GRRR Gazette
A Pickerington Elementary update for you!
August 18, 2023
Pickerington Elementary
Upcoming important dates:
Principal Email: dave_zwiebel@plsd.us | AP Email: chelsea_brown@plsd.us
Counselor: andrew_sells@plsd.us | Secretary: valerie_jackson@plsd.us
Location: 775 Long Road, Pickerington, OH, USA | Phone: 614-548-1400
Pickerington Elementary PTO: @PickElemPTO
PTO email 📨 pickelempto@gmail.com
Get a “POWER UP” Pick shirt for the whole family!
Our “Power Up” shirts will ONLY be available during this sale. This will be a one time sale! Represent Pick Elementary alongside our amazing staff! Ordering ends midnight, Sept. 10th and orders will be distributed at school the week of Oct. 2nd. Proceeds from the sale of these items will benefit Pickerington Elementary Staff and students. Every purchase made enters your child into a drawing for a free “Power Up” travel mug, lunch with Mr. Z or Mrs. Brown!
https://logoimages.us/poweruppick/
*Multiple colors, sizes, and gear are available
Shirt quality: These are super soft shirts...only the best for our families!
Past students and Families: Go ahead and order too! Put Mr. Z as the teacher and we will let you all know when your order has arrived!
BUS INFORMATION
🚨🚨 Some Bus Routes have changed for the 23-24 school year. Pickerington Elementary now has 7 buses transporting students. Our bus numbers this year are: 15, 17, 22, 23, 46, 51 and 71. Please make sure to check your student's bus route as it may not be the same as last year. 🚨🚨
Parents seeking information about their child’s bus pick-up and drop-off may use our interactive online system. After clicking this link:
- You will be asked to enter your username and password. Both of those are your child’s student ID number. If you don’t know your child’s student ID number, you can get that information through Infinite Campus.
- Click “Log-In.”
- Click “Work with Students.”
- Click “View My Students.”
- Click a student’s name to be taken to their transportation information page. Read this page carefully as it explains the morning and afternoon transportation information for your child.
Students with the same home phone number will be grouped together on the “View My Students” page. If, for some reason, you do not see all the students in your household, try logging in again using one of your other children’s information.
You can download the “Versatrans My Stop App” from Tyler Technologies at Google Play or the App Store.
Kona for the Year?!?
This year we will partnering with Kona Ice once again to bring special treats to Pickerington Elementary and help raise some funds for the school! In order to make this process even easier than before, Kona will be offering a prepay option for the entire year! We plan on having Kona come 6 times throughout the year and for only $25 dollars per student, they will be able to enjoy a Klassic Kona every time they visit. Feeling generous? feel free to pay it forward for a another family as well.
PrePay here:
Be on the look out for the welcome email!
New car tags will be given out this year!
Continuing during the 2023-2024 school year, we will be using a system called PickUp Patrol to help us track dismissals. PickUp Patrol (PUP) will save us a great deal of time here in the office and will reduce interruptions in our classrooms—while also providing you with a convenient way to make changes to your children’s dismissal plans. Most importantly, it will help us ensure that our students are safely dismissed to their correct after-school destinations.
Use the PUP web app for:
ATTENDANCE: Notify the school office when your child will be absent, arriving late or leaving early.
DISMISSAL CHANGES: Submit changes to your child’s regular dismissal plans. For example:
A student normally rides the bus, but is getting picked up today.
A student usually goes to aftercare, but is leaving early for an appointment.
How it works:
Your child is assigned a dismissal plan at the start of the year. This is the plan they will regularly follow on normal days. We call this the Default Plan.
Whenever you have a change to the Default Plan, you’ll submit a change through the PUP app. When the plan is submitted, the school will be notified and your child’s teacher will relay the change to them.
All plan changes should be entered in PickUp Patrol. Notes, emails or phone calls will not be accepted for changes, except in emergencies.
Getting started with PUP:
REGISTER: You will receive a registration email from PickUp Patrol with a link to set up your account.The PUP web app is free to parents and you can use it from your smartphone or computer. PUP is not accessed through the app stores. Instead, for easy access, follow the instructions in your registration email for how to add it to your phone’s home screen
ENTER DEFAULT PLANS: Once you register, log into your PickUp Patrol account to confirm your child’s default dismissal plan. It’s important that you complete this step so that we can accurately dismiss your children.
Thank you for using PUP to make safety a priority and to ensure our dismissal process is efficient for all our students.
If you have any questions, please first check the PUP FAQ page. If you still need help, contact Mrs. Jackson in the office at valerie_jackson@plsd.us or PickUp Patrol at support@pickuppatrol.net.
Talking Points
In order to reach more of our families, we will be using the app Talking Points. If you have not already done so sign up online at families.talkingpts.org/welcome. We will be sending reminders, newsletters, and other pertinent information this way. The app allows you to translate messages into languages that best fit your families needs...something that Infinte Campus just cannot do.
FROM THE NURSE
Administering Medications at School
Prescription medications
In the event your child needs to take prescription medication while at school, the Request for Administration of Medication by School Personnel form must be completed by the child’s physician and parents.
Nonprescription medication such as Advil, Tylenol, cough drops, etc. may be administered to students if the parent/guardian brings in the medication along with written permission for the medication to be given. All medications must be sent in the original container. Dosages cannot exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations for age and weight. We must have a note from the doctor to give a dose of medication that is different from the dose stated on the bottle.
Nonprescription Medication Form
***Both prescription and nonprescription medications must be brought to the school by a parent or guardian. You can drop off medications during “Peek at Pick” on August 14th, or you can make arrangements by emailing melanie_thompson@plsd.us
Shoe changing at school
During the school year, we ask that all our students wear the shoes they plan on using all day. This includes PE class, recess, walking in the halls etc. The only exception would be if your students wears rain/snow boots into the building. they may change their footwear during this time. Thank you all for understanding.
Parent Meeting information
Here is what we went over during our Staggered Start Parent Meeting, feel free to read through the presentation.
COUNSELOR CORNER
With the start of school upon us, so starts the early morning wake-up calls to get ready. If some of the students at Pick are anything like I was at their age, they might not be the greatest morning person. Starting the day off with a positive morning routine sets your students up to have a mindset of gratitude, self-love, and growth. Try to start using one of these five rituals each morning with your students.
Counseling News:
The counseling newsletter will have all information happening this school year with counseling. You will find out what lessons students had or will be having along with additional resources. This month's counseling news has links for free & reduced lunch, hope food bags, and needs assessment. Thank you for your continued support of your students and the Pick Elementary community.
Food Services Information
If your student has a negative balance in their food service account, please pay it off before the end of the school year. You can send cash, a check made payable to "PLSD Food Service" with your student to school, or pay online at mypaymentsplus.com. If you need assistance with My Payments Plus you can reach their parent helpline at 877-237-0946.
Questions? Please call the food service office at 614-833-3645.
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL Care Programming
Registration is open for the 2023-2024 school year. At the time of registration, a $25/child registration fee will be charged to complete the registration.
Pickerington Before & After School Programming, 2022-2023 School Year
Phone: 614-425-8178
Email: garverregistrar@ymcacolumbus.org
Parents can register online here.
PTO NEWS
Click here to get involved with PES PTO.
If you need to contact the PTO please feel free to contact us at pickelempto@gmail.com We are excited to be your representatives next year!