PENNELL IN PRINT...Pennell also had two special visitors on Friday, April 26th. Dr. Jerry Joyce and...
Transcript of PENNELL IN PRINT...Pennell also had two special visitors on Friday, April 26th. Dr. Jerry Joyce and...
What’s coming up
May?
2nd
6th
6th
through
10th
Spring Art Festival and Chorus Concert - 7:00 pm
NMS 6th Grade Parent Orientation
Math Night for Parents – Aston Elem. 6:30 pm
Spring Book Fair During library
Teacher Appreciation Week
Spring MAP Testing
13th
14th
5th Grade Shadow Day at NMS
FINAL PTL Meeting 6:30 pm / Library
17th Field Day
21st
23rd
24th
27th
“A” Band Spring Concert 7:00 pm / SVHS
“B” Band Spring Concert 7:00 pm / SVHS
1:15 pm Early Dismissal
Memorial Day No School
PENNELL IN PRINT
MAY 2013
PENNELL ELEMENTARY
3300 RICHARD ROAD * ASTON, PA 19014 * 610.497.6300 x 7500
PENNELL ELEMENTARY NEWSLETTER
Happy May Parents!
Although PSSA testing consumed most of the month of April, we had some wonderful
things to celebrate here at Pennell!
On Monday, April 22nd, we formally re-dedicated and opened our outdoor classroom.
The ceremony included special guests from the past and present, and between our
student body and guests, over 500 people were in attendance. More information and
pictures can be found on the Pennell and P.D.S.D. Facebook pages, and page 2 of this
newsletter.
Pennell also had two special visitors on Friday, April 26th. Dr. Jerry Joyce and Dr. Gregg
Amore from DeSales University spent several hours at Pennell, touring our school and
presenting us with the PA School of Character banner shown in the picture. Our next
challenge...to earn National School of Character honors!
Pictured left to
right:
Dr. Jerry Joyce,
DeSales University,
Mr. Shawn
Dutkiewicz,
Pennell Principal,
Mrs. Fran Im,
Pennell Guidance
Counselor, and
Dr. Gregg Amore,
DeSales University.
As mentioned, PSSA testing consumed a great deal of our time in April. I want to thank
our parents and students again for their focus and efforts on this very important annual
state assessment. We are confident that the hard work will once again bring very
positive results that we can share at the start of the 2013-2014 school year.
Best regards,
Mr. Shawn Dutkiewicz, Pennell Principal
On Earth Day, Monday,
April 22nd, Pennell
formally re-dedicated and
opened our outdoor
classroom!
The classroom has been a
school-community project
in every sense of the
word! Over the last five
years, we have been very
thankful for the
generosity, time, and
energy that the Pennell
PTL and community has
put into this wonderful
endeavor!
The ceremony included some special
guests including: Mr. John Monaghan,
previous Pennell Principal, Pennell
retirees, Mrs. Jackie Abrams and Mrs.
Molly Klein, family members of the
people in which the classroom was
dedicated (Jason Voss, Cooper Hall,
Stewart Smith, and Tom Calvecchio),
P.D.S.D. Superintendent, Dr. Steinhoff,
Assistant Superintendent, Dr. McGloin,
HR Director, Mrs. Albence, and School
Board President, Mrs. Kim Robinson.
We are very grateful for their time and
support!
THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM IS OPEN!
CONGRATULATIONS TO APRIL’S CORE ESSENTIAL OF THE MONTH RECIPIENTS!
The following students were recognized for showing the core value of Friendship!
KINDERGARTEN - 1ST GRADE RECIPIENTS
Dino DiEmidio 103
Molly Ann Mucklow 103
Sean Nolan 101
Christian Durkee 101
Mikya Jackson 101
Seamus McGroary 107
Nathan Panusky 107
Riley Johnston 108
Octavius Slaughter 108
Delaney Kilgore 101
Landon Stafford 109
Nick Pellegrino 108
Justin Hickman 109
Matthew Gartland 108
2ND GRADE RECIPIENTS
Sophia Esposito 210
Justin Maiorine 210
Janay Kennon 211
Tyler Digan 211
John Nolek 212
Sophia Possenti 212
Andrew Parker 211
Ava Calvecchio 211
3RD GRADE RECIPIENTS
Alex Volturo 206
Kathryn Gricco 206
Madison Reilley 208
Dora Sy 208
Catherine Taylor 209
Jaimy Johnston 209
Darren Panusky 206
Patricia Young 209
4TH GRADE RECIPIENTS
Brandon Cairy 203
Kristine Guenther 203
Brenden Howley 204
Julia McGehean 204
Ethan Papa 205
Kaylie Hunt 205
Patrick Gill 203
Tyler Thornton 204
5TH GRADE RECIPIENTS
Gabbie Lobb 200
Jared Kosierowski 200
Riley Price 200
Jaimee Higgins 201
Ryley Marker 201
Makaila Carter 202
Breanna Kalb 202
Jenna Ford 201
WHAT’S ON THE FRIDGE THIS MONTH?
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to our
Young Author Winners!
Darren Panusky – Ms. Raucci – "The Big Fish and the Three Sharks"
Sarah Gartland – Mr. Zebley - "The Fight"
Caitlin McShane – Mr. Gorniok - "My Trip on the RMS Titanic"
Randy Marker – Mrs. McDougall – “Inside the Park"
Alyssa Michael – Mrs. Wood - "The Dark Tunnel"
Patrick Gill – Mrs. Nielsen - "My Magic Potion"
Sarah Kunze – Mrs. Lindsey - "Snowman Secrets"
HUGE CONGRATS to the Woman’s Club of Aston –
Student Literature Contest Winners!
Poetry Division
Grade 1
2nd Place – Jackson Nagle – Mrs. Lindsey – “Red”
3rd Place – Matthew Garland – Mrs. Lindsey – “Black”
Grade 3
1st Place – Ryan McKenna – Mrs. Lumley – “All About Me”
2nd Place – Emily Zarmanian – Mrs. Lumley – “This is Why I Love April”
Short Story Division
Grade 1
1st Place – Vincent Hanobeck – Mr. Sciecinski – “The Beach”
2nd Place – Abby Carr – Mr. Sciecinski – “Sea Isle City”
3rd Place – Cayden Price – Mr. Sciecinski – “When I Am A Spy” Grade 2
1st Place – Cole Postlewait – Mrs. Rosset – “My Pop Pop’s Boat”
2nd Place – Lindsay Nearey – Mrs. Rosset – “The House”
3rd Place – Catherine Diamond – Mrs. Rosset – “The Black-Headed Dragon” Grade 5
1st Place – Emma Robinson – Mrs. McDougall –
“My Cheerleading Competition”
Each month, Pennell focuses on a core value/essential that we hope students will practice and apply in their daily lives. We recognize students who exemplify our core essentials by giving them “team tickets”. Team tickets are awarded to students and then displayed in our lobby. At the end of the month, students who received a team ticket are chosen randomly to have lunch with the Principal, Mr. Dutkiewicz.
MAY’S MONTHLY VALUE:
PATIENCE - waiting until later for what you want now
Open Wide – JUST FOR FUN: What is your favorite food?
DISCUSSION STARTER:
Did you know that a spider is one of the most patient creatures?
While other animals rely on their strength and speed to capture
their food, a spider must rely on her ability to spin a web. The more
time she spends weaving an elaborate, complex web, the more
attractive it will be to her next meal. Once the web is spun, a spider
must wait patiently for her meal to fly into her delicately-woven
trap.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
How does a spider show patience?
What are some things that you have to wait for?
What is hard about waiting?
Can you think of one reason why patience is important?
REST:
K-2: Horton Hatches the Egg by: Dr. Seuss; Poor Horton. The kindly elephant is persuaded to sit on an egg while its
mother, the good-for-nothing bird Lazy Mayzie, takes a break. Little does Horton know, Mayzie is setting off for a
permanent vacation in Palm Springs. He waits, and waits, never leaving his precarious branch, even through a
freezing winter and a spring that's punctuated by the insults of his friends. Further indignities await, but Horton’s
patience is rewarded in the end by the surprise birth of... an elephant-bird.
3-5: A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620 by: Kathryn Lasky; A
Pilgrim girl makes the dangerous journey on the Mayflower to a new world filled with promise and unexpected
hardships.
EXPERIENCE: We all have things we want. And we want them NOW. But rarely, are we able to get what we want
as soon as we want it. Whether it’s a new skateboard, video game, or pool float, we all have to learn to wait until
later for what we want now. This month, teach your child about the importance of patience through setting up an
allowance system. Allow your child to earn money through chores or allocate a certain amount per week. Dedicate
1/3 of that money to giving, 1/3 of the money to saving, and 1/3 of the money to spending. Let them earn and save
the money they need to purchase the dream item!
CORE ESSENTIALS: VALUE OF THE MONTH
With Scholastic Reading Counts your child participates in an independent reading
program that tracks their success on the books they read, in and out of school. This
technology-based program creates a personalized and engaging learning environment
that ensures independent reading accountability.
This year, our school-wide Reading Counts goal is 113,000,000!
As of April 29th 2013: Congrats to the students who have read at least 1,000,000 words!
Students Total Words Read
Jalyn Slaughter 4,811,672
Darren Panusky 4,206,288
Sara Chodak 3,158,908
Chelsea Hendrix 2,719,526
Kelsey Celestino 2,484,096
Colin Bradley 2,423,260
Nicole Buscaglia 2,158,659
Christian Hansen 1,868,021
Devin Widmaier 1,832,134
Randy Marker 1,704,223
Shannon Purfield 1,683,394
Jenna Ford 1,506,077
Ryley Marker 1,479,854
Luke Rice 1,443,234
Sophia Pantuliano 1,296,954
Jacqueline Oldham 1,217,881
Abigail Otsyina 1,206,604
Shalane Buck 1,205,062
Erin Kelly 1,202,607
Zachary Seddon 1,197,463
Brett Michaels 1,167,209
Ava Ruggieri 1,132,192
Justin Hassel 1,130,763
Nicholas Maiale 1,086,080
Gabrielle Lobb 1,065,440
Emmanuel Otsyina 1,040,149
Kassidy Lambert 1,012,930
Sophia Belgiorno 1,006,856
Xavier Slaughter 1,001,573
Christopher Piccioni 1,001,471
READING COUNTS
Technology…Transforming
Teaching and Learning
By Anne Dudley and Rosemary Fowler, Curriculum Supervisors
Teaching and learning in the Social Studies classrooms have been transformed with the use of technology. Unlike
Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off pleading for students to wake up and respond to his boring monotone lecture
(“Anyone?...Anyone?”), teachers in Grades 4 through 11 use Social Studies/ History Alive! to engage and motivate
students as they learn about the world, past and present. This interactive social studies curriculum provides a
multitude of resources that supplement the text with activities and experiences that encourage students to make
connections to their own lives while mastering social studies standards. Each lesson has an interesting
presentation that provides content, utilizes interactive whiteboard activities, and involves students in classroom
experiences and simulations that make the past and present real to them.
Students in social studies classes at Northley Middle School have begun using My Big Campus, an online
collaborative learning platform that provides access to resources in a safe social network environment. During a
study of ancient Egypt’s social pyramid (peasants, artisans, priests, government officials, scribes, and pharaoh),
students were divided into groups in which each became an expert on one of these social groups. PowerPoint
presentations were uploaded to MBC and shared with all of the students. Each student then became the “teacher”
for the topic and presented it to other students. Teachers have also begun uploading study guides and resources to
MBC for the students to access and have had students take a quiz from MBC using iPads.
The History Alive! classes in 9th and 11th grade are exploring the possibility of “flipping” their classrooms. Rather
than coming to class to hear a teacher lecture and then going home to reinforce their learning through homework,
students can access the content online at home and then come to class ready to explore and expand their
knowledge in class. Students can adjust the pacing of content delivery to match their learning needs and then
engage in classroom activities that require them to practice and apply their learning with teacher feedback. The
teachers are also exploring the possibility of having the interactive notebook go digital in the 2013-14 school year.
The Popular Culture course is almost entirely web based. Students are investigating the history of the United States
through the lens of popular entertainment and pastimes and then creating their own scripts and movies,
using iMovie and other presentations, to illustrate what they have learned. Digital tools help bring the past and
present alive for students.
Apps:
History: Maps of the World - "Explore the world through interactive maps illustrating geopolitical and geographic shifts over time". Link to app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/history-maps-of-world/id303282377?mt=8
Google Earth - "Fly around the planet with a swipe of your finger with Google Earth for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch." Link to app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-earth/id293622097?mt=8
Websites:
Primary and Secondary Resources: http://www.historyonthenet.com/Lessons/sources/sourcesexplain.htm
TCI/History Alive: http://www.teachtci.com/programs/interactive-social-studies-textbooks-and-curriculum.html
SPOTLIGHT ON CURRICULUM