Weekly Update

October 18, 2026

A Message from the Principal

Hello Pennell Families!

We have had another busy week at Pennell, and there is so much to celebrate and look forward to as we head into the weeks ahead!

First, our lockdown drill went great! Our students and staff did an amazing job following directions, staying calm, and taking the drill seriously. We are proud of our Penguins for doing their part to help keep our school safe. Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to practice and prepare for emergencies.

This week, all students who ride the bus to and/or from school will receive a bus expectations letter. Please take a few minutes to review the letter with your child, sign it, and return it to school. The bus is an important part of the school day, and we need every student to follow the expectations so that every ride is safe for our students and drivers. Thank you for reinforcing these expectations at home!

A quick update on Art Club: Sign-ups are now closed, as Mrs. Gordon has reached capacity for both groups. All families who expressed interest have been contacted. If you completed the interest form but have not received communication, please reach out to Mrs. Gordon directly at ngordon@psdsd.org.

We are also looking forward to one of our students’ favorite events of the year—Fall Fest! A huge thank-you to our PTO for all the hard work that has already gone into planning this special evening. If you haven’t already, please be sure to sign up to volunteer and purchase your wristband. These events are only possible because of the time and generosity of our families and volunteers, and we are so grateful for your support!

And just when you think things are getting busy, we’re already looking ahead to the winter door decorating contest! Teachers will be sharing more information soon. Once I have a list of the doors available to adopt, I’ll share a SignUpGenius for anyone interested in spreading some winter cheer throughout Pennell. I can’t wait to see the creativity our Penguin family brings to this tradition!

Things are about to get VERY busy, so please make sure you are checking your email and Schoology regularly for updates from your child’s teacher, our PTO, and the school. We don’t want you to miss a thing!

Thank you for your continued partnership and for all the ways you help make Pennell such a wonderful place for our Penguins to learn and grow. Let’s keep showing everyone that Champions LEAD Here!

Warmly,

Principal Palladino

A few fifth-grade girls from across the district had the opportunity to attend a special day focused on learning, connection, and empowerment alongside 72 middle school girls from across the region! Throughout the day, they participated in workshops focused on navigating friendships, preventing bullying, building body confidence, setting healthy boundaries, and managing big emotions. They also explored wellness and self-care through activities such as yoga, self-defense, and art therapy. We are so proud of our girls for taking part in these meaningful experiences and building the confidence, resilience, and social-emotional skills that will help them grow as leaders. Champions LEAD Here!

We’re Hiring!

We are currently looking for two recess/lunch assistants to join our Pennell team and work with our awesome Penguins each day during their unstructured time. If you or someone you know may be interested, please apply through the district’s Human Resources webpage.

This Week's Letter Days

Students will attend Music, Art, PE (twice weekly), Technology, and Guidance. Related Arts classes follow a 6-day, beginning with Day A on September 8. The weekly cycle will be communicated with families each week.

Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar

• Thursday 10/22 Fall Fest (10/29 rain date)
• Friday 10/23 District-Wide wear pink day!
• 10/26-10/30 Red Ribbon Week
• 10/29 Wear Red for Red Ribbon Week
• 10/29 Kindergarten Field Trip
• 10/30 Dress like your favorite champion or hero
• 10/30 2nd Grade Field Trip
• 11/2 1st Grade Field Trip
• 11/3 No School for Students - Election Day

Need to Do

Mark Your Calendar:

• Friday 10/30 Dress as your favorite Champion or Hero to celebrate our Champions Lead Here Theme and Anti-Bullying Month
• Tuesday 11/3 No School for students - Election Day Inservice

Need to Know

Mrs. Cameron's Tech Tip:

Raising Kids in a Digital World 

Simple tips to help families raise safe, smart, and responsible digital citizens. 

Vivienne Cameron, M.Ed.



Cyberbullying—Recognizing the Warning Signs

Cyberbullying doesn't always look the way we expect, and sometimes children may hurt others online without fully realizing the impact of their actions. Warning signs might include repeatedly making fun of others in online games or chats, sharing embarrassing photos, or using technology to exclude or upset a classmate. Rather than assuming the worst, parents can use these moments as opportunities to talk about empathy, responsible choices, and how our words affect others—even through a screen. If you notice concerning behavior, stay calm, ask questions, and help your child understand the impact of their actions and how to make things right. Teaching children to take responsibility for their online behavior is an important part of raising kind, respectful digital citizens.

Action Step: Watch the short video below and use it to start a conversation. Ask your child, "Have you ever seen someone being treated this way online?" and "What could you do if you realized your own words or actions had hurt someone?"

Family Resource (1-minute video): 4 Signs That Your Kid Might Be Cyberbullying — Common Sense Media

In Case You Missed It:

Message from the Principal

Good Afternoon Pennell Families,



I know arrival and dismissal can be busy times, and I appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we work together to keep our Pennell Penguins and families safe.

Please keep the following reminders in mind to help make arrival and dismissal go smoothly for everyone!

Dismissal Parking and Traffic

• Park in the front parking lots past the playground near Pennell Road. These areas have sidewalks and designated crosswalks to help keep everyone safe as they walk to and from their vehicles.
• Do not park along the back of the building or along the perimeter of the fence. This area is an active driveway without the same sidewalk and crosswalk access, creating a safety concern for children and adults walking near moving vehicles.
• Follow the one-way driveway pattern and exit onto Pennell Road. Please drive slowly and watch for pedestrians.

Our blacktop was recently resurfaced, and the parking and traffic lines have not yet been completely repainted. In the meantime, please continue to follow the one-way traffic pattern around the building.

Arrival and Dismissal Safety Reminders

• Whenever possible, have your child exit the vehicle on the side closest to the sidewalk rather than walking around the vehicle near moving traffic.
• Remind your child to stay alert and watch for moving vehicles.
• Use designated sidewalks when walking to and from the building.
• Cross only at designated crosswalks on campus.
• Park only in designated parking spaces.

I know these routines can take a little extra time, especially when everyone is ready to get home at the end of the day. Thank you for following these expectations and sharing them with anyone who may be dropping off or picking up your child. Your cooperation makes a difference in keeping our students and families safe.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

District Announcements

Pennell PTO News

Fall Fest is THURSDAY NIGHT. Advance wristband orders are due TOMORROW & will be sent home with students by Thursday. We are still collecting candy donations for the Treat Trail & we still need Adult Volunteers & Trunk Decorating Contest Entries. Please remember that the concession stand & raffles are CASH ONLY! You can purchase wristbands at the registration table that night as well. 

Little Caesars orders are due THIS FRIDAY 10/23 & orders will be delivered to school the week of November 9. When we have an exact date for pick up we will confirm.

Is Disney on Ice one of your winter break traditions? Use our link to purchase your tickets & help support the 5th Grade Committee. Share it with friends & family too, anyone can use our link!

Remember Pretzel Friday! Send $1 with your student to purchase a soft pretzel at lunch & help support the 5th Grade Committee.

5th Grade News

Make sure you are in the class Facebook group or email Pennell5thgrade2027@gmail.com to stay up to date on everything this year!

5th Grade runs the Fall Fest concession stand so please sign up here to donate supplies or volunteer. 

We need volunteers every Friday to sell pretzels during lunch - please sign up here to take a shift or 2. 

Keep an eye on social media for some pop up ways to support the committee this year, and share those posts with friends & family!

Please send questions to: pto4pennell@gmail.com

Community News

Follow Pennell on Instagram

Our Instagram account shares photos and videos that highlight the amazing stuff happening at Pennell! Find us by clicking the Instagram icon or searching @PDSD_Pennell on the app.

Share the Good News:

We would love to hear the good news from the lives of our Penguins outside of school! Please click here to send a "Good News Report" about your child to our Leader in Me team. It may even be shared on the morning announcements!

Share Your Child's Talents (Leader in Me)

We want to celebrate the amazing things our students do outside of school! Send us a photo of your child participating in an activity they love, such as sports, dance, music, art, scouts, or another extracurricular activity. Each and every student has a champion inside of them, and we want to celebrate them!

Please email photos to jwood@pdsd.org and include your child’s name and grade.