NEWSLETTER MARCH/2016

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HOURS Regular School Hours: First-Fourth Grade 9:15a.m. - 3:40 p.m AM Kindergarten 9:15a.m.-12:00 p.m. PM Kindergarten 1:00p.m. - 3:40 p.m. Tardy Bell is at 9:15 please arrive so student is with homeroom by that time. Two Hour Delay Schedule First-Fourth Grade 11:15 a.m.– 3:40 p.m. AM KG 11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PM KG 1:55 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.

If you need to call in a student absence please call our Attendance Line at 614-834-6201.

SCHOOL WILL BE IN SESSION ON MONDAY, MARCH 28

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS Sycamore Creek Elementary 614-834-6200 Sycamore Creek Attendance Hotline 614-834-6201 or email at sceattendance@plsd.us Sycamore Creek Fax 614-834-6210 Pickerington Local School Offices 614- 833-2110 PLSD Treasurer’s Office 614- 833-2112 PLSD Welcome Center

(address changes) 614- 920-6180 PLSD Food Service 614-833-3645 Mealpay 877-237-0946 or 866-711-7314

To access your child’s lunch account: www.mypaymentplus.com

Petermann Bus Transportation 614-837-8525 Staff Email: First_LastName@plsd.us

Sycamore Creek Elementary School 500 Sycamore Creek Street Pickerington, OH 43147

Office Phone # (614)-834-6200 Attendance # - (614)-834-6201 Fax # (614)-834-6210 Mrs. Nikki Arnold, Principal Nikki_Arnold@plsd.us Mr. Chad Rice, Asst. Principal Chad_Rice@plsd.us Ms. Ann Williams, Counselor Ann_Williams@plsd.us Mrs. Marcia Stewart, Nurse Marcia_Stewart@plsd.us

TURN YOUR

CLOCKS AHEAD ON MARCH 13

OPEN ENROLLMENT REQUESTS FOR 2016-2017 Deadline – March 30, 2016 Form is available on the district website under District forms,

Enrolling and Open enrollment. The application is necessary for the district to consider allowing students to attend a school outside their normal attendance boundaries. Interested K-6

parents must submit an application each year they are requesting intradistrict open enrollment. Application is not a guarantee that students will be open

enrolled. Approval is based on staffing and space availability.

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KINDERGARTENREGISTRATIONfor2016/2017Kindergarten Registration will open Wednesday, March 9. Children need to be 5 years old by August 1, 2016. A link to online registration will be provided at that time on the PLSD Website. After completing the registration online, parents will receive an email with additional information regarding how to contact the Welcome Center to set up an appointment for signing of final registration paperwork. If there should need to be a lottery for AM or PM, registration must be completed before May 1. Readiness Assessment screening will be by appointment April 25, 26 or 28 at Violet Baptist Church.

2015/2016 DAILY LUNCH SCHEDULES: FIRST GRADE 11:15 SECOND GRADE 11:45

THIRD GRADE 12:45 FOURTH GRADE 12:15

Sycamore Website: http://www.pickerington.k12.oh.us/sycamore-elementary/ Check out our website for calendar updates, Hero Happenings, and school pictures. If you have any questions, please contact us or email the staff member. All staff members e-mails are First_LastName@plsd.us

STATE OF THE SCHOOLS PRESENTATION AND CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE – FEB 29 How are Pickerington Schools “leaping” into the future? Answers to that question are the focus of the 2016 State of the Schools presentation and Celebration of Excellence Expo, planned for Leap Day on Monday, Feb. 29. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event, to be held in the Pickerington High School Central Performing Arts Center from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a 45-minute Celebration of Excellence Expo and community networking opportunity in the Central Commons. Every school in the district will display information about innovative and exciting programs happening in their buildings. Displays will range from student leadership programs to arts initiatives, from science and technology to after school programs. At 7:15 p.m., Superintendent Valerie Browning-Thompson and Treasurer Ryan Jenkins will present the 2016 State of the Schools, a 45-minute presentation covering subjects ranging from the district’s financial outlook to academic initiatives and plans for the future. Topics will include academic performance, technology, facilities, and successes in academics, athletics and the arts. A question-and-answer session will follow the address. The presentation will open and close with musical performances by the PHSC Band and PHSN Choir. For those unable to attend in person, the district will stream the presentation live online at http://livestream.com/accounts/8452262. RSVPs are not required to attend, but will be helpful for planning purposes. To RSVP, visit http://goo.gl/forms/BaA2guBr7F

SchoolFees:HaveyoupaidyourSchoolFees?SchoolBoardPolicyJN-“Neithergradesnorcreditswillbesenttoanotherschoolsystemoranyinstitutionofcontinuingeducationuntilallfeesowedtheschoolordistrictarepaid.“Transcripts/records(includingdiploma)willbehelduntilallobligationsaresatisfied.Feesmaybepaidatschoolofficebyexactcash,checkorcreditorattheTreasurer’sOfficeat90EastStreet,Pickerington,OH.Pleasedonotmailcash.MakecheckspayabletoPLSD.IfyouhaveanyquestionsfeelfreetocontactMrs.Boisseauat614-834-6200.KG$20.501stGrade-$18.502ndGrade$19.003rdGrade$20.004th$20.00

Recess: Students go outside for recess as long as wind chill feels like 25 degrees

or higher. Please make sure they are dressed appropriately for the weather.

CLASS PLACEMENT 16/17 When making decisions about classroom placement, many variables are

considered. If you desire, you may complete the questionnaire attached to this newsletter to provide us with information regarding your child. The completed

form should be returned to the school office no later than April 30.

UPCOMING EVENTS FEB 29 – PLSD State of Schools MAR 3 – PTO Meeting 7:00 p.m. MAR 8 – Student Government 8:00 a.m. MAR 9 - 2016/2017 KG Registration Begins MAR 10 – Evening Conferences 4:30-8:00 MAR 15 – Evening Conferences 4:30-8:00 MAR 16 – Bucket Club MAR 18 – Fourth Grade Health Day MAR 21-25 SPRING BREAK MAR 28 – Classes Resume, make up for snow day from Feb 9 April 7 - PTO Meeting 7:00 p.m. April 15 - No School, Teacher Professional Development April 20-May 3 Third and Fourth Grade Testing Window

CLASSROOM HAPPENINGS FOURTH GRADE SPELLING BEE – We had 28 students participate in our spelling bee on Feburary 1. After 10 rounds, the winner was Lydia S. and runner-up Emma M. both from Mrs. Sugar’s homeroom. Great Job to everyone! SECOND GRADE students participated in a Wax Museum on Feb 24. They researched and become familiar with a famous person and then were able to answer questions as their character came to life. Thanks for all the hard work. FIRST GRADE – Mr. Abraham Lincoln came to visit with our first grade on President’s Day.

Golf Pros Set to Visit Sycamore Creek

On Monday, March 7th and Tuesday, March 8th Golf Pros from Muirfield Village Country Club will be at Sycamore Creek in the morning teaching kids golf in their PE classes. Mr. Harris attended Saturday training at Muirfield Village Country Club in order that Sycamore Creek could receive free kid-aged golf equipment through the First Tee Program and The Memorial Tournament. We are excited about the opportunity for our students to receive free golf lessons from a golf pro during their PE class. Thank you goes to the First Tee Program and The Memorial Tournament! Thank you to our PTO for providing many activities and events for our students. Without these wonderful volunteers our students wouldn’t have the Father/Daughter Dance as they transformed the gym/cafeteria areas to a Winter Wonderland. They also coordinated McTeacher night at McDonalds and Chiller Skating Event. Thank you to all of those who give up your time for our children.

SCE PTO NEWS SCE PTO NEWS Upcoming Events March 3 – PTO Meeting 7:00 p.m in Media Center May 2-6 Staff Appreciation Week May 6 – Fun Day! Super Games will be back for this fun-filled all day event May 20 – Carnival Night at SCE 2015-2016 Yearbooks orders are available for online ordering. The cost is $14. www.SchoolAnnual.com click on “Buy Your Student’s Yearbook” and search and select “Sycamore Creek”, then proceed to checkout! Paper order forms will be available after Spring Break. Online ordering available through the end of April. Find Sycamore Creek Elementary PTO on Facebook, on our website: www.scepto.weebly.com or under the activities tab on the school website.

Dear Parent(s) This letter concerns the placement of students into classrooms for the 2016-2017 school year. We are fortunate to have an excellent staff at Sycamore Creek Elementary and I can assure you that each and every one is committed to student learning, to student success, and to your child. The process used to assign students to classrooms is a comprehensive one. As a staff, we take the responsibility of class placement very seriously. Many factors are considered in the process of creating well-balanced classrooms including:

• A balance of achievement levels in reading and math • The social needs of students • Independent work habits of students • Behavior factors regarding students • The compatibility of students with each other (such as separating those who

have not worked well together in the past) • Information provided by the teacher through previous parent/teacher

conferences • Recommendations of former teachers, principal, guidance team, and related

information provided by the parent or from previous schools • Classroom configuration • Ratio of girls to boys • Special programming

If you desire, you may complete the questionnaire on the reverse side of this letter to provide us with information regarding your child. Your input should focus on your child’s specific academic needs, preferred learning styles, or other descriptive information that will enable us to better understand your child. We will take your input in consideration but this does not guarantee a specific placement for your child. We respectfully request that you refrain from listing a specific teacher on this form. The completed form should be returned to the school no later than April 30th. As always, our goal is to effectively address the needs of every child who attends our school. Again, this is not a requirement, just an opportunity to provide us with additional information about your child.

SYCAMORE CREEK ELEMENTARY 2016-2017

Student’s Name_________________________________________ Parent’s Name__________________________________________ Current Grade Level___________Current Teacher____________________ Directions: Please answer the questions below, describing the specific learning needs and/or other information about your child that may help us in determining the most appropriate placement for next year. Please understand that while your input will be considered, it does not necessarily guarantee any particular placement. We respectfully request that you refrain from listing any specific teacher on this form. 1. What methods, techniques, or aspects of the learning environment have worked for your child? What has not worked? 2. What are your child’s greatest academic, social and emotional strengths? 3. What are your child’s greatest academic, social and emotional needs? 4. Other relevant information for class placement Parent Signature_________________________ Date________________ Phone # ____________________________________________________________ Email Address: _____________________________________________________ Please return this form to school office no later than April 30th, 2016