Dr. Jenny Sears was appointed as the Director of P-H-M Social-Emotional Learning in December of 2018 and assumed the duties January 1, 2019.
 

Dr. Sears was charged with leading P-H-M’s renewed, concentrated focus on student mental health to help initiate additional ways that we can help all students succeed and self-actualize in an environment of excellence here at Penn-Harris-Madison.

Under Dr. Sears’ leadership, a multi-year plan of action to increase social-emotional learning in the classroom was developed. The plan includes various resources and support for P-H-M staff to in turn be able to assist our students and families. Dr. Sears will be working with community stakeholders and agencies to increase trauma-informed care training for P-H-M staff. This will increase our ability to offer mental health support to our students and families within a school setting.

We have also expanded our partnership with Youth Service Bureau of St. Joseph County for the remainder of this school year to add dedicated YSB personnel to all of our K-8 buildings.

In the coming days, Dr. Sears will send more information to our buildings about the district’s upcoming SEL and mental health initiatives that will be starting soon. The focus on social emotional learning and mental health is crucial to helping students reach their fullest potential and help remove any barriers to student success. This sustained effort will only strengthen our triangle of success between students, teachers and parents.

Dr. Sears, a Penn grad, came back to P-H-M in 2015 as the P-H-M Exceptional Education Program Supervisor. Dr. Sears is a psychologist and has a Ph.D. in Educational and Psychological Services from Indiana State University. In her previous role, she supervised special education programming for Penn High School, all three middle schools, and 11 elementary schools in the Penn-Harris-Madison school district. In addition, Dr. Sears supervised P-H-M staff speech and language pathologists, speech and language assistants, psychologists, occupational therapists, and the young adult program. 

Since coming onboard at P-H-M in 2015, Dr. Sears has been dedicated to improving transitional programming and raising awareness of available student mental health services. As an Exceptional Education leader, she's worked with staff helping to make invaluable contributions to the services we provide not only to our exceptional education students, but to all P-H-M students. She’s currently partnering with Logan Industries and Corvilla for an opportunity to work grant which will provide our students additional community work experiences.

Dr. Sears has served as an adjunct professor at both Saint Mary’s and Bethel Colleges. She has presented at several national conferences on child psychology and is also a member of a number of professional organizations: National Association of School Psychologists, Indiana Council of Special Education Administrators, Indiana Special Education Administrators Northeast Roundtable, Psi Chi, and the American Psychological Association. She was named a member of the 2017 Michiana "Forty under 40" class, by the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

If you are a hard worker, a team player, and want to get better at basketball, Penn Girls Basketball coach invites you to join the Penn Community Junior & Senior Girls Basketball family and be a part of a winning tradition.

This community-sponsored AAU league is developed for the Penn-Harris-Madison Communities and has been given permission to be named the Penn Community Girls Basketball League. 

The “Junior” League is open to girls in grades 3-6 . The “Senior” League is open to grades 7 & 8.

Sign-ups are Sunday, August 26 th in the Penn Arena from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Registering on time is essential to the organization of the league. A late fee of $10.00 will be assessed for signing up after August 26. No sign-ups will be accepted after Friday, August 31. No refunds will be given after league begins.

All practices and games will be held in school facilities within the Penn-Harris-Madison district. All games will be played on Sundays.

Game Times are:

• 3rd & 4th grade league: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
• 5th & 6th grade league: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
• 7th & 8th grade league: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. & 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
   

The league will begin on September 9 th for ALL age groups. The “Junior” League will end on November 11 for grades 3- 6 and no tournament will take place.

The “Senior” League will end on November 18 th with an all day shootout.

Click to download information and sign-up forms for the “Junior” League (grades 3-6).

Click here to download information and sign-up forms for the “Senior” League (grades 7 & 8).

Homelessness is not something that has to affect your child’s education. Even if you lack a permanent residence, your children can receive help to stay in their home school district.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a law that helps your child if you do not have a permanent home to stay in by providing school stability for your child. This Act is support for those who are without a permanent residence and are:

• Staying with friends or family because you lost housing.
• Living in a shelter, including transitional programs.
• Staying in motels because you cannot get your own home.
• Living on the streets, in a car, van, tent or other nonpermanent structure. 

For additional information and resources, please click on the links below:

• Homeless students’ rights
• A Parent’s Guide to the Rights of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
• IDOE McKinney-Vento: Homeless Children & Youth Program webpage
• Information for School-Age Youth
• P-H-M Residency Form
• College Student Guide for Homelessness Resources

Questions about homeless students should be directed to Derrick White at (574) 258-9505 or email Derrick White at dwhite2@phm.k12.in.us.

You can also contact the IDOE state coordinators: Flora Jones, Director of Student Pathways & Opportunities and Charie Gibson, Homeless Education Specialist, 317-232-0957, McKinneyVentoPOC@doe.in.gov. 

The registration deadline for Visual Arts Academy (grades K-5) and Learn a Foreign Language (grades 6 & 7) has been extended through Friday, April 20. 

Both of these P-H-M sponsored camps offered through the Learning Division are FREE! The Visual Arts Academy is offered during these weeks: 

• July 9 – 13, 2018
• July 16 – 20, 2018
• July 23 – 27, 2018

Learn a Foreign Language is three week course offered July 9 – 27, 2018.

Please click the links above for camp details and to complete your child’s online camp registration today!

Caregivers of dependents with special needs are invited to attend a special workshop, sponsored by Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, on how to make your child’s future more secure.

See the information in the flier posted below …

WHEN: Monday, March 12, 2017, 8:00 a.m. – Noon

WHERE: P-H-M Educational Services Center
55900 Bittersweet Rd., Mishawaka

There is a $60, non-refundable registration fee due at registration. You must also bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate, immunization record and proof of residency (a copy of a utility bill or lease agreement).

Click the links below to download pdfs of the:

• registration form 

• age requirements & listing of fees 

Penn PALS Community Preschool serves youngsters within Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation (click to see the interactive Google P-H-M boundary map) with special needs in an inclusive setting with their preschool peers, while providing them appropriate challenge, support and accommodation. 

We offer the half-day program at four P-H-M elementary schools: Bittersweet, Elm Road, Elsie Rogers and Mary Frank.

Click here for more details on the program.

Google and U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R, D-2) visited Schmucker Middle School today as part of Google’s Online Safety Roadshow: How to Be Internet Awesome–an online safety assembly developed by Google for middle school students.

Congresswoman Walorski participated in today’s presentation kicking off the assembly with Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker and Schmucker Principal Lavon Dean-Null. A group of sixth grade Schmucker students participated in the interactive exercise.

The 45 minute learning opportunity was led by two Google employees. The program focused on five tips for staying safe and being smart online covering topics such as sharing with care, setting strong passwords, using settings on different websites and apps, identifying online scams, and being kind online.

For more tips about how to keep yourself and your family safe online, please visit: g.co/beinternetawesome. 

Saturday, March 10, 2018

8:45 – 11:30 a.m.

Schmucker Middle School
Grades K-5

Sponsored by Corporations for Education, a division of the P-H-M Education Foundation, the annual Young Authors’ Conference is an opportunity for Penn-Harris-Madison students, in grades K-5, and their parents to meet and hear from Ruth McNally Barshaw, well-known children’s author and illustrator of Ellie McDoodle Diaries and picture books like Leopold the Lion. Click for more details and examples of Mrs. Barshaw’s work. 

Mrs. Barshaw will share her experiences as a writer and illustrator. Students will sketch along with her, learning tips for improving creativity, drawing, and storytelling techniques.

As part of the morning activities, students will also share their own writing piece in small, adult-led group sessions with students from other P-H-M elementary schools. While students are meeting with their peers, parents will attend a special presentation by P-H-M teacher and writing expert Carrie Mumaw, who will share fun and inspiring ideas for creative writing. Together, students and parents will also enjoy a presentation of “Stuart Little” by Bethel College Genesians. 

*One parent must accompany students! However, keep in mind that students and parents will separate for a portion of the day.

COST: The registration fee of $5.00 per child is used for conference expenses.

REGISTRATION: Online registration is now available! Please visit phm.revtrak.net and click the right arrow on the homepage to find the “2018 P-H-M Young Authors’ Conference” button. Create an account, then make your payment. There is a fee for using this service. You can also click here to be directly to the online registration/payment page.

If you prefer to register via paper, please fill out the front of the blue envelope that was attached to the hard copy of the flyer that came home with your student. Fill out the blue envelope completely, insert your payment, and return it to your child’s school. Checks should be made payable to: Young Authors’ Conference. Cash is also accepted. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, February 28, 2018!

CONFIRMATION: Participating students will receive additional information prior to the conference through their home school at the beginning of March.

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Duerksen at lduerksen@phm.k12.in.us.

Registration for kindergarten students for the 2018-2019 school year begins Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Parents can register their student at their home P-H-M elementary school. 

This registration opportunity is for youngsters who live within the P-H-M School Corporation and who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2018. A parent or guardian must appear in person to register their child. 

Penn-Harris-Madison has 11 elementary schools, each offering full-day kindergarten. You may use the interactive Google based District Map to verify which elementary school serves your neighborhood. 

Registration will take place at the schools during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in most cases. The offices at Elsie Rogers Elementary School and Moran Elementary School will take registrations from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Please click here for more information on kindergarten registration and to print and download the registration forms.

Exceptional Education Forum is a branch of the P-H-M Forum and was designed for parents of students with disabilities to be able to have open communications and receive regular updates from the Exceptional Education Department.

Meetings are held the last Thursday of every month in the ESC Boardroom (55900 Bittersweet Rd., Mishawaka, IN) from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.