December 2015 Volume 7 Issue 4

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

THE TOLL GATE TIMES

Mrs. Kristi Motsch, Principal 12183 Toll Gate Road Pickerington, Ohio 43147 TGE-Growing Leaders Phone: 614-834-6300 Fax: 614-834-6310 Transportation: 614-837-8525

The holiday season is now upon us and 2015 is rapidly coming to a close. It is a good time to reflect back on the many gifts we have been given. We thank you for the gift of your children who we have the privilege of working with each day. We also thank you as parents for the partnership you have helped us to create. As a staff, we feel truly blessed to be, along with you and your children, part of the Toll Gate Elementary family. We would like to extend to you our warmest wishes throughout this holiday season. However you may celebrate this most special time of year, we offer our sincerest wishes that 2016 would be a year of peace, health and prosperity for all of you. We have much left to teach your children in the year ahead and we look forward to an even stronger partnership with you. We hope that this season you will give the gift of time and share and enjoy your family and friends. FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS,

The Tol l Gate Elementary Staff

Toll Gate Elementary DATES TO REMEMBER

December 2015

Nov. 30 – Dec. 4 Toys for Kids Toy Drive for Violet Township Fire Dept.

Dec. 1-2 3rd Gr. AIR testing Dec. 1-4 PTO Holiday Shop – Room G18 Dec. 1-3 – 6-8 pm Dec. 4 – 4-6 pm Dec. 4 Leadership Lunch Dec. 11 PHSN Chorale performance for students Dec. 17 End of grading period Dec. 18 NO SCHOOL – Teacher Record Day Dec. 21- Jan. 1 Holiday Break Jan. 4 Classes Resume

VioletTownshipFirefighters

Please,helpussupporttheVioletTownshipFirefightersagainthisyearbydonatingatoy.

Who:TollGateElementaryFamiliesWhat:PleaseBringaNewUnwrappedToyWhen:Nov.30th –Dec.4th Where:TollGateES–RedBox(MediaCenter) Why:HelpLocalFamiliesinNeed

Wehavebeenaskedtofocusonthelistbelowforideas:ActionFigures, ActivityBooks,ArtSupplies, BathandBodyitems,BarbieDolls, Bikes, Blocks/Buildingsets, BoardGames,Books,

Crafts, DisneyItems,Fashionaccessories(Teenage), Headphones/Earbuds,Handheldgamedevices, Jewelry, Legos,

Make-upandhair accessories, Perfume/Cologne,Puzzles, Science,Sportsequipment,Stuffedanimals, Toytrucks, Videogames.

*Thankyouforhelpingmaketheholidaysspecial for

manyareachildren.

NOTES FROM THE NURSE

The clinic is in need of clothing for when the unexpected happens!

The following items are needed:

**Socks (new)—all sizes

**Underwear (new): Boys and Girls – small 6-8 medium 8-10, large 10-14

**Sweatshirts, sweatpants (new or gently used) …gender neutral

Sizes: S 6-8, M 8-10, L 10-12, XL 14.

You can leave the items in the office.

Holiday Stress and Children Help your child beat the holiday stress by following these tips:

1. Limit TV and video games It may be easier to let the TV or video games occupy your child’s time, however, children who are stressed need some type of physical activity or exercise. Physical activity is a great way to decrease stress in everyone.

2. Remember routines Routines are very important to children. During the holiday season, children’s routines can be disrupted with shopping expeditions and special events. When a routine is broken, stress can result. Try to keep your child on their routine to keep the stress level down.

3. Family traditions are very important to children. They offer comfort and security. Enjoy the family traditions you have started. Some traditions to try might be, baking cookies, reading holiday books together, or visiting an elderly person.

4. Atti tude check Both children and parents need to have an attitude check before the holiday season begins. Take a deep breath, and have everyone in the family pledge to make the holiday season a time of joy and peace. With the right attitude, everyone can enjoy the holiday season.

5. Nutrit ion Eating healthy helps us to stay well. Plan at least one healthy meal as a family everyday. Remember to toss in a healthy snack while you’re out shopping.

6. Rest and relaxation Everyone, especially children need to take a “time out” over the holiday season to rest and relax. When a child is well rested, they will enjoy the holiday activities better. Schedule some R&R time for everyone in the family.

7. Laugh Laughter is still the best way to beat stress and change everyone’s mood from bad to good. Take time to read the comics to your children or find a holiday joke book with family humor at your bookstore or library.

The holiday season does not have to be a time of stress and exhaustion. Hopefully, following these simple tips will help reduce the holiday stress in your family. Tami Tackett , R.N, BSN, School Nurse Toll Gate Elementary and Middle School Heritage Elementary

Dental News from the School Nurse: The Smiles Program Mobile Dentist is coming to Toll Gate Elementary on December 15, 2015! Dental care remains the greatest unmet health need among U.S. children. Over 50% of children have a cavity, which can cause pain leading to missed school. Enrollment forms were sent home with your child the week of November 9, 2015. To take advantage of this convenient opportunity and have your child see the dentist at school, please fill out and sign the enrollment form and return it to the school with your child. If you have not received a form, please contact the school and ask for one to be sent home with your child. Together, we can keep our children healthy, in school, and learning! In good dental health, Tami Tackett, RN, BSN, School Nurse _____________________________________________________________________________________

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PICKERINGTON+LOCAL+SCHOOL+DISTRICT++201552016+Calendar

AUGUSTS M T W T F S

12 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930 31

SEPTEMBERS M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 !

Key First/Last Days of School

No School - Prof. Development/Work Day

No School - P/T Conferences (select grades)

No School

Text Interims or Grade Cards

Text End of Grading Period

Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences

2-hr Late Start - Professional Development

OCTOBERS M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28!K-8 only 29 30 31

NOVEMBERS M T W T F S1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

DECEMBERS M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

JANUARYS M T W T F S

1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 1617 18 19 20 21 22 2324 25 26 27 28 29 3031

FEBRUARYS M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29

MARCHS M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

APRILS M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

MAYS M T W T F S1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 Memorial!Day 31

August 2015!11! Teacher Work Day! 12! Uninterrupted Teacher Work Day! 13! First Day of School (Gr. 1-12)! 19! First Day of Kindergarten! 28! No School - Professional Development Day! !

September 2015!7! No School - Labor Day! 11! Interims! 24! 2-hr Late Start - Professional Development Day! !

October 2015!16! End of 1st Grading Period! 20! 2-hr Late Start - Professional Development Day! 22! K-12 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences! 27! K-12 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences! 28! No School K-8 Only (All-Day P/T Conferences)! ! *regular school day for grades 9-12! ! Grade Cards will be distributed at parent teacher ! ! conferences. Those not picked up during conferences ! will be mailed home. ! !

November 2015!13! Interims! 25-27! No School - Thanksgiving Break! !

December 2015!17! End of 2nd Grading Period/1st Semester! 18! No School - Teacher Record Day! 21-31! No School - Holiday Break (Dec. 21 - Jan.1)! !

January 2016!1-3! No School - Holiday Break cont. (Dec. 21 - Jan. 1)! 4! Classes Resume! 8! Grade Cards! 15! No School - Professional Development Day! 18! No School - Martin Luther King Day! !

February 2016!5! Interims! 15! No School - Presidents Day! !

March 2016!10! K-12 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences! 11! End of 3rd Grading Period ! 15! K-12 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences! 18 ! Grade Cards! 21-28! No School - Spring Break (Mar. 21 - Mar. 28)! 29! Classes Resume! !

April 2016!14! Interims! 15! No School - Professional Development Day! ! !

May 2016!24! Last Day of Classes for Teachers & Students*! ! *Early Dismissal! !

Grading Periods9 wks Dates # of Days

1st 08/13/15-10/16/15!! 45

2nd 10/19/15-12/17/15 40/41semester break

3rd 01/04/16-03/11/16 474th 03/14/16-05/24/16 45

BOE Approved: 11/24/2014

12

21

21/22

18

13

18

20

17

20

17

!Make-up days (Calamity day must fall prior to the date listed below.)!Day 1 - February 15!th! Days 3-5 - Blizzard BagsDay 2 - March 28th! ! Days 6-10 - Students excused from ! ! ! ! ! attendance!

MAKING A DIFFERENCE November 30-December 4, your family can help another family by donating to TOYS FOR KIDS. This program is sponsored by our local firefighters, and helps children in Fairfield and Franklin counties. You may participate by sending a new, unwrapped toy, or book.

PROPER SCHOOL DRESS The students continue to go outside for recess during the winter months when weather permits. Indoor recess will be held only on those days of inclement weather or when the wind chill factor is below 25 degrees. Students should always come to school prepared for outside recess. This includes coats, hats gloves, etc. Help us keep our students warm. BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB MEMBERS The following students have helped our library grow by purchasing a book from our Birthday Book Club Collection. Thank you for supporting our school library. Zach F. Sophya P. Nate I. Mason N. Gabrielle D. Ashley P. Deana A. Mary Ellen B. Ethan E. Luca D. PTO INFO: EVERYDAY WAYS Please continue to support the Toll Gate PTO by participating in the following free and easy "Everyday Ways:" 1. Box Top for Education- Just clip out and send in to earn money for TGES. 2. Campbell's Soup Labels- Cut out, turn in and earn points that can be redeemed for school supplies. 3. Shoparoo App- Download the Shoparoo App on your smartphone and then start snapping away, taking pictures of your grocery receipts to earn money for our school. 4. Rewards Cards- Register your Kroger, Meijer, Target, and/or Giant Eagle reward cards and earn money every time you shop and swipe.

Positive parenting Helping Children Cope With Unfilled Wishes

In this age of commercialism, kids are influenced *Appreciate Christmas one gift at a time. by a steady diet of advertisements that raise their expectations to unhealthy levels. They are Have children open one gift at a time so that constantly being sold on the idea that things will each can be appreciated. When they show buy them happiness. Their expectations become their disappointment, let them know you so excessive and unrealistic that parents can’t understand and try not to get angry. You can avoid disappointing them. So accept that fact as make a comment, like “I know how much you a reality and read on for a few more strategies wanted a video game. It’s very upsetting not you can use to help your kids cope this holiday to get everything you want.” Then, remind them season. of all the things they did get with reassurance they can expect more gifts in the future.

• Wish lists are just that. Talk about what wish lists really mean. Remind *Recognize that reactions to the holiday are related kids that it’s fine to ask for what they want, but to the age and temperament of the child. no one gets everything they ask for. Children do better with fewer surprises. They will be less The lack of a normal routine, combined with the disappointed if they know they are going to get presence of different people and high levels of some of what they wanted but not all. excitement, can create a lot of tension and over stimulation for children, particularly young ones and Parents also can turn their children’s wish lists those with difficult temperaments. into a lesson on economics. Decide how much you can spend on each child’s gifts. Give the The magic of the season becomes associated child that amount in play money to “shop” in a with having wishes fulfilled by receiving toys and catalog. This can help them understand how detached from giving and sharing with others. difficult it is to make choices, as well as how far the money will go. Next year, have children You may start to increase the emphasis on giving prioritize and set a number limit for gifts. and sharing as an important aspect of the season. When they reach it, they can cross off an item for every new one that they add. Listing items they would most like to receive teaches decision-making skills. *Enjoy the entire season. Rather than putting too much emphasis on presents and a five-week buildup to that one big day, make each part special, from buying the tree to baking cookies to decorating the house. *Making lists in the spirit of giving. Put an emphasis on the spirit of giving. Nothing By Jan Gordon, M.A., Extension Educator helps heal the disappointment more quickly than Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University being able to give a gift to another. Have your Extension Medina County. kids create a “giving to others” list along with their “wish list”.

CLOSING AND DELAYS Two-hour delays | Calamity days | Notifying the community | Making up days |

Occasionally, Pickerington Local School District (PLSD) may determine it is appropriate and

prudent to close or delay the start times of schools based on inclement weather. These decisions

are made for the safety of our students. We understand that these decisions have a big effect

on families as they plan their day, and now is an excellent time to establish your family

emergency plan for such potential closings.

CALAMITY DAYS

A calamity day is any day in which a school cancels instruction for any of the following reasons: • Hazardous weather conditions:

Information on road conditions from transportation staff, law enforcement and road crews. The district gives careful consideration to the most dangerous roads in the district. They can be treacherous, even if your street looks clear. Accumulated snow and ice. Temperature and wind chill. Impact on transportation services. School bus diesel fuel begins to gel at temperatures of zero degrees or below. Weather predictions (including those from a weather alert service). Building conditions, such as whether there is electricity, heat and water.

• Disease epidemic • Inoperability of school buses or equipment necessary to the school’s operation • Damage to a school building • Temporary utility failure rendering the building unsuitable for school use How Does the District Make up Calamity Days? The following plan has been approved by the Board of Education for the 2015-16 school year.

If the district takes any calamity days before Feb. 15, 2016, (Presidents Day) we will use that day as a make-up day,

regardless of whether the district has reached the five-day limit of excusable days.

If the district takes any calamity days before March 28, 2016, we will use that day as a make-up day.

Days 3-5 will be identified as “blizzard bag” days. Teachers will provide these work-at-home lessons for students to

complete when not in class. Days 6-10: Students are excused from attendance.

Where Does the District Announce Closings and Delays? Phone and email alerts

Pickerington Schools will announce emergency closing and delay information through pre-recorded telephone calls

to current parents/guardians telephone numbers on file with the district.

The district also sends email messages about any delays or closures via this notification system.

It is important to keep student contact information current by logging into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and

updating your contact information.

District website and social media

Information about school closures or delays will be posted on the home page of the district’s website, on our

Facebook page, and on Twitter.

Television and Radio Stations

Pickerington Schools shares any school delay or closure information with local television and radio stations.

Each local television station offers a school closing/delays text message program that sends closure/delay information

directly to your phone.

Channel 4

Channel 6

Channel 10

Who makes the decision and when is the Decision Made?

The superintendent makes the final decision, based upon the factors and recommendations from

the transportation and buildings & grounds departments. PLSD is a large and geographically diverse

district. Weather and road conditions may be fine in one portion of the district, but not in another.

In such instances, we must close school or modify the school day for the entire district.

We strive to make the decision to delay or close by 5:30 a.m. or earlier so we can notify radio and TV stations, post to

the district website, and send electronic notices to emergency announcement subscribers.

Unusual weather conditions may force us to make the decision after this time. For that reason, parents and students

are advised to stay tuned to major television and radio stations, as well as our website and e-communications notices,

for updates. Once a decision is made to delay or close school, the information will be shared with parents as quickly

as possible.

TWO-HOUR DELAYED START

When school is delayed district wide due to inclement weather, students will report to school two

hours later. Our junior high schools and high schools will follow shortened periods. The elementary

and middle schools will run a normal schedule from the time of arrival.

Building

Level

Regular

Start Time

Regular

Dismissal

2 hr. Delay Start Time

2 hr. Delay Dismissal

High School 7:20 a.m. 1:55 p.m. 9:20 a.m. 1:55 p.m.

Jr. High 8:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m.

Middle School 8:40 a.m. 3:05 p.m. 10:40 a.m. 3:05 p.m.

Elementary (Gr.1-4) 9:15 a.m. 3:40 p.m. 11:15 a.m. 3:40 p.m.

A.M. Kindergarten 9:15 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 11:15 a.m. 1:00 p.m.

P.M. Kindergarten 1:00 p.m. 3:40 p.m. 1:55 p.m. 3:40 p.m.

A.M. Preschool 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 10 a.m. 11:30 a.m.

P.M. Preschool 11:45 a.m. 2:15 p.m. 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m.

BECOME A NEWBERY READER AT TOLL GATE ELEMENTARY!

Read 10 of the most distinguished children's books of all time! Challenge yourself with these rigorous literary masterpieces and join the

Newbery Club! Toll Gate Elementary School’s prestigious Newbery Reader Club is in its fourth year and would like to invite you to become a member. To be recognized as a distinguished reader you must read 10 of the Newbery Medal Winners and pass the accompanying Accelerated Reader Quiz for each book. You may earn this achievement in one school year or over multiple years. At the end of each school year the names of all students who have earned this award will be permanently placed on a plaque in the library. These winners will also be invited to a year-end celebration. If you have questions or would like help selecting books please see your media specialist or gifted education teacher. Congratulations to our newest member: Gabby D.

Find a complete list of all Newbery Medal Winners at: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberywinners/medalwinners.cfm