Family Newsletter - 1/13/23

Pennoyer Families, 

I hope everyone had a nice break, holiday, and New Year!  I can't believe it's 2023 already.  I don't know about all of you, but time certainly seems to be flying by in my world.  As we role through January, we have some exciting things coming up.  I can't wait for the middle school dance next Friday night, and hope that all of our students will attend.  Please make sure to RSVP and have your student turn in their $5 entry fee and form to the main office or their homeroom teacher by Tuesday next week.  Also, please save the date for our special presentation for all Pennoyer parents/guardians on Thursday, January 26th from 6:30-7:15pm in our gymnasium.  This event will focus specifically on Internet Safety, Responsible Social Media Usage, and Digital Citizenship.  This is our part of our initiative to help educate and support our entire community in these areas of online safety.  The presentation will be led by Corporal Zach Zage and Officer Melanie Pina from the Norridge Police Department.  Our social worker Rachel Slawson and myself will be in attendance as well.  This is a fabulous opportunity for parents to learn how to better support their children and understand how to keep them safe and responsible through the online world.  We hope to see a big turnout of parents/guardians on Thursday, January 26th at Pennoyer.  HERE is an informational flyer.

School Information and Reminders:

ESL Volunteer Instructor Program at The Salvation Army - If you're interested, see the message below and contact Pamela Church-Pryor at the Salvation Army.  Her number is 708-456-6220 and her email is Pryor@usc.salvationarmy.org 

Here at The Salvation Army, we are looking ahead to ways we can better serve our community in the new year and we feel ESL classes would be beneficial, considering how many immigrants and refugees have come to live among us.  We’d prefer to provide classes during the school hours, so parents would not have to worry about child care, but we may also consider evening classes.   

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 we celebrate our incredible social worker, Mrs. Rachel Slawson!  Mrs. Slawson is such a vital component to our success here at Pennoyer and is so much more than just a social worker who supports all of our students.  She goes above and beyond to build relationships with students, staff, and families to make our school and community the best it can be.  Mrs. Slawson is kind, collaborative, hard working, and a true problem solver no matter what the situation is.  She is truly reliable, and in the end, she puts students first above all else.  Mrs. Slawson is the leader of our PBIS initiative that embraces positive behavior with clear expectations and incentives for all of our students here at Pennoyer to succeed, learn, and grow.  We're so lucky to have Mrs. Slawson here at Pennoyer!

What’s Around the Corner?

• No School on Monday, January 16th in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Middle School Dance Coming up for all 6th-8th graders on Friday, January 20th!  
• Please make sure you RSVP with filling out the bottom of this FLYER with the $5 entry fee and make sure that you or your children drop it off in the main office by Tuesday, January 17th.  Students can give these to their homeroom teacher 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!
• West 40 - Newcomer Item Drive - Think about supporting this initiative.  
• HERE is more information if you're interested.
• 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