The Hawk Happenings: Pennoyer Staff Newsletter

Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

Sorry I wasn't at Pennoyer to finish out the week with everyone, but I appreciate being able to get away a little and feeling secure in your abilities as a staff to continue to step up as you always do and keeping our school community running. I hope you all felt the true love and appreciation that myself and our entire Administrative Leadership Team has for each and every one of you this past Tuesday on Valentine's Day. I loved walking in and out of your classrooms and seeing all the positive energy and sweet treats being passed around from one student to another and from students to staff. I also loved seeing all the cute heart outfits our students wore to celebrate the positive spirit of the day. I certainly have enough chocolate now to last until next Valentine's Day...Lol!

I also want to take another moment to acknowledge the incredible level of support that you as a staff have shown through this journey towards our referendums on the April 4th ballot. I know Kristin and I have been saying it over this past week, but I just can't thank you all enough for the united spirit you continue to bring to this fight for our school, students, families, and staff. The energy in the MPR this past Wednesday night was palpable. It was packed from wall to wall with staff, families, students, and community political figures. This is obviously my first go around with all of this, but I truly feel like the voices of our staff, students, and community ARE BEING HEARD, and we will prevail this time. Next stop...Taste of Pennoyer!!!

Hawk Action Items

PTC Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21st at 7pm in the MPR

HERE is the agenda if you're interested in attending

For the third year, Norwood Park Township will be funding a summer enrichment program for the area elementary students and we are looking for teachers to staff the program. The program dates and times are:

Monday-Friday | July 17-21 and July 24-28 from 8:30am-12:10pm
Pay is $1500 for the two weeks
Location will be at Union Ridge School

This is an opportunity for you to create fun and enriching sessions for students in the community. Last year, there was everything from theater, sports, to literacy programs. We will be able to support your sessions with materials, and you will have a high school teaching assistant as well from Main South. If you need help conceptualizing a session, please let me know and we can find time to meet.

For those of you who are interested, please fill out this form by the end of the day today, February 17th.
https://forms.gle/F7pfdk7fXUeQo4R39

Just a reminder to staff to continue 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!

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

"I see the world, Feel the Chill. Which way to go, Windowsill. I see the words, On a rocking horse of time. I see the verse in the rain."

-Release by Pearl Jam

Hawk Celebrations

This week I'm so proud to celebrate the incredible thoughtfulness and community spirit of our students and staff. When the Salvation Army reached out a couple weeks ago and asked if our school could help support their Birthday Cake Box Project, we certainly stepped up and answered the call! This community service project was all about putting together birthday cake packages to utilize in our surrounding area for families that might not be able to afford creating birthday cakes for those special occasions with their children and loved ones. These collections consisted of cake mix, frosting, Sprite, and candles to help make yummy soda pop cakes with no flour or eggs at all! I was so impressed with the amazing level of giving our students and staff came forward with. This entire endeavor was supported by our very own Student Council led by Mrs. Khafka and Ms. Kopoulos, and Peer Leaders led by Mrs. Stecker. In the end, last Friday, we were able to deliver an enormous amount of cake box packages over to the Salvation Army with so much Pennoyer pride. In celebration of our successful community project, Ms. Warchol's Kindergarten class will be receiving a party with some sweet treats after Kindergartner Lucille Klein had her name pulled in our school raffle. Way to go!!!