August 20, 2025

Please see the school supply list below for grades K-4.

We are super excited to announce that the volunteer form has become electronic across all schools in PLSD. This means that the paper forms that have been used in the past will no longer be used to sign up to be a volunteer. You can easily sign up to be a volunteer right now by using the QR code below or the link provided. If you have been a volunteer in the past, you must sign up again. Volunteer approvals are only good for the school year in which you signed up.

Here is the link to sign up: https://forms.gle/3c2wxQ3TxqeSh4AQA

We are seeking dedicated parent volunteers to assist in pedestrian safety at crosswalks near Sycamore Creek Elementary.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Assist students with safe crossing: Guide students across designated crosswalks during morning arrival (8:35a-9:15a) and afternoon dismissal (3:55p-4:25p).

• Maintain a visible presence: Wear the provided safety vest and stand at designated crossing points.

• Follow traffic signals and regulations: Adhere to all traffic laws and safety procedures.

• Communicate with drivers and pedestrians: Politely stop traffic when necessary and remind pedestrians to use crosswalks.

• Report any safety concerns: Report any observed traffic violations or safety hazards to school officials.

• Attend occasional training sessions: Participate in brief training sessions to review safety procedures and receive updates on traffic patterns as needed.

Volunteer Qualifications:

• Background Check: Successful completion of a background check. There is a cost of $25 to process the background check. Current Parents on Positivity Patrol volunteers will not need a new background check as long as they are within their three year requirement.

• Age: 18 years or older and a parent or family member of a student at Sycamore Creek Elementary.

• Reliable and punctual: Able to commit to regular volunteer shifts. At this time, we are looking for volunteers who can work at least one or more shifts for the remainder of the school year. There are currently 10 slots available.

• Physically able: Capable of standing for extended periods and assisting students with crossing in all weather conditions.

• Positive and patient: Able to interact with children and drivers in a courteous and professional manner.

Benefits of Volunteering:

• Make a positive impact: Contribute to the safety and well-being of our students.

• Connect with the community: Build relationships with other volunteers and school staff.

How to Become a Volunteer:

1. Contact the school: Express your interest in the program by contacting the school office at 614-920-6177 or preston_tartt@plsd.us.

2. Attend an orientation: Participate in an orientation session to learn more about volunteering with Pickerington Local School District’s Parents on Positivity Patrol.

3. Complete necessary paperwork: Submit a volunteer application and undergo a background check.

4. Receive training and safety equipment: Attend required training sessions that consist of a self guided e-learning and in person training session. The training schedule is flexible and is estimated to take 8-10 hours in total.

5. Begin volunteering: Start assisting students with safe crossing during designated shifts.

I am in and ready to start the process:

• If you are interested and would like to start the process please fill out the intake form.

We encourage interested community members to join us in making our school a safer place for our students and community.

Questions?

Please contact Safety & Security Director, Preston Tartt (preston_tartt@Plsd.us or 614-920-6177)

Want to guarantee your child a spot on the Girls on the Run team at Sycamore Creek Elementary? Volunteer to be a coach this fall! Girls on the Run is a fun, inspiring after-school program just for 3rd and 4th grade girls that helps build confidence and important life skills. As a coach, your child will automatically have a spot on the team — no need to enter the lottery. You don’t need to be a runner or have coaching experience — GOTR provides all the training and support you need. Make a difference and be part of something powerful at SCE! Sign up using this link:

https://www.pinwheel.us/volunteer/signup/FALL25GOTRCO

We will be utilizing PikMyKid again this year, please make sure you have the application downloaded. If you need assistance in getting PikMyKid set-up we will be avalible to help on Back to School night, August 12th, in the Library!

An important update is coming to how you pay your student’s fees. Infinite Campus, the District’s student information system, is transitioning to Stripe as its new merchant service provider, and we want to ensure you're prepared for the upcoming changes.

Action Needed: Pay Balances by June 26, 2025

If you have an outstanding balance, we strongly encourage you to pay it before June 26 to avoid additional service fees when the new payment system goes live.

Important Dates

• June 26: The payment portal goes offline—no online payments accepted.

• July 4: The payment portal returns, but service fees will apply.

Temporary Portal Outage: June 26 – July 4

During this time, payments can only be made by:

• Mailing a check or money order to the District Office.

• Bringing cash, check, or money order in person to: Pickerington Local Schools, 90 N. East St, Pickerington, OH 43147.

• For recent graduates: Payments must be in cash or money order—checks will not be accepted.

• Make sure you include your child’s student identification number to ensure payments are posted correctly.

What to Expect When the Portal Returns on July 4

• Families will need to re-enter their saved payment method in Infinite Campus.

• New service fees will apply to online payments:
  
  

• Credit/debit card payments: 3.5% fee

• E-check/ACH payments: $0.35 fee

• Returned payments will incur additional charges.

Any payments returned for insufficient funds will include an additional charge equivalent to the bank fee incurred by the District.

What to Expect for the 2025-2026 School Year

Families should plan for these key student fee assignments:

• August 1: Technology Protection Plan fees will be added to student accounts (optional, due September 30).

• Fall sports & marching band fees: Assignments will start on August 1, 2025, as rosters are made available.

• Academic fees: Assigned after the September 8 add/drop period, with email notifications sent via Infinite Campus.

Need Financial Assistance for Academic Fees? Apply for a Fee Waiver!

Families needing financial support must complete the Household Income Survey via the NEW Meal Magic Family Portal coming late this summer. Important: Mark the information-sharing box so the Treasurer’s Office can process potential fee waivers. If this box is left unchecked, the waiver cannot be applied.

Need Financial Assistance with Extracurriculars? Apply for a Fee Waiver!

Extracurricular waiver requests should use the Financially Disadvantaged Student Fees form available under the Family & Student Forms or Play-to-Participate pages.

Take Action Now: Please check your Infinite Campus account today and submit any outstanding payments before June 26 to avoid additional fees.

For more details, visit www.plsd.us or contact the Treasurer’s Office.

Thank you for your attention to this important update!

Pickerington Schools has launched a new, mobile-friendly system to help families manage school meals and submit the Education Benefit Form for fee waivers.

With the PLSD Meal Magic Family Portal, families can:

• Add money to student meal accounts

• Move funds between siblings

• Pay off past due balances

• Manage all students in one account!

Did You Know? For the 2025–2026 school year, all students will receive FREE breakfast and lunch through the Community Eligibility Program. This portal simply supports any extra meal options or needed financial assistance.

Visit https://PLSD.familyportal.cloud to get started.

Questions? Call 614-833-3645 (Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.)

*First and Second Grade:

-All car riders whether or not they are eating breakfast, enter door “S”

- If your student is a walker and need breakfast go to door "S"

- If your student is a walker and does not need breakfast go to door "C"

*Third and Fourth

It is important for our School Counseling Department to hear from families and how we can best support your students this school year!

Please take a moment to complete this family survey. This helps your School Counselor to know if you would like your child to have a check in with your student or be a part of our fun and engaging lunch bunch groups!

Sycamore Creek Elementary will be offering H.O.P.E food bags to families again this year! HOPE food bags provide 3 meals for students over the weekend. Students receive their food bags at the end of the day on Fridays. HOPE bags will begin on Friday September 5th. If you are interested in a HOPE bag, please complete this google form. Please only complete for the student(s) attending Sycamore Creek, if you have students at other Pickerington Schools, please reach out to those School Counselors. Please complete the form for each individual student. If you have any questions, please reach out to Courtney Rizek (courtney_rizek@plsd.us).

Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2025 - 2026 School year. I am Mrs. Horsford, the K-4 Curriculum Instructional Coach for Sycamore Creek Elementary and Violet Elementary. I began my teaching career in 1992. I have a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.

My job includes supporting teachers with our district's curriculum and assessments; both in and out of the classroom. There are a few assessments that are given at the beginning of the year to determine where our students are in reading and math. For reading and math we use the i-Ready computerized assessment. For reading, we also administer the Acadience assessment. This assessment is given 1:1 with each student who reads to a teacher, instructional coach or reading teacher.

Feel free to reach out to me or your child’s homeroom teachers with any questions.

Dear Guardians,

Just as quickly as summer arrived, it’s already coming to an end. As promised, I’ve set up appointment times for dropping off medications, medical supplies, and physician orders at the Sycamore Creek Elementary clinic.

To ensure a smooth and organized process, please sign up for a time slot using this link: SCEClinic Appointment Sign-Up

Please note:

*All medications must be accompanied by completed physician orders and your signature before

they can be accepted or stored in the clinic.

*You will also need to complete this google form before dropping off medication: 25-26" SCESchool Medication/Supply Check-In

• If you are unable to complete it before your scheduled appointment, there will be a computer available in the clinic to complete it. If you need help completing it, please let me know!

New students to the district - must present written evidence of immunizations or written evidence to indicate that they are in the process of receiving immunizations. This is to be completed no later than the day of entrance. Students failing to complete immunizations within 14 days after entering are not permitted to return to school.

The first day of school for new students and kindergarteners will be considered 8/18. The student immunization record needs to be on file by Monday, 9/08/25.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Thank you in advance for helping us prepare for a healthy and successful school year!

• 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.

I-Ready Testing

*August 25th-29th (ELA)

*September 2nd-5th (Math)

September 1st

*No School (Labor Day)