Bird's Eye View
PHILIP MICHAEL PENNINGTON TRADITIONAL SCHOOL
SUPER POWERS: POWERS TO SUCCEED
School of Excellence
Virginia Index of Performance Award
Virginia Schools to Watch
From the Administration
Dear Pennington Family,
With the season of Thanksgiving drawing near, we reflect on what we have to be thankful for here at Pennington. First and foremost, we are very grateful for the partnerships and working relationships we have with each and every parent and student that attends our wonderful school. Without your continued support, Pennington would not be the fantastic learning institution that we know and love. We are thankful for your donations of time, talents, goods and services that you provide for your children and the school community. You sponsor or coordinate community events, fundraisers, family fun nights, dinners, and the countless opportunities for our school family to both spend time together or reach out to others.
As we look toward the beginning of the 2nd quarter, we will continue to seek your support and encouragement of the Pennington Principals, which are our Super Powers for the year; to Be Proactive, Positive, Prepared, and Prompt. This includes, but is not limited to adherence to the uniform policy, and the Pennington/PWCS Code of Behavior. Our revised behavioral matrix outlines the expectations for school-wide conduct, and is the foundation for what creates our Pennington Superheroes!
We truly appreciate you for allowing us to play a role in your child’s education and development. Your children and yourself are the reasons we come to Pennington each day, excited and ready to...not only teach, but learn as well.
We wish each and every Pennington family a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!
Mrs. Joyce Stockton, Principal
Mr. Chris Dalton, Assistant Principal
CAREER DAY IS COMING!!! CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
Do you have an amazing career/job that you love? Would you like to share that love with Pennington's middle school students? Join us for our Middle School Career Day on Friday, November 13th, 2015 from 1:30 - 3:15! We are searching for parents or community members that would like to present and share various career opportunities and information. If you are interested, please fill out the Career Day Volunteer Flyer and return to Pennington's Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Kim Frerichs by Friday, November 6th.
Pennington's Uniform Policy ***PLEASE REVIEW***
Uniform Focus for NOVEMBER:
BOOTS- Boots are an option and should be worn UNDER THE PANTS. (No tucking pants inside of the boots.)
Pants - PANTS & SHORTS are permitted in three waist styles: flat front, pleated front and elastic waist. All pants are to have straight legs. Both pants and shorts can be cuffed or uncuffed. Not allowed are tight fitting, baggy, short-shorts, cargo pants/shorts, cropped, flare-leg, and pants/shorts with frayed edges or decorative designs. All Grades: Classic Navy or Khaki.
OPERATION TURKEY IS UNDERWAY!
PLEASE KEEP FIRE LANE CLEAR
Parents, please refrain from parking in the front fire lane directly in front of the school when picking up your students in the afternoon following clubs. There are times when buses are required to return to school, and are unable to pull into this lane as it is blocked by cars. Buses need to have access to this to provide for the safe return of students on a daily basis. We thank you in advance for your proactive assistance in keeping this fire/bus lane free of cars in the morning and afternoon.
Directions for Drop-Off and Pick-Up (English)
Please review our parking lot procedures
Directions for Drop-Off and Pick-Up (Spanish)
Important Transportation Information - PLEASE READ
**PARENT DROP OFF/PICK UP:
During morning parent drop off and afternoon pick up, it is very important to pull forward all the way before allowing your child to exit/enter the car. Not only will this ensure your child is safe, but it will also alleviate the congestion at the school’s entrance. Also, please make sure that you do not allow your student to enter or exit the car before the posted sign and yellow line on the sidewalk.
**BUS STOP REQUIREMENT:
Please know that you need to be standing at the bus stop to pick up your child at the end of the day. You may not wait in the car. Our bus drivers are instructed not to allow the children off of the bus until they have confirmation that you are standing at the stop. This protects and ensures the safety of your children. It is recommended that you get to know your bus driver so that he/she is able to recognize and know all who are picking up children daily.
Student Recognition and Honor Roll Assemblies are this month!
The following dates/times have been scheduled to honor those students who will receive special acknowledgement in the areas of Citizenship, Most Improved, Extraordinary Effort, Community Service, Principal’s Honor Roll and A/B Honor Roll:
Friday, November 6th - 9:15 - GRADES 1/2
Friday, November 20th - 9:15 - GRADES 7/8
Friday, November 20th - 1:30 - GRADES 5/6
Friday, November 20th - 2:15 - GRADES 3/4
**This recognition is informal and it is not a requirement for parents to attend.
From the Counselor's Corner
Picture Retake Day
A make-up day for individual student pictures is scheduled in the library on Wednesday morning, November 18. Students wishing to have their picture retaken or taken for the first time must have their original portrait package or a payment envelope in hand when they come to the camera. These envelopes have been distributed to teachers and will also be in the office.
Orders can also be placed online at mylifetouch.com using the Retake Picture Day ID: HJ255173Q1.
Pedidos en español disponibles por internet. Ingresa en Mylifetouch.com
Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Lifetouch will refund your purchase price if you are not completely satisfied.
REMINDERS AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENT VOLUNTEERS!
Pennington Parents/Guardians are required to complete 10 hours of volunteer time per child per year (June 1st through May 31st) for each child attending Pennington.
You must be registered in the parent volunteer system before you can volunteer. If you have not already done so, please bring your current, valid, government issued photo identification (driver’s license, etc …) and come to the office to complete the required registration as soon as possible.
We will be providing an online parent volunteer hours update on our website within the next few weeks. At that time, you will be able to view the hours recorded for your family from June 1, 2015, through October 31, 2015. Your family’s hours will be listed next to your family’s Parent Pick-Up (not walker ID or carpool) number.
Tips for completing your hours:
- Contact your child's teacher to see if he/she needs a volunteer
- Attend monthly PTO Meetings
- Attend monthly Advisory Council Meetings
- Attend PEP meetings at Pennington
- Attend Back-to-School Nights
- Help the cafeteria hostess - daily from 10:30 until noon (first come, first served; no appointment necessary)
- Chaperone your child’s field trip or other classroom activity
- Participate in the Fall or Spring Beautification Day (Saturday)
- Present your career or help with Career Day (the next one is November 13)
If you have questions about the parent volunteer program, you may refer to your parent volunteer registration packet, your student’s agenda, the Pennington website, or contact the volunteer coordinator in the front office at 703.369.6644.
What’s Happening in the Art Room?
What is happening in the art room??
1st grade: We read the story “Three Hens and a Peacock” and are currently working on a very fancy peacock collage
2nd grade: Silly monsters using texture tiles. We also finished our clay pendants!
3rd grade: Totem Pole collages
4th grade: Food portraits based on the artist, Giuseppe Arcimboldo
5th grade: Colored pencil tree grid drawings, using a variety of color schemes
Middle School:
6th Grade: Sculpture Unit, based off of Picasso’s musical instrument sculptures and paintings
7th Grade: Two Point Perspective City Designs
8th Grade: Painting on Canvas
From the Musical Nest of Mrs. Stewart
Grades 1 and 2 students will present a formal concert performance on November 19, 2015. This concert series is dedicated to our fallen PWC police officers.
Here are the details:
When: November 19, 2015
The Grade 1 concert begins at 7:00pm. The Grade 2 concert begins at 7:30pm.
Classroom teachers will be available for student performer drop off at 6:45pm. Please keep all family members with you in the dining hall until that time.
Where: Our school Dining Hall
***All younger and older siblings of performers are to stay with parents in the dining hall during concerts.
What should our performers wear for these two concerts? This is the time to dress up (NO play clothes) Students may wear their nicest school uniform or a fancy outfit from their closet at home. There is no color requirement. Look nice! (Girls are to avoid shoes with high heels as this is dangerous while on the chorus riser steps.)
Concert songs: The concert songs are posted on the ES MUSIC schoolfusion web page. You are welcome to download these recordings for the children to practice at home.
PWCS ALL COUNTY CHORUS
The festival took place at Patriot High School on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24. The performance was unbelievable! Our singers were well prepared, well behaved and represented our school with honor. Well done, Pennington Singers!!!!
Sopranos: Mallorie Fouser, Heather Moore
Altos: Jennifer Cardona, Nnenna Ekoh
Tenors: Lukas Kim, Maxwell Rivera
Bass: Jeremy Dapaah
For those who remember Morgan Dyson, she is a Pennington Alum who earned a seat in the High School Mixed SATB Honor Chorus. She is a junior at Forest Park HS. She sends a happy hello to everyone.
Have you signed up to receive classroom news?
Please make sure that you are signing up for your student's classroom web pages! It is very important that you use this to stay up to date with essential information, including due dates, projects, and classroom news. If you have not done so, please sign up as soon as possible.
From the Nurse
What is it? It is a viral infection of the lungs. There are two main types of influenza virus: A and B. Each type includes many different strains that tends to change from year to year.
Symptoms: Influenza symptoms can include a sudden onset of fever (100*f or >), headache, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches. Diarrhea is not common. Symptoms usually persist for less than a week.
Onset: Symptoms occur 1-3 days after exposure
Diagnosis: Lab tests are available to diagnose influenza; however, doctors usually diagnose influenza from the person's symptoms.
Treatment: Rest, liquids, and over-the-counter medicine (e.g., acetaminophen [Tylenol®]) are the usual treatments. Some prescription drugs may reduce the severity of influenza. Aspirin should not be given to children with fever-causing illnesses because of the possibility of a complication called Reye's syndrome.
How Long Is SomeoneContagious? Influenza can spread from one person to another beginning about one day before symptoms appear through about a week after onset.
Prevention: 1. Get the seasonal flu vaccine, yearly. 2. Good Hygiene: COVER your mouth and nose with a tissue or the inside of your elbow when coughing or sneezing, WASH your hands often to help protect yourself from germs, AVOID touching your eyes, nose or mouth, STAY HOME from work, school, and other activities when you are sick, and AVOID close contact with people who are sick.
If your child has a confirmed case of the flu, please call the school right away and provide the school nurse with written documentation from the doctor as soon as possible.
Develop an emergency plan as a precaution, which includes storing a supply of food, medicines, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and other essential supplies.
Stay informed. Follow public health advice.
Knowing the facts is the best preparation. Reliable, accurate, and timely information is available at:
Pennington School website: www.pwcs.edu/pennington
Prince William County Schools: www.pwcs.edu
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Virginia Department of Education: www.doe.virginia.gov
VA Dept. of Health: www.vdh.state.va.us
Pandemic Flu: www.flu.gov
Manassas Health Dept. 703-792-6300 and Woodbridge Health Dept. 703-792-7300
Please feel free to contact me anytime you have concerns with your child’s health. I can be reached at 703-369-6644 or Goodwiax@pwcs.edu.
My main goal is to keep the school a safe and healthy environment, one that is conducive to learning. Thank you for your support!
Aurea Goodwin
School Nurse
FOR THE SAFETY AND PRIVACY OF OUR STUDENTS
Please refrain from taking photographs or videos of your students or others during the instructional day. This is in an effort to maintain the privacy and security of our students, families and communities.
Parents as Educational Partners
SAVE THE DATE!
November 9 - PEP Meeting @ 5pm
November 9 - PTO Meeting @ 7pm
November 10 - 1st/2nd Grade Bedtime Story Night
November 10 - Report Cards Sent Home
November 11 - No School - Veteran's Day
November 13 - Middle School Career Day
November 13 - PTO Spirit Night
November 17 - Information Meeting for Prospective Parents @ 7pm
November 18 - Fall Picture Retakes - Wear Uniform
November 18 - Fosters Spirit Night
November 19 - 1st/2nd Grade Music Concerts @ 7pm
November 25 - 27 - No School - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
November 30 - PAC Meeting @ 6pm
Translation Services Available at www.pwcs.edu
Philip Michael Pennington School
Website: http://pennington.schools.pwcs.edu/
Location: 9305 Stonewall Road, Manassas, VA, United States
Phone: 703-369-6644
Facebook: www.facebook.com/philipmichaelpennington