Hawk Thoughts & Happenings
Team Pennoyer,
I couldn't think of a better way to start my very first staff newsletter as your new principal than to give you the highlights (Top 10 in no particular order) of my experiences this week that I am forever grateful for and humbled by as I start my journey in this position. I know I'll have some ups and downs, as we all will, but this first week has been really special for me thanks to all of you and our amazing group of students...thanks everyone!
Here they are...
1. Making a preschooler cry by just sitting down next to him and asking, "Could I play blocks with you?"
2. Putting on the shoes of a kindergartner and walking him to lunch. He held my hand the whole way there, and I got him to eat his sandwich!
3. Hanging out with some 8th graders at recess just joking around.
4. A first grader running up to me across the parking lot on the very first day of school and giving me a huge hug. She said, "See you tomorrow Mr. G!"
5. 7th graders thinking my name is Mr. Greensberg with an "s". They're not quite getting it yet.
6. A first grader coming up to me and saying, "I don't like you?" When I said, oh no, why, what's wrong?" He said, "Cause you made the old principal leave."
7. A parent at dismissal time talking about me right in front of Officer Bob and myself. He had no idea who I was when he said, "I guess this Adam doesn't really care enough about safety to get another crossing guard." I actually ended up introducing myself to him a few minutes later, and he said, "Oh, I'm so sorry I said that and didn't know who you were." We're good buddies now.
8. Getting a card from Oliver and talking about my birthday and favorite pizza with him!
9. Talking soccer with some 7th grade boys and watching them play a math game in class.
10. Hanging out with Kindergartners during their snack time and talking about tattoos. I made sure to say...never get one!!! Hope this one doesn't come back to me...lol.
- Curriculum Night - September 21st - Probable Schedule...
5:30-5:45pm - Pre K-5 presentations
5:50-6:05pm - Pre K-5 presentations
6:05-6:20pm - Pre K-5 presentations
6:30-7:30pm - Middle school w/ student schedule rotation
- Back to School Fun Fair! - Today after school from 4-6pm if you'd like to just hang out or you've volunteered to help.
- Meet & Greet w/ the New Principal - This is an event I'm hosting next Monday, Sept. 12th
- New Family Orientation Night - This is an event we're hosting with myself, Kristin, and Melissa for any of our new families next Wednesday, Sept. 14th
Hawk Action Items
- MAP Testing - (Email from Melissa) We will be NWEA MAP Growth testing September 12-16 We are having the students take this assessment so that we can get a baseline of where each child is currently, coming into this in-person school year. Please schedule a time for your students to take the Reading and Math MAP Growth tests. If a student is not here, please try to test them another day next week or make arrangements with your partner teacher to stagger test sessions. Hopefully there will be little-to-no makeup tests since it's the start of the school year.
- Helpful Links - Teacher's Guide to MAP, MAP Growth Proctor Slide Deck, and MAP Instructions for Testing
- One on One Meetings w/ Adam
- If you still need to set this up, there are plenty of dates left!
Sign Up September 12-16
Sign Up September 19-23
Sign Up September 26-30
- Putting in Weekly Announcements Reminder
- To submit an announcement, submit to this spreadsheet HERE (also linked within Master Schedule) - I'll be doing this another week and then Peer Leaders and Kiera will be taking over w/ video announcements.
- Creating new Clubs at Pennoyer and Submitting Club Information for Website (Existing or New Clubs)
- If you’re interested in starting up a new club, please submit your ideas HERE! You can check out the CBA if needed for more information.
- For all Clubs (new and old ones) we would like to create a helpful link on our website to showcase all of the wonderful opportunities for our students at Pennoyer. Please submit Club information that will be showcased on our website by September 23rd.
- You can simply create a one page Google Doc or Slide and share it with Pat and I. Here’s an EXAMPLE for your reference if needed.
- Updating Extracurricular Information w/ Jim for Website
- If you’re a coach for a sport/extracurricular activity, please work with Jim to update your information for students and families on the website if still needed.
- Stipend Openings for JV Girls and JV Boys Basketball Teams...Connect w/ Adam if interested.
- PTC Meetings
- We'd love to have teacher representation whenever you feel like attending these monthly meetings! Their first meeting is next Tuesday, September 13th at 7pm in the MPR. Here is the agenda.
- Emergency Sub Plans
- Just a friendly reminder that all teachers should create a general Emergency sub plan by Friday, September 16th.
- Please drop Emergency Sub Plans into this Folder and make sure everyone at Pennoyer can view…thanks!
- Here is an example of a teacher Emergency Plan for subs of needed. Time stamping is a good idea, but if you have another format that works, that’s fine too. Just make sure to include important student information a sub would need about your groups of students and a variety of viable options for your students if ever needed.
- Remember, for specific daily sub plans when you’re out, please make sure to share with Jill, Adam, and Alicia so we can coordinate with the sub(s).
Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric
This is where I'll have a weekly song from my playlist or a lyric to share...to be honest, sometimes it might be connected with our week and other times it's just something I want to share. I'll let you decide how to interpret it. Maybe you'll be intrigued enough to give it a listen or maybe it's already a part of your own music collection, or maybe you think I'm crazy and just way too into music!
Try Everything - Shakira
September Birthdays! 🎂
Diana Dylag - 9/3
Linda Krieter - 9/4
Justin Widd - 9/13
Maria Torres - 9/13
Megan McManus - 9/15
Kate Barzano - 9/18
Vicki Palicka - 9/18
Barbara Raffaelli - 9/21
Connect - Collaborate - Celebrate
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