Tiger Update

Tiger Nation! 🐅

Quarter 4: Week 9 ⚓

UN-BE-LIEVABLE! We have made it to the last week of school. This is such a surreal feeling as we cruise into the docking station. Graduation is no longer on the horizon. It is officially here!

I am so excited to release the Class of 2026 into the world to do great things. It has been an incredible journey watching this class grow, lead, and leave their mark on PHSC. As they prepare to set sail into their next chapter, we know they are ready to make a positive impact wherever life takes them by leading with Trust, Integrity, and Empathy, the core values that have guided our work and culture at PHSC over the last four years.

This past week was full of fun, celebration, and school pride. We held our final Band and Choir concerts of the year, recognizing our senior members for their hard work, dedication, and leadership during their time at PHSC. These students have left a lasting impression and a legacy of inspiration for the classes coming after them, exactly what we hope every graduating class will do.

Our track athletes were also competing in OCC Championships this past week, and we are excited about the possibility of several Tigers advancing all the way to the State Meet. Their commitment, perseverance, and competitive spirit continue to make PHSC proud as they race toward the finish line of another outstanding season.

I also want to shine a huge spotlight on Prom and After-Prom last weekend (see pics below)! I cannot tell you how breathtaking it was seeing our students dressed to impress on Saturday night. They came ready to celebrate, dance, and make memories with their friends and dates. From 7:30–11:00 p.m., students danced the night away before heading to Rule 3 for an incredible After-Prom experience filled with safe and fun activities. From video games and bowling to sand volleyball and more, there was something for everyone, and it was great seeing students enjoy every moment together.

Parents and families, we invite you to help us “Clap Out” our seniors by lining Opportunity Way starting at the Baseball Fields and stretching back toward the Hill Road Parking Lot. Our band will lead the way as our seniors make their final walk through The Jungle Stadium in front of our student body and Central Junior High. They will then exit through the south gate and continue on to the Hill Road Parking Lot, where they will load into their vehicles and exit campus. We encourage you to join us for this most momentous occasion as we celebrate and clap out our seniors one final time.

As we prepare for graduation and the final days of the school year, we remain Full Steam Ahead at PHSC. There is so much to celebrate, and we look forward to finishing this journey strong as we continue living out RYFP - Reach Your Full Potential.

Sail on, Tiger Nation! 💨

As Always,

Tigers T.I.E.
(Trust, Integrity, & Empathy)

Mr. Parker

May 18th: Senior Chromebook Collection - 8:00 - 10:30 a.m. - Seniors will be called down by last name. If they are unable to turn in their chromebook on this day, they must travel to Diley Middle School and turn their chromebook in.

May 18th: MANDATORY Senior Graduation Rehearsal - 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. @ PHSC Field-house

May 18th: Senior Sunset - Time 8:30 p.m. start time - PHSC "The Jungle" Stadium (Students be sure to bring blankets and folding chairs) - No animals.

May 19th: Distinguished Scholars Ceremony - 6:00 p.m. (PHSC PAC) *Invitation Only* (Students please arrive by 5:15 p.m.)

May 21st: Seniors Last Day of School - Senior Breakfast - 7:55 a.m. (Field-house), Senior Award Ceremony - 8:45 a.m. (PAC), Senior Walk Out Parade - 10:00 a.m. (Parents/Families line Opportunity Way Starting at Baseball Fields to Hill Rd. Parking Lot!!) - Listen for the Drum-line!

May 22nd: Last Day of School - 2 Hour Early Release - 12:55 p.m.

May 23rd: GRADUATION CEREMONY!!! - 2:00 p.m. (Schottenstein Center) - Please see venue information in the Senior Corner below. (Students need to arrive no later than 12:30 p.m.)

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.

Updated Information:

Complete Mandatory Yearend Checklist - Click the link

Graduation Venue Information: Schottenstein Center: Please look for information via Talking Points and Tiger Update on May 1st, 2026. - See info below: Family Guide to Graduation at the Schottenstein Center

Graduation Attire Expectations: Students will be expected to dress business casual under their robe. Cap decorations and personally designed stolls are not permitted. Please adhere to board policy Policy 5460.04 on regalia below:

Approved Regalia

In keeping with the tradition of recognizing academic excellence at graduation, the approved lists of regalia (cords, medals, stoles, and administrator approved pins) are the only items that will be permitted to adorn the graduation gown. Any additional items worn by students will result in the student being asked to remove those items prior to the ceremony in order to participate.

The following is the approved list of cords, medals, and stoles:

• Decom Decori - purple (North)/white (Central) cord, red cord & medal
• Optima Supra - red cord & medal
• Distinguished Scholar - medal only
• National Honors Society (NHS) - Gold Cord
• National Art Honors Society - Rainbow Cord
• National Spanish Honor Society - Red/Yellow Cord
• National Technical Honors Society - Purple/White Cord
• Student Council - Stole
• Class Officer - Stole

Pins for school programs, organizations, and Work-Based Learning are permitted. (All pins must be approved by school administration prior to graduation.)

Note:

5. In order to preserve the integrity of the graduation ceremonies, students must dress appropriately as defined by high school administration

6. Seniors are expected to behave in a manner befitting the dignity and importance of this event. Those not wishing to conform to behavioral expectations may desire to receive their diploma in an alternative setting.

7. Students whose decorum is disruptive or brings undue attention to themselves will not be permitted to walk at the graduation ceremony. Students who misbehave during the graduation ceremony will have their diploma held and will be required to complete community service hours, as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent's office, in order to receive their diploma.

Class of 2026 Senior Timeline:

* Please note that this document is FLUID. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Please check frequently and see Mrs. Melton with any questions.

Senior Chromebook Buyback (Charge)

If your balance due increased by $50.00, this is for the recent assignment of the Chromebook Buyout for seniors. This is an optional fee. If you are planning to return the device on May 18th (Chromebook turn-in day), please disregard this notice. If you intend to purchase the device, it must be paid by May 17th.

Senior Chromebook Collection - May 18th - 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Senior Fee Guidelines:

In accordance with Board Policy 5460.04, all outstanding fees and/or debts must be paid in order for a student to participate in graduation ceremonies, and to receive their diploma and transcript. Seniors with unpaid school debts, incomplete schoolwork, disciplinary requirements, or other outstanding obligations are not permitted to participate in graduation.

To ensure your student is eligible to participate, all fees must be paid no later than two weeks before graduation (by May 9th)

It's time to order your cap and gown and Senior Accessories!

Course Fee - Please Read

April 24th: Last day to pay fees by check (can pay via cash or credit card)

As the semester comes to a close, we want to make sure all students have what they need to finish strong! Please take a moment to check your student’s course fees in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. These fees help provide the curriculum and classroom materials your student uses every day.

You can easily view and pay fees by logging into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Thank you for helping us ensure every student has the tools they need to succeed!

Outstanding Fee

The Ambush semi-annual magazine is for sale! Presales happening now. Students can pay via Hometown Ticketing or cash to Mrs. Starkey. Copies will be available later this week to purchase in the Hall of Fame Lounge.

Hello PHSC Families,

The yearbook is almost here! For those who ordered the yearbook already, they will be distributed on the 18th of May during lunch periods. (Off-campus students can also receive their yearbooks via the attendance office.)

For those who haven’t ordered a yearbook yet, don’t worry, you can still order your yearbook until the very last day of school. However, we only have 75 yearbooks left, so act fast. You can also use code FOMO when ordering your yearbook for a $5 discount.

Order your yearbook here: www.yearbookforever.com

Email Michelle_Jago@plsd.us for questions

Step into a colorful, beautiful celebration of cultures from around the world at the PHSC Multicultural Show! Experience an unforgettable night filled with dancing, singing, acting, fashion, and performances that bring different traditions and stories to life all on one stage. This year’s show also features a special student-created segment called Miss Multicultural, a fun pageant style play made entirely by students. This show highlights the culture, pride, and creativity of students at PHSC. Come support the hard work and talent of PHSC students and celebrate the diversity that makes our community so special!

Thank you PHSC for all your pop tab donations this year. The money raised from these will make a huge difference to those families at the Columbus Ronald McDonald House downtown. If you'd still like to donate, please drop your tabs off to room 103 by Friday, May 22nd.

Keep collecting this summer as the campaign will renew next school year. Have a great summer!

Mr. Planisek.

Per the Ohio Department of Health, all students entering grade 12 must show documentation of

having received two doses of Meningococcal (MCV4) vaccine before being allowed to attend school

in the fall.

Please see the attached information.

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: 4/27/2026

How to see your School Counselor:

Please use your counselor's link below to request a meeting

Mrs. Dashner (A-Co)

Ms. Perez (Cr-Ho)

Miss Hoffman (Hu-Moon)

Mr. Peirano (Moore-Sh)

Mrs Mattox (Si-Z)

Seniors

Families and Graduating Seniors,

The graduation countdown is officially on! We are so excited to celebrate your achievements, but we need your help to ensure everything goes smoothly.

To ensure you are fully prepared for the ceremony—and that your final transcripts reach your college or career destinations on time—we need you to prioritize the following mandatory tasks immediately.

These items are essential for accurate name pronunciation, student recognition, and the timely processing of your records. Please be aware that these deadlines are firm; missing them may unfortunately affect your event participation or delay your post-graduation transition.

Please complete these items right away:

Senior Year-End Activity Survey

Name Pronunciation Form

Military Signing Day Registration

And all other remaining tasks

Review all deadlines and complete your requirements here: [Mandatory Senior Year-End Activities]

We want nothing to stand in the way of your big day. Thank you for your immediate attention to these final details!

College Applications and Transcript Requests

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.

Students in AP Classes - this DOES NOT apply to Pre-AP courses

NEW: AP Exam Locations

Please note that the first room listed is for standard timing testers and the second room listed is for those students who test with accommodations.

In order to be considered for free/reduced testing fees, please complete the Educational Benefit Form as soon as possible. Per our finance office: "the form must be filed with the district in order for families to overtly share household income, household size, and state benefits with the district to be eligible for a fee waiver... This form must be filed annually, only applies to the year of application, and cannot be used in retro or future years."

To be considered - please complete the form linked above (by clicking on "apply for benefits" on the page) no later than April 1, so it can be processed in time to be applied to the student's IC and College Board accounts.

Please check out our PHSC AP Google Site for any information regarding AP exams and logistics. This site will be updated and sent out rather than an email or document. The ordering deadline is passed . If you wish to cancel an existing order please reach out to Ms. Hoffman (ashlee_hoffman@plsd.us); there will be a $40 cancellation fee.

Fairfield County Workforce Development Center

No updates

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

College Credit Plus

PHSC CCP Liaison-Jennifer Dashner (jennifer_dashner@pld.us). CCP Website (includes the Declaration of Intent)

MTC: CCP Course Offerings- Email Cal Morris (morrisc@mtc.edu) from your MTC email once you have received your admission acceptance, if you are not already enrolled or previously enrolled in an MTC course.

CSCC: CSCC Registration Information:

Summer 2026- Complete the registration form and email it to Mrs. Dashner (jennifer_dashner@plsd.us)

Fall 2026-The new system (Work Day) is now open! Registration for Fall 2026 classes does not open until April 20th. Work Day has a new registration form similar to the old one, which, once completed, you will email to Mrs. Dashner (jennifer_dashner@plsd.us) to complete. Once completed, it will be returned to you to upload to Work Day.

• Just a reminder, scheduling for summer CSCC CCP courses is still the same process as the previous semesters.

All other college partners: Please refer to their CCP websites.

Please join our PTSO!! See attached information on how to join.

Athletic Events 5/18 - 5/24

Athletic Notification

At Pickerington Central, our expectations regarding cell phone use will remain consistent; however, enforcement will now extend beyond the classroom to include the hallways and the lunchroom.

Upon entering the school, if a student is found using or visibly carrying a cell phone, the device will be confiscated immediately by an administrator, unless there is documented medical authorization on file with the school nurse or administration. Once students enter the classroom and throughout the class period, phones must remain out of sight and not visible to remain in compliance.

This practice will take effect at the start of the new year.

Progressive consequences will apply as follows:

• First offense: Student may retrieve the phone at the end of the school day.

• Second offense: A parent/guardian must pick up the phone.

• Third offense: A meeting will be held with the student and family to determine next steps moving forward.

We understand that this change requires a strong partnership with our families. We ask for your support in discussing these expectations with your student prior to the start of the new year, helping them understand the purpose behind this adjustment and reinforcing the importance of compliance.

Thank you in advance for your support with this important initiative as we work together to create an environment focused on learning, responsibility, and student success.

As Always,

Tigers T.I.E.
(Trust ,Integrity, & Empathy)

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:

We believe that regular attendance to school plays an important role in our students' academic success. Whenever possible, we ask that routine appointments and travel are scheduled outside of the school day.

In the event that a student will be absent from school, parents are asked to notify the school by 10:00 AM by calling the 24-hour Attendance Hotline, 614-548-1801. Additionally, please notify the school office in advance, either by phone or in writing, if your student will need to leave school early. Students must obtain a dismissal pass, and be signed out by the office before being permitted to leave the building. Please be prepared to show appropriate ID in order for the student to be released to you.

Also, please review the bell schedule for the starting times of the start of school along with each class period. It is imperative that students arrive on time for school and for their classes. Arriving on time gives students the maximum amount of instructional time in each class and correlates to success in the classroom. Please know that we extended our transition time by 1 minute to allow for a smoother transition. With this additional transition time, we expect all students to arrive at school and to each class on time. Let's make this a priority for our entire school community!!

For detailed information regarding PLSD's Attendance Policy, as well as The State of Ohio's Administrative Code, please refer to Board Policy 5200.

We encourage ALL of our students and staff to know the words to our Fight Song and be ready to sing it at games and special events. We even have a Fight Song challenge that we'll do in conjunction with Homecoming week. The tune is to 'On Wisconsin' so look it up on YouTube and get your vocals ready for this year's contest!!

Fight Song:

Purple White, Purple White

Wrap up that ole score.

We're the team with lots of pep

So let's pep it up some more.

Purple, White; Purple, White

Fight on to your fame.

Fight Tigers, Fight, Fight, Fight

To win this game!!

Pickerington High School Central

300 Opportunity Way

Pickerington, Ohio 43147

614-548-1800

https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/pickerington-central-high/