October 15th, 2025

Morning Drop-Off Procedures

To ensure the safety of all students during morning drop-off, please follow these guidelines:

• Stay in Your Car: Remain in your vehicle with your child until you have pulled alongside the curb in front of the building.

• Do Not Let Children Exit Early: Please do not allow your child to exit the car before you are at the curb. Children should only exit the vehicle once you have reached the designated curb area.

• Staff Assistance Available: Staff members will be on duty to assist children as they exit cars along the curb.

These procedures are in place to keep children safe and to prevent them from walking in front of or between vehicles.

Parking Guidelines

• Do Not Park and Walk Up: Please do not park and walk your child to the building during regular drop-off hours.

• Late Arrivals (After 9:15 a.m.): If you arrive after 9:15 a.m., you may park and walk your child into the building. Be sure to check them in at the front office.

Handicapped and Assisted Drop-Off

• Handicapped Parking: These spots are reserved for families with proper documentation. Please do not use these spaces unless you are authorized.

• Assisted Student Drop-Off: If your child requires additional assistance, there is a designated “Assisted Student Drop-Off Area” located near the lamppost/flagpole.

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe during morning drop-off!

As a reminder, when picking up your child at the end of the school day, please be sure to follow all designated traffic patterns and adhere to posted speed limits. These measures are in place to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and families—especially those waiting near the curb in front of the building.

Additionally, we kindly ask that you do not block the designated handicapped parking spaces. It is important to keep these areas accessible at all times for those who need them.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support in keeping our school environment safe and respectful for everyone.

October 16th

Stay in the Game with National Sports Day

National Sports Day is a time for students, families, fans, and athletes to come together and celebrate the sports they love. It is more than just honoring athletic events — it is about recognizing the valuable lessons and lifelong benefits that come from healthy competition.

When students engage in sports, they build critical skills like teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. These habits that extend far beyond the playing field. Similarly, coming to school each day requires that same level of commitment and consistency. Just like in sports, showing up for school each day, putting in the effort, and striving for growth are the keys to success.

On October 16th, we encourage everyone to wear a shirt or jersey representing their favorite sports team. Whether they’re a Tiger, Panther, Buckeye, or simply proud supporters of the Pickerington community. Let’s come together to celebrate National Sports Day with pride and unity!

Carnival Recess is our September Hero of the Quarter Reward. Carnival Recess is on Wednesday, October 29th. First and Second grade will have their Carnival Recess from 11:10-12:35. Third and Fourth grade will have their Carnival Recess from 12:15-1:45.

We are asking for volunteers. Please use the Sign Up Genius link below to volunteer.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848A4AE23A2FAC34-59612109-carnival

Event Announcement: EmpowerED Pickerington

Join us for our next EmpowerED Pickerington series, a resource series dedicated to special education support.

Date: October 23, 2025

Time: 5:00 PM

Format: Virtual - please use this link to log on to the session

Focus: Supporting Every Learner, Supporting Every Family

This Month's Topic: Parent/Family Role in Decision-Making: Your role in decision-making as a member of the IEP team is essential to creating an effective plan.

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!

Red Ribbon Spirit Week is October 27th-31st.

CHECK THIS OUT! The yearbook cover contest has been extended to October 21st.

It's possible you've received an email from Artsonia, our online art gallery. In the art room, we use Artsonia to upload pictures of our work, write reflections, and title projects. Families may log in to Artsonia to check their child's work, or scan the QR code.

Artsonia also contains a gift shop, where loved ones can purchase items with artwork printed on it. A small portion of those purchases help fund art supplies.

Feel free to reach out to me, Mrs. Mescher-Miller if you have any questions!

Our focus for the month of October is "Responsibility". Here is a list of recommended books about responsibility.

What does it mean to be responsible?

In the classroom:

• Being prepared: Arriving on time, being attentive in class and bringing necessary supplies.

• Doing your work: Completing assignments and striving to do your best work.

• Caring for property: Taking good care of school property and your personal belongings.

• Contributing to a positive environment: Showing respect for others, and asking questions when you need help.

At home and in the community:

• Completing chores: Doing tasks like cleaning up messes, emptying the trash, or feeding a pet.

• Being dependable: Being trustworthy and doing what you say you will do.

• Making good choices: Thinking about your actions and their potential outcomes, both positive and negative.

• Taking ownership: Acknowledging your mistakes and accepting the consequences, whether good or bad.

Why is responsibility important?

• It builds self-discipline and confidence.

• It equips children with important life skills for future success.

• It fosters a sense of accountability for one's actions and choices.

• It helps children become responsible citizens who care for others and their communities.

SCE Storybook Pumpkin Patch is Coming!!!

Sycamore Creek Elementary Media Center is growing a Storybook Pumpkin Patch and we need your help! Decorate a pumpkin to look like one of your favorite book characters.

Pumpkins can be dropped off to school on Tuesday, Oct 21st!

Save the Date! On Friday, October 31st, we will be having our Book-a-Ween parade of costumes. The parade will start at 9:50 AM. Dress as your favorite book or book character! If you would like to attend, you can stand along the front sidewalk as classes will be walking from the playground doors and back into the building by the cafeteria!

The celebration will take place on November 11th. Please see the attachment for additional information. We are asking for photos to be uploaded by October 17th.

SYCAMORE CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL pictures taken on 09/24/2025 are ready! Parents/guardians can view and order their student’s photos online.

School Pictures are Ready!

View and order at https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

• SYCAMORE CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• Event Code: FE185625
• Images are secured using the email address(es) provided to us by the school.

Picture Retakes are on Wednesday, October 22nd.

If you would like your child to have picture retakes, please let your child's teacher know prior to October 22nd.

Our Candy Monsters are Hungry — and Being Fed Well! Candy donations are rolling in fast, and the competition is heating up! Right now, Kindergarten is holding strong in 1st place, 1st & 2nd Grade are tied for 2nd, 4th Grade is close behind in 3rd, and 3rd Grade is in last place — but there’s still time to catch up! Keep those candy donations coming — we’ve got a full week left to feed our monsters and see who takes the win!

Trunk or Treat is Coming Soon! We’re looking for volunteers to decorate their trunks and join in on the fun! Don’t worry about the candy — we’ll provide it.

Click the link below to sign up, and get ready for a spooktacular day! We can’t wait to see you there!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEAA2FA0FDC34-59479500-scetrunk#/

Religious Expression Days

As a reminder, parents should be aware that Ohio Law and Board Policy 5200-Atttendance allows students to miss up to 3 days each year for the purpose of religious observance or expression.

Parents must notify their students school about the specific dates their child(ren) will be absent for religious leave. Notification must be submitted at least one day prior to the absence.

For additional information about Religious Expression Days, please visit the district website and view information in the Student Handbooks.

OST Testing for Third Grade

Holidays can be a stressful time for families. Some of our local families have teamed up and would like to help those in need by providing a Thanksgiving Meal to enjoy on Thanksgiving Day. If you are interested in this service please RSVP by 11/10/25. Please complete the google form and your child's School Counselor, Courtney Rizek will be in touch with the pick up date.

Pickerington Schools are once again teaming up with the Violet Township Fire Department to help provide some holiday assistance for families in need during this holiday season. Request an online form for holiday assistance by contacting me at Courtney_Rizek@plsd.us or at 614- 834-6200.The request link will then be provided to you, only one per household, please. This form is handled in a confidential manner with more details from your school counselor. Please remember that we will only be able to supplement your holiday. The online form must be completed by Tuesday, November 25th.

Hello Third Grade Families,

Statewide, all third graders will take the Fall OST (Ohio State Test) for reading. Here at Sycamore Creek Elementary, our third graders will be assessed on October 22 and October 23, 2025.

Here is a link to ODEW ( Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Development’s) Website. The link provides access to released materials that students and families can use to become more familiar with the test.

https://oh-ost.portal.cambiumast.com/families.html

Feel free to reach out your child’s teacher or to Mrs. Horsford, instructional coach.

Hello Families,

We have completed our Fall conferences and the 1st quarter will end this week. Achievement records will be available in Infinite Campus. Here are some reading resources that you might find helpful for the rest of the 2025 - 2026 school year.

PLSD Family Activities to Try at Home

No additional updates for this week.

Just a reminder that the weather is changing so please ensure that your child has the appropriate clothing, coat, hat, and gloves. The students only remain indoors for recess when the "feels like temperature" (includes wind chill) falls below 25 degrees.

• 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.

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:

sceattendance@plsd.us

October 16th

*Third Grade Field Trip

*No School for Kindergarteners ONLY due to Parent-Teacher Conferences

*Wear a shirt or jersey to represent your favorite sports team

October 17th

No School (Teacher Records Day)

October 20th

*Full day Parent-Teacher Conferences (No school for students)

October 22nd

Picture Retakes

October 24th

*Second Grade Field Trip

*4th Grade Health Day

October 27th-October 31st

*Red Ribbon Spirt Week