Nov. 07.cwk - Pickerington Local School District

News From:Diley Middle SchoolNovember 2007-08Mark Jones, Principal Melissa Moriarty, Dean of Students750 Preston Trails Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147 * PH: (614) 833-3630 * Fax: (614) 833-3640Dear Parents,Before you read any further, please take a moment and ask yourself the following questions. Why didyou decide to live here in this community? What about Pickerington convinced you that it would be theright environment in which to raise your children? What do you want your child’s school experience tolike?While I’m sure there is more than one correct answer to these questions, I’ll bet many of you includedsomething about the high quality of schools offered by the Pickerington Local School District. For asignificant number of residents, the single most important factor in deciding to live here in Pickerington isthe fine reputation of our schools. This record of success has been established over the years by thecombined efforts of three groups: hardworking students dedicated to their academic achievement,excellent teachers committed to providing the very best instruction possible, and supportive taxpayerswho showed the value which they place on education by funding our programs at the ballot box. Beforeyou arrived in this community, the groundwork for our outstanding school system was already laid byprevious taxpayers who invested in the future . . . in your children as well as their own. If you agree thatthe quality of the educational program offered by the PLSD had a positive bearing on your decision tolive here, then it stands to reason you would want to maintain this standard for your child’s remaining yearsin our schools.Next Tuesday will be an opportunity for you to ensure such quality can be maintained, as we have areplacement levy (Issue 8) on the ballot for your consideration. I could provide you with all the numericalstatistics and figures, like the precise milage of the issue, the projected cost per $100,000 of homevaluation, the impact of new construction on the effective milage rates, and so on. I won’t, however,because I don’t believe these quantitative facts are the ones which are most important to you in makingthe choice of whether or not to support your schools. My bet is that, for most taxpayers, it will comedown to something far more basic. Trust. Do you trust that your educational leaders are doing their levelbest to provide the highest quality of educational service at the lowest possible cost? Do you believethe financial forecasts that show a critical need for more funding just to keep this operation afloat? Are youconfidant that, given adequate funding, the teachers will be able to continue delivering the superbinstruction for which they are so widely praised?If you trust the information which has been provided by the district, then you will recognize the genuineurgency for approval of Issue 8. For you, the minimal increase in your monthly tax bill will be a small priceto pay for the comfort of knowing your child’s education won’t be compromised. You will understand that,like those who have supported our schools in years gone by, your willingness to invest in our commonfuture is crucial to the success of our schools. I urge you to vote on November 6th.Diley Honors Our American VeteransWe want to honor our Veterans, including current members of the military, for all they havedone to guarantee that we will continue to enjoy the privilege of citizenship in the UnitedStates of America.We see remarkable examples of citizenship all around us. Harry Emerson Fosdick oncesaid, “Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities inordinary people.” Please spend time with your child in November reflecting on all the wonderfulexamples of citizenship we have witnessed, and help them decide what they can do to be good citizensin the days and weeks to come.Please stop in and see our Veteran’s Stars on Display from November 8-20. Also, take amoment to view Diley’s version of America’s White Table near the school entrance.

Grade CardsOn Friday, November 2, your son or daughter will be bringing home his/her gradecard. The format of our grade card is the same as we have been using for severalyears. It will contain valuable information including: grades for each class, comments fromteachers, number of absences and tardies, as well as upcoming important dates. Pleasenote that this grade card does not have to be returned. This copy is yours to keep and proudly displayon the refrigerator!**Please note that students participating in band will receive a grade card from their band directors.HONORS LANGUAGE ARTS - Attention sixth graders and their parents:The following is a reminder concerning eligibility for the seventh grade honors language artsclasses for the 2007-2008 school year.Students who want to be in the honors class for the next year must sign up with their language artsteachers during the month of November to take the mastery level reading/writing qualifying test. All formsare due by November 16. The evaluation will be given on December 5, 2007. If the student achievesmastery level in this curriculum based reading/writing test, he/she will then be invited to respond, in writing,to one of the five novels listed below.The Contender Jacob Have I Loved Dandelion WineThe Light in the Forest The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe***Only students who return the enrollment form will be eligible for honor’s testing.***Congratulations to our Tiger Paw Winners for OctoberEthan Kohner Drake Cockerham Jake Doerfler Gabby BenaquistaJessica Watts Jacob Flynn Jacob Horvath Casey CarrierLauren Graves Collin Leonard Brice Hartrum Kenzi MaddenDevin Johnson Abigail Jansen Grant Grogan Shelby WyckoffDillon Burchett Jayla Doggette Lizzy Stout Collin ScarlettKaelin Burgess Devin Elmore Zach Seaman Rowan CuccaroZoya Muzaffer Timmy Cooper Irene Skinner Kaitlyn LopezSky Mullins Michaela Polyak Deja Rush Brandon McConahaLuke Stacy Courtney Kemmerly Brad Howes Payton OverfieldJason Strange Laurel Wilson Doug FosterPTSO NEWSFall Fundraiser - We had a successful Fall Fundraiser. The total sales are around $23,000. WOW!Everyone did such a great job! Thank You!Congratulations to the following classes for selling $1250 or more and earning an inflatable party: Mrs. Roush,Mrs. Hornberger and Mrs. Renner. Hope you have a great time.Congratulations to our three highest sellers.Top seller (Wii): Haley Sheets with $483Second highest seller (IPod Nano): Breanne Riley with $448Third highest seller ($75 Dick's Sporting goods gift card): Dylan McDowell with $400Fundraiser items will be delivered on Wednesday, November 14.Spirit wear - The spirit wear sale is currently underway and ends November 2. We have teamed up withEmbroidMe to bring you these great spirit wear items. We hope you will be pleased with the quality and theselections. You can visit the EmbroidMe store located at 1142 Hill Rd. (by Subway) to view the items. If youhave any questions call Heather Meister (834-3210), Robin Saionzkowski (833-5859) or Sheri Terbovich (833-1092)The next PTSO meeting will be Monday, November 5th at 7 pm, in the Media Center.SCHOOL CANCELLATION OR DELAY DUE TO BAD WEATHERDuring the school year, there might be an occasion to cancel school due to the roadconditions or other calamities which endanger the safety of the students. If school isclosed early during the school day, please be sure your child knows where he/she is to go(baby-sitter, neighbor’s house, etc.) It is very frustrating for the child and school personnel ifparents have not made provisions for their child should an emergency arise during the school day whichnecessitates the closing of school.

** PICKERINGTON LOCAL SCHOOLS INCREASES ALREADY HIGH CLEANING LEVELS AS FLU ANDCOLD SEASON BEGINSPickerington Local Schools’ officials have been taking extra efforts to create healthier learningenvironments for all students. With flu and cold season beginning as well as the recent mediaattention related to cases of the “staph” infection methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA), Pickerington Local Schools is doing all it can to reduce the spread of germs while astudent is at school. At this time, no cases of MRSA have been confirmed at Pickerington LocalSchools.On a daily basis, Pickerington custodians already clean all classrooms, bathrooms and commonareas with a high level product that kills 99.9 percent of germs associated with many illnesses,including MRSA. Over the past few weeks, school district custodians have added even morecleaning items to their routine services. In addition, all of the buses that Petermann Transportationuses to transport Pickerington students were also thoroughly cleaned.“Pickerington Local Schools’ Team Goal is to provide high quality learning environments for everystudent,” said Superintendent Karen Mantia, Ed.D. “Keeping students healthy by reducing thechance for possible infections or viruses is part of that goal.”Students and staff are also being encouraged to be vigilant about cleaning habits. According to theOhio Department of Health, the following action items are helpful in reducing the risk of contractingany virus or infection including MRSA:• practicing good hygiene (e.g., keeping hands clean by washing with soap and water or usingalcohol-based hand rubs, and showering after games and practices);• covering any open skin areas such as abrasions or cuts with clean dry bandages;• not sharing personal items such as towels or razors;• using barriers (e.g., clothing or towels) between skin and shared equipment;• if someone has an open wound, do not use whirlpools, hydrotherapy pools, cold tubs,swimming pools and other common tubs;• wiping surfaces of equipment before and after use; and,• seeking medical attention if you think you may have an infection.Pickerington Local Schools cares about the health and safety of our students. Parents play animportant role in their child’s health and the district encourages all parents to learn the facts aboutMRSA and other contagious diseases. If your child shows possible symptoms of an infectionplease seek medical attention as needed. The Ohio Department of Health has a wealth ofinformation available online at [ http://www.odh.ohio.gov ]www.odh.ohio.gov. As alwayscommunication between parents and the school district is key. If parents have any questions or toreport a health concern for their child, they are encouraged to contact their child’s school.MUSIC NEWSOctober has been a busy month for our music classes. The fifth graders have beenlearning about the families of instruments in the band and orchestra. They should be able to tellyou what must vibrate in each family of instruments to produce sound. This month we will workon reading melodies from the staff and playing them on xylophones.Mrs. Kitsmiller’s sixth grade students are now working on writing and performing their own blues song.After listening to many examples and discovering the pattern used in the words and music they have startedwith an idea and turned that into the lyrics of a song.Ms. Hunsicker’s sixth grade students have learned about the career of a choreographer. They, in turn,have become choreographers and are working on creating a dance.As always, thank you for your continued support of our program.Mrs. Kitsmiller and Ms. Hunsicker

Mrs. Kitsmiller and Ms. HunsickerFostering Stewardship in Our CommunityThe Pillars of Character and Diley Middle School staff are proud of the effort students are putting forth to“foster stewardship in our community.” Located in the Diley Middle School office is a “StudentPillars of Character” wall that recognizes one student from each team who best embodies the Pillar ofCharacter that is being highlighted that month. Responsibility is the Pillar featured this month. Thefollowing students were selected by their respective teachers to represent their team:Carter Christley - Mrs. OlinHannah Johnson - Mrs. JonesStephanie Murray - Mrs. LambacherJoshua Wright - Mr. LutherMikehl Dunn - Mrs. LutherElizabeth Weed - Mrs. ShafferJeff Wolfel - Mr. CoffmanAlexandria Stewart - Mrs. MilliserAllison Luther - Mrs. MuckCatherine Wang - Mrs. EneixKayla Arauco - Mrs. LongSydney Hoppe - Mrs. KesselringCourtney Kemmerling - Mrs. HornbergerMcKenzy White - Mrs. HallBrieana Shook-Teets - Mrs. VargoHanna Atiyeh - Ms. BrownGabrielle Johnson - Ms. WalcottKennedy Griggs - Ms. BrownThe Pillars of Character Committee and staff of Diley Middle School applaud these students and others inour school as together we continue to “foster stewardship in our community.”PILLARS OF CHARACTER: CITIZENSHIPOur character education program in November focuses on the Pillar of Citizenship.Good citizens honor and respect the principles of democracy. They try to do their fair share,never take more than they give, and pursue the common good. Good citizens take pride intheir community, and volunteer in whatever way they can to help their school andcommunity be better, cleaner, and safer. They protect the environment by conserving resources,reducing pollution, and cleaning up after themselves. They know and obey the law, and work to changelaws or rules they think are unjust.As we prepare for Election Day, we can all be good citizens by educating ourselves about issues andcandidates. We can then exercise our privilege and civic duty of voting in November.Another part of Good Citizenship is serving our country in the armed forces. We will be honoring thosemen and women who have or are currently serving in the military by displaying on our Media Centerwindow a star with their name on it. A letter was sent home with all students explaining this project andasking for names of family members currently serving or who have served our country.Thank you to the following students forleading the school in the Pledge of Allegiance in OctoberEmma Cram Aliya Crawford Courtney Werner Jordan BullockMegan Maki Thomas Covert Birra Negeri Courtney JonesKaty Blackmon Kaleigh Norvet Nate Foulks Katie SpargoKelly Peterson Austin Birtcher Dani Kunkel B.J. VanHooseSydney King Marquise Hannah Samantha Oberdorf T’imAsia NobleSky Mulllins Christiana Conley Josh Cole Isaac MaddenAnod Hassan Summer Holliday-Bailey Ciara Bondurant Leah KruegerAustin Caldwell Kayonna Harper Brad Howes Matt LowellEliza Lange Alex Forshey Nathan Martin Caitlin NewellCorey Taylor Mikehl Dunn Delaney Roberts Barbara OtchereNurse Notes - Taking Care of a ColdMost people get several colds a year. You cannotcompletely avoid them, but you can reduce the chancesby keeping your hands away from your face andwashing your hands frequently.The common cold is caused by viruses and lasts 7-14days. It usually starts with a sore throat, sneezing, andrunny nose. You may have a mild fever or headache,stuffy nose and thicker yellowishmucous. Stuffy ears and sinus pressures around theeyes, forehead and cheek bones may develop.Dates to RememberNov. 2 GRADE CARDS sent homeNov. 6 Election DayNov. 12 School Board Mtg. - 7 pm, Heritage Elem.Nov. 14 Fundraiser DeliveryNov. 19 D.A.R.E. Culmination -7 pm, Central PACNov. 21-23 NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break

Custody of Children -If there has been a recent divorce decree or a change in custody of your child, checkwith the school office to insure that we have a copy of this information on file.