The Hawk Happenings: Pennoyer Staff Newsletter

Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

I just want to take a moment and wish everyone a very happy holidays and New Year! I know I have so much to be thankful for in 2022 being part of our Pennoyer family, and can't wait for 2023 and even better things ahead for all of us. Personally, I'm filled with so much gratitude for all of the kind spirit, support, and gifts over the last couple of weeks that I've been on the receiving end of, but that I've also seen between staff, students, and families. We have an amazing community here, and even when we have tough days and moments along the way, I'll never lose sight of that.

I hope whatever you have planned for the holidays and New Year, it's filled with some joy, relaxation, and time to do a few fun things. My first goal is to get through these 8 nights of Hanukah without my daughter Sadie crying every night about the present she got. So far, we're 3 out of 4 in terms of presents she was disappointed in. I guess daddy got it wrong this year. Trying to teach my 6th grade daughter to be grateful for anything hasn't been easy, but I'm working on it. I do love her so much though.

Whatever you might get or give this holiday season, I'm just so excited for our entire staff to have this much earned break. Unplug from work, and I can't wait to see you all in 2023 recharged and ready to push through the rest of our winter months ahead. We got this!

Staff Meeting Agenda for Monday, January 9th

Don't forget to take home your school devices over break and into the winter months ahead just in case we ever have to have an E Learning Day...thanks!

Just a reminder if you're coming to the Staff Holiday Party today...If you'd like to leave your car at Pennoyer, we're going to keep the lot and gate open on Thursday all night into Friday if needed for anyone.

Hawk Action Items

Please make sure to look around your classrooms before break and clean out any food items.

A reminder to staff to please put in work orders (SchoolDude) whenever you have something in your classroom or the building that needs attention from our maintenance crew (i.e. HVAC, furniture set up/removal, etc.). This is the best way for us to keep track of work needing to be done and collect data on our systems and general maintenance of the building.

If you still need to finish your Infinitech trainings and KnowBe4, please do so by January 13th at the latest to be compliant. Thanks so much. Reach out to Patrick with any questions

Interested in helping out at our first annual Middle School Dance on Friday, January 20th from 7-9pm? If you still need to sign up for an extra nightly event at Pennoyer, we'd love to have you help this event that our middle schoolers are so excited about! Sign Up HERE

Classroom Management Professional Development Opportunity through LASEC

Check out more information HERE

Have you noticed that traditional discipline often doesn’t work?

Former teacher, principal, superintendent, and author of The Classroom Behavior Manual, Scott Ervin, can show you a better way. Instead of using the demands, punishments, and deficit mindset of traditional discipline, Scott Ervin’s Behavioral Leadership uses Gentle Guidance Interventions, Learning Opportunities, and a strengths mindset that focuses educators and students on what students are doing right, instead of what they are doing wrong. Participants will learn how to never argue with students, a strategy for remaining calm, and how to build relationships, share control in healthy ways, and teach positive behaviors.

West 40 - Newcomer Item Drive - Think about supporting this initiative. HERE is more information if you're interested.
Eisenhower Library Story Essay Activity for Students! If you think you may have some students at any age that would be interested in something like this, please pass it along. It looks like a real cool opportunity for any creative writers! There is no deadline I'm aware of to turn these in, but I'm sure the sooner, the better. HERE is the information!
Interested in SEL Professional Development...check out what West 40 has to offer!

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

Easy by The Commodores

Hawk Celebrations

This past Tuesday night was honestly one of my favorite experiences in my 20 years of education. I was so full of pride and smiling from ear to ear as I witnessed the inspiring dedication of Ms. Amanda Payne and all of our PreK-4th graders shine on stage at our 2022 Pennoyer Winter Concert! In addition, Mr. Paul Browne and our incredible band students kicked things off on the right foot. Every student involved in the Winter Concert put in so much work and Ms. Payne was a true leader bringing it all together with her creativity and thoughtfulness for our entire community. Ms. Payne was supported by our incredible Fine Arts and PE department, which includes Megan McManus, Jim Nelsen, and Kajsa Meyer. They put in a lot of extra time behind the scenes to get the gym looking absolutely amazing and being flexible with their space and time during the past week leading up to the actual show. We also had a whole group of teachers come and support our students and Ms. Payne on Tuesday night to help bring it all together. In the final songs of the show, with an absolutely packed gym, the crowd sang Jingle Bells along with our students and staff and the positive joy and spirit was through the roof. It was truly a special night for the entire Pennoyer community that I know I will never forget.