Penngrove Press
December 18th, 2019
From Mrs. Rudder
I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a lovely holiday season filled with time spent with your loved ones and friends. I’m looking forward to the break when I will have more time with my husband, children and grandchildren. I also plan on catching up with knitting and reading, both things I love to do, but which are harder to do when working. School will start after Winter Break on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.
With the new decade, Mrs. Fadeji will be returning from maternity leave. You may see some sightings of her during this week, but she won’t be officially back until Tuesday, January 21st. Then for the remainder of the year she and I will be sharing Mondays, which I’m excited to do, and will mean I don’t have to say goodbye until the end of the school year.
Pick-up reminder for Friday!
This Friday, all 450 TK-6th grade students will be dismissed at the same time--12 noon. In order to facilitate a safe exit from campus that day, teachers will be stationed all around the campus with many in the parent parking lot. We have also requested assistance from the CHP to make sure all of our students get safely on their way to winter break.
Please be extra patient that day when you are picking up your child. The line to get into the parking lot is sure to be long, but with extra staff on hand, it will move smoothly. When I was here at Penngrove in 2017 we followed the same plan and by 12:20 the campus was empty.
Penngrove STEM Program Update
It’s hard to believe that we’ve been in school for 5 months already! This year we’re trying a different rotation model for STEM, art, and garden. Each class has had at least one 4 week rotation of each, including STEM! There is a lot that gets packed into each STEM lesson but here is a summary of what we’ve been working on at different grade levels:
TK/K/1: We’ve been working on various engineering challenges that usually relate to a theme or a subject that they’ve been learning about in their regular classroom. We’ve been focusing on the engineering design process and the growth mindset that it takes to make progress in STEM. In STEM students are encouraged to take risks and try things in a really positive environment, which might look different than anything they’ve previously been tasked with. The kids are using various building materials, have been given specific “constraints”, and have been working through solving problems with a hands-on approach.
2/3: 2nd and 3rd grade has had one 4 week rotation with me, which unfortunately fell during the week that we were out of school during the Kincade Fire. During the time that we did have together, we researched, designed, and built a catapult that would toss a pumpkin. We did this with a small-scale model of a catapult and a mini pumpkin candy. We focused on academic catapult terms such as fulcrum, lever, load, support, kinetic energy, and potential energy. Hopefully you saw these little catapults come home and were able to have a family conversation about what was learned.
4/5/6: Students in grades 4-6 started the school year with a 4 week STEM rotation, which was perfect to prepare for Caine’s Arcade! As you probably remember, this was a school-wide event where students used recycled materials to build an arcade game. What you might not have seen is all the hard work that students did before the build day. Students started with developing criteria for what they thought would make a great arcade game. They then worked hard to come up with a desired supply list and researched to develop a budget (in the case that they had to purchase materials instead of using recycled materials). We talked about writing instructional material and students created directions or instructions for their game using written explanation and drawings. They drew a blueprint of what they thought their game would look like and then they were ready to build! As a STEM community, we are always identifying and working on process skills that can be carried into any subject. We’ll continue building these same skills as we move into creating and building a roller coaster after winter break!
One misconception that people often have is that STEM is learning with student iPads. As you can see from the summary above, we actually rarely use the student iPads. We do, however, build in student iPad use when there is a program or app that can support what we’re already learning in a fun and creative way. This is a great time for me to teach how an app is appropriately used to get the outcome that we want and let students create and explore within those parameters. For example, we sometimes use Google Expeditions which is a virtual field trip! We can look at locations where California Gold Rush history was made, volcanoes around the world, and the Pyramids of Egypt without leaving the classroom. It’s pretty amazing. Ask your child what they’re learning about and help them make connections. These make great family conversations at home too.
Have a great winter break and I’ll see you in 2020!
Mrs. Olufs
STEM Coach
Parking Reminders for the New Year
The Staff Parking Lot is just that, a parking lot for teachers and others who work at the school. Parents are not allowed to use the lot for drop off or pick up. Additionally there are 3 Handicapped Spots available for parents or grandparents who bring their young ones to school and will be exiting their vehicle. Those are the only parents who are allowed to drive into the Staff Parking Lot.
Last week the Assistant Superintendent, Director of Maintenance, and Director of Transportation all came to Penngrove because of the problems with this lot. This lot must maintain a route that school buses and emergency responders can use. Often people are parking in the bus zone or along the area where the dumpsters sit. Those are “No Parking” zones. It would be impossible to move a bus or a fire truck through if cars were parked there.
On Friday, five Penngrove teachers were receiving Math training at the PCS District Office in the morning. When some of those teachers returned to school, people had parked in their spots. The teachers have exactly 30 minutes to drive across town from the District Office and get back into their classrooms to relieve their subs on days such as these. It caused a real problem!
To reiterate: The Staff Parking Lot is off limits to parents between the hours of 7:30 to 4:00, except for those with a handicapped placard who are planning on parking and exiting their vehicle. Please help us ensure the safety of all Penngrove students and personnel, by adhering to this rule.
Help Needed
Go, Camp Go!
4k for Camp
December 21st, 2017
All abilities welcomed! Rain or Shine! Run or walk!
When: 9 AM, Saturday, December 21st
Race Day Registration begins at 8 AM.
Where: Sonoma Mountain Elementary School
Why: A fundraiser for all schools attending 6th grade camp (La Tercera, Miwok Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Old Adobe, Loma Vista, and Penngrove). Donations will go to OAUSD to support the outdoor education program.
What: A 2 mile loop with one slight uphill all on a bike/walking path. Runners of all abilities are welcome and walkers as well.
Donation: $15 for adults $10 for students
Divisions: elementary, jr. high, high school, and adult (10 year age groups for adults starting at 19-29). 1st – 3rd place in all divisions.
Return filled out registration form and donation to your child’s school, drop off at Miwok Valley Elementary, or register race day. Electronic registration may be available at select sites.
For more information contact Carl Triola at ctriola@oldadobe.org
3cer 4k Para Campamento
Todas la habilidades son bienvenidas!
Lluvia o sol!
Corra o camine!
Cuándo: 9 AM, Sábado, 21 de diciembre
El registro de la fecha de la carrera comienza a las 8 AM.
Dónde: Sonoma Mountain Elementary School
Por qué: Una recaudación de fondos para todas las escuelas que asisten al Campamento (La Tercera, Miwok Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Old Adobe, Loma Vista, McDowell y Penngrove). Las donaciones se destinarán al OAUSD Camp Rayaneh para apoyar el programa de educación al aire libre.
Qué: Un bucle de 2 millas con una ligera cuesta arriba en carril de bici. Corredores de todas las habilidades son bienvenidos y caminantes también.
Donación: $20 por adultos $15 por estudiantes
Divisiones: elementary, jr. high, high school, y adultos (grupos de 10 años para adultos comenzando de 19-29 años). 1er - 3er lugar en todas las divisiones.
Devuelva el formulario de inscripción completo y la donación a la escuela de su hijo, vaya a Miwok Valley Elementary, envíelo a Miwok Valley (1010 St. Francis Drive, Petaluma, CA, 94954) o regístrese el día de la carrera. El registro electrónico puede estar disponible en sitios selectos. (webscorer.com)
Para más información contacte a Carl Triola en ctriola@oldadobe.org
Forma de Registración
Donación: Puede registrarse el día de
$20 por adulto comenzando a las 8 A.M.
$15 por niño Regístrese en línea en webscorer.com
Cheques pagados a OAUSD Outdoor Education Busque bajo 4K for Camp.
Jewelry Making with Julia Anthony
Julia Anthony has been making and selling her handmade jewelry for over 25 years. She has taught jewelry making to children throughout Sonoma and Marin counties for the past 12 years. Julia would love to share her passion for jewelry making with your child.
Tuesday 1/14-2/18 (6 classes)
3:05 -4:05 in Room 3
$144
K-6
Students will tap into their creativity and use their fine motor skills to create beautiful wearable jewelry! A new project will be introduced each week , including earrings, necklaces, bracelets , hair accessories and more!
Contact Julia to register juliabrandanthony@gmail.com or 7073641406
Petaluma City Schools provides space, but does not endorse, staff, or supervise the information, activities, or events posted
Fabricación de joyas con Julia Anthony
Martes 1/14-2/18 en habitacíon 3
$144 para 6 clases (K-6 )
Los estudiantes aprovecharán su creatividad y utilizarán sus habilidades motoras finas para crear hermosas joyas portátiles! Cada semana se presentará un nuevo proyecto, que incluye aretes, collares, pulseras, accesorios para el cabello y más.
Envíe un mensaje de texto o envíe un correo electrónico a Julia Anthony para registrarse 707-364-1406 juliabrandanthony@gmail.com. Incluya el nombre completo de su
hijo, el grado, un número de contacto y su correo electrónico.
Petaluma City Schools proporciona espacio, pero no respalda, personal, ni supervisa la información, actividades o eventos publicados.
Mark your calendars!
is scheduled for
January 27th
6 pm
in Room 3
Penngrove Elementary - Home of the #pennpanthers
Email: penngrove@petk12.org
Website: www.penngroveelementary.org
Location: 365 Adobe Road, Penngrove, CA, USA
Phone: 707 778 4755
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Penngrove-Elementary-School-323595021067904/
Twitter: @pennpanthers