August 29, 2007

Dear Parents:

            We want to welcome you to an exciting year at Pennekamp!  Pennekamp is an extraordinary place, where teachers and staff, led by Principal Dale Keldrauk, partner with parents to offer a truly incredible education for our children.  But Pennekamp is more than an institution of learning.  It is a family, a family which extends its reach to Pennekamp families and beyond, to our community and our nation.  We look forward with great anticipation to expanding this reach and getting to know you during the 2007-2008 school year.

            Pennekamp PTA is thrilled to be part of several new enterprises at Pennekamp this year.  We are very proud of our new science lab in Room 26 and continuing efforts to hire a science specialist to provide students with a hands-on activity-based science program.  New and expanded programs are also being developed in the areas of music and cultural arts, including inclusion of a vocal music program for some of our students.  All of these programs are or will be funded by the PTA. 

Executive Board members and committee chairs have been busy taking care of all the details which ensure a smooth beginning to the school year.  Volunteers have been hard at work on the directory, onsite and district-wide fundraising campaigns, the design and production of school t-shirts, parent party and  Family Dragon Night planning, our new student orientation, scrip, Author’s Week, and cultural arts planning, to name a few!  The Growing Great team has spent hot summer days watering and maintaining the beautiful garden on campus.  We extend our special thanks to the many volunteers who put in long summer hours on Pennekamp’s behalf.

            Last year, Pennekamp parents logged an amazing 28,000 volunteer hours and we expect to do it again-Way to go Dragons!  We support our children’s education by volunteering in the classroom, the library and the school office, in addition to raising greatly needed funds.  There is a volunteer opportunity for everyone, whether you work full-time, part-time or at home all the time!

As you settle into the school year, please put the PTA membership and MBEF annual appeal campaigns at the top of your to do list.  Give thought to your financial commitment and give generously.  PTA is a membership organization and our strength is in our numbers.  While membership is only $10.00, this year we ask that you give an additional $75 per child, which along with our other PTA fundraisers, will support important enrichment activities on our campus.  Funds raised provide art, drama, cultural arts assemblies, Authors’ Week, the science lab, library and technology lab support and music for noninstrumental students, programs which cannot exist without your donations.  When your child shines in a drama production, comes home with a new understanding of the circulatory system, enjoys ice cream Fridays, or meets the author during Authors’ Week, we hope you remember that you make it possible.

The MBEF is playing an increasingly important role in your child’s education.  Last year, Pennekamp received $217,000 to pay our librarian, technology assistant, PE and music teachers, as well as our health assistant, instructional assistant and Assistant Principals.  In fact, we received more in services from the Foundation than our parents gave in contributions to MBEF.  This year MBEF is additionally providing funds to hire a science specialist and has hired a District-wide vocal music teacher.  So, as you determine your response to the Foundation’s annual campaign request, please consider the value of what MBEF gives to your child every school day and what more could be provided with increased contributions.  We are fortunate to have this organization and we must support it as PTA cannot pay for salaried positions.  Academic excellence in Manhattan Beach is a direct result of a strong and vibrant partnership between parents, teachers, school site PTAs, the school district, and the Education Foundation.  We hope you will join us and the MBEF in making our school district the best it can be.

We look forward to a great year! Join us at our first PTA meeting of the year on Tuesday, September 25 at 6:30 p.m.  Feel free to contact us in the meantime at president@pkpta.org.

                         Denise Ellis & Cathey Graves, Pennekamp PTA Co-Presidents