Family Newsletter - 12/22/22

Pennoyer Families, 

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our families and community members that have supported myself, our entire staff, and all of students in 2022.  It's been an amazing ride so far for me as your principal, and I can't wait for even better things to come in 2023.  No matter what, when, or how you're celebrating over these next couple of weeks, I truly wish every single one of you the happiest of holidays and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

I hope you can find time to spend with loved ones, take a break from your daily work and routines, and appreciate this special time of year before we head into the start of a brand new one.  I'll miss our students and staff over the next couple of weeks, but I know our hallways and classrooms will be buzzing again soon enough with our school community taking on new challenges, stretching their thinking and creativity, and building academic and social/emotional learning skills they can use well beyond our school walls.

Make the best of this Winter Break, and we'll see everyone back at Pennoyer on Monday, January 9th!

School Information and Reminders:

As the winter months continue, HERE is our current E Learning Plan our staff put together this year in case we have to close Pennoyer due to weather conditions.  If you have questions about these remote learning plans, feel free to reach out to your student's teacher(s).  

Important Information About Parking at the Salvation Army - Parents and guardians, please make sure to watch your speed and how you're driving in the parking lot at the Salvation Army.  Also, please be careful near the sidewalks where many of our students are walking.  It's often icy and wet out this time of year, and we want to make sure everyone is safe.  Please respect the property and people working at the Salvation Army and work with them if redirected.  They have been a great collaborative partner with us and we so appreciate them allowing our families to use their parking lot.  Thanks so much!

Ukrainian Translator Opportunity with the Norridge Police Department - Wayne Schober, the Deputy Chief of Police from the Norridge Police Department, reached out asking if we could help find any staff or community members to support when translators are needed at the police department.

If you're interested in volunteering, please reach out to Principal Adam Greenberg who can pass your name, address, and phone number along to Deputy Chief Schober.

Want to get involved, volunteer, or have ideas for our school...Check out the PTC Link!

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

This past Tuesday night was honestly one of my favorite experiences in my 20 years of education.  I was so full of pride and smiling from ear to ear as I witnessed the inspiring dedication of Ms. Amanda Payne and all of our PreK-4th graders shine on stage at our 2022 Pennoyer Winter Concert!  In addition, Mr. Paul Browne and our incredible band students kicked things off on the right foot.  Every student involved in the Winter Concert put in so much work and Ms. Payne was a true leader bringing it all together with her creativity and thoughtfulness for our entire community.  Ms. Payne was supported by our incredible Fine Arts and PE department, which includes Megan McManus, Jim Nelsen, and Kajsa Meyer.  They put in a lot of extra time to get the gym looking absolutely amazing and being flexible with their space and time during the past week leading up to the actual show.  We also had a whole group of teachers come and support our students and Ms. Payne on Tuesday night to help bring it all together.  In the final songs of the show, with an absolutely packed gym, the crowd sang Jingle Bells along with our students and staff and the positive joy and spirit was through the roof.  It was truly a special night for the entire Pennoyer community that I know I will never forget.

What’s Around the Corner?

• Pennoyer PTC 1st Annual Bingo Night!
• Check out this flyer and be a part of this fun event on Thursday, Jan. 12th!
• Middle School Dance Coming up for all 6th-8th graders on Friday, January 20th!  
• Information went home with middle school students, but check out this flyer for information as well.  We can't wait to celebrate with all of our middle schoolers!!!
• Lou Malnati's 8th Grade Valentine's Day Fundraiser - Click HERE for more information!
• Norridge Park District Youth Basketball League
• Check out this flyer for more information

• Norridge Park District - Holiday Celebrations and Activities!
• Check out this flyer for more information.
• West 40 - Newcomer Item Drive - Think about supporting this initiative.  
• HERE is more information if you're interested.
• Winter Workshop opportunities over Winter Break for students
• Check out this flyer for more information.
• Important Information for all 8th grade families sending students to Main South next year!
• Main South freshman registration form - Must be filled out before Jan. 1, 2023

• Pennoyer T-Shirt Fundraiser to Support Refugees
• Check out this flyer for more information. 
• Eisenhower Library Story Essay Activity for Students, Parents, and Families!  Check out this cool opportunity for any creative writers to share their perspective and stories!  There is no deadline I'm aware of to turn these in, but I'm sure the sooner, the better.  HERE is the information!

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org

Family Newsletter - 12/16/22

Pennoyer Families, 

We had an eventful and productive week as our 3rd-8th graders participated in assemblies that focused on Online Safety, Digital Citizenship, and Responsible Social Media Usage.  Officers Zach Zage and Melanie Pina from the Norridge Police Department led thoughtful presentations during the assemblies.  Students were attentive and engaged as they learned about ways to feel safe online, make positive choices, and feel supported.  This was just the first series of assemblies for this school year.  The plan is to have Officer Zage and Officer Pina back in the late winter and maybe again in the spring to continue building on these topics and helping to educate our students at Pennoyer.  Attention all Pennoyer Families...Please save the date, Thursday, January 26th from 6:30-7:15pm when we'll have Officer Zage and Officer Pina back at Pennoyer for an important Parent/Guardian education night focusing on Online Safety, Digital Citizenship, and Responsible Social Media Usage that will help build your capacity to support your children and build more awareness around these topics.

Below are the presentations students saw this week.  Take a look at them if you wish so you can have a healthy dialogue with your student(s) and help learn and support beside them.

3rd-5th Grade Presentation

6th-8th Grade Presentation

Congratulations to our Pennoyer Band Students and Mr. Browne for working so hard over the last few months and performing successfully at their very first band concert of the year this past Thursday night at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, Kyte Hall.  We're so proud of each and every one of you!

Last but not least...Good luck to both France and Argentina as they battle it out this coming Sunday morning for the World Cup title!  I think it's gonna be a great game and can't wait to watch.  Is Messi going to get his first World Cup Championship in his last run or is Mbappe' going to steal the show and continue his quest for one of the greats to follow in Messi's footsteps.  We'll just have to wait and see with the rest of the world!

School Information and Reminders:

Don't forget that Pizza Lunch this coming week has been changed to Tuesday, December 20th!

Winter Break Schedule - School is closed and not in session starting on Friday, Dec. 23rd, and we return in Monday, Jan. 9th.  Enjoy the break everyone!!!

Important Information About Parking at the Salvation Army - Parents and guardians, please make sure to watch your speed and how you're driving in the parking lot at the Salvation Army.  Also, please be careful near the sidewalks where many of our students are walking.  It's often icy and wet out this time of year, and we want to make sure everyone is safe.  Please respect the property and people working at the Salvation Army and work with them if redirected.  They have been a great collaborative partner with us and we so appreciate them allowing our families to use their parking lot.  Thanks so much!

Ukrainian Translator Opportunity with the Norridge Police Department - Wayne Schober, the Deputy Chief of Police from the Norridge Police Department, reached out asking if we could help find any staff or community members to support when translators are needed at the police department.

If you're interested in volunteering, please reach out to Principal Adam Greenberg who can pass your name, address, and phone number along to Deputy Chief Schober.

Want to get involved, volunteer, or have ideas for our school...Check out the PTC Link!

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

This week I'm humbled to celebrate Denise Armenta and Alana Cardenas in our main office at Pennoyer.  I'm so grateful to be working in the office with Ms. Denise and Nurse Alana each and every day.  We have fun, keep things lightheaded, and in the end, they always get the job done.  They literally keep things running at Pennoyer and help support our staff, students, and families in so many ways it's amazing to witness.  I couldn't do my job without their level of dedication.  It truly brings a smile to my face getting to work so closely with the both of them day in and day out.  I know how lucky I am, and I certainly know how lucky our entire Pennoyer community is to have Ms. Denise and Nurse Alana helping to steer the ship.

What’s Around the Corner?

• Middle School Dance Coming up for all 6th-8th graders on Friday, January 20th!  
• Information went home with middle school students today, but check out this flyer for information as well.  We can't wait to celebrate with all of our middle schoolers!!!
• Lou Malnati's 8th Grade Valentine's Day Fundraiser - Click HERE for more information!
• Norridge Park District Youth Basketball League
• Check out this flyer for more information
• Pennoyer Holiday Spirit Week sponsored by our Student Council... Click HERE for more information about the week and how to join in the school spirit!

• PreK-4th Grade Pennoyer Winter Concert - Tuesday, December 20th at 6:30pm in the Pennoyer Gymnasium *(Please make sure to have any students performing in the concert here at 6:00pm)

• Norridge Park District - Holiday Celebrations and Activities!
• Check out this flyer for more information.
• West 40 - Newcomer Item Drive - Think about supporting this initiative.  
• HERE is more information if you're interested.
• Winter Workshop opportunities over Winter Break for students
• Check out this flyer for more information.
• Important Information for all 8th grade families sending students to Main South next year!
• Main South freshman registration form - Must be filled out before Jan. 1, 2023

• Pennoyer T-Shirt Fundraiser to Support Refugees
• Check out this flyer for more information. 
• Eisenhower Library Story Essay Activity for Students, Parents, and Families!  Check out this cool opportunity for any creative writers to share their perspective and stories!  There is no deadline I'm aware of to turn these in, but I'm sure the sooner, the better.  HERE is the information!

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org

Family Newsletter - 12/9/22

Pennoyer Families, 

We had a successful and productive week at Pennoyer.  Students loved visiting the Winter Workshop and our boy's basketball teams and cheerleaders filled our gym with so much energy, highlights, and spirit during our first home games of the season this year!  I don't know what everyone has planned, but I'm glad I have the weekend off from watching the Bears take another disappointing loss.  I'm really excited though, because my 6th grade daughter Sadie is performing in the Nutcracker this weekend with her dance company.  It always makes me smile to see her up on stage with all the hard work and dedication she has put into dance.  I never knew all it took to be a dancer.

This week, I wanted to take a moment to pass along information to our families and community that might be interested or know somebody that would like to apply to be a substitute teacher at Pennoyer.  We're always looking to add to our family, and we know this is a good opportunity for many people out there.  Read the information below and contact our District Office or come into Pennoyer if you're interested.  Check out this VIDEO too.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Must hold an Associate’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or show completion of 60 semester hours of coursework.
   

*Notes: 

• Valid for substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12.
  
• Short-Term Substitute licenses are valid until June 30, 2023, and may not be renewed. 
  
• Cannot teach more than 5 consecutive days per licensed teacher unless the state has a declared a disaster proclamation in which the short-term substitute may serve 15 consecutive days per licensed teacher.
  
• Must complete a training program provided by the school board.
  
• Can serve as a Paraprofessional.
  
• Coursework must be at the 100-level or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.
  
• How to Become a Substitute Teacher?

REQUIREMENTS

Must meet one of the following:

1. Must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
2. Beginning January 1, 2023, applicants enrolled in an approved Illinois educator preparation program may qualify for the substitute license with at least 90 semester hours of coursework.

*Notes: 

• Valid for substitute teaching in all grades of public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12.
• Substitute licenses are valid for 5 years, and may be renewed with the payment of registration fees.
• View Substitute and Paraprofessional License Checklist
• How to Become a Substitute Teacher?

IF I HOLD A VALID PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR LICENSE, EDUCATOR LICENSE WITH STIPULATIONS OR PARAPROFESSIONAL LICENSE, AM I QUALIFIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER?

If you hold a valid professional educator license, educator license with stipulations or paraprofessional license and hold a bachelor’s degree, you are qualified to be a substitute teacher. You do not need to hold a substitute teaching license.

School Information and Reminders:

Dressing appropriately for Winter months - As it gets colder these next few months, please make sure your students are wearing the proper clothes to school.  We want students to be safe, comfortable, and warm when outside during arrival/dismissal times, and recess throughout the day.  Per our handbook, we will have students outside when the "real feel" temperature is above 15 degrees.  Thanks so much for your support with this.

Interested in some new Pennoyer Spirit Wear...check out this LINK, which is also featured on our PTC website.  Everything can be shipped directly to your home!

Want to get involved, volunteer, or have ideas for our school...Check out the PTC Link!

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

This week it's my absolute pleasure to celebrate our Library Specialist and Paraprofessional, Linda Krieter.  Mrs. Krieter has helped to transform not only the our Library Resource Center (LRC) this year at Pennoyer, but many other locations in our school as well.  Any chance she gets to find a great deal on furniture that other schools and institutions are getting rid of, she takes it upon herself to find a way to get it and adds to the library space or passes it along to staff here at Pennoyer that are in need.  She welcomes and works with staff and students on a daily basis to help enrich their experiences here at Pennoyer with our vast book collection.  Mrs. Krieter has made our LRC feel like a true home and place of comfort for our students to thrive in.  She has worked with students on a variety of things, including creating some thoughtful and inspiring bulletin boards that can always be seen right outside the library entrance.  Thanks for everything you do!

What’s Around the Corner?

• PreK-4th Grade Pennoyer Winter Concert - Tuesday, December 20th at 6:30pm in the Pennoyer Gymnasium *(Please make sure to have any students performing in the concert here at 6:00pm)
• West 40 - Cookies, Cocoa, and Carols Event on Saturday, December 10th
• Check out this flier for more information.
• Norridge Park District - Holiday Celebrations and Activities!
• Check out this flier for more information.
• West 40 - Newcomer Item Drive - Think about supporting this initiative.  
• HERE is more information if you're interested.
• Winter Workshop opportunities over Winter Break for students
• Check out this flier for more information.
• Important Information for all 8th grade families sending students to Main South next year!
• Main South freshman registration form - Must be filled out before Jan. 1, 2023

• Winter Traditions Around the World Presentation - It's that time of year again when our BPAC (Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee) is supporting a slideshow presentation that highlights the many cultures and traditions of our Pennoyer families and students.  We'll be showing this before our Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 20th.  If you're interested in submitting pictures, please check out this flier.
• Pennoyer T-Shirt Fundraiser to Support Refugees
• Check out this flier for more information. 
• Eisenhower Library Story Essay Activity for Students, Parents, and Families!  Check out this cool opportunity for any creative writers to share their perspective and stories!  There is no deadline I'm aware of to turn these in, but I'm sure the sooner, the better.  HERE is the information!

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org

Family Newsletter - 12/2/22

Pennoyer Families, 

I want to start out by thanking the parents that came out to our monthly Connect-Collaborate-Celebrate meeting this past week.  The focus was all about online safety, responsible social media usage, and how to help support our students and better educate ourselves as adults.  This was just the first step in our collaborative work at Pennoyer with the Norridge Police Department.  We're planning assemblies and presentations with Officer Zage and Officer Pina taking the lead with our 3rd-8th graders in a couple of weeks.  For parents/guardians, please save the date... Thursday, January 26th from 6:30-7:15pm.  We'll be having Officer Zage and Officer Pina back out at Pennoyer to put on a presentation that will be specifically built for our Pennoyer community based on feedback received this past week from parents that attended the meeting.  We have informational handouts for any parents/guardians in the main office that can be picked up at any time during the school day.  These helpful packets have been put together by the Norridge Police Department that we're working with on this endeavor and highlight some of the topics we'll be covering with parents and students throughout this school year.  I really hope you'll take advantage of the opportunity to listen and learn together on January 26th.  More information to come.

On another note, I wish nothing but the best for all of the countries still left in the World Cup in the coming days ahead.  I'm so excited to watch the US tomorrow morning against the Netherlands with my son and catch the other games all weekend as well.  It's been an exciting and unpredictable tournament so far.  Some great goals and defensive plays have highlighted the past week.  Good luck to everyone rooting for their countries!!!

School Information and Reminders:

Grades are live and final report cards will be uploaded for families and students in Skyward at 4pm today.  Families can look under the Portfolio tab in Skyward and then click on the report card link.  Please reach out to your student's teacher(s) with any questions or concerns about their report card.

Dressing appropriately for Winter months - As it gets colder these next few months, please make sure your students are wearing the proper clothes to school.  We want students to be safe, comfortable, and warm when outside during arrival/dismissal times, and recess throughout the day.  Per our handbook, we will have students outside when the "real feel" temperature is above 15 degrees.  Thanks so much for your support with this.

Interested in some new Pennoyer Spirit Wear...check out this LINK, which is also featured on our PTC website.  Everything can be shipped directly to your home!

Want to get involved, volunteer, or have ideas for our school...Check out the PTC Link!

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

This week we're celebrating our amazing art teacher, Kajsa Meyer!  Ms. Meyer is amazing with our students at Pennoyer.  She puts so much thought and creativity into her lessons and connecting with each and every student.  There's always positive vibes coming out of her classroom and she has encouraged our students to explore so many different facets of art.  Ms. Meyer has collaborated with Artsonia to showcase all of the incredible work our students do and stay connected to families.  She also runs a thriving art club for so many of our students that share in her obvious passion.  We're lucky to have her here at Pennoyer!

What’s Around the Corner?

• MAP Testing next week in Reading and Math for all K-8th graders
• Pennoyer Student Council Candy Cane Gram Fundraiser!
• If you're interested, check out this flier and order form.  Everything is due by Dec. 9th.
• Support our PTC sponsored Pennoyer Winter Workshop next week from Dec. 5th - Dec. 8th
• We hope our students find a lot of great items!  HERE is more information.
• Norridge Park District - Holiday Celebrations and Activities!
• Check out this flier for more information.
• West 40 - Newcomer Item Drive - Think about supporting this initiative.  
• HERE is more information if you're interested.
• Winter Workshop opportunities over Winter Break for students
• Check out this flier for more information.
• Important Information for all 8th grade families sending students to Main South next year!
• Main South freshman registration form - Must be filled out before Jan. 1, 2023
• HERE is information on the Incoming Freshman Night for all parents/guardians on Wednesday, December 7th next week.

• Winter Traditions Around the World Presentation - It's that time of year again when our BPAC (Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee) is supporting a slideshow presentation that highlights the many cultures and traditions of our Pennoyer families and students.  We'll be showing this before our Winter Concert in December.  If you're interested in submitting pictures, please check out this flier.
• Pennoyer T-Shirt Fundraiser to Support Refugees
• Check out this flier for more information. 
• Eisenhower Library Story Essay Activity for Students, Parents, and Families!  Check out this cool opportunity for any creative writers to share their perspective and stories!  There is no deadline I'm aware of to turn these in, but I'm sure the sooner, the better.  HERE is the information!

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org

Family Newsletter - 11/18/22

Pennoyer Families, 

Well, when winter decides to show up in Chicago, it never just creeps in slowly.  My winter coat, gloves, and hat have officially come out, and the fact that I finally have a car with a heated steering wheel has been a game changer.  I'm hoping this winter is not too bad for all of us with the heavy snowfall and sub zero temperatures, but we'll have to wait and see.  Maybe Brant Miller on NBC Channel 5 will have some answers for us.  I usually trust what he has to say!

As we end this week, I just want to take a moment to wish everyone a restful and enjoyable week ahead.  Whether you're celebrating the holiday or not, I hope everyone finds time to spend with friends and family, and our students have an opportunity to unplug from school.  We have so much to be thankful for here at Pennoyer each and every day.  I can't wait for us to come back after this break and push through the winter months together.  We have a lot of great things planned ahead!

School Information and Reminders:

Dressing appropriately for Winter months - As it gets colder these next few months, please make sure your students are wearing the proper clothes to school.  We want students to be safe, comfortable, and warm when outside during arrival/dismissal times, and recess throughout the day.  Per our handbook, we will have students outside when the "real feel" temperature is above 15 degrees.  Thanks so much for your support with this.

Interested in some new Pennoyer Spirit Wear...check out this LINK, which is also featured on our PTC website.  Everything can be shipped directly to your home!

Want to get involved, volunteer, or have ideas for our school...Check out the PTC Link!

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

I'm excited to celebrate our incredible Student Council and Ms. Kopoulos and Mrs. Kafka this week for bringing the best out in our students with a wonderfully thoughtful and creative activity they came up with!  Our students spent time during SEL this past week cutting out leaves and celebrating what they were thankful for.  These leaves were then put up on the Pennoyer Tree of Thanks in our Multi Purpose Room for everyone to see.  This is a wonderful display of gratitude and really showcases the spirit of our appreciative and thoughtful students here at Pennoyer.  Thanks Student Council members for all of your leadership and support!

What’s Around the Corner?

• No School from November 21st - November 25th

• Next Parent/Principal Connect-Collaborate-Celebrate monthly meeting is coming up on Thursday, Dec. 1st.  This will be in the MPR again at Pennoyer from 6:30-7:15pm for any families interested in attending. *The special topic of this meeting will focus on responsible social media usage, online safety, and digital citizenship.  I know keeping our students safe and responsible online is so important.  We'll have Officer Zach Zage from the Norridge Police Department, along with myself and our social worker Rachel Slawson to discuss, listen, and learn with our families as we focus on how to help our students better navigate technology, the online world, and social media.  I hope you can all join us.
• Winter Traditions Around the World Presentation - It's that time of year again when our BPAC (Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee) is supporting a slideshow presentation that highlights the many cultures and traditions of our Pennoyer families and students.  We'll be showing this before our Winter Concert in December.  If you're interested in submitting pictures, please check out this flier.
• Pennoyer T-Shirt Fundraiser to Support Refugees
• Check out this flier for more information. 
• Eisenhower Library Story Essay Activity for Students, Parents, and Families!  Check out this cool opportunity for any creative writers to share their perspective and stories!  There is no deadline I'm aware of to turn these in, but I'm sure the sooner, the better.  HERE is the information!
• Helpful Trimester 1 Reporting Timeline
• November 18th - Trimester 1 Ends
• December 2nd - Grades are live and final report cards will be uploaded for families and students in Skyward at 4pm.  Families can look under the Portfolio tab in Skyward and then click on the report card link.  Please reach out to Denise with any questions on how to access report cards if you're having issues.

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org

Family Newsletter - 11/11/22

Pennoyer Families, 

I want to begin by saying a huge thanks to all of our families and community members who got out and voted with our referendum on the ballot this past week.  I know we came up a little short, but I truly appreciate all of the support you've shown for our students and school throughout this process.  Thanks for being our voices and being champions for Pennoyer.  I'm so proud to be your principal.  

As we move forward, I wanted to share a few updates and pieces of helpful information with all of you.  To begin with, we've added a new link to our website that showcases all of the wonderful club opportunities we have here at Pennoyer.  You can find this under the "School" tab on our Pennoyer website and then click on "Clubs".  Thanks to our teachers and our Director of Technology Patrick Christl for helping to put this all together!  We hope this is a helpful support to those students and families that may be interested in joining these opportunities.  If we have more club options in the future, we'll certainly update the link as needed.  

I also want to remind families that if you click the link at the bottom of these newsletters and read these weekly communications in the blog format, you're able to have them translated in any language you choose.  I hope this is a helpful feature that families will take advantage of if needed.

In addition, it looks like the colder weather is definitely on its way next week.  I'm sure this is just the beginning so please send your children to school with appropriate clothing to keep them warm.  Per our student/parent handbook, we will be outside for recess as long as long as the "feel like" temperature is above 15 degrees.  It won't be that cold out next week, but I just want our students to start coming to school prepared as we enter these colder winter months.  

Finally, I also want to take a moment to honor all of the military veterans of the United States Armed Forces that have served with bravery and dignity in times of peace and war.  We thank you for your service and sacrifice on this Veterans Day today, November 11th.

School Information and Reminders:

Updating Skyward for Grades -  Teachers will do their best to have all current assignments/assessments in Skyward within 1 week of the due date. Larger projects, late assignments and reassessments could be in Skyward within 2 weeks. Our staff will work hard to be consistent with these practices.

Wearing/Bringing Gym Shoes to School - Just a friendly reminder as the weather changes, all students are required to have appropriate gym shoes with them at school every day to participate properly in gym class.  We want to make sure students are safe, able to engage in activities, and the gym floor is preserved.  The easiest thing to do is to make sure all students come to school in some type of gym shoes each day.  When they have to wear boots or something else, please send them with an extra pair of shoes in their backpacks.  Thanks so much!

Want to get involved, volunteer, or have ideas for our school...Check out the PTC Link!

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

I'm so excited to celebrate the new Principal's Crew group at Pennoyer this year!  We met for our second time two weeks ago, and this amazing group of students is off to a great start already.  These special 3rd-8th grade students were chosen by their teachers to represent their peers and share their voice in helping to make Pennoyer the best school possible for everyone.  It's been my honor to begin this work with these students, and I can't wait to see all of their wonderful ideas come to light.  Congratulations to Maksim, Stevan, Marcus, Miriana, Alexandra, Alex, Nicole, Ava, Alexa, Lara, Aidan, and Bart for being selected this year!

What’s Around the Corner?

• Peer Leaders are sponsoring the Pennoyer/Salvation Army - Hat and Glove Drive
• Check out this flier for more information and how to get involved!
• Pennoyer T-Shirt Fundraiser to Support Refugees
• Check out this flier for more information.  These will be handed out during Conferences as well.
• Final Day for - 8th grade Krispy Kreme fundraiser - Check out this Cool Flier!
• PTC Pennoyer Domino's Pizza Fundraiser - See flyer sent home this week.  Please return all orders by Tuesday, November 15th
• Helpful Trimester 1 Reporting Timeline
• November 18th - Trimester 1 Ends
• December 2nd - Grades are live and final for families and students in Skyward

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org

Family Newsletter - 11/4/22

Pennoyer Families, 

We are just 5 days aways from knowing the future of Pennoyer School. November 8 is the last day to vote for the referendum that will provide much needed infrastructure repairs to our school.  I sincerely hope all of our Pennoyer families that are able to vote (and anyone in your household, neighbors, friends) get out and either early vote this weekend or Monday or come out on the November 8th Election Day.   We thank you for your support!

We had a great week at Pennoyer from start to finish!  Halloween celebrations and our parade were a great way to kick off the week on Monday.  In reference to my costume, I had to explain to a lot of students who John Lennon was, and that I wasn't dressed up like a character from Stranger Things.  We had a fun day and our students and staff enjoyed the festivities!  Later in the week on Thursday night, we celebrated at our annual STEAM night with our students, families, and staff.  A special thanks to Mrs. Strecker and Ms. Kopoulos for helping to put this successful event together and to all of the teachers that volunteered to support on the night of the event.  It was amazing to see all of the creative stations and opportunities for our Pennoyer students to explore!  They built things, engineered objects, learned about areas of science, technology, and mathematics, and had real hands on experiences that were so fun to witness.  It was a great way to roll into the end of our week. 

Pennoyer families...don't forget about the exciting new clubs we are offering at Pennoyer in collaboration with the Norridge Park District this year.  Make sure to check out these cool opportunities for our K-8th graders.  The final deadline to register for these clubs is Monday, November 7th, so don't wait!  There is a minimum number of students that must enroll in order to run these clubs, so we hope to get a lot of interest.  HERE is a flyer that provides information on how to sign up, along with the different options in Session 1.  

School Information and Reminders:

Updating Skyward for Grades -  Teachers will do their best to have all current assignments/assessments in Skyward within 1 week of the due date. Larger projects, late assignments and reassessments could be in Skyward within 2 weeks. Our staff will work hard to be consistent with these practices.

Wearing/Bringing Gym Shoes to School - Just a friendly reminder as the weather changes, all students are required to have appropriate gym shoes with them at school every day to participate properly in gym class.  We want to make sure students are safe, able to engage in activities, and the gym floor is preserved.  The easiest thing to do is to make sure all students come to school in some type of gym shoes each day.  When they have to wear boots or something else, please send them with an extra pair of shoes in their backpacks.  Thanks so much!

Want to get involved, volunteer, or have ideas for our school...Check out the PTC Link!

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

We're so excited to continue our collaboration with Maine South High School and kick off their Internship Program again this year.  We had the high schoolers visit for their first time last week to get things going and they were so excited.  Main South offers a course called Exploring the Teaching Profession.  This class is geared to upper level high school students who are on the career pathway to become teachers.  Using dual credit and curriculum from St. Francis University in Joliet, the students learn about curriculum, classroom management, diverse learners, and professional development.  The students also have a practical with hands on experience with an Internship here at Pennoyer.  This group of eager and inspired students will join us at Pennoyer a couple times a month throughout the school year and work directly with classroom teachers to observe, help, and work with our students.

What’s Around the Corner?

• No School on Monday, November 7th (Parent/Teacher Student Led Conferences) and Tuesday, November 8th (Election Day)
• Daylight Savings Time Ends on Sunday, November 6th - Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour this weekend!
• Peer Leaders are sponsoring the Pennoyer/Salvation Army - Hat and Glove Drive
• Check out this flier for more information and how to get involved!
• Pennoyer T-Shirt Fundraiser to Support Refugees
• Check out this flier for more information.  These will be handed out during Conferences as well.
• 8th grade Krispy Kreme fundraiser - Check out this Cool Flier!
• PTC Pennoyer Domino's Pizza Fundraiser - See flyer sent home this week.  Please return all orders by Tuesday, November 15th
• Fall Parent Teacher Conferences on Monday, November 7th 
• HERE is a link to all of the sign ups if you're still interested.  Please sign up before 10pm on November 6th if you'd like to set up a conference.  Remember these are Student Led Conferences for the K-8th graders, so make sure they attend with you.  Also, our PreK-8th grade will have 15 minute time slots to sign up for, while 6th-8th will have 10 minute time slots to accommodate families who may want to see multiple teachers. 

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org

Family Newsletter - 10/28/22

Pennoyer Families, 

Early voting is happening this week and next week at Norridge Village Hall.   It is so important that all our families vote.  The referendum is critical to moving Pennoyer forward and maintaining our current programming.  Please see our Pennoyer website https://www.pennoyerschool.org/referendum/ for more information.

This past week I hosted our very first Parent/Principal Connect-Collaborate-Celebrate monthly meeting, and I so appreciated families that took time out of their busy schedules to come by Pennoyer and join in this opportunity.  We had such good and honest conversations where voices were heard throughout the night.  I'm so excited about working with all of our families to help make Pennoyer the best place possible for each and every one of our students.  There's so much we can do when we're working together on the same team with the same goals in mind.  I can't wait to see the progress we make throughout the year.  We'll have another meeting next month to build on some of the focus areas we discussed this past week.

Also, don't forget about the exciting new clubs we are offering at Pennoyer in collaboration with the Norridge Park District this year.  Make sure to check out these cool opportunities for our K-8th graders and register soon before things close up and get filled.  HERE is a flyer that provides information on how to sign up, along with the different options in Session 1.  

School Information and Reminders:

Updating Skyward for Grades -  Teachers will do their best to have all current assignments/assessments in Skyward within 1 week of the due date. Larger projects, late assignments and reassessments could be in Skyward within 2 weeks. Our staff will work hard to be consistent with these practices.

Wearing/Bringing Gym Shoes to School - Just a friendly reminder as the weather changes, all students are required to have appropriate gym shoes with them at school every day to participate properly in gym class.  We want to make sure students are safe, able to engage in activities, and the gym floor is preserved.  The easiest thing to do is to make sure all students come to school in some type of gym shoes each day.  When they have to wear boots or something else, please send them with an extra pair of shoes in their backpacks.  Thanks so much!

Want to get involved, volunteer, or have ideas for our school...Check out the PTC Link!

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

I'm so excited and proud to celebrate Mrs. Strecker this week who applied and received the Excellence In Education Grant this year from the Illinois Retired Teachers Foundation.  The Excellence in Education Grant program began 18 years ago, and over that time has presented over a half a million dollars to active teachers, allowing them to pursue innovative activities for their students.  This year, 180 teachers across the state applied for the grants, and from our area, Mrs. Strecker was chosen based on the description of her project she submitted.  Mrs. Strecker will be using her grant to purchase sets of read alouds that are connected to math for Kindergarten to 3rd grade to engage students in mathematical concepts through literacy.  These resources will allow them to think about math in different ways, activate background knowledge, and apply new skills in an additional setting which creates a deeper learning experience.  

Way to go Mrs. Strecker!

What’s Around the Corner?

• Pennoyer Halloween Celebrations on Monday, October 31st - HERE is a letter for parents/guardians with information all about our day on Oct. 31st.  Please note the parade route has changed slightly.  
• Also, remember it's a half day of school and students are dismissed at 11:30am.  There will be no lunch on October 31st.
• Erin's Law student presentations - These will take place in the classrooms for students sometime between November 1st - November 4th.  HERE is a letter from Mrs. Slawson detailing Erin's Law and the focus to support our students here at Pennoyer.
• Pennoyer Family STEAM Night - Thursday, November 3rd from 6-7:30pm
• Check out this Cool Flier
• 8th grade Krispy Kreme fundraiser - Check out this Cool Flier!
• Fall Parent Teacher Conferences on Monday, November 7th 
• HERE is a link to all of the sign ups if you're interested.  Teachers sent out emails to families as well.  Remember these are Student Led Conferences for the K-8th graders, so make sure they attend with you.  Also, our PreK-8th grade will have 15 minute time slots to sign up for, while 6th-8th will have 10 minute time slots to accommodate families who may want to see multiple teachers. 

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org

Family Newsletter - 10/21/22

Pennoyer Families, 

The Walk - A - Thon last Friday was a huge success and raised over $5000 for our school!  I can't thank you all enough for your generous support, trust, and enthusiasm when it comes to making Pennoyer the best school possible for each and every one of our students.  Our PTC did an amazing job hosting this special event.  

I'm so excited for Pennoyer to begin offering even more after school club opportunities for our students as we partner up with the Norridge Park District this year!  This is just another way we're putting students first and doing all we can to support their passions and interests outside of the classroom.  HERE is a flyer that provides information on how to sign up, along with the different options in Session 1.  All of these club options will be at Pennoyer School either in our Library Resource Center or Art Room.  We hope to continue this throughout the year and offer even more sessions with a variety of club options.  We hope you'll look these over with your students and see if they're interested in joining.  There is a minimum enrollment we need to hit in order for the Park District to run these programs.  Sign ups begin through the Norridge Park District on Monday, October 24th next week after 6:00pm.

Finally, I hope to see a lot of parents/guardians at our first official Parent/Principal - Connect-Collaborate-Celebrate meeting at Pennoyer next Wednesday night, October 26th from 6:30-7:15pm in the Multi Purpose Room.  This will be a great monthly opportunity for us to discuss a variety of topics and hear from each other to help make Pennoyer the best it can be.

Important Referendum Weekly Information:

*Please take advantage of Early Voting that begins on Monday, Oct. 24th next week!

Want to get involved, volunteer, or have ideas for our school...Check out the PTC Link!

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

I am humbled and honored to present this weeks Hawk celebration!  With the generous support and donations from the PEA and Board of Education, along with spirit wear from our PTC and our incredibly thoughtful staff, which includes Mrs. Adkins, Mrs. Kula, Dr. Kopta, Ms. Meyer, Mrs. Kafka, and Mrs. Loring, we were able to present gift bags to all of our new students joining our Pennoyer family this year from the Ukraine.  They were so excited and grateful as we called them all down to the Multi Purpose Room this past Tuesday morning.  This is such a special group of students that we're so proud of.  They're working very hard every day as they continue to learn and grow with us.

What’s Around the Corner?

• Red Ribbon Week at Pennoyer!  - Monday, October 24th - Friday, October 28th
• Check out this Cool Flier
• Pennoyer Halloween Celebrations on Monday, October 31st - HERE is a letter for parents/guardians with information all about our day on Oct. 31st.  Please remember it's a half day of school and students are dismissed at 11:30am.  There will be no lunch on October 31st.
• Erin's Law student presentations - These will take place in the classrooms for students sometime between November 1st - November 4th.  HERE is a letter from Mrs. Slawson detailing Erin's Law and the focus to support our students here at Pennoyer.
• Ridgewood High School Coat Drive for Veterans
• Check out this flier for more information
• Pennoyer Family STEAM Night - Thursday, November 3rd from 6-7:30pm
• Check out this Cool Flier
•  First official Parent/Guardian - Connect/Collaborate/Celebrate w/ Principal Greenberg on Wednesday, October 26th from 6:30-7:15pm in the Multi Purpose Room.  These monthly meetings are an informal time we can listen and learn together, while working in partnership as a community to improve Pennoyer and support one another.  
• Just a heads up that the Salvation Army will be finishing up the repaving of their parking lot on October 24th now if you're using it during arrival or dismissal time.  On Oct. 24th, the near entrances and front of the lot will be closed.  Sorry for this inconvenience.  Also, please remember when you are using the Salvation Army parking lot to be in actual parking spaces in their lot and not in their circle drive in front of the building...thanks!
• Fall Parent Teacher Conferences on Monday, November 7th 
• HERE is a link to all of the sign ups if you're interested.  Teachers sent out emails to families as well.  Remember these are Student Led Conferences for the K-8th graders, so make sure they attend with you.  Also, our PreK-8th grade will have 15 minute time slots to sign up for, while 6th-8th will have 10 minute time slots to accommodate families who may want to see multiple teachers. 

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org