Three P-H-M school teams recently competed in the National TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude Mathematics and Science) Best in Nation Competition. The competition was held in Orlando the end of June.

TEAMS is an annual STEM competition challenging students to work collaboratively and apply their math and science knowledge in practical, creative ways to solve real everyday engineering challenges.

Discovery Middle School finished 4th in the nation in the problem solving category.

Schmucker Middle School’s team placed third overall. 

Penn High School sent four groups to the competition. One of the two 9/10th grade teams placed in the Top 10 for engineering written competition; the other placed in the Top 10 for engineering written competition. The 11/12th grade team placed 3rd in prepared presentation and Top ten for engineering written competition.

Three P-H-M school teams recently competed in the National TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude Mathematics and Science) Best in Nation Competition. The competition was held in Orlando the end of June.

TEAMS is an annual STEM competition challenging students to work collaboratively and apply their math and science knowledge in practical, creative ways to solve real everyday engineering challenges.

Penn High School sent four groups to the competition. One of the two 9/10th grade teams placed in the Top 10 for engineering written competition; the other placed in the Top 10 for engineering written competition. The 11/12th grade team placed 3rd in prepared presentation and Top ten for engineering written competition.

Schmucker Middle School’s team placed third overall. There were three parts to the competition, a written essay, prepared presentation and problem solving. They won third place in the essay section; fifth in the presentation and interview section; and third in the problem solving section—earning them Top 3 overall! 

Discovery Middle School also finished well, receiving 4th in the nation in the problem solving category.

DMS is introducing NEW Wellness uniforms this coming school year. This is the first change in 20 years!!

We will have them available in August, 2017. They can be purchased at Discovery as a set for $18 ($10/shirt and $8/shorts). Shirt color choices are lime green and hot pink. Shorts are black and are just above the knee…NO shorter shorts allowed! The uniforms will have Archer logos on them and a space for students to write their name so we can more easily prevent lost items.

Students in 7^th and 8^th grade may choose to continue using our original uniform (grey shirt and green shorts) OR purchase a new uniform. Incoming 6^th graders will all move to the new uniforms.

To be in compliance with our Wellness dress code policy, students MUST be dressed in either green or black shorts (just above the knee) AND a grey, pink or light green top next year in 7^th and 8^th grade. Sixth grade students must be dressed in the new uniform, a light green or pink top and black shorts.

If you’re interested in the Spell Bowl team next school year, you can download the word list here. 

Click below for 2019-2020 DMS Robotics Application. Print, fill out and return to Mr. Braunsdorf or the main office before May 24th.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v92wYgMTXjcvlutpLQAbGK44AyBQbX7jSWn30TqRJYI/edit

Following is the schedule for ISTEP Release of testing information: 

• June 13 – Parent portal letters are mailed home with report cards
• June 16 – Proficiency, Pass/DNP results available through Pearson OnDemand Reports Preliminary
• June 19 – Parent Portal Available. Login information included in the parent portal letter.
• June 19 – July 7 ISTEP Rescore window. Only parents can request a rescore, the schools cannot do this.
• July 31 – School Data Files posted on Pearson
• August 16 – Paper Individual Student Reports  arrive to PHM and will be sent to the schools for mailing.
   

You teach your children to wear helmets when they ride bikes and sunscreen when they’re outside, but are you also teaching them to be safe online?

June is Internet Safety Month, a perfect opportunity to talk with your kids about online safety.

The Internet is a great way for children to have fun, learn new things, and stay in touch with their friends, but it also exposes them to online dangers. As summer vacation kicks off – and your kids start to spend more time on their devices – make sure your kids know the importance of these five online safety tips:  

Don’t share too much information. Create a list of things your kids should never post online – like their birthday and year, full name, address, or phone number – and make sure they understand why it is important to keep this information private.
Be careful about what you post. The Internet isn’t private. Once your kids share a post, picture, or video, they can’t control how others will use it, and it can never be permanently deleted. Teach them to be thoughtful and cautious in what they post and share online.
Connect only with people you know. “Don’t talk to strangers” is a good rule for the real world and the cyber world. Predators and stalkers can easily create fake profiles to hide their identities, so instruct your kids to only connect with friends they know in “real life.” Also, check your children’s privacy settings to make sure strangers can’t see their profiles. Sometimes privacy settings are reset to default settings during program updates, so check their profiles regularly.

Keep your location private. Many apps, networks, and devices have geo-tagging features that broadcast your location. This information could lead a stalker directly to your kids, so check that these features are completely off. 

Protect your password. Show your kids how to create strong passwords, and make sure they know to never share them with anyone (except their parents or a trusted adult). For guidance on how to make a strong password, see the “Best Practices for Creating a Password” tip card at https://www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect-toolkit.

If you’d like to learn more about protecting your children online, check out the Parent and Educator Resources from the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign or visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect for more resources.

7th Grade Football             Monday, July 31st Paperwork/Equipment Day 8:30-9:00 a.m. (football field)

8th Grade Football             Monday, July 31st  Paperwork/Equipment Day 8:00-9:00 a.m. (football field)

7/8th Grade Cheer             Tuesday, August 1st 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

7th Grade Volleyball          Monday,July 31st 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (main gym)

8th Grade Volleyball          Monday, July 31st  8:00-10:00 a.m. (main gym)

6th-8th Cross Country      Monday, August 14  8:00-9:30 a.m. (outdoor basketball courts)

REMINDER: In order to participate in athletics, students must have an updated physical prior to the first practice, dated after April 1, 2017. 

 Penn Harris Madison Schools will be providing coverage to student Chromebooks during the summer. Please note the following:

• You will be responsible for the proper care and use of your Chromebook over the summer.
• Please note that while we allow you to keep the Chromebooks over the summer, they are still the property of Penn Harris Madison Schools.
• Please take care to ensure that your Chromebook does not get damaged over the summer and is ready for use in August. Here are a couple of quick tips:
  1. Do not pickup the Chromebook by the screen
  2. Always have your Chromebook cover on.
  3. While charging, be sure to put it in a place that it will not get tripped over, and the charger chord will not get tripped over.
• You may use your Chromebook during the summer for your own use, for summer school use, and any other use that meets the guidelines of the acceptable use policy in the student handbook.

If you Break Your Chromebook during the summer:
 In case of accidental damage, please bring the Chromebook to Penn High School, Door 'A', Monday-Friday during summer school hours (8:00 AM-12:00 PM). The Chromebook help desk is only staffed during those hours!  We will fix or replace your Chromebook, and you will receive an email or phone call when the repair is complete. You will pick up your Chromebook at Penn High School. Chromebook Insurance  is good through  the summer so if you have paid for insurance your accidental damages will still be covered.

If you are transferring out of the district:
  You will need to return your Chromebook to Penn Harris Madison if you are transferring to another school. You may return the Chromebook during withdrawal at your previous school, or to Penn High School Door 'A'.  Failure to return the Chromebook will result in a charge for replacement of the device, so make sure you get them in!

If you are moving up to Penn next year (8th graders going to 9th grade in the fall)
Please hold on to your Chromebook and bring it to school at Penn in the fall.  You will be able to trade it in for a new device at the beginning of the school year. Please note that the returning Chromebooks must be in proper working order when returned.

The Indiana Department of Education announced on Friday, May 26, 2017 the 2015-16 list of Four Star Schools and Discovery, along with eight other P-H-M schools, have earned that distinction–the most the District has ever had! 

P-H-M's other Four Star Schools are Horizon, Madison, Mary Frank, Meadow's Edge, Northpoint, Penn, Prairie Vista and Schmucker. Meadow's Edge made the list for the first time; Meadow’s Edge is one of  P-H-M’s five Title 1 schools.

“Archers” demonstrate a commitment to excellence and personal best.  The IDOE has named Discovery a Four Star School consistently every year. Our school has been named a National Blue Ribbon School twice, in 2006 and 2013, and has been identified as an Indiana Blue Ribbon School in 2001-02 and 2005-06. Click here for more information on Discovery’s “Points of Pride.”

To qualify as a Four Star School, the school must have received an “A” rating for the 2015-16 school year, tested at least 95% of students on ISTEP English/Language Arts and Math, and be in the top 25th percentile on ISTEP and ECA participation and passing rates. This list is based on 2015-16 school data. Click here to see the full list of criteria.