Hawk Happenings - 11/17/23

                                              Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

I just wanted to take this opportunity before our Thanksgiving Break to let you know how much I appreciate each and every one of you for everything you do for our students and families at Pennoyer day in and day out.  I'm so grateful to have such an amazing staff that goes above and beyond to do what's best for students no matter what you're faced with on a daily basis.  Nobody except those in education will truly understand the level of dedication, perseverance, and sacrifice you all make to support students and families in their lives.  YOU make a difference, and YOU matter so much.  Remember to always keep your heads up, even in the face of set backs and frustrating moments.  We can get through anything together, and I hope you all know that I'm always here as your principal to listen, learn, and be a support both in and out of the classroom any way that I can be.   As we look ahead to a well earned Thanksgiving Break, I also want to share a couple other things I'm so thankful for in both my professional and personal life.  I hope you'll all take time to do the same to help bring some perspective to your lives and make the best of what you have.

I'm grateful for our amazing students that show kindness, creativity, spirit, and keep us smiling and coming back for more each and every day...

As I said before, but can never say enough, I'm so grateful for our entire Pennoyer staff who show up for students and families in amazing and thoughtful ways that will leave a mark that lasts a lifetime...

I'm grateful for my friends that mean so much to me in my life and are truly like family.   Best friends like Barry have been in my life for almost 40 years, and that's a lucky thing to have...

I'm grateful for my wife Jamee, son Lennon, and daughter Sadie, who I live for every single day and keep in my heart and lean on through all of life's ups and downs...

I want to end with our first staff to staff shout out this week...

Ellen wanted to give a shout out to both Nataliia H. and Megan M.  "We just finished our second 7th grade science test and Porter got his second 3.  This is amazing!  I know Megan and Nataliia both work super hard with him and it is really showing this year.  (I don't think he has ever had back to back 3's in my class). I loved working with Nataliia last year but this year especially, she really knows Porter and how he responds and she does a fantastic job with him (and all the students in my room)."

Hawk Action Items 

• Trimester 1 ends Friday, November 17th.  Due to Thanksgiving Break, all final grades and comments will be due on Wednesday, November 29th by midnight, and grades and comments will be opened up on Skyward for students and families to view after 4pm on Friday, December 1st.  

• Just a friendly reminder about Creating/Updating Teacher Websites (Using Google Sites) if you still need to finish this. You can always take a look at what other staff members have created already for ideas if needed, and reach out for support from other teachers, myself, or our Tech Department. When you're finished, please make sure to share it with Patrick so he can review it and post it on our website...thanks!

• Wanna make somebody's day at Pennoyer...don't forget about our staff shout outs we'd like to get started up again this year!  It's real easy; if one staff member wants to give another staff member at Pennoyer a positive shout out for something that week, just send a quick email blurb to Adam, and he'll feature it in our weekly Hawk Happenings!

• Great job with all the social media posts shared for the month of October! We've gotten great feedback from our community. Please keep it up for the month of November. Remember we created a real easy Google Form for teachers to complete.  Just a little blurb/picture about anything going on in your classes and then our leadership team will approve it and set it up to go out sometime during the month. Thanks!!!

• 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.

• Friday Car Line Opportunity During Arrival Time - Want to be a "Guest DJ" and greeter during morning car line?  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, and reach out to Adam with any questions.

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

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

Thank You by Led Zeppelin

Hawk Celebrations

This week the celebration is all about our STEAM night event we had this Thursday at Pennoyer!  It was an amazing success, and such a great experience for all who attended.  Thanks to Mrs. Kopoulos and Mr. Widd for leading out such an incredible opportunity for our students, as well as all of our other staff members who volunteered their time to come help support this event and make it truly special.  I also want to give a huge shout out to our friends at Ridgewood High School.  The students and staff that set up stations and have collaborated with us to be part of Pennoyer's STEAM night is certainly something worth celebrating.  We love that our students had the opportunity to explore the world of STEAM through a variety of interactive experiences.  Students were able to explore how things work, challenge their minds and critical thinking, and have hands on activities that connected them with the STEAM world that has become a fabric of society.  The hope is these types of opportunities will open up our students to different understandings, passions, and pathways as they move ahead in their lives.  

  November Birthdays! 🎂

Carly Bieda - 11/1

Monica Kula - 11/6

Sam Wyrzykowski - 11/25

Pennoyer Staff Newsletter - 11/10/23

                                             Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

I cannot begin to thank all of you enough for the incredible lift that I know you took on this week as so many of us were out.  I'm so appreciative of each and every one of you, as I know you took on many extra responsibilities while a group of us were at a conference.  It's not always easy leaving the building, especially as a principal, but I truly feel comfort in knowing how dedicated and capable you all are to keep Pennoyer running successfully for all of our students and families.  Special shout out to Kristin for not only taking on the role of principal for me and crushing it, but also for making it possible for our group to attend such an important conference and have the opportunity to collaborate together.  To everyone...Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!  

I have to honestly say, the conference we attended as a leadership team might have been one of the best, and most certainly, the most timely and relevant professional development I could imagine for Pennoyer.  The focus was all about creating effective, sustainable, and viable PLC systems for SEL and behavior to support all of students and staff at the Tier 1, 2, and 3 levels.  We left with so much clarity and a vision and pathway forward that we can't wait to begin rolling out with all of you and our students.  A lot of this work will take a shift of mindset at times for some, but I'm so confident that it will truly make a positive impact on the lives of our students and the work environment for all of you at Pennoyer this year and for many years to come. 

*HERE is the SIP day agenda for next Friday, November 17th.  Please note, we'll be having periods 1-5 with dismissal at 11:30am.  Also, I'll be out of town on that Friday, but everything should be set for a successful day.

Hawk Action Items 

• Please make sure to finish all of your Mandated Trainings by November 17th.  These include Infinitec & KnowB4.  If you have any questions or issues logging on, you can always reach out to Patrick.  Thanks!

• Trimester 1 ends Friday, November 17th.  Due to Thanksgiving Break, all final grades and comments will be due on Wednesday, November 29th by midnight, and grades and comments will be opened up on Skyward for students and families to view after 4pm on Friday, December 1st.  

• Save the date/time for our end of Trimester 1 Spirit Assembly that our PBIS team is putting together on Thursday, November 16th!  The will start around 1:50pm and be about an hour long.

• Just a friendly reminder about Creating/Updating Teacher Websites (Using Google Sites) if you still need to finish this. You can always take a look at what other staff members have created already for ideas if needed, and reach out for support from other teachers, myself, or our Tech Department. When you're finished, please make sure to share it with Patrick so he can review it and post it on our website...thanks!

• Wanna make somebody's day at Pennoyer...don't forget about our staff shout outs we'd like to get started up again this year!  It's real easy; if one staff member wants to give another staff member at Pennoyer a positive shout out for something that week, just send a quick email blurb to Adam, and he'll feature it in our weekly Hawk Happenings!

• Great job with all the social media posts shared for the month of October! We've gotten great feedback from our community. Please keep it up for the month of November. Remember we created a real easy Google Form for teachers to complete.  Just a little blurb/picture about anything going on in your classes and then our leadership team will approve it and set it up to go out sometime during the month. Thanks!!!

• 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.

• Friday Car Line Opportunity During Arrival Time - Want to be a "Guest DJ" and greeter during morning car line?  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, and reach out to Adam with any questions.

• Stipend Openings for both Varsity and JV Boys Volleyball in the spring...Connect w/ Adam if interested.

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

"Won't you come see about me.  I'll be alone, dancing, you know it baby.  Tell me your troubles and doubts.  Giving me everything, inside and out..."

                                                                -Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds

Hawk Celebrations

This week, our celebration is all about the incredible spirit of our Girls Volleyball teams and the program this year.  Led by Coach Chrastka and Coach Torossi, they have both done any amazing job elevating girls volleyball to another level.  This season has been more than just about volleyball, and the feeling has been infectious across our school.  Both the JV and Varsity players have put so much into being a part of these two teams at Pennoyer.  They have dedicated real time and energy into learning the game, improving, working together, and being champions of a positive spirit.  The program has taken on "theme" days at home games that so many fans, fellow students, and staff have gotten into and supported.  It all started out with our opening home game of the season where it was "Wear Pink" to bring the focus to breast cancer awareness month.  The teams banded together with the coaching staff to raise money and donate to this important cause.  From that day on, there was everything from "Neon" to "Black Out" days.  These girls and their coaches have been focused on so much more than just wins and losses, and we couldn't be more proud of how incredibly they've represented Pennoyer...#PennoyerPride.

  November Birthdays! 🎂

Carly Bieda - 11/1

Monica Kula - 11/6

Sam Wyrzykowski - 11/25

Pennoyer Staff Newsletter - 11/3/23

                                              Hawk Thoughts & Happenings

Team Pennoyer,

We made it to November!  What a crazy week with the weather on Halloween.  When I came out to my car after our SIP day had ended, I really didn't know if I was looking at snow or hail falling from the sky.  If it was darker outside, I would have thought I was in the upside down world of Stranger Things!  Whatever was going on outside though, I was really impressed inside with our staff that was able to get over to Union Ridge, and how everyone participated so thoughtfully in the SIP day work throughout the afternoon.  Thanks for providing me with some feedback from the day.  Overall, it seems like what everyone liked the most was the time to connect with other teachers around their grade levels and content areas.  I definitely want to create more moments like this for all of you.  Thanks for being "engaged" as much as possible on a day like Halloween and doing your best to collaborate and share with your counterparts and peers.  The goal is just to try at least 1 strategy from your element during Trimester 2.  From the Google Drive Folder I shared, you can certainly read through any of the other elements you think would fit in your teaching style and classroom and try any of those as well.  

Looking to next week, remember that Alicia and I are out of town at and SEL conference with our Team Leaders from Wednesday - Friday.  Kristin will be taking on the role of building principal and be in my office.  I'll be checking in though as much as I can.  *Important note - We're looking much better on sub coverage for the days when so many of us are out next week, but for Wednesday ONLY as of right now, all art classes will be cancelled and students should stay with their teachers who will be compensated for losing their prep time that day.  Ms. Wood will be subbing instead that day, but she is providing everyone with plans of art activities they can do in their classrooms with students.

HERE is the agenda for our Staff Meeting next Monday, November 6th at 3:15pm in the MPR.  Remember, this is for our entire staff, including main office staff and paraprofessionals too.

Hawk Action Items 

• Trimester 1 ends Friday, November 17th.  Due to Thanksgiving Break, all final grades and comments will be do on Wednesday, November 29th by midnight, and grades and comments will be opened up on Skyward for students and families to view after 4pm on Friday, December 1st.  

• HERE is the PTC agenda for Thursday's meeting in the MPR on November 9th from 5-6pm if any teachers are interested in attending.

• Save the date/time for our end of Trimester 1 Spirit Assembly that our PBIS team is putting together on Thursday, November 16th!  The assembly should start around 1:50pm and be about an hour long.

• Just a friendly reminder about Creating/Updating Teacher Websites (Using Google Sites) if you still need to finish this. You can always take a look at what other staff members have created already for ideas if needed, and reach out for support from other teachers, myself, or our Tech Department. When you're finished, please make sure to share it with Patrick so he can review it and post it on our website...thanks!

• Wanna make somebody's day at Pennoyer...don't forget about our staff shout outs we'd like to get started up again this year!  It's real easy; if one staff member wants to give another staff member at Pennoyer a positive shout out for something that week, just send a quick email blurb to Adam, and he'll feature it in our weekly Hawk Happenings!

• A reminder about workman's compensation.  Please make sure that anything that occurs on the job that might need medical attention is fully documented in the Main Office through Alana, and then followed up by paperwork through the District Office on the day the incident occurred.  

• Maine South Future Educators are coming to Pennoyer!  It's not too late to sign up if you're interested in having some high schoolers from Maine South come observe and support in your classrooms.  This has been such a collaborative and successful program at Pennoyer for many years.  Click on this form if you're interested in signing up. The start date has actually changed again for when they'll begin. It's now own November 10th.

• Great job with all the social media posts shared for the month of October! We've gotten great feedback from our community. Please keep it up for the month of November. Remember we created a real easy Google Form for teachers to complete.  Just a little blurb/picture about anything going on in your classes and then our leadership team will approve it and set it up to go out sometime during the month. Thanks!!!

• 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.

• Friday Car Line Opportunity During Arrival Time - Want to be a "Guest DJ" and greeter during morning car line?  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, and reach out to Adam with any questions.

• Stipend Openings for both Varsity and JV Boys Volleyball in the spring...Connect w/ Adam if interested.

Weekly Hawk Playlist/Lyric

One of These Nights - by The Eagles

Hawk Celebrations

What an amazing season our boys soccer team had this year!  Coach DeVivo and Coach Nelsen really stepped up as coaches and helped to get the best out of our boys.  In the end, the team finished 7-3-1 overall, won their division, and took 4th place in the Conference Tournament.  There were so many highlights along the way.  Everyone really contributed throughout the season.  They had some close games and some really dominating outings as well.  Thanks to all of the players that put the time and effort into being a part of our boys soccer program this year.  Congratulations...#Pennoyerpride

  November Birthdays! 🎂

Carly Bieda - 11/1

Monica Kula - 11/6

Sam Wyrzykowski - 11/25