Indiana Department of Education Superintendent Glenda Ritz dropped in for a visit of P-H-M schools this week (Wednesday, October 26). Superintendent Ritz got a whirlwind tour of Bittersweet, Penn and Schmucker seeing everything from the DVT to a robotics class.  P-H-M’s own Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker shined the spotlight on our STEM programs and safety initiatives at all three schools with the help of principals, teachers and students.

The P-H-M visit started at Bittersweet with a short demonstration of the DVT by Director Mindy O’Malley. Principal Bob Thompson took Supt. Ritz into Matt Bodnar’s fourth grade Project Lead the Way class where students were working on car models.

At Penn, Early Learning and STEM Academy students served as tour guides. Supt. Ritz was able to observe Early College Academy Spanish and English classes. In the STEM Academy, she learned about students CSI work repairing Chromebooks as part of the Chromebook Support Internship and observe the hands-on projects taking place in the Principals of Engineering and Robotics classes. She even donned safety glasses to see what students were constructing in Buildings Trades shop class. At each stop, Supt. Ritz was able to interact with the students and see things up close and personal. The tour was more than just a learning experience for Supt. Ritz; for PNN students, the visit was turned into an opportunity to cover the event and interview Ritz for real world journalism experience.

At Schmucker, Supt. Ritz observed Matt Reinga’s Project Lead the Way sixth grade class for more demonstrations of STEM in action. Before departing P-H-M, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Dr. Kay Antonelli presented Supt. Ritz with one of the art pieces made as a part of this past summer’s Visual Arts Academy. The artwork titled “Together We Can” was a gift thanking Supt. Ritz for the IDOE’s recognition of the VAA as a 2016 Promising Practice.

ATTENTION ALL PHM PARENTS:

Do you want the power to change whether or not you want your home or your cell phone to receive calls when we have to notify you of school closings?

Do you also want to receive text messages and emails?

You now have the power through SchoolMessenger’s new parent portal, InfoCenter, to set your preferences for emergency notifications.

You can also download the SchoolMessenger app and manage your account on your smartphone.

CLICK HERE for all the details and step-by-step instructions. Sign up today!!!

The annual Superintendent’s Luncheon was held Tuesday, October 18, 2016.  P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker presented his State of the Corporation address to a packed house of parents, community, business and education leaders. 

The P-H-M Education Foundation hosts the annual luncheon not only as a fundraiser for the District, but as a way to showcase and say thank you to all its partners who have made grant funding possible for various value-add school programs. Last school year, the Education Foundation awarded more than $45,000 in grants to P-H-M programs.

Entering into his 11^th school year as P-H-M Superintendent, Dr. Thacker took the opportunity to look back on the last decade. Just some of the highlights he shared with the audience include:

• P-H-M schools are in the top 1% with A-rated letter grades 

• P-H-M schools are in the top 2% of Four Star School Award Winners

• P-H-M schools are in the top 3% of ISTEP scores

• Penn High School’s graduation Rate is 97% placing it in the top 1% of large school districts 

This year’s guest speaker was Mike Sanford, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the University of Notre Dame football team. Sanford’s father was also the quarterbacks coach for ND under famed Lou Holtz and Bob Davie from 1996-98. During those years, Sanford attended Penn High School and played on the Kingsmen football team. Sanford quickly made the audience laugh by joking about ND’s losing football record this year. He then praised his former Penn football, Hall of Famer Coach Chris Geesman and current Coach Cory Yeoman. Sanford shared with luncheon attendees his philosophy for communicating with the current generation and how he works to build a community amongst his quarterbacks.

Other highlights of this year’s Superintendent's Luncheon included recognizing 2015-16 PHMEF grant recipients, 2016 P-H-M Teacher of the Year John Gensic and the presentation of the Cornerstone Award to Saint Joseph Health System.  Emcee & longtime PHMEF supporter himself Jeff Johnson presented the award praising Saint Joseph as a valued partner and sponsor, supporting the Silver Mile Run for Education &  Health and Fitness Fair since its inception in 2005.

The presenting sponsor of this year’s Luncheon was TCU. PHMEF is also grateful to the following Patron Sponsors:

• Barnes & Thornburg LLP
• Crowe Horwath LLP
• Four Winds Casino
• LL Low Associates, Inc.
• May Oberfell Lorber
• RE Sutton & Associates
• Sen. Ryan Mishler

This morning in a special meeting Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees unanimously voted to approve the Teachers Agreement for the 2016-2017 school year raising the eligible teachers’ salaries by $1,000, retroactive to the start of this school year.

In the new one-year agreement ratified Tuesday, Sept. 27 by the Teachers Association, the minimum starting salary for teachers will increase from $37,000 to $37,500. This is the second year in a row Board has approved a salary increase for teachers. The new salary range for the 2016-2017 school year will be $37,500-$70,500. The salaries for extracurricular academic and athletic coaches at all levels (elementary, middle and high school) levels will increase by 3%. Health insurance plan cost increases will be addressed through plan design changes and premium increases for both teachers and the District effective January 1, 2017.

In 2015, P-H-M was rated an “A-rated” school district by the Indiana Department of Education for the 6th year in a row, with 100% of P-H-M teachers rated as either “Highly Effective” or “Effective.” P-H-M values its teachers and wants to reward them.

“Our teachers have helped make P-H-M a top 10 school district in the state of Indiana,” said Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker. “We want to not only attract the best school teachers, but retain them. These salary increases help make that possible.”

For the 2015 ISTEP+, P-H-M earned an 81.4% pass rate for ELA (English/Language Arts); 78.0% pass rate for Math; and an overall combined pass rate of 72.1% for both subjects areas. P-H-M now ranks 10th in the state among 293 public school districts. Serving approximately 10,700 students, P-H-M has six “Four Star schools” named by the IDOE last year: Horizon Elementary, Mary Frank Elementary, Prairie Vista Elementary, Northpoint Elementary, Discovery Middle, and Penn High School. Penn High School's graduation rate exceeds the state’s with a 97% graduation rate.

Yesterday (Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016), Northpoint Elementary School was named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School (one of just 329 schools nationwide and eight in Indiana). This makes the ninth time a P-H-M school received the nation's top honor. Prairie Vista won in 2015 and in 1996; Penn High School in 1994, 1995 and 2001; Discovery Middle School in 2006 and 2013. Northpoint previously received the award in 2010.

U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr. announced today at 1:00 p.m. EST that Northpoint Elementary School is among the 329 schools (eight in Indiana) named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School.

Principal Diane Wirth called an all-school assembly shortly after the announcement was made nationally to surprise all the students, teachers and staff with the good news. Students celebrated by singing and dancing the Northpoint School Song. Watch the video and click here to look through the photo gallery below.
 

This makes the second time in six years that the Penn-Harris-Madison Four Star School has been recognized with this national honor; the first award was given in 2010. Northpoint has a strong track record of maintaining high standards and helping their students achieve academic success. Nationally, Northpoint is ranked #27 (among 70,000 schools) in the 2016 list of “50 Best American Public Elementary Schools” by TheBestSchools.org.

“The belief that ‘It takes a village,’ is truly understood and applied at Northpoint,” said Wirth.  “Our student population is a snapshot of the world’s diversity and culture. We celebrate these unique differences and teach our students to value and respect all. Our success is tied to the strong partnership formed between students, teachers, and parents. Northpoint embodies this ‘Triangle of Success,’ Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation’s formula for student achievement.”

“Today’s award is an affirmation for Northpoint and P-H-M School Corporation that our formula for success works,” said Penn Harris Madison School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker. “The students are the focus of our Triangle. Their success is possible because they are encouraged and taught by excellent teachers and supported by their parents and families.”

Recognized as an Exemplary High Performing Blue Ribbon School, Northpoint teachers consistently instill a can-do attitude in students. Using formative assessments, teachers are able to pinpoint the needs of each child. Teaching is data-driven and infused with high expectations. Northpoint boasts a well-rounded education where the arts and music programs enrich the students’ experiences.

Nine National Blue Ribbons have been awarded to P-H-M Schools. The tally includes Penn High School in 1994, 1995 and 2001; Discovery Middle School in 2006 and 2013; Prairie Vista in 1996 and 2015; and Northpoint Elementary School in 2010 and 2016.

The Department of Education will honor 279 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony at in Washington, DC to be held on Monday and Tuesday, November 7 and 8, 2016. In its 34-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on more than 7,500 of America's schools.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content.

All schools are recognized in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates are also at the highest levels.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's subgroups and all students over the past five years. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates for each subgroup are at high levels.

The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated each year.

Planning for Your Dependent with Special Needs is the title of an evening presentation aimed at parents of children with disabilities.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is co-hosting the Monday, October 17 workshop, along with School City of Mishawaka and South Bend Community Schools.  

The presentation will take place at John Young Middle School, 1801 N. Main Street, Mishawaka. The event, which is free and open to the public, will start at 6:30 p.m.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP by contacting Karen Filipski at filipskik@mishawaka.k12.in.us or (574) 254-4530.

The keynote speaker, Mr. Gordon Homes, is a financial planning professional who holds a unique perspective through his experience both as an advisor and a parent. He will deliver helpful information on a myriad of issues including understanding and accessing public benefits, preserving benefit eligibility through Special Needs Trusts, and guardianship concerns.  His remarks will cover:

• ABLE Act
• Waiver Update
• Special Needs Trusts
• Guardianship

Click here to open the workshop flier, which includes more information about Mr. Homes’ extensive background in this field. 

Gena Todd, director of P-H-M’s Exceptional Education Division, emphasizes that this will be a great opportunity for parents to learn more about planning for the future of their children and she encourages P-H-M parents to attend. 

As part of the celebration for Indiana’s bicentennial, the Indiana Department of Education has recognized P-H-M’s “Hablo Arte” summer program as one of 200 promising practices from school districts from all over the state to commemorate our 200 years of Statehood.

Hablo Arte translated from Spanish means “I speak art.”  The three-week summer program is a uniquely P-H-M created educational experience that teaches K-5 students Spanish facilitated with and through the Visual Arts.

The curriculum was based upon World Language Core Standards, such as Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities as well as the Indiana Standards for the Visual Arts encompassing Responding to Art, Visual Literacy, and Creating Art. Children were grouped in grade bands K-1, 2-3, and 4-5, and daily instruction ranged from immersion to instruction in both Spanish and English.

P-H-M’s summer Visual Arts Academy was also recognized as a Promising Practice.

Promising Practices will be shared with educators across the state of Indiana as an example of best practices that are having a positive impact on Hoosier students.

Additional information about the Promising Practices initiative can be found on the Department of Education’s website. 

Penn-Harris-Madison has been recognized by the Indiana Department of Education as a school of Promising Practice in the area of safety and security.  P-H-M’s three layer approach Promising Practice is one of 200 education or wrap-around service programs to be recognized by the Department in honor of Indiana’s bicentennial celebration.

The layered security approach is implemented in all 15 of our schools. The security layers begin with our entrances and access controls. Other security layers include internal corridors and panic buttons locking off our learning communities. Finally, classroom security and training is critical. We have an ongoing commitment to school safety and have taken a leadership role in education and training.

Providing a safe and secure learning environment is the highest priority for P-H-M. Safe learning environments foster student growth and educational excellence.

P-H-M’s three layered safety approach will be shared with educators across the state of Indiana as an example of best practices that are having a positive impact on Hoosier students.

The Indiana State Department of Education just announced that Penn Biology teacher John Gensic has been chosen as one of top 10 finalists for the 2017 Indiana Teacher of the Year. 

Mr. Gensic an 11-year teaching veteran began at Penn High School in 2013. He was chosen as P-H-M’s Teacher of the Year back in April because of his interactive, engaging teaching style. Project-based learning, growth mindset and student-centered instruction are at the center of Mr. Gensic’s teaching philosophy.

“John’s passion for science in and out of the classroom has made him an exemplary teacher providing the best education possible to our students,” said Dr. Thacker. “John’s passion for teaching exemplifies not only the best of P-H-M teachers, but also makes him a top choice for Indiana Teacher of the year.”

Last spring, Mr. Gensic began his latest project-based learning activity, called “Giving Trees.”  Penn students are working with Horizon Elementary School students to plant 25-30 dwarf fruit trees in the elementary school’s garden. The project will continue over multiple school years, ultimately involving hundreds of P-H-M students in grades K-5 and 9-12.

“John always goes above and beyond to arrange authentic and eye-opening experiences for his students to interact with biology outside the school walls,” said Penn Principal Steve Hope. 

As a lifelong learner himself, Mr. Gensic believes strongly that teachers lead by example, “In doing this, we help create experiences for students that they wouldn’t otherwise experience and give students the inner motivation to pursue tasks that will improve our humanity and earth,” said Mr. Gensic.

Summer is not a time of vacationing for Mr. Gensic … it’s a time for continuing education! Mr. Gensic spent the first half of his summer participating in Purdue University’s Research Experience for Teachers in Sustainable Electronics. There, he researched alternative, more eco-friendly flame retardants, especially as they relate to use in electronics. Along with conducting research, he also wrote lesson plans integrating these scientific concepts into the high school science curriculum.   

In mid-July (and continuing through the 2016-2017 school year), Mr. Gensic began working as an Instructional coach for Trustey Family STEM Fellows. He will work as an instructional coach for STEM teachers in Washington, Texas, California, New Jersey and Arizona through the Center for STEM Education at the University of Notre Dame. 

The summer of 2015, Mr. Gensic worked with the Environmental Protection Agency on the “Lake Michigan Shipboard Science Workshop.” He was one of just 15 educators to work alongside the EPA scientists evaluating the presence of microplastics and assessing the impact of aquatic invasive species—particularly zebra and quagga mussels—on Lake Michigan’s ecosystem. The goal … to bring his experiences back to the classroom.

A leader in his field, Mr. Gensic has presented at a number of state and national education conferences. He presented at the National Science Teachers Association on the topics of socio-scientific inquiry, biology modeling and free technology; TED, the University of Notre Dame, and Purdue University just to name a few.

 In April 2016, Mr. Gensic was also selected as an Indiana science teaching finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST). This is the state and nation’s highest honor for math, science and computer science teachers.

The final announcement on Indiana Teacher of the Year is expected later this month or in October. The 2017 winner will represent Indiana teachers at the national level in accordance with National Teacher of the Year guidelines, with that selection process taking place in January-April 2017.

Safety is a number one priority for Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. But safety no longer just refers to students’ physical safety; we also need to make sure students feel emotionally and psychologically safe.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Administration has been working with Ms. Alice Jordan-Miles, Director of the Behavioral Health and Family Studies Institute at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, to identify a suicide prevention and mental wellness program for P-H-M students in grades 7-12.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 7:00 p.m., parents will have the opportunity to learn about the Lifelines Program and the implementation of P-H-M’s new student wellness curriculum. Information about the program and resources for families who may have a vulnerable child in need of help, can also visit the Lifelines section of our website.

The parent workshop will be held in Penn High School’s CPA. Parents can enter through Door C.

This is a parent meeting, so we respectfully ask that parents not bring their students of any age.

*For those adult family members who cannot attend the workshop, it will be streamed live on the PNN website at this link http://pnn.phmschools.org/live-events starting at 7:00 p.m. A recording will be available later on the District website at www.phmschools.org.