the PENN NEWSLETTER
4/27/2019
PENN PRIDE: we have. we are.
Students: Work continues in every grade level on special projects to share with you at our Tell Your Story event (Friday, May 3).
We had another fire drill on Friday with the North Liberty Fire Department. We were super quick getting out of the building, but students still need to work on staying quiet as the adults check to account for every person being out of the building. This is such an important thing for us to practice because it teaches kids how to respond specifically to a fire situation, but the practice would apply also to any situation that requires us to leave the building quickly.
Staff: On Thursday, we focused on math instruction again: sharing some online tools and planning out math instruction and review for the rest of the school year.
CRANDIC race - TOMORROW, Sunday 4/28/2019
The 2nd annual CRANDIC race on Sunday, April 28th. The race has a full marathon and half marathon, with the full marathon beginning in Iowa City at Lower City Park and ending in Cedar Rapids at Czech Village. The half marathon will be completely run in Linn County this year. All proceeds from this race will be split between the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids school districts. More information on the race can be found here: www.runcrandic.com.
Girls on the Run: Lemonade and Bake Sale
You're Invited: Tell Your Story event
Mark your calendars for Friday, May 3rd from 5:30-7:00 for Penn’s Tell Your Story Night. One focus of this year at Penn has been learning about each other’s stories and traditions. There will be student displays, presentations, and some tasty tidbits. This night is a celebration of each student's story. What each of us brings to the Penn family is an important part of who were are as a PRIDE. We hope to see you there!
Looking ahead to 2019-2020
Students: A lot of students will be moving to Grant next year, and students from Lincoln and Wickham will be joining the Penn Pride. Penn currently has 640 students, and is project to have about 440 students next year.
Teachers:
Congratulations to Catherine Young who is retiring!
Kayla Dietzel and her family are moving as her husband begins his career as a dentist.
Several teachers are also moving to Grant. We are excited for these teachers who are becoming Grant Grizzlies: Jenny Lorch, Alys Thoensen, Abby Papesh, Andrea Pieper-Askelson, Kristin Schmidt, Matt Wisniewski, Drew Landolt and Noah DeLong.
At Penn, we are excited for some new assignments and a lot of rearranging around the building and we spread out a bit. I'm sharing assignments as we know them now with the caution that there could still be changes.
K: Traci Meyers, Val Calderwood, Cassie Strunk
1st: Sherri Clemence, Jen Rose, Vicky Cupp
2nd: Carrie Glick, Kanndi Dick, Carla Chabal
3rd: Ashley Bonnet, Nicole Luense, Angie Shive
4th: Lisa Roberts, Kathy Durband
5th: Curtis Butler, Ashley Duthie
6th: Dennis Newell, Jodi Krueger
Special education: Alexis Otte, Chrissy Dodds, Jill Happel, Gina Folkerts
PARENT INPUT
We will work on class lists later this month. Typically I begin inviting parent input about class lists right after spring break. This year, with all the changes, I am hesitant to add more variables to our class list work and I want to be sensitive to the changes everyone is facing. So, parents if you need to give input, you may pick up a form in the Penn office. Input will be limited to only your student's needs. Please do not request a specific teacher. Input must be received by May 15.
CAUTION around road construction
*PARENTS: please talk with your children about how to navigate the area around Reds. I would strongly encourage avoiding this area if at all possible.*
Spring is in the air and that brings a lot of road construction, but especially this year at the Front/Penn intersection where the four way stop is becoming a roundabout.
We reached out to the city of North Liberty this week and received this helpful information with options for navigating through that area.
A temporary sidewalk is being installed on the northwest corner of the Front/Penn site to connect the current sidewalks along Front and Penn streets.
For parents who want to avoid the site entirely, we have a map of open trail and sidewalks online which might help, available here: https://northlibertyiowa.org/2019/03/15/penn-and-front-street-improvements-detours-and-parking-changes-start-in-march/.
For kids traveling around the construction, the designated crossing of Front Street is at Jefferson Street, and of Penn Street it is at Stewart Street. Unfortunately, either detour might add distance the student’s route, but a few extra steps are worth their safety. Please stress to your children to only cross at Jefferson Street or Stewart Street.
And for everyone driving, please stay extra alert for children!
The good news is that while we’re dealing with this in the spring, we expect the sidewalks and trails to be reopened ahead of the next school year and Christine Grant Elementary.
LAST DAY of SCHOOL
8:15 - 6th grade Celebration in the gym. Parents and special guests are invited
9:00 - 10:30 Fun Activities on the playground. Families are welcome. You will not need to check in at the office, but should just meet your child on the playground.
10:30 - 10:55 Students will return to their classrooms for a closing activity with their teacher and classmates. Parents may wait outside (weather permitting) for dismissal.
"Pay to Ride" Bus Option
If you live less than 2 miles from Penn you will not be routed for bus transportation. However, you can fill out the attached “Pay to Ride” form to apply for busing.
If there is room on the bus, the District can provide a bus for your student through the “Pay to Ride” program.
If your family is on free lunch, there is NO CHARGE!
If your family is on reduced lunch, the fee is $260 per student per year.
If your family is NOT eligible for free or reduced lunch, the fee is $438 per student per year.
Please know that seats on the bus will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. So please get your application in as soon as possible!
The deadline to apply is June 3rd. Please use this link: https://www.iowacityschools.org/Page/17325 to access the application form.
The application can be turned into Penn no later than May 31st.
If you have questions or need help with the form, please contact the office at 688-1150.
Info from ICCSD
Attendance Zones
The Iowa City Community School District Board of Directors approved new elementary attendance areas for the 2019-20 school year. The new boundaries were approved during their November 27 board meeting. The updated maps can be found on the District website at the following link: www.IowaCitySchools.org/DistrictMaps. In addition, the District’s Attendance Area Look-Up links have been updated to reflect the approved boundary changes. The Attendance Area Look-Up links provide school information specific for your home address. The links can be found on the District website at the following link: www.IowaCitySchools.org/AttendanceAreaLookUp. Junior high and high school students may also be impacted by these changes. Please be sure to check the Attendance Area Look-Up link above to determine if changes to the elementary boundaries have affected your student.
- Elementary Roadmap - Please be sure to regularly check the timeline of events over the remainder of the year. This can be found here.
Info for Future Grant Grizzlies
Looking Ahead
- Friday, May 3: TELL YOUR STORY community event, 5:30 - 7:00
- Tuesday, May 7: PTO in the Library @ 7pm
- Monday, May 13: 5th & 6th grade Track & Field at West High, approx. noon
Music Informances Wednesday, May 15- Penn Gym
8:30 AM 3rd Grade
9:00 AM 2nd Grade
10:00 AM 5th Grade
10:30 AM 4th Grade
May 31: Last Day of School
9:00 - 10:30 Fun on the playground, families welcome
10:55 Dismissal