For 28 years, Circle the State with Song has been an integral part of Indiana’s choral landscape. This program is a statewide choral festival for elementary and junior high/middle school choirs. Nearly 5,000 youth from hundreds of different schools participate in Circle the State each spring at one of 12 sites throughout Indiana.  Over 15,000 community members attend these concerts annually. During the festival, the participating schools rehearse and perform together under the director of a highly experienced Clinician.

The primary objectives of the program include:

• Provide students with an exciting and quality choral performance with other students from their area;

• Allow music teachers an opportunity to observe and learn from the clinician working with the students, plus to share and discuss vocal pedagogy with other teachers; and

• Provide students the challenge and opportunity to sing quality children’s choral repertoire.

Our music teacher Mrs. Sherer and our students have spent many valuable hours preparing for this concert on February 25th at Goshen College.  Congratulations to the following Moran students:

Lauren Alwine, Lana Balajadia, Cole Bennett, Caleb Burns, Maia Centilli, Josie Clarke, Kylie Creech, Braelyn Freel, Abigail Hughes, Ryan Klosowski, Therisa McFarland, Brayden Minix, Alisandra Pinedo, Rily Pletcher, Charlotte Ryska, Julian Smith, Leah Spinsky and Ellisa Thompson.

THE DEADLINE IS NOW EXTENDED TO WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1!

P-H-M’s annual Young Author’s Conference offers an opportunity for all P-H-M elementary students in grades K-5 and their parents to meet and learn from a well-known children’s author.

This year’s guest author Judith L. Roth has written three children’s picture books (Goodnight Dragons, Julia’s Words and Cups Held Out) and a middle school novel-in-verse, Serendipity & Me. A native of California, Roth has been a resident of Indiana for almost 30 years now. Inspired by a love of music, Roth also writes some poetry. Her love of writing began with her love of reading when she was a student herself at the age 10. Roth is hoping to inspire other budding young authors like she once was!

While students are meeting with their peers, parents will attend a special presentation by Penn High School English teacher and Writing Coordinator, Mrs. Mary Nicolini, who is a recent recipient of the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award.

The Young Author’s Conference is sponsored by Corporations for Education, a division of the P-H-M Education Foundation.

DATE: Saturday, March 11, 2017

TIME: 8:45 – 11:30 a.m.

LOCATION: Schmucker Middle School, 56045 Bittersweet Road

COST: Just $5.00 per child; the registration fee is used for conference expenses. Checks should be made payable to: YAC. Cash is also accepted. 

REGISTRATION: The deadline for registration is now Wed., March 1, 2017.  Please make sure you return the registration packet and fee to the front office by March 1. Please contact your child’s school, if you did not receive one. We require that at least one parent accompany their student(s) to the Conference. However, keep in mind that students and parents will separate for a portion of the day.

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

QUESTIONS: Please click here to email Lisa Duerksen.

At Penn-Harris-Madison, we are proud to offer year-round academic enrichment, athletic and recreational activities for the students and families within our award winning school district.

For months, P-H-M administrators, teachers, coaches and staff have been busy planning all the camps and activities that will be available for students when school lets out this year on Wed., June 7, 2017.

Everything from Japanese to building apps for mobile devices to baseball will be offered this summer! And we’re adding more and more …

Click here to see the full list of camps and activities being offered so far this year. New this year, some of the camps now have online registration making it easier for busy parents to register their children for these engaging opportunities.

Experts say it takes 3 weeks to learn a new habit, but since this is our first time, we are going to give ourselves 4 weeks to make fitness a daily occurrence.
Who: Anyone that is part of the Moran community. Students, parents, neighbors and friends.
When: Four weeks in the month of March.
Where: Anywhere you can do 15 minutes of continuous, sustained movement.
Cost: $1.00 for Moran student single registration, $2.00 for all other single registrations, $5.00 for a family registration.
Benefits: Beside starting a healthy habit, all participants that successfully complete the challenge will be entered in a raffle for one of two $25.00 gift certificates to Garden Patch Market.
To enter please return your registration and payment to Miss Julie or Moran PTA by Tuesday, Feb. 28th.

Have you ever met an author before? Author Judith L. Roth is coming to meet YOU! She will be at Schmucker Middle School on March 11th for our Young Author’s Conference. You can hear a published author speak, watch a drama show and share your writing with student authors just like you! All you have to do is have your parents help you fill out the little blue Young Author’s Conference envelope, and bring it back to school. Be sure to give it to your teacher by Friday, February 24. Judith can’t wait to meet you!

Joining Band and Orchestra is easier then ever!
Please find our Band and Orchestra Instrument Selection Night information and appointment form online by going through the PHM main page (www.phm.k12.in.us). Scroll down to find the “Middle School Instrument Selection Night”. You may also call Tiffany Perry at 258-9515 to schedule an appointment.
Selection Night is for both parent and students. If possible, please attend session at the school your student will attend.
Schmucker Middle School 4:30 – 7:30 pm – February 21st and 22nd
Discover Middle School 4:30 – 7:30 pm – February 27th and 28th
Grissom Middle School 4:30 – 7:30 pm – March 7th

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Currently our students have been busy with DIBLES testing in grades K-1 and preparing for ISTEP/IREAD in grades 3-5. Acuity C will be the next test for grades 2-5. Teachers are monitoring the children’s progress in reading and math. These regular check-ups guide us in our daily planning and preparation. We want all our children to grow and realize their potential. February has quickly arrived and we have much to do in the days ahead. Below is a list of some information we hope you find helpful.
Sincerely,

Frank Anglin, Ed.S.

YEARBOOK PICTURES: Friday, February 10th Lifetouch Photography will take classroom and special group pictures for our yearbook. A special thanks to Mrs. Clark who sponsors our yearbook production.

ACUITY TESTING: ACUITY tests in LA/Math will be from Feb 6-24. Grades 2-5 participate. ACUITY measures student growth, indicates ISTEP preparedness and provides teachers with feedback for planning instruction. A good night’s sleep and good breakfast will help your child perform their best during this time.

U.S. SHAKE OUT: Once again Moran Elementary School will be participating in the great “American Shake Out!” This nation wide drill will be conducted on Thursday, February 23. Indiana is in a fault zone and is susceptible to earthquakes. We plan to be prepared in such an event.

WRITING: Students in grades K-5 continue to practice and learn the Lucy Calkin’s writing process put in place in all PHM elementary schools. Writing impacts learning in other subject areas too. On Wednesday, February 1, teachers will be participating in professional development focused on the Writing Conference.

Make Up Days: Friday, March 24 is our snow Make Up Day. School will be in session. We will follow our Monday schedule.

From the DOE: Recently the Department of Education recognized Moran Elementary School as an “A” school for the 2015-2016 school year. Congratulations to all the Moran teachers, support staff, students and the entire Moran School community.

ISTEP/IREAD: Both of these very important assessments are coming soon. Is your child ready? Have you been partnering with your child’s teacher? It takes all of us working together to reach each student’s potential. We appreciate and encourage your support for the success of your child.

Misson: We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Vision: We invision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.

Over a period of 10 weeks, girls in the 3rd through 5th grade participate in an after-school program like no other. Designed to allow every girl to recognize her inner strength, the Girls on the Run curriculum inspires girls to define their lives on their own terms. Throughout the season, the girls make new friends, build their confidence and celebrate all that makes them unique.

The Girls on the Run lessons encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical development. Participants explore and discuss their own beliefs around experiences and challenges girls face at this age. They also develop important strategies and skills to help them navigate life experiences. We start with helping the girls get a better understanding of who they are and what’s important to them. Then, we look at the importance of team work and healthy relationships. And, finally, the girls explore how they can positively connect with and shape the world.

Physical activity is woven into our program to inspire an appreciation of fitness and to build habits that lead to a lifetime of health. At the end of each three month session, the girls participate in a Girls on the Run 5k event. This celebratory, non-competitive event is the culminating experience of the curriculum. Completing the 5k gives the girls a tangible understanding of the confidence that comes through accomplishment as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. Crossing the finish line is a defining moment when the girls realize that even the seemingly impossible IS possible.

Registration forms are due Feb. 6th or before.

Practices are Tuesday and Thursday Feb. 28th – May 11th with a 5 K race on May 13th.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is nationally recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” offering choir, band, orchestra and even piano at our three middle schools.

Every P-H-M student who will be attending a P-H-M middle school as an incoming 6th grader in the Fall has the opportunity to join an instrumental music class, which includes either band or orchestra.

In order to join 6th grade band or orchestra, students must select an instrument that they will learn, practice and perform for the school year.  

“Instrument Selection Night” is when students and families get to make their choice!

At “Instrument Selection Night,” a music professional musician will be availability to give students advice about which instrument may be best suited for them. They will be allowed to “try out” instruments from various instrument groups.

Please see the dates and times below for your students’ soon-to-be middle school …
 

Grissom Middle School

Tuesday, March 7

4:30-8:00 p.m.

Click here to learn more about Instrument Night and to make your appointment for designated school and date.

If you are interested in joining one of Indiana’s best school districts, our PHM Administrators want to meet you! Please visit www.phmschools.org/current-openings.