December 4, 2007

Dear Pennekamp Families,   

This is quite an eventful week at Pennekamp! First and foremost, Parent-Teacher Conferences are taking place throughout the week. These provide you with a great opportunity to meet with teachers to discuss your children’s progress over the course of the first trimester. The teachers appreciate the time that parents take for these important meetings. When conferencing with teachers, we ask that parents be cognizant of time constraints by arriving on time and staying within the established time frame in order to ensure that all parents have an equal opportunity to spend time with teachers. Your cooperation on this matter is greatly appreciated. Enjoy your conferences!

Another big event happening at Pennekamp this week is our Book Fair. This year’s theme is “Weird Science”. The Book Fair will be open from 8:00-3:00 each day, with Family Night on Thursday, Dec. 6^th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. All classes will visit the Cafetorium to see this impressive display. Students will have the opportunity to purchase books and other gift/toy items during their scheduled classroom visits,  during breaks and after school. Parents are encouraged to come in and check out the book fair at any time during the school day, and perhaps before or after Parent-Teacher conferences.  Books make great holiday gifts!

    The Grand Opening of the Pennekamp Science Lab will also take place from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on December 6^th.  Students and parents are encouraged to visit Room 26 to see the lab and to meet our new Science Specialist, Christina Ibrahim. See you there!

With the coming of the month of December, we are now fully into the throes of the Holiday Season. Without a doubt, this is certainly a busy time of year. All around town, folks are scampering about in preparation for the festivities that lay ahead over the course of the next several weeks. Along with rise in the level of activity, one can sense a heightened level of excitement that inevitably transpires this time of year.

During the Holiday Season, teachers may take opportunities to teach children about the various winter holidays, such as Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, etc. Activities may include the reading of stories or poems, presentations on customs and traditions, art projects, etc. These will be done for the purpose of learning, rather than advocating or celebrating, and will be done in a balanced manner among the various holidays of the season. Our intent is to make children aware of the many rich and varied cultures represented in our nation, and to promote understanding and appreciation. As you probably know, sundown this evening marks the beginning of Hanukkah, which continues through Tuesday of next week. We extend our best warmest wishes to all of our Pennekamp families who celebrate this joyous, week-long holiday.

 Sincerely,

Dale Keldrauk     

 

Read Naturally – Our after-school “Read Naturally” program will be starting the week of December 10^th. This effective program for bolstering reading fluency is offered to students who are identified based upon assessment scores. At this time it is being offered to 1^st-3^rd grade students from 2:15-3:00 p.m. in Room 10 on the following days: Mondays =1^st / Tuesdays = 2^nd / Thursdays = 3^rd.  Please pick up your child on time. If your child attends EDP, he/she will go directly to EDP from Room 10.  If you have any questions, contact Suzie Wheeler at 798-6223, Ext. 5802 or Ext. 6825.

Lunches at School – We ask that parents refrain from bringing fast-food items (McDonalds, Jack-in-the Box, Subway, etc.) during lunch periods. In addition to the dietary issues (sodas, high-fat, sugar, etc.), it is also problematic for children who see others having these “special” lunches delivered to them at school. Thank you for respecting this school policy.

Operation Communication – Please bring used books and magazines for the soldiers serving in Iraq.  Drop them off  in front of the library.  The last day to participate is Tues. Dec. 4^th  at 3 in the afternoon.

Clothing Drive a Huge Success – Our annual clothing and toy drive was a great success again this year thank to the generosity of the Pennekamp community.  We collected two truckloads of clothing and toys for our adopted school in Lawndale. Countless thanks to our many volunteers and to Brownie troop #965 and Girl Scout troop #1047 for their help as well.  Many families will have a nicer holiday because of you.  Thank You!

Volunteers Needed for Author’s Week – We are looking for volunteers to help with  Author’s Week (Feb. 4-8, 2008). We need people to coordinate lunches for the authors and help coordinate Mystery Readers, etc.  If you are interested in helping out during this fun and exciting week, please contact Shirley Ritter at  (310) 798-7932 or SCANDC@aol.com.

Silent Auction – On Friday, March 14, 2008, Pennekamp will host its annual Parent Party and Silent Auction.  In the past Pennekamp parents have been invaluable in making this event a success.  We need your help again this year! 

If you work for a company that can donate goods, tickets or services, or if you can personally make a donation we could use your help. Electronic, toys, apparel, travel, gift certificates, etc. are all appreciated. Donations can be placed in the Silent Auction box in the office. Remember all of the proceeds of this event go directly to the PTA in order to fund programs our children currently enjoy here at Pennekamp.  All donations are a charitable contribution to a 510(c)(3) organization and are tax deductible.  A donor form will be provided for tax purposes.  Please contact us for questions or donations: Shannon Coyle (310) 941-1988, shannoncoyle1638@msn.com or Zena Cronyn (310) 766-6857, zcronyn@gmail.com.   

 

IMPORTANT DATES

·          Dec. 3^rd – 7^{th  -}  Parent-Teacher Conferences - Minimum Day Schedule: 1^st-5^th = 8:15-12:45, DK & Kdg. = Regular Schedule, K+ = 8:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

·          Dec. 3^rd – 7^th   Pennekamp Book Fair  8 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Cafeteria                  

·          Thurs. Dec. 6^th – Family Night at the Book Fair,  6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

·          Thurs. Dec. 6^th – Science Lab Grand Opening – Rm. 26,  6 p.m.-8 p.m.

·          Fri. Dec. 14^th –Flag Ceremony – Pennekamp Cafeteria

·          Dec. 22^nd - Jan. 6^th, 2008 - Winter Break