Dear Pennekamp Families,

            What could be more befitting for the celebration of Earth Day today than to enjoy glorious spring weather in our beautiful beach community! Given Pennekamp’s “Go Green” focus this year, this special day seems even more significant than ever. Perhaps the greatest benefit of this movement is that of heightening children’s awareness of the ecological challenges we face, and of the need to take daily measures to protect and preserve our environment. On a daily basis, we now see kids reusing and recycling things that would previously have been discarded as trash without thinking twice. While taking a long bicycle “strand cruise” this past Saturday, I witnessed a number of groups of young people out cleaning our beaches. It is certainly gratifying to see that the future stewards of our planet are learning to take responsibility of their environment at an early age.

             Tonight (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.) we will be having a very important PTA meeting. The significance of this meeting was increased dramatically by the generous move on the part of our Manhattan Beach City Council to authorize the release of $520,000 to MBUSD to help our district ameliorate the devastating impact of a projected $1.1 million cut in state funding to our district for the upcoming year. Thanks to the largess of our City Council, as well as to the efforts of Superintendent Bev Rohrer, Assistant Superintendent of Business Steve Romines and the MBUSD Board of Trustees, we have entered into a new partnership that clearly showcases our community’s commitment to children as a top priority.

At our meeting tonight, City Councilmember Richard Montgomery, and our newest Board member Bill Fournell will be in attendance. We strongly urge parents to come to the meeting in order to acknowledge and show our support for the efforts of those who were instrumental in brokering this unprecedented level of partnership between our city and schools. PTA would love to have a good turnout to show them our appreciation. Childcare will be provided.

           Tonight’s meeting will also feature a presentation by Lena Agee, MBUSD Director of Food Services. In addition to informing us of the regulations and logistics of providing a quality school-lunch program, she will be providing samples of the foods that students can purchase in our cafeteria. It promises to be an interesting and tasty meeting.

We have quite an eventful calendar of activities coming up over the course of the upcoming weeks. Please take note of the following:

Steppin’ Out Challenge – It runs for 7 days; this Monday through this coming Sunday. The goal is to walk 10,000 steps a day for 7 days. Get out your pedometers and step up to the challenge! 
Steppin' Out Challenge Info and Sign Up

PTA Meeting 6:30 Tonight (Tuesday) – Yet another reminder!
Agenda for PTA Meeting

South Bay Voyagers Camp - We realize that many students will be attending the camp this weekend. Please make sure that your children come to school on Friday  (and stay as long as possible) in order to ensure that we do not lose state funding due to absences.

MBAF Soccer Tournament - This Sunday (4/27), the Pennekamp Dragon team will compete in this fun event which raises funds for our schools. PK’s first game is at 10:45 a.m at Mira Costa High School Stadium Field. Students who come out to cheer on our team will receive Gold Cards.

5^th Grade Parent Meeting at MBMS  - Monday 4/28, 7:00 p.m., MBMS Auditorium. All 5^th grade parents are invited to attend this middle school orientation meeting.

Pride Day, Sat., May 10, 9:00-2:00 - Parents and kids are encouraged to come out for all or part of this school beautification effort. Mark your calendars and plan on attending!

 

Sincerely,

Dale Keldrauk

 

 

MBUSD Summer School – The district will be providing remediation summer school to general education students currently in grades 2-7 based upon California Education Codes regarding supplemental instruction.  Students who qualify will be specifically identified by multiple performance measures that have been calculated to determine core proficiency.  Parents of students who qualify for these Summer School programs will receive an invitation by mail providing details of the program the week of April 21, 2008.  Summer School will be held at Pennekamp Elementary from Monday, June 23^rd – Friday, July 18^th.  There will be no school on Friday, July 4^th.

GATE Testing – Spring testing for current 4^th grade students is on June 2, 2008.  This testing opportunity is for any current 4^th grade student who did not take the test in September of this school year.  The test will be given in Room 27 at Pacific Elementary School at 8:30 a.m. In order to reserve a spot, please fill out a Permission to Test form and send it to:  Alysse McDonald 1200 Pacific Ave. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, or it can be dropped off in the Pacific office.  The office also has copies of the permission slip.  Students who have already qualified for GATE do not need to retake the test.  The district will test 6^th grade students in October, 2008 at MBMS.

Take a Step – Cut the Plastic Bottle Habit – Plastic bottles from water and soda pile up in our landfills and take 450+ years to break down.  Not only do these bottles create huge waste problems, they are also produced from petroleum and require energy to manufacture.  Don’t forget to factor in the transportation costs to distribute them.  Make sure to recycle all plastic bottles.  Better yet, use filtered water from the tap in reusable drink containers.  Check this website for some great earth-friendly information, http://terracycle.net  or contact Heather Spadone at teamspadone@yahoo.net.                 

STAR -  It’s not too late to enroll in STAR classes!  4^th and 5^th grade students will get 10% off enrollment for the Science Fair Project class with Mrs. Ibrahim.  Come support wildlife and earth preservation…Join us for the biggest and best Earth Day celebration for kids in Los Angeles on Sunday, April 27^th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the STAR Ecostation located at 10101 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City, CA.  There will be rescued exotic wildlife, an outdoor carnival, live entertainment and a few Nickolodeon celebrities as well! Please contact Beverly Powell at (310) 877-9047. 
STAR Class Schedule    STAR Class Registration Form

Camp VIP – Don’t forget to review the Camp VIP information and enroll your children for a summer of exciting enrichment opportunities.  Check out the website at mbathleticfoundation.org. and click on Camp VIP.  Remember, Camp VIP is a win-win for everyone.  The kids have a great learning experience, and the profit supports  MBUSD programs.
Camp VIP Website

MBUSD Summer Enrichment Camp – Camps will be held this year on the Pacific and Pennekamp campuses.  All South Bay residents are invited to join us for some outrageous summer fun! Campers from Kdg. – 8^th grade can register for any or all of the nine, one week sessions.  Please contact Becky Hausken at (310) 318-7345 ext. 5840 with any questions.
MBUSD EDP Camp Information

Author’s Week Coloring Books by Michael Wright are Here – The official Author’s Week coloring books created by Michael Wright have arrived!  Each class has a drawing and poem in the book. The cost is $1 each and the monies should be given to your child’s teacher.  Books will be distributed when paid for.  For any questions, call Shirley Ritter at (310) 798-7932.

Movie Night  - Pennekamp’s 2^nd Annual Movie Night will be held on Friday, May 16^th.  The film this year will be “Ice Age”.  The teacher raffle, food and fun starts at 6:30 p.m.  The movie will begin at 8 p.m.   If you would like to volunteer for the popcorn machine, please contact Susan Holton at (310) 376-9206 or strawberryonfire@aol.com  Look for flyers in next week’s Tuesday envelope to purchase tickets for the auction items that our teachers have so generously donated for this special night.

Pier-to-Pier Walkathon – The 21^st Annual Richstone Family Pier to Pier Walkathon is Saturday, April 26^th starting at 8 a.m. at the Manhattan Beach Pier.  Registration forms for the walkathon can be picked up in the PK office or library. Be sure to write TEAM PENNEKAMP as the team you are walking for.  If you can’t walk you can still participate by logging on to www.RichstoneFamily.org.

Box Top Winners! – Mrs. Schneck’s and Mrs. Freeman’s class won the March Box Top Ice Cream Party!  Each student will receive one free ice cream.  Keep turning in those box tops!  For more information, contact Patricia Koester at (310) 318-1259.

 

IMPORTANT DATES

·          Tues., April 22^nd – 6:30 p.m. – PTA meeting, Pennekamp Cafetorium

·          Wed., April 23^rd – 5^th grade walking field trip to MBMS,  9:00 am. – 11:15 am.

·          Wed., April 23^rd – 2^nd and 3^rd grade walking field trip to MCHS,  9:15 am. – 12:00 noon.

·          Thurs., April 24^th – 3^rd grade field trip to La Ballona Wetlands – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (rooms 21 & 22)

·          Fri., April 25^th – MBMS Choir performance for 4^th and 5^th grades in PK Cafetorium

·          Mon., April 28^th – 5^th grade Parent Orientation meeting - 7:00 p.m. at MBMS

·          Fri., May 2^nd – Assembly – “50 Years of American Pop Music” 9 – 9:50 Ks, 4^th, 5^th . 10– 10:50 Ks, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd

·          Mon., May 5^th – May 16^th – State testing

·          Sat., May 10^th – Pride Day at Pennekamp -  9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

·          Wed. June 3^rd – 5^th Grade Transition Breakfast – 7:45 a.m.

·          Wed., June 4^th – Science Fair

·          Thurs., June 5^th – Open House

·          Fri., June 6^th – Kinderthon – 10 a.m.

·          Fri., June 13^th – 5^th Grade Promotion Party – 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.