Penn Wood Elementary School

Gifted Program

February 2008  Newsletter

Dear Penn Wood Parents,

Penn Wood continues to be alive with activities and challenges for our students.  In a few short weeks we will be going back on Daylight Savings Time which is welcomed by those who enjoy spending time in the outdoors.  We continue to monitor the wintering birds at Penn Wood, enjoying their visual reminder of the delicate balance of survival being played out in our courtyard.

The other day we were treated with a visit from a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, one of the largest woodpeckers found in North America.  They are about the size of a crow and their arrival stopped class for many of our students as teachers allowed time for students to take in this spectacle by watching from classroom windows. Their arrival symbolizes to me the great need to get our students outside as much as possible. Those of you who take the time to read my notes recognize quickly this familiar theme.

We will be starting our Penn Wood Envirothon Club on February 22^nd, and invite any Penn Wood student who would like to learn more about Pennsylvania wildlife to join us every Friday during their class recess period.  Please review the letter that was sent home with the Penn Wood Newsletter on February 14^th.

Students continue to move forward with modules of study.  The Earth’s Treasure mod is off to a fine start with investigations and collections growing each day. The Astronomy mod students are learning declination and right ascension and focusing on selected research topics.  Our Expressions mod finds students bending glass and working on completing this art form.  Every day is an opportunity for all students to continue the joy of learning. This is a pleasure and a responsibility.  Our society demands students who will be visionary with their thinking, spawned by moments of self discovery along the way.

Please let me know how I can be supportive of your child’s experience at Penn Wood.  It is truly a great pleasure to be associated with such an amazing community of students, teachers and parents, all working toward common goals.

Best wishes,

Sandy Maxwell

Penn Wood Elementary Gifted Resource Teacher

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