Dear Pennekamp Families,

            Happy New Year! I trust that you all had a joyous Holiday Season, with plenty of relaxation and quality time with family and friends. After a well-deserved Winter Break, the Pennekamp students and staff have come back rested and ready to go after a two-week respite from school.

            As you know, the onset of a new calendar year is often accompanied by folks making New Year’s Resolutions. This long-held, seasonal rite generally entails establishing some promises to ourselves that are intended to result in some sort of self-improvement over the course of the ensuing year. Some of the more common ones are losing weight, getting more physically fit, and perhaps shedding a few bad habits. Others may include interpersonal goals, such as being more patient, being a better listener, being more sensitive, being a better friend and/or family member, or whatever applies to each individual. It’s all about making pledges to oneself to be an even better person in 2008. Good luck in your efforts!

            At Pennekamp, we are undertaking a collective New Year’s Resolution to “Go Green in 2008. In keeping with this rapidly growing, nation-wide movement to become more environmentally conscious, Pennekamp has made the pledge to take measures at the school level to assist in this effort. The city of Manhattan Beach has already initiated a partnership with MBUSD schools in an effort to address this vitally important enterprise. We will all be embracing the 3R’s motto, “Reduce, Recycle, Reuse.”

            Prior to Winter Break, we began prompting students and PK families that we would be launching into our Going Green campaign in earnest in January. Beginning next Monday, January 14^th, we will be initiating these efforts in several areas. In our Cafeteria, we will be adding separate receptacles for “recyclables” such as plastic containers. We are also looking into the possibility of serving cafeteria lunches on trays that would be cleaned and reused, rather than being discarded. In addition, we are encouraging students who bring lunches to utilize reusable lunch boxes/sacks and reusable food containers, rather than paper and/or plastic items which would be discarded. We will also be placing recycling containers in classrooms and in areas where students have snacks during the school day. As a focal effort, we will be initiating “Trash-less Tuesdays” in which we encourage students to bring lunches and snacks that result in no discarded items. On these days we will be counting the number of trash bags that are generated, in hopes of seeing a noticeable reduction.

            We will also be initiating “Walk-to-School Wednesdays” in which students and parents will be encouraged to leave the car at home and travel to and from school on foot (or at least “carpool”) in an effort to reduce traffic and gasoline consumption. We are also advocating utilizing “reusable bags” for groceries and other shopping ventures.  PTA is now selling reusable bags with the Pennekamp logo, which should facilitate this effort.

            A key element of our Going Green effort is to educate students on ways that they can reduce the consumption of resources. This includes doing things such as recycling paper products and beverage containers, reusing items, and simply striving to be less wasteful of water, paper towels, electricity, etc., both at school and at home. On January 25^th we will be having an assembly entitled “Environmental Protectors”, which has been very successful in educating and motivating children to be more environmentally conscious. We hope to see tangible results from our efforts.  

                        As you can see we are off to a rousing start to the New Year. In addition to initiating our Go Green campaign, in the upcoming weeks we have many exciting school activities planned, including assemblies, Authors’ Week and our Pennekamp Talent Show. We encourage all PK students and parents to get involved and join in the excitement that lies ahead. Best wishes for a great year in 2008, and may your New Year’s Resolutions come to fruition.

 Sincerely,

  Dale Keldrauk

 

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. Electronics, 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
Silent Auction Donations by Grade Level

A New Year Resolution for PK – Pennekamp has an enthusiastic Go Green committee that is ready to launch a new program beginning January 14, 2008.  The Go Green committee has been working hard to get everything in place and hope everyone will get on board. We will  have “Trashless Tuesdays”, when we ask chidren to bring a lunch that does not generate any trash and “Walk to School Wednesdays”, to save fuel and reduce emissions. There will be recycling throughout the school and recycle bins in the classrooms.  Go Green merchandise including water bottles, reusable shopping bags and lunch containers will be available on Ice Cream Friday, Dec.14^th and 21^st.  Please stop by and learn about this new program.  Go Green!
PK Go Green Information

Go Green Merchandise – Pennekamp is Going Green in January and we will be offering great merchandise to support this campaign, such as: Reusable shopping bags with the Pennekamp logo (1 for $3.50 or 3 for $10.00).  Reusable water bottles with logo ($ 6.00) and reusable lunch containers (Tupperware, Lunchopolis and others).  We will have these items available for sale.  Please come by and make a green start for the new year!

Author’s Week – Volunteers are still needed to help with Author’s Week (Feb.4 – 8, 2008).  We need people to coordinate lunches for the authors, to help with Mystery Readers, etc.  If you can help out, please contact Shirley Ritter: at (310) 798-7932 or SCANDC@aol.com. Mystery Reader Volunteer Form

Lady Mustang Basketball  - Please join us for Lady Mustang Basketball on Saturday, January 12^th, 2008. Come see the beautifully refurbished Fisher Gym at Mira Costa.  See the flyers regarding game times, ticket and food orders.  All order forms must be dropped off in the Pennekamp office by Wed., Jan. 9^th,2008.
MCHS Girl's Basketball Info and Food Order Form

Parent Workshop  We are pleased to announce that David Ghoogasian, expert in gifted and talented education, will be presenting his next parent workshop on Tuesday, February, 12, 2008 from 6:00 pm. – 8:30 pm. at the Grand View Performing Arts Center located at 2617 Bell Avenue.    Parents and teachers are encouraged to attend.  For more information please go to the District’s website at www.mbusd.org.

Many Thanks!   The office staff at Pennekamp would like to say thank you to all of our wonderful families for the gifts, good thoughts and warm wishes that were given to us this past holiday season. You are so awesome!  Here’s to a great 2008!

 

IMPORTANT DATES

·          Thurs., Jan.10^th and Fri., Jan. 11th – 4^th Grade GATE

·          Mon. Jan. 14^th – School Site Council meeting 3 pm. Rm.10

·          Tues. Jan. 15^th – 1:45 pm. – 4:15 pm. Talent Show tryouts for Kdg – 3^rd Pennkamp Cafeteria

·          Thurs. Jan 17^th – 2:45 pm. – 5:15 pm.  Talent Show tryouts grades 4 & 5 Pennekamp Cafeteria

·          Mon. Jan. 21^st – Martin Luther King Holiday – No School

·          Fri. Jan. 25^th – Assembly “Environmental Defenders”

·          Feb. 4^th – 8^th – Authors’ Week         

·          Feb. 18^th – 22^nd – Mid-Winter Recess ( no school)

·          Thurs. Feb. 28^th – Talent Show dress rehearsal 3:00 pm -6:00 pm. -  MCHS auditorium

·          Fri. Feb. 29^th – PK Talent Show 6:00 pm. – 9:00 pm. – MCHS auditorium