Penn High School teacher Danielle Black got quite a surprise upon returning to her classroom the morning of Friday, May 4. When she returned to teach her Early College Academy English class, she found not just her students, but also Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, members of the media, student reporters from the school’s PNN network, P-H-M Cabinet members, her husband and two of her sons. That’s when Dr. Thacker informed Mrs. Black that she had been named P-H-M’s 2018 Teacher of the Year! 

Click to watch the video below of Mrs. Black’s surprise …

Mrs. Black had been “lured” to the Principal’s Office with Penn Principal Sean Galiher and Assistant Principal/Softball Coach Beth Zachary. Danielle’s husband Karl Black is a Math Teacher at Schmucker Middle School, which is across the street from Penn. He, two of the couple’s four children and Danielle’s parents Ed and Beth Lugbill were in on the surprise and were on hand for Friday morning’s surprise announcement: Braden is a sophomore at Penn and Nikolas is in 8th grade at Schmucker Middle School.

Mrs. Black was nominated for the award by fellow Academy faculty members who commend her for making sure her students have access to every opportunity possible to help them succeed, “Danielle does everything in her power to help students realize the potential that they don’t even know they have inside them!” Mrs. Black has been with P-H-M for five years. She is admired and praised for her teaching methods finding ways to connect to her students and helping them find their own successes. Mrs. Black has a magnetic personality that inspires, empowers, teaches and reaches her students.
 

As the Early College Academy Leader, Mrs. Black has worked tirelessly shepherding and guiding the first cohort of ECA students these past four years. She is praised as a “true leader who is a servant to others,” inspiring her students and fellow colleagues alike. And on May 25, like the proud parent she is, Mrs. Black will surely applaud her ECA graduates through tears of joy as she watches them walk across the stage at Commencement. It’ll be quite an accomplishment for them, not only earning a Penn High School diploma, but also earning college credits … some graduating with a full Associate’s Degree!

As Penn’s Musical Director, Mrs. Black also devotes an immense amount of time every year to planning the spring musical. Her attention to detail is not lost. The costumes, scenery, casting and program design for this year’s performance of Shrek The Musical were outstanding. Her goal was to put on more than an enjoyable show; it was to help deliver a message as she notes in this excerpt from the Director’s Note: “We all need hope. We all need love. We all need to know we matter. I'm a believer that the more people embrace these truths, the better the world will be … for all of us.”

Mrs. Black practices what she preaches … doing her part to make the world a better place, even half way across the globe! She co-founded the charity Awake & Alive, Inc. and opened a school for the impoverished, orphaned children in the slums in Ethopia’s capital city. The school also provides medical care and general health education for the widowed mothers of the children.

Danielle and Karl Black have three biological sons and a daughter they adopted from Ethiopia.

Mrs. Black teaches from her “heart and soul” working to make sure her students, not only feel, but also believe that they matter. Her mission whether it is with the Early College Academy, Penn Theater or her charity … is to make sure everyone feels connected and valued!

Danielle will officially be recognized at P-H-M’s Employee Recognition & Retiree Dinner on Wed., May 16th, along with the 2018 Classified Employee of the Year (Schmucker Building Tech was also surprised the morning of Friday, May 4 by Dr. Thacker with the good news of her win). Both winners will receive a plaque. As Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Black will also receive a $1,000 classroom grant from the P-H-M Education Foundation! She will also be eligible for Indiana’s Teacher of the Year award, which is announced by the IDOE in September/October 2018.

Schmucker Building Tech Lee Riley thought she was being called down to a classroom to fix a broken projector Friday morning (May 4) only to find Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, cameras and TV video cameras waiting for her. The sixth grade class students all happily yelled “SURPRISE” and Dr. Thacker let Mrs. Riley in on the secret that she had been named P-H-M’s 2018 Classified Employee of the Year!

Click below to watch the video of the surprise …

As an added bonus, Mrs. Riley’s husband Dr. Robert Riley was also in the classroom waiting to give her a congratulatory hug.

Lee Riley came to know P-H-M like many people do in the community … as a parent! When she moved to the South Bend area in 1992, she was a parent volunteer in Schmucker’s library substituting for librarians when needed. She continued to volunteer in the SMS library for eight years before being hired as a Media Aide in 2000. She then became Learning Lab Coordinator and then Building Tech working for both Bittersweet and Schmucker. Today, 18 years later, she provides full time technology support for Schmucker’s nearly 1,000 students and staff!

Ironically, Mrs. Riley prides herself on not being technical saying “that makes me uniquely qualified to explain technology to users of all abilities.” It’s a talent that does not go unnoticed and unappreciated by Schmucker staff and students.

Every spring, P-H-M employees nominate employees who exemplify P-H-M Excellence. Mrs. Riley was nominated by a fellow Schmucker staff member who commented, “Lee spends countless hours before, during and after school helping many different departments … She will not stop until the problem is solved or the question is answered. If she doesn't know the answer, she will find it!”

Mrs. Riley’s special knack and talent … schedules! Her attention to detail is phenomenal. She creates and enters not only Schmucker’s master schedule, but now lends help and expertise to Grissom and Discovery. She also maintains the course catalog for all three middle schools!

Her impact is felt across the District through her work on the Student Information Management (SIM) Team Committee. Mrs. Riley works with all the building secretaries and various other departments, such as Transportation and Food Service, to establish usage guidelines of the student information database.

When Chromebooks were introduced at the middle schools in 2015, Mrs. Riley tackled that with the same enthusiasm as each piece of new technology she’s had to learn and manage. And this year, she came up with a way to handle all the repairs at SMS. Using select 8th graders, students, her “SMS Tech Team” helps other students with software fixes and repairs hardware as needed. She’s now working with Grissom and Discovery to establish the same programs in their schools.

Thanks to Mrs. Riley’s work ethic and dedication, she helps the District run more smoothly. “There is nothing better in my professional life than when a staff member tells me they were able to do what they wanted to do on their computer or tablet! I hope to continue to help our employees use and take advantage of the technology that P-H-M provides in the coming years.”

Lee is married to Dr. Robert Riley and has two adult children, both Penn graduates.

Lee will officially be recognized at P-H-M’s Employee Recognition & Retiree Dinner on Wed., May 16th, along with the 2018 Teacher of the Year. Penn High School English Teacher, Early College Academy Leader and Theater Director Danielle Black was also surprised Friday morning (May 4) by Dr. Thacker with the good news of her win.

Olivia Neufelder, Horizon Elementary, Discovery Middle and Penn High School (Class of 2012) alumna, was featured as an “Unsung Hero” on the TODAY Show this morning (Wednesday, May 2, 2018) as part of National Nurses Week.  Olivia, a nurse at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center, loves to sing and brought joy to one of her patients before she passed away … something her family will always cherish calling Olivia their “angel nurse.”

Click the video below to watch Olivia’s heart warming story …

It was a gorgeous day for the 10^th annual “Running is Elementary.” Most years, 4^th and 5^th grade students from all 11 P-H-M elementary schools are fighting the elements of wind, rain, sleet or snow … but not this year!

Almost 700 students  participated in the 1 mile run on the Penn cross-country course located behind Elm Road School on Monday, April 30. Please click to see the photo gallery below.

The fun event encourages fitness and wellness. Fourth and fifth graders are encouraged to sign up for the free running club. Designated coaches at each school are then tasked with training the runners for the 6-week club which then culminates with the Running is Elementary Race. Cheered on by their families, principals, teachers and running coaches it’s amazing to see the dedication and hard work the students put in to complete the race. “Running Buddies” accompany those students who may need their extra assistance and/or encouragement.

Cindy Batalis (P-H-M’s 2009 Teacher of the Year and physical education teacher at Horizon Elementary) began the yearly tradition of Running Is Elementary back in 2008. Batalis’ own love for running and her desire to pass that love on to students is evident in the passion she puts into the Running is Elementary event each year. “This is a thrill! All the kids out here running today are out here making a positive step to healthy habits and we celebrate all of them. It's a true community event!"

The top times for the 2018 Running Is Elementary Race were as follows:

5^th grade Boys

BIB# 99
Elm Road School
Time: 5:59
 

5th grade Girls Winner

BIB# 190
Horizon
Time: 6:43 
 

4^th grade Boys

BIB# 429
Meadow's Edge
Time: 6:05
 

4^th grade Girls

BIB# 171
Elsie Rogers
Time: 6:51

It was particularly heartwarming when the whole crowd got behind one special runner to cheer him on 4th grade Horizon student Mikan Gensic, son of Penn Biology Teacher John Gensic. Mikan took everything in stride and didn't even seem to be tired when he was done. He even had to be talked into getting his complimentary bottle of water and frozen Urban Swirl cup!

All runners are to be congratulated for their efforts and hard work!!

A big thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation and Corporations for Education for sponsoring the event!

Sponsors for the 2018 event:

Presenting sponsor – Corporations for Education

Royal Excursion and Gaylor Electric

After Race Snack Donations:

Urban Swirl and B&B Organics

Be sure to sign up to run in the P-H-M Education Foundation’s Silver Mile Bubble Bash this Saturday, May 5. Click to register online today!

Please see the photo gallery below. To download a high resolution jpg file from the photo gallery, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function.

When Indiana’s primary election takes place Tuesday, May 8, 2018, six P-H-M schools will house a polling center, as they have in the past. 

Voters using these locations may find it helpful to know where to park and which doors to enter. Please click the links below to get details for each site …
 

• Mary Frank Elementary School
• Meadow’s Edge Elementary School
• Prairie Vista Elementary School
• Penn High School
• Schmucker Middle School
• Walt Disney Elementary School

Registered voters may only use the polling location that serves their precinct, based on their home address. Here is a link to the precincts maps and polling location information provided by St. Joseph County. 

The P-H-M Education Foundation announced its Spring Grant Cycle recipients. A total of $17,169 will be disbursed to P-H-M staff for this grant season. 

Since the Foundation’s inception in 1996, $1 million has been distributed in innovative teaching grants supporting P-H-M teachers, staff, and students! The Grants Committee is comprised of Foundation board members, community representatives, and a P-H-M administrator who evaluate each grant application. 

A complete list of the Spring 2018 Grant Recipients is below. 

EZ Grant award winners:

1. Social Studies Podcast
   Discovery Middle – James Howard
   Awarded: $219.96 – Funding for Blue Yeti microphones
2. Core Balance Discs
   Elm Road Elementary – Sara Pillow Bowen
   Awarded: $167.88 – Alternative seating of balance discs
3. Breakout EDU in the Library
   Horizon Elementary – Adrian Selmon
   Awarded: $150 – Breakout kits for 12-month access and 10+ subject packs
4. Presenter Tool Addition
   Northpoint Elementary – Nichol Mondy
   Awarded: $44 – Wireless remote for slideshow presentation
5. Preschool Portfolios for Penn PALS Preschool
   Bittersweet Elementary – Kristi Vandygriff
   Awarded: $249.68 – Materials to create student notebooks
6. Girls Empowered
   Penn High School – Derrick White, Amanda Bates, Emily Lehman
   Awarded: $250 – Materials and food for monthly meetings
7. Student Feedback Conference
   Walt Disney Elementary – Jordan Binion
   Awarded: $200– 1-day conference fees
8. Wiser with Words
   Elsie Rogers Elementary – Dorene Pond
   Awarded $146 – Vocabulary games
9. Future Problem Solvers of Second Grade
   Elsie Rogers Elementary – Holli Truckowski
   Awarded $84 – Math program’s teacher manuals
10. Classroom Digital E-writing tablets
    Elm Road Elementary – Courtney Miller
    Awarded $250 – Funds to support digital tablets in the classroom
11. Preschool Treasures
    Mary Frank PALS Preschool – Theresa Byszewski
    Awarded $250 – Learning toys for preschool students
12. The Heat Is On
    Penn High School – John Gensic and Jon Lockwood
    Awarded $230 – Funds to purchase infrared camera. 
13. Learning That Sticks
    Moran Elementary – Stephanie Strasser
    Awarded $115.50 – HeidiSongs for use as learning tools
14. Drill to Success: Free the Puma
    Prairie Vista Elementary – Shelley Lebiedzinski
    ​Awarded $250 – Reward program that includes animal presentation and entry to the zoo
15. Reading Hawk’s Celebration
    Meadow’s Edge Elementary – Becky Richhart
    Awarded $250 – Fun day for a reading reward program
16. Be An InspiraSUN: The Lunch & Learn Café
    Horizon Elementary – Jessica Moore
    Awarded $250 – Activity station and organizational materials
17. STEM
    Prairie Vista Elementary – Rose Montgomery and Michelle Sanchez
    Awarded $199.96 – Magnetic tiles for STEM program 

Full Funding/Traditional Form Grants approved for $250 or more:

1. Make It Fun; Make It Stick
   Elsie Rogers Elementary – Carlye Ponsler
   Requested $697.89 — Received $697.89
   Some of the most difficult skills to master in third grade are multiplication facts and fractions. MUGGINS! Math Games are hands-on materials that build thinking skills and increase self-confidence through award-winning board games and manipulatives.

2. Dot & Dash Club Pack
   Title 1 Elementary Schools – Jessie Kinney
   Requested $784 — Received $784
   Dot and Dash Club Pack will help students for the future and open them up to learning and understanding the language of code. This pack will expand the teacher’s current technology with two Dot robots, four Dash robots, two launchers, and two challenge card boxes.

3. Promoting Literacy and Learning Through Self-Created Imagery
   Discovery Middle – Whitney Emeigh
   Requested $3,000 — Received $3,000
   This project will offer students new ways to display artwork, create projects, and advocate for in-building programs. The poster maker has a design feature allowing students to create digitally bright visuals; the scan feature turns hand-drawn materials into a professional project; and also has a laminator component.

4. Tablets for the Elementary Classroom in PLTW and Bittersweet
   Bittersweet Elementary – Matthew Bodnar
   Requested $2,682.28 — Received $2,682.28
   Currently, the school only has one tablet that is utilized under a document camera. This grant funds eight iPads so a classroom of 32 can work in group of 4 for small group work. With this set of tablets, students will be able to complete modules for Project Lead the Way.

5. STEM Boxes
   Bittersweet Elementary – Michelle Leniski
   Requested $733.81 — Received $733.81
   The STEM boxes will be filled with innovative instructional materials for students to explore and discover Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math topics. Each classroom table will receive a box and within each box will be a task with instructions. Each box is designed to create opportunities for students to discover and apply real world problems through creative learning tools.

Partial Funding:

1. Increasing Cultural Awareness & Library Diversity in Middle School Libraries
   All P-H-M Middle Schools – Luann Mayer and Rachel Givens
   Requested $2,958 — Received $1,500
   An intercultural library will be created allowing multi-lingual students from Discovery, Grissom, and Schmucker to access a variety of books which focus on characters with diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and languages.

2. Break Time Boxes
   Elm Road Elementary – Audrey Kim
   Requested $2,000 — Received $1,864.74
   Materials will build upon a previously Foundation funded program and expand the capability of the program. The goal of Break Time Box is to let challenged students use manipulatives to calm themselves in the classroom setting.

3. Tablets for Apps
   Discovery Middle – Tim Braunsdorf
   Requested $2,879.84 — Received $2,600.19
   Tablets will be used in PLTW classes that will support developing mobile apps. A major component of the class is the use of MIT App Innovator software that allows students to develop mobile apps for the android operating system

The following administrative appointments for the 2018-2019 school year were approved by the Board of School Trustees at last night's Board Meeting:

• Christie Heerschop has been appointed to the position of Principal at Mary Frank Elementary School. Christie replaces Deb Hildreth, who is retiring at the end of the 2017-2018 school year after 14 years with the district.  Christie joined the P-H-M administrative team last August when she was appointed as one of Schmucker's two Assistant Principals. Christie holds a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Indiana University at South Bend. 
• Kristyn Martin was appointed to the position of Assistant Principal at Schmucker Middle School. Kristyn has served as the Freshman Academy Leader at Penn High School. Kristyn holds her Master’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University and is currently working on completing a second Master’s degree in Administration from Ball State University.
• Seth Molnar was appointed to the position of Director of Alternative Education and Special Projects. Seth joined P-H-M in the fall of 2016 as the Assistant Principal at Grissom Middle School. Seth holds a Master’s Degree from both Indiana University South Bend and Walden University.
• Jennifer Sinclair was appointed to the position of Assistant Principal at Grissom Middle School. Jennifer is currently a second grade teacher at Walt Disney Elementary and has provided leadership roles in technology, STEM, RTI, PBIS, as well as the Teacher Leadership Team at Walt Disney. Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Ball State University and is completing her MBA from IU Bloomington.
• Josiah Parker was appointed to fill one of the open positions of Assistant Principal at Penn High School. Josiah has most recently served as the STEM Academy Leader at Penn High School. Josiah is a graduate of Ball State University.

With music education programs at all grade levels (K-12), Penn-Harris-Madison has been named one of 2018 Best Communities for Music Education for its outstanding commitment to music education. P-H-M is one of only 583 districts nationwide and 12 in Indiana to receive the honor from The NAMM Foundation.

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. The BCME award acknowledges the commitment of P-H-M’s music teachers and administrators in the District’s 11 elementary, three middle schools and Penn High School.  

In our elementary schools, music class is part of the regular curriculum following state standards. Students are instructed in both vocal and instrument classes. Beginning in 6th grade, P-H-M students at our three middle schools (Discovery, Schmucker and Grissom) have the opportunity to choose choir, orchestra or band as their music elective.  Penn High School offers the Fine Arts & Communication Academy as part of its unique academy structure. The seven academy design provides Penn students with relevant and meaningful coursework taught in smaller, supportive environments where each student is known well by his teacher and peers. Nearly a third of Penn’s total 3,500 students are enrolled in the Fine Arts Academy with the majority being involved with music programs, either Choir, Orchestra, Band or another music program.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, P-H-M answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

This award recognizes that P-H-M is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The legislation guides implementation in the states and replaces the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). ESSA recommends music and the arts as important elements of a well-rounded education for all children. 

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. In a series of landmark studies by scientists and researchers at Northwestern University a link was found between students in community music programs and life-long academic success, including higher high school graduation rates and college attendance. In another study from the University, it was discovered that the benefits of early exposure to music education improves how the brain processes and assimilates sounds, a trait that lasts well into adulthood.

Beyond the Northwestern research, other studies have indicated that music education lays the foundation for individual excellence in group settings, creative problem solving and flexibility in work situations, as well learning how to give and receive constructive criticism to excel.

A 2015 study supported by The NAMM Foundation, “Striking A Chord,” also outlines the overwhelming desire by teachers and parents for music education opportunities for all children as part of the school curriculum.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation serves more than 11,100 students in our 15 schools. The School Corporation received an “A” rating from the Indiana Department of Education for the consecutively since 2011. With the release of the Spring 2017 ISTEP+ results, P-H-M ranks in the state’s top 4% of public school districts. Northpoint is Indiana’s #1 public elementary school, Discovery ranks #3 out of the state’s public middle schools. Penn High School has a 97% graduation rate, exceeding the state’s graduation rate. P-H-M’s “Triangle of Success” connects students, teachers and parents for excellence in education.

About The NAMM Foundation: The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,300 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.

Mark your calendars!

Community Connections Fair

Saturday, April 21, 2018

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Walt Disney Elementary School

In an effort to expand outreach to the families of all of our ENL students (grades K-12), P-H-M’s ENL Services is hosting a community resource fair to make families aware of the services not only available within the district, but also in the Mishawaka and South Bend areas. Bilingual interpreters will be on hand at the event to assist those families who need it.

Click here to download a copy of the event flier in English. Copies are also available in Spanish, Chinese and Korean.