April 2022
Check out all the wonderful happenings at Penn-Delco in this April newsletter. Look for our Penn-Delco Proud newsletter in May!
Sun Valley and Pennell Welcome New Principals
Our two new administrators started at Penn-Delco the week of March 21. Mr. John Paul Roskos (Sun Valley) and Mrs. Christa Palladino (Pennell Elementary) have enjoyed meeting with many staff, students and parents so far and look forward to getting to know everyone in their school communities. We welcome them to the Penn-Delco family.
Final phase of SVHS construction ahead
As the new renovated Sun Valley auditorium opens its doors, our construction company will pivot toward demolition of our music wing. Band and Chorus classrooms will be closed for the remainder of the year while the upgrades continue. We expect for our music students to begin the 2022- 2023 school year in new classrooms.

The weight room lockers are now installed! Our athletes are once again able to utilize lockers at Sun Valley.
Mask optional: a success story
We are grateful for the understanding and care that we've seen demonstrated between those teachers, staff and students who choose to wear masks and those who do not. The transition has been seamless and we thank parents and all of the Penn-Delco Community for respecting the personal choice to wear or not to wear a mask while COVID infections and hospitalizations in the region continue to fall.
Kindergarten Registration is NOW OPEN
Kindergarten Registration opened on March 22. Families can now officially register for the 2022-2023 Kindergarten classes. Register by April 22 to be included in the selection for morning/afternoon K preference. Go to pdsd.org/kreg to register today.
Concerts and Creations
We are thrilled to announce that our concerts and art shows will be in-person events at the schools this year! Be sure to check out dates for our chorus and band concerts as well as art shows across the District. We offer our students wonderful opportunities to participate in the arts during the school day culminating in Concerts and Creations.
Elementary students have an out of this world experience
Learn about a wonderful program that Mrs. Cynthia Kravitz designed for all Pennell Elementary students in grades K - 5. She then shared with All Seminar Students grades 2 - 5 in Aston, Coebourn and Parkside! Students were thrilled to have an opportunity to learn about the Artemis space program whose goal is to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars! Watch now at our Penn-Delco YouTube channel. Also, get more information on the Artemis program at NASA's site.
American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER Funds:
UPDATE
Thank you (to the more than 700 respondents!) who provided input via our survey on final planned expenditures for federal grant funds from the American Rescue Plan allotment. Consistent and correlating with findings from the district’s previous Comprehensive Plan surveys, respondents listed Personalized Learning, Social and Mental Health Supports, Individualized Academic Supports, and Instructional Technology as high priority areas. Community input is used to update the district’s planned uses of these one-time federal funds to assist school districts with remediation and response following the COVID-19 years of schooling. We value your input!
Penn-Delco and the community working together
A #penndelcoproud thank you to our entire community of Aston, Brookhaven and Parkside as well as the GIANT Company for working together to help those students who may be experiencing food insecurity. The Aston and Brookhaven Giant stores collected funds from patrons who agreed to "round up" --to the tune of over $10,000. Aston Giant manager Courtney Zaleski joined Superintendent Dr. George Steinhoff, Sun Valley Principal John Paul Roskos and some of our cafeteria staff to memorialize the contribution. Thank you to the entire community for a worthwhile partnership.
Career and Technical Education Opportunities
Penn-Delco School District is expanding the Career & Technical Education opportunities for students at Sun Valley High School. Currently, students participate in career and technical education programs at the two Delaware County Area Career and Technical Schools.

Students of 11th & 12th grade are now eligible to participate in the following Delaware County Community College dual enrollment career and technical programs for the 2022-2023 school year: Carpentry, Electrical, and Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC). Students who successfully complete these programs will earn college credit in addition to SVHS credit.

For more information, please reference the SVHS Course Catalog Guide or contact your guidance counselor. In addition, there will be brief webinar on April 20th and a scheduled tour for students who are interested. More details will be communicated to SVHS students soon.
PSSA Testing in April and May
PSSA testing for grades 3 - 8 is in April and May. Please make sure your student is rested and arrives ready for the PSSA testing weeks. English Language Arts is April 25 - 29, 2022. Mathematics, Science and Makeups are May 2 - 13, 2022. Follow information from your elementary and middle school and go to our website at pdsd.org/pssa for more information.
Student Safety: Prom and Dance Season
Sun Valley students are enjoying the beginning of prom and dance season which began last week. The Junior Prom was held on Friday, April 1 at the Camden Aquarium. A combined Freshman and Sophomore Dance has been announced for Friday, April 29. And lastly, the Senior Prom will be held at the Dupont Country Club on Friday, May 13.
See more information about how you can keep your student safe at the Sun Valley website.
Your next board meeting
Your Penn-Delco Board of School Directors will hold their monthly Study Session this month on Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30pm in the Service Center. The monthly Board meeting is on Wednesday, April 27 at 7:30pm. Board of School Director meetings (not study sessions) 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.