Pennwood Pulse - January Update

As we look ahead, we are excited to begin Semester B and continue building on the momentum established so far this school year. This upcoming semester offers new opportunities for learning, goal-setting, and success. We also encourage families to keep C-Term on their calendars—a focused three-week term in March that provides students with additional opportunities for enrichment, remediation, state testing prep, and career exploration.

Thank you for being an important part of our school community. We look forward to a successful and productive Semester B.

As we reflect on a strong first semester at Pennwood, we’ve been inspired by the engagement, growth, and sense of community across our Grades 6-9 students. Students are showing up to live lessons ready to learn, building stronger routines, and growing in independence and responsibility.

Our teachers continue to find creative ways to connect with students- one favorite example from ELA classes is starting each lesson with a “dad joke” to bring humor and joy into learning. We've also been excited to see 239 students participating in Global Clubs this semester, and we hope even more students will join in the fun and connection next semester.

We’re grateful for the partnership of our families and the dedication of our staff, and we look forward to building on this positive momentum as we move ahead.

Families, please take a moment to complete your Intent to Return for your student.

This item can be found in your Caretaker Account To-Do List and is highlighted as:
“Tell us your plans for next year”

How to complete it:

1. Log in to your Caretaker account.

2. Navigate to your To-Do List.

3. Click “Tell us your plans for next year” under your student’s name.

4. Submit your response.

⏰ Deadline: February 1, 2026

A response is required for all students to help us plan for the upcoming school year.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this important step!

Refer to the image below to see where this appears in your Caretaker To-Do List.

We use the TalkingPoints app for schoolwide communication, and it's the easiest way to stay informed and connected. With TalkingPoints, you can receive messages, ask questions, and communicate with our school - all in one place and in your preferred language.

When our school sends a message through TalkingPoints, it will arrive as a regular text message on your phone.

Here’s what to do:

1. 📩 Open the text message from our school.

2. 🔗 Tap the link in the message to download the TalkingPoints app.

3. 📲 Install the app on your phone.

4. ✅ Follow the prompts to finish setting up your account.

Join us for a variety of fun, engaging events designed to help students connect, celebrate achievements, and build community!

✨ Don’t miss our TWO in-person field trips happening in February! Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP as soon as possible!

What’s coming up:

• Candy-Themed In-Person Field Trips 🍫 (Dauphin & Mercer Counties)

• Education Expo (Pittsburgh)

• Super Share Showcase 🏆

• Goal-Setting Social 🎯

• Pet Parade 🐶

• Kindness Social Hours 💜

Attached please find our January Mental Health Newsletter, Equipping Your Child: Navigating Peer Pressure and Cultivating Healthy Choices.

We’re also sharing a few additional resources from ParentGuidance.org, including:

• Ask a Therapist Live, a free live webinar on January 27th, where families can submit questions related to youth mental health and parenting. You can register for this event here.

• Coaching for Parents, which offers optional one-on-one support for parents who may be interested in additional guidance during the winter months.

Thank you for being part of our school community.

The Howl, Pennwood’s high school literary magazine, launches soon! Featuring over 50 submissions of poetry, short stories, and other creative works from Pennwood High School students!