#TeamPenn WAG
September 7 - 11 , 2020
Happy September!
14 school days left until fall break!!!! YESSSSS!!!! So exciting. The most deserved fall break of all time. Actually, in the history of the world.
Please note, there are extra things to share in the "Please Push These Links Out to Your Class" section. These are for your parent communications via ParentSquare as you see appropriate. PTA will be advertising these in the Penngrove Press but they would love your support in sharing them with parents as well. Remember, you can schedule ParentSquare posts ahead of time too!
I hope you all are enjoying the long weekend and that you soak up the short week ahead.
Week 8: watch out, here we come! Plus, we get to celebrate Elena and babes on Wednesday at 2pm on the field. Make sure you read the details below to refresh your memory since we've had to postpone a few times.
Yours truly,
Amy
- Monday, 9/7, Labor Day Holiday - No School
- Tuesday, 9/8
6 - 9pm Board Meeting (Penngrove presents today!!)
- Wednesday, 9/9, Spirit Day: Workout Wednesday ,Yesenia Work from Home, Adrienne Olufs OFF
- 1:00pm Safe Schools Presentation with other school sites (use this link)
- 2pm - Elena's shower - It's time to shower Elena before the Judson twins show up! Join us on the field, for individually wrapped sweet treats and gifts to welcome her baby boys. Sunshine will be providing a gift from the staff. Please RSVP here. Also, let’s play a digital game! Click this link to make a guess as to when her babies will arrive!! :)
You and your team are welcome to contribute a gift as well! Honoring everyone’s comfort level because of Covid, we are asking people to bring their gift to Gina’s room and place them in the blue wagon, by Monday, August 31st. That way there is a waiting period before Elena gets the gifts. If you aren’t comfortable with this option, but you still want to contribute extra then you can purchase something online from Elena’s registry.
- Thursday, 9/10, Adrienne Olufs OFF
- Friday, 9/11, Amy Work from Home
Attendance Tip - thanks Ms. Gies!
I just found a great link to help you take attendance on Zoom. You may already know how to do this, but if not, here's the link:
Hope you find it helpful,
Lorena
One More Attendance Piece
In the meantime, please make sure you caught that "Visitation" is no longer a thing in Aeries. Instead, we will use our own Google Form that all staff members can access called the Student Contact Record. As outlined by Cliff's email on August 28th:
No More Visitation Records
Starting on Monday, Aug. 31 we will no longer document outreach contacts using the Visitation Record in Aeries. Instead, each school will use a Google Form to log any outreach calls. Site admin and attendance clerks will have access to the form responses spreadsheet to be able to review and adjust student attendance accordingly.
Have any students who could benefit from Ms. Viki time?
9:30-10 Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
12:30 - 1 on Thursdays
If you'd like to take advantage of this, please email Amy ASAP.
Self-care tip from Dana G. Thanks Dana! What a gem!
Since we've started our distance learning "office jobs", I'm spending more time than ever sitting at a desk hunched over my computer. My shoulders and neck are not too happy with this new work situation. I started doing this "office break yoga", which is a 15 minute session that can be done in my classroom. Full disclaimer, I haven't actually made time to do it at work yet, but I plan to since it makes my neck and shoulders feel so much better (and it can be done in jeans standing up). If you end up liking it, head on over the to Yoga with Adriene youtube channel. There are tons of free videos that I do regularly, including yoga for teachers.
PEF - Taste of the Town, BASH Restaurant Raffle!!
- Tickets are $20 each (cash, check, and credit cards accepted)
- We will have 3 winners: $1,000, $500 & $250 in restaurant gift cards
- Each prize lot will feature gift cards, various amounts per card, for high-end, middle level and casual dining locations (eateries included will be announced soon)
- Winners will be announced during the BASH Live-Stream Broadcast on September 12th, 2020.
- Contact PEF 707.778.4632 - katy@PEFinfo.com or a PEF Board Member to get your tickets *several tickets will be on the staff room table with an envelope*
UPDATED: Mrs. Fadeji's Weekly Message for September 8th
Pre-Made Panther Supply Kits
The #PennPTA is holding on to hope that our #PennPanthers will be on campus during the 2020/21 school year. To assist with the requirement for individual student supplies we have created the opportunity for families to purchase a pre-made Panther Supply Kit for $26 per student. Buying the items individually will not only cost more, but will also take more of your precious time and hassle shopping around. Supply kits will be delivered to the classroom prior to on-campus learning resuming.
If for any reason in-person classes do not resume this year, the supplies will still be used by the current classes and sent home in distance learning packets.
PTA has pre-purchased enough supplies for every single student and will provide kits to all students, regardless of their ability to purchase one. Our goal is to break even on the costs of supplies versus the sales. If there is a surplus in sales, the money will be reflected on an amended PTA budget and be funnelled right back into creating magic for our community. Families are typically asked to contribute money towards field trips, but unfortunately this school year field trips are highly unlikely. We have also included the opportunity to donate a kit to the school.
Kits are available online to purchase on the #PennPTA website, here. We do not have a deadline to order while on distance learning, thank you for your support!
FOPPTA Association Meeting
Student #PennPTA Meeting
Wednesday September 16th
11:00 for TK - 2nd and 11:45 for 3rd - 6th
Zoom links will be sent via email to the adult email address on file. If you need to check your contact information or membership status, log-in to the #PennPTA website, here.
- Provide input on the Panthers Perspective 2020 Time Capsule Project
- Be the first to know about the upcoming Lego building contest
- Learn about the Membership Drive and vote on the class party choices
- Meet Panthers from other classes
- Chance to win an extra special logo wear item
Coach K's Distance Learning 2.0 Resource Doc
Mrs. Lutz Distance Learning 2.0 Resource Doc
Mr. Nettell Read Aloud
Last week, Mr. Nettell did a read aloud that went with our weekly message. Here's his read aloud for you to share as desired.
Food for Thought
As shared by a veteran teacher who started teaching in 1998.
Biggest takeaways after 12 days of virtual teaching:
1. You can’t teach the same course just now delivered through zoom. It’s a different class. Completely. It needs new modes of delivery, new feedback, new assessment. Trying to teach it the same way Is a recipe for frustration.
2. Kids want to learn. They are rooting for us (the teachers). They know we are trying hard, and they are grateful.
3. If you don’t take a break every 15-20 minutes where you tell kids to stand up, dance (I played “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” today, and my kids were like, “what is this magic we’ve never heard!”) , get a drink of water, go grab your pet or whatever...youve lost your kids. Sitting, staring, and listening is exhausting. Play a song and give kids a break. Model for them that you walk away from the screen, too
4. When you zoom into kids’ homes, you are their guest. Respect their space. Understand their rules and situations are THEIRS, not yours to dictate. But also allow the kids to express pride in their space. Yesterday I noticed a kid was seated in front of some cute curtains. (Polka dot with pompons). I made mention, “oh my word! Cute curtains!” He told me how his grandma had made them for his sisters and how much they loved them. I was reminded that these kids are taking HUGE risks in revealing their spaces to us. We have to honor that.
5. Technology is unreliable. Allow flexible dates. Tardies dont exist. Mics and cameras break. Links expire. Get over yourself and skip the lecture.
6. Listening to words through a screen is hard. Don’t shame kids who ask for clarification or repeats of instructions. Don’t shame kids who zone out. We are all used to using screens to “zone out”. This is a paradigm shift in our use of screens. Give grace and space for that growing.
7. Give kids as much autonomy as possible. Let them own this process. So much feels out of their control, so let them choose their breakout group, or let them choose to listen to a podcast rather than read a book, or let them choose to keep their screen off after confirming it’s them on the other side. Give them the chance to feel empowered and heard.
8. This is hard. It’s hard for kids and teachers and parents. No one is purposefully making choices that are bad. But none of these choices are great. I think I’ve cried every day of August. I know I’ve worked more hours than I ever have. I’ve done 4 hours of planning for every one hour class. I feel like I constantly drop balls and miss Opportunities.
But the kids keep showing up. And the teachers keep showing up. And there are so many opportunities to love and serve one another. And the conversations are so often, “how can we do better?”
I dont have to like this, but I can recognize this is making education richer. I think it is.
“My kids learning at home on computers for a semester? How am I going to make distance learning successful for them?” These were the thoughts racing through my mind four weeks ago when I found out that distance learning was going to be a reality in our home until at least January.
I immediately began researching how to make this as easy as possible, while still setting high academic expectations for my kids. I found some great tips and tricks to make distance learning successful for your children. Here are 10 Strategies for Distance Learning Success!
DL 2.0 - Zoom links, Schedules and more (update this weekly please!)
Penngrove Presents at the School Board - September 8th! HELP NEEDED
~Amy
Free This Year! Virtual Event!
Feeling overwhelmed, is your To-Do list way too long?
Well, I’d like to add one more thing to your list!
We all miss seeing your faces, we get to see our current teachers, but we miss our past ones and all the staff members of Team Penn! I would love to put together weekly videos featuring all your faces to share with the families of Penngrove.
All I am asking, is for you to email random pics of you or others to the penngovenewsletter@gmail.com address! You can also send them to Amy if it's easier and she can forward. Whatever it takes to get it done!
Thank you for your time, I really appreciate all that you are doing in these unprecedented times.
Adrien McGoon, FOPPTA Communications
Kiwanis - 2020 Micro-Grant Program for Teachers!
Greetings!
Since 2015, Petaluma Kiwanis has been supporting local teachers with individual micro-grants to help purchase supplies, software and other classroom materials. Now in its sixth year, the “Garvey Grants” program has awarded nearly 300 grants with an average award of $300. 60% of grant applications receive some level of funding. Application deadline is Friday, September 18, 2020. See attachments for application form and instructions... good luck!
Best regards,
Petaluma Kiwanis Club 2020 Garvey Grants Committee
Core Phonics Update - Dana Gottlieb
I'm just following up with some resources from the optional Core Phonics training I did for the district yesterday. Jason again mentioned what "rockstars" Penn teachers are for leading the way both in teaching and in assessments.
Below is a link to PCS Elementary Assessment Resources (mostly in one place- YAY) We will be updating and refining as we go through the year:
https://sites.google.com/petk12.org/elementary-assessment-resource/home***Important note--Penngrove's CORE doesn't completely match the other school's core. Please continue to use the Penn version I shared last week (and listed below).
Dana's copy of Core Phonics Screener--make a copy
A helpful tool for virtual assessments & screen sharing - enlarging your cursor and using with CORE assessment(video attached)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cC5Ow21P_FWn94yCvjCoSydOnuH8-KoK/view
Since I increased the cursor size, kids can see so much more easily when I share the screen, even if I don't use the zoom spotlight feature.
Warmly,
Dana
Dana Gottlieb
Reading Specialist
(707)778-4740--Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley
(707)778-4755--Penngrove School
Accidentally removed a kid from your Zoom?! See picture below. Thanks Anne!
#TeamPenn All Day Every Day
Email: penngrove@petk12.org
Website: www.penngrovepanthers.org
Location: 365 Adobe Road, Penngrove, CA, USA
Phone: (707) 778-4755
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Penngrove-Elementary-School-323595021067904/
Twitter: @pennpanthers