Fairfield Panther Paw

Dear Fairfield Family:

I am writing this today, not only as a 32 year PLSD employee, but as someone who has seen the "before and after" of a failed levy from every possible angle. Throughout my career and my life, I have been a student, a teacher, and for the last 16 years, an administrator. These roles have taught me one undeniable truth: opportunities lost are rarely regained.

I know what it feels like to be the student who loses everything. During my own senior year of high school, we lost a levy. I felt the immediate sting of seeing programs vanish and the school spirit deflate. We lost athletics, academic programming and school experiences such as dances. As a PE teacher at Harmon, I watched the reduction and changes in programming such as with Related Arts. When I became an Administrator at Pickerington High School Central in Fall of 2010, I had to implement the reductions that forced us to raise pay-to-play fees, eliminate elective options, reduce transportation, reduce to state minimums for core classes and eliminate vital programming like Work and Family Life.

As the Principal at Fairfield Elementary, I want our students to get the very best education that they can while in PLSD. I hope for smaller class sizes, more academic supports and interventions, a budget that can purchase items that help engage learners and enhance the curriculum, experiences such as field trips that provide opportunities that not all of our students get, and exposure to Art, Music, PE, Library and Technology. I hope we can provide a well rounded education for all students.

These aren’t just lines on a spreadsheet; these are experiences that could be taken away from our children.

An increase in revenue through a passage of May’s income tax allows us to:

• Protect the Student Experience: We cannot go back to the days of high pay-to-play fees that price students out of sports and arts.

• Maintain Diverse Opportunities: A well-rounded education requires electives and life-skills programming. When we cut these, we narrow the horizon for every student in the building.

• Prevent "Senior Year" Regret: I don't want our current students to look back on their graduation year and remember it as the year the music stopped or the teams were disbanded.

We have incredible momentum right now. Our current programming offers something for every student, whether they are college-bound or heading straight into the workforce. This levy is about keeping those doors open. Students begin their journey in Kindergarten and I want them to continue to have many doors to choose from.

I have seen the cost of reductions from the principal’s office, the teacher’s classroom and the student's desk. I recognize that this income tax is a cost, but we also know that failure will lead to clear costs for our students in the opportunities to which they can look forward.

Please remember to vote on our before May 5!

Assistant Principal: Kyle Babbitt

Secretary: Daniella Schmidt

Attendance Secretary: Jennifer Todd

School Counselor: Nikki Arnold

School Nurse: Tami Tackett

School Nursing Assistant: Nick Root

Email: stacy_tennenbaum@plsd.us
Website: www.pickerington.k12.oh.us
Location: 13000 Coventry Avenue, Pickerington, OH, USA
Phone: 614-834-7600

April 14, 15: 3rd Grade OST test- ELA

April 16,17: 4th Grade OST test - ELA

April 24: ROAR assembly 2:30

April 24: PTO Spring Dance

April 27, 28: 4th Grade OST test- Math

April 29.30: 3rd Grade OST test- Math

May 6: Super Games Field Day

May 11: Harmon Presentation - 4th Grade

May 12: Art Show 6-7:30

May 19: 4th Grade Picnic and Awards

May 20: ROAR assembly 10:00 (KAM, 3,4), 2:30 (KPM,1,2)

May 20: Last Day for Kindergarten

May 21: Talent Show 2:00

May 22: Last Day of School

Thank you to everyone who has submitted a recognition - it really means a lot to the staff. I would love to recognize our staff members at a staff meeting. If someone at Fairfield has gone above and beyond for you or your student, please take a moment to complete the form linked below so we can recognize them at a staff meeting.

Celebrating Awesome

Dear Fairfield Families,

Our Spring Dance is just around the corner!

Join us for a fun-filled evening at our Neon Nights Glow Party on:

Friday, April 24
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Grace FTC 1449 Refugee Rd

Get ready for an exciting night of music, dancing, and glowing fun with friends!

Register here: Spring Dance Registration

We’ll need plenty of help to make this event a success, so please consider signing up to volunteer.
Volunteer sign-up: Spring Dance Volunteer Sign Up

We can’t wait to see you there for an unforgettable night!

New Spirit Wear Website is Live!
We’re excited to share our new Fairfield Elementary Spirit Wear shop! Check it out here:
https://www.chic-loco.com/collections/fairfield-elementary-spirit-wear-collection-pickerington-ohio

As we enter the last two months of school, I would like to send a few reminders to ensure that we are ending on a positive note.

*Please use Pikmykid to make any dismissal changes - please do not just email the teacher or tell your student.

*If your student is a walker, we ask that parents wait either by the kindergarten playground or at the crosswalks.

*Please do not park your cars along the side streets and have your child be a "walker". We have a parent pick up line that does move pretty quickly.

*The parent drop off line closes as soon as all the cars have left. If you arrive after 9:15, you must park and walk your student in to be signed in. Please do not pull up in the bus driveway.

Thank you so much for your attention to these important procedures. We appreciate your partnership.

Testing season is here and we are so proud of the hard work our students have put in this year! With the Ohio State Tests kicking off this, 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.

Preparation Tips

Stay in the Game: Life Time Fitness Parent's Night Out:

Parent's Night out is a 3 hour event where parents drop their kids off at Life Time Fitness Pickerington. While there, kids play games, make crafts, have a pizza party, play relay races, and get their bodies moving. Life Time Fitness will be hosting two Parent’s Night Out events on May 16, 2026 from 4-7pm. The event is open to kids ages: 3-12 (**Children must be potty trained to attend**).

If you are interested in having your children participate, email adrienne_bowden@plsd.us by May 1st. Spaces are limited and will be filled in the order requests are received.