Weekly Update

October 4, 2026

A Message from the Principal

Happy Sunday, Families!

We have another fun and busy week ahead at Pennell! From Picture Day and Homecoming Spirit Week to celebrating our amazing custodians, there is plenty happening around the building. Make sure to read all the way through to the bottom of this newsletter, so you don't miss a thing!

Custodian Appreciation Day – Monday, 10/5

We are celebrating our incredible custodians on Monday! They work hard every day to keep our building clean, safe, and ready for our Penguins to learn and have fun. Please help us show them how much we appreciate all they do!

Picture Day is Tuesday!

Our Homecoming Spirit Week flyer has been updated to reflect Dress to Impress on Tuesday for Picture Day.

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.

Dismissal Changes

If your child’s dismissal routine changes, please email your child’s teacher, Mrs. Howley in the main office, and Principal Palladino. Sending the message to all three helps ensure that someone receives the information, even if one of us is absent. Without notification of a change, we will follow the dismissal routine communicated at the beginning of the school year.

Lockdown Drill Next Week

We will be practicing a lockdown drill next week (10/12-16). These drills are an important part of keeping our Penguins safe. Staff will prepare students in an age-appropriate way so they know what to expect.

Dress Code Reminder

Please take a moment to review the dress code expectations in the student handbook with your child. We appreciate your help in making sure students come to school prepared and ready to learn.

Please Skip the Glass Bottles

For safety reasons, please do not send your child to school with glass bottles. If a glass bottle falls and breaks, it can create a significant safety hazard for students and staff.

Thank you, as always, for being such an important part of our Pennell Penguin family. We are looking forward to another great week of learning, leading, and having a little fun along the way!

Warmly,

Principal Palladino

Click Here to Review the Pennell Elementary Handbook

This Week's Letter Days

Mon.	Tues.	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.
B Day	C Day	D Day	E Day	F Day

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

Tuesday 10/6 Picture Day
10/5-10/9 Homecoming Spirit Week
10/5-10/8 Fall Book Fair
Friday 10/9 SVHS Homecoming Parade - Meet at Northley Middle School at 5:30
Thursday 10/22 Fall Fest (10/29 rain date)
Friday 10/23 District-Wide wear pink day!
10/26-10/30 Red Ribbon Week

View Events Calendar

Need to Do

Student Council Permission Forms Due: If your child wants to run for Student Council, there parent permission form needs to be filled out and brought back to Ms. Raucci by 3:00PM on Tuesday, 10/6.

Mark Your Calendar: Friday 10/30 Dress as your favorite Champion or Hero to celebrate our Champions Lead Here Theme and Anti-Bullying Month

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.

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.

Help us reach 1,000 followers on Instagram! 🎉

Pennell is working toward our goal of 1,000 followers so we can unlock the ability to go LIVE during some of our fun school events. Imagine being able to watch special moments, celebrations, assemblies, and school activities right from home, work, or wherever you may be!

If you are not already following us, please take a moment to join our Pennell Instagram community and invite family members and friends to follow along as well. Every follower brings us one step closer to sharing even more of the wonderful things happening at Pennell!

Need to Know

Arrival and Dismissal Safety Tips:

During Arrival

Student car riders are safest when they exit the vehicle directly onto the sidewalk. Please have students exit on the side closest to the sidewalk whenever possible.
This helps prevent students from walking around the vehicle and entering areas where moving cars may be present.

During Arrival & Dismissal

Please stay on designated sidewalks while walking to and from the building.
Only cross at designated crosswalks on campus.
Please remind students to remain alert and watch for moving vehicles at all times.
Please do not park around the back of the building or along the perimeter of the fence during dismissal. All vehicles should be parked in designated, marked parking spaces. This helps us keep traffic moving safely and ensures our students and families can get home safely.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe!

District Announcements

Don’t Let Days Add Up

Missing a day here and there may not seem like much, but those days add up. Regular attendance helps students stay connected to learning and make the most of every school day.

Learn More

Homecoming Parade to Follow New Route on October 9

The Sun Valley Homecoming Parade will follow a new route on Friday, October 9, due to an event at Aston Community Center.

2026 Flu Clinic Provided by Springfield Pharmacy, October 22

Springfield Pharmacy will provide flu vaccinations for students and staff. An online consent form is required.

Pennell PTO News

It's Book Fair Week! Sign up to volunteer here & visit our website to set up an eWallet for cash-free shopping!

SV Homecoming Parade is this Friday, October 9. Please be at Northley at 5:30pm in the parking lot closest to the pool, on the Bridgewater Road side of the building There is an adjusted route this year. All students walking in the parade should wear a Pennell shirt & will receive a free ticket to the SV football game. All students need to have an adult with them, this is not a drop off event. We still need a volunteer to bring the banner & be our group leader. If you're interested in helping, please email pto4pennell@gmail.com

Soft Pretzels will be on sale at lunch this Friday. Remember your $1 & thank you for supporting this fundraiser for the 5th Grade Committee all year long!

Little Caesars flyers are coming home this week. This fundraiser runs through October 23 & orders will be delivered to school the week of November 9.

Fall Fest is October 22. Flyers are coming home soon but check out our website for all the details - we will need candy/treat donations! Sign up links are live: Trunk Decorating Contest, Adult Volunteers or Teen Volunteers if you have an older sibling who needs volunteer hours.

Yearbook Committee has a new email address this year. Please submit any photos you take of class parties, field trips, events & more to pennellyearbook2627@gmail.com. You can also email if you'd like to join the committee as an official photographer, editor, or otherwise help this year!

5th Grade News Make sure you are in the class Facebook group to stay up to date. We are working on the class email address as well, for anyone not on Facebook.

For all the most up to date PTO info, visit our website. Please check your students’ folders regularly so you don’t miss our flyers! Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for updates too.

Please send questions to: pto4pennell@gmail.com

Community News

Community Bulletin Board

Penn-Delco is committed to working in partnership with the surrounding community. Visit the Community Bulletin Board on pdsd.org to view upcoming programs, events, etc. offered by our approved community partners.

Visit PDSD Community Bulletin Board