Penn-Harris-Madison is fortunate enough to have an Education Foundation that develops alternative sources of income to support educational programs that fall outside of the District’s funding sources.

Since the Foundation’s inception in 1996, more than $520,000 have been distributed in innovative teaching grants supporting P-H-M teachers, staff, and students.

Twice a year, fall and spring, the PHMEF accepts grant applications from any District employee or parent who has a project in need of financial support.  The Grants Committee is comprised of Foundation board members, community representatives, and a P-H-M administrator who evaluate each grant application.

The Foundation is pleased to announce its Fall Grant Cycle recipients. A total of $16,750.17 will be disbursed to P-H-M staff in 13 of the 15 P-H-M schools. A complete list is below …

EZ Form grants approved for $250 or less:

1. Increasing Expressive Language in Speech/Language Therapy:
   Northpoint & Mary Frank Elementary Schools  – Shannon Harrington/Abbey Kaiser
   Awarded: $250 – Funding for Expanding Expression Tool program

2. Steam Erosion and Deposition and Mineral Crystals:
   Horizon Elementary – Anna Lira
   Awarded: $237.83 – Hands-on kits offer detailed learning on erosion and minerals

3. Learning Toys for Students with Multiple Disabilities:
   Mary Frank PennPALS Preschool program – Tess Weaver
   Awarded: $241.90 – Learning toys geared toward students with more severe disabilities.

4. Flocabulary: Grammar/Vocab Made Fun:
   Penn High School – Francesca Varga
   Awarded: $250 – Program that utilizes hip hop to create standards in math, science, social studies, current events.

5. Clean Shop:
   Penn High School – Les Crooks
   Awarded: $99.98 – Shop vacs to replace non-working vacuums to maintain a clean shop.

6. ‘Lead-ers’ in Public Health:
   Penn High School – Courtney Porters and John Gensic
   Awarded: $248.33 – Seniors to test lead levels in the P-H-M community with Lead Check Instant Test Swabs.

7.  Happy Numbers for Happy Kinders:
   Moran Elementary – Meg Csenar
   Awarded: $249– Computer program that fosters individual growth in math

8. Loud and Clear:
   Elm Road Elementary – Christy Cook
   Awarded: $199.96 – Bluetooth portable microphones to be used by students when sharing presentations in class.

9. Children’s Literature in the Music Classroom:
   Meadow’s Edge Elementary – Sarah Fish
   Awarded $250 – Books that will incorporate musical concepts and enhance lessons in history, movement, and composition.

10. Student Service Lounge:
    Schmucker Middle – Andrea Hoover
    Awarded $250 – Provides additional seating in the front office for students waiting to meet with counselors.

11. Playing to Learn:
    Moran Elementary – Stephanie Strasser
    Awarded $175 – Subscription to Mathseeds, which is a comprehensive, blended math program created for early learners grades K-2.

12. Physical Health & Growth:
     Bittersweet PennPALS Preschool program – Sara Barhydt
     Awarded $220.26 – Funds will be used to purchase scooters and storage rack that will be used to enhance balance and coordination.

13. Adventures in Computer Science:
    Prairie Vista Elementary – Amanda Fox
    Awarded $224.95 – Let’s Go Code will introduce computer science to lower elementary students

14. Bearings:
    Penn High School – Evan White
    Awarded $150 – Bearings will be used to make axles spin freely, without friction in the Principles of Engineering class.

15. Physics Guitar Unit Project:
    Penn High School – Jonathan Lockwood
    Awarded $250 – Materials to build an electric guitar to teach physics, including acoustics concepts such as tension and resonance. Materials are reusable.

16. Get Your Neon Read On:
    Elm Road Elementary – Ashley Kocsis
    Awarded $223.20 – Supports close reading by using highlighters that will illuminate key  reading details.

17. Fish Are Friends:
    Northpoint Elementary – Katie Zielinski
    Awarded $126 – Classroom pet fish will enhance class community, teach responsibility. 

18. High Interest Novels for Reluctant and Below Grade Level Readers:
    Discovery Middle – Jennifer McMillen
    Awarded $248.75 – Books designed to encourage middle school students who are reluctant to read due to below grade level abilities.

Traditional Form grants approved for $250 or more (Full Funding)

1. Writing Mentor Texts:
   Meadow’s Edge Elementary – Leah Gerbeth
   Requested $377.74 — Received $377.74
   A collection of mentor texts books will be used in literature to provide concrete, quality examples traits of writing, ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions and presentation. Students will utilize these mentor texts as concrete examples as they build upon their own writing skills.

2. Smart Music:
   Grissom Middle – Vickie Marshall
   Requested $3,549 — Received $3,549
   Band, choir, and orchestra students will benefit from the SmartMusic program that provides an
   integration of technology, differentiated instruction, one-on-one tutuoring for those who need extra support. It allows students to perform music, watch and listen on their Chromebooks, and provides automatic feedback on their performance with correct notes highlighted.

3. Sit and Read a Bit:
   Bittersweet Elementary – Patricia Heidkamp
   Requested $1,249.67 — Received $1,249.67
   Back Jack chairs will be used in the school’s library for students to use while reading. These chairs provide comfortable seating with a floor cushion and back rest. They can be used upright or in a reclined position and students will be able to easily maneuver the lightweight chairs around the library.

4. Blast Off With Rocketbooks for STEM Success:
   Penn High School – Rebecca Tagliaferri and Jonathon Lockwood
   Requested $2,400 — Received $2,400
   A Rocketbook is a notebook with waterproof synthetic poly blend pages. These pages can be written on with a Pilot pen, highlighter, or markers. Students will be able to save assignments and can be sent to multiple locations such as the Cloud, electronically to email addresses or Google drives files or Dropbox, etc. Once the assignment is complete, these pages can be cleaned with water and ready to be used again. These Rocketbooks will be utilized in Math and Physics classes.

5. Exploring Science through a Literary Lens:
   Discovery Middle – Shonda Masterson
   Requested $1,265.95 — Received $1,265.95
   This project will immerse science students into non-fiction literature in their quest to gain knowledge and understanding in science and the scientific process. Students will be able to read scientific stories and extract evidence to make claims and conduct research.

Partial Funding

1. Bakers Gonna Bake
   Penn High School – Cara Watt
   Requested $3,950.65 — Received $2,410.65
   Culinary materials will provide updated equipment for the Penn’s Nutrition and Wellness classes and Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management class. These new materials will allow teachers to put a stronger emphasis on organization and inventory, as most equipment will be purchased according to a color-coded system. Updated cooking equipment also will allow students to better plan and prepare healthy meals.

2. iPads for Inclusive Preschool Classrooms:
   Elsie Rogers Preschool – Pam Walters
   Requested $2,884.99 — Received $1,602
   iPads have many ways to accommodate multiple learning styles and varying physical and mental abilities. Visual learners can easily see text and moving texts. Auditory learners can experience the lesson through sound provided by headphones or speakers. Kinesthetic learners can physically manipulate text, images and other stimuli directly on the screen with the touch of a finger.
    

This year’s fall grant application window was September 18 – October 26. The spring grant cycle application window has not yet been announced.

Breakfast with Santa has been a big hit for more than 30 years at P-H-M and this year was no exception!

On Saturday, December 2, 300 people had the chance to spend some time with Santa at Bittersweet Elementary School. The attendees were treated to a program that included a laser show titled “Laser Holidays” at the DVT, breakfast in the cafeteria and then a personal visit with Santa. Please see a photo gallery below.

See you next year!

P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker was recognized last night (Thursday, Nov. 30) as Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS) 2017 Outstanding Educator of the Year!

This is the second time Dr. Thacker has received this prestigious honor from his IAPSS peers; the first time was in 2013. He was also named Indiana Superintendent of the Year in 2012 and received the Sagamore of the Wabash in 2014—Indiana’s highest award—from then Governor Mike Pence. He has also been recognized as Alumnus of the Year from both IUSB and Bethel College.

Dr. Thacker began his career in education in Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation as a 6th grade teacher at Madison Elementary School. Having filled a variety of leadership roles at districts across Indiana and Michigan, in July 2006 he returned to the P-H-M schools to serve as superintendent. Under Dr. Thacker’s leadership, the Indiana Department of Education has consistently named P-H-M an “A” Rated School District. The School Corporation now ranks in the state’s top 4% of public school districts with nine Four Star Schools.

The musical talents of middle school and high school students were showcased at the Penn High School Kaleidoscope Concert on Wednesday, November 15 and Thursday, November 16.

The groups that performed were the combined P-H-M eighth-grade band, the Penn High School Symphonic Winds, the Penn Advanced Jazz Ensemble and a stand-still performance by the Penn Marching Kingsmen.

Please see a photo gallery below of the combined P-H-M eighth-grade band (comprised of students from Discovery, Grissom and Schmucker).

Penn High School, regarded as one of the top high schools in Indiana, will feature its educational opportunities for prospective and current students during the Penn Showcase, 6:30-8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, and Tuesday, Dec. 12.

The Showcase event will start in the Center for the Performing Arts, and the Studio Theater. Events will then be held in the Cafeteria, Commons and classrooms across the building.

“The Showcase is designed to help incoming parents and students learn about all Penn has to offer, from Academies, to classes, and even extra-curricular activities,” Penn World Languages Academy Leader Kelley Watts said. “The Showcase also helps current 9th, 10th, and 11th graders and their parents make educated decisions about the pathways they should be following and the classes in which they should be enrolling.” 

Current eighth-grade students can explore possible pathways, electives, and clubs and activities.

Current ninth, 10th and 11th graders can explore elective courses and the achievement academies.

Named a Four-Star School by the state of Indiana, Penn High School is a heralded 90-25-90 school, surpassing the benchmarks of excellence by having a graduation rate of more than 90 percent, having more than 25 percent of students taking Advanced Placement classes, and having more than 90 percent of students passing ISTEP.

Current Penn-Harris-Madison students and families, along with those who live within P-H-M boundaries but maybe attending other schools, are invited to attend. The is an opportunity for community members, students and families to learn more about all the amazing programs Penn High School has to offer.

All visitors should enter Penn High School at Door C on Monday, Dec. 11, and Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Here is a schedule of the nights’ events:

• Welcome and orientation for current eighth-graders will be held in the Center for Performing Arts starting at 6:30 p.m.
• Welcome and diploma track overview for current students is scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. in the Studio Theater.
• Honors/ACP/AP/Dual Credit Class Presentations will be from 7:10 to 7:35 p.m. in LGI-A.

At the conclusion of the Welcome sessions, students may visit the cafeteria, where teachers representing the Academies and elective classes will be available to answer questions and provide information. Representatives of Penn Exceptional Education Academy will also be available to answer questions.

Elective areas to tour and meet teachers include:

• Visual Arts
• Business
• Family and Consumer Science
• World Language
• Performing Arts
• Health & Wellness
• Technology  

The Elkhart Area Career Center will also have staffers available to provide information in the Commons area.

Representatives of Penn’s Counseling Center will also be available to provide support in the course selection process.

Representatives of the clubs at Penn High School will be available to meet with students in the Commons area in front of the Instructional Materials Center (by the large Kingsman sculpture).

With a graduation rate of more than 97 percent, Penn High School offers exceptional opportunities for college and career readiness through its academies – STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Health and Human Services, Management and Business, Fine Arts and Communications, Early College, and Freshman Academy.

Penn stresses the Penn-Harris-Madison Triangle of Success – rigor, relationships, and relevance – while also being dedicated to a technology-rich learning environment. Each Penn student is issued a personal Chromebook.

For more information about Penn High School, email Principal Sean Galiher at srgaliher@phm.k12.in.us.

At the Board Meeting held Monday, November 13, the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees approved the agreement between the P-H-M Teachers Association and the School Corporation increasing the minimum base starting salary for current P-H-M teachers and new hires for the 2018-19 school year to $39,300—the highest starting teacher salary in the area!

“Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is committed to providing an excellent education to all of our district’s students,” commented Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker. “And an excellent education starts with exceptional teachers. This new agreement will help us attract and retain the best teachers in our area.”

For current eligible P-H-M teachers, the agreement will be retroactive to July 1, 2017 running through June 20, 2018 and will provide increases indicated below:

• Teachers with a base salary range of  $37,500 – $39,999, will receive a salary increase of $1,800;
• base salary range of $40,000 – $55,999, will receive a $1,600 increase;
• base salary range of $56,000 – $64,478, will receive a $1,300 increase plus a one-time $300 stipend;
• and those with the base salary of $64,479 and above, will receive a $1,250 increase plus a one-time $350 stipend.

Teachers who coach extracurricular activities, academic and athletic, will receive a 3% increase in their stipends. Several new academic ECA positions have been added increasing the district’s commitment to excellence in education.

The PHMTA membership overwhelmingly ratified the agreement Friday, Nov. 10. The collaboration between P-H-M administration and the Teachers’ Association shows the value and vision that both sides share in attracting and retaining the area’s most highly qualified teachers.

P-H-M schools participated in Veterans Day programs today.

At Bittersweet Elementary, members of the local VFW spoke to Bittersweet 5th grade students about the history of the flag, meaning, the Star Spangled Banner and how to properly fold a U.S. flag as part of their the Flag Awareness Program. They also presented the school with a new flag and conducted a flag retirement and raising ceremony for students. Click here to read the full story and see a photo gallery.

At Grissom Middle School, the eighth grade students as part of their Social Studies class learning host the annual the school’s Veteran’s Day celebration. The celebration is a way of not just learning history first hand, but a chance to say thank you by meeting and honoring veterans in person. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R, 2^nd District) was also on hand as the honored guest speaker. Click here to read the full story and see a photo gallery.

At Schmucker, the keynote speaker Major General Peter K. Sullivan. Major General Sullivan is the mobilization assistant to the assistant secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, the Pentagon, Washington D.C. As part of the Major General’s remarks, he asked for every veteran to stand and give his name, rank and the branch of the military he or she served in. A couple of World War II veterans were in attendance. Click here to read the full story and see a photo gallery.

Out of 410 Indiana High School Athletic Association members, only one — Penn High School – hoisted a Sectional Championship trophy in each of the eight Fall Sports.

Penn-Harris-Madison Supt. Dr. Jerry Thacker, Penn Principal Principal Sean Galiher, and Athletic Director Aaron Leniski announced that for the first time, Penn swept Sectional Championships in each of the eight IHSAA Fall sports, and that Penn is the only school in the state to accomplish that feat this year.

“What an amazing example of excellence!” Dr. Thacker said. “I am so proud of these champions – coaches and players.  They are remarkable role models and products of our Triangle of Success.  Congratulations!”

Galiher lauded the efforts of the entire Penn community in the remarkable achievement.

“This accomplishment reflects the collective efforts of our students, coaches, teachers, parents and school community,” Galiher said. “I am so proud of these student-athletes. We take great pride in providing experiences that challenge students both academically and on the field. Our coaches are the best in the state.  “

Leniski said that being the only team in the state this year to sweep Sectional crowns in all of the Fall Sports is a comprehensive effort.

“The Athletic Department is pleased to play a vital role in providing education-based athletics for our school community,” Leniski said. “The school administration is extremely proud of the accomplishments by the Fall sports teams. 

“An IHSAA Sectional Championship, due to the number teams involved at that tournament level, is the most challenging championship to earn in the state series.  Our student-athletes and coaching staff have dedicated countless hours in the off-season to sports-performance training and open-facility development work in order to attain their goals. 

“Hard work, dedication, and perseverance continue to produce outstanding results on the athletic field and in the classroom for Kingsmen student-athletes,” Leniski said. “This is a win-win for our school community.”

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY (Coach Tom Miller): Penn won its second consecutive Cross Country Sectional Championship and 22nd in Program history. The Kingsmen placed five runners in the Top 10. Penn scored 27 points. Mishawaka placed second with 68 points. The Kingsmen also won a Regional Championship.

BOYS SOCCER (Coach Josh Nakayama): Penn won its seventh consecutive Sectional Championship in Boys Soccer and 11th overall with a 2-1 victory against South Bend Riley in the Championship Match.

BOYS TENNIS (Coach Eric Bowers): Penn won its 16th consecutive Sectional Championship in Boys Tennis and 23rd Sectional Championship overall. The Kingsmen defeated Marian, 5-0, in the Championship Match. The Kingsmen also won a Regional Championship.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY (Coach Michael Clements): Penn won its 14th consecutive Girls Cross Country Sectional Championship and 26th overall. The Kingsmen placed six runners in the Top 10 to finish with 29 points. Mishawaka placed second with 52 points. The Kingsmen also won a Regional Championship.

GIRLS GOLF (Coach Dominic Demeter): Penn Girls Golf  won its ninth Sectional Championship in a row and 19th in Program history. Penn shot a 349 to lead the 11-team field. South Bend St. Joseph placed second with a score of 367.

GIRLS SOCCER (Coach Jeff Hart): Penn extended its state-best streak of consecutive Sectional Championships to 11. The Kingsmen own 16 Sectional Championships in Program history. Penn went on to win the Class 3-A State Championship, and were named National Champions by topdrawersoccer.com.

FOOTBALL (Coach Cory Yeoman): Penn beat Warsaw, 40-0, to win its fifth consecutive Football Sectional Championship and 24th in Program history. Penn competes in the Regional Championship at Crown Point on Friday, Nov. 10.

VOLLEYBALL (Coach Sarah Hendricks): Penn defeated No. 16 LaPorte, 25-14, 25-13, 25-16, to win the Sectional Championship. It was the 14th Sectional Championship in Program history.

Penn High School honored 15 student-athletes who participated in NCAA National Signing Day on Wed., Nov. 8.

Click here for a list for a profile of each student-athlete.

In honor of upcoming Veteran’s Day, P-H-M’s DVT & Planetarium is proud to show once again the historical mini documentary “D-Day: Normandy 1944” narrated by Tom Brokaw.  

The showing will be at the P-H-M DVT/Planetarium on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m. The DVT/Planetarium is located inside Bittersweet Elementary School at 55860 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka.

In gratitude to our veteran’s, the show will be FREE TO ALL VETERANS!!!

Ticket prices for adults are $4, Seniors $3 and children are $2.