Penny Creek Elementary Newsletter

Dear Penny Creek Families,

I am pleased to report that the opening of our school year has gone very smoothly. We have so enjoyed welcoming students and families back to Penny Creek and meeting those who are new to our school. Teaching of our PRIDE expectations has a great deal to do with this success. PRIDE at Penny Creek stands for the following:

P We are Problem solvers.

R We are Respectful.

I We are In control and safe.

D We Do our best.

E We show Everyone we care.

Students earn PRIDE tickets when they do an excellent job meeting these expectations. We have PRIDE lunches each Friday. Teachers select students, who have shown PRIDE in class on a consistent basis, to sit at a special table during lunch. We also recognize students five times a year, at PRIDE assemblies where students receive certificates in front of their peers and guardians.

In addition to emphasizing PRIDE expectations, we make safety a priority in our first few weeks of school. We held a fire drill and a lock down drill. Each drill was an opportunity to teach students how to keep safe if a dangerous incident occurred. Teachers led their classes well and students did a great job following procedures.

The month ahead, we look forward to settling into a solid learning pattern. Students have completed their iReady diagnostics in math and reading. These provide teachers knowledge of students’ learning strengths and needs. We have our PTA Fun Run fundraiser and our annual Mathquerade. Read further to learn more about these events and other important happenings at Penny Creek and Everett School District.

Sincerely,
Marti Shefveland
mshefveland@everettsd.org

Friday, October 4

• Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.

Friday, October 11

• No School for students

Wednesday, October 16

• Individual Student Picture Day

Friday, October 18

• PTA Popcorn Friday
• Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.

Thursday, October 24

• Natural Leader Meeting @ 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. PCE Library

Friday, October 25

• Spirit Day - Book Character Day
• Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.

Tuesday, October 29

• Mathquerade @ 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Cafeteria/Gym

ARRIVAL: supervision will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Parent drop off (Ferry Lanes) - drive up while remaining in the car.

• This is supervised until 9:10 a.m.
• Enter the parking lot through the west entrance.
• Turn right into the Parent drop off lane loop.
• Follow the Parent drop off lane around in front of the gym. Pulling forward to the undercover playground area.
• Stay in the right lane, making sure to drive slowly.
• Driver remains in the car.
• When the car comes to a complete stop, the student unloads from the passenger curb side door.
• Students will walk through the undercover area and on to the campus.
• Driver departs from the Parent drop off by following the lane to the west exit on to 132nd Street SE.

Parking car at main parking lot and drop off student.

• Park car in main parking lot and walk on to campus using the crosswalk.
• Parents walk students to the front iron gate drop off point by the office (blue area on map).

Arrival after 9:15 a.m. - park your vehicle and walk your student to the office. A guardian or designee will need to sign in your student at the office. Students arriving after 9:15 a.m. will be tardy.

DISMISSAL: begins at 3:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 2:15 p.m. Friday

Parent pick up (Ferry Lanes) - drive up & pick up while remaining in the car.

• This is supervised until 3:45 p.m.
• Enter the parking lot through the west entrance.
• Turn right into the Parent pick up lane loop. There are three ferry style lanes to wait in.
• Penny Creek staff member will release each ferry lane in an orderly manner.
• When the lane is released, follow the Parent pick up line to the front of the undercover playground area.
• Make sure to drive slowly and to pull as far forward as possible. Students will be waiting in the undercover area.
• Driver remains in the car.
• When the car comes to a complete stop, the student will load into the car from the passenger curb side door.
• Driver departs from the Parent pick up by following the lane to the west exit on 132nd Street SE.

Parking car at main parking lot to pick up students at departure time.

• Park car in main parking lot and walk on to campus using the crosswalk.
• Parents wait for students to be released from the doors located between Office and Kindergarten Playground (green area on map).

If your student is absent or tardy from school, please email the attendance office at pceattendance@everettsd.org to let us know the reason for the absence or tardy. There is also a direct link on our webpage at: https://www.everettsd.org/pennycreek

• Absences must be reported (by email or note) within 30 calendar days after a student returns back to school, not including Holidays or weekends, in order to have the absence excused. Emails or notes turned in past the 30-day timeframe will be accepted; however, the absence is not excused and will be coded as such.
• Automated attendance calls will be sent out daily at 10 a.m. If your student will be absent or tardy you must notify the office before 9:15 a.m. If it is reported after this time you may receive the automated call.
• Please view the Everett School District Attendance Procedure 3122P for more information (including definitions of absences).
• Did you have a medical appointment for your child, or they were sick, and you brought them to the doctor? If so, make sure to ask for a medical note from the provider. Email the note to the attendance office so those absences can be coded as a medical note excused absence.
• Please fill out a Prearranged Absence Form if your student will be going on vacation/traveling or will miss school for an extended period of time. As per district policy, the principal or designee may excuse up to five (5) school days for a prearranged absence per student each school year.

If your student needs to leave before the end of the school day, email the school office at PennyCreek@everettsd.org in advance. Please include in your email message:

• The specific DATE
  
• The TIME you will pick up your student. Please know, we will call your student to the office once you have arrived to the school.
  
• WHO will be picking up your student. If an adult designee is coming to pick up your student, an email from the guardian needs to be sent to confirm the information.

For the safety and security of students, we will ask for photo identification.

If the plan on how your student is going home at the end of the school day changes, we ask that a guardian sends an email to the school office at PennyCreek@everettsd.org and the classroom teacher by 2:45 pm.

Please include in your email message:

• name of your student
• name of their teacher
• details of the the change of plan
  
  

Our office will deliver this information to your student. This method of communication helps to support our staff with accurate dismissal information.

Who are the school counselors?

• After many years as a school counselor in nearby districts, Dr. Christy Anana is thrilled about being the new full-time counselor at Penny Creek Elementary this year. You can learn more about her here: Dr. Christy Anana

• Robert Richert is excited about returning to Penny Creek for his second year and will be supporting students on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some Fridays.

What does a School Counselor do?

A school counselor works with and for all students in the school. We teach classroom lessons, work with students in small, skill-building groups and meet individually with students. We participate in meetings with teachers, administrators, office staff and parents to support student success in academics and well-being, along with helping families find supportive resources. We look forward to seeing all our Penny Creek Frogs throughout the school year.

Monthly Focus: 4th and 5th graders will start their Bully Prevention Unit lessons in the next couple of weeks. Ask your child what turns a conflict into a bullying situation (unfair and unkind behavior that is repeated, on purpose, one-sided, and does not stop after being asked). Also, ask them about the “Three R’s” of responding to bullying (Recognize, Report, Refuse). Having these conversations with your student now will help them fully understand how to act if they are ever involved in a bullying situation.

To learn more about the Second Step Bullying Prevention Program, explore HERE.

• Dr. Christy Anana

Email: canana@everettsd.org

School phone: (425) 385-7210

• Mr. Richert

Email: rrichert2@everettsd.org

School phone: (425) 385-7220

🌟 Exciting News for Everett Families! 🌟

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department is excited to share that eligible students can receive free year-long haircuts through the Kutz 4 Kidz program! This incredible program is sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Snohomish County and the Coverson Family.

Who’s eligible?
Kutz 4 Kidz supports homeless, low-income families, and students receiving free or reduced lunch, with a special focus on African American students and those facing economic hardships.

How to get vouchers?

Connect with our school counselors, Dr. Anana or Mr. Richert, for more information!

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our first PTA general meeting of the year! It was great to see you all and connect. Mark your calendars for our next meeting on Monday, November 18th!

The Penny PTA membership goal this year is 296 members. We would love to show in numbers that the PTA has the support of their staff and families. Your membership is not a commitment to volunteer but to show your support as a member of our group. Please consider joining if you have not already. Click on the LINK to join online. Any new memberships from now until October 28 will be entered into a drawing to receive a $200 gift certificate to Rare Society.

We had an amazing time hosting our PTA Back-to-School Event filled with great food, friends, and fun! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, especially our food truck vendors – Yummy Catch and Yay Big Yay High Yah Ice Cream. We were thrilled to have with us our Fun Run Gold sponsors, Mathnasium, Stellar Kids, and Bricks & Minifigs. A special shoutout to Pack 21 Cub Scouts and Smith Brothers for participating. And a heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who made the event possible. We also want to thank Clownbuggie Entertainment for the fantastic balloon creations and Magical Memories Entertainment for the exciting bubble fun!

Attention 5th graders! This month, we will be sending home a flyer with all the details about our yearbook cover design contest. You can submit your entries until Friday, November 15. All 5th grade classes will have the chance to vote for their favorite design, and the winning artwork will be featured on the front and back covers of this year’s yearbook!

Reminder, yearbook sales are still happening. The cost is $15 until December 1. Click HERE to place your order online.

If you have any questions or need a copy of PTA forms, contact us via Email or visit our Website. Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Yours,

Penny Creek PTA Board 2024-2025