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.

The Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation recently announced the recipients of the Spring 2017 grants—with grants totaling $16,640!

Traditional Grant Recipients

Kelso’s Kit: Tools for Kids – Horizon Elementary – Joann Hartline’ Grade K-5  —  300 students; Awarded: $636.73
Kelso’s Kit includes 23 comprehensive lessons that help children make good choices and solve conflicts on their own. The kit will give classroom teachers and/or college practicum students additional tools needed to help students with their everyday life difficulties.

iPod Touches for Walt Disney’s A/V Team

iPod Touches for Walt Disney’s A/V Team – Walt Disney Elementary – Robi Davidson, Emily Beeden; Grades K-4  —  510 students
Awarded: $597
The purchase of the iPods (3) will allow the AV team to record live broadcasts and to connect to other forms of media. In addition, the iPods will allow the team to explore new technologies such as music recording, computer coding, app review, and more extensive photo and video editing.

Wiggling Our Way to Success – Mary Frank Elementary – Lindsay Helman; Grades 3  —  40 students; Awarded: $1,432.34
Alternative seating at Mary Frank will support students who have difficulty focusing. In addition, these seats provide health benefits that include increased metabolism, motivation and engagement, creating better oxygen flow to the brain, and improve core strength.

Strumming Our Way To Musical Success – Horizon Elementary – Jon West and Jeannie Chettleburgh; Grades K-5 — 650 students
Awarded: $1,170
Recently, due to the increase use by pop performers, the Ukulele has quickly risen in popularity. The creates a phenomenon whereby students are expressing a desire to learn to play chords and sing with the Ukulele. The teachers intend to use this natural interest to continue to each the Indiana Music Standards using Ukuleles.

The Walking Classroom – Moran Elementary – Louise Black; Grades 5 — 80-90 students
Awarded: $3,950
Student learning is not limited to sitting in the classroom. This program would allow for a class to walk around/throughout the hallways while listening to pod-casts lessons. Each student audio device is preloaded with 111 pod-casts that are aligned with the 5th grade Common Core curriculum covering language arts, social studies, and health topics.

Documenting Bat Activity in an Urban Habitat – Elm Road School – Jackie Anderson; Grade K-5 —  520 students
Awarded: $323.61
From a school’s FIRST Lego League team, this bat house is located on the edges of the school ground. A remote camera, with infrared lighting, will allow students to observe the natural patterns of bats.

Penn Orchestra – Barrage 8 –  Penn High – Ann Tschetter (P-H-M’s 2017 Teacher of the Year); Grades 9-12 —  20 students
Awarded: $450
Earlier in the year, Penn High School hosted an international string group – Barrage 8 – whose focus is to introduce student to the new eclectic and contemporary side of being a string performer. Furthermore, Penn currently houses contemporary music performing groups in band and choir, but not orchestra. This inspired the teacher to create a before or after-school group where students would take their classical training to a “show” format. Students will learn a wide variety of popular, ethnic jazz, and show tunes. The grant will support purchasing 5 musical instruments for students to perform.

Cafetorium Acoustic Development – Grissom Middle – Heather Baker; Grades 6-8 —  600 students
Awarded: $5,181.39
The school’s cafetorium is used for numerous events throughout the school year, including meetings and conferences. The current sound situation involves outdated technology and bare walls to enable a massive amount of reverb and echo. A new system would increase the quality for musical performances, student news programs, athletic events, and student body assemblies.

Serving Students with Calming Sensory Tools – Elm Road – Audrey Kim; Grades K-5 —  520 students
Awarded: $800
As an educational assistant, the teacher has helped students with anger and behavior issues using sensory tools. Students have enjoyed using manipulative tools to help them calm down. Creating boxes that are readily available for students to help channel their frustrations in appropriate ways.

EZ grant recipients ($250 or less)
 

• Occupational Therapy Materials: Mary Frank Elementary – Tess Weaver; Grade PreK-8; Awarded: $246.67
• Book Clubs in the Classroom – Not Just for Adults; Prairie Vista Elementary – Karen Hlade; Grade 5; Awarded: $244.43
• Electronics Components for Updated Physics Curriculum; Penn High School; Jonathan Lockwood; Grades 11-12; Awarded: $225
• Aquaponics Experiments to Promote a Sustainable Food Future; Penn High School – John Gensic; Grades 9-12; Awarded: $247.99
• It’s All About the Bass Bow; Discovery/P-H-M Middle School Orchestras – April Oppenheim; Grade 6-8; Awarded: $234
• Bike to Build Muscles! Walt Disney Elementary – Kathy Greve; Grades K; Awarded: $250
• Take a Stand; Discovery Middle – Murray Weaver; Grades 6-8; Awarded: $250
• Pay Attention! Elsie Rogers Elementary – Stefanie Hanks; Grade K-5; Awarded: $245
• Table Top Easels; Penn PALS/Elsie Rogers Preschool – Alison Minegar; Grades Preschool; Awarded $250

As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1996, the PHMEF develops alternative sources of income to support learning while strengthening the partnership between schools and community.

Since the Foundation’s inception, more than $520,000 have been distributed in innovative teaching grants supporting P-H-M teachers, staff, and students. Click here to see the grants awarded Fall 2016. The Grants Committee is comprised of Foundation board members, community representatives, and a P-H-M administrator who evaluate each grant application.

Dedicated business leaders, administrators, and community volunteers, representing a cross-section of the school community, serve as the board of directors. PHMEF supports education through awarding innovative teaching grants, scholarships to students, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.

PHMEF’s funding comes from special events such as its premier Silver Mile Health & Fitness Fair, Donna & Dr. Jerry Thacker 5K Run/Walk for Education, the State of Indiana from the purchase of Read On Education License plates, Corporations for Education, Thank a Teacher, Entrance to Excellence bricks, and individual donations.