eLearning schedule & Important Updates (3.16.20) | Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Skip to main content

eLearning schedule & Important Updates (3.16.20)

Dear P-H-M Families,
 

Today teachers, administrators and support staff across the district were helping prepare the District for this period of extended eLearning so that we are providing the most dynamic and personalized learning experiences for our students. It is our priority to sustain the academic excellence that we provide during the normal school day.

 

There are a number of important details for families that we must share with you as we move forward:

 

WEEKLY INSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

The student and teachers schedule will be as follows:

 

  • Mondays are teacher prep days and students will take a recess day (not doing school work)
    March 16, 23 and 30th
  • Tuesday - Friday: eLearning days for students
    March 17-20, March 24-27 and March 31-April 3

 

It is the overall goal for the four days per week of eLearning to be focused one week at a time. It is our objective to provide quality over quantity. We want to keep our students actively engaged in learning during this unique educational opportunity. Principals and teachers will provide more details regarding instruction expectations.

 

ANTICIPATED RETURN TO SCHOOL

It is our intention to return to school as normal, in-person instruction after Spring Break. It is our hope that we will be able to return to the classrooms Monday, April 13. The situation and guidance from the state and national level is constantly changing. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the best time to resume school. 

 

Students will not be expected to do any eLearning lessons over Spring Break, April 6-10. Teachers and students will be out of school recognizing the previously scheduled recess time.

 

PICKING UP ITEMS FROM SCHOOL:

As communicated on Friday, March 13, our buildings are open this week and staffed with limited employees. If you need to pick up your student’s personal items, medication or a Chromebook for grades K-5, please visit your school’s website for hours and instructions on how to contact your school office. Building staff will locate the needed item and make arrangements to meet the parent outside the building to deliver the items. Please be patient during this process as staff are juggling multiple demands.

 

Please note that medications must be picked up by Friday, March 20, at 12:00 p.m. or they will be discarded unless other arrangements have been made. Please use your school’s appointment form to indicate that you need to pick up medication. Medication must be picked up by an adult, unless a permission slip has previously been signed.

 

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE:

As previously communicated, if any family is in need of a PHM Chromebook to do eLearning, it will be provided. Please contact your student’s school.

 

If families do not have WiFi at home or who need more data in their home internet plans, Comcast/Xfinity is making these and many more FREE options available to families impacted by the  COVID-19 national emergency. Please click here for more information on Xfinity’s website. 

 

REPORT CARDS:

For grades K-8, this Friday, March 20, is the end of the third grading period. Teachers will still be working on grades and the schools will handle distribution. Await further details.

 

STATE ASSESSMENT:
We are awaiting guidance and specifics from IDOE on how student assessment (IREAD, ILEARN, & ISTEP) will be handled. Await further details.

 

CHILD CARE OPTIONS:
With schools being closed, this puts an extra burden on our families who must now find child care for their younger children. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has shared additional guidance for parents of school-aged children and child care providers related to the 2019 novel (new) coronavirus or COVID-19:

  • Families who need help finding or paying for care can contact Brighter Futures Indiana at 800-299-1627 to speak to a referral specialist.
  • Every community has a child care resource and referral agency that can also connect parents with local child care options and provide referrals for support. Families can find their local CCR&R by calling 800-299-1627 or by consulting this map. When locating care, it is important that families choose licensed and regulated care for their children. To find out if a provider is licensed or regulated, go to www.ChildCareFinder.in.gov or call 800-299-1627. 

For more information visit the FSSA website

FOOD SERVICE:

P-H-M is making school meals available during COVID-19 national Emergency. 

 

Beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, we will provide “To Go” breakfast sack meals at the 12 school sites that normally serve breakfast. Pickup will be 8 - 9 a.m. Click for a list of schools that offer breakfast.

Beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020, “To Go” sack lunches will be available for pickup at ALL 15 school sites from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The sack meals will be provided by staff members outside the school in a drive-up format.

Students must be present with an adult to pick up the sack meals. We apologize, but per USDA guidelines, parents are not allowed to pick up the meals for the family and we must record the student's ID number to track the meals provided. So please make sure to have your student with you and know their student ID number. Click here to look up your students’ ID numbers in Family Access.
 

PARENT RESOURCES TO HELP WITH COVID-19 ANXIETY:

Lastly we know that dealing with the unexpected in a national and global emergency is not only stressful on parents, it’s also unsettling for our children. We are concerned about your child’s mental well-being. It is critical for our students to feel psychologically and physically safe. Dr. Jennifer Sears, Director of P-H-M’s Social Emotional Learning programs, prepared talking points and resources for our families. This information is not only good to use with your children, but is also useful for adults as well. Please click here to read more on our website.

 

Thank you for your continued patience. I often refer to the P-H-M family and our “Triangle of Success.” These are the times that we will rely and help each other the most in order to provide the most stability we can to our community’s children.

 

Wishing everyone good health,

Dr. Jerry Thacker

Superintendent of Schools