Toll Gator Gazette

Assistant Principal: Cindy Davis

Assistant Principal: Scott May

Secretary: Tassie Hall

Office Assistant:Jaclyn Davis

Counselor: Darren Drake

Nurse: Tami Tackett

Health Assistant: Nick Root

Dear TGE Families,

It has been cold, wet and windy outside, but we are cookin' with excitement at TGE!

iReady Winter Diagnostic:

As you know, prior to break all classes completed their Reading and Math i-Ready diagnostic assessments. In addition, students will be (if they haven't already) receiving their diagnostic data to share with you at home. The report allows you to see how your student has grown between the first and second diagnostic assessment. Students will be focusing on trying to meet their stretch growth on the report. The stretch growth goal is the most important aspect because it means the student is either closing in gaps or advancing in their learning. The typical growth line represents what your student should grow in a year. If you did not receive this information, and you would like it, please reach out to your child's teacher.

How can you help?

This is a great time to talk with your student and see how i-Ready is going. Make goals together based on your student’s typical and stretch goals. It could provide you and your student a chance to have some fun with the challenge by creating goals and challenges at home. But the most important thing we all can do is encourage our students to keep trying and persevere even when the work is challenging. This is when learning really takes place.

Q3 --> No learning walk but a Science Night is being planned!!

We are currently planning our 1st Annual Science Night 2024! We are so excited, and we hope to be sharing information with families soon!! Stay tuned!

Volunteers at TGE:

We have started seeing more parents AND NHS students volunteering to help out in classrooms! Thanks to all of you who are helping! The kids WIN when this happens. IF you want to come into the building, sign up on the sign up genius (scroll down in the newsletter).

Warm regards,

Erika Lomonico
Principal, TGE

• This newsletter can be translated into different languages. See the dropdown menu at the top of the page to translate.

• You will receive news, updates, and message the principals and teachers via Talking Points. The message is sent out in your language.

Academic Fees assigned in Infinite Campus for the 23-24 school year were due on 11-17-23. We currently have 508 students who have not paid their fees. Please log into your Parent Portal and pay your fees via eCheck, Credit or Debit Card if you have not already done so. You can even come in and pay.

The first grade level to have all fees paid will earn a PJ day!

Thank you for your assistance!!

• Jan 3, 2024 --> Welcome back students!!

• Jan 15, 2024 - Martin Luther King Day --> NO SCHOOL!

• Jan 16, 2024 - 4th Grade Spelling Bee 1:30-2:30 PM

• Jan 16, 2024 - PTSO Meeting 6 PM in TGE Media Center

• Jan 25, 2024 - PTSO Kindergarten BASH - more information to come from PTSO.

We have added 1 1/2 speech pathologists and a part time EL teacher this year so far!

Welcome:

Candi Eccleston (Speech Pathologist)

Kristin Strapp (Speech Pathologist)

Duma Black (EL Teacher)

Also, we have replaced a few para professionals (that are so important to the success we see at TGE) since the beginning of the year:

Welcome:

Judy Laird (K MD para)

Juli Rice (moved from EL para to K MD para)

Ellisha Bellinger (EL para)

Additionally, we have 2 Guidance/Social Work Interns that will be working with Mr. Drake and our students!

Welcome:
Claire Gagliardi (until end of February)

Alyssa Higle

The art room needs 2-3 parents who would like to help out (putting up & taking down student artwork, for example) 1-2 per week.

If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Gartland at stephanie_gartland@plsd.us.

Also, if anyone would like to volunteer in any other areas of the school, please fill out the sign-up genius below. Thanks for considering.

THANK YOU! Our staff is BEYOND appreciative and grateful when they go into their workrooms and find snacks on the table or the fridge being full! YOU are the BEST! PLEASE keep them coming! It is a great pick me up for our staff! We are in need of everything to help stock the fridges at TGE! We have 108 staff members!!

Please help us continue to fill the fridge!

Ideas to donate:

•indiv snack packs

•granola bars/nutrigrain bars

•chocolate

•fruit

•chips/pretzels/etc.

•candy bars

•soda

•vitamin water

•celsius energy drink

•water

•gatorade/powerade

•tea

•coffee

•juice

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Don't forget to order your 2023-2024 Toll Gate Yearbook by 4/1/24! Online ordering is highly recommended (see image for alternate payment method)!

Link to order:

https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01110704

PLSD families, let's continue to ensure our competitions are an enjoyable experience for all attendees.

Please note the athletic expectations for students and adults. An adult must accompany ALL K-8 students to enter the winter competition; once inside the competition, K-8 students MUST be supervised by the accompanying adult.

Any action that could cause mental or physical harm is deemed inappropriate behavior and may be subject to immediate exclusion from the competition. Let's continue to work together to support a safe environment for all attendees.

Thank you.

AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

The link below contains FREE resources that are being made available to our PLSD parents through a grant between the Fairfield County Educational Service Center and the Cook Center for Human Connection. They are provided as a convenience for our parents and families.

ParentGuidance.org

Website: https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/Domain/13
Location: 12183 Tollgate Road, Pickerington, OH, USA
Phone: 614.834.6300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TollGateES
Twitter: @PLSD