Ridgeview Junior High

Happy Friday Ridgeview families! Here are your weekly updates.

There were some families that called the building today to say they did not receive the family communication that was sent out last evening referencing the threatening comments made towards our school. You may read the letter here if you didn’t already receive it. Please know that our administrative team has been working diligently to ensure the safety of all our staff and students by following district protocols, as well as putting additional procedures in place. I understand, as a parent, that hearing such things are scary and that your first priority is the safety of your child. Please know it is our first priority as well - always! We do thank you again for your patience and understanding of our handling of this matter. Our building is a safe space for students and staff and our goal is to keep it that way.

Everything we do at Ridgeview is centered around two things: Academics and Safety.

Our Awesome Counselors will be hosting another meeting for parents to talk about scheduling for the 2025-2026 school year. This meeting is for rising 7th grade families (current 6th graders), 8th grade families (current 7th graders), as well as 9th grade families (current 8th graders). There will be meetings on the following dates:

• Feb 18th: 6:00-7:00 pm in an in-person setting. This meeting will be held in the Ridgeview main gym.

On Feb 19th, our Ridgeview students will actually have some time to start scheduling classes for next school year. Our 8th graders will also have time to hear/engage with our Central staff about programming, course selections, etc. If parents have scheduling questions, please contact your student’s counselor via the main office: Mrs. Owen (A-Ga), Mrs. Reynolds (Ge-N), and Mrs. Wade (O-Z).

Thank you to all who were able to join us for our Feb 5th Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences. Our next and last conference date of the year is Feb 18th. Notifications have been sent out to families. If you need assistance getting signed up, please touch base with one of your students' teachers. Thanks in advance.

Our 7th graders had a wonderful time at the BHM variety show at Central this week. They were well behaved, which always makes me happy AND they loved the show! The show is still going on this weekend (Fri and Sat evenings) if you’d like to see it for yourself. A huge shout out to our Central family for hosting us on Wed!

I wanted to take a minute to talk about attendance. First, let me say, I so appreciate the number of parents who call for clarification about their son/daughter being marked absent. The most recent day was the field trip for 7th graders on Wed. Parents, I’d like to apologize, as I’m sure how we took attendance on Wed was confusing. Students were initially marked absent, even though they were at Central but then marked present by the end of the day. Our main office team has discussed how to clean this up to ensure confusion doesn’t happen like this again. Thank you for holding us accountable and I can assure you we will be better about this in the future.

Lastly, in observance of President’s Day, there is no school on Mon Feb 17th. Our main office will also be closed on the 17th. Classes will resume on Tue Feb 18th. We hope everyone enjoys the long weekend.

Take care everyone and we’ll see you again next week! GO TIGERS!

Important Dates:

Feb 17: President’s Day - NO SCHOOL

Feb 18: Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences

Feb 18: In-Person Parent Scheduling Meeting

Feb 19: Students Begin Scheduling for Classes for 25/26 SY

Sheila A. Evans, Principal

Ridgeview Junior High School

NEW THIS YEAR!

We are making Culture Day t-shirts with the winning logo designed by our students, Sasha Branch and

Nayomi Berhey.

The cost is $13.95, no tax and no shipping! Please click the link below to order.

https://www.imagemarket.com/gb4382f2

T - Shirts are Gildan Softstyle Unisex Tee.

Sales close on February 18th.

All shirts will be shipped to RJHS by March 4th.

Our care closet is serving students almost daily! YOU help keep it stocked to help our students be their best selves and prepared to learn each day.

Our newest needs are:

Boys & Girls underwear - All Sizes

We're thankful for our village!

Calling all 7th graders!!!

This is your chance to register for the 8th grade trip next year to Washington D.C. Check out the registration link, www.efexploreamerica.com/2844694RC

If you have any questions please contact me at:

Michelle.r.hardesty1@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS FOR CURRENT 7TH GRADE STUDENTS - IT IS NOT THE TRIP TAKING PLACE THIS YEAR DURING SPRING BREAK

District Policy states that only guardians listed on Infinite Campus are permitted to pick up their student. If your student needs to be picked up early by someone who is NOT their guardian, a guardian must call the office to let us know who will be picking up their child. The other adult must present a valid ID to office staff for the student to be released to them.

Personal Communication Devices:

• Pick-up times for Personal Communication Devices will be Mon - Fri in the main office from 8:00 am - 1:45 pm and again from 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm as long as school is in session. The main office closes at 3:00 pm daily.

• We’re collecting more devices daily. If your student has a device confiscated and it doesn’t belong to them, the person that it belongs to AS WELL AS the student who had it taken from will be added to our spreadsheet for a confiscated device. Please make a note of this.

To find our school, type in job number:

13607 OR Pickerington Ridgeview Jr HS

Click on the pictures below to apply!

**If you're paying with Venmo, there will be a fee - $1 for $20 and $1.75 for $40 or more. Please add the extra in your payment.**

Payments of cash and/or check will be accepted in the office with Ms Tiffany.

Email: tiffany_dalton@plsd.us with any questions!

IMMUNIZATION REMINDER: In order to start school, all immunizations must be up to date.

Click HERE for complete guidelines.

School-Based Health Clinic

Pediatric Associates has an office located at Tussing Elementary that is available to all PLSD students and the community of Pickerington. The clinic offers the following services: helping with sore throat, headaches, earache, bad cough, strep test, immunizations, blood work, physicals, well check-ups, sports physicals, medication, asthma, etc.

The clinic is open on Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 - 3:00 and closed from 1:00 - 2:00 for lunch. Walk-ins are welcome or to schedule an appointment call 614-864-3222.

Emergency Resources

Crisis Text Line: text "HOME" to 741741

Nationwide Children's Youth Hotline: 1-614-722-1800

Teen Hotline: 1-614-294-3300

Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

Safe Schools Tip Line: Call or text 1-844-723-3764

Suicide Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or 1-614-221-5445

Sheriff Department: 1-740-652-7900

Dear 6th grades families,

Starting on Tuesday, February 11th, junior high counselors and middle school counselors and teachers will begin sharing scheduling information with your student(s.) We will be sharing the Junior High Scheduling Hub with students on this day as well. Please plan on taking time that week February 11-18th to look over the hub with your student; there are videos and other documents to help them through the scheduling process. At the bottom of the scheduling hub is a Google Form where students and parents can submit questions to the administrators or counselors. However, we encourage you to attend one of the scheduling meetings before posting questions. The scheduling window closes on Monday, March 3rd for Ridgeview and March 7th for Lakeview. .

Attached is the scheduling timeline with the links to the virtual parent meetings. Please note that there are different meeting dates and links for Lakeview and Ridgeview. The meetings will be a brief overview of the scheduling process followed by a Q&A session with school counselors and administrators. The last meeting will be held February 18th at 6 - 7 pm, in person, at Ridgeview.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email the Junior High Principals: Ben Baptist (ben_baptist@plsd.us) for Lakeview and Sheila Evans (sheila_evans@plsd.us) for Ridgeview.

Scheduling Timeline for families

Please take the long weekend to look over the scheduling information. The scheduling window opens on Wed. 2/19 and closes on March 3. All classes need to be entered by March 3 for rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grades.

8th graders going to high school... Here is all the information you need:

• Rising Freshman 25/26 Scheduling Presentation
• High School Scheduling Hub
• High School Info Night

7th graders going to 8th grade

• Rising 7th & 8th Grade Scheduling Presentation
• Junior High Scheduling Hub

Scheduling for 25-26 is approaching!

The application for the incoming cohort of Global Scholars is 25-26 is now open!

We had a waitlist for the 24-25 incoming cohort, so don't wait to apply!

This application is for the new incoming group -

(if you are already a part of Global Scholars, you need not re-apply.)

If you'd like to read more about the Global Scholars Program, visit

https://columbusworldaffairs.org/program-training/global-scholars-diploma/

Or check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0wnC7Z6Jxo

Here is the link for the Global Scholars 25-26 application.

If you have questions, reach out to Dr. Marie Hurt, marie_hurt@plsd.us

Tiger Athletics Website

Athletic Handbook

Winter Sports are in session!

Please be sure that your student is registered on Final Forms.

YOUR STUDENT MUST HAVE AN UPDATED PHYSICAL ON FILE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE OR TRY OUT IN ANY SPORT

Spring sports are right around the corner! Information is being gathered for you - please keep an eye out on the newsletter for information as the coaches begin to prepare. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tiffany Dalton at: tiffany_dalton@plsd.us

Ridgeview Girls and Boys lacrosse teams are looking for players to join the teams this spring!

Please register in Final Forms.

If you have any questions about lacrosse email centralgirlslax@gmail.com.

🏐PLSD is now offering Boys Volleyball🏐

This year, we will have a combined team with Ridgeview and Lakeview joining forces to defeat the competition!

Please make sure your student is registered on Final Forms with an updated physical, BEFORE tryouts.

Tryouts will take place at Lakeview JHS on Feb 24th & 25th at 4 - 5:30 pm in the aux gym.

If you have any questions, please reach out to:

Head Coach Michaela Powell at kayjanee1998@gmail.com;

or to Lakeview's Athletic Director, Kelly Winter at kelly_winter@plsd.us.

Students: $5 Adults: $7

Cash/Card is accepted at the gate. If you pay online, there will be additional fees.

Click here to purchase tickets: https://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/Page/126

You may purchase a Tiger Club Pass ($50/student) or a Central Club Pass ($100/adult) that is good for all regular home games for every sport.

To purchase Club Passes, use the same link as above and select Central. Once there, you will select Purchase Yearly Passes.

**Students are now required to show their student ID card to attend athletic events. If your student does not have an ID card yet, you can show the attendant your Infinite Campus information from your phone until your ID arrives**

A friendly reminder!

Be sure to register your student in Final Forms so that you get all of the up to date information regarding games and practices.

https://pickerington-oh.finalforms.com/

Happy Valentines Day, family - enjoy your weekend!

Updates will be posted next week!

Kelly & Qiana

• PLSD 2024-2025 District Calendar - click here

• Districtwide Activities Calendar

  Upcoming events and important dates are listed in the Districtwide Google Events Calendar, which is synced with individual building, program and athletic team calendars. Once inside the district wide calendar, to display the events of a particular building, team, program or activity, you will need to check the specific corresponding color-coded box(es) from the list on the left-hand side.

  Pickerington Schools partners with the City of Pickerington and Yodel to bring you the Pickerington Community Calendar!
  

  Visit this link to view all Pickerington Schools activities included on the calendar and don’t forget to “favorite” our Pickerington Schools schedule! Once favorited, Pickerington Schools' events will be front and center on your calendar, enabling you to see what’s coming up.

The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Public Safety have launched the SaferOH tip line that will accept both calls and texts 24 hours a day.

This tip line allows students and adults to anonymously share information with school officials and law enforcement about threats to student safety—whether that involves a threatened mass incident or harm to a single student.

Every tip can remain anonymous. School safety analysts may ask for additional information, but the caller can remain secret or leave his or her contact information for later follow-up.

Calls or texts to 844-SaferOH (844-723-3764) are answered by analysts in the Ohio Homeland Security’s Threat Assessment and Prevention (TAP) Unit. When action is needed, the TAP Unit immediately forwards information to Pickerington Schools, local law enforcement agencies, and others, if necessary.

Here at Ridgeview Junior High we value being Timely, Innovative, showing GRIT, being Engaged in our learning, and Respect! Notice the letters spell out TIGER! Click on our behavior expectations, and please take a moment to look over and review with your student(s).

Principal: Sheila Evans

Assistant Principal 7th Grade: Henry Lee

Assistant Principal 8th Grade: Kevin Smith

Dean of Students: Sydney Dillard

Building Secretary/Athletics: Tiffany Dalton

Building Secretary/Registrar: Lisa Holley

Attendance: Pat Petrini

Office Assistant: Madelyn Gomez

Counselors: Kris Owen: A-Ga, Erica Reynolds: Ge-N, Meghan Wade: O-Z

Nurse: Rachel Ross/Mindy Stillwell

Safety/Security: Jon (JT) Haynes

School Resource Officer (SRO): Mathew Swaney, Jeremy Collier

Email: Sheila_Evans@plsd.us
Website: pickerington.k12.oh.us
Location: 130 Hill Road South, Pickerington, OH, USA
Phone: 614-548-1700
Twitter: @RidgeviewPLSD