Weekly Update

October 11, 2026

A Message from the Principal

Hello Pennell Families!

We had a wonderful week at Pennell, and I want to send a huge thank-you to everyone who helped make our Scholastic Book Fair such an incredible success! Your support and enthusiasm help us continue to build a love of reading in our Penguins.

Looking ahead, Monday afternoon we will be conducting a lockdown drill as part of our ongoing commitment to student and staff safety. These drills help us practice important safety procedures and ensure everyone knows how to respond appropriately. We appreciate your partnership as we continue to make safety our top priority.

A quick reminder that Wednesday is a half day for students, with dismissal at 11:15 a.m. Our teachers will participate in professional development during the afternoon to continue strengthening instruction and support for our students.

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

Thank you for all you do to make our school such a fabulous place to be!

Warmly,

Principal Palladino

Click Here to Review the Pennell Elementary Handbook

This Week's Letter Days

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

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 Kindergarten Field Trip
10/30 Dress like your favorite champion or hero
10/30 2nd Grade Field Trip
11/2 1st Grade Field Trip

View Events Calendar

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

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! 🎉

We have reached over 500 followers! Thank you so much for getting the word out. Now, if everyone just reaches out to one friend or family member and gets them to follow us to, we can reach 1,000. Don't stop now!!!

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

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

Thank you to everyone who supported the Book Fair! We were able to donate books to every class as well as many of our specialists. The funds raised also help support the monthly magazines each class gets. Biggest thanks of all to the wonderful volunteers who worked so hard this week to make it a success!

Our next meeting is this Tuesday, October 13 at 6:30pm in the library (childcare in the gym) & on Zoom. The 5th Grade Committee will meet at 6pm.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4864630334?omn=82412553714

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

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

Fall Fest is October 22. Wristband orders are due October 19 & we are collecting candy donations for the Treat Trail! Check out all our links online too: Trunk Decorating Contest, Adult Volunteers or Teen Volunteers if you have an older sibling who needs volunteer hours.

Please remember that the concession stand & 50/50 are CASH ONLY!

Yearbook Committee is always looking for photos of school events, field trips, parties & more. Please send them to pennellyearbook2627@gmail.com all year long!

We still have magnets available

for $5. All money raised goes to the Pablo Fund for a new

mascot costume! Email pto4pennell@gmail.com to purchase.

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!

We need volunteers every Friday to sell pretzels during lunch - please sign up here to take a shift or 2. Additional dates will be added soon.

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

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

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