Possible Snow Day on Wednesday???

Dear Pennoyer Community,

It seems like we may get hit with a big storm/blizzard that might affect school on Wednesday ... we're watching the news and we are communicating with area superintendents. If the weather really looks bad/unsafe, we will aim to make the call to open, close, or delay the start of school on Wednesday with as much advance notice as possible.

We will use the automated phone calling system to inform you about the decision, no later than 6:00am on Wednesday, and as soon before that as possible. We will also use our website, http://www.pennoyerschool.org, the Facebook Page and the Twitter Page to announce our plans. Depending upon the weather, we may make our decision tomorrow (Tuesday) to give everyone as much notice as possible.

We appreciate your support as these are often the most unpredictable calls to make!

Sincerely,

Mike, Sue, the Pennoyer Faculty & Staff

Pepsi Refresh Grant - Two Days Left to VOTE

Please support Pennoyer School!! Vote http://pep.si/g6VomG, text 105257 to 73774, and vote via Facebook's Pepsi Refresh Voting App ... Two days left to vote!

News from Mrs. Miceli and the PTC

Read More on Posterous for the documents!

Pennoyer Weekly 01312011.pdf (41 KB)
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PENNOYER SCHOOL FUNDRAISER.pdf (537 KB)
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CocaCola Double Points.pdf (2087 KB)
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02 Calendar February.pdf (10 KB)
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News from Pennoyer School!

Pennoyer Pepsi.pdf (69 KB)
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Two Days Left to VOTE!!!!!

Pennoyer Wins another Excellence Award!

Pennoyer_Award2010.pdf (250 KB)
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We are so proud of our students, faculty, staff, and community!! Please read the letter from the IL State Superintendent!

News from Pennoyer School

Mrs. Miceli's Weekly

University Information

Go Bananas!

Pennoyer Weekly 01242011.pdf (41 KB)
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Benedictine University.pdf (822 KB)
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PENNOYER SCHOOL FUNDRAISER.pdf (539 KB)
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More from the State Superintendent of Education

Student Opportunities

National World War II Museum Essay Contest Open to Grades 5-12

The National World War II Museum in New Orleans is asking middle school and high school students from across the country to answer the question "Why should we remember Pearl Harbor?" The question is the theme of this year's essay contestsMiddle school students (grades 5-8) will compete for a $250 prize awarded to the top essay for each grade. Three honorable mentions will also be given. The winning essays will be posted on The National World War II Museum's website. High school students will compete for first ($1,000), second ($750) and third ($500) overall. Another 50 essayists from across the country will receive honorable mention.

 

Go to http://nationalww2museum.org/essaycontests for thematic guidelines, formatting requirements and submission instructions. The deadline for submissions via the website is 5 p.m. March 31, although only the first 500 properly formatted entries will be accepted. The website will indicate when 500 essays have been submitted.

For questions, contact Kenneth Hoffman at educator@nationalww2museun.org.

FYI from the State Superintendent of Education

Curriculum and Instruction

History Teacher of the Year Award Nominations Sought

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is seeking nominations for the annual $10,000 National History Teacher of the Year Award, given to the best American history teacher in the United States. The National History Teacher of the Year is chosen from outstanding history teachers in each state, district and U.S. territory.  

The award is sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute, Preserve America and the History Channel.  

Nominations for the National History Teacher of the Year can be made by a student, parent, colleague, supervisor (including department head, principal, superintendent or curriculum director) or other education professional familiar with the teacher's work. State winners receive $1,000 and an archive of books and other resources for their school. Each winner is honored in a ceremony in his or her home state.

In 2011, the Gilder Lehrman Institute will honor an elementary teacher of grades K-6. Middle and high school teachers are honored every other year.

To nominate a teacher and learn more about the award, visit http://www.gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy or contact the Gilder Lehrman National History Teacher of the Year coordinator at nhtoy@gilderlehrman.org or 646-366-9666. You can also contact your state coordinator, Mike Hatfill of the Illinois State Board of Education, at 217-557-7323 or dhatfill@isbe.net.

The nomination deadline is Feb. 1, 2011.

5th Grade Boston Tea Party Video

5th Grade Pod Cast - Two minutes, example of excellent learning in action!

5th Grade Learning - Pod Cast - Boston Tea Party

5th Grade Social Studies in action! Two-minute podcast from a 5th grade play on the Boston Tea Party!

Pennoyer Weekly from Mrs. Miceli

Pennoyer Weekly 01172011 (1).pdf (41 KB)
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5th Grade Learning in DARE program - simulated impairment!

4th Grade Math - Learning about lines - engaging, active, fun!

 

4th Grade Math - Learning about lines - engaging, active, fun!

 

Facebook Usage Stats

Here is this week's summary for your Facebook Page:

Pennoyer School District 79 217monthly active users55 since last week 150people like this17 since last week 48wall posts or comments this week48 since last week 328visits this week269 since last week

PTC Contest - Box Tops

The PTC is sponsoring a Box Top Contest The contest will run from January 10th to February 18th The classroom that turns the most Box Tops to their teachers by the deadline will win an

ice cream party for the entire class! Don't forget to ask your friends and relatives for their help. Get clipping and good luck!

Pennoyer Weekly from Mrs. Miceli

Pennoyer_Weekly_Jan1011.pdf (404 KB)
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Some Grant opportunities ...

GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Special Olympics/YSA: Get Into It Grants
Special Olympics is partnering with Youth Service America to offer Get Into It grants, which bring together students of all abilities to fight childhood obesity in their schools and communities. The Get Into It curriculum helps to develop a service-learning program that gives youth the opportunity to make a change by creating and implementing local, hands-on programs to fight childhood obesity. Get Into It grant projects launch on Spread the Word to End the Word Day (March 2, 2011) and culminate on Global Youth Service Day (April 15-17, 2011). Maximum award: $1,000. Eligibility: teams from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply; each team must comprise a teacher and a unified pair of students (one with and one without an intellectual disability). Deadline: January 19, 2011.
http://www.ysa.org/getintoit

AASL: Collaborative School Library Award
The American Association of School Librarians Collaborative School Library Award recognizes and encourages collaboration and partnerships between school librarians and teachers in meeting goals outlined in Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs through joint planning of a program, unit, or event in support of the curriculum, using school library resources. Maximum award: $2,500 to the recipient's school library. Eligibility: school librarians who are personal members of the AASL. Deadline: February 7, 2011. 
http://www.goeshow.com/aasl/awards/2010/collaborative_school_library_media_award.cfm

AASL: Innovative Reading Grant
The American Association of School Librarians Innovative Reading Grant supports the planning and implementation of programs for children that motivate and encourage reading, especially for struggling readers. Selection criteria include the potential to measure and evaluate a literacy project that promotes the importance of reading and facilitates the learners' literacy development by supporting current reading research, practice, and policy. Maximum award: $2,500. Eligibility: reading programs specifically designed for children (grades K-9) in the school library setting. The program must encourage innovative ways to motivate and involve children in reading. Applicant must be a member of AASL. Deadline: February 7, 2011.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslawards/innovativereadinggrant/aaslreading.cfm

Pennoyer In the News

http://bit.ly/pennoyer_in_the_news

Pennoyer seeks help securing Pepsi grant

Comments

January 6, 2011 

By DEBORAH BAYLISS dbayliss@pioneerlocal.com

Pennoyer Elementary School again needs help securing a $50,000 technology grant through the Pepsi Refresh Project.

"With this grant, Pennoyer school will increase student and staff access to technology and 21st century thinking and problem-solving skills," School Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld said.

Lubelfeld in a written statement pointed out that Pennoyer, in School District 79, serves nearly 450 students, but students in the district currently have very little access to computers and instructional technology.

With 60 computes, the current ratio is about one for every 13 students.

Funds would be used toward training, professional development and software.

• $15,000 to upgrade the student lab for 7- to 10-year-olds.

• $15,000 for 25-30 notebook/netbook computers.

• $5,000 for 25 iPod Touch devices.

• $15,000 for iPads and accessories for student usage.

Lubelfeld is asking everyone to vote every day until Jan. 31 by either going to http://refresheverything.com/pennoyertechgrant2 and setting up an account, or on Facebook by installing the PEPSI REFRESH voting application. Votes can also be made from mobile phones by texting 105257 to Pepsi (73774).

Keep voting for Pepsi - We are ranked 50!!!

Thanks to your support we went from 215 to 50 ... KEEP VOTING every day!

Reminder - Save the Dates

Save the January Dates ... For Students & Families

Go Bananas Fundraiser Day: Jan. 31, from 11:00am – 10:00PM (conference day, no student attendance) 

Pennoyer gets 50% of whatever Pennoyer participants spend. Be sure to mention Pennoyer when purchasing tokens.

From the PTC:

Movie Night: January 28, 2011 - details will be sent out closer to the date

 

Parent information regarding Facebook

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/newslettersnewsletterbucketcurriculumconnections/888601-442/facebook.html.csp

Rules for Pepsi Refresh Grant

We want to win, and we want to win "legally" ... here are some important rules:

Who can vote?

All legal residents of the United States residing in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia who are 13 years of age and older. Starting on February 1st, participants can vote for up to 10 of their favorite ideas every day. If you submitted an idea, feel free to vote for your own. Voting starts on the 1st and continues through the last day of every month. Unused Votes do not roll over to the next day.

Is proxy voting allowed?

Proxy voting is not allowed. We understand this may not have been clear within the original Application Guidelines, though always against the spirit and integrity of the program. As of June 1^st, any idea that uses proxy voting which includes but is not limited to creating multiple and/or dummy emails may be disqualified.

I have noticed my ideas have not moved in ranking. Is the leader board working properly?

Yes, the leader board updates every 30 minutes. All ideas are updated based on the number of votes received. During the first two days of each month the leader board does not show much movement as votes are being accumulated. For this short timeframe, "ranking" is based on the timestamp of a submission. After the 3rd day if a user's idea does not receive any votes their ranking continues to be based on the timestamp of submission trailing all ideas that have received votes.

Vote for Pennoyer ... Pepsi Refresh

We won't be sending this many emails/posts on a regular basis ... just today for the "KICK-OFF" ... but we will ask you to vote and we will share our ranking every few days.

Vote from your mobile phone

Text* 105257

 to 
Pepsi (73774) 
*Standard text messaging rates apply.

Current Rank

215^th

THE TOP 10 IDEAS FOR
50K RECEIVE FUNDING

Pennoyer School In the News!

Pennoyer curriculum spans globe

December 30, 2010 

Students at Pennoyer School District 79 will go beyond the classroom as part of their social studies class with a long-term curriculum/instructional project.

Janelle Santos, a Pennoyer class of 2002 graduate serving in the Peace Corps in Pohnpei, an island that is a part of the Federated States of Micronesia, will correspond with the sixth-grade social studies classes over the next two years exchanging pictures and stories in an effort to inspire learning about geography, culture and people on the other side of the globe.

The students have already worked in groups and came up with a first round of questions for Santos.

Santos will visit the classroom to meet the students and do a show-and-tell visit in two years.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/norridge/news/2988888,norridge-peace-122710-s1.article#Comments_Container

GRANT Application Details

Provide 21st Century skills for elementary public school children.

Pennoyer School District #79

Pennoyer School, in Pennoyer School District #79, is a PK-8 public school just outside of Chicago serving nearly 450 students. The students in this school district currently do not have a lot of access to computers, instructional technology, web 2.0, etc. The current ratio of computers to students is 60:450, or 13%.

Grant Goals

Increase access to computers/web 2.0 from 13% to 20%

Diversify learning products to include 21st Century skills

Increase focused training of staff to unified curriculum/instruction

Overview

The Pennoyer Technology Grant combines machinery and instruction. It will allow for the blending of the science of teaching with the art of teaching. The students will learn and demonstrate their learning in current ways. For example, instead of peer editing others' papers with ink and paper, the students can demonstrate collaboration and peer editing through blogging and collaborative writing projects. The students who have different ways of expressing themselves will find greater success with multiple assessment options.

Teachers will learn and grow through training and development and discovery with the new tools in their toolkits. This grant will make access to actual computers go from 13% to 20%, or 1 in 5. This will hugely impact the ability for multi-media instruction and learning. It will also result in a better prepared student population for high school (and beyond).

Deliverables:

25-30 laptops/netbooks/notebooks (PC)

25 iPod Touch devices

Virtualization - back end servers

How will the 50K be Used?

Budget Notes: Training, professional development, software

$ 15,000               Upgrade student lab 7-10yrs old

$ 15,000               25-30 Notebook/Netbook machines

$ 5,000  25 iPod Touch devices

$ 15,000               iPads and accessories for student usage

Vote from your mobile phone Text* 105257 to Pepsi (73774) *Standard text messaging rates apply.

Follow us on Twitter - Http://www.twitter.com/pennoyerschool

Parking Lot Reminders

Dear Pennoyer Families,

Welcome back to Pennoyer for a great 2011! We want to make sure it is a safe year so we would like to share a few reminders with you.

We had congestion in the parking lot at dismissal for a few days before break; however, we found that on the days when parents arrive for pickup closer to the dismissal bell, traffic flowed much better. Please continue to arrive closer to 3:00pm to eliminate the drive way/parking lot  backup.

* When you enter the lot, pull into an available parking space.  Drive around in a circle when every parking space is filled.

* Do not park in a fire lane or in the driving lane, pull around.  

* You can always park at the Salvation Army lot and walk across Cumberland Avenue (with a crossing guard).

* By law, you may not use cell phones in the parking lot.

Please make sure to share this important safety information with baby sitters, grandparents, or anyone who will drive your child to or from school.

As always, we are in touch with the Norridge Police Department to find the best solutions to improve safety.

Thank you all for your support and patience.

 

Happy New Year!

Pennoyer School District #79

5200 North Cumberland Avenue

Norridge, IL 60706

(708) 456-9094, fax: (708) 456-9098

http://www.pennoyerschool.org

one more post ...

Pepsi Refresh Grant

You can vote several ways EVERY DAY!

1. goto http://refresheverything.com/pennoyertechgrant2

set up a user name (email) and password

log in

VOTE

2. Vote from FACEBOOK - if you have a Facebook account, install the PEPSI application

3. Vote from your mobile phone

Text* 105257

 to 
Pepsi (73774) 
*Standard text messaging rates apply.

More Information Pepsi Grant Application

After 6am on January 3rd (Monday) ... people can go online and vote for the Pennoyer Pepsi Refresh Grant application:

http://www.refresheverything.com/pennoyertechgrant2

We'll share more details once the site is back open - people can vote twice a day if they can TEXT message and if they can VOTE ONLINE subject to Pepsi's rules

Pepsi Refresh Project - We will win this time!

Pennoyer's $50,000 Grant Application is approved for competition ... we will need your daily votes - starting tomorrow, you can TEXT and VOTE ONLINE - we'll share details as soon as Pepsi releases them ...
From Pepsi:

"Congratulations! Your Pepsi Refresh Project idea "Provide 21st Century skills for elementary public school children." has been approved, and will be up for voting on Refresheverything.com after 6:00 am ET on January 3.

Start spreading the news to your friends and family and have them vote for your idea on Refresheverything.com. Let everyone know that they can also vote by searching for your idea on the Facebook Voting Application, by texting your unique text-to-vote mobile code (the code can be found on your idea page), and by downloading the Pepsi Refresh Project App for theiPhone or Android. Voting ends the last day of this month so there's no time to lose.

Please note that, as of June 1, 2010, rules for the Pepsi Refresh Project have been updated to expressly prohibit proxy voting. To ensure a fair, accurate count of votes, an outside company monitors the site. Any idea that uses proxy voting, which includes but is not limited to creating multiple or dummy accounts and voting on behalf of other users, may be disqualified.

It's because of you, your votes and your participation, that we've made a difference in refreshing the world.

Any questions? Please consult the FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) or feel free to call our customer service line at 1-800-768-2784.

Sincerely, 
The Pepsi Refresh Project"