

Secondary OST Family Tips

Join us for our next EmpowerED Pickerington series, a resource series dedicated to special education support.

Date: March 18, 2026

Time: 5:00 PM

Format: Virtual - please use this link to log on to the session

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/gco-vnrf-iuo

Focus: Supporting Every Learner, Supporting Every Family

This Month's Topic - Leveling the Playing Field: Understanding Accommodations vs. Modifications: Navigating special education terminology can sometimes feel like learning a completely new language. If you have ever felt confused by the difference between an "accommodation" and a "modification" on your child’s IEP or 504 plan, this session is for you!

This event is a great opportunity for families and educators to gain valuable insights and resources to support students with special needs. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please remember that all past episodes are uploaded to our district website/YouTube channel.

The Team Tressel Fitness Challenge will run through May 2nd. Please continue to work through the workbook with your child as they work toward their goals. This is totally optional, but we are hoping to recognize as many students as possible for completing the challenge.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Jack Haas.

If your child has completed the Team Tressel Challenge, please complete and sign the certification form in the back of the workbook so they can receive a certificate. This form can be turned into your child's homeroom teacher.

SAVE THE DATE!

BOGO Book Fair coming May 11 - 15th and the library will be in need of volunteers! Plan ahead to help set up the fair, work during or tear down. All help is much appreciated! Please fill out and submit the Level 1 volunteer form below if you haven't already! And watch in the coming weeks for the sign up sheet!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpV_qCyt7k_Vgk1HHpepvJq6Xg5c8YrlnJQWWe2P4HIuQ7xw/viewform?pli=1

We have had so much fun with our first ever Beard Fundraiser!

The teachers got competitive, even adding their own incentives for their classes. The students absolutely loved watching the beards grow, and the PTO is so grateful for the incredible support.

The winner of our first ever Beard Challenge is Mr. Davis’s fourth grade class with a total of 289 dots! Mr. Davis will receive an Amazon gift card, and his class will get to splatter paint the principals at the next Hero Hype!

Thank you all so much for the amazing support. We can’t wait to do it again next year!

Get ready to Swing Into the Jungle this Friday, March 20th from 6:30–8:30 PM! Our dance committee has been working so hard to make it the perfect night for the girls of SCE, and we can’t wait to see everyone there!

**Wristbands (one for each girl and her one guest) will be coming home today or tomorrow. Please make sure they are on before checking in at the dance.

Our Flower Sale has been doing so well, we didn’t want it to end just yet! So we’ve decided to extend the sale until Monday, March 30th! There’s still time to get your orders in and help support our school. And don’t forget about the amazing prizes we have lined up for this year!

Greetings Families,

We have made it to the 4th quarter of the 2025 - 2026 school year! Continue to applaud your children for all of their hard work.

A core component of math for students kindergarten through 4th grade is math fluency. Here are some ideas to continue the learning from school to home. As always, check with your child’s teacher for additional ideas

Family Math Facts Practice at Home

Here are quick, easy ways to practice math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division):

Daily Activities (5–10 minutes)

Skip Counting

• Count by 2s, 5s, or 10s while walking, driving, or doing chores

• Builds multiplication fluency naturally

Flash Cards

• Keep sessions SHORT (5 minutes max)

• Mix facts they know with new ones

• Celebrate progress, not perfection

Dice Games

• Roll two dice and add, subtract, or multiply the numbers

• Race to answer or keep a running total

• Quick and requires no prep

Number Hunts

• Spot math facts around the house (clocks, addresses, license plates)

• "I spy" style: "Find an addition fact!"

Car Ride Practice

• Call out facts and take turns answering

• Use license plates: add or multiply the digits

• No materials needed

Quick Games (10 minutes)

Card Games

• War (compare numbers)

• Go Fish with math (match sums or products)

• Simple racing games

Dominoes

• Add the dots on both sides

• Match facts or race to solve

Tips for Success

✓ Short & frequent — 5–10 minutes daily beats long sessions
✓ Keep it fun — No pressure or stress
✓ Mix known & new — Build confidence with familiar facts
✓ Praise effort — Focus on trying, not just right answers

The key: Consistency + fun = fluency! 🎯

All the Best,

Best Regards,

Mrs. Horsford

K-4 Curriculum Instructional Coach

PLSD, Sycamore Creek and Violet Elementary

B.A. Elementary Education

M.Ed. Educational Leadership

As we approach the final stretch of the school year, please be on the lookout for end-of-year reminders regarding the pickup of medications and/or medical supplies from the clinic. All items must be picked up on or before the last day of school, as any remaining medications or supplies will be disposed of. Additional information will be shared in May.

Flying Horse Farms is a nonprofit medical specialty camp in Mount Gilead, Ohio, that provides free camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families. With on-site medical support, children can safely enjoy traditional camp activities while building confidence, friendships, and lasting memories. It’s a truly special place serving families across Ohio and beyond.

If you are interested, please check out this link: Camper Toolkit - Flying Horse Farms.

• PLSD 2025-2026 District Calendar - click here

• Districtwide Activities Calendar

  Upcoming events and important dates are listed in the Districtwide Google Events Calendar, which is synced with individual building, program and athletic team calendars. Once inside the district wide calendar, to display the events of a particular building, team, program or activity, you will need to check the specific corresponding color-coded box(es) from the list on the left-hand side.

  Pickerington Schools partners with the City of Pickerington and Yodel to bring you the Pickerington Community Calendar!
  

  Visit this link to view all Pickerington Schools activities included on the calendar and don’t forget to “favorite” our Pickerington Schools schedule! Once favorited, Pickerington Schools' events will be front and center on your calendar, enabling you to see what’s coming up.

Please call the Sycamore Creek Elementary Attendance line at 614-834-6201 to leave a voice-mail message to report an absence for your child. Our secretaries check messages throughout the day.

If you have a doctor's note that you need to share with the school to document an absence, please email it to:

sceattendance@plsd.us

March 30th-April 3rd

*No School (Spring Break)