March 11th, 2026
FINAL CALL---Yearbooks
This is your final reminder for yearbooks. Please order soon. Time is running out.
Headphone Check In
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.
Upcoming Building Events
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 March Hero of the Month. 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!
OST Preparation
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
Sycamore Creek Third Grade Spring Concert and Love our Languages Event
Empower ED Pickerington
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.
Team Tressel Fitness Challenge
Reminder, 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.
UPDATE:
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.
Sycamore Creek Media Center
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!
PTO News!
Our spring flower sale is going on now through March 16th. You should have received an email from fundraiseit with your child’s personal selling link! If you did not receive an email please email:
sycamorecreekfundraising@gmail.com
*Make sure you check out the prize info! We have some new prizes this year that the kids will be super excited about!
The Homeroom Beard Challenge is off to a great start! This flyer was sent home with your student last week, be sure to check those backpacks! Keep the donations coming because the students are loving watching their teachers’ beards grow.
As of today, Ms. Tinsley is in the lead with 144 dots! But there’s still time… which class will grow the biggest beard and take the win? We can’t wait to see!!
SCE night at Raising Canes is tomorrow, March 12th from 4-9pm!! Just mention this flyer and they will donate 15% of your sales back to our school!
Counselor's Corner
As we continue through the second half of the school year. One way, we like to support our 4th grade students who might be more nervous/anxious about their transition to middle school is offer a small group to students who could benefit from a smaller group environment during their lunch time to connect with peers who might be having similar experiences, process through them, and come up with strategies to help support them with the transition.
If you think this is something your student could benefit from please complete this google form!
Our focus for Student of the Month for March will be "cooperation". Below are some suggestions for reinforcing positive cooperation:
Key Strategies to Teach Cooperation:
- Model Teamwork: Actively demonstrate cooperation in daily life, such as working together on tasks, solving conflicts calmly, and sharing belongings.
- Use Cooperative Games: Engage children in activities requiring joint effort, like "Triple Free Tag" (requiring three people to free a tagged player), building with blocks, or solving puzzles together.
- Facilitate Problem-Solving: Ask open-ended questions like "What can we do?" or "How could we solve this together?" when conflicts arise, encouraging them to find their own, collaborative solutions.
- Give Choices: Provide options to help children feel in control, which reduces resistance and increases the likelihood of cooperation.
- Offer Specific Praise: Rather than just saying "good job," explicitly point out how they cooperated, such as "You and your sister were cooperating nicely when you worked together to complete the puzzle".
Instructional Coach
Greetings Families!
The third quarter ends on Friday. Take some time to celebrate your child's accomplishments! They have worked so hard. Below you will find the themes that will be covered during the 4th quarter in our reading program, Wit & Wisdom/Great Minds.
Kindergarten - Module 4: The Continents
As we explore each continent, we ask the question: What makes the world fascinating?
First Grade- Module 4: Cinderella Stories
We will ask the question: Why do people around the world admire Cinderella?
Second Grade - Module 4: Good Eating
By analyzing texts and art, students answer the question: How does food nourish us?
Third Grade - Module 4: Artists Make
We will ask: What is an artist?
Fourth Grade - Module 4: Myth Making
We will ask the question: What can we learn from myths and stories?
Below are links to Eureka Math and Wit and Wisdom Family Tips Sheets.
Hope that you find this information helpful!
Best Regards,
Mrs. Horsford
K-4 Curriculum Instructional Coach
PLSD, Sycamore Creek and Violet Elementary
B.A. Elementary Education
M.Ed. Educational Leadership
Clinic Updates
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.
2025/26 SCHOOL CALENDAR
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.
Upcoming Dates/Special Reminders
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:
March 13th
*No School (Records Day)
March 30th-April 3rd
*No School (Spring Break)