Penngrove Press
July 20th, 2022
Welcome back Panthers!
We are all so excited to have students back on campus starting tomorrow! Our teachers have been hard at work to set up our kiddos for a great year of success.
Our staff had a professional development yesterday around our theme for the year: Awkward, brave and kind. (if you are a Brene Brown fan, you've seen or heard this tag line!) The idea is that in order to be authentically ourselves, we must be willing to be awkward at times, brave enough to show that level of vulnerability and kind to others as they are living their truest life. We will all be working this year to celebrate everyone's steps to be awkward, brave and kind as we learn and grow together.
Please be sure to carefully read below for reminders about parking lot expectations, volunteer needs and much more!
As we move into the new school year, I know there are still a lot of concerns and feelings regarding COVID. As it stands right now, we are following the same protocols as we adhered to in the spring. The following text is from our district COVID coordinators:
COVID Testing Before School Starts
In an effort to ensure that we all return to school safely, we are distributing at-home rapid COVID tests for PCS staff and students from our main office and kindly asking that you administer a test for your student(s) prior to returning to school on Thursday, July 21st as outlined below.
● Students who DO NOT have any COVID-19 symptoms and have NOT had a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 should test:
○ Test : On 7/20/2022, the day before returning to school
○ If your child DOES test positive for COVID-19, please keep your child home and inform your school site right away by completing the COVID Test Result Form.
● IMPORTANT REMINDER: If your student DOES have any COVID-19 symptoms or has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and is not fully vaccinated, please get a PCR and/or a professionally-administered rapid antigen test and call your school or the PCS COVID Information Line (707-778-4626) for next steps before returning to school. DO NOT use the iHealth at-home test to rule out COVID-19 in symptomatic students before returning to school.
PCS will be distributing boxes of iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests and each box contains two test kits. We kindly ask that parents/guardians pick up test kits for their student(s).
Please note the below pick-up locations and times:
Petaluma City Schools District Office
200 Douglas Street, Petaluma CA 94952
Pick up is around the corner from Keny's Donuts, next to the PCS Boardroom.
OR you can pick up in the Penngrove Elementary office between 7:30am-4pm.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
● 9:00am - 12:00pm
● 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
● 9:00am - 12:00pm
● 1:00pm - 4:00pm
With your help, we can keep our staff, students, and families safe and healthy.
Thank you for your support!
PCS COVID Information Line: 707-778-4626 (se habla Español)
Visit our PCS testing site for information on testing hours.
PCS Student & Family Handbook for COVID-19 Safety
General Reminders to help us maintain a safe and healthy learning environment
● Teach your child / children about proper hand hygiene, avoiding contact with eyes, nose, and mouth, and covering coughs and sneezes. ● Masks are strongly recommended. Please ensure your child arrives at school with a face covering daily (pack a back-up face covering in their backpack). ● Teach your child not to comment or make assumptions regarding someone’s beliefs or health status based upon their choice to wear or not wear a mask. ● Talk to your child about precautions to take at school to keep themselves and others safe. ● Instruct your child to visit the school health office only if they feel sick. It is a high-risk area. ● Check your household and child / children each morning for signs of illness. ● Do NOT send your child / children to school if they exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19. Per the CDC, people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Contact your healthcare provider immediately to discuss testing for appropriate household members. ○ The presence of any of the symptoms listed by the CDC generally suggests a student, teacher, or staff member has an infectious illness and should not attend school, regardless of whether the illness is COVID-19. ○ For students, staff, and teachers with chronic conditions, the presence of symptoms should represent a change from their typical health status to warrant exclusion from school. ● Encourage your child to ask questions and express their feelings with you and their teachers. Remember that your child may have different reactions to stress; be patient and understanding. Prevent stigma by using facts and reminding students to be considerate of one another. ● If your student expresses any anxiety, please reach out to your school’s principal or counselor for additional support as needed.
Go Panthers!!
Stay Awkward, Brave and Kind,
Carley Harp
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New from Principal Harp
Each week, I will be sending out a question with which you will be given the opportunity to engage in a new conversation with your child. We all know how hard it is to draw out responses other than, "nothing" or "fine" when we ask "What did you do today?" or "How was school?" Be sure to use open ended follow-up questions and statements such as "Tell me more about that!" or "What did you think of that?" Please ask your student(s) the question below, share their response with us and make our day! You can submit more than one response! (No need to put names or identifying words.)
Click the above image to answer this week's question!
"What are you most looking forward to about going back to school this week?"
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Who is ready to kick off this year with a Back to School Ice Cream Social? Join the PTA on Friday August 5th from 6-7pm on the blacktop for some cool treats and community spirit! This is a free event hosted by The Friends of Penngrove PTA. After school events require RSVPs
BTS Ice Cream Social RSVPs will be accepted till Tuesday 8/5
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Be sure to follow on Instagram
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A HUGE part of what makes Penngrove Elementary the magical place it is
are our Parent/ Guardian Volunteers!
#TeamPenn is looking for volunteer fairies for the following:
- Laminating: 1-2x per week
- Copy Making: 1-2x per week
- Lost & Found Organizer: as needed
- Adobe Rd. Crossing Guard: 7:50-8:10 M-F
Training would be provided. If you are interested, please email Lorena Gies - lgies@petk12.org
Information on Classroom Volunteers will be provided by your teachers
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The upper parking lot is for ONLY staff, handicap and raffle winners. Staff have assigned spots- and parking passes are issued to vehicles that belong in the staff lot.
If you do not have a pass, you should not enter.
This includes parking up the hill to the left of the family lot, near the office.
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Breakfast & Lunch Menus- July
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Need Translation?
¡Es simple! Asegúrese de estar viendo Penngrove Press en el navegador web. Luego, haz clic en el lado derecho donde dice "Traducir". Seleccione el idioma que desee y haga clic en cerrar. ¡Eso es todo!
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Need something added to the Penngrove Press? email us at penngrovenewsletter@gmail.com
Penngrove Elementary - Home of the #PennPanthers
Email: penngrove@petk12.org
Website: penngroveelementary.org
Location: 365 Adobe Road, Penngrove, CA, USA
Phone: (707) 778-4755
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Penngrove-Elementary-School-323595021067904/
Twitter: @pennpanthers