Penny Creek Elementary Newsletter

Dear Penny Creek Families,

The month of October held several significant events for us. It began with our PTA Fun Run in which, we surpassed our goal of raising $20,000. Thank you to our amazing families and community for your support. We are thankful to you. We are also incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated PTA to support Penny Creek.

We also held our first PRIDE Assembly, where students were recognized for the letter P, which stands for Problem Solving. Each classroom teacher selects students for both PRIDE and Pencil of Power awards throughout the year. We love celebrating our students for their academic focus and for strong civic behavior. The month concluded with our annual Mathquerade. Many of you attended with your children, dressed in costume and ready for numeracy games. Once again, it was a fabulous fun time.

November begins with Family Conferences and the PTA Book Fair. Family Conferences are an important time to connect with teachers to learn about students’ progress both academically and socially emotionally. You are encouraged to bring any questions or possible concerns to your child’s teacher. Supporting learning is a partnership and your input and support is welcomed.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Marti Shefveland
mshefveland@everettsd.org

Friday, November 1

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

Monday, November 4

• No School for Students. Parent-Teacher Conference

Tuesday, November 5

• No School for Students. Parent-Teacher Conference

Friday, November 8

• Spirit Day: Red, White and Blue Day
• Early Release. Students Dismissed at 1 p.m.

• No School for Students. Veterans Day

Thursday, November 14

• Natural Leaders Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. - Library

• PTA Popcorn Friday
• Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.
• PTA Movie Night @ 5:45 p.m. - Cafeteria/Gym

Monday, November 18

• PTA General Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. - Library

Thursday, November 21

• Student Picture RE-TAKE Day

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

Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29

• No School for Students. Thanksgiving Breaking including Native American Heritage Day

Hello Hard-Working Penny Creek Elementary Students and Families:

Let’s review the P In Penny Creek PRIDE for Problem Solvers and help each other Resolve Conflict Peacefully. It’s not easy having a problem with a friend or with someone you love, but learning how to negotiate conflict is an important social and emotional skill. Conflict is a normal part of interactions between people. Conflict can be a constructive way for us to learn and appreciate differences. We can feel closer to one another when we can solve problems together.

Here are the steps that we can all use to solve problems peacefully:

• Be calm enough to be able to listen deeply (you may need some time apart to deal with your big feelings and then use calming strategies to release them).
• It is important to remember your greatness when you deal with conflict because there are so many good things about each person. I suggest you say 3 good things about yourself. Then the other person can repeat back those good things. Then, do the same for the other person. When you remember your greatness, you can do any hard thing.
• The next step is to say, briefly, what happened, how you felt, and what you want. The other person listens without interrupting. Then, the other person has a chance to share without interruption.
• Can you see it from the other person’s perspective? Nice job!
• Then, you both get to brainstorm some ideas about what you can do from now on: not leave your toothpaste on the other person’s side of the sink? take care of your dishes without reminding? or ask before borrowing something?
• Write down the plan. Will this take care of the problem for the both of you? Then, sign the agreement.
  
  

You have done much to increase your relationship skills by listening, cooperating with others, identifying a problem, analyzing the situation, and solving problems. Afterwards, you may notice feeling lighter and better. The more we do it, the easier it gets for next time.

If your student is a Peer Mediator at PCE he/she received some extra training on how to help other people resolve conflict peacefully.

Here’s a mindful moment that you can share together with your child that can be especially helpful as you breathe through difficult feelings.

Warmly,

Dr. Anana and Mr. Richert
School Counselors

Our PTA Fall Scholastic Book Fair is open now until November 8! Visit the library to shop in person on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or let students shop during recess Wednesday through Friday. Every purchase helps us earn Scholastic Dollars, which go toward new books for our library and classrooms! Plus, you can shop online and enjoy free shipping on orders over $25. Visit our Book Fair page HERE for details!

Join us for our first family movie night of the year on Friday, November 15, in the Penny Creek cafeteria and gym, where we’ll be showing Inside Out 2 and Garfield! Concessions, including popcorn, chips, candy, and drinks, will be available for purchase. Feel free to bring blankets, pillows, and wear your favorite pajamas for extra comfort! Doors open at 5:45 p.m., and the movies start at 6:00 p.m. with a short intermission. Please note, this is not a drop-off event. We’re excited to see you there!

Thank you to everyone who has joined the PTA so far! We’re just 86 members away from our goal of 296 members, and your support in numbers makes a difference. Remember, joining the PTA doesn’t mean you’re obligated to volunteer. If you haven’t yet joined, you can sign up online HERE or email us for a paper form. We also hope to see you at our next PTA General Meeting on Monday, November 18 at 6:00 p.m. in the library.

The Reflections Program is still open for submissions! This year’s theme, “Accepting Imperfection,” encourages students to show their creativity through original works of art in literature, music composition, photography, visual arts, film/video, and choreography/dance. Submit your entry with the entry form by Tuesday, November 12. For more information click HERE or contact Aisha Jordan at canjordan07@gmail.com.

Attention 5th graders! Yearbook cover contest submissions are due Friday, November 8. We can’t wait to see your creativity on this year’s cover!

Yearbooks are available to order now for $15 until December 1, after which the price will go up to $20. Click Here to order online. If you’re unsure if you’ve placed an order already or have questions, email us at pennycreekpta@yahoo.com.

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

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.