Penn-Harris-Madison offers breakfast at a number of our schools to assist families with busy schedules. If morning meals are difficult for your family, let the School Breakfast Program help you out. Free meal students receive a free breakfast. Reduced price breakfast for qualified students is .30 cents. Regular priced breakfast is $1.10 at elementary and $1.25 at secondary. You can find more information at: https://www.phmschools.org/food-service/p-h-m-food-programs

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is nationally recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” offering choir, band and orchestra 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.  Students/parents must click to use this link to sign-up for your appointment at your designated school and date.

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

At “Instrument Selection Night,” a music professional musician 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.

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

Discovery Middle School

Monday, Feb. 26, 2018

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018

4:30-8:00 p.m.

Grissom Middle School

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018

4:30-8:00 p.m.

Schmucker Middle School

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018

4:30-8:00 p.m.

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

Article written by Melinda O’Malley, Director of P-H-M DVT & Planetarium

On the morning of Wednesday, January 31st, Michiana and all of North America will see its first Super Blue Blood Moon in more than 150 years!

P-H-M families will want to rise early and try to find a nice open viewing area to see as much of  this beautiful “lunar trifecta” as possible. On the morning of Jan. 31^st, the moon will be low on the western horizon–opposite the rising sun when the eclipse begins. Around 5:51 a.m., the left side of the moon will begin to take on a slightly pink color as it moves into the outer edge, the penumbra, of the Earth’s shadow. The moon will continue to move deeper into the Earth’s shadow as it slowly sets.  By 6:48 a.m., viewers in our area will begin to see the Moon’s color changing to a deep red as the Moon moves into the center, the umbra, of the Earth’s shadow. 

Now here’s an explanation of the Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse is why it is so special …

A supermoon is when a full moon occurs during perigee, its closest distance to Earth within its orbit. This makes the moon appear bigger and brighter than normal.

A “blue” moon, despite the name, actually has nothing to do with the color. Instead, it signifies the second full moon within a single calendar month. The expression “once in a Blue Moon” implies something rare. Blue Moons typically happen every two to three years, but double Blue Moons only happen three to five times per century and 2018 we will experience double Blue Moons in January and March! 

Finally, a Blood Moon is often the name given to a total lunar eclipse because the moon appears a reddish color when it enters the Earth’s shadow. The red coloration is caused by sunlight that is refracted, or bent, as it passes through the earth’s atmosphere.

Just as the entire lunar surface is bathed in a “blood red” tint totality begins and the Moon will start to disappear below the horizon. So, make sure to wake up early to beat the rising sun and witness a once in a lifetime “lunar trifecta!”

Registration for kindergarten students for the 2018-2019 school year begins Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Parents can register their student at their home P-H-M elementary school. 

This registration opportunity is for youngsters who live within the P-H-M School Corporation and who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2018. A parent or guardian must appear in person to register their child. 

Penn-Harris-Madison has 11 elementary schools, each offering full-day kindergarten. You may use the 2018 P-H-M Street Guide and the District Map to verify which elementary school serves your neighborhood. 

Registration will take place at the schools during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in most cases. The offices at Elsie Rogers Elementary School and Moran Elementary School will take registrations from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Please click here for more information on kindergarten registration and to print and download the registration forms.

Dear Parents/Guardians:

It was so good to be back at Moran after my extended leave. Knee replacement went well and I’m back in full stride. So great to see all the children again, I missed them. It’s always important to keep current so check the Moran or PHM web sites regularly. Below I’ve listed some additional information for you.

Sincerely,

Frank Anglin, Ed.S.

January 8: School Resumes. Welcome Back 
January 10: Our MOY (Middle of Year) DIBELS reading assessments begin for all K-1 students.
January 15: No School, Dr. Martin Luther King Day
January 16: Kindergarten Registration begins
January 17: First Semester Ends
January 19: PTA Winter Ball

2017 ISTEP TESTS WILL AGAIN BE CHALLENGING: ISTEP will be rigorous in content and require students to persevere through lengthy problems, requiring multiple answers. This will not come easily or natural to students. At Moran we start preparing students for the new tests from the very first day of school. Parents can help support their child by insuring homework is completed, keeping in contact with their child’s teacher and encouraging them to do their personal best each and every day.

eLearning: When students miss school due to cancellation they will be assigned eLearning activities. Parents should have already received information from their child’s teacher regarding eLearing lessons. These assignments are considered homework and are expected to be completed. Incomplete assignments will be treated just like any other homework that is not turned in. If you have questions about eLearning you may contact your child’s teacher.

Moran Student Council is busy collecting nonperishable food to distributed to local families in need with the help of United Osceola Methodist Church.

Dear Moran Families, I want to thank everyone from students and staff to families who have given me such a warm welcome to Moran. This is such a fantastic school, and I have absolutely enjoyed my time here. Mr. Anglin continues to progress in his rehabilitation, however, we have not confirmed a return date to school. Everyone misses him and anxiously awaits his return. This is a busy time of year! Please note the following items providing information for the upcoming months: Food Drive: Moran is still collecting food for its annual food drive. We will accept non-perishable food items through this Friday, December 8th. Care packages will be created and available to families in the Moran community in need of assistance this year. Please consider donating if you have not. It’s a wonderful lesson to teach our children to give back to those in need. Holiday Bazaar: Mark your calendars for this Saturday, Dec. 9th! Our PTA will be hosting its annual Holiday Bazaar from 9-3 pm. Please come and experience all the 70+ vendors have to offer from crafts to baked goods! Parents’ Night Out, Kids Night In: Information was sent home for this event to be held Friday, Dec. 15th from 6-9:45 pm. Cost is $10 per child, $25 for a family of 3 or more. Registration is due Monday, Dec. 11th! Winter Weather: Cold weather is on its way! Please make sure you are sending your child to school dressed for outside recess. Students will go outside if the temperature is at least Zero degrees with the wind chill. Winter coats, hats, and gloves are essential. When the snow comes, students must have snow boots and snow pants if they want to leave the black top areas. If you need assistance in providing any winter items for your child, please contact the office or your child’s teacher. We have a supply of clean, gently used winter wear to choose from. Absences: We want all children at school every day, on time. We understand that people get sick. In the event your children cannot come to school, please call the office by 8:40 am to report the absence. Otherwise, they will be marked unexcused. If you arrive later than 8:35 am, you must park in the front lot and sign your children in at the office. All students are expected to be in their seats, ready to begin the day at 8:40 am. The doors open at 8:25 am, so if you bring your children to school, please plan on dropping them off at 8:25 am. This will give them time to get to their coatroom area, hang up their belongings and empty their back packs. When students arrive late, they can feel anxious as they walk in to a class that has already begun. Please make every effort to ensure your children starts each day off right by being on time to school. Winter Parties: Moran Winter Parties will take place on Friday, December 22nd. If you have been approved by your classroom teacher to attend this party, please make sure you have filled out the correct volunteer forms at the office which includes an approved background check. If this is not on file when you arrive, you will not be allowed back into the learning areas. Thank you for your cooperation as we keep student safety the top priority. Wednesday, February 7th @ 7:00 p.m., SMS Cafeteria, "Student Internet Safety: St. Joseph Co. Police Officer Eric Tamashasky will present on what parents need to know and do to help keep their children safe online. This is open to all parents across the District and is presented by P-H-M's Forum Flyers of community events or activities are posted at this link on the district: website: https://www.phmschools.org/community-events-activities. There is a homepage link off the 11 elementary websites directly to this page. Currently, it is listed in the drop down menu of the middle and Penn websites because of the Penn Showcase banner ad. Running is Elementary: the date is Monday, April 30th and the Rain Date is Wednesday, May 2 (Rain Date). The event is not listed on the printed District Activity Calendar. It is on the PHM Corporate Google Calendar. I wish everyone a warm and wonderful holiday season! Sincerely, Amy Fadorsen, Interim Principal

Breakfast with Santa has been a big hit for over 30 years at P-H-M and this year was no exception!

On Saturday, December 2, 300 people had the chance to spend some time with Santa at Bittersweet Elementary School. The attendees were treated to a program that included a laser show titled “Laser Holidays” at the DVT, breakfast in the cafeteria and then a personal visit with Santa. Please see a photo gallery below.

See you next year!

P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker was recognized last night (Thursday, Nov. 30) as Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS) 2017 Outstanding Educator of the Year!

This is the second time Dr. Thacker has received this prestigious honor from his IAPSS peers; the first time was in 2013. He was also named Indiana Superintendent of the Year in 2012 and received the Sagamore of the Wabash in 2014—Indiana’s highest award—from then Governor Mike Pence. He has also been recognized as Alumnus of the Year from both IUSB and Bethel College.

Dr. Thacker began his career in education in Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation as a 6th grade teacher at Madison Elementary School. Having filled a variety of leadership roles at districts across Indiana and Michigan, in July 2006 he returned to the P-H-M schools to serve as superintendent. Under Dr. Thacker’s leadership, the Indiana Department of Education has consistently named P-H-M an “A” Rated School District. The School Corporation now ranks in the state’s top 4% of public school districts with nine Four Star Schools.