Tiger Update

Greetings Tiger Nation,

Week 8

This week, we get to celebrate Homecoming Week! 🏈

And Monday, we kick things off with our Homecoming Pep Rally! There is nothing quite like the energy, pride, and school spirit that comes with Homecoming Week. It’s a great reminder that we are more than a school—we are a team, and we are kicking off the week celebrating this together!

We also have another incredible accomplishment to celebrate. Three of our Tigers have been named National Merit Commended Scholars! ⭐

Being named a Commended Scholar is a tremendous honor. It recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional academic promise, achievement, and commitment to excellence on the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Out of the hundreds of thousands of students who enter the National Merit Scholarship Program each year, only a select group are recognized as Commended Scholars.

So, to our three Commended Scholars: CONGRATULATIONS! This is a BIG deal! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence have earned you a distinction that you should be incredibly proud of. You are representing yourself, your family, and Tiger Nation at a very high level. We celebrate you! 🐯⭐

But just like every great team, we have to know when it’s time to turn the celebration into competition mode.

The end of the first quarter is October 9th—just two weeks away. That means now is the time to LOCK IN.

Think about it like a team entering the fourth quarter of a close game. You don’t look at the scoreboard and decide the game is over. You lock in. You communicate. You trust your teammates. You execute the game plan. And you give everything you have to finish strong.

For our students, that means knowing where you stand, asking for help when you need it, working with your teachers, and using the support systems around you. Take a look at your grades and ask yourself:

Do my grades reflect my best self?

If the answer is no, there is still time to make a difference.

Our teachers, counselors, support staff, and administrators are here to help, support, and lift you up. But just like a team, everyone has a role to play. You have to step onto the field and compete.

As we head into the final two weeks of the quarter, let's enjoy Homecoming, celebrate our school, celebrate our Tigers, and then lock in on the end of the quarter.

Finish strong. Trust your team. Reach Your Full Potential (RYFP).

MACTE VIRTUTE — Increase in Excellence.

TIGER UP!!! 🐯

As Always,

Tigers T.I.E.

(Trust, Integrity, & Empathy)

#TigerUp

Mr. Parker

Tiger Nation, we have three outstanding academic accomplishments to celebrate!

Congratulations to Avani Kondru, Nolan Lemaster, and Hadley Seaver on being named National Merit Commended Scholars!

Being recognized as a Commended Scholar is a tremendous honor and a significant academic achievement. This distinction recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional academic promise and outstanding performance on the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Avani, Nolan, and Hadley have distinguished themselves through their hard work, dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence. This recognition represents more than one test—it is a reflection of the effort and determination they have demonstrated throughout their academic journeys.

We are incredibly proud of these three Tigers for representing Pickerington High School Central at such a high level. Their achievement is something they, their families, their teachers, and our entire Tiger Nation community can celebrate!

Congratulations, Avani Kondru, Nolan Lemaster, and Hadley Seaver!

You have given Tiger Nation another reason to celebrate excellence, recognize excellence, and continue to pursue excellence.

In addition, the Marching Tigers earned a Superior rating and qualified for the OMEA State Marching Band Finals, a tremendous achievement that reflects the talent, dedication, discipline, and teamwork of our student musicians and the commitment of their directors, staff, families, and supporters. What an incredible time to be a part of Tiger Nation! 🐯

Tournament of Roses - FAQ

2028 Pickerington Rose Parade Website

https://sites.google.com/plsd.us/pickeringtonroseparade2028?usp=sharing

September 28: Homecoming Pep Rally - (Students will be on A.M. Stadium Pep Rally Bell Schedule)

October 2: Homecoming Football Game - 7:00 p.m.

October 3: Homecoming Dance - 7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. (Spirit Week Information is below) (Doors close at 8:30 p.m.)

October 7: Class of 2027 Cap and Gown Pictures - All Day (main Gym) - This will take place during English classes. If you do not have an English class, please come during your Senior Pass time or during your lunch period.

October 9: Records Day - No School - End of 1st Quarter

October 12: No School

Tiger Nation, the story is set…
Homecoming 2026 is coming—have you got your ticket yet?! 👑

Step into a magical night where fairy tales come alive,
with music, dancing, and Tiger pride from 7:00–10:00 PM—come ready to thrive!

📖 The Theme: ONCE UPON A TIME! 📖
📅 October 3, 2026
⏰ 7:00–10:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets: $25

But here’s the part you need to know:
Once you leave, you can’t return to the show!
And don’t be late and miss the scene—
NO ENTRY AFTER 8:30 PM!

So grab your ticket, dress to impress, and make this a night worth telling—
Because once upon a time is about to become a story worth remembering! 🏰✨

Get your ticket and be part of the tale!
ONCE UPON A TIME… TIGER NATION, LET’S MAKE HOMEcoming MAGICAL! 🐯

Wear your Stay in the Game Jersey to celebrate the importance of showing up to school! Wednesday's Spirit Theme is Mathletes vs. Athletes. If you're coming as an Athlete wear a Jersey!

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.

Chromebook repairs can be costly. For $40, the Technology Protection Plan provides up to $400 in coverage for eligible repairs throughout the school year.

• Pay by September 30

  to participate.

• The fee is already available in eligible students' Infinite Campus accounts.

• Students whose families do not purchase the plan will be responsible for repair costs.

For more information, review your student's handbook or contact the Technology Department'sDevice Fee Specialist Natalie Ruble at 614-834-2109. Please remind students to handle their Chromebook with care. *Intentional damage is not covered.

Please email Mr. Sharples if you have any questions: Scott_Sharples@plsd.us

What is one thing we could do to make Pickerington High School Central an even better place for students?

We want to hear from YOU!

This form gives our students an opportunity to share positive, helpful, and achievable ideas that could improve our school, strengthen our community, and make Central an even better place to learn, grow, and belong.

💡 Have an idea? Share it!
🤝 See an opportunity to make Central better? Tell us!
🐯 Want to help make Tiger Nation stronger? We want to hear from you!

Please remember that this form is not intended for complaints about staff members or other students, or concerns regarding state-mandated policies. Submissions that are inappropriate or do not align with the purpose of the form will not be addressed.

Your voice matters. Your ideas matter. Let's work together to make Central GREAT!

TIGER UP! 🐯

We are excited to offer the students the opportunity to volunteer at the Pickerington Senior Center and connect with members of our community! There are weekly and monthly opportunities. I will be updating the sign-up link monthly.

Location:
Pickerington Senior Center
150 Hereford Dr.
Pickerington, OH 43147

Students will have the opportunity to assist with activities, interact with senior citizens, and build meaningful intergenerational connections while giving back to our community. Please share this link with your students. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you in advance.

Fairfield County Board of Elections is currently recruiting high school students (age 17 and older, in good academic standing) to serve as Student Election Poll Workers for the upcoming election in Fairfield County on November 3rd. Due to state requirements in the election recruiting process, we hope to get into contact with interested students within the next few weeks so I can answer any questions staff or students may have. Our goal is to allow sufficient time for interested students to schedule a training session in late September or October.

This program offers students the opportunity to:

• Earn $155.72 for completing training (2 hours) and working on Election Day (all day)
• Gain valuable service experience for resumes and college applications
• Deepen their understanding of the election and voting process
• Contribute meaningfully to their community by helping ensure all voters can cast their ballots

Please contact Walter Sterling at - 740-652-7104

Please follow the link provided below to take care of this for your student.

Thank you!

Administrators: Roshawn Parker, Principal

• A-C - Carly Wells, Lead Assistant Principal

• D-Ke - Michael Yinger, Assistant Principal

• Kh-Rh - Lazaro Fuentes, Assistant Principal

• Ri-Z - Joseph Cooper, Assistant Principal

PHSC School Counselor Weekly Update: Week of September 21

How to see your School Counselor:

Students may request an appointment to see their school counselor by clicking on their name below for a variety of reasons, including:

•Struggling academically, socially, or emotionally

•Problem-solving

•Career and College Counseling

•Conflict resolution

•Any general concerns

Mrs. Dashner (A-Cooper)

Mrs. Hurd (Cor - Hi)

Miss Hoffman (Ho - Mis)

Mr. Peirano (Mit - Se)

Mrs Mattox (Sh - Z))

Senior Meetings

School Counselors recently met with Seniors to talk about the nuances of post-high school planning. In this meeting, we discussed topics such as: how to use SchooLinks, college applications, Common App, how to request transcripts, Scholarship Search, Military Enlistment, and much more.

Here is the presentation: PHSC Senior Meeting-SchooLinks/College Apps

College Representative Visits at PHSC:

College Rep Visits are back this semester. Juniors and Seniors must register at least one day in advance.

To Register: Students Log in to SchooLinks, Click on Events. Students can select up to 5 visits this semester. There is a limit on space, so sign up early to ensure you are able to attend. The college reps will meet with students in Room 115. It is the student’s responsibility to attend and show up on time. Don’t be late!

September Visits Scheduled-

• Ball State University
• Bowling Green State University
• Capital University
• Ohio Dominican University
• Ohio University (Athens and Lancaster campuses)
• University of Akron
• Wright State University

October Visits Scheduled-

• Butler University
• Case Western University
• Grace College
• Indiana University- Indianapolis
• John Carroll University
• Kent State University
• Oberlin College
• Ohio Christian University
• The Ohio State University
• University of Mount Union
• University of Rio Grande
• Walsh University
• Wittenberg University
• Xavier University
• Youngstown State University

Career Center Students:

Since the beginning of the school year has calmed down. PHSC Counselors have started their regularly scheduled visits to Eastland and Fairfield in the coming weeks. Mr. Peirano and Ms. Hoffman, met with PHSC students at ECC this past Thursday to talk about communication and some senior-related information. The PHSC counselors will update all the EFCTS students about our visits via the Career Center Remind below.

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, events, and deadlines that the School Counselors work with. If you have not already done so, please join our Google Classrooms to stay informed:

Class of 2027 6plgntd

Class of 2028 437pgrk

Class of 2029 75rgh2hy

Class of 2030 rugnepm

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

PHSC AP Exam Site

Please keep an eye out for updates from the AP Coordinator, Ms. Hoffman, coming soon. For now, 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, 2026

Military Visits to Senior Lunches:

Monday, September 28 - U.S. Navy

Thursday, October 1 - U.S. Army National Guard

Tuesday, October 13 - U.S. Army National Guard

Friday, October 23 - U.S. Air Force

Pickerington Schools will take reasonable steps to ensure that persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access and an equal opportunity to participate in all services, activities, and programs available throughout the district. It is the policy of PLSD to ensure meaningful communication with LEP students and families and to communicate information related to the education of all students. All services needed to comply with this policy will be provided for students and their families in need of such assistance free of charge. For assistance, please call 614-835-2083 or email deepak_dhakal@plsd.us.

Nepali Notice of Language Assistance

Spanish Notice of Language Assistance

French Notice of Language Assistance

Greetings Tiger Families,

To improve student safety during morning arrival, in collaboration with our Student Safety and Security Director, we are making a change to our traffic pattern. During student drop-off and parking, we have experienced several close-call situations as students cross from the parking lot while parents are dropping students off. This adjustment is designed to improve traffic flow and provide a safer arrival experience for everyone.

Beginning at the start of the school year, we ask that you follow these traffic patterns:

• Student Drivers: Please enter campus through the Hill Rd. West Entrance to access the student parking lot. After parking, please use the designated crosswalks and cross carefully.
• Parent Drop-Off: Please enter and exit through the Hill Rd. East Entrance.

We will begin the school year using this traffic pattern and will assess its effectiveness as we monitor morning arrival.

Please Note: We ask that everyone respect the parking spaces of our seniors who participated in the Senior Parking Spot Painting tradition. These spaces are reserved for the students who purchased and painted them, and parking regulations will be enforced throughout the school year.

Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and partnership as we work together to keep all of our students safe.

In accordance with Ohio Revised Code 3313.753 and Pickerington Local School District Board Policy, students are expected to keep their cell phones put away during the school day. This expectation is designed to minimize distractions, maximize student engagement, and foster an environment where all students can focus on learning.

First offense: The phone will be confiscated by an administrator and returned to the student at the end of the school day. Parents/guardians will be notified.

Second offense: The phone will be confiscated, and a parent/guardian will be required to pick it up from the school.

Third offense: The phone will be confiscated, and a parent/guardian conference will be required to develop a plan for future compliance.

We recognize that this expectation requires a strong partnership between school and home. We ask for your support by discussing this expectation with your student before the school year begins, helping them understand the purpose behind it, and reinforcing its importance throughout the year.

Thank you in advance for partnering with us to create a learning environment where students are focused, engaged, and fully present each day. Together, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn in a classroom free from unnecessary distractions.

As Always,

TigersT.I.E.

(Trust, Integrity, & Empathy)

Please follow these procedures each time your student will be absent to ensure the absence is properly reported and documented.

Please see The Central Circuit for all Fall Sports Information. If you have any questions please contact:

Katie_Thielman@plsd.us - Athletic Secretary

Lisa_Morelli@plsd.us - Athletic Director

Evan_Doughty@plsd.us - Assistant Athletic Director

Link for athletics weekly events

PHSC Athletics 9/28 - 10/3

Become a PoPPs today!

Please reach out to Greg_Strausz@plsd.us with questions or concerns.

Thank you!

Join the Pickerington Team!! This is truly a great place to work!!

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/