Pennoyer Staff Newsletter - 1/13/23

                               Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

To say this has been a difficult week for all of us would be an understatement.  I'm not going to sugarcoat things or pretend what we're all going through right now is easy in any way.  For some, there are much bigger impacts than others obviously, but in this short amount of time that I've been so lucky to be your principal, I know what this true Pennoyer family is made of and how resilient we all are.  I know that nobody here should feel alone.  At times it will be a rollercoaster of emotions for many over the next few months, but just know that I am here for each and every one of you whenever you need to talk, gain some perspective or insight, need a break, or just need to vent and have me listen.  I truly mean that.  I'm also comforted in the fact that we have an amazing staff as a whole that I know will continue to support and lift each other up whenever needed as well.  I wish I had a crystal ball right now, but I can tell you all with all my heart, that I have faith that things will absolutely work out in our favor come April.  

I will always stay positive, be a champion for Pennoyer, keep perspective, and help make each and every day here the best it can be for all of us, our students, and families.  You can count on me.  Through these ups and downs, if anyone has ideas on how to continue to build upon the culture and climate here at Pennoyer, you know I always welcome ideas.  Keep your heads up, hang in there, and this fight is not over yet.  This is just the final piece that I believe needs to happen unfortunately before real change finally comes our way.

LRC will be closed all of next week for ACCESS testing except for Math 1 students from 12:20-1:40pm.  We may be working on a modified library access schedule beyond next week until ACCESS testing is complete, but we'll let everyone know.

We have a PTC Meeting next Wednesday night now from 6-7pm in the MPR if any teachers are interested in joining for representation.  HERE is the agenda.

Hawk Action Items 

• We could still use a few more staff members to help out at our first annual Middle School Dance on Friday, January 20th from 7-9pm.  If you'd like to just stay after school and help decorate the gym a little, we'd love support with that as well.  So if you still need to sign up for an extra nightly event at Pennoyer.  Sign Up HERE!

• 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.

• Just a reminder to staff to check emails each morning by 7:30am if you signed up to help out with internal subbing when we need coverage.  Thanks so much for the support with all of this.  Anyone else is able to check their email as well and pick up any coverage they might be interested in moving forward.  HERE is the doc we'll use every day.  You can just fill in your name in the spaces you're available to cover...thanks again!

• ESL Volunteer Instructor Program at The Salvation Army - If you're interested, see the message below and contact Pamela Church-Pryor at the Salvation Army.  Her number is 708-456-6220 and her email is Pryor@usc.salvationarmy.org *(They can create these instructional classes after school hours so any staff members interested could support and volunteer.)

Here at The Salvation Army, we are looking ahead to ways we can better serve our community in the new year and we feel ESL classes would be beneficial, considering how many immigrants and refugees have come to live among us.  We’d prefer to provide classes during the school hours, so parents would not have to worry about child care.  But we may also consider evening classes.   I am wondering if there are staff or volunteers at your schools who might be able to help us.  

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

"And we go running on faith.  All of our dreams will come true, and our world will be right, when love comes over me and you."

Running on Faith by Eric Clapton

                                                                         

Hawk Celebrations

This week we celebrate our incredible social worker, Mrs. Rachel Slawson!  Mrs. Slawson is such a vital component to our success here at Pennoyer and is so much more than just a social worker who supports all of our students.  She goes above and beyond to build relationships with students, staff, and families to make our school and community the best it can be.  Mrs. Slawson is kind, collaborative, hard working, and a true problem solver no matter what the situation is.  She is truly reliable, and in the end, she puts students first above all else.  Mrs. Slawson is the leader of our PBIS initiative that embraces positive behavior with clear expectations and incentives for all of our students here at Pennoyer to succeed, learn, and grow.  We're so lucky to have Mrs. Slawson here at Pennoyer!

January Birthdays! 🎂

Vicki Kafka - 1/11

Kristin Kopta- 1/13

Sarah Adkins - 1/21

Connect - Collaborate - Celebrate