It was a gorgeous day for the 10^th annual “Running is Elementary.” Most years, 4^th and 5^th grade students from all 11 P-H-M elementary schools are fighting the elements of wind, rain, sleet or snow … but not this year!

Almost 700 students  participated in the 1 mile run on the Penn cross-country course located behind Elm Road School on Monday, April 30. Please click to see the photo gallery below.

The fun event encourages fitness and wellness. Fourth and fifth graders are encouraged to sign up for the free running club. Designated coaches at each school are then tasked with training the runners for the 6-week club which then culminates with the Running is Elementary Race. Cheered on by their families, principals, teachers and running coaches it’s amazing to see the dedication and hard work the students put in to complete the race. “Running Buddies” accompany those students who may need their extra assistance and/or encouragement.

Cindy Batalis (P-H-M’s 2009 Teacher of the Year and physical education teacher at Horizon Elementary) began the yearly tradition of Running Is Elementary back in 2008. Batalis’ own love for running and her desire to pass that love on to students is evident in the passion she puts into the Running is Elementary event each year. “This is a thrill! All the kids out here running today are out here making a positive step to healthy habits and we celebrate all of them. It's a true community event!"

The top times for the 2018 Running Is Elementary Race were as follows:

5^th grade Boys

BIB# 99
Elm Road School
Time: 5:59
 

5th grade Girls Winner

BIB# 190
Horizon
Time: 6:43 
 

4^th grade Boys

BIB# 429
Meadow's Edge
Time: 6:05
 

4^th grade Girls

BIB# 171
Elsie Rogers
Time: 6:51

It was particularly heartwarming when the whole crowd got behind one special runner to cheer him on 4th grade Horizon student Mikan Gensic, son of Penn Biology Teacher John Gensic. Mikan took everything in stride and didn't even seem to be tired when he was done. He even had to be talked into getting his complimentary bottle of water and frozen Urban Swirl cup!

All runners are to be congratulated for their efforts and hard work!!

A big thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation and Corporations for Education for sponsoring the event!

Sponsors for the 2018 event:

Presenting sponsor – Corporations for Education

Royal Excursion and Gaylor Electric

After Race Snack Donations:

Urban Swirl and B&B Organics

Be sure to sign up to run in the P-H-M Education Foundation’s Silver Mile Bubble Bash this Saturday, May 5. Click to register online today!

Please see the photo gallery below. To download a high resolution jpg file from the photo gallery, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function.

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The May/June calendar marks the beginning of the end of the 2017-2018 school year. Students in grades 3-5 have completed their ISTEP exams. Results will not be immediately available. We will update you as soon as we here from the Indiana Department of Education.  Kindergarten and first students are assessing end of year phonemic and comprehension skills (DIBELS). These are important assessments because they tell us how well our students are learning. From this data we examine our curriculum, instructional strategies and make modifications as needed. For you, the parent/guardian, these exams provide you another benchmark in the progression of your child’s learning.

Extended Learning summer school will occur during the month of June. Meadows Edge and Walt Disney are the elementary host sites. Dates for attendance are June 11-29.  This is an important learning experience for students who need a little more time and practice to master Indiana Standards. If your child has been invited be sure you get them signed up for this important learning opportunity.

IREAD 3 summer school will run concurrently and at the same sites. This session is offered to help third grade students pass the state mandated IREAD 3 exam.

I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful summer full of exciting memories of times spent with your family. Wrapping things up for this year only makes me more excited about the 2018-2019 school year when we can once again come together and create new memories. Below I have included some information that I hope you find helpful in planning for the days ahead.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Frank Anglin, Ed.S.

Important Dates:  

            May 31 – Kindergarten Graduation – 1:00 PM-GYM

            June 4 – Awards Day

                         9:00 a.m. – Grades K-2

                        10:00 a.m. – Grades 3-5

            June 5 – Field Day

Back To School Night:

August 21, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. For your convenience class lists will be posted outside the rooms and in our gym.

Mark your calendars!

Community Connections Fair

Saturday, April 21, 2018

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Walt Disney Elementary School

In an effort to expand outreach to the families of all of our ENL students (grades K-12), P-H-M’s ENL Services is hosting a community resource fair to make families aware of the services not only available within the district, but also in the Mishawaka and South Bend areas. Bilingual interpreters will be on hand at the event to assist those families who need it.

Click here to download a copy of the event flier in English. Copies are also available in Spanish, Chinese and Korean.

*Adobe Acrobat Reader will be required to view pdf documents. 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.

The registration deadline for Visual Arts Academy (grades K-5) and Learn a Foreign Language (grades 6 & 7) has been extended through Friday, April 20. 

Both of these P-H-M sponsored camps offered through the Learning Division are FREE! The Visual Arts Academy is offered during these weeks: 

• July 9 – 13, 2018
• July 16 – 20, 2018
• July 23 – 27, 2018

Learn a Foreign Language is three week course offered July 9 – 27, 2018.

Please click the links above for camp details and to complete your child’s online camp registration today!

Kids Club 2018 Summer Program registration is now open!! Click here for more information and registration.

Full-day childcare is offered at two locations (Walt Disney and Northpoint Elementary schools) for current P-H-M students in grades K-5. Children will enjoy a variety of educational and recreational activities, crafts and field trips.

Cost is $125 a week, for 5 days a week. All children not currently enrolled in Kids Club are required to pay the $25 registration fee in addition to all other program-related costs. In addition, a deposit of the $100 non-refundable activity fee is required to hold a place for your child.

Sign up now!!

Locations:  Northpoint Elementary School

                       Walt Disney Elementary School

Dates:          June 6 through August 21, 2018

                       (closed July 4)

Times:          6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Questions: If you have questions about Kids Club Summer Session,

                       please call Kailey Campanero at (574) 258 – 9514 or

                       Ashley Stoffl at (574) 258 – 9587

Caregivers of dependents with special needs are invited to attend a special workshop, sponsored by Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, on how to make your child’s future more secure.

See the information in the flier posted below …

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Hopefully April will bring more sunny skies and warmer weather. Soon we’ll be hearing the sound of baseballs flying off aluminum bats and observe kites flying overhead. Spring often teases us with sunny days and warming temperatures. I can hardly wait for the real thing to arrive. I’m sure you and your family feel the same way too. There’s just something refreshing about the start of a new season. April is another busy testing time for our students. Please note below these upcoming test windows and be sure your children are getting a good breakfast each morning as well as a good night’s sleep. It they are to do their best they need to be ready to go. A word of encouragement goes a long way too. Kindergarten registration is going well and will continue throughout the spring.

                                                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                Frank Anglin, Ed.S.

Progress Reports:

Progress reports were sent home with students on March 29. If you did not receive a copy contact your child’s teacher.  

APRIL TEST DATES: 

April 9 – April 13: 5^th Grade Math/LA placement for Middle School

April 11 – May 9: DIBELS Reading K-1

April 16 – May 4: ISTEP grades 3-5

May 7 –   May 25: NWEA, select students grades 1,3,4

Note:  Mandatory ISTEP practice tests will be given to students prior to the actual test dates.

IREAD 3:

We expect IREAD scores to arrive after spring break. Students who did not pass the March IREAD assessment will be required to attend IREAD summer school. Students will receive small group intensive tutoring during this time. At this summer session students will have their final opportunity to pass the state mandated assessment. IREAD summer school is from June 11 – June 29, 2018.

School Improvement Plan/Targeted Focus Group:

Our School Improvement Plan (SIP) includes interventions that address student needs as identified by data from ISTEP. Moran has many ongoing interventions for students. Interventions are targeted to specific groups of students that demonstrate similar academic needs. It’s always important to discuss what, if any, your child’s interventions are with their teacher. Our goal is to help each student accomplish their personal best. Cooperation between home and school is important in helping your child achieve their personal best. Parents can assist by encouraging regular attendance, volunteer in your child’s classroom or a PTA activity and by monitoring your child’s individual learning goals. For information about our school’s performance parents may go to http://compass.doe.in.gov/dashboard/overview.aspx.

SUMMER SCHOOL:

Regular summer school for 2018 will be held at Meadow’s Edge from June 11 – June 29. The PHM transportation department provides transportation. If your child has been invited please get them signed up for this very important learning opportunity. The extra time and attention they receive in summer school may be just the academic boost they need to do their personal best. Principals for summer school have not yet been determined. Summer school sites are at Meadows Edge and Walt Disney. Moran students attend Meadows Edge. I look forward to seeing our students improve their skills during these sessions. Be looking for more summer school information from your child’s teacher as well as our monthly newsletters. 

5^th Grade Tours:

Moran fifth graders will be traveling to their respective middle schools on Thursday, May 10. Students will tour the buildings with their teachers and eat lunch at the middle schools. Moran students attend either Grissom or Schmucker Middle School.

June 4-June 5:

Awards Day will be on June 4 and June 5th will be the all school Field Day. The last day of school is Tuesday, June 5.  

Mark your calendars now!

Saturday, May 5

8:30 a.m. – Noon

Penn High School

Register online today!

Do you like bubbles? Well, if you do, you’ll enjoy this fun change coming to the Silver Mile this year. The Silver Mile 5K Run/Walk will now be a Bubble Bash! 

What is a Bubble Bash, you ask? Watch the video below from P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker and then click here to register your family today!

The non-timed 5K Run/Walk will incorporate bubble stations along the route for participants to travel through during the event. The Fun Walk will now be incorporated into this event, and there will be an option to take a shorter loop for those not wanting to run/walk the 5K. This event will start at 9:00 a.m. on the TCU Freed Field Track.

After the Bubble Bash, runners and families are invited inside Penn High School’s cafeteria for the Education & Health and Fitness Fair complete with free health screenings provided by the St. Joseph Medical Center. The popular Silent Auction offers a chance to bid on prime Penn student parking spaces and new this year … Penn Commencement front row seat!!! Student works of art and other items from community businesses are also offered. And the Talent Showcase has been expanded to an hour this year.

All proceeds benefit the P-H-M Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support excellence in education in all 15 P-H-M schools by awarding innovative teaching grants, scholarships to students, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.

Click here for early bird registration and for more information on the Bubble Bash.