November 2025 – The Penguin Press

The Penguin Press

Week 15 Grading Period 1 November 17, 2025

We kicked off this short week with our second annual Veterans’ Day Breakfast. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the military families who joined us. This special event, hosted by the Pacific Beach Woman’s Club and our Student Leadership Team, was a wonderful opportunity to honor and celebrate the service and sacrifice of our veterans and their families. We are deeply grateful for your dedication and for being part of our PBE community.

Please note that next week is Parent-Teacher Conferences and we will have minimum days all week with a dismissal time of 12:15 for all students all week next week.

It’s great to be a Penguin!

With penguin pride,

Dr. Karon Schnitzer

Dates to Remember

November 17th-21st- Minimum Days for Parent-Teacher Conferences -12:15 Dismissal
November 24th-28th- Happy Thanksgiving Break! No School
December 6th- Core Academy- See details below
December 10- FOPBE Meeting 5:30-6:30
December 16- SSC Meeting 2:30-3:30
December 19th- Minimum Day- Dismissal at 12:15 and Winter Break Begins!
December 22-January 5- Winter Break- No School
January 15th- STEAM Night at PBE- 5:00-6:30
January 19th- No School in celebration of Martin Luther King
January 20th- Leader in Me Readiness Check
January 26th- FPBE Meeting 5:30-6:30
February 6th- FOPBE Glow Party

November is Native American Heritage Month

November offers one more opportunity to enrich classrooms with local, regional, state, and national teachings about Native Americans (PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE).

Access the abundant resources available for so you cab continue the conversation at home:

Food Drive at PBE

PBE is joining in to create a “community cares” mobile food pantry to distribute shelf-stable items directly to needy schools and students.

You can support by donating any items listed below to the front office starting tomorrow and ending on 11/21 at 12:15 p.m.

We are a Leader in Me School

We are going to be reviewed for Lighthouse certification this school year- the highest recognition possible. on January 20th, we will have a “Readiness Check” with our Leader in Me (LIM) coach and on May 8th will be our certification visit/Student Leadership Day. If you would like to be on our parent panel to highlight all of the things that PBE does to empower student leadership and voice, please email Dr. Schnitzer at kschnitzer@sandi.net.

🌟 For Students

Being a leader means:

Living the 7 Habits — taking responsibility for your choices (Habit 1: Be Proactive), setting goals (Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind), and working well with others (Habit 6: Synergize).
Finding your voice — recognizing your strengths and using them to make a difference at school and in the community.
Leading by example — showing kindness, respect, and responsibility whether or not anyone is watching.
Setting and tracking goals — through personal and academic “WIGs” (Wildly Important Goals) and student leadership notebooks.
Serving others — contributing to class jobs, school-wide leadership roles, or community projects.

🌟 For Staff

Being a leader means:

Modeling the 7 Habits in daily practice.
Empowering students to lead their own learning.
Building a culture where every child knows they have value and a purpose.
Collaborating and reflecting to continuously improve.

🌟 For the School Community

Being a Leader in Me Lighthouse School means:

Leadership is not just a program—it’s a way of life.
The school environment encourages student voice, ownership, and shared responsibility.
Families and community members are partners in developing leadership and life skills.
The school consistently demonstrates measurable growth in culture, academics, and leadership.

PBE is Looking for PALS

PBE is looking for PALS! Pals is Parents at Lunch Support. Are you available to volunteer Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Fridays from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.?

Being a PBE PAL is a great way to support our school and also see your child during the school day. If you are available and willing, even if it is just one or two days a week, please email Dr. Schnitzer at kschnitzer@sandi.net.

Being a PBE volunteer is easy, you just need to complete a volunteer application, provide a copy of TB (tuberculosis) clearance – these are good for 4 years, and provide a copy of your driver’s license.

Media Release Form

During the school year, schools host events where representatives of the news media may be on campus to gather photographs and/or video footage.

In addition, parents and students may take photos of events in classrooms or around schools. These photos may be posted on the Internet, on social media, on your child’s classroom site, or otherwise distributed without the permission of the school. Your child’s participation in these events is valued, and parent permission is needed to include him or her in events where photography may take place.

Parents/Guardians who prefer that their child not be photographed or video recorded must notify the school. Schools make every effort to ensure the wishes of the parent/guardian. Please be aware that photographing and video recording by devices such as a mobile phones may take place without the knowledge of the teacher, principal or district staff.

(Please complete THIS FORM form for EACH individual child).

After-School Programs

If you have any questions about our after-school programs for next school year, please reach out to one of our following contacts:

Klassic Kids 619-534-2846

Prime Time 858-282-7537

Whole Child 619-791-6611

We encourage you to visit and explore the 2025-26 PrimeTime website (https://www.sdusdelo.com/academic-year-primetime) for additional information about the application timeline, process and student eligibility.

For questions, please contact Extended Learning Opportunities, PrimeTime Office at (858) 503-1870 or email primetime@sandi.net.!

PBE School Site Council (SSC)

Our amazing SSC met on October 21st.. They approved the 2025-2026 Site Emergency Response Plan (SERP) which can be found here. Our next meeting is scheduled for December 16th starting at 2:30 p.m.

PBE Mission and Vision Statements

Last year, we took our then current school mission and vision statements and sought and embraced feedback and input from our staff, community, and especially our students. Our mission and vision statements were slightly revised this year.

Our classes have been working on mission statements too. Ask your child what their mission statement is.

Communication

We believe that strong communication between home and school is vital for student success. We will continue to use our school website, school Messenger, weekly emails of our Penguin Press, and our mobile app, Konstella, to keep you informed about important events, updates, and classroom activities. Konstella: https://www.konstella.com/cd/FYA4UQ).Please ensure that your contact information is up to date in our system so that you receive all communications in a timely manner. Be sure to follow FOPBE on social media (https://www.instagram.com/fopbe and www.facebook.com/FOPBE)

PBE is Leader in Me

A Leader in Me School is a school that helps students discover and develop the leader within themselves. It’s based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey and focuses on teaching leadership, responsibility, and life skills—not just academics.

Core Idea: Every student has the ability to lead — to make good choices, set goals, and help others.
A Leader in Me School helps students learn how to do that every day, both in and out of the classroom.

What You’ll See in a Leader in Me School

Students leading assemblies, helping in the community, or welcoming visitors
Leadership roles in classrooms (like greeters, tech helpers, or kindness leaders)
Students tracking their goals in “Leadership Notebooks”
A positive, respectful school culture where everyone contributes

You will be learning more about family mission statements during parent teacher conferences this year. Once you have created your family mission statements, we will invite you to share it during our morning huddle- only if you would like to, of course.

You can access this FAMILY MISSION STATEMENT HERE.

School-Wide Expectations

As we strive to cultivate a positive and supportive learning environment at PBE, I wanted to take a moment to remind you of our school-wide expectations, which are:

Be Safe

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Be Kind

These expectations are not only integral to creating a conducive atmosphere for learning within the school premises but are also fundamental principles that contribute to the overall well-being and development of our students.

In line with our commitment to fostering these values, I encourage you to reinforce these expectations at home as well. By practicing safety, respect, and responsibility in your daily interactions and activities with your child, you not only support their growth and character development but also reinforce the importance of these principles beyond the classroom.

MTSS at PBE

What is MTSS?
MTSS is a proactive, data-driven framework used in elementary schools to support the academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and attendance needs of all students. It provides layered support through increasing levels of intervention based on each student’s individual needs.

Please find our MTSS Handbook HERE

Please find our Restorative Discipline Policy Here

Counselor’s Corner- An Note From Mr. Kamansky- PBE’s Amazing School Counselor

We’ve officially transitioned into our new social-emotional learning unit: “Think It vs. Say It.” Students are learning how to recognize their thoughts and decide which ones to keep (if they’re unkind or unhelpful) and which ones to say or act on (if they’re positive and kind). It’s been wonderful watching students grow in self-control, empathy, and positive communication!

Final October Attendance Standings
1️⃣ I. Alba – 98.13% 🎉 Popsicle & PJ Party!
2️⃣ Denenberg/Marquardt – 97.50% 45 minutes of extra recess
3️⃣ Salcido – 97.10% 30 minutes of extra recess
4️⃣ Atwell – 96.84% 20 minutes of extra recess
5️⃣ Warner – 95.83% 15 minutes of extra recess
6️⃣ Raugewitz – 95.57%
7️⃣ Reynolds – 95.57%
8️⃣ Cromar – 95.37%
9️⃣ LP/Crawford – 95.31%
🔟 Taylor – 94.89%
11️⃣ Luce – 94.80%
12️⃣ Sette – 94.77%
13️⃣ V. Alba – 94.74%
We’re excited to share that PBE is now tied for 35th place among all district schools for attendance and 2nd in our cluster! Our next goal: break into the Top 20 in the district.
Thank you, families and staff, for your continued support and encouragement—your teamwork truly makes a difference!
Lastly, please sign up for Core Academy on December 6th. Our goal is to have over 50 students to make to help raise money for our school. Email me at Gkamansky@sandi.net to enroll today!

NO Place for Hate

Here is our pledge so that you can practice with your child at home too:

Ally Action is Coming to PBE

Ally Action bullying intervention program is a program designed to promote positive school climate, bystander intervention options with a priority for de-escalation, and facilitating a school-wide conversation around what bullying IS and what it is NOT as well as the many strategies for addressing it. Ally Action seeks to move the climate needle from a culture of bystanders to a culture of upstanders and we are committed to student empowerment as a vehicle to help fulfill that goal.

Friends of Pacific Beach Elementary (FOPBE)

FOPBE is on Instagram and Facebook! Follow FOPBE to stay up to date about PBE events, announcements, and reminders, plus fun facts and highlights about our wonderful school! Follow FOPBE at https://www.instagram.com/fopbe/ and/or https://www.facebook.com/FOPBE/

Please connect with our parent partners at: pacificbeachelementary@gmail.com

Parent/Family Handbook

Did you know that our handbook answers many questions that you may have. Please refer to our 2025-2026 Parent/family handbook here.

The Penguin Press

Week 14 Grading Period 1 November 10 2025

It was another great week at PBE. This week, San Diego Unified joins the National Association of School Psychologists and schools across the country in celebrating National School Psychology Week. This year’s theme, “Finding Your Path,” reminds us of the many ways school psychologists support our students, families, and staff—helping everyone identify goals, overcome challenges, and grow along their unique journey. Thank you, Ms. Rowgow for all you do in support of our PBE students and community!

The students who were caught demonstrating leadership last week were also announced. Please join me in celebrating them:

2: Atwell Lalli and Chance
3/4: Raugewitz Olivia and Julian
1: Denenberg/Marquardt Lillie and Milo
1: Luce Rocco and Steven
TK: LP and Crawford Maverick and O’Neil
K: Sette Olivia and Grady
K: Alba Lark and Ben
3: Warner Valerie and Carter
2: Taylor Sydney and Nixon
5: Salcido Hunter and Carlos
4: Cromar Connor and Joaquin

It’s great to be a Penguin!

With penguin pride,

Dr. Karon Schnitzer

Dates to Remember

November 10th-11th- No School (Non-instructional Day and Veterans’ Day
November 12th- Veterans’ Day Breakfast at PBE Hosted by PB Woman’s’ Club- 8:00 a.m. in PD Room
November 17th-21st- Minimum Days for Parent-Teacher Conferences -12:15 Dismissal
November 24th-28th- Happy Thanksgiving Break! No School
December 10- FOPBE Meeting 5:30-6:30
December 16- SSC Meeting 2:30-3:30
December 19th- Minimum Day- Dismissal at 12:15 and Winter Break Begins!
December 22-January 5- Winter Break- No School
January 15th- STEAM Night at PBE- 5:00-6:30
January 19th- No School in celebration of Martin Luther King
January 20th- Leader in Me Readiness Check
January 26th- FPBE Meeting 5:30-6:30
February 6th- FOPBE Glow Party

PBE’s Second Annual Veterans’ Day Breakfast is on Wednesday, November 12th at 8:00 a.m. Hosted by PB Woman’s Club

Red Poppy Flowers Were Distributed on Wednesday, 11/5 for Veterans Day.

The amazing pacific Beach Woman’s Club donated over 300 poppies for each of our students. Have you ever seen people wearing little red poppy flowers in November and wondered why? 🤔 In this kid-friendly video, we’ll explore the story behind Poppy Day (also known as Remembrance Day or Veterans Day) and discover what the red poppy really means. ❤️ Join us as we: ✨ Learn the history of Poppy Day and why it’s on November 11th 🌸 Discover the meaning behind the red poppy flower 🎖️ Meet the poet who inspired it all — John McCrae and “In Flanders Fields” 🌍 See how people around the world remember and say thank you 🌈 Understand how kids can take part and help spread peace This 4-minute explainer is perfect for classrooms, assemblies, or curious young minds who love learning about history and kindness. 🕊️ 👩‍🏫 Great for: Teachers teaching about Remembrance Day or Veterans Day Parents helping kids understand world events Home-school lessons or classroom discussions 💬 Remember: When we wear a poppy, we’re not celebrating war — we’re celebrating peace, bravery, and hope. 👉

What Is Poppy Day? | Remembrance Day for Kids l History for Kids

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFK6SpWI5d4

November is Native American Heritage Month

November offers one more opportunity to enrich classrooms with local, regional, state, and national teachings about Native Americans (PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE).

Access the abundant resources available for so you cab continue the conversation at home:

Feeding San Diego and the San Diego Food Bank

We are a Leader in Me School

🌟 For Students

Being a leader means:

Living the 7 Habits — taking responsibility for your choices (Habit 1: Be Proactive), setting goals (Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind), and working well with others (Habit 6: Synergize).
Finding your voice — recognizing your strengths and using them to make a difference at school and in the community.
Leading by example — showing kindness, respect, and responsibility whether or not anyone is watching.
Setting and tracking goals — through personal and academic “WIGs” (Wildly Important Goals) and student leadership notebooks.
Serving others — contributing to class jobs, school-wide leadership roles, or community projects.

🌟 For Staff

Being a leader means:

Modeling the 7 Habits in daily practice.
Empowering students to lead their own learning.
Building a culture where every child knows they have value and a purpose.
Collaborating and reflecting to continuously improve.

🌟 For the School Community

Being a Leader in Me Lighthouse School means:

Leadership is not just a program—it’s a way of life.
The school environment encourages student voice, ownership, and shared responsibility.
Families and community members are partners in developing leadership and life skills.
The school consistently demonstrates measurable growth in culture, academics, and leadership.

Modernization Update

It’s an exciting time at PBE! Our two-year modernization project will be concluding next month!! Building three will be ready when we return from winter break. This means that Ms. Reynolds, Ms. Cromar, and Ms. Salcido’s class will all be moving into this brand new building:

Our second Joint Use Field (JUF) will have a beautiful track and basketball court:

STEAM at PBE with SDYS

We hope you and your students enjoyed our Kelp Forest Ecology and Stewardship sessions! Everyone’s enthusiasm was amazing. We appreciate your participation and engagement as well. It’s so nice having you join in the exploration!

Your student scientists asked such interesting questions, really connecting prior knowledge from science experiences with us, as well as with teachers and their families. We were so impressed with the way they cared for the live animals, and their engagement around how we create life support for the marine invertebrates — through constant monitoring of temperature (water below 57°F with ice packs), providing algae every other day for herbivores, and feeding frozen squid and shrimp to the carnivores.

Here is more to explore…

Polychaete Worms (Ophiodromus puggettensis)

Some of our student groups made an exciting discovery—polychaete worms hiding on the underside of a live bat star! These commensal worms aren’t something we often find, making this a truly special observation. (I’ve attached a picture.) These polychaete worms make their home between the bat star’s tube feet, feeding on tiny food particles left behind. In return, the bat star protects the worms by sheltering them within the grooves of its arms. So far, research hasn’t found any negative effects on the bat stars, making this a fascinating example of a symbiotic relationship. Here is a link from Monterey Bay, discover more! I hope your students realize what a rare and exciting find this was!

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

California Fish and Wildlife manages the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). One of these MPAs is right in Pacific Beach, where we took students tidepooling last year!

In 1999, California passed the Marine Life Protection Act, requiring a science-based network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Planned over 13 years with input from diverse stakeholders, the network was completed in 2012, becoming the nation’s first statewide system and the largest ecologically connected MPA network in the world. The research from one of our collaborators, Dr. Ed Parnell, was instrumental in the creation of these networks that protect these natural habitats by limiting human disturbance.

Our local MPA begins at Diamond Street and encompasses more than five square miles of dense kelp forest, rocky and sandy intertidal areas, and rocky reefs. This is named the South La Jolla Southern Marine Reserve/State Marine Conservation Area, and this is where we took Kate Sessions students tidepooling last year. You can view the different MPAs and find out how they protect each area with this MPA map link. Within this area, we cannot injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marne resource. This is why we instruct our students that we can only take photos and human trash when leaving the habitat.

Dr. Ed Parnell’s Kelp Forest Videos

Kelp Forest Decline

Kelp Forest Recovery

PBE is Looking for PALS

PBE is looking for PALS! Pals is Parents at Lunch Support. Are you available to volunteer Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Fridays from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.?

New Volunteer Information from SDUSD

This messaging was received from SDUSD and sent out from our PBE office last week.

Here is the breakdown of volunteer levels:

Media Release Form

During the school year, schools host events where representatives of the news media may be on campus to gather photographs and/or video footage.

(Please complete THIS FORM form for EACH individual child).

After-School Programs

For questions, please contact Extended Learning Opportunities, PrimeTime Office at (858) 503-1870 or email primetime@sandi.net.!

PBE School Site Council (SSC)

Our amazing SSC met on October 21st.. They approved the 2025-2026 Site Emergency Response Plan (SERP) which can be found here. Our next meeting is scheduled for December 19th starting at 2:30 p.m.

PBE Mission and Vision Statements

Our classes have been working on mission statements too. Ask your child what their mission statement is.

Communication

PBE is Leader in Me

What You’ll See in a Leader in Me School

Students leading assemblies, helping in the community, or welcoming visitors
Leadership roles in classrooms (like greeters, tech helpers, or kindness leaders)
Students tracking their goals in “Leadership Notebooks”
A positive, respectful school culture where everyone contributes

You can access this FAMILY MISSION STATEMENT HERE.

School-Wide Expectations

As we strive to cultivate a positive and supportive learning environment at PBE, I wanted to take a moment to remind you of our school-wide expectations, which are:

Be Safe

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Be Kind

MTSS at PBE

Please find our MTSS Handbook HERE

Please find our Restorative Discipline Policy Here

Counselor’s Corner- An Note From Mr. Kamansky- PBE’s Amazing School Counselor

We’re excited to share that our school is transitioning from learning about each other to taking action together! Our 5th-grade No Place For Hate leaders have begun visiting individual classrooms to present anti-bullying techniquesand share ways we can all help make PBE a kind, respectful, and inclusive place for everyone. We’re so proud of our student leaders for taking on this important role! 💛

🌟 PBE Attendance Update! 🌟

Way to go, PBE families! We love seeing our students show up ready to learn every day. Remember—every day counts when it comes to learning, friendships, and fun!

If your child will be out three days or more for illness, bereavement, vacation, or injury, please contact the office to request an Independent Study Contract. This allows your child to stay caught up on schoolwork, not be counted absent, and helps PBE maintain important school funding.

Let’s keep aiming high, PBE! Consistent attendance helps our students grow, learn, and thrive—together we can make everyday count! 💙🐬

Students have finished up their Zones of Regulation unit and have been transitioning into Anti-bullying lessons, led by our 5th grade “No Place For Hate” Group.

NO Place for Hate

Here is our pledge so that you can practice with your child at home too:

Ally Action is Coming to PBE

Friends of Pacific Beach Elementary (FOPBE)

Please connect with our parent partners at: pacificbeachelementary@gmail.com

Parent/Family Handbook

Did you know that our handbook answers many questions that you may have. Please refer to our 2025-2026 Parent/family handbook here.