Pennoyer Family Newsletter - 12/22/23

Pennoyer Families,

It was an amazing final week at Pennoyer before our Winter Break and moving into 2024!  Students stayed engaged and excited throughout the week, and our staff put so many creative and thoughtful activities together for them.  As you look through the pictures below to give you a little taste of the spirit and pride at Pennoyer this week, I wish you all the best in the coming year.  I hope you all find time to relax with friends and loved ones.  Enjoy the holidays and make some special memories.  

School Information and Reminders:

*Please make sure to dress your students appropriately as the weather gets colder.  We will be outside for arrival time and all recess times when the temperature is above 15 degrees, so wearing coats, hats, and gloves are really important in these winter months to keep kids safe and comfortable.  Thanks for your support!

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

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

There's no better way to celebrate the final week of school and looking to close out 2023 by showcasing the amazing Winter Concert event from Thursday night this week!  Miss Bieda put together an incredible show.  Her hard work, dedication, and thoughtfulness was truly on display, and her leadership is unmatched.  Thanks to all of the staff that helped out as well to make this event all work.  In the end, Miss Bieda truly helped to set the stage for the stars of the show...our PreK-4th graders!  They absolutely crushed it up there.  The spirit and positivity was echoing throughout the gym in every song.  These students worked so hard to prepare for the Winter Concert and it certainly showed.  Their voices were wonderful, and I could see the pride in everyone's' eyes that was there to see our students shine.  This special event was definitely another highlight of our year at Pennoyer!

What’s Around the Corner?

• Winter MAP scores for all K-8th graders should be coming home today with students, so please check their backpacks and reach out to teachers with any questions.

• Winter Break - Pennoyer is CLOSED from December 25th - January 5th.  School resumes on Monday, January 8th.

• Don't miss out on being part of our 2nd Annual Middle School Dance after Winter Break on Friday, January 26th.  Flyers went home to RSVP, but you can click HERE as well.  This is for all Pennoyer 6th-8th graders only.  We can't wait to celebrate with you!

• Our next session of the Pennoyer Spanish Club is starting up soon for all 1st-5th graders!  Click HERE if you're interested in signing up and for more information.  This club is limited with only 30 total spot for students.  After it's filled, we cannot admit anymore students.

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org 

Pennoyer Family Newsletter - 12/15/23

Pennoyer Families,

Going into this weekend, I definitely have college basketball on my mind, but at Pennoyer this week, we had some fun basketball of our own with the support of our amazing cheerleaders!  I went to University of Kansas and my wife went to college at Indiana, and tomorrow, KU plays IU on ESPN for what should be great college showdown in basketball.  Of course my Kansas Jayhawks are the #2 team in the country and I'm not too worried, but we'll wait and see if I'm speaking too soon.  It was great to see our gym filled with so much spirit and energy as our Pennoyer boys Varsity and JV basketball teams battled it out against Elm and Rosemont in our first home games this week.  We have a great group of boys, and just as impressive is our amazingly talented group of girls on our cheerleading squad.  They definitely got the crowd going and kept our players in these games!!!

School Information and Reminders:

*Please make sure to dress your students appropriately as the weather gets colder.  We will be outside for arrival time and all recess times when the temperature is above 15 degrees, so wearing coats, hats, and gloves are really important in these winter months to keep kids safe and comfortable.  Thanks for your support!

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

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

This week we want to celebrate our incredible band program here at Pennoyer and the amazing talent of our students!  With our band instructor, Mr. Paul Browne leading the way, our Pennoyer band students have been working so hard this year and showing so much improvement in their skills.  We've been seeing our band program grow over the last couple of years, and I'm so excited to see where we're headed with this great group of students at the core.  Mr. Browne has said these are some really talented students he's working with this year, and they're picking up on musical skills quicker than most students do.  This past Thursday, our Pennoyer band students participated in a regional band concert here at Pennoyer in our gym, and they truly shined.  They even got to play with our very own Superintendent Dr. Kopta on the French horn!  We couldn't be more proud of this special group of students that have put so much into learning their instruments and making music a part of their lives.  #PennoyerPride

What’s Around the Corner?

• Don't miss out on being part of our 2nd Annual Middle School Dance after Winter Break on Friday, January 26th.  Flyers went home to RSVP, but you can click HERE as well.  This is for all Pennoyer 6th-8th graders only.  We can't wait to celebrate with you!

• Our next session of the Pennoyer Spanish Club is starting up soon for all 1st-5th graders!  Click HERE if you're interested in signing up and for more information.  This club is limited with only 30 total spot for students.  After it's filled, we cannot admit anymore students.

• Our Pennoyer Winter Concert is coming up soon on December 21st this coming week!  Please click HERE for important information from Miss Bieda for students participating and for anyone coming to the show.  We're hoping for a big turnout and that families will participate in our Winter Traditions Around the World presentation as well that is sponsored by our BPAC.  Click HERE for more information and how to upload pictures to share in our presentation at our Winter Concert on December 21st!

• Please check out this important spectator information HERE from our athletic conference, the LNAC.

• Ridgewood High School Holiday Market event on Sunday, December 17th.  Click HERE for more information!

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org 

Pennoyer Family Newsletter - 12/8/23

Pennoyer Families,

This week at Pennoyer we celebrated the gift of giving and had a wonderfully successful Winter Workshop!  So many students came, browsed, and bought lots of great gifts for family and friends.  They were so thoughtful, and so incredibly excited.  I can't thank our amazing PTC enough, and all of the parent volunteers that showed up to work all day long in order to make this special opportunity possible for our students and families.  You're an amazing group, and we appreciate you so much!

School Information and Reminders:

*Please make sure to dress your students appropriately as the weather gets colder.  We will be outside for arrival time and all recess times when the temperature is above 15 degrees, so wearing coats, hats, and gloves are really important in these winter months to keep kids safe and comfortable.  Thanks for your support!

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 our amazing Student Services Director, Miss Alicia Norgard this week!  Miss Norgard is such an intricate part of Pennoyer and all of its success.  She is an incredible advocate for students and families.  She has also been a vital component to creating a successful Special Education Department.  She works tirelessly day in and day out, and ALWAYS keeps a positive attitude and a smile on her face.  Here energy is infectious, and I truly appreciate her as a thought partner and leader on our administrative team.  I lean on her for so much, and she's always there for thoughtful insight or just to listen.  Miss Norgard embodies the spirit of Pennoyer and community.  She is an amazing support for our staff, and I truly know that Pennoyer is a better place with her in it.  We're so lucky to have her!!!

What’s Around the Corner?

• Our next session of the Pennoyer Spanish Club is starting up soon for all 1st-5th graders!  Click HERE if you're interested in signing up and for more information.  This club is limited with only 30 total spot for students.  After it's filled, we cannot admit anymore students.

• Winter MAP Testing for all K-8th graders for Reading and Math next week from Dec. 11th - Dec. 15th.  Make sure students are focused, well rested, and have their iPads charged and ready to go!

• Our Pennoyer Winter Concert is coming up soon on December 21st!  Please click HERE for important information from Miss Bieda for students participating and for anyone coming to the show.  We're hoping for a big turnout and that families will participate in our Winter Traditions Around the World presentation as well that is sponsored by our BPAC.  Click HERE for more information and how to upload pictures to share in our presentation at our Winter Concert on December 21st!

• Please check out this important spectator information HERE from our athletic conference, the LNAC.

• Our Pennoyer Peer Leaders are sponsoring a Toy Drive for Toys for Tots this year.  Click HERE for more information if you're interested in donating!

• Check out the new Quarterly Ridgewood Newsletter with a lot of important information for students and families.  Click HERE!

• Ridgewood High School Holiday Market event on Sunday, December 17th.  Click HERE for more information!

• Young Rembrandts Winter Art Club Session at Pennoyer for K-5th grade.  Click HERE for more information if you're interested in signing up your student(s).  This starts in December!

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org 

Pennoyer Family Newsletter - 12/1/23

Pennoyer Families,

Well, we started out the week with single digit temperatures and ended with rain...this is Chicago weather!  Through it all, our Chicago Bears were able to start us out this week with a Monday night football win where they didn't score any actual touchdowns.  The last time they won a game like that was back in 1993.  I don't know what to think about them anymore but the debates about whether to keep Justin Fields or not, along with the coaches, has become the heated all this week.  I guess we'll have to wait and see.

As we move into December and Trimester 2, I'm reminded of all of the good times we've had at Pennoyer so far during the school year and the special moments that lie ahead.  We had our Circus Among Us event to kick off our school year, a successful Walk A Thon, fall sports and clubs, Spirit Assemblies, our band program growing and starting up again, Camp Edwards with the 5th graders, field trips at many of the primary grade levels, STEAM night, and so much more!  Over the next few weeks, I'm so excited about some of our musical events with our Band Concert on December 14th and our PreK-4th Grade Winter Concert Celebration on December 21st!  

School Information and Reminders:

*As we move through fall and closer to our winter season, we wanted to share Pennoyer's E Learning Plan.  HERE is our updated E Learning Plan our staff put together this year in case we have to close Pennoyer due to weather conditions or other unforeseen emergencies.  If you have questions about these remote learning plans, feel free to reach out to your student's teacher(s).  

**Please make sure to dress your students appropriately as the weather gets colder.  We will be outside for arrival time and all recess times when the temperature is above 15 degrees, so wearing coats, hats, and gloves are really important in these winter months to keep kids safe and comfortable.  Thanks for your support!

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

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

 It couldn't be more fitting this week than to celebrate the gift of "giving" that so many of our students have stepped up and participated in.  This past week on Wednesday, our Student Council, led by Ms. Kopoulos and Mrs. Kafka participated in the Salvation Army holiday bell ringing to help raise money for those in need.  They met up by the local Mariano's, and for two hours, they dedicated themselves to this charitable cause.  We're so proud of our amazing Student Council members!  We also had our Peer Leaders working with Ms. Torossi collecting hats and gloves over the past few weeks to support families in need all around our community.  They did an incredible job gathering up so many hats and gloves that will surely keep those in need warm this winter.  This is another group of students that truly show their Hawk spirit and their kind hearts.  We have so much Pennoyer Pride for all of these students and our incredible teachers that sponsor these special clubs!

What’s Around the Corner?

• Final Trimester 1 Grades and Comments can be viewed on Skyward after 4pm TODAY.  

• Our Pennoyer Winter Concert is coming up on December 21st!  Please click HERE for important information from Miss Bieda for students participating and for anyone coming to the show.  We're hoping for a big turnout and that families will participate in our Winter Traditions Around the World presentation as well that is sponsored by our BPAC.  Click HERE for more information and how to upload pictures to share in our presentation at our Winter Concert on December 21st!

• Our Pennoyer Peer Leaders are sponsoring a Toy Drive for Toys for Tots this year.  Click HERE for more information if you're interested in donating!

• Check out the new Quarterly Ridgewood Newsletter with a lot of important information for students and families.  Click HERE!

• Ridgewood High School Holiday Market event on Sunday, December 17th.  Click HERE for more information!

• Young Rembrandts Winter Art Club Session at Pennoyer for K-5th grade.  Click HERE for more information if you're interested in signing up your student(s).  This starts in December!

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org 

Pennoyer Family Newsletter - 11/17/23

Pennoyer Families,

 We had a great week at Pennoyer to help bring Trimester 1 to a close!  On Thursday, we celebrated with students and staff at our PBIS Spirit Assembly where we reviewed expectations of Being Respectful, Being Responsible, and Being a Problem Solver.  We also spotlighted all of the amazing things our students are doing in fall clubs and extracurriculars at Pennoyer.  We honored the Hawk of the Month students, and played Minute to Win It games to show our Pennoyer pride and spirit!

We also had our monthly Parent Night Meeting at Pennoyer on Wednesday this past week.  I want to thank all of the parents/guardians that came out.  We had some very thoughtful conversations, and dug into a lot of very important work that Pennoyer is focusing on in terms of threat assessments and crisis plans to support all of our students, staff, and families.  HERE is the presentation if you weren't able to attend.  Please take some time to look this over so you know where we're headed as a school, and how you can help support.  Feel free to reach out to Mrs. Slawson or myself with any additional questions or concerns.

Finally, I want to wish everyone a happy and restful Thanksgiving Break next week!  I'm so grateful for each and every one of you.  You're always so supportive, trusting, and understanding as parents/guardians, and I appreciate your collaboration with me and our school.   Thank you for everything you do for your children every single day.  You put in a lot of work and dedication and we absolutely could not succeed at Pennoyer without your efforts at home.  Enjoy the time with family and friends.

School Information and Reminders:

*As we move through fall and closer to our winter season, we wanted to share Pennoyer's E Learning Plan.  HERE is our updated E Learning Plan our staff put together this year in case we have to close Pennoyer due to weather conditions or other unforeseen emergencies.  If you have questions about these remote learning plans, feel free to reach out to your student's teacher(s).  

**Please remember that after school each day, we must close our playground to students and families in our back lot.  Students should not be playing with any equipment out there as well.  This is due to safety and supervision constraints and working to get our students dismissed in a safe and timely manner.  Please understand and help us keep your children off the playgrounds after school and not playing with the equipment.  Our supervisors are out there monitoring pick up and then need to leave and lock up the gate.  Thanks for your support with this!

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

We Celebrate at Pennoyer!

This week the celebration is all about our STEAM night event we had this Thursday at Pennoyer!  It was an amazing success, and such a great experience for all who attended.  Thanks to Mrs. Kopoulos and Mr. Widd for leading out such an incredible opportunity for our students, as well as all of our other staff members who volunteered their time to come help support this event and make it truly special.  I also want to give a huge shout out to our friends at Ridgewood High School.  The students and staff that set up stations and have collaborated with us to be part of Pennoyer's STEAM night is certainly something worth celebrating.  We love that our students had the opportunity to explore the world of STEAM through a variety of interactive experiences.  Students were able to explore how things work, challenge their minds and critical thinking, and have hands on activities that connected them with the STEAM world that has become a fabric of society.  The hope is these types of opportunities will open up our students to different understandings, passions, and pathways as they move ahead in their lives.  

What’s Around the Corner?

• Thanksgiving Break - Pennoyer will be closed from November from November 20th - November 24th.  School resumes on Monday, November 27th.  

• Our Pennoyer Winter Concert is coming up on December 21st!  We hope you can join us and participate in our Winter Traditions Around the World presentation as well that is sponsored by our BPAC.  Click HERE for more information and how to upload pictures to share in our presentation at our Winter Concert on December 21st!

• Ridgewood High School Holiday Market event on Sunday, December 17th.  Click HERE for more information!

• Young Rembrandts Winter Art Club Session at Pennoyer for K-5th grade.  Click HERE for more information if you're interested in signing up your student(s).  This starts in December!

• Pennoyer's Peer Leaders are having a Winter Hat and Glove Drive.  Donations are due by November 30th.  Click HERE for more information to support!

• End of Trimester 1 is today -  Friday, November 17th.  Final grades and comments will be posted in Skyward on December 1st after 4:00pm.

Sincerely,

Adam

Pennoyer Principal

agreenberg@pennoyerschool.org