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Team Tussing

2020 - 2021 School Year

Team Tussing2020 - 2021 School Year

Back to School Schedule

Currently, Pickerington Schools will be starting the 2020-2021 school year following the yellow hybrid model (below).


As identified in the Pickerington Schools' Flexible Learning Plan, students will attend school:

  • *2 full days (**half-day for kindergarten) at school learning face-to-face
  • 3 days at home completing online virtual learning


*2 days at school are broken into two groups called cohorts:

  • Cohort A = students are at school Monday/Tuesday and at home learning online Wednesday/Thursday/Friday
  • Cohort B = students are at home learning online Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday and at school Thursday/Friday
  • Grades 1-4 Schedule = 9:15am - 4:05pm


**half-days for kindergarteners are broken into AM and PM sessions:

  • AM Kindergarten Schedule = 9:15am - 12:15pm
  • PM Kindergarten Schedule = 1:00pm - 4:05pm

In August, you will receive a letter in the mail identifying your child’s homeroom teacher and cohort placement (A=Monday/Tuesday or B=Thursday/Friday).


Be advised, the district's color-coded plan (below) will allow the schools to respond quickly to spikes in the number of COVID-19 cases — moving from alternating days of in-person to remote instruction to all virtual learning if warranted. Please note, PLSD’s color-coded system (below) is a district system and is not tied to the state’s color-coded system.


PLSD will follow mandates required by the Governor, Ohio Department of Health, and Ohio Department of Education. The desired goal is to have students learn inside their assigned classrooms as much as possible.


Please see the attached Flexible Learning Plan for more information.

Application for online learning
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Optional Online Learning: Deadline July 26!

Families who do not want to send their students to school in-person may choose to have their students participate in full-time online Virtual Learning Academy.


Those students in the Virtual Learning Academy will attend school 5 days a week at home remotely through a combination of online options.


This is not the same remote learning students experienced in the spring and this is also not the same as the virtual learning in the yellow hybrid model.


Resources will aligned with the current curriculum and be tailored to an entirely online learning experience. Virtual Learning Academy students will also have virtual access to PLSD teachers through Google Meet.

Students must commit to this online Virtual Learning Academy for the entire school year. They will not be permitted to come in and out of remote learning within the school year.

The school district informed there may be up to a $100 fee for the Virtual Learning Academy in place of annual school fees.


Per policy 6152, the Virtual Learning Academy fee may be subject to waiver reduction based on families' Free and Reduced Meal applications. Free and Reduced Meal applications will be available online in August.

Families will be contacted by a district representative with confirmation of acceptance into the Virtual Learning Academy in early August.


**If you are interested in having your student stay home and participate in online Virtual Learning Academy, please complete the online application.


The deadline for online learning registration is this Sunday, July 26, 2020.

First Day of School

As of July 16th's School Board meeting, the first day of school has been delayed:


  • First Day for Grades 1-12 = Monday, August 24, 2020


Please see the attached 2020-2021 school year calendar for further information.

First Day of Kindergarten

As of July 16th's School Board meeting, the first day of kindergarten has been delayed:


  • First Day of Kindergarten = Thursday, August 27, 2020


Please see the following schedule changes for kindergarten ONLY:


Thursday, August 27:
Kindergarten Cohort A = at school

Kindergarten Cohort B = at home online


Friday, August 28:

Kindergarten Cohort A = at home online

Kindergarten Cohort B = at school


The following week, beginning August 31st, kindergarten students will begin their normal cohort schedules.


Please see the attached 2020-2021 school year calendar for further information.

Kindergarten Assessment

Incoming Kindergarten Families, please schedule your 30-minute kindergarten assessment online using the following SignUpGenius link.


The following dates and timeframes are available to schedule one 30-minute assessment:

  • Wednesday, July 29, 2020: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • Thursday, July 30, 2020: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • Friday, July 31, 2020: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm


Please see the attached Kindergarten Assessment Letter for further information.

Infinite Campus logo
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Update Required Forms Online

Now, more than ever, it is imperative that you update your contact information.


We’re making it easier for families to fill out all 2020-2021 back-to-school forms online in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.


Check out more information from the District or step-by-step instructions on how to get your forms updated in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.


If you are having problems logging in to the portal or if you forgot your password, please submit an Infinite Campus Help Desk Ticket and a member of the Pickerington Schools' Technology Department will be able to assist you via email or phone.

Action Steps For Families

Please see the following action steps families can take now to prepare for the beginning of the school year:


  • Provide face masks/coverings for your student. The district will not be providing masks for students or staff.
  • Have your student practice wearing the face mask/covering in preparation for returning to school
  • Provide a reusable water bottle for your student
  • School supplies lists will be released in August
  • Technology devices will be provided later in August
  • Determine how to conduct daily wellness checks, including temperature and symptom checks, at home
  • Contact Nurse Jill with any medical questions or concerns
  • Identify your support systems (family members, daycare, childcare) for virtual days
  • Reach out to our school counselor, Mrs. White, for any resources and support
  • Ensure that your contact information and emergency contacts are up-to-date in Infinite Campus
  • Read over all communication from Tussing Elementary and Pickerington Schools

Questions or Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns, please reference the below Pickerington Schools' resources:



We look forward to seeing your family soon! Enjoy the rest of your summer!