The Penn-Harris-Board of School Trustees on Monday night (December 14, 2020) unanimously approved the purchase of Stop-Arm Cameras Systems for all district school buses. Currently, 15 out of 135 P-H-M buses have this technology installed.

Since the spring of 2019, following the incident in Rochester in the fall of 2018, P-H-M installed equipment from the dealer on all new buses purchased by P-H-M. When future school buses are traded in, following the district’s bus replacement cycle, this technology will be moved over to the new buses. The total investment for the purchase and installation of these stop arm camera safety features is $363,739 (approximately $3,200 per school bus). P-H-M Administration anticipates the equipment will be received by the end of December and installation would begin in January 2021.

This past October P-H-M Administration met with representatives from the St. Joseph County Police, Mishawaka Police, and St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter to address requirements and protocols for school bus stop-arm violations to be prosecuted. Following that meeting, P-H-M Administration worked with Kerlin Bus Sales and 24-7 Security to review the required specifications and the process for retrofitting P-H-M buses so they would be in compliance.

The 24-7 Security System generates a report with pictures of the violators’ car, license plate, and the location, all of which will be given to police after the violation is reported.

The installation of new equipment will provide completely new camera systems on all buses including higher resolution interior cameras, recorders, and hard drives. This will improve the quality and reliability of all bus videos. 

It is the district’s hope that having stop arm cameras installed on all P-H-M buses that it will raise public and increased compliance by drivers, and ultimately safer transportation environment for our students.

During a normal school year, Penn High School students enrolled in Childhood Development classes would be offering two unique programs for preschoolers in our community,  Playschool and Toddler Time.
 

However due to COVID suspending these programs for the time being, Penn Child Development teachers Mrs. Kylee Wetzel and Ms. Rachael Meyers have created lessons that children can do in their own homes. 

The Penn High School Early Childhood Education Classes are offering free eLearning lessons to children in the P-H-M community within the age ranges of 1-10 years old.

Children can participate at home with a caregiver, or during the school day via Google Meet with the Penn student facilitating the lesson.

Please fill out the Enrollment Form by Friday, Jan. 15 in order to participate.

Please contact Kylee Wetzel at kwetzel@phm.k12.in.us for any further information.

By BRADY SMITH

Penn High School Student Reporter

Penn High School Strength and Conditioning coach Matt Cates, just added another accomplishment to his resume as he was named the State Director of the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA).

Cates graduated from Portage High School and went on to Manchester University, where he played football. Cates has coached at multiple schools, including Portage, Michigan City, Martinsville and Penn High School. 

Cates graduated with a Physical Education and Health Teaching K-12 at Manchester. He holds certificates for strength and conditioning through 3 additional organizations (USAW, HSSCS, SSC). Cates has served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Penn for five years.

“As a coach, I want students to know that they will be given as many opportunities as needed to grow," Cates said. "We are all in this together, good or bad, we will continue to work and have that growth mindset.”

Cates' goal, as a teacher, is to provide a culture of growth. This will cover leadership, physical strength, mental health, accountability, and of course, pride. When you walk into the weight room, he believes there is one mindset, “Be the best version of yourself.”

Cates explained that enhancing athletic performance is a lot more than lifting weights. Penn's Strength and Conditioning classes gives students opportunities to improve their confidence, show accountability, maintain a healthy lifestyle, demonstrate discipline, and allows all athletes to unite for the same common goal of excellence.

Nina Pulja, now a sophomore at Penn High School, said,  “Coach Cates is a coach that motivates met to get up and work harder every single day so I can grow to not only be a better athlete, but also a better person inside and outside the classroom.”

Cates said that being selected as the State Director of the National High School Strength Coaches Association is an enormous honor. The job entails many different responsibilities and expectations.

Coach Cates vision' for the State Association is to continue the resources and educational experiences/relationships for all high schools in Indiana, and to continue to grow the message of importance of strength and conditioning for high school-aged athletes. The organization is not just for strength coaches and physical education teachers, but all who interact with students and student-athletes. The main goal is to continue Indiana’s success in strength and conditioning and make it a flagship state of the nation.

The state director is a three-year term with the option of an additional three years.

The Indiana State Department of Health last updated the COVID-19 School Attendance Quick Reference Guide for parents and schools on December 4, 2020.

PLEASE NOTE: For families who are not able to isolate from everyone else at home, the start date of quarantine is determined by last date of exposure to a positive or untested person; this may be after the ill person completes their 10 days of isolation.

Click the image below to download and print.

This resource is also provided in the District Overview Return to Learn Fall 2020 document, under “Important Links at the end of the document. 

The P-H-M Education Foundation announced its Fall Grant Cycle recipients. A total of $11,932.72 was disbursed to P-H-M staff. See the complete list is below.

Monies raised from PHMEF events like the Silver Mile Bubble Bash Run for Education and other events make these grants possible. Since the Foundation’s inception in 1996, more than $1.6 million have been distributed in innovative teaching grants supporting P-H-M teachers, staff, and students. 

Fall 2020 Grant Summary:

Total 2020-21 Grant Budget — $35,500

Fall 2020 Grant Budget — $12,500

• EZ Grant applications received — 18 requests totaling $3,040.35
• EZ Grant applications funded — 11 requests totaling $1,528.25 
• Traditional Grant applications received — 14 requests totaling $30,681.91
• Traditional Grant applications funded — 12 requests totaling $10,404.47
• Grants denied because they did not meet grant criteria — 0
• Grants deferred to the following grant cycle — 1
• Grants referred to Corporations for Education or other granting partner — 0
• Grants funded by donor — 1
• Grant funds awarded — $11,932.72
• Grant funds balance — $0* z
  *There was an anonymous donor that wanted to help fund the P-H-M Project “H” grant. The Grants Committee agreed to use the remaining grants funds balance of $567.28 to help offset the cost of the donor thus bringing the funds balance to $0.

The Grants Committee is comprised of Foundation board members, community representatives, and a P-H-M administrator who evaluate each grant application. 

The PHMEF 2020 Grants Committee requests the approval to fund the following EZ Form grant requests for $250 or less:

• Diverse Novel Study Initiative, Walt Disney Elementary – Jordan Binion, 1^st grade teacher
  Awarded: $ 241
  Chapter books with diverse characters
• Manipulatives for the Music Classroom Meadow’s Edge Elementary – Sarah Claeys, K-5 grade teacher
  Awarded: $91.38
  Movement scarves and rhythm sticks to enhance lessons, teach musical concepts
• Math Manipulatives for Highly Differentiated Instruction Discovery Middle – Emma Zerfas, 7th grade teacher
  Awarded: $225
  Tangible math tools for students who may be lagging in skills
• Mitosis & Meiosis Pop Bead Kit, Schmucker Middle – Sakima Oudghiri, 7-8^th grade teacher
  Awarded $191.99
  Pop beads used to learn about mitosis and meiosis
• Wacom Tablet Grant, Discovery Middle – James Howard, 7^th grade teacher
  Awarded $220
  Tablet allow teachers to model note-taking, diagramming, catography in a virtual environment
• A Knight of Coca, Cookies, and Canvas, Moran Elementary (Grades K-5) – Shelli Treely, teacher
  Awarded $250
  Virtual canvas painting experience for students
• Gimkit Annual Subscription, Schmucker Middle – Kristina Lawrence, 6^th grade teacher
  Awarded $59.88
  Online platform that engages students to review learned materials, practice vocab., and formatively assess student learning
• Adaptive Physical Education, Schmucker Middle – Tara Curless, 6-8^th grade teacher
  Awarded $249
  Online platform that engages students to review learned materials, practice vocab., and formatively assess student learning

The PHMEF 2020 Grants Committee requests the approval to fund the following Traditional Form grant requests:

• BrainPad Arcade, Schumucker Middle – Matt Reininga, Grades 6-8  — 400 students
  Requested $475.36 — Received $475.36
  BrainPad Arcade board is a supplemental to computer science instruction in PLTW. Plans to utilize the board include as an introduction or conclusion to the current PLTW computer classes where students learn to create mobile apps and program micro-controllers.
• K-5 Classroom Pack of Dash and Dot, Elm Road Elementary – Madelyn Beers, Grades K-5 — 475 students
  Requested $1,000 — Received $1,000
  Dash and Dot are tangible robots that give students the chance to learn about coding, or to use programming in a hands-on collaborative matter. Students will have the ability to work on problem solving skills through the use of technology to understand abstract skills associated with coding and computer science.
• Cut The Cord, Penn High School – Les Crooks, Grades 11-12 — 17 students
  Requested $5,000 — Received $2,461
  In the Building Trades class having extension cords can be dangerous as they present a trip hazard, shock hazard, and ergonomic hazard. Cordless tools that include circular saw, sliding miter saw, and cordless cutting rotary tool.
• Sensory Pathways for Elementary Students, All P-H-M Elementary Schools – Tess Weaver, Wendi Buckley, and Erin Grover, Grades K-5 — all P-H-M elementary students
  Requested $2,926 — Received $2,926
  Sensory pathway will stick on hallway floors, creating a physical and occupational movement for students. They allow students to demonstrate better attention and focus tasks. They also provide movement during needed breaks that greatly benefit students in academic performance, on-task behavior, and cognitive functioning.
• Graphing Calculators for Night School, Penn High Night School – Ginny Mueller, Grades 12-13 — 475 students
  Requested $1,685.70 — Received $1,685.70
  Purchasing 10 graphing calculator for students’ use in night school. These students often are struggling financially and will offset the cost of an expensive calculator.
• Madison Nature Spies, Madison Elementary – Gina Cool and Amanda Tugmon, Grades K — 25 students
  Requested $856.41 — Received $856.41
  Students will take monthly walks – as part of PE and Art) through the Madison. nature Trail. Students will learn to explore nature and increase their observation skills by identifying various items in nature. The grant will supply books and other equipment that will aid students during their explorations.
• Ukuleles for Elm Road, Elm Road Elementary – Bradley Marks, Grades 4-5 — 150 students
  Requested $1,240 — Received $1,000
  The ukulele is a perfect instrument for teaching more in-depth about musical chords and theory. Students will be able to learn and play popular songs and how they are structured by learning another way to read and create music.
• P-H-M Project ‘H’, All P-H-M Schools – Mike Seger, All Grades All — 11,454 students
  Requested $3,200 — Received $3,200
  This project will take all children into consideration within Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and assist in providing the type of hygiene items required to perform in the classroom. The items mentioned will be provided in privacy and upon request by students in need. Many of our counselors and YSB personnel have identified students in need and share these needs with appropriate individuals.

On Wednesday, November 18, P-H-M announced that Penn High School and the district’s three middle schools (Discovery, Grissom and Schmucker) will return to 100% virtual learning beginning Monday, November 23, 2020 through the end of the first semester, Friday, January 15, 2021 (with the MLK holiday being Mon., Jan. 18, students would return to hybrid learning on Tues., Jan. 19, 2021). This change was brought about by the St. Joseph County Department of Health’s recommendations that came earlier in the afternoon of November 18.  Part of SJCDH recommendations to districts was to “Pause all extra curricular activities or conduct them remotely as feasible. In the event these activities cannot be paused or done remotely, limit spectators to parents/guardians/siblings until after winter break.”

Click to read SJCDH recommendations and click here to read Superintendent’s Dr. Jerry Thacker’s full letter to parents.

As a result, Penn High School and all P-H-M middle school winter athletic programs are implementing significant change to the winter athletic programs. Please see the modifications released Friday, November 20, 2020 that will be effective immediately. These modifications will be re-evaluated by Friday, December 18 (P-H-M School Corporation’s winter break runs Dec. 21, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021).

“Security” magazine has ranked Penn-Harris-Madison #6 safest school corporation for 2020 among all K-12 school districts in the nation.  This is the second consecutive year with a ranking in the top 10!  Click the image below to read the article. Click on “5. Education/K-12” listing to see P-H-M’s ranking.

Our congratulations to Director of Safety, Security & Student Services Mike Seger, all P-H-M Security staff, all P-H-M staff, students and patrons for contributing in the culture of safety within Penn-Harris-Madison Schools.

Tonight (Monday, November 9) Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation’s Board of School Trustees overwhelmingly approved the contract with the district’s teachers. Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker and P-H-M Administration presented the tentative agreement between the P-H-M Teachers Association (PHMTA) and the Corporation at tonight’s meeting.

Negotiations between PHMTA and district administration took place in September and October, and a tentative agreement was on Wednesday, October 7 and the PHMTA membership ratified the agreement by an overwhelming margin on Wednesday, October 21.

Under this agreement (effective retroactive to July 1, 2020 and running through June 30, 2021), P-H-M teachers’ starting salary will remain at a very competitive $41,000. The new salary range for P-H-M teachers will range from $41,000 to $71,048.

The agreement covers a one-year period from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. All teachers who have completed one or more years of experience will receive varying combinations of base salary increase and a one-time stipend shown in the following chart:

Teachers with more than one year of experience will receive salary increases ranging from $500 to $1,550, with an average increase of $1,140.  Additionally, all teachers, including those in their 1st year, will receive a one-time stipend ranging from $500 to $1,450.  Teachers with five or more years of experience, who comprise approximately 80% of our teaching staff, will receive a total of $2,350 between an increase in salary and the one-time stipend.

The P-H-M Board of School Trustees wanted to pay the one-time stipends out of the district’s Rainy Day Fund as a way to express the Board’s appreciation to the exemplar efforts of our teaching staff during these challenging times coping with COVID-19.

This agreement will continue to support P-H-M’s talent acquisition and retentions needs, and keeps the total compensation package as one of the premier offerings in our area.

There will also be a 3% increase in stipend amounts paid to all teachers who also hold Extracurricular and Co curricular coaching/sponsorship responsibilities.

In addition, the agreement includes changes to the Corporation’s health insurance plan. Employee contributions will also increase by a modest 3% starting in January of 2021.

Board Approves Hourly Rate for Substitute Teachers

Also at tonight’s Meeting, the Board of School Trustees approved an increase in the hourly rate paid to substitute teachers by $20 per day as shown below in order to retain and to attract more substitutes:

These changes will be made effective November 9th to coincide with the beginning of a payroll period. 

On Monday, September 14, we welcomed back our youngest students, PreK – 3rd graders who opted to return to school. We could see the smiles under their masks, and we hope they could see ours! We visited four of our 11 elementary schools–Bittersweet Elementary School, Walt Disney Elementary School, Northpoint & Prairie Vista–to get a socially distanced look at students' 2^nd First Day of School. Click to watch the video below …

On Tuesday, September 15, we visited dropped by Moran Elementary School to see how the PreK – 3^rd graders whose parents choose to stay virtual to see how they are interacting with their teachers. Click to watch the video below …

Monday, August 31 the P-H-M Board of School Trustees unanimously approved a “Return to Learn” plan to bring students back to the classroom in phases, for those families who want to return to in-person learning:

• Mon., Sept. 14, In-Person Learning for Elementary grades, PreK – grade 3
• Mon., Sept. 21, In-Person Learning for Elementary grades 4 & 5 
• Mon., Sept. 21, Hybrid model, a blend of In-Person and Virtual, for Middle and High School students (grades 6-12) 
• Parents at every grade level also have the option to keep their student(s) 100% Virtual.

Parents at every grade level expressed to have the Virtual option expanded. On Wednesday, September 9, principals sent parents more details and a breakdown of a student’s day who chose to stay 100% Virtual. Click below to see examples of each level:

• Elementary Virtual Day
• Middle School Virtual Day
• Penn High School Virtual Day

Parents are now being asked to submit their “Intent to Return” questionnaires to their student(s)’ principals by Friday, September 11.

If parents have students at more than one P-H-M school, they will need to complete a form for each student at each school. Parents should reference the emails sent by their students’ principals on Wednesday, Sept. 9 or check their schools’ websites. If parents have questions, they should contact their student’s school directly.

Other important “Return to Learn” information shared with parents:

• Transportation needs & a link to infoFinder to look up your child’s bus stop information if they will be riding the bus

• Before/after school childcare – Kids Club Registration

• "Return to Learn" District Overview for Parents

• Videos highlighting P-H-M’s COVID safety procedures and protocols:

  • Transportation cleaning & safety protocols

  • Cafeteria COVID safety precautions

  • Custodial COVID cleaning protocols