Principal Palladino

December 1, 2024

Pennell Families,


It’s hard to believe that December 1st is already upon us! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends. As we embark on the next three weeks, the anticipation and excitement will be palpable as we prepare for the joyous winter break ahead. I encourage you to stay connected and keep an eye on your email for important communication regarding special events, as our team strives to keep our Pennell community informed and engaged. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey; your continued support and participation empower every student and enrich our school community!


Related Arts:

Monday is F

Tuesday is A

Wednesday is B

Thursday is C

Friday is D


Front Field Announcement:

We are excited to share that the Penn-Delco School District is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all our students. As part of our efforts to enhance our facilities, we've recently aerated and seeded the front field. While this means that the front field will be temporarily unavailable for play over the next few months until our facilities team gives us the green light, we want to reassure you that recess will continue as usual in the back playground. We appreciate your understanding and support as we take these proactive measures to ensure our outdoor spaces are in the best condition possible for our students. If you have any questions or need further information, please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to the day when the front field is ready for use, and we are excited about the opportunities it will provide for personal growth and community involvement!


Lunch/Recess Assistant:

We currently have a job posting up for a lunch/recess assistant for Pennell. This position plays a critical part in ensuring student safety and health during lunch and recess, which are essential components of the academic day. By fostering a supportive atmosphere, you will directly contribute to the overall success and development of our students. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young learners, we invite you to apply through the district website. Every contribution matters!


Reminder:

Students should not bring any items from home into school, including toys. Teachers have been noticing some disruption coming from the tiny ducks. Please make sure your child(ren) are only bringing school supplies to school. Thank you in advance for your assistance.


Arrival and Dismissal:

I want to take a moment to address an important aspect of our school community—student safety during drop-off and pick-up times. Recently, our team has noticed an increase in traffic in the circle on Richard Rd, which has led to some unsafe situations for our students. To help create a safer environment, we kindly ask that all parents and guardians adhere to the designated traffic pattern: please enter the school property, turn right, and proceed around the back of the building before exiting onto Pennell Rd. By following these guidelines, not only do we enhance the safety of our students, but we also show respect for our neighbors, fostering a positive relationship within our community. Together, we can ensure that our school remains a welcoming and secure place for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation and support in making our school a safe and happy environment for all!



Upcoming Dates for your Calendar:


  • 12/3 and 12/4 Holiday Shop
  • 12/6 Autistic support field trip to DE Children's Museum
  • 12/6 Reports cards posted
  • 12/9 3rd field trip to the Aquarium
  • 12/12 Winter Concert 6:30 PM
  • 12/19 4th and 5th grades go to SVHS for winter concert assembly
  • 12/20 Half-day, 11:15 dismissal



Follow us now on Instagram @PDSD_Pennell

Girls on the Run is Coming Back!

Girls on the Run is coming to Pennell Elementary 3rd-5th graders!  Girls on the Run goes beyond just physical activity — we foster a positive, educational and inclusive environment where every girl feels seen, heard, and valued. If you’re looking for a program that inspires your girl to be her best self, join our team! Our Spring 2025 season begins 2/24/25 and meets Tue/Thur 3:15-4:45PM. 

Online registration opens December 1st - 10th on gortpa.org. Contact info@gotrpa.org with questions.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CHORUS

from Mrs. O'Kane

Hello Chorus Families,

 

Please look below for rehearsal and concert reminders.

 

  • Rehearsals
  • Wednesday, November 27th @ 8am
  • Wednesday, December 4th @ 8am
  • Wednesday, December 11th @ 8am
  • This is our final rehearsal of the Winter Concert season. 
  • We will begin again in late January

 

  • Winter Concert
  • Thursday, December 12th at 6:30pm at Pennell
  • Students arrive at 6:20pm
  • Students should meet in the music room

 

  • Concert Dress Code
  • Concert Black
  • Students should wear as much black as possible, however festive pops of color or white are welcome!
  • No jeans or sweats, please!

 

 

** If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. O'Kane directly!

NEWS FROM THE ART

We are happy to say that the Pennell 2024-2025 collaborative mural has been installed in the back hallway of the 1st floor. This mural was inspired by the book, Be You, written and illustrated by Peter Reynolds. 


To create this mural, we watched this video of the author reading his book. 


https://youtu.be/RY-xv_lzRVk?si=qOoq3u926ojUwmrW


Then the penguin artists brainstormed how to be their best selves this year. They wrote their name and a word to BE. Finally, they drew a simple self portrait and painted it. This was phase 1, which was just installed. In phase 2, they did an individual piece that was larger and used more color. 


Suggestions for parents, if you wish... ask your child about this project, rewatch the video with your child and discuss how they are feeling about their goal. Is it working? Would they change it? Etc. 


Thanks for supporting the arts at Pennell! 

Mrs. Gordon

PARENT TECHNOLOGY TIPS

Parent Tech Tip from our Technology teacher, Ms. Cameron


 5 Surefire Ways to Protect Your Kid's Online Privacy | Common Sense Media

 

It has been a busy few weeks in Technology. We have been learning about privacy and online safety in class. On November 8th we participated in National STEM Day by completing an engineering design challenge. Everyone has been working on learning keyboarding skills, and our students in 3-5 have been working on essays to honor our veterans. 

 

Wishing you and your family time to reflect on what makes you thankful this season.

PENNELL PTO CORNER

Holiday Shop is Tuesday & Wednesday! Flyers with shopping envelopes came home last week - please write who students are shopping for on the envelope. We could use a few more cashiers & clean up crew,

please sign up here if you're available!

Special Person Dance will be January 31, 6-8pm at the Ballroom at the Phoenix. Tickets are $20 per person & a buffet dinner is included. The theme this year will be Penguins in Paradise! Flyers will be coming home soon & tickets will be sold until December 20. 

Disney on Ice tickets in support of the 5th Grade are still available.

Kick off your holiday shopping by using our link (& share it with friends!) 


Pretzel Friday returns this week - remember those dollars!

Fifth grade families can continue to sign up to sell pretzels here.


See you at our next meeting December 10 - childcare will be available & we will have a Zoom link, as usual. The 5th Grade Committee will not meet that night. 

ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB

The Environmental Club is collecting all types of glasses again this year for a recycling project through The Lion's Club. Please send all types of eyewear that you no longer want or need. Students can drop off donations at Room 109, Mrs. Irving's classroom.

SNACK PRICES FROM THE CHARTWELLS

PENNELL 2024-25

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Please take some time this weekend to review the Pennell Handbook. Make sure to review drop off and pick up procedures in addition to birthday snacks and absent procedures.

HANDBOOK

HELPFUL LINKS

Pennell's Website
Report Attendance
24-25 Instructional Calendar
Volunteer Clearance Information
Penn-Delco's Website
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