The application window for P-H-M Education Foundation’s Spring 2018 Grant Cycle is now open!

PHMEF grants are eligible to any P-H-M staff member who can demonstrate a program’s innovation and creativity, and reflect commitment to excellence in education. Deadline for all grant applications is 4 p.m. Thursday March 29, at the ESC (55900 Bittersweet Rd., Mishawaka).

PHMEF is seeking innovative programs that have not been previous funding through past grant cycles. Note there are funding restrictions such as not paying for substitutes, food, party supplies, etc. A complete list of restrictions can be found in the application packet. Those applications requesting non-funded expenses will not be presented to the Grants Committee.

So parents work with your student’s teacher or principal to write up a grant proposal for a program you’ve been wishing you child’s school had. PHMEF grants are eligible to any staff member who can demonstrate their program’s innovation, creativity and reflects commitment to excellence in education. Click here for a list of the unique Fall grant awardees.

There are two ways to apply—EZ Form or Traditional Form. Grant applications and filing details can be found online at the Education Foundation’s website or by clicking on the links below:

1. EZ Form: for grants less than $250
2. Traditional Form: to be used for grants requesting $250 or more and/or a request that is comprehensive (multi-classroom, school-wide or district-wide requests)

The timeline for the PHMEF Spring Grant Cycle is as follows:

• Thursday, March 28 – All applications (EZ Form and Traditional Form) must be turned in by 4 p.m. at ESC or emailed if it is the EZ Form. No late applications will be accepted. Note there must be 10 copies for the traditional form.
• Between March 27 and April 24 – PHMEF grant committee meets to select recipients
• April 25 – P-H-M Education Foundation Board of Directors approve grant selections.
• By May 1– Recipients will be notified by email with formal letter to follow
• By May 7 – Checks will be sent to the recipient’s home school. 

On Thursday, March 8, P-H-M’s Forum is sponsoring a districtwide parent meeting on Internet Safety.

According to the Pew Research Center, 94% of teens use their cell phone for their online activity and 71% use more than one social media site.

What do you need to know as parents and guardians to keep them safe online when they’re at home?

Hear from cybercrime and internet safety expert St. Joseph County Police Department’s Officer Eric Tamashasky on Thursday, March 8, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., in the cafeteria of Schmucker Middle School (56045 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka).

This is a districtwide event sponsored by the P-H-M Forum parent group and is open to all P-H-M parents. Because of the nature of Offc. Tamashasky’s presentation concerning the online dangers parents need to be aware of, this event is not suitable for students below 9th grade. Spread the word to other P-H-M parents about this informational opportunity.  

The P-H-M Teacher Job Fair previously scheduled for Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 is being rescheduled due to the weather for Friday, Feb. 23, 2018.

2:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Schmucker Middle School (Enter Door B)
56045 Bittersweet Road
Mishawaka, IN 46545

Click here for more details and to start an application. 

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is nationally recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” offering choir, band and orchestra at our three middle schools.

Every P-H-M student who will be attending a P-H-M middle school as an incoming 6th grader in the Fall has the opportunity to join an instrumental music class, which includes either band or orchestra.

In order to join 6th grade band or orchestra, students must select an instrument that they will learn, practice and perform for the school year.  Students/parents must click to use this link to sign-up for your appointment at your designated school and date.

“Instrument Selection Night” is when students and families get to make their choice!

At “Instrument Selection Night,” a music professional musician will be available to give students advice about which instrument may be best suited for them. They will be allowed to “try out” instruments from various instrument groups.

Please see the dates and times below for your students’ soon-to-be middle school …

Discovery Middle School

Monday, Feb. 26, 2018

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018

4:30-8:00 p.m.

Grissom Middle School

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018

4:30-8:00 p.m.

Schmucker Middle School

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018

4:30-8:00 p.m.

Click here to learn more about Instrument Night and to make your appointment for designated school and date.

The Indiana General Assembly honored the outstanding achievements from the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation on Monday, January 29. Three resolutions authored by State Sen. Joe Zakas (R-Granger) recognized P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, Penn High School Girls Soccer Coach Jeff Hart and Penn Band Director Glenn Northern for their recent accomplishments.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 21 honored Dr. Thacker for being named 2017 Outstanding Educator by the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents. Dr. Thacker also received this award in 2013. He has received a number of other awards, as well, including Indiana Superintendent of the Year in 2012. The award honors Dr. Thacker for his successful oversight of 15 schools with an enrollment of nearly 11,200 students. P-H-M has consistently been named an “A” rated school district and ranks among the state’s Top 4% of Hoosier public school districts.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 congratulated the Penn’s Girls Soccer team for winning their second straight Class 3A state championship. They defeated the Guerin Catholic High School girls team 2-0 for the title. The remarkable Penn team completed the 2017 season ranked first in the nation, as well. Coach Jeff Hart was present at the Statehouse to receive the recognition on behalf of the team’s student-athletes.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 23 honored Kingsmen Band Director & Fine Arts Academy Leader Glenn Northern on receiving the 2018 Outstanding Music Educator of the Year from the Indiana Music Educator Association. Northern arrived at P-H-M in 2001 and he directs more than 450 students in four concert bands, three jazz ensembles, two percussion classes, pit orchestra, pep band, marching band and five winter guards! P-H-M has been recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” by the National Association of Music Merchants due in great part to Northern’s work.

“It is fitting for the General Assembly to honor these tremendous achievements and to recognize them on a statewide basis,” Senator Zakas said.

State Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen) and State Sen. David Niezgodski (D-South Bend) also served as sponsors of the resolutions. Rep. Dale DeVon (R-Granger) served as the principal sponsor in the Indiana House of Representatives.

On Friday, January 19, P-H-M hosted  21 students and seven teachers from P-H-M’s partner school in Anshan, China.

The visit started at Discovery where students, staff and P-H-M administrators attended a kick-off breakfast. The student visitors spent the morning at Discovery sitting in on various classes with their P-H-M host student learning from DMS teachers. The students and teachers also got to ride P-H-M school buses to visit classrooms at Grissom and Schmucker Middle schools—giving them a complete flavor of academic life in Penn-Harris-Madison. Click to see pictures and get more details about the visits to Discovery, Schmucker and the Grissom.

Click to watch the “Excellence Happens Here” video of Discovery Principal Sheryll Harper explaining the value of the cultural exchange program.

Click to see more Excellence Happens Here videos about Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation.

P-H-M has had this partnership with the school in Anshan, China sine 2009. Every other year P-H-M middle school students get the opportunity to visit the school in China and also host Chinese student visitors here.  The next trip to China is planned for  March 27 – April 4, 2019. Click to learn more.

Penn High School students and programs were the stars of the show at Monday night’s Board meeting (Jan. 22, 2018). Every year, the Board chooses a few schools to hold their Board meetings. The school meeting sites are a way for the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees to not only visit the schools, but to also give the schools a chance to highlight their successes.

As Board Members and guests arrived for the meeting, they were treated to Penn’s Jazz Combo, under the direction of Mr. Lavon Oke. The group recently received the "Judges Award" (third place) at the Purdue Jazz Festival.

With the help of Board President Chris Riley, STEM Academy/Biology teacher Andrew Warner demonstrated the school’s virtual reality unit that he uses in his classroom with students. President Riley travelled from outer space to Paris and climbed the Eiffel Tower all while never leaving Penn’s IMC!

Penn Principal Sean Galiher also asked students to present on the value of the dozens of Clubs offered at Penn.

More than half of Penn’s approximate 3,700 students take courses within Penn Fine Arts. Academy Leader Glenn Northern updated the Board on some of the recent accomplishments of Fine Arts Students:

• Penn High School students excelled in the Scholastic Art Awards, which is the largest Art competition in the nation. Penn students received 13 Gold Key Awards, 16 Silver Key Awards, and 25 Honorable Mentions.
• Two students have been invited to perform in the 2018 Carneige Hall Honors Performance Series National Youth Orchestra.
• The Penn Orchestra will be performing and participating in a recording soundtrack workshop at Disney World in April, 2018.
• Symphonic Winds placed 7th in the Indiana State Concert Band Finals in 2017.

    
   

Mr. Northern himself was recognized by the Board for his recent award for 2018 Outstanding High School Music Educator of the Year by the Indiana Music Educator Association Board, as well as Penn Softball Coach Beth Zachary for being named 2016-2017 Central Sectional Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

At the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees first meeting of 2018 (held Monday, January 8), Board Members elected new officers.

Chris Riley was elected President, Larry Beehler was elected to continue as Vice President and Angie Gates was elected Secretary. All were elected unanimously.

Mr. Riley succeeds as President after Gary Fox, who had served as President since 2015. Mr. Beehler has served as Vice President also since 2015. And Mrs. Gates carries on as Secretary after Mr. Riley who had served in that role since 2016.

At the meeting the Board and P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker thanked and recognized Mr. Fox for his service as Board President by presenting him with a commemorative plaque. Mr. Fox represents Harris Township and holds Seat 4. He’s served on the Board of School Trustees since 2001.

Mr. Riley is an attorney with the Law Firm Thorne Grodnik LLP of Elkhart. Representing the At-Large Seat, Mr. Riley has served on the P-H-M Board since 2011 and was previously President in 2014 – Sept. 2015.

Mr. Beehler is the longest serving Board of School Trustees member—entering his 32nd year of service! Mr. Beehler holds Seat 5 representing Madison Township.

Mrs. Gates holds the Board’s 6th Seat representing Harris Township and was appointed to the Board in March 2016. 

Other Board Members include Jaye Galloway (Seat 1 – Penn Twp.), Jim Garrett (Seat 3 – Penn Twp.) and Jamie Woods (Seat 2 – Penn Twp.). Learn more about Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees.

The window to apply for 2018-19 school year non-resident enrollment will be open between Feb. 20, 2018 – March 9, 2018. 

There will be limited schools and spots available for non-resident students for the 2018-19 school year.

Details about non-resident enrollment will be posted on Tuesday, February 20. Visit this page for more information.

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.