Pennington Elementary School | Page 13

Pennington's Wrap-Around Services • A back-to-school breakfast for families. During this breakfast, Pennington staff meets with families in small groups and covers the school’s curriculum, its behavior support system, and the conduct code. • A monthly high school mentor program. High school students facilitate lessons about the value of education, anti-bullying, goal-setting, future careers, and professional dreams. • A free DVD yearbook for every student. Produced by a student enrichment team, the yearbook covers every activity throughout the school year. • A highly active PTA and Spanish-speaking PTA. • Band and orchestra for all fifth- and sixth-grade students with all instruments provided free of charge. • One-on-one academic and music tutoring. • Holiday support, which includes a “Santa Shop,” where students can purchase affordable gifts for family members; free pictures with Santa for all students; food holiday baskets for more than 60 families during Thanksgiving and Christmas; and holiday gifts for children in over 25 families. • Before- and after-school affordable childcare through the YMCA. • Food and nutrition classes. • Bike and walk to school program for neighborhood street safety. • Crossing guard program manned by parent volunteers to ensure kids are safe as they enter and leave school. • Weekly positive behavioral support classes and a behavior support room that is staffed full-time to process all behavior incidents. • Summer reading club. Book fairs and free book giveaways. • School supply donations. Each child receives a backpack full of supplies at the beginning of the year, if needed. • Free summer school for all students supported by federal Title I funding. • Onsite food, hygiene, and clothing bank, and weekly distribution of food bags to help alleviate families’ food needs through the weekends. • Family adult budget assistance. • Open computer lab time for family members throughout the school day. • Parenting classes. • Biannual, free dental service. • Adult English classes. • Medicaid counseling. • One-on-one family and student group counseling through the support of a full-time social worker. • Coupons from local optometrists for free glasses. • One-to-one iPad/iPod grant for all fifth- and sixth-graders. • Free Halloween costume giveaway sponsored by the Ford Motor Company and the YMCA.