Penrose Elementary December 2021 Newsletter

December 2021

Penrose Elementary School

Be Your Best Self!

719-372-6777

Michelle Lesser - Principal

mlesser@re-2.org

Joe DeSalvo - Counselor

jdesalvo@re-2.org

Growing a Destination District with Intent, Purpose, and Pride!

Visit our Website

December Dates to Remember

Dec 3rd: Beaver of the Month Announced

Week of Dec 13: Ask teachers if they have classroom party plans.

Dec 14th: 6th Grade Band Concert at the JR/SR High @ 7:00

Dec 15th: 6th Grade Choir concert at the JR/SR High @ 7:00

Holiday Dec 17th return Jan 4th

Monday, January 3rd is a REMOTE LEARNING Day.

From the Office

Student Hours: 8:20 to 4:10

First Bell Rings at 8:15

Office is Open 7:45 to 4:20

Thanks for getting after school messages to the office by 3:00. This allows us to get messages to students with fewer interruptions and to ensure we have ample time to pass on the information.

PLEASE label all student belongings including: coats, hats, gloves, mittens, lunch boxes, backpacks, etc.

A December Message from your Principal

Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming, “I MUST find some way to stop Christmas from coming!"

- How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

We made it to December, or Grinchmas. That's right, Grinchmas. My family, friends, and staff know that December is a really challenging month for me. Now, please don't ask why. I don't quite know the reason. It could be my head isn't screwed on just right. It could be perhaps that my clothes are too tight. But I think the most likely reason of all may be that my heart is two sizes too small. OR.. it's increasingly colder, the days are shorter, the commercialism runs rampant, society sets us up for unrealistic expectations, memories sneak into my head, and dreadful music that is so joyful and triumphant! This year I could blame it all on COVID, variants, politics, and quarantines!

However, psychology tells us we have two sides to ourselves: the alien part represented by our critical inner voice (Grinch) and our real self. This December I plan to challenge that inner Grinch and maintain who i really am. I am going to start by thanking COVID. Thanking COVID, have I gone mad? Nope, I am just choosing to look at what is right with the world and striving to be my best self, so here it goes...

Thank you COVID for demanding the focus be on children, not just testing.

Thank you COVID for slowing our lives down and getting back to "family first"

Thank you COVID for reminding me why homeschooling is not for me.

Thank you COVID for reminding us that teachers are real heroes.

Thank you COVID for requiring us to think outside the box.

Thank you COVID for making hand washing super cool.

Thank you COVID for teaching us that technology is awesome... until it isn't.

Thank you COVID for encouraging us to have back up plans B, C, and D.

Thank you COVID for continued lessons in flexibility.

Don't get me wrong Mr. COVID, I don't like you, not one little bit. I loathe you entirely! You're a mean one, Mr. COVID. You really are a heal. You're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel. In fact, you're a bad banana with a greasy black peel. Now go away and take your variants with you!

Let it be known far and wide, the three weeks through December will be taken in stride. We will be teaching and learning a lot. Not even COVID can stop us, it can not!

If I can find reasons to thank COVID, maybe you can too. Hopefully the New Year will bring welcome changes and this new flu, will shoo.

Merry Grinchmas!

Mrs. Lesser

Your Penrose Principal

*Many of the words and rhymes from this message can be attributed or adapted from the works of Dr. Seuss

8 Days of Holiday Spirit

Thank You STITCH n' GIVE, for providing hats for many students.

Colorado Department of Human Services launches program to promote youth mental health

The CDHS Office of Behavioral Health and partners have launched I Matter, a program to promote youth emotional and mental health. Young people can take a confidential survey to be matched up with a mental health professional who can best support them. Every youth is then eligible for three free counseling sessions.

Go here to learn more:

https://imattercolorado.org/

For More Information, Contact:

Elizabeth Owens

CDHS

Email: elizabeth.owens@state.co.us

From our Health Tech: Miss Tami

+Please don't send medications (even cough drops) to school without talking to our health tech.

+ During this cold and flu season, please refer to the info-graphics below to determine how to treat your child's illness.

SRO did you know?

While the Internet can be an amazing educational resource, it's important to be safe while Surfing the Web! Here are some Internet Safety Tips for parents to keep in mind.

Set guidelines with your child for using the Internet.
Discuss with your child that they should never agree to personally meet someone they met on the Internet.
Teach your child they should not give out their name, phone number or photo without your permission.
Let your child show you what they like to do online.
Discover the Internet together

Remember: Don't speed in school zones!

THANK YOU for Supporting our SCHOLASTIC

Book Fair!

A GIANT shout out of Appreciation to Mrs. Jennifer Corkill and Mrs. Sarah Anderson for managing the book fair for us!

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