February 2022
Check out all the wonderful happenings at Penn-Delco in this February newsletter. And look for our Penn-Delco Proud newsletter which will arrive in your mailbox next week.
New additions to our administrative staff
John Paul Roskos, new Sun Valley Principal
Christa Palladino, new Pennell Elementary Principal
It is with Penn-Delco Pride that we introduce our two new administrators in the District. We were fortunate to have a large crop of candidates interested in administrative positions in Penn-Delco.

John Paul Roskos will begin his stint at Sun Valley late March as the new Principal. A former teacher and administrator in the Philadelphia School District, Roskos brings experience, enthusiasm, and ideas to his new leadership position. You can read more about Mr. Roskos here.

Christa Palladino hails from the Upper Darby and Marple Newtown School Districts, most recently as an assistant principal at Marple Newtown High School.
Palladino, too, is an experienced educator whose commitment to her students and their families was clearly evident in the interview process. You can read more about Mrs. Palladino here. We are thrilled to welcome them both to the District and will share information with Sun Valley and Pennell Elementary parents soon about their first days in their schools.
Continued progress in SVHS construction projects
Our improvements at Sun Valley High School continue, with the weight room complete with additional cardio and strength equipment scheduled to arrive later this year. Lockers should be installed this spring while we break ground on the expansion that will create a new wing for the band and chorus classes. The auditorium renovation is well on its way, with an expected completion by late spring as well.
Construction continues in the Sun Valley Auditorium with a completion date this Spring.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration for new students will be in late March. Parents can expect to register completely online with an opportunity to meet with principals and tour schools in the spring. Stay tuned for more information the last week of March at pdsd.org/kreg.
Snow Day Update
For this current school year, PDSD has used 2 of its 4 inclement weather days. Two remain. We may utilize up to 5 Flexible Instruction Days (should we exceed these 4 days) before having to "make up" any lost time at the end of the school year. We continue to recommend that families ensure their children continue to bring their Chromebooks home each night in the event that a Flexible Instruction Day or a virtual learning day is necessary this winter.
Instructional Calendar for 2022-2023 approved
The instructional calendar for the next school year was approved by the Board of School Directors at their regular meeting January 26, 2022. This calendar includes 183 student and 191 teacher days as well as district holidays and other dismissals. Additional schedules pertaining to individual schools for examinations and other reasons are communicated by school principals during the school year and are not reflected on this calendar. Get more information and the link to the calendar at our website.
National School Counseling Week
We celebrate National School Counseling Week beginning today, February 7th, with gratitude for an excellent counseling staff in Penn-Delco. In honor of their important work, we've produced a series of features that demonstrate the professionalism and care our counselors provide to all of our families.
Watch the first in the series NOW then return to pdsd.org to learn more about our counseling team in the month of February.
American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER Funds:
Have you taken the survey?
In response to the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has caused over the past two years, school districts throughout the country have been awarded emergency relief funding from the federal government. While some of those funds have been spent on costs previously incurred (for example, the purchase of 1:1 Chromebooks, PPE/health safety items, and academic interventionists, etc.),  Penn-Delco has also been awarded separate funds through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 that may be used in the next two school years. Funds are designated for one-time or short-term expenditures.

Key purposes of the ARP funds are to address potential student learning loss, academic acceleration and recovery, improvements to facilities and safety, mental health needs of students, and additional operational and instructional supports for schools. ARP funds may not be used to defray the cost of existing expenses (like staffing).

We'd like all families to provide feedback on the preferred, best uses of these funds. The district will give significant consideration to stakeholder input from staff, parents, and residents. If you haven't already, kindly respond to this short survey so we may make the most informed decisions on the future expenditure of this limited federal grant. 
Honoring Black History Month
Check out the many ways our Penn-Delco teachers and librarians are integrating ways to honor Black History Month on twitter and in our schools. We will also be celebrating Great Black Educators in American History via twitter and on our website celebrating those who have advanced the interests of Black Americans both in and out of the classroom.
Your next board meeting
Your Penn-Delco Board of School Directors will hold their monthly Study Session this month on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30pm in the Service Center. The monthly Board meeting is on Wednesday, February 23 at 7:30pm. These are in-person meetings that are filmed and posted within one week on the Penn-Delco YouTube channel. Go to pdsd.org/board for all the information you need on your Board of School Directors as well as for agendas and other board materials. You can view the last meeting at our Board section as well or at our Penn-Delco YouTube channel.
Work at Penn-Delco
The District is currently hiring for support and professional staff positions. We welcome you to explore opportunities at our hiring site and share those opportunities with qualified individuals who would like to work with us. We appreciate the outpouring of support during our campaign to fill bus drivers and coaches early this year. We continue to search for other qualified individuals to work with our excellent team at Penn-Delco, including for Substitute Teachers (email ntyre@pdsd.org) and Health Room Nurses.