Pennoyer Staff Newsletter - 9/29/23

                                                 Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

Well, I got back to my Star Wars roots these past couple of weeks and got into the show Ahsoka on the Disney channel.  This genre is just so ingrained in me from my childhood, and I can't seem to let it go.  I hope you all have shows or movies from the past that are nostalgic for you and hold good memories.  This weekend looks like beautiful weather, so I'm planning on getting outside as much as possible and staying off my tv at all costs.  I can't believe it's already October next week.  Whether this year is moving slowly or flying by for you, I hope you're all finding moments to really enjoy with our students and have those "experiences" that are so engaging and exiting for us as educators as well!

HERE is the agenda for our Staff Meeting next Monday, October 2nd at 3:15pm in the MPR.

Hawk Action Items 

2024 Golden Apple Teacher Nominations for Pre-K-3rd Grade Teachers if you're interested... Nominations for the 2024 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership are now open throughout Illinois! Are there Pre-K-3rd grade teachers at your school who deserve recognition for superior service to your students, school, and community? Show your appreciation to a teacher going above and beyond for students at your school with a Golden Apple Award nomination.

Click Here to Nominate a Teacher

Help us spread the word that Golden Apple Awards nominations are open! Honor an outstanding Pre-K-3rd grade teacher by nominating them for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching today: https://www.goldenapple.org/nominate-a-teacher

• Please don't forget to pass out both IAR reports from last spring, and our new fall MAP reports to all families that come to fall conferences next week.  You'll have to print out the family MAP reports for your students beforehand.  Reach out to Melissa Tronco with any questions about this...thanks!

New Friday Car Line Opportunity During Arrival Time - Want to be a "Guest DJ" and greeter during morning car line?  Reach out to Adam if you're interested!  You can have your own playlist if you'd like and be a part of a fun part of the day connecting with our families and students on Fridays during arrival time.  This is from 7:50am- to around 8:10am if you're interested.  HERE is a sign up sheet to make things easier, but reach out to Adam with any questions.

• Hand 2 Mind event opportunity for K-5th grade staff.  Check this flyer out and let Adam know if you're interested.

• 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, it's certainly not too late. Please submit your ideas HERE!  You can check out the CBA if needed for more information.  For new clubs, we’ve created a helpful link on our website to showcase the wonderful opportunities for our students at Pennoyer.  Please make sure once your club is approved that you create a one page Google Doc or Slide to share with Adam and Pat.  Also, if you’re continuing a club from last year, please make sure the information is updated if needed...thanks! Here’s an EXAMPLE for your reference.

• Stipend Opening for Varsity Boys Volleyball in the spring...Connect w/ Adam if interested.

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

"I will follow you, will you follow me?  All the days and nights that we know will be.  I will stay with you, will you stay with me?  Just one single tear in each passing year."

                                                                    -Follow You Follow Me by Genesis

Hawk Celebrations

This week's celebration is all about Camp Edwards and our incredible group of 5th graders!  I had the best time with them on Thursday this week in Troy, Wisconsin during their outdoor education adventure.  There was so much positivity, teamwork, and pride coming from our students as they pushed themselves through challenges many of them have never gotten the opportunity to experience before.  I was so proud of each and every one of them!  We got to participate in arts and crafts and make some cool tie dye shirts.  After that, it was off to the archery range to learn the skills centered around how to shoot a bow and arrow.  So many of our students were able to hit the target!  We played sport games as well, and then got a chance to go on a forest walk to learn all about the natural environment.  5th graders also challenged their balance and skills on the low ropes course.  Finally, it was time to conquer the climbing wall and get out on canoes together to explore the lake around this beautiful camp site.  It was so much fun and filled with memories I know they'll have for a lifetime!  Thanks so much to Mrs. Tronco, Mrs. Kula, Mr. Widd, Ms. Palicka, and Mrs. Raffaelli for all of their time and support they put into being leaders and directors for this special trip.

September Birthdays! 🎂

Diana Dylag - 9/3

Justin Widd - 9/13

Maria Torres - 9/13

Megan McManus - 9/15

Kate Barzano - 9/18

Vicki Palicka - 9/18

Barb Raffaelli - 9/21

Pennoyer Staff Newsletter - 9/22/23

                                             Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

The cooler and rainy weather seems like it's creeping in slowly, but this weekend looks like summer is definitely hanging on.  I'm planning on enjoying some outdoor time, and trying to get my lawn and landscaping ready to survive the fall and winter.  On another note, as a shameless plug for hanging out in the morning car line on Fridays or any other day, I have to share with all of you this image of our very own Porter.  He brings the biggest smile to my face and has the best time most mornings when I play the tunes he likes and dances up a storm for Officer Bob, myself, and all of the students as they enter through the gate.  His moves are way beyond me...I'll stick to singing and playing the guitar.

*Please note that for next week I won't be in the building on Monday or Thursday.  Monday is the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, and Thursday, I'll be with the 5th graders all day at Camp Edwards in Wisconsin.  

Hawk Action Items 

2024 Golden Apple Teacher Nominations for Pre-K-3rd Grade Teachers if you're interested... Nominations for the 2024 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership are now open throughout Illinois! Are there Pre-K-3rd grade teachers at your school who deserve recognition for superior service to your students, school, and community? Show your appreciation to a teacher going above and beyond for students at your school with a Golden Apple Award nomination.

Click Here to Nominate a Teacher

Help us spread the word that Golden Apple Awards nominations are open! Honor an outstanding Pre-K-3rd grade teacher by nominating them for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching today: https://www.goldenapple.org/nominate-a-teacher

New Friday Car Line Opportunity During Arrival Time - Want to be a "Guest DJ" and greeter during morning car line?  Reach out to Adam if you're interested!  You can have your own playlist if you'd like and be a part of a fun part of the day connecting with our families and students on Fridays during arrival time.  This is from 7:50am- to around 8:10am if you're interested.  HERE is a sign up sheet to make things easier, but reach out to Adam with any questions.

• Hand 2 Mind event opportunity for K-5th grade staff.  Check this flyer out and let Adam know if you're interested.

• 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, it's certainly not too late. Please submit your ideas HERE!  You can check out the CBA if needed for more information.  For new clubs, we’ve created a helpful link on our website to showcase the wonderful opportunities for our students at Pennoyer.  Please make sure once your club is approved that you create a one page Google Doc or Slide to share with Adam and Pat.  Also, if you’re continuing a club from last year, please make sure the information is updated if needed...thanks! Here’s an EXAMPLE for your reference.

• Stipend Opening for Varsity Boys Volleyball in the spring...Connect w/ Adam if interested.

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson

Hawk Celebrations

We have such great students at Pennoyer and so much to celebrate, and this week, it's all about a special group of 7th and 8th graders that went above and beyond during our Circus Amongus event last week!  These student leaders truly shined as they supported activities throughout the morning.  They helped the adult volunteers with running the stations and were great roles models for our younger students.  In the afternoon, these amazing 7th and 8th graders got ready for their own acts, and also supported getting wardrobe and make up ready for all of our other students for the big show!  We're so lucky and grateful to have so many students just like these that are willing to step up and be leaders for their peers.  #PennoyerPride forever!!!

September Birthdays! 🎂

Diana Dylag - 9/3

Justin Widd - 9/13

Maria Torres - 9/13

Megan McManus - 9/15

Kate Barzano - 9/18

Vicki Palicka - 9/18

Barb Raffaelli - 9/21

Connect - Collaborate - Celebrate

Pennoyer Staff Newsletter - 9/15/23

                                Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

I don't know about you, but this seemed like an incredibly long week at Pennoyer.  I know how hard everyone is working to get structures into place with our students to get the most out of each and every day.  September is always that opportunity to build those relationships and connections, while often having to go back to highlight expectations and review procedures with students as needed at all ages.  Reach out if you need support with anything, but just know that the process with many of our students is not an easy road but one that I know you all have the capacity to see through to success.  

I'm excited to be playing a gig this Saturday at the Deerfield Farmers' Market with my daughter Sadie sitting in with me to sing a bunch of tunes.  She's a little nervous, but I told her any tips we get will all go to her for sure!  Hopefully we sing on key together.  

Have a great weekend, and if you want to enjoy Sunday, I suggest NOT watching the Bears game.  Yeah, I'm already in a bad place with our Chicago Bears, but I'll stand by them with a glimmer of hope.  That's what it means to be a Chicago Bears football fan I guess.

HERE is the agenda for our staff meeting on Monday, September 18th.  We'll have our first day with West 40 to focus on student engagement!

Hawk Action Items 

• 3rd-8th grade homeroom, please complete the Principal’s Crew Survey by TODAY, September 15th.  Then I'll reach out to students' families that are chosen and our first meetings will be Thursday, September 21st next week during lunch/recess times.

• New Friday Car Line Opportunity During Arrival Time - Want to be a "Guest DJ" and greeter during morning car line?  Reach out to Adam if you're interested!  You can have your own playlist if you'd like and be a part of a fun part of the day connecting with our families and students on Fridays during arrival time.  This is from 7:50am-8:10am if you're interested.  HERE is a sign up sheet to make things easier, but reach out to Adam with any questions.

• Hand 2 Mi nd event opportunity for K-5th grade staff.  Check this flyer out and let Adam know if you're interested.

• 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 new clubs, we’ve created a helpful link on our website to showcase the wonderful opportunities for our students at Pennoyer.  Please make sure once your club is approved that you create a one page Google Doc or Slide to share with Adam and Pat.  Also, if you’re continuing a club from last year, please make sure the information is updated if needed...thanks!
• Here’s an EXAMPLE for your reference.

• Stipend Opening for Varsity Boys Volleyball in the spring...Connect w/ Adam if interested.

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

"There must be some misunderstanding.  There must be some kind of mistake.  I waited in the rain for hours, and you were late."

                                                                            Misunderstanding by Genesis

Hawk Celebrations

There couldn't be a bigger celebration to highlight this week than Circus Amongus!  What an incredible way to celebrate our students, staff, and community with the incredible event we had this past Thursday.  We wanted to do something special after the referendums passed last year, and this experience definitely lived up to the hype.  Our students at all levels learned new skills, collaborated together, took on leadership roles, and had so much fun exploring opportunities most of them have never experienced before.  It was amazing to see!  The morning was filled with sessions that ranged from the trapeze to the tightrope and everything in between.  After the lunch/recess break, our students put on their wardrobes, painted their faces, and put on the Pennoyer "big top" show of the year as they highlighted their favorite skills and activities they participated in during the day.  It was an epic way to end the day!  A huge thanks and shout out to all of the staff and volunteer parents/guardians, and community members who really made this all possible, along with Mr. Sam and his team from Circus Amongus.  What a great Pennoyer Pride memory for everyone!

September Birthdays! 🎂

Diana Dylag - 9/3

Justin Widd - 9/13

Maria Torres - 9/13

Megan McManus - 9/15

Kate Barzano - 9/18

Vicki Palicka - 9/18

Barb Raffaelli - 9/21

Connect - Collaborate - Celebrate

Pennoyer Staff Newsletter - 9/8/23

                                Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

I can't thank you all enough for helping to make a successful Curriculum Night for our families this past Thursday.  I really appreciate all of the time and effort you put into this event.  I know our parents/guardians really enjoyed the night.  While it was a busy week for me coming back after being out all of last week, I'm hoping to be more visible in the coming weeks and getting into more classrooms and walking the hallways.  That's truly where I want to be each and every day, but I realize it's not always possible.  

I have to share a photo with all of you from Megan that truly made me smile and warmed my heart.  To me, this is what Pennoyer is really all about...our incredible staff, and the students that we care so much for and put everything we have into helping them succeed.  

HERE is the SIP agenda for our half day on Friday, September 15th.  This will be a great opportunity to build restorative accountability that is vital component of effective classroom management and social emotional learning with our students.  We'll have instructional coaches from PBIS Rewards leading out this professional development.

Hawk Action Items 

• New Friday Car Line Opportunity During Arrival Time - Want to be a "Guest DJ" and greeter during morning car line?  Reach out to Adam if you're interested!  You can have your own playlist if you'd like and be a part of a fun part of the day connecting with our families and students on Fridays during arrival time.  This is from 7:50am-8:10am if you're interested.  HERE is a sign up sheet to make things easier, but reach out to Adam with any questions.

• Hand 2 Mind event opportunity for K-5th grade staff.  Check this flyer out and let Adam know if you're interested.

• Circus Amongus is coming to Pennoyer next Thursday, September 14th all day for our students and staff from PreK-8th grade.   
• Circus Amongus Pamphlet
• Preview of Schedule for Circus Amongus Day at Pennoyer (Click on the pdf flyer to open up some links)
• Circus Amongus Website and FAQ's
• Instagram Promo Video
• Don't forget that Wednesday, September 13th, they'll be a 1 hour special staff meeting after school from 2:40-3:40pm to help prepare us all to support the activities and events on September 14th (Paraprofessionals will join us as well)
• Parents/Community member volunteers will have a separate meeting during the evening of September 13th to prepare them for the day too.
• 
  
• Please Complete the Principal’s Crew Survey by September 15th.  Then I'll reach out to students' families that are chosen and our first meetings will be Thursday, September 21st during lunch/recess times.

• Letters About Literature in Illinois contest for our students if you're interested. Click HERE for more information.

• 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 new clubs, we’ve created a helpful link on our website to showcase the wonderful opportunities for our students at Pennoyer.  Please make sure once your club is approved that you create a one page Google Doc or Slide to share with Adam and Pat.  Also, if you’re continuing a club from last year, please make sure the information is updated if needed...thanks!
• Here’s an EXAMPLE for your reference.

• Stipend Opening for Varsity Boys Volleyball in the spring...Connect w/ Adam if interested.

• Social Club Dues - HERE is a reminder

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

Holding Back the Years

                                by Simply Read

Hawk Celebrations

What an amazing celebration this week to share with everyone!  We were honored to have Becky Pringle, the President of the National Education Association, visit Pennoyer this past Wednesday as part of her nationwide school tour.  She got the opportunity to see firsthand all of the incredible things we're doing at Pennoyer for our students, and the wonderful plans we have looking ahead to renovate our school and bring in new programming and opportunities for our students as well.  She toured the building, stopped into classrooms, and truly connected with our students and staff.  She left feeling the same Pennoyer Pride we feel every single day, and couldn't say enough about how incredibly impressed she was with how Pennoyer operates and the true community feel we embrace.  We were so proud to be a small part of the larger story of progressing public education across our country.

September Birthdays! 🎂

Diana Dylag - 9/3

Justin Widd - 9/13

Maria Torres - 9/13

Megan McManus - 9/15

Kate Barzano - 9/18

Vicki Palicka - 9/18

Barb Raffaelli - 9/21

Connect - Collaborate - Celebrate

Pennoyer Staff Newsletter - 9/1/23

                                             Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

Well, I just can't thank you all enough for the incredible lift you all accomplished this week while both Alicia and I were out sick.  You'll never know how much I truly appreciate how you all stepped up.  I know it's not easy when you have multiple administrators out all week in such a small district.  I really wanted to be back at work, and just sick of being away from all of you and our students.  I'm looking forward to next week for sure!  In the meantime...I may have lost some of my roles to staff members more suitable...haha.

I thought I'd share two photos with you this week of my kids holding my best friend Barry's new baby girl, Etta, from a week ago.  This baby was a true blessing and not an easy decision for Barry who has been fighting Hodgkins Lymphoma for almost 8 years now.  To see the look on my kids' faces when they held a newborn for the first time was absolutely priceless, and knowing everything Barry has fought through to get to this point, made it that much sweeter.  I think Sadie is a natural, while Lennon couldn't look and feel more uncomfortable with Etta in his arms...lol.  Gotta love the Beastie Boys shirt from my 16 year old son though!

Hawk Action Items 

• Looking to hire a new paraprofessional.  Please reach out to Alicia if you have any potential prospects for Pennoyer...thanks!

• New Friday Car Line Opportunity During Arrival Time - Want to be a "Guest DJ" and greeter during morning car line?  Reach out to Adam if you're interested!  You can have your own playlist if you'd like and be a part of a fun part of the day connecting with our families and students on Fridays during arrival time.  This is from 7:50am-8:10am if you're interested.  HERE is a sign up sheet to make things easier, but reach out to Adam with any questions.

• Hand 2 Mind event opportunity for K-5th grade staff.  Check this flyer out and let Adam know if you're interested.

• Student Testing  - (See Melissa w/ questions) 
• NWEA Fall MAP Growth - Reading & Math - K-8th the week of September 5th
• Helpful Links - Teacher's Guide to MAP, MAP Growth Proctor Slide Deck, and MAP Instructions for Testing

• Circus Amongus is coming to Pennoyer on Thursday, September 14th all day for our students and staff from PreK-8th grade.   
• Circus Amongus Pamphlet
• Preview of Schedule for Circus Amongus Day at Pennoyer (Click on the pdf flyer to open up some links)
• Circus Amongus Website and FAQ's
• Instagram Promo Video
• September 13th, they'll be a 1 hour special staff meeting after school from 2:40-3:40pm to help prepare us all to support the activities and events on September 14th (Paraprofessionals will join us as well)
• Parents/Community member volunteers will have a separate meeting during the evening of September 13th to prepare them for the day too.
• 
  
• Please Complete the Principal’s Crew Survey by September 15th.  Then I'll reach out to students' families that are chosen and our first meetings will be Thursday, September 21st during lunch/recess times.

• Putting in Weekly Announcements Reminder
• To submit an announcement, submit to this spreadsheet HERE (also linked within Master Schedule Dashboard) - I'll be doing this another week or two and then Peer Leaders and Nina will be taking over w/ video announcements.

• Letters About Literature in Illinois contest for our students if you're interested. Click HERE for more information.

• If you need more lunch bins for your classroom, please reach out to Adam and he'll look into ordering more.

• Please refrain from parking in any of the visitor or staff spots in the front of the building and circle drive. There should be enough spots in the West parking lot. We have visitors throughout the day that really rely on those open spots. Please see Adam with any questions or concerns.

• Curriculum Night - September 7th from 5:30-7:30pm (HERE is the schedule)

5:30-5:45 - Pre K-5 presentations 

5:50-6:05 - Pre K-5 presentations

6:05-6:20 - Pre K-5 presentations

6:30-7:30 -  Middle school w/ student schedule rotation

• 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 new clubs, we’ve created a helpful link on our website to showcase the wonderful opportunities for our students at Pennoyer.  Please make sure once your club is approved that you create a one page Google Doc or Slide to share with Adam and Pat.  Also, if you’re continuing a club from last year, please make sure the information is updated if needed...thanks!
• Here’s an EXAMPLE for your reference.

• Stipend Opening for Varsity Boys Volleyball in the spring...Connect w/ Adam if interested.

• Social Club Dues - HERE is a reminder

• Sub Plans and System
• Just a friendly reminder that all teachers should create a general Emergency sub plan by Tuesday, September 5th.
• 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.
• We'll also continue to use our Internal Sub Doc as needed this year.

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

"Home again, home again.  One day I know, I'll feel home again.  Born again, born again.  One day I know, I'll feel strong again..."

                                               - Home Again by Michael Kiwanuka

Hawk Celebrations

This week I had to celebrate the awesome way we ended our first week of school with our Back to School Bash event last Friday, and the 75th Anniversary of Norridge parade and celebration on Saturday last weekend!  At the Back to School Bash, our very own Ms. Peters and Mr. Nelsen were great sports and joined me by taking turns in the dunk tank.  I can't believe how much that wore me out, but I had the best time seeing our students and families.  Our PTC did an amazing job overall, and I know we raised some great money to work towards our 3D printers we would like to invest in at Pennoyer for our students.  The inflatables and food trucks were a hit too and it was certainly the perfect way to end our first week back in school.  On Saturday, a handful of our students and families joined us in the 75th Anniversary parade for Norridge, and we had the best time!  We worked together to create the perfect float to celebrate Pennoyer and our students couldn't get enough of throwing out handfuls of candy to the crowds as we traveled along the parade route.  We showed our #PennoyerPride in full force!!!

September Birthdays! 🎂

Diana Dylag - 9/3

Justin Widd - 9/13

Maria Torres - 9/13

Megan McManus - 9/15

Kate Barzano - 9/18

Vicki Palicka - 9/18

Barb Raffaelli - 9/21

Connect - Collaborate - Celebrate