Dear Moran Families,

I would like to reintroduce myself.  As some of you may remember, I was the acting interim principal last fall when Mr. Anglin was on medical leave.  This year, I return while Mr. Anglin is out for another medical leave.  I am very excited to be back with the students and staff at Moran.  It was so much easier this year as I know the “lay of the land!”.  It was surprising to see how many kids remembered me, and I am enjoying visiting with them each day.

Although I am unsure how long I will be staying, I want to assure you we are working hard each day to maximize student learning and success.  I am sure you are aware that state standards and expectations have become increasingly more rigorous since you were in school.  Our teachers work so hard to provide the highest quality instruction to your students every day.  We value your support and appreciate any and all help you can provide your child at home:  insuring they complete their homework, read at night, and practice their math facts.  Just spending a few minutes with your child checking their homework can make all the difference.  It also shows them how important YOU think learning is and how putting forth your best effort is not only the best way to be successful in school, it is an essential life skill we all take into the world.

Currently, teachers in grades K-2 are administering mid-year DIBELS tests and students in grades 3-5 are completing  AIRWays Interim Assessments in ELA, Writing, and Math.  Teachers use the results of these formative assessments to guide their instruction.  Ask your child’s teacher what you can do to help them reach their learning goals!  We know all our students can succeed and want everyone to reach his/her fullest potential. 

As we quickly progress through February, below are some upcoming events to mark on your calendars. Please help your child come to school well-rested, fed and ON TIME! No one likes to walk in late and feel behind before their day has even begun.

Sincerely,

Amy Fadorsen​

Interim Principal

2/8 – U.S. Shake Out

Once again, Moran Elementary School will be participating in the great “American Shake Out!” This nationwide drill will be conducted on Friday, February 8th. Indiana is in a fault zone and is susceptible to earthquakes. We plan to be prepared in such an event.

2/14 – Spring Parties  –  Party times vary among classrooms. Your teacher will be in contact if volunteers are needed!

2/15-2/18 – Presidents’ Day Recess – No School!

March 18-29 – IREAD Assessment for third grade students

Students prepare all year long for this week-long assessment. Please ensure your child is ready. Daily school attendance and partnering with the teacher will maximize your student’s potential to perform at their optimum level. 

Parents, your child’s teacher is using either Google Classroom or Canvas for their curriculum assignments. (If you are unsure, please contact your child’s teacher via email ASAP). Classroom teachers are reviewing with students the process today in case they have any questions.

In either situation, you will begin by going to the primary launchpad (primary.phmschools.org) and selecting either Canvas or Google (then Google Classroom). From there, you will sign in by entering your child’s username and password. Your child should be familiar with this username/password from regular use, but if you are unsure, please contact your child’s teacher.

After logging in, you should see a class from your child’s teacher. Click to proceed and follow the prompts.

As general reminders, you are not required to print any of the assignments, but you may do so if you choose. Students will have 5 days to submit the assignments after the missed school day. Keep in mind that the computer lab will be opened, when school is back in session, as an option before or after school for students as needed. Please contact your teacher for specifics if necessary.

Also remember that your primary contact on eLearning days is your child’s teacher. They will be accessible by email and will help to answer any questions you may have.

Registration for kindergarten students for the 2019-2020 school year opened on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.

This registration opportunity is for youngsters who live within the P-H-M district and who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2019. 

Registration for Moran Elementary will take place during the hours of 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. A parent or guardian must appear in person to register their child. 

Click here for more registration forms and more details on P-H-M Kindergarten Registration. 

Penn-Harris-Madison also operates two preschool programs: Early Learning Academy (ELA) and Penn PALS.  Neither program is offered at Moran, but you can click the links below to learn more about the programs available at our other elementary school sites.

Click here to learn more about Penn PALS and download a registration form. Registration for the 2019-20 school year opens Monday, March 11, 2019.

Click here to learn more about ELA and to download a registration form. Registration for the 2019-20 school year opens Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019.

The first day for students of the 2019-2020 school year is Wednesday, August 21, 2019 and the last day for students is Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

Other important dates include:

• September 2, 2019: Recess Day – Labor Day
• October 25 & 28, 2019: Fall Recess Days
• November 5, 2019: Recess Day – General Election
• November 27-29, 2019: Thanksgiving Recess Days
• December 23-Jan. 3, 2020: Winter Break
• January 20, 2020: Recess Day – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• February 17, 2020: Recess Day – Presidents’ Day
• April 6-10, 2020: Spring Break
• May 5, 2020: Recess Day – Primary Election
• May 25, 2020: Recess Day – Memorial Day

Click here for a one-page pdf copy of the 2019-2020 school year calendar.

If you need copies of the 2018-2019 school year and activity calendars, please click here.

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As the New Year approaches I often stop and ask myself, “Where has the time gone?” Although the winter break does not officially mark the halfway point, it is close. As I look ahead I see many opportunities for our Moran families to enjoy time together in several of our PTA sponsored events. January will offer the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son Winter Ball. Additional activities are scheduled later in the spring. Isn’t spending time with one’s family what it’s all about? I think so and I’m sure you agree. These opportunities to spend time together will pass all too quickly. So be sure and set aside some time together for your family. To be current with what’s happening at Moran and PHM check the Moran or PHM web site. I have also listed some additional information below.

Sincerely,

Frank Anglin, Ed.S.

January 7: School Resumes. Welcome Back 

January 16: First Semester Ends

January 21: No School, Dr. Martin Luther King Day

January 18: PTA Winter Ball

January Assessments: DIBELS Gr K-2, CogAt select Gr K,2,5, WIDA and AIRways Gr 3-5,

2019 ILEARN TEST WILL BE CHALLENGING: The Indiana Department of Education has changed the vendor who provides tests for students in grades 3-5. The best way for me to describe the new assessment is: ILEARN will be more 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.

Note: Parents may go to the D.O.E. website and find more information about ILEARN.

Track Your Child’s Bus: Using a smart phone or computer you can track your child’s bus each school day. Here’s how:

Register for GPS bus tracking by creating your “Here Comes the Bus” account through this link: www.HereComesTheBus.com

• PHM’s account number, which is 76205
• Child’s last name
• Child’s Student ID#
The “Here Comes the Bus” app is also available in Google Play and iTunes making it available on your smart phone. If you have problems with the app or website contact “Here Comes the Bus” directly at 1-877-SYNOVIA or herecomesthebus@synoviasolutions.com

eLearning: When students miss school due to cancellation they can access their assignments in real time with their teacher. Parents should have already received information from their child’s teacher regarding eLearning. School work during an eLearning day is 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.

Discovery Middle School PTO in Partnership with Discovery Middle School presents “An Evening of Vocational Options and Saving for College.” 
 

Please join us at Discovery Middle School for presentations about the College Savings 529 Plan and by Elkhart Area Career Center. The programs at the EACC are available to Penn High School students. A complete listing of classes and programs are outline in the Penn High School Program of Studies—just use the “Cntrl F” function to search for the Elkhart Area Career Center.

Monday, February 11, 2019, 7:00 p.m. at Discovery Middle School.

Penn Robotics Team 135 is once again holding workshops for 1^st ​- 8th grade students over two days of Winter Recess (Thurs., Dec. 27 & Friday, Dec. 28).

Creative Workshop 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Suggested Age: 1^st ​- 3^rd graders. Price: $80.00. A camp that stretches the creative mind! Students are given a design challenge to complete over the course of two days. Students will be using K’NEX to build a solution to the stated problem. They will be on teams that will design, create, and improve upon their concept. While having fun in an exciting environment, the emphasis is always on the process of design to build, while always improving on previous ideas! On Friday students will have the opportunity to test their concepts against the other teams within the workshop. Parents are also welcome to attend the Parent Show which will take place the last 15 minutes of the workshop on the December 28th. High school robotics students will be mentors during these two days of fun!

Applied Workshop 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Suggested Age: 4^th – 8^th graders. Price: $80.00. This camp is geared towards students who want to expand their knowledge in designing and manufacturing! This workshop is also geared towards students who can follow instructions and are comfortable behind computer software. Over the two days, students will be designing 3D parts on the computer that can be brought to life with many CNC Machines. Students will have the opportunity to use the 3D printer, CNC Laser Cutter, the CNC Router, and many other tools/machines in the Penn Robotics Lab! High school students will be mentoring and helping students with their 3D computer designs and machining their parts.

Click here to sign-up and pay online today!

When the snow falls it’s time to play outside! This year’s November snowfall gave the children of Moran Elementary school an opportunity to put on their snow suits and enjoy some winter fun.

Whether it’s sliding on their bellies acting like penguins, making snow angels, or just running around, playing in the snow gives students a fun recess break before returning back to the classroom.

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. 

Do you like to dance? Do you want to learn how to spin a flag? Do you like to perform?

All levels are welcome to come to the Penn Winter Guard Call-Out at Bittersweet Elementary School (next to Penn HS). The call-out will be on Tuesday, November 27^th at 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Girls and boys, grades 4-12, will be accepted. 

Come be a part of this incredible performing arts group!

Click here to download and print the flyer.
 

The IDOE released the 2017-18 Accountability grades on Wednesday, November 14 and once again the Indiana Department of Education has recognized the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation as an “A” rated school district! Along with the district’s “A” rating, Moran Elementary and six other schools also received “A” letter grades:

• Elsie Rogers Elementary School
• Horizon Elementary School
• Northpoint Elementary School
• Prairie Vista Elementary School
• Discovery Middle School
• Penn High School

This is a tremendous achievement for Moran as a Title I school! For more information on Moran’s rating and 2017-18 ISTEP+ scores, please click here.

P-H-M has received an “A” rating every year since 2011—making this the seventh consecutive year!

Overall, nearly 64 percent of Indiana Schools received an A or B. For more information on and to view the 2017-18 School Accountability Grades, please click here to visit the IDOE website. 

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation serves more than 11,100 students in 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and Penn High School. With the release of the Spring 2018 ISTEP+ results, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation ranks in the state’s Top 5% of public school districts for grade 10 ISTEP+ results and in the Top 6% for grades 3-8.

Penn High School ranks in the Top 5% of all Indiana public high schools and has a 97% graduation rate, exceeding the state’s graduation rate.

P-H-M’s “Triangle of Success” connects students, teachers and parents for excellence in education.