Penderlea Weekly Update 12/1

Good evening Penderlea Families,

As we move into the week of December 1st through December 5th, here are some important reminders and updates to help keep your family informed and prepared for the weeks ahead. Thank you for staying connected and involve

Personal Message from Mr. Harris

I wanted to share some exciting personal news with our Penderlea families. My wife and I will be welcoming our first baby at the beginning of January, and I will be taking some time away to spend with my family during this special moment. I will be out for the majority of the month of January and plan to return in February.

During my absence, Dr. Goodlett will serve as acting principal and will be the main point of contact for any questions, concerns, or support you may need. She is an outstanding leader, and I have full confidence in her ability to continue the great work happening at Penderlea.

As we prepare for this transition, you may begin to hear Dr. Goodlett’s voice in messages and communication as early as next week. This will help ensure consistency and a smooth handoff for our families.

Thank you for your support, understanding, and partnership. I am truly grateful for this community and look forward to returning after spending this important time with my growing family.

4th Grade Parents & Students Night – December 3

We invite all 4th grade students and families to join us for a special Parents Night on Tuesday, December 3rd from 5:00–6:00 PM. This event is designed to give families a high-energy, informative look into everything 4th grade has to offer.

During the session, families will learn helpful tips to keep students on track, build confidence, and prepare for a successful school year. You’ll also hear important information about:

Teacher expectations
Grading
Communication
Daily schedule
What to expect in 4th grade\
Testing
Intersession
Families may also join the event virtually using the QR code on the flyer.
We look forward to seeing our 4th grade Hornets and their families for this exciting and informative evening!

Winter II Athlete Parent Meeting

Parents of students who plan to try out for girls basketball or boys soccer this season are asked to attend the Winter II Athlete Parent Meeting on Monday, December 8th at 3:30 PM in Mrs. Umphress’ Room 134.

If you did not attend a parent meeting for a previous sports season this year, attendance at this meeting is required. Important information about tryouts, eligibility, expectations, and schedules will be shared.

Please see the attached flyer for details.

8 Days of Holiday Cheer – Spirit Days Leading to Break

Get ready to celebrate the season—our 8 Days of Holiday Cheer are coming up as we count down to winter break! Each day will feature a fun spirit theme to bring some holiday joy to the halls of Penderlea.

A flyer with all of the daily themes will be included so families can plan ahead and help students participate.

Let’s come together to spread holiday cheer and finish the semester with joy, excitement, and plenty of Hornet spirit!

Million Minute Read to Succeed Challenge – HEADING INTO THE FINAL WEEK

Our Hornets are continuing to make great progress in the Million Minute Read to Succeed Challenge! Here are the latest grade-level totals:

Kindergarten: 88 minutes
1st Grade: 230 minutes
2nd Grade: 716 minutes
3rd Grade: 4,627 minutes
4th Grade: 1,633 minutes
5th Grade: 1,064 minutes
6th Grade: 711 minutes
7th Grade: 774 minutes
8th Grade: 89 minutes

Biggest Growth This Week

The following grade levels showed the largest increases since last week:

7th Grade: +494 minutes
3rd Grade: +303 minutes
6th Grade: +60 minutes

We are proud of all our students who continue to read and log their minutes—it’s exciting to see the growth across all grade levels!

This is the final week to enter minutes, and we encourage families to help students read at home and get every minute counted.

Winter Intersession for All – December 15–18

We’re excited to announce Winter Intersession for All, a new opportunity for every K–8 student to participate in extra learning and enrichment before the holiday break!

Winter Intersession will take place December 15–18, and every student will receive an invitation to attend. The goal is to provide academic support and enrichment opportunities for all students who want or need it.

Letters and flyers went home with progress reports. Families are asked to return their responses by December 5 to help us plan effectively.

We look forward to offering this expanded opportunity for all our Hornets to learn, grow, and finish the semester strong!

Holidays Around the World & Winter Concert

Join us on Thursday, December 9th, from 5:30–7:00 PM for Penderlea’s Holidays Around the World celebration!

This student-led event will showcase traditions, foods, and celebrations from cultures across the globe, giving our Hornets the opportunity to lead, teach, and share what they’ve learned with families and guests.

The evening will also feature our Winter Concert, highlighting performances from Penderlea students as we celebrate the season together through music and learning.

To help make the event even more meaningful, families are invited to bring a dish that represents their culture or heritage. A sign-up link will be included in this email for anyone interested in contributing food for our cultural tasting table.

https://bit.ly/PLSHolidays

More information is included in the attached flyer. We can’t wait to see our families on campus for this special night of culture, community, and celebration!

Holiday Movie & Popcorn Mix Donations

We are collecting snack donations for our upcoming PBIS Holiday Movie and Popcorn Mix celebration happening next week! Families are welcome to donate items such as pretzels, mini marshmallows, M&Ms, or any other snack that can be used as a mix-in.

Please send in donations by Tuesday, December 3rd so we can determine which grade levels may need additional support. Students can turn in items to their homeroom teacher.

Athletic Weekly Update

Monday December 1st- Away Girls Soccer and Boys Basketball game vs Cape Fear Middle School
Wednesday December 3rd- Boy’s Basketball Semi-Finals(information announced after Monday’s Game)
Thursday December 4th- Girl’s Soccer Semi-Finals(information announced after Monday’s Game)

***All soccer games begin at 4:15 PM and basketball games begin at 4:30 PM***

Hornet Holiday Store – December 2nd–9th

The Penderlea Beta Club is excited to host our annual Hornet Holiday Store from December 2nd–9th, open daily from 7:30 AM–2:00 PM in Room 211!

Students will have the opportunity to shop for affordable holiday gifts for family members, with items priced between $1–$5. This is a fun and meaningful way for students to experience the joy of giving during the holiday season.

A flyer with details is included. We can’t wait to see our Hornets participating in this special tradition!

Mid-Year Assessments This Week

This week, students will participate in important Middle of Year assessments that help us monitor progress and guide instruction for the second half of the year.

Middle School students will complete their iReady Middle of Year Diagnostics.
Elementary students will take their mClass Middle of Year assessments, which help measure growth in literacy skills.

These assessments provide valuable information about each student’s progress and help teachers plan the support and enrichment students need to grow.

Thank you for ensuring your child gets plenty of rest and arrives on time each day. Your partnership helps set our Hornets up for success!

December Cafeteria Menus

Our December breakfast and lunch menus are now available! These menus include all of the delicious meal options students can look forward to this month.

The menus are attached to this message for your convenience. Please take a moment to review them with your child to help plan ahead for the school day.