Pickerington District Download
September 5, 2025
Hello Pickerington Families,
We hope that this holiday season finds you enjoying classroom parties, concerts, and many more rites of passage that bring such a festive spirit to our school community! As we look ahead to 2026, our district’s priorities are clear:
Establish all day kindergarten as a pillar of the education we offer to your families.
Identify and explain a revenue enhancement plan to place on the May ballot.
These are both critical to the future of our district and we will remain focused on communicating our plans and rationale as we progress through these upcoming winter months.
Beyond these, though, we seek to further strengthen our efforts in three areas that we feel are critical identifying elements of our school community: arts, athletics, and international engagement. In his seminal work, Good to Great, Jim Collins explains, "A Hedgehog Concept is not a goal to be the best, a strategy to be the best, an intention to be the best, a plan to be the best. It is an understanding of what you can be the best at." We already present extraordinary opportunities in each of the three aforementioned realms. These will become, then, our Hedgehog Concepts, the areas in which we can be the best of any public school system in Ohio.
We will begin meeting with a Vision Team for each foci in January and invite your participation. Please complete this form to express your interest. Initially, we will ask you to commit to one evening meeting per month for the duration of our school year. These meetings will allow us to collaboratively plan means for “doubling down”, reinforcing our strengths so that we can offer even better programming to our students. We look forward to enriching conversations!
We’re excited to begin a new calendar year and look forward to celebrating many victories with you in 2026!
Respectfully,
Charlie
Superintendent
Pickerington Local Schools
charles_smialek@plsd.us
IG: pickerington_smialek
Share Your Feedback on the Proposed 2026-2027 Academic Calendar by December 31, 2025.
Pickerington Local Schools is seeking your input on the proposed 2026–2027 Academic Calendar Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to complete a brief four-question survey to share their feedback. As required by Ohio law, the calendar must be available for a 30-day public comment period before it can be approved by the Board of Education. The deadline to submit feedback is December 31, 2025. The proposed 2026–2027 Academic Calendar is expected to be presented for approval to the Pickerington Local Schools Board of Education at its first regular business meeting in January, 2026. Use the link below to review the draft calendar before moving on to complete the short four-question survey.
The Annual Update is LIVE in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Each school year, parents are asked to review and submit the required “Back to School Forms” for their student(s). This process is called the Annual Update. Some of the forms include:
Emergency Medical Authorization
Student Handbook Acknowledgement
Device Agreement
Technology Protection Plan
Field Trip Authorization Form
Who may complete the Annual Update? Only the primary contact; parent/guardian may complete these forms. Students are not able to complete these forms.
To begin, log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal and complete the Annual Update. For step-by-step-directions click the following link review and update your student’s information. Most information will already be pre-populated; please review carefully, and update your student’s information to ensure it’s accurate.
IMPORTANT: If you have not completed and submitted the Annual Update for the 2025-2026 School year, please do so as soon as possible. It is vital that the district has updated medical and emergency contact information for your student.
Change of Address? Please visit the Residency tab to access the Pickerington Schools Change of Address Form. PLEASE NOTE: This must be done through the WELCOME CENTER only; it cannot be completed through the Annual Update.
Do you have unpaid school fees for the current school year? Have you filled out the Educational Benefit Form to see if you qualify for financial assistance? If not, click the link below and complete the Educational Benefit form today. This information helps us determine if your family qualifies for a fee waiver or reduction under Board Policy 6152.01. When completing the form, you’ll need to provide:
Information about any state assistance (including your seven-digit SNAP or TANF case number), or
Your household size and yearly income.
Don’t miss out on this financial support—complete your Education Benefit Form today!
REMINDER for our Class of 2026: Plan now- all academic, lunch and sport fees must be paid before graduation.
What Families Need to Know
All Juniors will take the state-funded ACT at no cost this Spring. Families requesting testing accommodations must submit them by December 12.
Pickerington Local Schools will administer the state-funded ACT to all Juniors on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, free of charge.
Only Juniors will report to school that day at Pickerington High School North, Pickerington High School Central, and Pickerington Academy. Freshmen, Sophomores, and Seniors will complete teacher-assigned work from home.
Career Center Students:
Juniors who attend Eastland or Fairfield Career Center full-time will take the ACT at their career center. Those campuses will communicate testing details directly to families.
Important: Accommodation Requests Due December 12, 2025
Families who need to request ACT testing accommodations must submit them by December 12, 2025.
Our boys’ basketball teams launch the winter sports season this week, and we’re excited to welcome fans back into our gyms.
To keep events enjoyable and safe for everyone, please remember:
Bring a student ID for entry.
K–8 students must attend with an adult who remains seated with them.
No backpacks or large bags; small bags may be searched.
Stay in the bleachers and keep aisles clear.
Use crosswalks, secure your vehicle, and avoid bringing valuables.
No smoking or vaping on District property.
Impaired guests may be denied entry or removed for safety.
Non-compliance with venue rules or Board policy may lead to removal or other consequences.
Report concerns to staff, security, or law enforcement.
Buildings close 20 minutes after the game.
Thanks for helping us ensure a positive, respectful environment for all fans and athletes this season!
CLICK HERE for a downloadable flyer.
Supporting Every Learner, Supporting Every Family
Join us for our next EmpowerED Pickerington series, a resource series dedicated to special education support.
- Date: December 16, 2025
- Time: 5:00 p.m.
This Month's Topic: The Power of Inclusion: Adapting the Preschool Classroom for All Learners
Format: Virtual - please use this link to log on to the session
Focus: Supporting Every Learner, Supporting Every Family
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!
All past episodes are uploaded to our district website/YouTube channel.
Pickerington High School Central sophomore Annaliese Kishel has been recognized in the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College Regional High School Photography Exhibition Award for her work, “Contemplation in Monochrome.” Her piece was selected from more than 1,600 entries for display in the UC Blue Ash Art Gallery.
Annaliese first discovered photography during her freshman year and says the art form resonated with her immediately. She loves that photography “captures a moment in life” and that “there is always an important story behind it.” She also credits her PHSC photography 2 teacher, Dan Yeager, as a key influence: “I have always looked up to my teacher, Mr. Yeager.”
While she plans to keep photography in her life as a hobby and possible college minor, Annaliese hopes her experience inspires others: “Everything takes practice and nothing comes handed to you, so keep shooting and never give up.”
We are proud to celebrate a major milestone for Tussing Elementary School and Ridgeview Junior High School - each earning the Gold Recognition Award from the Ohio PBIS Network and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Tussing is the first elementary school in the district to achieve Gold, and Ridgeview advanced from Bronze last year to Gold for the 2024–2025 school year.
Tussing is the first elementary school in the district to achieve Gold, and Ridgeview advanced from Bronze last year to Gold for the 2024–2025 school year.
Valdez was surprised recently by the Daughters of the American Revolution Elizabeth Sherman Reese Lancaster Chapter with the “Good Citizen” award and a monetary award.
The PHSC senior was selected for his outstanding character, leadership, and service. He will now advance to the district-level competition, with results expected early next year.
Click HERE to read more about honor and the surprise behind it.
Violet Elementary School Secretary Donna Treneff has been honored as a 2026 Ohio RISE Award Nominee, recognizing educational support professionals who make a meaningful impact every day. Donna was nominated for the patience, kindness, and genuine care she brings to students, families, and staff.
Assistant Principal Lynsey Comer shared, “Donna is truly the heart and soul of our building.”
Although only two nominees advanced to the national review, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce commended Treneff, noting they were impressed by her dedication to her work, school, and students.
Treneff said, “It is an incredible honor to have been nominated for the ODE RISE Award. I’m very fortunate to work alongside such a talented and dedicated staff at Violet, and I strive every day to make a meaningful impact on our students and their families.”
A little cold and snow didn’t stop students from showing up early to celebrate their hard-earned grades with Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Alesia Gillison, who stepped in for Superintendent Dr. Charles Smialek due to a prior commitment. Students proudly shared their A, B, P, and M marks and enjoyed a flavorful Fiiz drink as a reward for their achievement.
Although we were just two students shy of reaching our 20-student goal, the excitement and positive energy were still strong—proof that a chilly evening can’t cool down student success.
Check out the smiles below! And don’t worry—another chance is right around the corner.
Join us for the next Fiiz-Tastic Wednesday on January 7, from 5:00–6:00 p.m. The first 20 students (K–12) who show their high scores can earn a free drink and celebrate their progress in the New Year.
We thank you for stepping forward this year to help strengthen family and community engagement across our district. Your commitment to exploring:
Flexible Access for families to engage
Intentional Invitations that foster a deep sense of belonging
Communication Modalities that reach and honor all families demonstrates their care for our students, our schools, and our community.
We are truly grateful for the dedication, insight, and heart you bring to this important work. We appreciate each of you and are excited for all we will continue to accomplish together.
Our next meeting is January 8, 2026.
Every day, our staff members make a difference in the lives of students—and no one sees that more clearly than our families. Now we’d love for you to share your perspective.
We invite families to nominate a staff member by writing a short message about the impact they’ve had. In each edition of our bi-monthly staff newsletter, one of these messages will be featured. The honored staff member will also receive a certificate and take a photo with your child.
Your words of appreciation go a long way in reminding our staff just how valued they are. Thank you for helping us celebrate the people who make Pickerington Local Schools such a special community.
