PAS WEEKLY UPDATE WEEK OF March 12, 2018 Mr. Farrell, Principal Upcoming Events Annual Talent Show (7PM) & Hoagie Dinner (5:30PM) Thursday, March 15th Early Dismissal Day (Noon) & Krispy Kreme Donut Fundraiser for Robotics Friday, March 16th Interim Reports (5th-8th Grades) Monday, March 19th School Advisory Council (SAC) March Meeting Tuesday, March 20th 4:30-6PM Winter Clubs Ends Thursday, March 22nd HSA Skating Party Fri. March 23rd 6:40-8:40PM Dress Down Day ($1) Wednesday, March 28th Spring Break Thursday, March 29th Monday, April 2nd The Penn Alexander Student Council invites all members of our community to join us on Wednesday, March 14th to say #ENOUGH, as we show support for the National School Walkout to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools. The national movement views this work as part of an ongoing and decades-long movement for gun violence prevention, in honor of all victims of gun violence ㅡ from James Brady to Trayvon Martin to the 17 people killed in Parkland. On Wed., March 14th at 10AM, students in 5th-8th grades will lead a march around the block, similar to our annual September Peace March. The walkout will conclude at 10:15AM, when our K-4 students will join us on our field to create a large peace sign with our community. If you plan to take your student out of school on March 14th to participate in another event, please sign them out in the main office. Upcoming HSA Election Our Home and School Association will be electing new officers this Spring for the 18-19 & 19-20 school-years. Please check out the flier included and complete a nomination form for yourself, or someone you believe would make a positive addition to our HSA leadership. Ice Skating Party (RESCHEDLED) The Home and School Association (HSA) has rescheduled the Ice Skating Party for Fri., March 23rd 6:40-8:40PM. Upcoming Equity Circle Event HSA Nominations Forms Due Tuesday, April 3rd The PAS Equity Circle will host a workshop Gentrification in Philadelphia: Then and Now on Tuesday, March 27th at 6PM. See flier included.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 440 NORTH BROAD STREET, SUITE 301 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19130 WILLIAM R. HITE, JR., Ed.D. SUPERINTENDENT March 6, 2018 Dear Parents and Guardians: In light of the most recent school shooting tragedy in Florida, students across the nation are trying to find constructive ways to deal with the aftermath of this horrific event. As a result, on March 14 students from all across the country are planning to walk out of school for 17 minutes in solidarity with the Florida students, to call for improved gun control laws, and to bring awareness to the issue of gun violence in communities and schools. In concert with the national movement, students who choose to walk out will be provided an opportunity to gather in a designated area, so that any walkouts will take place in an organized and safe manner. However, schools will neither encourage nor discourage student walkouts, nor will we prevent students from participating or discipline them if they do. Regular activities will continue during the walkout, and students participating are expected to re-enter the building following the walkout. We recognize that there are widely held and differing opinions about how the nation should react to this tragedy, and know that some students may not want to participate in a walkout and would prefer to stay in class. We want to assure our students and families that we will make certain all students feel safe and respected, no matter what they choose to do. As always, the safety of our students is our top priority. As a school district, we encourage our students to be actively engaged citizens who are knowledgeable about current events. This can be a learning opportunity that helps our students apply lessons that they are learning in school. Above all, we want them to know we value their voices and their right to self-expression. To that end, we have provided resources for school leaders to organize in-school events and/or activities that allow students to express their opinions and ideas that will complement the walk-out event or as an alternative while ensuring their safety. This incident underlines the need for all of us, as a school community, to work together to ensure the safety of our school and our neighborhood. Please take the time to speak to your children about the serious consequences of bringing any type of weapon to school. It is important that children know that if they need help or have a concern regarding their own personal safety to please contact a school staff member or a police officer immediately. Supporting our children with positive and open conversations is crucial in helping them deal with uncertainty. Please remember that if your child sees something, say something! There are two ways to report: Call: 215-400-SAFE or Email: ask@philasd.org We will continue to create the safest and most positive learning environments possible for your children. Sincerely, William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D.
PAS & HSA proudly presents The 15 th Annual Talent Show Show Tickets Available Thursday March 15 Limited seating event. Showtime 7pm ---------------------------------TEAR HERE--------------------------------------------- ORDERS FILLED UNTIL EVENT IS SOLD OUT. TICKETS WILL BE SENT HOME SAME DAY. STUDENT NAME TEACHER NAME PARENT NAME PARENT PH# PARENT EMAIL Number of Tickets: X $10 ea. = TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENT ENCLOSED: $ Tickets will be sent home same day. LIMITED SALES AT DOOR
Friday, March 16 Dance-a-thon for Gift of Life in honor the memory of our former student Christopher Mullen All Students in Grades 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, and 4 th 11:15-12:00 in the Gym All proceeds collected will benefit Christopher s Crusaders 5K Team. We ask that students donate $2. Please send in donation by Friday, March 16 th Students Name Room Number $2 Donation
Donuts for Robotics! Help raise money to send the Robotics Team to Michigan On Friday, March 16, Penn Alexander will be delivering Krispy Kreme donuts. The money raised will be used to support the Robotics team s competition in Michigan! Each dozen costs $10.00 Donut reservations must be made by Wednesday, March 14! Donuts can be picked up before school outside the cafeteria on Friday, March 16 th. Any unclaimed, reserved dozens will be sent home with students by day s end. Please return this document to your child s homeroom teacher. Parent s Name: Student s Name: Homeroom: I would like to reserve dozen donuts. Total Enclosed $ I plan to pick up my donuts before school Friday, March 16 th. Please send donuts home with my child at day s end.
Donuts for Robotics! Help raise money to send the Robotics Team to Michigan $1 On Friday, March 16, Penn Alexander will be selling single Krispy Kreme donuts. The money raised will be used to support the Robotics team s competition in Michigan! Bring in your $1 on Friday to buy a donut!
FREE KICK-OFF EVENT: HOW DO WE KNOW? An Afternoon of Learning and Fun in the Penn Museum SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1:00 4:00 PM ALL AGES How do we know what we know? The Penn Museum invites you to explore scientific inquiry in this fun, FREE event for all ages. Learn through hands-on science and archaeology activities and games, short gallery talks by curators, a scavenger hunt, touchable artifacts, and more! For a full schedule of the day s events, visit bit.ly/teachinpm Explore Archaeological Science: Study ancient materials under the microscope or with a 3D scanner. Investigate metals, animal bones, ancient plants and ceramics. Learn how trees can be calendars. Try Experimental Archaeology: Weave on a replica loom and write on clay tablets. Plus: Join Pop-Up Curator Talks in the Galleries, touch replica artifacts at Cartifact stations, and test your skills at a modern/ancient objects matching game as well as a museum-wide scavenger hunt! MARCH 18-22 TEACH-IN Production, Dissemination, and Use of Knowledge How Do We Know? An Afternoon of Learning and Fun in the Penn Museum is the kickoff event to the five-day multi-disciplinary University of Pennsylvania Teach-In on the Production, Dissemination, and Use of Knowledge, organized by Penn s Faculty Senate. The first university-wide program of this type in a half-century, the Teach-In is open to students, faculty and the community. More details and the full schedule of events is available at: www.upenn.edu/teachin. 3260 South Street, Philadelphia 215.898.4000 www.penn.museum
Penn Alexander School Advisory Council (SAC) The Penn Alexander School Advisory Council (SAC) is comprised of peer-elected stakeholders including parents, staff and community members. The SAC is a forum for discussion and collaboration with the PAS administration on school-based decision making with a focus on student achievement and school improvement. Our next meeting of the school-year will be held Tuesday, March 20, 2018 4:30-6PM. The SAC meetings are public meetings that are open to all families and community members. The first thirty minutes of each meeting is reserved for family or community members to address the SAC in a public forum, each speaker will be given three minutes to speak. If you wish to speak at a SAC meeting, please email SAC Chairperson, Jessica McCollum at tjmccollum@gmail.com by 3:30PM on the day before the meeting. If you are not able to attend, you can submit a public testimony that will be shared with all SAC members. To learn more about Penn Alexander s SAC and review a list of SAC members, please visit our SAC website- https://pennalexander.philasd.org/school-advisory-council/ Agenda Item March Meeting Agenda March 20, 2018 4:30-6PM Time Estimate 1 Open Forum 30 minutes 2 Approval of minutes from February 2017 SAC Meeting 5 minutes 3 Principal Report/ Strategic Planning Process Update 10 minutes 4 SAC Homework Policy Working Group Update 5 minutes 5 School & Community Safety Discussion (Student Council) 15 minutes 6 18-19 Budget Proposal & Discussion 20 minutes 7 April/May/June Meeting Dates & April Meeting Agenda 5 minutes
SIXTH ANNUAL WEAR SOMETHING MUSICAL DAY! WHEN: Thursday March 22nd WHERE: PAS WHY: WE SUPPORT MUSIC!! J WE LOVE MUSIC!! IDEAS??? Be Creative: Musical Symbols on jewelry Make a music tee-shirt Make a hat Wear a pin
Re-Scheduled Penn Alexander HSA Family Skating & Pizza Party New date : Friday, March 23, 2018 New rink time : 6:40 p.m. 8:40 p.m. (Doors open at 6:15 p.m.) Penn Class of 1923 Rink, 3130 Walnut Street $8.00 in advance / $10.00 at the door Price includes one admission & skate rental. Parking pass provided in advance with prepayment of tickets. Pizza, drinks, and snacks will be sold at the rink. Return the bottom of this form with cash or check (made out to PAS HSA) in the Pony or to the Main Office by Wednesday, March 21, 2018. You can also purchase tickets online at https://www.pennalexanderschool.org. Check in at the rink entrance no admission tickets will be distributed. Questions? Contact Karen ( karenstach@yahoo.com ) or Jessica ( jjreta76@yahoo.com ) If you already bought tickets for the canceled March 2 event and want to attend on March 23, you are all set and don t need to do anything. Just show up! If you bought tickets for the canceled March 2 event and can no longer attend, email HSA Treasurer Leila Graham-Willis ( lgw215@hotmail.com ) to either donate your payment to support the students of PAS or receive a refund. _ Student first & last name: Room/Teacher Name Contact email: Contact Phone #: Number of SKATING tickets: x $8.00 = Total enclosed: $ Parking Pass Needed? This fundraiser is sponsored by the Penn Alexander Home and School Association.
Calling All Artists!!! Do you have an idea for this year s Annual PAS 5K Run for the Arts and Science T-Shirt? Submit your designs to Mr. DiMatties in Room 310 no later than Friday, March 23rd!