Who to Contact: 703-369-6644
Principal – Michael Kelchlin [email protected]
Assistant Principal – David Anderson [email protected]
Registrar- Allyson Sherwood – [email protected]
Attendance -Tina Tran – [email protected]
Director of Counseling – Cindy Hancock- [email protected]
Counselors
- Candra Blackman (MS) – [email protected]
- Tiara Neal (ES) – [email protected]
Nurse- Robyn Figueroa – [email protected]
Social Worker- Beth Spivack – [email protected]
Parent Liaison- Paola Durant – [email protected]
Technology Support:
Hardware Support: Email PWCS Tech Support – [email protected]
Software Support / Canvas: Jonathan Case – [email protected]
Class Placements available in ParentVUE August 15
ParentVUE is a tool that gives parents and guardians access to their child’s bus information, class schedules, grades, attendance information, sign required documents and more. www.pwcs.edu/about_us/the_hub/parent_vue_information
Back to School Packet
All families are required to complete the Back-to-School Packet located in ParentVUE. The Annual Back to School Packet contains emergency cards, Code of Behavior acknowledgment, as well as other annual acknowledgements and consents.
Open House / Meet and Greet
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August 15
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Summerfest 5-7:30 pm
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Back to School Night- Student Showcase
*Typical Back to school night slideshow/classroom information will go home Early September. BTSN format for 2024-2025, students will showcase their work to families and visit classroom. No formal presentation by teachers.
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September 9
September 24
September 30 |
Middle School from 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Grades 3-5 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Grades 1 & 2 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm |
Advisory Council
Under the philosophy of site-based management in Prince William County Public Schools, the Pennington Advisory Council represents and assesses the needs of the community and staff. The Advisory Council assists in supporting school improvement and acts as an advisor to the school administration on areas such as the budget, program evaluation, and modifications of the School Plans. The Pennington Advisory Council identifies concerns, obtains community and staff feedback, and supports the goals of the educational system.
Pennington's Advisory Council will meet monthly in alignment with PTO meetings for the 2024-2025 school year.
Arrival / Dismissal
- Arrival time is 8:40-9:00 am Students are Tardy after 9:00 / Dismissal process begins at 3:40 pm
- Kiss and Ride: Students being dropped off/picked up at school will utilize our kiss and ride line which is adjacent to the bus line. Please pull forward as much as possible up to the stop sign. Students may exit the car independently, or a staff member will open the car door to assist students to exit. All adults shall stay in their car. Students must exit on the right side of the car lane. For student pick up, a staff member will radio into the school and the student will walk out to the car lane. Per the new PWCS cell phone policy students will not have access to their cell phones. Parents should avoid texting their child when they arrive to the school for dismissal.
- Kiss and Ride hang tags are to be visible to assist in efficient dismissal process. Families new to Pennington will have tags available from our Kiss and Ride staff (day 1) and in the main office. Parent Pick up tags will be available at Summerfest and afterwards by visiting the main office. Parents picking up students in the breezeway at dismissal will need to show their parent pick up tag through the main office window
- Whenever picking up a student for dismissal be sure to have a picture ID available.
Remember you must always send a note in if your child is to go home differently than their normal schedule. Please do not notify us by email as we may not receive the notice in time. If your child is going home with another student or if you have a student coming to your house, both parents must send in a dismissal change note.
See Car Rider info/ directions below:
- Start following the blue lines – go into the 3rd lane, stop at the stop sign, continue to the back parking lot
- Go around the back lot, wait at the stop sign until the interior yellow line area has space available, then move follow the yellow line
- Follow yellow line to the beginning of the median area – wait here until the drop off/pick up area has space –
- Pull into drop off/pick up lane (green arrow) and leave/get your children,
- Merge into the middle lane as soon as you can after dropping off/picking up kids
- Follow green lines (stop at the cross over) to the outside of the far lane – keep to the edge as you leave the school.
Attendance
Reporting Absences: Please report any and all absences prior to the first bell (9 a.m.) Absences should be reported through your ParentVue account.
When to stay home: A guide to student illness
As with previous school years, daily automated calls and emails will be sent to parents and/or guardians when a student is marked absent. All students are held to compulsory attendance laws and will be required to attend school by one of the above methods. If a student will be absent, contact your school to alert them of the reason. Please note that truancy guidelines will be followed if a student accrues an excessive number of absences, as defined by Notice 724-1-19 – Attendance and Excuses – which can be found on the Prince William County Public Schools’ website. 5 or more unexcused absences results in an attendance conference. 10 or more overall absences may result in an attendance conference.
*******Absences for family trips will not be excused unless accompanied by extraordinary circumstances. A determination of whether extraordinary circumstances exist lies in the discretion of the principal in collaboration with the Office of Student Services.*****
Before and After School Care
Find out if our satellite school still has space available by signing up for AlphaBEST Education. While some sites are at capacity, AlphaBEST maintains an electronic waiting list on their website. Please complete the registration process to be placed on the waiting list. If you have any questions, please call 703.334.1272. Alpha Best
Behavior/PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports)
All Pennington students will receive explicit instruction on school-wide and classroom behavior expectations at the beginning of the school year. Additional instruction will occur as needed throughout the school year. The school-wide behavior expectations can be found in the Pennington Behavior Matrix.
1st through 4th grade classes will provide families with information about their grade-level specific behavior plans. 5th through 8th grade use infractions to document behavior issues and will communicate with families concerning behavior using an infraction form.
All Pennington staff will utilize a behavior flow map to determine when a behavior is managed by staff and when behaviors need to be addressed by administration. Staff will use behavior interventions based on the student's needs to support all students and create a positive classroom environment.
Bell Schedule:
School hours 9:00 am – 3:40pm
8:40 - Doors Open
9:00 - Tardy Bell
3:40 – Dismissal process begins
Birthdays
If you would like to send something to celebrate your child’s birthday, please consider things such as “party bag items” or a book to read and donate to the class library. We have many students with severe allergies and continue to ensure a safe learning environment for all, please refrain from edible treats (cupcakes, popsicles, donuts...).
Bullying Regulation 733.01-1:
Prince William County Public Schools is committed to a school environment in which students are free from bullying. Pennington Traditional School is a BULLY FREE SCHOOL and Bullying will not be tolerated. Numerous preventative steps are put into place to create an amazing learning environment. If you feel your child is being bullied, please reach out to your classroom teacher to address the concern, and administration is always available to support and address any major or unresolved concerns. We will ensure that appropriate preventative and corrective actions are always used.
Cafeteria
PWCS Nutrition department provides meals for both breakfast and lunch at a cost.
Students will need to learn their student ID number to pay each day.
*Please contact Robert Albert at [email protected] for assistance to apply for free/reduced lunch
Go to myschoolbucks.com to put money on your child’s lunch card. You need your child’s student ID number to activate your child’s account. You can also view your child’s lunch choices at the PWCS Food and Nutrition website.
Each class has a 30-minute lunch block.
Visitors will check in at the main office using their ID in our Raptor System
Visitors will have a chance to eat lunch with their student at their class lunch table
Clubs
Pennington offers a variety of staff lead student clubs throughout the year. Information on clubs is typically communicated near the end of September.
Cell phones
Students that bring cell phones to school will keep them in their backpacks off/silenced. Middle School students will keep their phones turned off and in their lockers. This expectation includes smartwatches.
Code of Behavior (PWCS)
Class Placement
In late May, our staff met to provide academic information about your child to help prepare class assignments for the upcoming school year. Classroom teachers, administration, specialists have worked to develop class lists for the upcoming year based on all pertinent information. These classes are heterogeneously mixed by achievement level, specific learning needs, gender, and ethnicity. Class assignments are finalized over the summer, and typically announced one week before school starts through ParentVue.
Community Service Hours
Pennington Traditional School has a proud history of students participating in community service throughout their communities. Each student must complete a certain number of hours per year depending on their current grade level. In previous years, students created projects to help their community, and Pennington also has monthly community services opportunities for students.
Grades 1-3: 10 hours
Grades 4-5: 15 hours
Grades 6-8: 20 hours
Computer
PWCS 1:1 Student device (laptop and hotspot) proceduresPWCS continues to be a 1-to-1 School Division
Every student grade K-5 will receive an IPAD, grades 6-8 a laptop for the 2024-2025 school year on the first day of school.
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- Parents/guardians must acknowledge the Digital Device Student Loan Agreement in The Hub at the start of each school year as part of the “Back to School Packet” in the online records section.
- Device Insurance will be available and is highly recommended.
Concerns:
If you have a concern about your student, their academics, behavior, peer relationships, homework, be sure to follow the chain of command and first address these concerns with your student’s classroom teacher. We value your student’s success and well-being and aim to work collaboratively with you to ensure an amazing school year for your student. If additional assistance is needed, school counselors and school administration are always available to support.
Contacting Teachers
When contacting teachers, please understand that they are in a classroom with students throughout the day. Checking emails and the ability to accept/make phone calls is limited during school hours by their daily schedule. Do not send change of transportation emails to teachers during the instructional day as they may not be received, please contact the main office in those situations.
Teachers work to honor the 24-hour rule when responding to emails and parent communications. Communication is key to the success of our school and the support of your child’s academic and emotional needs. Countywide conference days are scheduled for the first and third quarters as needed, but it is always appropriate and acceptable to schedule additional conferences at mutually agreed upon dates and times.
Be sure that all communications are respectful and professional towards our staff.
Dress Code:
Please be aware that, in addition to the Prince William County Schools Code of Behavior Dress Code for all schools in Prince William County, the Pennington Traditional Dress Code will be enforced too. On casual days, tasteful and traditional school attire is expected for both students and adults when in the school. Students' clothing should be clean and neat and conform to the standards of good taste and decency. Clothing that is unacceptable on casual days includes: reveals bare skin to the extent that it distract others, reveals or exposes undergarments, contains vulgar, discriminatory, lewd patently offensive or obscene language or images, contains threats or gang symbols, promotes the use of weapons and violence, or the use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs, and/or associated paraphernalia, causes or may foreseeably cause a disruption to the learning environment. Hat/caps/headwear will not be worn inside the building, unless for religious purposes. Rubber-sole sports shoes are recommended due to the daily recess period and increased PE classes. Loose fitting sandals, flip-flops, and Crocs are not safe for school wear.
Pennington Uniform Policy Information
Encore
Everyday students participate in one of our Encore Programs (Physical Education(2x), Music, Art, Library, Advisory). We are on a 6-day rotating schedule for Elementary, Middle school students follow the alternating blue/green day schedule. Your classroom teacher will provide you with your individual classrooms schedule.
Pennington / Update Emails
Pennington values effective communication. School Status emails throughout the year will highlight the great things occurring at Pennington, as well as key information, dates, and updates. If you are not receiving these update emails, please contact the main office to update your email address in our student information system.
Medical
Health Treatment Plans must be approved every year. Please contact our school nurse Robyn Figueroa – [email protected]
Prescribed medication administered during the school day requires a physician’s signature. Over the counter medication requires a parent/guardian to complete a form. All meds must be administered by the nurse.
Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
ParentVUE
ParentVUE is a tool that will give you access to your child's bus and class schedules, grades, attendance information, and more.
If you need assistance logging into ParentVue, please contact the main office or email Jonathan Case at [email protected]
PE Uniforms
PE Uniform (middle school) order forms will be available at SummerFest and shared with students during the first week of school. Please reach out to Britton Hoover (Health and PE Teacher) [email protected] for uniform ordering questions.
PTO
We have an amazing and supportive PTO that runs community events, volunteers, fundraises, and supports the school and its students in any way possible. If you would like to get involved, please contact our PTO [email protected]
Recess
All elementary students at Pennington Traditional School receive recess daily. Teachers also incorporate numerous brainbreaks and physical movement opportunities throughout the regular instructional day.
Safety
Providing a safe and positive learning environment for all is our number one priority! Numerous preventative safety measures are set in place within our facilities, practices, procedures, daily routines, and expectations to ensure a safe learning environment. Throughout the school year, safety drills are practiced schoolwide to include Lockdown drills, Tornado Drills, Earthquake Drills, Fire drills, and Bus Evacuations. Mr. Charlie Wolfert is Pennington’s fulltime Security Assistant and is a former FCPS Police Officer.
Supply Lists
Please check our website for the school supply list.
If you are in need of support in purchasing supplies, please contact our main office.
Technology
If you need support with your laptop or iPad, please eamil PWCS Tech Support at [email protected] and someone will assist you as soon as possible.
If you need Software Support, including with Canvas, Microsoft365, ParentVUE, or Clver Apps, you can contact Jonathan Case at [email protected].
All students will be issued a school laptop/IPAD for 1 to 1 technology implementation. Parents will be required to sign documentation, agreeing to replace broken / lost equipment (Approx $450)
Optional insurance is available and highly recommended through a third-party vendor.
Visitors and Volunteers
10 volunteer hours are required per child up to 40 hours. Volunteer opportunities are available through the PTO and school-wide and grade-level opportunities.