Dress Like a Book Character Day!Archived

As Read Across America week concludes, we thought it would be fun to dress like our favorite book characters.

We had Mary Poppins, several Harry Potters and the entire cast of Winnie the Pooh! 

It was so much fun not only to dress up, but to engage in the conversations that the costumes sparked.

People would ask “who are you dressed as?” and that would open the opportunity to tell a friend about a book they love.

Below are some photos, take a look!

Young boy in a classroom setting, dressed as Harry Potter, standing in front of a desk.
Two people posing in a gymnasium.
Young girl in a classroom setting wearing an elephant costume.
Woman in a blue dress holding a book, standing in an office setting.
Two women posing in front of a moon sign, one holding a stuffed animal, both dressed as characters from the "Mor" book
Girl in red dress standing in classroom, smiling at camera.
Two children posing in a classroom, one wearing a red shirt with "Think" written on it and the other in a black and white
Young girl standing in front of a classroom desk.
Two children in costumes posing for a picture.
Two children dressed as wizards sitting on a couch.
Two children standing in front of a classroom desk.
Two young girls posing in a classroom setting, one wearing a red dress and the other in yellow.
Woman in vest standing in hallway.
Young girl in a gymnasium, posing for a picture.
Girl in a red, white, and blue dress standing at a table.
Little girl in princess dress standing at desk in library.
Boy dressed in a red shirt and black mask standing at a desk in a classroom.
Little girl in princess costume sitting at a table in classroom.
Young boy dressed as a superhero standing in front of a classroom rug, posing for a picture.
Girl in a white dress posing for a picture in a classroom.
Woman wearing a cookie costume in an indoor setting.
Woman posing in a classroom holding an umbrella with a red top and black handle. She is wearing a white shirt and a black
Three children posing in a gymnasium, two wearing orange shirts with white lettering and one in a white dress.
Woman wearing a red shirt and glasses standing in front of a bookshelf filled with books.

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Young Authors’ Conference, Sat. March 5Archived

(picture above was taken March 2019)

Mark your 2022 calendars for P-H-M’s Young Authors’ Conference:

Saturday, March 5

8:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Schmucker Middle School

P-H-M Elementary students, grades K-5

Registration Fee: $5 per child

Online registration is at phm.revtrak.net. The deadline for registration is Friday, February 18, 2022.

 

The Young Authors’ Conference is for P-H-M students in grades K-5. The event, sponsored by Corporations for Education, a division of the P-H-M Education Foundation, provides an opportunity for students and their parents to meet and hear from a well-known children’s authors. Click here to view the photo gallery of the 2019 event.

This year students and their parents will meet and hear from well-known children’s author, teacher, and speaker, Gabrielle Balkan. Mrs. Balkan is best known for non-fiction books that delight readers ages 3-12 with curious and essential facts about the United States, animal record-breakers, and ground-breaking artists. Mrs. Balkan will share her experiences as a writer and illustrator during her engaging, grade-level  presentations.

Participants and parents will also enjoy an interactive, up-close animal experience from the Potawatomi Zoo staff.   As part of the morning activities, students will share their own writing piece in small, adult-led group sessions with students from other P-H-M elementary schools. While students are meeting with their peers, parents will join P-H-M Teacher and writing expert, Mary Nicolini, as she explores how writing can be a method for remembering and preserving events using real-life stories, drawings, and photographs.

Elementary student attendees will also work in small adult-led breakout sessions sharing their own writing pieces with other P-H-M students.

COST: The registration fee of $5.00 per child is used for conference expenses. There is no cost for the parent. One parent only must accompany students!  However, keep in mind that students and parents will separate for a portion of the day.  YOUNGER siblings may not accompany adults. This experience is for your young author and parent.

REGISTRATION: Online registration will be available at phm.revtrak.net. If you don’t have a P-H-M Revtrak account, you will need to create one. There is a fee for using this service. The deadline for registration will be Friday, February 18.

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

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Schirripa at lschirripa@phm.k12.in.us.

2022 Middle School Instrument Selection NightArchived

Discovery 

Tuesday, Feb. 22 and Wednesday, Feb. 23

4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Schmucker 

Monday, Feb. 28 and Tuesday, March 1

4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Grissom 

Monday, March 14 and Tuesday, March 15

4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is nationally recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” offering choir, band and orchestra at Schmucker, Discovery and Grissom Middle Schools.

Every P-H-M 5th grader who will be attending a P-H-M middle school as an incoming 6th grader in the Fall 2022 has the opportunity to join an instrumental music class, which includes either band or orchestra. “Instrument Selection Night” is when students and families get to make their choice!

At “Instrument Selection Night,” a music professional will be available 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. Click here to download, view and print more information on Instrument Selection Night.

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.  Click this link to sign-up for your appointment at your designated school and date. 

Penn Poms to host one-day clinic on Saturday, Jan. 29Archived

Penn Poms will host a one-day clinic on Saturday, January 29, 2022.

The Poms clinic participants (pre-K through eighth grade) will learn a dance routine during the day on Saturday, Jan. 29, that will be performed at the Penn High School boys basketball halftime that night. The clinic cost is $35 per student.

Click here for details.

*Adobe Acrobat Reader will be required to view the pdfs on this page. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, please visit Adobe’s website, at this link www.get.adobe.com/reader/, to download your free version.

COVID Testing Walk-in Clinic for P-H-M Students & StaffArchived

map
The Clinic is located at the Southeast Corner of Bittersweet Rd & McKinley Hwy


COVID Testing Walk-in Clinic
If a student, teacher, or staff member is symptomatic or quarantined due to exposure, they may receive a free BinaxNOW rapid antigen test for the COVID-19 virus. This program uses Abbott Laboratories BinaxNOW tests provided by the federal government.

The IDOH has recently revised the school site testing criteria due to the limited supply to only test the following groups:

  • Symptomatic students Pre-K through grade 12
  • Symptomatic teachers and staff members age 50 and above.  

Where can they be tested:

  • The walk-up clinic will take place at the P-H-M Bank Locker Room Building located on the corner of Bittersweet and McKinley Hwy (US20) near Penn High School. Entry is off McKinley Hwy.
  • No appointment is necessary.
  • The clinic will be open when school is in session on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. AS LONG AS TESTS ARE AVAILABLE. The Clinic may need to close early on the days it is in operation as the number of available tests per day may vary due to the national shortage. 
  • We will only test a student accompanied by a parent/guardian.
  • Please bring the completed consent form to the clinic at the time of testing. Click here to download and print the consent form.

 

Penn Harris Madison COVID-19 Vaccination ClinicArchived

The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation considers the health and safety of our school community as a top priority. The FDA has issued an extension of the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), allowing the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 5 years of age and older. As such, in conjunction with the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, we are offering a free COVID-19 Vaccination clinic for all students, staff, and parents/guardians.

This voluntary event is being held after school hours as a convenience for those families wishing to participate. P-H-M recognizes and respects family decisions in regards to non-IDOH immunization requirements.

Who can get the vaccine?

  • The vaccine is now available for children 5 – 11 and everyone age 12 and older. For the scheduled dates, we are providing an opportunity for any P-H-M student, parent/guardian, and staff member eligible to be vaccinated with their first dose, second dose, or booster shots to those already vaccinated.
  • Only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for the ages 5-11 age group at this time. Two doses of the Pfizer vaccine are needed to provide full immunization. The first one primes the immune system, helping it to recognize the virus, and the second one strengthens the immune response. If the vaccine you received requires two doses, you should receive both doses, the second dose for this age group being 3 weeks after the first dose. An individual is considered fully protected 2-weeks after the second/last dose.

When will the vaccinations be offered?

  • Tuesday, January 18th, 5-7:30 p.m.

Where will the vaccinations be offered?

  • The walk-up clinic will take place at Schmucker Middle School
  • Please enter through Door C (see map). Please note that this is the same door as the previous clinics. 
  • Address: 
    Schmucker Middle School
    56045 Bittersweet Rd. Mishawaka 46545.

Keynotes about the vaccine for ages 5 -11?

  • All children in the eligible group of ages 5-11 will have to be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
  • Children ages 5 through 11 years receive one-third of the adult dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.  Smaller needles, designed specifically for children, are used for children ages 5 through 11 years.
  • COVID-19 vaccine dosage does not vary by patient weight but by age on the day of vaccination.
  • Your child will need a second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine three weeks after their first shot.
  • The experience of getting a COVID-19 vaccine will be very similar to the experience of getting routine vaccines. Use the tips to support your child before, during, and after routine vaccinations when getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Registration Form (needed for 1st dose Only):

  • Pre Registration will NOT be required. Individuals will be served in the order in which they arrive.
    If possible, please print off and complete the registration before arrival.
    LINK: Registration (English)
  • Although there is NO COST to the participants, St. Joseph Health Systems asks that you please bring your insurance cards & state-issued IDs to help the registration process. If you do not have insurance, you will not be turned away. 

If the dates or times won’t work for my family, how can I sign up to get vaccinated elsewhere?

Moran Holiday Parade a Huge Success!Archived

Sphero Robots allow students to have fun while being introduced to the concept of coding!

We are very fortunate to be running a pilot program where students school-wide have access to the Robots. There are two large kits per grade level that ensures every student access to the robots throughout the course of the school year.

Today, December 3, 2021, our whole school came together to host a “Moran Holiday Parade”, inspired by the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

All the Knights from kindergarten through fifth grade were able to participate. They made “floats” out of cups and put the cups over the Sphero Robots.

Words don’t do it justice, take a look at the creativity in the video and the photos below! 

To download high-resolution jpg files from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you, free of charge!

Mouse card on gym floor.
Two people standing in a room with purple walls and inflatable structures, looking at electronic devices on the floor.
Woman in gymnasium wearing face mask and red star t-shirt.
Children wearing masks, gathered around a table with cups and a tablet, possibly for an art project or learning activity.
Children in Santa hats posing for a picture on a basketball court.
Two people standing on a wooden floor holding a cardboard cutout of a cat.
Two children in camouflage shirts standing at front of room, holding tablets, with colorful balloon arch behind them and
Children in masks posing with a large green Christmas tree decoration.
Two children in a gymnasium wearing masks, one child is holding a small cake with a candle on it and another child is
People playing with a toy robot on a wooden floor.
Children in santa hats playing with a sphero robot on a basketball court.
Children in santa hats playing with spheros on a gym floor.
Person holding a Sphero robot in front of a blue mat on the floor.
Woman wearing a face mask smiles at camera in gymnasium.
People gathered around a colorful inflatable tunnel, possibly for an event or celebration.
Two children in a classroom wearing masks, holding stuffed animals.
Girl posing next to large inflatable santa claus balloon in gymnasium.
Two people standing in front of a colorful inflatable tunnel at an indoor event, one person holding a tablet and the other
Five people wearing masks sitting on a floor in a gymnasium.
A group of people gathered around a table with sphero robots, engaged in an activity that involves using smartphones to
Two people in masks standing in front of a gymnasium.
Girl in red shirt holding a tablet, standing in front of a group of people.
Thanksgiving celebration in a gymnasium with a small Pokémon-themed paper lantern.
Girl in Santa hat wearing mask, standing inside gymnasium.

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Winter Guard Open House, Tuesday, Nov. 16Archived

The Penn Winter Guard Open House will be from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, in the Auxiliary Gym.

The Open House is for all 4th – 12th  grade P-H-M students.

Questions, contact Jen at (574) 903-9200 for more information about Winter Guard.

Santa is Back on Saturday, December 4, 2021Archived

We are happy to announce that Santa Claus is coming to town!

At the 2021 P-H-M Winter Wonderland Show, attendees will be treated to a fabulous light show and then children will have an opportunity to tell Santa what they want for Christmas.

The show is called “Laser Holidays” and it will be shown in the state-of-the-art Digital Video Theater located at Bittersweet Elementary School.

Quick Details:

  • Saturday, December 4, 2021
    • ​Shows at 8 a.m., 9:45 a.m. & 11:15 a.m.
    • Bittersweet Elementary School
  • $5 for all tickets​
    • ​Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 10 a.m.
    • Space is limited to 75 participants per time slot.
    • Purchase tickets here: phm.revtrak.net

Ticket sales begin on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 10 a.m. Tickets will only be available online on a first-come, first-served basis.

Space is limited to 75 participants per time slot. Once all tickets are sold, all sales end.

While the program is intended for Kindergarten through 3rd grade students, children of other ages may attend with their siblings. All children
must be accompanied by an adult and each person must purchase a ticket to attend.

Tickets will then be mailed to you from the Community Education office prior to the event.

If you have any questions about the program, please call 574.258.9568 or email jforkner@phm.k12.in.us.

Masks will be required to wear during the DVT show and in line to visit Santa. Masks can be taken off briefly to take the picture with Santa.

If you have any questions about the program, please call 574.258.9568 or email jforkner@phm.k12.in.us.

Winter Wonderland Show & Visit with Santa Flyer 12.4.21

U.S. News Ranks Moran Among Indiana’s Top Public Elementary SchoolsArchived

U.S. News & World Report “Best Schools” Designations has recently expanded to include elementary and middle schools. With Penn High School earning a “Best High School” designation for several years, P-H-M now has several elementary and middle schools who also have earned this distinction, including our very own Moran. We’ve earned the distinction of being among Indiana’s Top 30% of Public Elementary Schools (data is based on the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years).

A total of 10 of P-H-M elementary schools earned the high ranking as a U.S. News “Best Public Elementary School.” See the full ranking list below:

1. Northpoint Elementary​
3. Prairie Vista Elementary
8. Mary Frank Elementary
11. Horizon Elementary
93. Bittersweet Elementary
136. Meadow’s Edge Elementary
157. Elm Road Elementary
177. Moran Elementary
256. Walt Disney Elementary
299. Elsie Rogers Elementary 

Two of our middle schools, Discovery and Schmucker, are also named “Best Public Middle Schools.” Discovery is ranked #4 in Indiana and Schmucker is ranked #96.

Here’s how U.S. News calculated the rankings:

For each state, schools were assessed on their pupils’ proficiencies in mathematics and reading, as measured by state assessment tests. Half of the ranking formula was the results themselves; the other half was the results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. In other words, the top-ranked schools are high achieving ones that succeeded in educating all of their students. All data for the rankings are from third-party sources, including the U.S. Department of Education.

U.S. News has published state rankings for more than 47,000 public elementary schools and more than 23,000 public middle schools. Most schools with an elementary school ranking offer grades K-5 or K-6, while most with a middle school ranking offer grades 6-8 or 7-8. Some schools with wider grade spans were ranked in both categories.

U.S. News has published an in-depth methodology article that provides more information about the rankings and how they were calculated.