Penn Manor School District is again accepting nominations for an Outstanding Educator and Outstanding Employee of the year.  If you are interested in nominating a teacher or staff member, please see below for more information. Thank you!

Outstanding Educator Award Nomination

Outstanding Employee Award Nomination

More information from Dr. Leichliter and the district can be found here.

Hello First Grade families!  Another snow day is on the way.  Penn Manor is CLOSED for Wednesday, January 22.  Our early dismissal will move to Thursday, Jan. 23.  The early dismissal will still be at 1:30 on Thursday (day 1….bring sneakers!).

I spent today relaxing, doing some laundry, reading some magazines, napping, and watching college basketball.  What are you doing to pass the time?  Send me an email or comment to share your snow day activities!

I hope you are all having fun family time!  This “cabin fever” can be stressful for families, but can also be a joyous time being together.  Stay warm and safe!

Please note….this will now add to the end of the school year.  It looks like our last day of school will be on MONDAY, June 9.

Good morning!  We are closed today in anticipation of a large snowfall coming later.  Reminder from the phone call and posting from Dr. Leichliter:

• The secondary inservice day and elementary early dismissal will move to Wednesday, January 22, 2014.  Therefore, students in grades 7-12 will not have school on Wednesday and students in grades K-6 will have a 1:30 early dismissal on Wednesday as opposed to Tuesday.
• IMPORTANT NOTE: The last built in make-up day, Monday, April 21, 2014, will be used for this cancellation.  Considering it is only mid-January we still have a lot of winter to go.  School days in the event of future cancellations will be added to the calendar in June so be careful in planning your summer vacation since school will likely move into the second week of June.

I am hoping that our school year will end as scheduled, but that will be up to Mother Nature of course!  Enjoy your extra-long extended weekend and I will plan to see you all on Wednesday, Day 1 (phys. ed.!).  Then Thursday will be back to day 5 (book exchange) and our regular cycle day schedule.

Today Hambright students were treated to a super cool awesome amazing assembly…. We had a real cartoonist come do short presentations.  His name is Duane Abel, cartoonist of Zed!  Check out the link below for more information.  

What job would you like to have when you grow up?   Do you remember the 4 words Duane told you to make that happen?

W_____
S _____
L _____
T _____

Click Zed for his site!

School is now closed for today (Wednesday, Jan. 7).  I hope everyone is safe and warm on this bitter day.

Looking for something to do indoors?  Other than the stand-bys of reading, writing a story (or email), drawing, practicing math facts….Click this link for some great indoor activities!  Trying #12 would be a funny one on this day.  And if you want to try #15, my SKYPE name is MarticSzentesy.  

Due to the snow cancellation on Friday, January 3, school will be in session March 28.  Here are the details of the revised calendar, including changes that were announced earlier:

Friday, January 17, 2014 – School is in session for the full day.

Monday, January 20, 2014 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: NO SCHOOL.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 – Secondary in-service day.  NO SCHOOL FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.  Elementary students will be in school with a 1:30 early dismissal.  No PM Kindergarten. (make-up day 1 from November day off)

Friday, February 14, 2014 – School is in session for all students.  (make-up day from December snow day)

Friday, March 28, 2014 – School is in session for all students. (make-up day from January 3)

As you most likely already know, we are operating on a 2-hour delay tomorrow (Tuesday, January 7).  We are hoping to still get a day in, but the cold temps will determine that… It will be a day 3, so please have your sneakers for Phys. Ed.!   

Penn Manor is now CLOSED today.  Enjoy the day off, play games with the family, snuggle up with a good book(s), write me a story (or comment on the blog here!).  

Abbreviated weekly (daily?) newsletter: We had a fun day back yesterday.  It is so nice to be greeted with smiles and warm hugs after a 12-day break!  During our class meeting, students each shared 1 of their favorite gift items, and 1 fun thing that happened.  It was great hearing about their holiday break.   It sounds like all of my leaders were on the nice list!  We had a few visits from the tooth fairy, some pierced ears, and many fun family experiences shared.

In language arts, students heard a new big book “Fireflies, Fireflies, Light My Way,” learned new spelling words (with the “ch/tch” digraph), and read from their new StoryTown books.  In math, we reviewed adding doubles and learned to use doubles to subtract.  They also played a game on the mimio.  For writing, we discussed new years’ resolutions.  Each first grader came up with a goal/resolution for the new year.  I was impressed with the thought process used when generating their individual goals.  Also, who could forget another “Pete the Cat” book!  The new one we read was about his “COOL, BLUE, MAGIC Sunglasses!”  Click this link for more fun!

Next week:
Monday:  Day 2 – Music
Tuesday:  Day 3 – Phys. Ed.
Wednesday:  Day 4 – Art, also an artist assembly 
Thursday:  Day 5 – Book Exchange, Miss Szentesy is not teaching.  I will be assessing students today for the end of the marking period tests 
Friday:  Day 6 – Music, Scholastic book orders due (they will now come home on MONDAY!) 

As of now, we are on a 2-hour delay tomorrow (Friday, January 3).  Reminder that there is no breakfast served on delay mornings.

I have my fingers crossed to still come in and get at least PART of a day in.  If so, parents please make sure you dress your children warmly.  Temperatures look bitter cold!  I’ll update later if the day is cancelled.