Parents provided more details on 100% Virtual option

Monday, August 31 the P-H-M Board of School Trustees unanimously approved a “Return to Learn” plan to bring students back to the classroom in phases, for those families who want to return to in-person learning:

  • Mon., Sept. 14, In-Person Learning for Elementary grades, PreK – grade 3
  • Mon., Sept. 21, In-Person Learning for Elementary grades 4 & 5 
  • Mon., Sept. 21, Hybrid model, a blend of In-Person and Virtual, for Middle and High School students (grades 6-12) 
  • Parents at every grade level also have the option to keep their student(s) 100% Virtual.

 

Parents at every grade level expressed to have the Virtual option expanded. On Wednesday, September 9, principals sent parents more details and a breakdown of a student’s day who chose to stay 100% Virtual. Click below to see examples of each level:

 

Parents are now being asked to submit their “Intent to Return” questionnaires to their student(s)’ principals by Friday, September 11.

 

If parents have students at more than one P-H-M school, they will need to complete a form for each student at each school. Parents should reference the emails sent by their students’ principals on Wednesday, Sept. 9 or check their schools’ websites. If parents have questions, they should contact their student’s school directly.

 

 

Other important “Return to Learn” information shared with parents:

School Board passes Resolution to bring about systematic and structural change to ensure diversity, inclusion, and equality

 

On Wednesday, July 1, the P-H-M Board of School Trustees held a special Board Meeting to pass the Resolution listed below and to announce the creation of the new district position of Officer of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This was in response to an open letter to the P-H-M Board of School Trustees and Administration from current and past Penn High School alumni (click here to read Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker’s June 25 email sent to P-H-M families concerning this matter).

 

RESOLUTION OF THE PENN-HARRIS-MADISON BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES TO BRING ABOUT SYSTEMATIC AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE TO ENSURE DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND EQUALITY.

 

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

 

WHEREAS, the unjust killing of Mr. George Floyd on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, along with the preceding and unjust deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many others, has generated a much needed national discussion on the necessity of ensuring permanent racial equality and racial justice. The members of the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees are saddened by and stand against these unjust deaths.

 

WHEREAS, as we prepare to celebrate the United States of America's 244th year of independence, the Penn-Harris-Madison School Board of School Trustees is guided by the wisdom of one of this country’s greatest leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

 

WHEREAS, we the members of the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees and Administration, acknowledge that we must urgently end acts motivated by racial animus and bias, remediate racial inequities, and end any form of racism in our schools.

 

WHEREAS, the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees recognizes that working with the school community is a vital and necessary component of achieving the goals expressed in this Resolution.
 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees shall implement all reforms necessary to eradicate racism and racial injustice within the Penn Harris Madison School Corporation. We recognize and will fulfill our duty to foster a safe, healthy, and inclusive learning environment; to ensure that all are treated with dignity and respect; and to do our part to bring about positive change, end discrimination and secure equality for all. 

P-H-M Return to Learn, Re-entry Plan for Fall 2020

​​This is your resource for all your Re-entry details and previously communicated information. This page was last updated on June 3, 2021.
 

Important “Return to Learn” information:

For those students who have returned to the classroom, P-H-M provides transparent communication of any students and staff positive COVID-19 cases shared with us. Statistical date on positive cases reported to us are posted to the P-H-M Dashboard. We also ask parents to follow all CDC, Indiana State Department of Health, and St. Joseph County Department of Health guidelines, recommendations and protocols. Some of them are outlined below:

  • ISDH & CDC guidelines have changed and repeat testing is NOT recommended for making decisions about when people can return to work or school. If the person remains symptom free, they will be allowed to return to school when they meet the above criteria. The ISDH has also produced a quick reference guide for (click here to access).
  • Parents and staff are asked to continue to monitor their health and their child’s health every day using the ISDH screening tool. If staff or students experience any of the symptoms below, we ask that they do not report to school:
    • fever or chills
    • sore throat,
    • uncontrollable or new cough or shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (especially new onset)
    • diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
    • headache (especially new onset of severe headache with fever, or new loss of taste or smell)
  • Students and staff should not report to school if they have had close contact with a known positive case, including in your own household, or awaiting test results. When you have a positive case (tested or clinical) in your household, the positive case should self-isolate away from the rest of the family members and the family should remain in quarantine. If a family member/close contact (or anyone in the house) cannot isolate away from the positive person, the family member(s) quarantine period will begin the day of exposure and continue 10 days after the positive person quarantine ends. Click here for more information from the CDC on isolation and quarantine.
  • We ask families that have multiple children in P-H-M schools and one member of your family household is positive (tested or clinical), to please notify all P-H-M schools your children attend. 

 

Superintendent letter to PHM Community on Juneteenth

Summer Math & Reading Tools

The IDOE has provided summer resources for parents to use with their children, grades 1st – 8th, to help keep their math and reading skills up over the summer.

 

Parents and students have access to the Lexile® Find a Book tool and the Quantile® Summer Math Challenge.

 

The Lexile® Find a Book tool helps students create a personalized reading list and then locate those books at the nearest library or bookseller.

 

The Quantile® Summer Math Challenge is a six-week refresher course for students in grades 1st – 8th.

 

For more information, visit MetaMetrics’ Summer Learning website. 

 

Penn Class of 2020 Virtual Commencement

On Friday, May 29, we hosted our Sixty First Commencement online recognizing more than 700+ graduating seniors. The pre-recorded ceremony debuted live on P-H-M District’s YouTube and Facebook channels starting at 7:00 p.m. Friday night (the time the originally scheduled in person ceremony was supposed to begin at on the campus of Notre Dame). You can click below to watch an archive of the video on YouTube. The virtual ceremony portion lasts approximately 2 hours and is preceded by a 30 minute  picture slideshow of some of the seniors with their yard signs and picking up their caps and gowns. Upwards of nearly 1,500 people, between YouTube and Facebook, tuned in the evening of May 29 to watch this one of a kind event!

 

Click here to view a gallery of photos we collected of the senior sign delivery that took place on Friday, May 15.

 

Plans of an in-person Commencement for the Class of 2020 are progressing. The event will be held at Penn High School in late July. More details will be shared with students and families in the coming days.

 

 

 

Memorial Day & Summer 2020 Meal Food Service Locations

The Food Service Department of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is participating in the Summer Food Service Program for Summer 2020. The summer program will run June 4 – August 18 at nine locations. 

 

Our school year meal service at the three locations of Prairie Vista, Grissom and Penn will continue through June 3. Click here for details on those pickup hours. Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day and no meals will be available. However, we will be handing out food backpacks at Grissom and Penn Friday, May 22 during lunch. Each backpack will have enough food for two meals for two kids. More details can be found here. 

 

The summer meal program will operate Monday through Friday, June 4 – August 18 at nine locations. Each location has different hours and dates of service. Please click here for more information and a complete list of sites and dates.

 

All sites will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2020.

 

FREE MEALS will be available to children 18 years of age and under, or persons more than 18 who are determined by a state or local public education agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who participate in a public or non-profit private school program established for the mentally or physically disabled. 

 

Change in Registering & Enrollment Procedures during COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is limited access to our administrative offices until July. 

 

We have created an easy electronic registration process for families new to P-H-M or existing families with new students to enroll.

 

Please click here to visit our Enrollment page for more information and details.

Coping with Anticipatory Grief

 

During this uncertain time and time of change, it is important to take a moment to share information about anticipatory grief, what it is, possible signs and sources of support and help. Grief is typically associated with loss through a death, but the grief process can follow any type of loss, including losses that may result from COVID-19. The term anticipatory grief is not a new concept as it can relate to what occurs when people are expecting or anticipating the loss of something or someone. For instance, a person may experience anticipatory grief if they are going through a divorce or have received a life-changing medical diagnosis. Some people may experience anticipatory grief as they approach retirement because there is a change occurring and the retirement marks the ending to a chapter in one's life, even though it can be an exciting time as well. Anticipatory grief is relevant to all of us at different points in our lives, and is particularly of interest as we are adapting to changes due to COVID-19 as the concepts related to anticipatory grief can also be applied to what we are experiencing with COVID-19. Therefore, the information contained here really is an overview of anticipatory grief, signs, and how to cope in healthy ways. The information will hopefully be helpful as we deal with COVID-19 changes, and may be of benefit for other life events.

 

Some of the things that we are grieving as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic include:

  • Worry about loved ones

  • Social distancing, quarantining, and possible feelings of isolation

  • Changes in daily habits and routines

  • Special plans and events that have been canceled

  • Perhaps we are retiring and we are feeling a sense of loss because this is not what we expected for our last year in education

  • Our students might grieve leaving their classes early, not being able to have some spring and summer sports and activities

  • Worries about how to pay rent, utilities, and other bills

  • Sadness over how the pandemic will affect the world

  • Fears for the futureJob loss

  • Loss of feelings of safety when in public

 

These types of triggers can be related to what is called anticipatory grief. It is important that we are all aware that may be experiencing anticipatory grief. Furthermore, knowing of anticipatory grief may help us help others as feelings of anticipatory grief may also be impacting our loved ones, our students, our friends, and our colleagues.

 

Possible Signs of Anticipatory Grief

Since anticipatory grief may be impacting many of us at this time, it is important to remember that grief is a normal reaction to a loss. We all experience grief at some point in our lives. Following are some signs that you might be coping with anticipatory grief in light of the pandemic:

  • Difficulty focusing on normal tasks
  • Fatigue or low energy

  • Sleeping much more or less than usual

  • Feelings of anger and irritability

  • Headaches and upset stomach

  • Re-experiencing feelings of past grief (anticipatory grief brings on other feelings of grief, which can cause your brain to think about previous losses

  • Engaging in activities such as eating, drinking, or online shopping to cope with stress and anxiety, especially more so than usual

  • Avoiding thinking or talking about the pandemic

 

If you notice any of these signs in yourself or loved ones, it is important that you recognize them for what they are and take steps to cope and support yourself or your loved ones.

 

Positive Ways to Cope

If you recognize any signs of anticipatory grief, it is important that you take steps to help one cope in positive ways. You can engage in the self-care and stress management techniques, such as good sleep hygiene, regular exercise or movement, eating a healthy diet, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mental imagery, autogenic relaxation, celebrating the positives, expressing gratitude, art, listening to or playing music, making time for relationships so we feel connected, and working to create a sense of belonging, which is particularly important right now as we may feel somewhat isolated. Prayer, meditation, and mindfulness are extremely helpful for many when going through the grief process. Please check out the SEL resources and/or PD videos for more information on mental wellness at this link. At times, we may need to reach out to a trusted friend or even a mental health professional when needed. It is important to reach out so that you are healthy, and can even be in a better position to help others when needed.

 

Supports Are Available

The Coronavirus Pandemic can cause uncertainty so I want to make you aware of supports to help bring about a sense of calm during these storms. Infectious Disease outbreaks like the Coronavirus cause many feelings of distress and anxiety, as well as cause feelings of confusion, being overwhelmed, powerless and scared. These are normal feelings in all of us, even if we are not at high risk. There are many actions we can take to support one another during this time.

 

The Division of Mental Health & Addiction (DMHA) also recommends that Hoosiers feeling distress or anxiety due to the pandemic call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990.

 

  • Live crisis counseling

  • Toll-free

  • Multi-lingual

  • Confidential

  • Text option is also available: Text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor

 

Suicide Prevention Lifeline – The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals Call
1-800-273-TALK.

 

Safe School Helpline is a 24/7 communication service that empowers school administrators to make proactive decisions as well as creating reporting responsibilities for students, parents and community members to share in the maintenance of a safe learning environment. This is monitored around the clock so reports can be addressed in a timely manner. Call 1-800-4-1-VOICE x359 to make a report.

 

P-H-M School Counselors & YSB – If you have students in your life who need supports, please know P-H-M School Counselors at the middle and high school, as well as Youth Service Bureau Specialists, are available during normal school hours if you need additional information or resources. Please reach out to the counselor specifically, or contact the principal at your child or teen's school for non-emergencies. If you do have mental health crisis related to suicide ideation, please call 911 for immediate risks.

 

Please do not hesitate to reach out for support. They are available to help us through this uncertain time.

 

More Information is Available on P-H-M’s SEL & Mental Health webpage

For more information on grief with children as well as managing stress related to COVID-19 and talking with your child about COVID-19, please check visit the SEL webpage on P-H-M’s website, or click on the links. Please click here for a link to COVID-19 resources related to managing stress and talking with your child or teen about it.

Continuous Learning Plan during COVID-19 national emergency

Penn-Harris-Madison Schools have been closed due to the COVID-19 national emergency since Friday, March 13, 2020 (click here to read Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker’s March 12 communication to families).

 

An extended eLearning schedule for students was developed and shared with parents utilizing waiver days granted by the state as teacher planning days. The format of the weekly schedule is Mondays are teacher planning days and student eLearning days are Tuesdays – Fridays (for the exception of Friday, March 13 and Tuesday, April 14 which were utilized as extra teacher planning days). Spring Break was April 6 -10.

 

On April 2, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb closed schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year (click to read Dr. Thacker’s April 2 communication to families). A schedule for the remainder of the school year was developed and shared with P-H-M families on April 14 (click to read this message). Below is a full schedule for the remainder of the year that identifies the remainder of waiver days being used. The last student day will be Wednesday, May 20. Teachers will go to June 4 or 5 depending on the level. P-H-M submitted this calendar along with its Continuous Learning Plan to the IDOE Wednesday, April 16 (click here for the Continuous Learning Plan).