Dear Pennekamp Families,

Last Friday evening, I couldn’t wait to get home to relax and curl up with a good book.  It was as if my love of reading had been reborn and rekindled as a result of the special events of the school week.  By all accounts, Authors’ Week was a huge success!  Michael Wright, our Author-in-Residence, sparked interest and joy for reading and writing into the minds and hearts of Pennekamp students, not to mention us adults.  It was wonderful to actually have a “homegrown” author (He’s a former PK parent) in our midst.  In addition to sharing his entertaining books at assemblies, he also enthralled the children during workshop by creating computer-generated illustrations to accompany the poems that each class had created.  These illustrations will be compiled into a coloring book for children to enjoy that will be a fitting opus to commemorate a very special week at Pennekamp.  Thanks, Michael!

            A big “Thank You” also goes out to Karol Hoeffner-Shrodes for once again weaving her own special magic vis-à-vis her Screen Writers Workshops with 5^th grade classes.  Some of the finished products will be submitted to a national contest for young screenwriters.

            Once again, Mystery Readers were a big hit!  Kudos to all of the parents who dressed up in ornate costumes and animatedly read to the spellbound children.  Again, our upper-grade students did a terrific job of performing Poetry Breaks for the younger students.  Hats off to former PK teacher Hal Hunt for coming back to organize the Poetry Breaks.  Thanks Hal!

            Last, but certainly not least, a huge debt of gratitude goes to Shirley Ritter for organizing and orchestrating the entire event. It truly was one of our most successful Authors’ Weeks to date.

Valentine’s Day on Thursday – Both kids and adults look forward to this holiday. We will not be having classroom parties (sweets, etc) this year, although teachers may celebrate it in some fashion in their classes. Students are allowed to bring Valentine’s Cards to distribute, provided that they do so for everyone in the class. This prevents hurt feelings. We ask that children (and parents) do not bring candy to school or attach candy to cards.

Greener Tuesday Envelopes – In our efforts to Go Green at Pennekamp, all families will be going to Reduced Paper Tuesday Envelopes starting in March 1^st. If you receive PK’s Dragon E-News, you will automatically receive all Tuesday Envelope news.  Hardcopies of the weekly Green Sheet will only be sent home on the first Tuesday of each month. All other weeks, it will only be available online in our Dragon E-News. Please send an email to pkpta@hotmail.com  to subscribe. We still have 75 families who have not done so. We encourage all families to “get onboard” the Dragon E-News. Any questions, call Nina Patel 310-372-1670.

Mid-Winter Break, Feb.18-222 – Just a reminder that school is out next week. For those of you who take a “Ski Vacation”, hopefully you have planned it for next week.  Enjoy the week off!

State Testingg – We are looking ahead to these important assessments of student progress. Please mark your calendars for the following dates:

March 4 = 4^th Grade Writing Test

May 5-16 = 2^nd-5^th Grade Testing

It is critical that students be at school on time each day during State testing. Please avoid scheduling appointments, trips, etc. on these dates.

            Today, February 122^th, is the 100^th day of the school year. It has been quite an eventful year thus far, and it promises to get even better. Best wishes to all students and PK families for an enjoyable Mid-Winter Break next week.

Sincerely,

Dale Keldrauk

 

 Instrumental Music Mini Concertss – On Monday, March 31^st, our instrumental music students will be performing mini concerts throughout the school day.  Parents are invited to attend these informal concerts which will showcase our strings, recorders and band students. The concerts will be in the Pennekamp Cafeteria and will last about 35 minutes each. The schedule is as follows:  8:20 a.m.-3^rd gr. Recorders and strings (Hooper, Moreno).  9:00 a.m.-3^rd gr. Recorders and strings (Horowitz, Hunt)  10:30 a.m. 4^th gr. Strings and band  12:50 p.m. 5^th gr. Strings and band.  Please contact Ms. Johnson at www.bandisfun.com or Mr. Mollick at mbstrings@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

Silent Auction & Parent Party – On Friday, March 14^th, 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. We are also accepting basket donations in the office as well. 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. Ticket forms are also available in the main office.  Auction donation forms will be coming home in this Tuesday’s envelope.  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 Class Basket Donation List   Parent Party Ticket Order Form 
Silent Auction Donor Form

STAR Winter Classes – The STAR Winter enrichment classes have begun. The classes will be more exciting than ever!  Although many of the classes are filled there is still space available in the following: Eco Station, Lego Building, Kinder Spanish, Art, Woodworking, Science, We Play Pokemon, Soccer, Martial Arts and Literacy.  We have added a new Jazz/Hip-Hop class on Thursdays to replace gymnastics.  Our Spring session brochure will be coming out mid March.  Please contact Beverly Powell, STAR Director at (310) 877-9047 or by email at  pennekampstar@hotmail.com for class information.    

Green Ideas – UNPLUG IT!  About 5% of energy consumption for most households is spent on machines that are plugged in but are not in use, consuming energy even when turned off. That’s about 18 million tons of carbon emitted into the atmosphere each year.  Consider doing an energy audit of your home: walk through and unplug items not in use such as cell phone and tool chargers, electronic devices(clocks, CD players, etc.)  and appliances (an extra refrigerator, toasters, etc.). Please contact Heather Spadone for any questions or suggestions you may have at teamspadone@yahoo.com.

Daffodil Days – February 5^th – February 15^th marks the return of this annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  Please join our Pennekamp community by ordering this first flower of Spring to support lifesaving patient services, educational programs and research that provides hope for a world free from cancer. Orders will be taken in February and delivered in March.  Please contact Tracie Haber with questions at (310) 374-5561.
Daffodil Days Order Form

Box Top Winners – Mr. Ahren’s and Mrs. Curry’s 5^th grade classrooms won free ice cream.  Keep up the good work turning in those box tops for February’s contest.  For more information please call Patricia Koester at (310) 318-1259.

Neptunian’s Annual Art Contest – This contest is open to children of all grade levels.  All work must be original.  Entries must be received by Wed., Feb. 13^th.  For more information, pick up an entry form in the main office.

1st Friday Speaker Series – On Friday, March 7^th, the MBUSD will present Sharon Rosenbloom, author of Beneath and Beyond Autism and A Speech and Language Pathologist, at the Manhattan Beach Preschool Auditorium located at 1431 15^th Street from 9 a.m.-11 a.m.  All parents are welcome to attend.

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. 
Parent Workshop with David Ghoogasian Information

 

IMPORTANT DATES

·          Tues. Feb. 12^th – MBUSD Parent Education session – “Emotional Intelligence”, 6:00 pm. – 8:30 pm. at the Grand View School Performing Arts Center

·          Feb. 18^th – 22^nd – Mid-Winter Break – No School

·          Wed. Feb 27^th – Registration packets for 2008-2009 available in PK office

·          Fri. – Feb. 29^th – 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Pk Talent Show at MCHS Auditorium

·          Wed. March 5^th – Kindergarten registration begins.

·          Fri. March 7^th – 1^st Friday Speaker Series – Sharon Rosenbloom, author of Beneath and Beyond Autism at MB Preschool Auditorium 1431 15^th St.

·          Fri. March 14^th – 2^nd trimester Report Cards go home

·          Fri. March 14^th – Parent Party and Silent Auction

·          Mon., March 31^st - Instrumental Mini Concerts – Pennekamp Cafeteria, 8:20 a.m. (Hooper, Moreno), 9 a.m. (Horowitz, Hunt) 10:30 a.m. all 4^th grade, 12:50 p.m. all 5^th grade