Penngrove Press
May 2, 2018
A message from our principal, Mrs. Fadeji
Dear Penngrove Families,
It's in the busy times: the hustle and bustle of May, the craze of state testing, the prep for Open House, the planning for 2018-19, the quick trip to 6th grade camp, the unexpected challenges, the spring deadlines, the almost summer hugs. It's in these times that I cherish the "little things" the most. As adults, hopefully we've realized that the little things, really aren't so little. In fact, they are often the big things. They fill us with memories and laughter, they make us wonder about our priorities, they challenge us to be better and they create space for humanity. The little things. They're all around us. I hope you enjoy just a few of the "little things" that brought me joy this past month.
Yours truly,
Amy
Student Servers at our 1st ever Cafecito
The colors of our newest mural
Baby Sam getting some snuggles and a snack while at the PCS School Board meeting
Ms. Boronkay having fun with cup stacking
Celebrating Brownie points with math and real brownies!
"Best guess" spelling
Trying new snacks at the Happy Healthy Club
teamwork, bright colors, and new ideas
Writing thank you notes to people we care about
Celebrating special people and hard work
Solving problems with creativity
Having fun with these super heroes on Administrative Professionals Day
Catching Fred and Keith enjoying a moment of solitude together
Reading a sign on the fridge from Ms. Moran
Listening to giggles as students problem solve together
Getting the most hilarious & heartfelt notes
Hosting a parent Q&A with Mrs. Buschman
The joy of losing a tooth!
******* It's the Little Things ********
What's Happening at Penngrove?
6th Graders go to Camp (Outdoor Ed)
6th Graders at Camp
6th Graders at Camp
Fun in 1st Grade
6th Graders around campus
6th Graders around campus
Farewell to our Clay Volunteers!
Lifeskills, awarded Wednesday, April 25
Gabriel Castillejos
Levi Hellman
Walker Peepe
Sage Kelman
James Garretson
Ava Donleavy
Marcus Raitano
John Oretsky
Jeffrey Tarca
Gwen Powers
Mia Daniel
Imogen Garvin
Owen Percell
Connor Sellman
Austin Hoeflein
Anabel McCoy Reyes
Lacy Treadway
Ivy Smith
Olivia Pannbacker
Jane Guthrie
Kawika Macalino
2018 Open House!
This year we have two new Open House projects. Our Art Show will be on display in the multi. This year's theme is East Asian Art. Students learned about East Asian countries and some of their language and traditions. Each grade level created art inspired by East Asia. The art will be on display for all to see in the multi-purpose room during Open House.
The second new project you should be on the lookout for is the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) display in the office hallway: Earth Day's Recycled Ocean Art. K-2 learned about our oceans in crisis, specifically the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We then pulled the "A" part of STEAM (A for Art) into it and students created art out of recycled materials. Featured are kindergarten water bottle jellyfish, 1st grade egg carton turtles, 2nd grade underwater tint paintings, and 2nd grade ocean chains of life.
Be sure to check out these displays when you come to Open House!
Pasta Feed Fundraiser for Outdoor Education Class of 2019
Menu includes:
- Pasta with your choice of pesto or marinara sauce
- Caesar salad
- Bread and butter
Lombardi's raised their prices by $1 this year so we had to do the same. Please remember this is a fundraiser. Prices are:
- $7/kids 3 years old through 6th grade
- $9/7th grade to adult
We hope you can come join us for some good grub before open house! There will be drinks, yummy baked goods, ice cream sandwiches, and popsicles on sale as well!
Thank you for your continued support.
Original Works
All proceeds go right back to Penngrove school. Thank you for your support.
Yearbook update
Message from STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math)
You may have already heard the news but our incredible STEM program has expanded and has now turned to STEAM! Mrs. Olufs and Ms. Kris (Thomason) have been working hard and collaborating while planning project-based learning experiences for all students.
In the month of April, K-2 learned about oceans! Specifically, we learned about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch problem and how it affects ocean animals, food webs, and humans. Students worked together to come up with solutions and build an invention out of Legos using the engineering design process. We also learned about an inspiring young engineer who started The Ocean Clean-Up Project. His invention is coming to life right here at the Alameda Naval Air Station, which is so relevant to us in the Bay Area!
We finished up our ocean unit by creating ocean art out of recycled materials. You can see the product of this project in the hallway of the main building. Open House on May 10th would be a great time to check it out!
Grades 3-6 are working on a STEAM school beautification project that also incorporates literacy and character traits. In the garden area next to the multi-purpose room, students are working on designing a space that will feature a rock river of painted rocks based on the story There’s Only One You by Linda Kranz. Ms. Kris has worked hard to coordinate rock donations and prepare them for painting, while Ms. Barrell has been incorporating the prep work into her GEE (Garden and Environmental Education) program.
Meanwhile, students have been measuring, sourcing materials, figuring out a supply budget, designing a river based on rock and garden measurements, and so much more! This project is ongoing during the month of May and will wrap up just in time to end the school year. Make sure to come take a look at it during the last week of school.
Message from Mentor Me
May is here and we are slipping into Summer! Most of us are ready for a break from the daily grind of school, yet for some us it is just more work during Summer breaks. But to all of us it is a shift. It is a time of transition and change. While we work through this transition with our own children, let us take a moment to think about the 11 Penngrove students that are patiently waiting on our Mentor Me waitlist. 11 students in our lovely school, that need one more person in their life. A person to play basketball with, a person to play a board game with a person to listen to their day. Let us take this moment to pause and think about these 11 children and to ponder upon that 1 hour a day it takes to become a Mentor to one of them. To these amazing young people that could use your presence, your listening ears, your basketball skills for one hour a week. Ponder upon the difference you can make in that small slip of time and upon the way your world can be opened up by this young person as well. Please take a moment to ponder, as 11 of our children are waiting for you - just you being you. I will happily answer any questions or concerns you may have 707-332-5969 skeiser@wrmm.org Sarah Keiser
Message from Outdoor Education, Class of 2019
It was brought to our attention recently that some people might not know exactly what the term "Outdoor Ed" means. Outdoor Education is a program that sends 6th graders to camp for a week towards the end of their school year (current 6th graders are at camp this week). Beginning in the spring of their 5th grade year, students and parents collaborate to raise the funds required to send every student in their grade level to camp. It takes almost a year to raise those funds but no child is left behind!
This month our Class of 2019 will be hosting and serving the Open House Pasta Feed on Thursday, May 10 5:30-6:30pm. Bring the family and support their cause. Each plate sold helps to send a student to camp. Plus there will be loads of dessert items for $1 each!
Also coming on May 15, our next "dine and donate" at Bear Republic in Rohnert Park! Hope to see you there!
Thank you for continuing to support Outdoor Education!
Music Concerts Coming in May
Penngrove Spring Concerts will be performed in the Penngrove School Multi-Use Room on:
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
6:30PM - Grade 5 & 6 Chorus (students arrive at 6:15PM)
7:30PM - Grade 5 & 6 Band (students arrive at 7:15PM)
If you have any questions please contact Vicki Parks at vparks@petk12.org. For more information, check out the parent info form HERE.
From the 6th Grade Class of 2018
Message from the GEE (Garden & Environmental Education)
There has been a lot of Spring activity in the Garden lately! See lots of photos of students having fun in the garden HERE.
Message from the PTA
Thank You's All Around!
Message from the Rohnert Park/Cotati Library
Summer fun begins June 1 and the reading challenge runs for 10 full weeks concluding in mid-August. This year's theme is Reading Takes You Everywhere!
Upcoming Events especially for students and their families:
Sprite and Fairy Miniature Homes (ages 5-12). Saturday, May 5, 10:15 - 11:15am
Make a tiny home for these magical creatures using twigs, flowers, pebbles, and other natural building materials. Space is limited, please register online, visit the branch, or call (707) 584-9121.
Maker Studio: Hour of Code (ages 9-12). Friday, May 4, 4:30 - 5:40 pm
A fun and simple one-hour introduction to computer science! No experience needed! Space is limited, please register online, visit the branch, or call (707) 584-9121.
Tweens Create: Flower Presses (ages 9-12). Thursday, May 10, 4-5 pm.
Construct and collage wooden flower presses. Supplies provided. Space is limited, please register online, visit the branch, or call (707) 584-9121.
First Chapters: Read-Along-Book Club (grades 1-3). Tuesday, May 15, 4:30-5:30 pm. Snacks provided! Space is limited, please register online, visit the branch, or call (707) 584-9121.
Family Movie Night - Wednesday, May 30, 6:00 pm.
Meet Baymax an inflatable robot. Meet Hiro a teenager. These two team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes. Rated PG, 102 minutes. Popcorn served!
Penngrove Elementary School
Email: penngrove@petk12.org
Website: www.penngroveelementary.com
Location: 365 Adobe Road, Penngrove, CA, United States
Phone: 707 778 4755
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Penngrove-Elementary-School-323595021067904/
Twitter: @pennpanthers