Tiger Update
Information about Pickerington High School Central 11/1/25
Message from Mr. Parker
Tiger Nation! 🐅
Week Three of Quarter Two is upon us, and our voyage continues!
As we’ve been sailing through this quarter, our crew has shown incredible energy and enthusiasm. Early in the week, we had the privilege of celebrating our 1st Quarter T.I.E. Award Winners, who were recognized for upholding our Core Values of Trust, Integrity, and Empathy — the very principles that keep our ship steady and our culture strong. Then, on Friday, our Halloween Costume Dress-Up Day brought even more joy and spirit, as our staff and students got into the fun of the season. Those moments of celebration remind us what makes our community so special: creativity, connection, and pride in being a Tiger.
But even the smoothest voyages can hit rough waters. This past week, we also faced some challenges around how a few students handled conflict and disagreements. While these moments can test our resolve, they also remind us of the importance of our Core Values — Trust, Integrity, and Empathy. Physical altercations and negative choices have no place in our school community. Every decision we make affects the safety and well-being of those around us, and it’s critical that we continue steering toward respect, responsibility, and unity.
Parents and guardians, please continue reinforcing these lessons at home — talk with your students about handling conflict with empathy and self-control. Our building is full of trusted adults — teachers, counselors, support staff, and administrators — who are always ready to listen and help students navigate difficult moments.
Let’s use this week to reset our compass and refocus on what truly matters: learning, leadership, and positive energy. When our students, families, and staff row in the same direction, we move faster, farther, and stronger together.
The horizon ahead is bright, Tiger Nation. Let’s stay on course, stay united, and keep striving so every Tiger can Reach Your Full Potential (RYFP).Sail on! 💨
As Always,
Tigers T.I.E.
(Trust, Integrity, & Empathy)
Mr. Parker
Important Dates (Happy Halloween!)
November 4th: No School Students / Staff PD
November 6th: Career Center Field Trip for 10th Grade Students - Eastland C.C.
November 13th: Career Center Field Trip for 10th Grade Students - Fairfield C.C. / Satellite
November 18th: Picture Re-take Day / Cap and Gown Photos for Seniors that missed initial date
November 24th-28th: No School. Thanksgiving Break
World Language: Kicking it with World (Cup) Language
Industrial Tech: The Fantastic Four
Counselors/Secretaries Dept: 101 Dalmatians
Math Dept: The Six/Sevennnnnn’s
ELA Department: The Addams Family
Special Education: Arpan’s Stellar Galaxy
Science Department: Jurassic Pick Central Park
EL Department: The Campfire S’mores
RTI Department: Throw the flag on the Play!
Halloween Costume
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Even our SRO, Ofc. Collier, joined the fun!!
Keep up to date:
The Senior Corner of the newsletter contains all of the important information for our students in the Class of 2026. Be sure to check it out every week to make sure you don't miss the fun.
PHSC Administrators and Important Message from School Counselors
Administrators: Roshawn Parker, Principal
HB410 / Attendance - Carly Wells, Lead Assistant Principal
A-Gi - Michael Yinger, Assistant Principal
Gl-Or - Lazaro Fuentes, Assistant Principal
Os-Z - Joseph Cooper, Assistant Principal
PHSC School Counselor Weekly Update: 10/20/2025
How to see your School Counselor:
Please use your counselor's link below to request a meeting
Junior Meetings
PHSC School Counselors are scheduled to meet with Juniors the week of October 27.
Sophomore Meetings
PHSC School Counselors were going to meet with all Sophomores this week; however, we needed to reschedule this meeting for a future date.
Senior Meetings
The counselors met with seniors to discuss important Senior year activities, including but not limited to:
-The college application process
-Searching for scholarships and grants
-Post-high school planning options
-How to use SchooLinks effectively
-And much more
If your Senior missed this meeting, you can view the presentation below:
PHSC Senior Meeting Presentation
Important Information about deadlines: It is important to be aware of your application deadlines. PHSC requires no less than 10 school days to fulfill all transcript, scholarship, and letters of recommendation requests for college materials.
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is open!!!.
Prior to October 1, students/parents can set up their FAFSA ID. The FSA ID is required for completing the FAFSA. Students/Parents, make sure to meet the FAFSA deadlines. The deadlines are different for each college/university.
Ex. (Students are strongly encouraged to verify information on college websites, as the dates listed below are subject to change)
Bowling Green State University's FAFSA deadline is February 15, 2026.
The University of Cincinnati FAFSA deadline is February 1, 2026.
FAFSA Application Quick Guide provided by SchooLinks.
College Credit Plus
PHSC CCP Liaison-Jennifer Dashner (jennifer_dashner@pld.us). Please reach out with any questions.
MTC: The last day to drop with a W is December 1, 2025. This is for full-term classes this semester.
Marion Technical College Spring 2026 Offerings. Please email Cal Morris morrisc@mtc.com to add courses and CC: Mrs. Dashner. The last day to register is December 12, 2025 for online sections for MTC Spring Semester..
CSCC: The last day to drop with a W is November 6, 2025. This is for full-term classes this semester.
Columbus State Community College Spring 2026 Course Offerings. Please complete the CCP Registration form and email it to Mrs. Dashner for the spring semester. The last day to register is December 19, 2025 by 2:30PM for CSCC Spring Semester.
If you are taking courses through another college partner, please review their registration procedures on their respective websites.
College Representative Visits:
Attention Juniors and Seniors!
Meet college admissions representatives at PHSC and learn about different college options.
To register: Login to SchooLinks->Go to Events->Register for a college visit.
October Rep Visits
Cleveland State University
Grace College
Malone University
Ohio Christian University
Otterbein University
University of Akron
November Visits
Shawnee State University
Tiffin University
University of Rio Grande
Xavier University
Check in SchooLinks regularly to see the updated list of college representative visits!
SchooLinks Parent Accounts:
Dear Guardians,
PLSD uses SchooLinks, a college and career readiness platform. All of the SchooLinks features are designed with students in mind to help them become career, college, and life-ready. As a guardian, you will have the opportunity to join your student in their career and college exploration process and have conversations with them about their future. You will have access to SchooLinks through your own account.
SchooLinks allows you to:
View the results of your student’s career interest, strength, and mindset assessments to learn more about their interests and what careers might be right for them
See what colleges and careers your student has favorited and set as goals
Check your personalized dashboard for upcoming events, as well as important reminders and to-dos for your student
Complete your own research on colleges, careers, and more to help you have informed conversations with your student
Compare college costs and explore expected financial aid, scholarships, and out-of-pocket expenses
SchooLinks is a tool that gives you access to the bigger picture of your students’ future. Please review the information below to log in to your SchooLinks account.
Students in AP Classes - this DOES NOT apply to Pre-AP courses
Here is your new AP Website: PHSC AP Google Site
Instead of a weekly AP newsletter, Ms. Hoffman will make updates to the AP Google Site and send it out to families. Biggest update for now is to make sure to join your AP Classroom for each AP course you are in and indicate whether you would like to order your exam by November 1st, 2025 to avoid late fees..
Fairfield County Workforce Development Center
Career Navigator Update 10/10/25
Career Center Students:
Mr. Peirano and Ms. Hoffman are the counselors who work with Eastland and Fairfield Career Centers, respectively. We will make in-person visits to each career center on a regular basis to keep you connected with Central events and happenings. We will also send weekly homeschool updates via your EFCTS email and Remind101 texts. Please use the information below to join our Remind texts as a parent or student:
Eastland: Text @phscecc to 81010
Fairfield: Text @phscfcc to 81010
Satellite: Text @phscsat to 81010
Please join the School Counselor’s Google Classrooms:
The Counseling office will be keeping you informed of important information regarding your future plans and events, and deadlines that the School Counselors work with. If you have not already done so, please join our Google Classroom to stay informed:
Class of 2026 rugnepm
Class of 2027 6plgntd
Class of 2028 437pgrk
Class of 2029 75rgh2hy
See Important Message from our PTSO
Please join our PTSO!! See attached information on how to join.
Join Parents on Positivity Patrol (PoPP) and Make a Difference!
Unlock the power of positivity and become a source of inspiration for Pickerington Schools by joining the Parents on Positivity Patrol (PoPP)!
Are you passionate about creating a supportive and uplifting educational environment? Do you believe in the power of positive relationships to shape student success? As a PoPP volunteer, you’ll play a vital role in guiding our junior high and high school students toward better decisions while fostering a culture of encouragement and growth.
Your presence and support will help students build confidence, make positive choices, and navigate life’s challenges. By working together, we can spread positivity throughout Pickerington Schools, strengthening our community with kindness, resilience, and connection.
NCAA Initial Eligibility Information
Student-athletes continuing their athletic career at the collegiate level need to ensure they are taking the correct high school courses and meeting NCAA initial eligibility requirements. Please do not wait to ensure you are meeting the requirements.
NCAA Guide for College-Bound Student-Athletes 2025-2026
Find PHSC’s (or other high schools attended) Approved High School Courses
NCAA Initial Eligibility for College-Bound Student-Athletes Presentation
If you have questions, please contact
PHSC Contact: Jennifer Dashner (jennifer_dashner@plsd.us)
OMEA State Marching Band Finals
A huge shout-out to our phenomenal Pickerington Central Tiger Band for earning a Superior (1) Rating! 🏆🎶
Your talent, dedication, and teamwork were on full display with an incredible performance that wowed the crowd and filled Tiger Nation with pride. From start to finish, you showed what excellence sounds like!
Bravo to every band member and our amazing directors for your leadership, passion, and commitment to greatness.
Keep marching. Keep performing. Keep inspiring.
Tiger Nation is cheering you on! 💜🥁🎺
Performance can be seen below:
#TigerUp #TigersTIE #TrustIntegrityEmpathy
Girls Volleyball Tigers Compete in the District Finals
A huge shout-out to our amazing Pickerington Central Girls Volleyball Team for an incredible season and a hard-fought battle in the District Finals! 🏐💜
Though the match ended in a 3–1 loss, our Tigers showed unbelievable heart, grit, and determination from the first serve to the final point. Every set was a display of teamwork, hustle, and pride — the kind of effort that defines what it means to be a Tiger.
Your dedication, energy, and never-quit spirit have inspired our school and community all season long. We couldn’t be prouder of how you represented Pickerington Central — with passion, poise, and integrity every time you stepped on the court.
Hold your heads high, Tigers — this season was something special.
Tiger Nation is proud of you! 🐯
#TigerUp #TigersTIE #TrustIntegrityEmpathy
First Quarter T.I.E. Award Winners!!!
A huge shout-out to our 1st Quarter T.I.E. Award Winners! 🌟💜
These outstanding students were nominated by staff for consistently demonstrating our Central Core Values of Trust, Integrity, and Empathy throughout the first quarter. Their actions, attitudes, and leadership set the standard for what it means to be a Tiger — showing kindness, honesty, and respect in all they do.
Your example inspires others and strengthens the positive culture that makes Pickerington Central such a special place to learn and grow.
Congratulations, T.I.E. Award Winners!
Keep leading with heart, character, and purpose — and continue to make Tiger Nation proud! 🐯👏
#TigerUp #TigersTIE #TrustIntegrityEmpathy (more pics below)
First Quarter T.I.E. Award Winners (by lunch period)
First Quarter T.I.E. Award Winners (by lunch period)
First Quarter T.I.E. Award Winners (by lunch period)
Stay in the Game Attendance Initiative!
We are proud to partner with The Stay in the Game! Attendance Network, in collaboration with the Columbus Crew, to launch a new initiative to improve student attendance: "Stay in the Game! Keep Learning Every Day!"
September is Attendance Awareness Month, and we understand the importance of daily attendance for our students' academic and social-emotional growth. Missing a day of school here and there may not seem like much, but absences add up quickly:
● Missing just two days a month adds up to 20 days a year.
● That's 30 hours of math and 60 hours of reading and writing missed over the school year.
● These absences can add up to more than one full year of missed school by graduation!
During September, schools will host activities to encourage attendance:
Initiative Updates for the 2025-26 School Year (Cellphones / PCDs)
As your Principal, like many of you, I have been following the news and updates over the past several months regarding personal communication devices and their effect on student engagement and overall well-being. As you may know, Senate Bill 158 (SB 158) is currently being considered in Ohio, which proposes a near-complete ban on cell phone use in schools. However, House Bill 250 (HB 250) is the current law, under which we have operated this past year.
(Click the image to see the classroom phone caddies)
Our plan for cell phones last year was for students to power them down and put them away. When students were able to consistently adhere to this plan, our educators observed a profound increase in positive student engagement, academic performance, and improved behavior at school. Unfortunately, maintaining this consistency proved challenging. As long as the devices were on their person, students were tempted to interact with their phones. The incessant notifications students receive were too powerful of a pull to ignore. Shortly into the school year, this led to teachers constantly addressing the issue with students, administration confiscating phones, and, most detrimentally, students missing out on valuable instructional time and becoming agitated due to the overwhelming urge to interact with their devices. Our teachers who sustained student engagement and growth successfully moved to the approach of having students turn in their phones at the start of class, engaging in the lesson throughout class, and collecting their phone at the end of class.
After a year of trial and error, we have decided to move to a practice of students powering down and placing their personal communication devices (cell phones) in classroom-provided phone caddies during each class period. This includes classrooms, restrooms, and study halls. If your student brings their phone to school, procedurally, they will put their phone in the teacher's phone caddy upon entering the room. This shift will be an adjustment for our students as they are used to keeping their device on them in the classroom.
During transition times and during lunch, students will have the opportunity to earn the use of their phones; however, the classroom space will be a "no-phone-zone". The purpose of this approach is to enhance the academic and social experience for ALL of our students and staff. School districts and high schools that have moved to this approach have reported higher student engagement, improved academic performance, and an improved learning environment with fewer behavioral incidents.
Upon entering class, if students are found with their phone out and do not place their phone in the caddy, it will be confiscated immediately by an administrator (unless there are documented medical reasons on file with the school nurse or administration). Upon entering the classroom and throughout the class period, if student's phones are not out and not visible, they are in compliance. This practice will take effect at the start of the school year. On the first occasion students will be able to retrieve their phone at the end of the day. On the second offense a parent will need to pick up the phone. If there is a 3rd offense a meeting will be held with the family to discuss how we will move forward.
We know and understand that this will require a strong partnership with our families. We ask for your support in discussing this adjustment with your students before the school year begins, helping them understand the reasons behind this change and supporting the school in its implementation.
Thank you in advance for your support with this important initiative!
As Always,
TigersT.I.E.
(Trust, Integrity, & Empathy)
Initiative Updates for the 2025-26 School Year: Electronic Hall Pass Procedure
Maximizing Learning Time Together!
As your Principal, I am writing to clarify a crucial change regarding personal communication devices (cell phones) for the upcoming school year, driven by our experience with student engagement and well-being. Last year's trial demonstrated that while our students thrive when phones are put away, having the devices physically present led to overwhelming distraction, consistent compliance issues, and detrimental loss of instructional time. Therefore, to enhance the academic and social experience for all students, we are implementing a new protocol: students are required to power down their phones and place them in classroom-provided phone caddies upon entering all classrooms, restrooms, and study halls—creating a clear "no-phone-zone."
Students may earn the privilege of using their phones during transition times and lunch. If a student is found with a phone out and not in the caddy, it will be immediately confiscated by an administrator (unless medical documentation is on file), leading to escalating consequences. We know this requires a strong partnership, and we ask for your support in discussing this adjustment with your student to ensure a successful, focused school year.
Introducing Our New Electronic Hall Pass System
To help us manage and monitor hallway activity during learning periods, we're transitioning to an Electronic Hall Pass system. This new system will let us track who's in the hallway and how often. While most students use passes responsibly, this will help us identify and address any patterns of overuse, ensuring our hallways remain clear for safety and focus.
Parents, you'll be able to see when your student is out on a pass directly through your Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Please make sure your portal access is up-to-date so you can easily track this with us!
Our main goal is to significantly limit non-essential time out of the classroom and truly protect this valuable instructional time. Of course, we'll always accommodate students with documented medical needs requiring more frequent access. Our overall approach will be to encourage students to "stay in class" as much as possible, focusing on their learning.
We truly believe that by reducing disruptions and keeping students focused in the classroom (especially with our new cell phone procedure!), we'll see increased engagement, better communication, and ultimately boosted student achievement for everyone.
Thank you so much for your partnership and support in this important effort!
As Always,
TigersT.I.E.
(Trust, Integrity, & Empathy)
