Penngrove Press
April 15th, 2020
It's All Too Much
I'm coming to you today with a heavy heart and a general feeling of overwhelm. It's 1:22pm and I've been trying to get the Press finished up since 6am (or the middle of the night if you count all the times I woke up with random school thoughts). Thank goodness for the tribe of Penn angels who contribute meaningful content to the Press each week.
Between the Zoom calls, the texts, emails, phone calls, pleas from my 2 year old that he is
a) hungry again
b) wants to watch Daniel Tiger
c) ready to take yet another #chalkwalk...
it's a LOT. In fact, it all feels like too much.
Did I mention that I'm still successfully married after being on Shelter in Place for nearly a month now? With Mr. Fadeji and I both working from home, we're doing the best we can to tag team our fast paced days. Common phrases in our household include:
"Which kid do you want?"
"Didn't we just eat?"
"Have you changed a diaper recently?"
"Can you watch the kids real quick while I take this call?"
"Shoot, I forgot I had a 2pm meeting..."
"What's for dinner?"
"How are there so many dishes in this sink?!"
"How it is only 4pm?"
"That was the shortest nap of history."
You catch my drift. And those are just the phrases I'm willing to share publicly. Ha! Most likely, you each have your own personal dialogue that runs through your head each day:
"How will this impact us as a society?"
"When can I hug my extended family again?"
"Will we be able to take our summer trip?"
"Thank God I'm not a teacher." (LOL)
"I'm so worried about finances, food, or what this time means for my family in the long run."
"Will my business survive?"
"When will I find hand sanitizer again?!"
"What will it be like when we can finally see our friends?"
"What will school be like next year?"
It's all too much.
As I've talked with many of you over the past couple of weeks, there's a common theme: struggle. We're all struggling with something. Our kids are all struggling with something. Maybe your struggle is big, maybe it's small, but regardless, we're all united.
Our staff is not exempt from these feelings of overwhelm and uncertainty. I look around and see a story behind every beautiful human. The mom whose anxiety has been triggered, the teacher who is not only trying to educate her students, but also her own children, the dad who has to pay his employees without knowing how, the sister who watches her sibling fumble through learning to read, the toddler who wonders why the whole family is "together" but also not super "together".
And if I'm honest, it's all too much.
I think it's important that as adults, we let ourselves ride these waves of emotion we're feeling. Some days feel hopeful, filled with sunshine, and we can recognize this as a unique gift of time. Other days, feel hard, maybe even hopeless, and specific stressors can paralyze us beyond recognition.
On Wednesdays, our staff meets via Zoom. Today was the third staff meeting we've had this way. When our meeting started at 11:30am, I was enthusiastic, giddy to see the faces I love so much. By 12:30pm, I could feel myself fighting back the tears. Watching each of their faces, I just couldn't help but become overwhelmed with the sense that as a human race, we're all going through so much. The pressure I feel to carry our students through this difficult time weighs heavily on me personally, and us, as a staff. Some days are easier than others. But today, for me, it was all too much.
In the midst of this time, I hope that each adult reading this will take the time to pause and reflect on how we can be our best selves for our kids. There is a fine line between being open and transparent with our kids yet also shielding them from our stress, anxiety, fear, or discomfort.
Check in with yourself. What can you do better? Is there something you can adjust to make your days a little more successful? Go to bed a little earlier? Meal plan more strategically? Put your phone down at dinner time? Clear up some mental or physical space you've been avoiding? How can you spread happiness throughout your own home and that of your neighborhood?
Even though it all feels like too much today, knowing we're in this together helps me hold my head high, pull my shoulders back (thanks Coach K!), and stay the course. Your kids are worth it. Mine are worth it. Our Penngrove community is worth it.
The love I feel for this place...it's all too much.
From my heart to yours,
Amy
Last Call to Order your 2019 - 2020 Penngrove Elementary Yearbook!
The deadline to purchase is April 24, 2020.
Penngrove Elementary yearbooks are jam packed with photos of all our students in class, around campus, and at almost every school event. The book is 96 full color pages of memories of your child and their friends. We recommend one yearbook per student. Yearbooks are distributed at the end of the year. Yearbooks cannot be purchased at the end of the school year.
There are two options to order!
1- Online: bit.ly/pennyearbook. Yearbooks are $17.00 online for PTA members and $20.00 online for non-PTA members. This price includes a $1.00 online processing fee to cover credit card costs.
2- Paper Form: If you you would like to avoid the online processing fee you can submit a paper order form and cash/check payment. Contact fopptavp@gmail.com for details and payment coordination during the school closure.
Questions? Comments? Contact fopptayearbook@gmail.com.
It's a New Wednesday Workout!
GEE! UPDAte from Ms. Barrell
April 13th
This week:
The sun is out! It’s time to plant your plant! Pay attention to how big it will grow. Clear a sunny space that will not get walked on by people or dogs. Or, just keep it watered for a while. When it’s planted, take a picture and insert it into this document at any time. Include your first name and last initial.
Go outside and look for these small creatures.
A message from Ms. Kris!
Read Aloud with Mrs. Lutz!
Have You Checked Out the #PennPTA Website?
Now is a great time to take 5 minutes to set-up your Penngrove PTA website account. Visit www.penngrovepta.org today! On the website you can view a student directory, make purchased such as a yearbook, sign-up for future events and learn more about the PTA. The accounts are free and your log-on will be used for years to come at Penngrove.
Questions? Email Melissa Morelli at fopptavp@gmail.com.
Parents tend to think of screen use guidelines as a daily maximum amount that's acceptable. But if you look closely at popular recommendations, such as the ones from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the message—even before the coronavirus pandemic—is much more nuanced, and much less focused on time.
For a while now, media researchers have been advocating for a shift from screen quantity to content quality. If kids are engaged with high-quality content that stokes curiosity and fuels imagination, who's to say that should end when they've hit their screen limit? Research has also uncovered the importance of kids' experience with media, based on who uses media with kids (siblings? parents?), the purpose of the content (school? entertainment?), and who's talking with kids about what they're watching (Daniel Tiger and Tiger King both make for great mealtime conversation). In other words: Context matters, too.
Key to this nuance is understanding that all screens are not equal. We shouldn't act as though one hour of old DuckTales cartoons is the same as one hour of Zooming with a family member, or one hour of playing Fortnite with a friend, or one hour of drawing tutorials on YouTube. What a kid gets out of each is totally different, and satisfies different needs—and that's OK.
One of the things the current crisis has really brought home is how unbelievably social kids are, and want to be. In some ways, our adaptations to staying at home have made us use technology in ways that are great for children: in service of relationships. Kids may be watching more Netflix and playing more video games than usual. But they're also video-chatting more, playing games with schoolmates, and even enjoying online playdates. Though nothing will ever replace in-person interaction for children, using tech to strengthen relationships is more important than ever.
With that in mind, here are some recommendations when it comes to using screens during this time:
- Don't feel guilty. We are living through a massive cultural shock. Families have enough stress to deal with, and counting screen minutes should be very low on the list of concerns for any of us.
- Not all screens are created equal. Worried that the online classroom is adding to your kid's screen time? Don't be. Screen activities shouldn't be lumped together. Some are educational; some are just for fun. Some are high-quality; some are a guilty pleasure. What we do on screens and how we do it is more important than time spent.
- Good content is key. Choose age-appropriate, high-quality media and tech for your kids. Use our reviews to find good content.
- Get creative. Let kids use your phone to shoot photos and videos and then go to town with stickers, slo-mo, and other editing tools. Give them a prompt like, "Take ten pictures of something round, and then write a story connecting each thing." Have them make their own memes, record a song, choreograph a dance video—anything that gets them using screens to fulfill their imaginations.
- Use tech to bond. Relationships are critical to kids' healthy development. Tech can and should help kids connect to friends and family, collaborate with each other, play, and share stories, pictures, and videos.
- Talk about it. We're in a unique position where kids are likely using screens more, and we may have more opportunities to join them—or at least engage with them about what they're watching and playing. Ask questions about their favorite games, shows, and characters. Discuss ideas and issues they read about or learn about through a TV show or a game. This is an opportunity for learning about each other and sharing your values.
- Balance still matters. We should aim for a balance throughout the week. So, more screens? Fine. But also find time to be outside, to be active (indoors or outdoors, with or without screens), eat well, and talk to friends and family (on the phone, on social media, or on video chat).
Are You Experiencing Hardship?
If your family is experiencing financial hardship, please connect with Mrs. Fadeji. We have some supports in place that may help you! afadeji@petk12.org
If you or your student(s) need to access our school counselor, please email Jillian at jjirik@petk12.org
We are here to help you during this difficult time filled with uncertainty.
We Miss Skate Nights!
NEED WIFI AT HOME?!
Don't forget! Meals are Being Served!
Anyone can go!
Grab-and-go meals are available for pick up at McDowell Elementary and Petaluma Junior High School. This is available to all PCS students and any siblings under 18. You do not need to be eligible for free and reduced lunch. This service will be provided until school facilities re-open.
When?
- Mondays from 9:00 AM-11:00 AM (3 meals)
- Thursdays from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (2 meals)
Where?
- Petaluma Junior High: Pickup location is in front of the school, in the bus drop-off area
- McDowell: Pickup location is off McGregor in front of the multi, in the bus drop-off area
If you have any questions, please contact the Food Services Department at nsitchler@petk12.org or 707-778-4851.
Penngrove Elementary - Home of the #pennpanthers
Email: penngrove@petk12.org
Website: www.penngroveelementary.org
Location: 365 Adobe Road, Penngrove, CA, USA
Phone: 707 778 4755
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Penngrove-Elementary-School-323595021067904/
Twitter: @pennpanthers