Penn Alexander School Week of September 11 PAS WEEKLY pennalexander.philasd.org | Mr. Farrell, Principal | 215-400-7760 Upcoming Events: Back to School Nights (Sept. 12th & 13th) Back to School Night (Grades 1-5) All parents/families are asked to join your Wed., Sept. 12th 6PM child’s classroom teacher at Back to School Night on the following date: Back to School Night (Middle School) Grades 1-5, Wed., Sept. 12th 6PM Thur., Sept. 13th 6PM Grade 6-Thur., Sept. 13th 6-7PM Home & School Association (HSA) Meeting Grades 7& 8-Thur., Sept. 13th 7-8PM Mon., Sept. 17th 8:45AM & 6PM Enter building through front entrance. Yom Kippur, School Closed Wednesday, September 19th Box Tops Collection International Peace Day Last year, PAS earned over $1,000 Friday, September 21st in Box Tops. Start Pretzel Friday ($1) & collecting now, and send Dress Down Day ($1) them to school. Friday, September 21st Interim Reports (Grades 4-8) Monday, October 1st e-Pony launches September 11th Winter Coat Drive Begins Monday, October 1st Beginning September 11th, all families who create a PAS MySchool Anywhere account will automatically receive an email the first day of High School Info Night the week with a link to access our weekly Pony materials. (8th Grade Families) Tuesday, October 2nd, 6-7PM Your family can choose NOT to receive our paper Pony materials each week, by OPTING-OUT using Noon Dismissal the the link below. PAS will continue to send home Friday, October 5th paper copies of forms/slips that need to be returned. Fall Festival Thursday, October 11th https://tinyurl.com/PonyOptOut !1 Penn Alexander School Week of September 11 Please join us! Interested in volunteering at PAS? Check out the MySchool Anywhere Application and click on “Sign-Ups” to volunteer. Currently sign-ups are available General Meeting of the HSA to support with the Lunchroom, upcoming Pretzel Fridays, and Middle School trips. First meeting of the 2018–2019 school year, offered at two times, morning and evening: ‘18-’19 Student Handbook Our PAS ‘18-’19 Student Monday, Handbook is now available on our school’s website September 17 under the “For Families” section under “Policies Morning meeting: and Procedures”. If you 8:45–9:45AM would like a paper copy, please request a copy in Evening meeting: our main office. In 6:00–7:00PM addition, the School District of Philadelphia’s Student Code of Conduct can be accessed with the link below. Students in PAS Lunchroom (enter via the grades 5-8 will receive a paper copy and are asked to sign blacktop on 43rd Street). and return. Topic: How can I volunteer? https://tinyurl.com/SDPStudentCode Information will be available on the many ways to help the PAS community. Find out more about the committees and school events that need your help to be successful. Meet the HSA Board. 56% of Students Signed Up! Are you? Sign up to be a room parent. To date 56% of our families have created an account on the PAS Learn more about the My School MySchool Anywhere Application. Access our calendar, family Anywhere app. online directory, and volunteer sign-ups. Register: join.myschoolanywhere.com Invitation Code: sadiesadie !2 September 2018 Dear Parents: Welcome to another great year at Penn Alexander! PAS is a community of engaged families, teachers, and administrators who all strive to give our children the best education possible — one that has earned our school a prestigious National Blue Ribbon award and recognition as the Philadelphia School District’s highest-performing K-8 School. The Home and School Association of Penn Alexander School is an important partner with the school. The HSA is made up of you - the hard-working parents and caregivers who support the ​ school through fundraising and volunteerism. Our goal is to help maintain an exceptional neighborhood school that provides the best possible learning environment for our children. What the HSA does: ● Raises money for school programming — including the school’s full-time art teacher, Mrs. Durant, and after-school clubs ● Promotes school spirit and community involvement through special events, such as the Ice Cream Social, Bingo Night, and the 5K Run for Art & Science ● Supports teachers and staff by helping meet classroom needs (reimbursing them for classroom supplies they buy out-of-pocket) and recognizing accomplishments ● Helps keep parents informed of school activities and news ● Secures volunteers for key school activities such as class trips, school events, and more We can provide this support in part because of donations from you. Our goal for this school ​ year is to raise $150,000, with 100% of Penn Alexander families contributing. In order to ​ maintain the current level of programming and to meet our fundraising commitments, we are asking for $100 per student. We ask all families to give what they can, understanding that not ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ everyone is able to give at all times. In past years, individual donations have ranged from $10 to $6,000. Every donation of time and money counts, including the support PAS gets from you — ​ ​ our dedicated families — along with local businesses and organizations, relatives, alumni, and neighbors. Please return the pledge form (on the reverse side of this letter) with a check or donate online ​ ​ at www.pennalexander.org. ​ ​ Thank you for your commitment to maintaining a high-quality, sought-after neighborhood ​ public school that reflects the diversity of the city. We look forward to another terrific year for the students! The 2018–19 HSA Board Leila Graham-Willis, President Roseann Liu, Treasurer Karla Thut, VP of the Upper School Gina Bittner, Media Manager Rotonya Carr, Co-VP of the Lower School Angela Curry, Volunteer Coordinator Hannah Sassaman, Co-VP of the Lower School Jim Dugan, Room Parent Coordinator Elizabeth Johnson, Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________________ 2018 - 2019 Family Giving Donations to the Home & School Association support academic and extracurricular programs at Penn Alexander. Where did my dollars go last year? ​ ➤ Enrichment: Full-time art teacher * After-school programs * Music education ​ ​ ➤ Teacher Support: Books and supplies * Staff appreciation * Professional development ​ ​ ➤ Building Community: Equity Circle * Ice cream social * BINGO night * Fall Festival ​ ​ ➤ Facilities: Gardening * Playground repair * School grounds renovation ​ ​ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Suggested Donation: $100 per student Goal: Participation from 100% of Penn Alexander families. We are grateful for any donation. All amounts are welcome. ​ ​ ​ We ask for 100% participation from PAS families to show our support and commitment to our school, teachers, administrators, staff, and our children. My donation: ⬜ $10 ⬜ $50 ⬜ $100 (suggested per student) ​ ​ ​ ​ ⬜ $25 ⬜ $75 ⬜ $500 ​ ​ ​ ⬜ Other $ ____________ ​ Ways to Give: ​ ➤ Check: Enclose a check with this form (please make checks payable to “PAS HSA”) and return in your child’s PONY ​ ​ ​ ➤ Cash: Enclose cash with this form and return in your child’s PONY ​ ​ ​ ➤ Online: Donate online at https://www.pennalexanderschool.org/ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ➤ Other online options: PayPal (Penn Alexander Home and School Association); Venmo (@PennAlexanderHSA) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ➤ Stock transfer: Please contact Roseanne Liu ([email protected]) for more information ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Contact Info: My name: _______________________________________ My email: _______________________________________ My Student(s): Name: ______________________________________________ Room Number: __________ Name: ______________________________________________ Room Number: __________ Name: ______________________________________________ Room Number: __________ VOLUNTEER! Calling all volunteers! Please get involved. Penn Alexander relies on the time, effort, and talents of our families. Whether you can serve on a committee, volunteer at an event, serve as a room parent, donate a skill or talent, or help out during lunch or recess, we want you and we need you! ______ Yes, I would like to be contacted by the HSA Volunteer Coordinator to learn more about how I can help. THANK YOU! We Are Not Alone; Annenberg School of Communication. Penn Museum Tours Gallery Tours; Saturdays-Sundays, September 1:30 p.m.; Pepper Hall; free with admis- A T P E N N sion; info: www.penn.museum/visit/tours Wherever this symbol appears, more images are available on our website, Global Guides public tours; Sat- www.upenn.edu/almanac/at-penn-calendar urdays-Sundays, 2:30 p.m.; free with admission. Slought: free; Tues.-Fri., noon- ACADEMIC CALENDAR 5 p.m.; slought.org FILMS Van Pelt-Dietrich Library: free; 3 Labor Day (no classes). hours: http://tinyurl.com/hwd74bp 14 In the Name of Peace, screening and 17 Course Selection Period ends. Wistar: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. discussion with director Maurice Fitzpat- rick; 5 p.m.; rm. 401, Fisher-Bennett Hall CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES Upcoming (Cinema Studies). 1 Water and Solitude; photographs by 27 10 Drawings For Projection (1989- I-House Family Matinée Ed Stemmler; Burrison Gallery; 2011); features work from artist William $5 (ages 2+), free/IHP members. reception: September 7, 5 p.m. Through Kentridge; 6 p.m.; Arthur Ross Gallery. October 9. Tickets: ihousephilly.org International House (I-House) Center. Annenberg Photo courtesy of 9 Tales from Earthsea; animated 4 Truth & Image; artwork that absorbs, Circa, Australia’s bold, contemporary circus troupe, at Annenberg Center. See On captivates, transfxes and