Penn Pride Newsletter
4/5/24
Upcoming Dates
- April 9th- 3rd grade to The Stanley Art Museum
- April 10th- No School
- April 12th- Penncake Day
- April 16th- Hearing Screenings: Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st and 5th grade
- April 18th- Science Night 6:00-8:00
- April 19th- No School
- April 19th, 20th and 21st- Penn Drama Performance at Liberty High School
Important Information
Opening Soon: PTO Staff Experience Auction
Staff Experience Auction
Fundraiser runs 4/8 at 8:00am till 4/12 at 6:00pm. Preview items now!
Use this link to login to Staff Experience Auction:
PTO Family Fun Night Coming Soon!
Back by popular demand is our PTO Family Fun Night. Mark your calendars and look for more information to come in the near future.
May 17th 5:30-8:00
Solar Eclipse Viewing Notification
As you may be aware, on the afternoon of April 8, 2024, we will be in the path of a natural phenomenon - a solar eclipse. This partial solar eclipse presents a unique learning opportunity for our students; however, we want to make sure that any observation of the event is done in a safe manner.
Kindergarten-6th grade students will participate in viewing the eclipse. Participating students will be provided with glasses specifically designed for eclipse viewing. Glasses are certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the vendor is approved by the American Astronomical Society. Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun.
If your child's classroom is taking part in a viewing event and you DO NOT want your child to participate, please notify your child's teacher.
Solar eclipse safety precautions for students and staff:
Parents are encouraged to go over safety guidelines with their children in advance. The eclipse glasses must be kept on at all times during viewing and removing glasses, even temporarily, may have serious effects on the participant's eyes.
Parents are encouraged to contact their child's optometrist or ophthalmologist if they have concerns about their child's participation.
Prior to students being outdoors, teachers will review safety procedures with students, emphasizing never to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection.
Staring at the sun for any length of time can have serious consequences. While looking at the sun during an eclipse isn’t necessarily more dangerous or damaging to the eyes than an average day, the likelihood of a child looking at the sun increases during an eclipse.
If your child is not participating in this event, we still encourage parents to talk to their children about safety precautions regarding the eclipse. The totality of the eclipse will begin about 12:16 pm - 3:16 pm with 89% of the sun obstructed by the moon at 2:01 pm.
Even if a parent does not want their child to participate in a viewing event, students could be outside during recess, school dismissal, etc. during the eclipse time frame.
For more information relating to overall eclipse viewing safety, visit https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/
The health and safety of our students and staff are always our top priority. We hope our students have a memorable and safe experience during the solar eclipse by following these safety measures. Thank you for your cooperation and support.
2023-2024 Yearbook Sales
It is time to order your copy of the 2023-2024 yearbook. Our PTO will purchase a copy for each 5th and 6th grade student. Online ordering is open through April 14th.
Hy Vee Receipt Goal Met
We exceeded our goal by $167. Help us get a jump start on our total for next year by continuing to send in your receipts. We will start totaling them now.
If you have online receipts you can take a screenshot and submit them to the pennpto@gmail.com
Kindergarten Round-up
We will hold or Kindergarten Round-up for all incoming Kindergarten students on April 18th from 2:30-3:40. Students should attend with their families. During this event families will learn about Penn Elementary and students will get to meet the Kindergarten teachers and future classmates.
Our PTO would like to also invite all incoming Kindergarten students to attend the PTO Science Night on April 18th from 6:00-8:00.
Mileage Club Volunteers Needed
The weather is warming up which means mileage club is back. We are looking for volunteers to help us make this program successful again!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A48ACAD2EA0FA7-47971523-mileage
April Cafeteria Volunteers
5th and 6th Grade Information
- May 13th- Track and Field Day
- May 16, 17, 20, 21 and 22nd- School of the Wild
- June 4th- 5th grade celebration from 2:00-2:45
- June 5th- 6th grade celebration from 8:15-9:00
Penn Glow Show
Our Glow Show will be returning again this year! Save the date you won't want to miss this event! May 14th from 5:00-7:00 for the art event. The music times are still TBD with shows for students in Kindergarten-6th grade.
New Pride Rock Link
The PTO Pride Rock has been updated for the upcoming months. Click here for the new link. The new link will also be saved below in the PTO section.
Penn PTO Information
Penn Pride Rock Sign-up
Penn Pride Rock- Penn's Pride Rock is a way to celebrate your child. For $15 a day (proceeds to the Penn PTO) you are able to paint a message on the rock to celebrate your child's special day. Click here to reserve a time to celebrate your child.
Funding assistance is available for any family. If you are needing assistance email Mr. Brandon at brandon.david@iowacityschools.org