Daylight Savings Time Ends – Fall Back

Sunday, November 6th is the end of daylight savings, please remember to turn your clocks back one hour.

Mr. Anglin’s November Newsletter

Dear Parents/Guardians:

It’s hard to imagine that we are discussing upcoming events for November. Where have the past three months gone? Enrollment is slightly down from last year; however, student learning is still going well at Moran. One thing we are very pleased about is our parent volunteers. We so appreciate the time and energy our parent volunteers are giving to help our students. I can only tell you that hundreds of hours have already been given. If you haven’t volunteered yourself please consider it. Volunteering is a nice way to serve our students and community. Below I have listed several topics of information for your review. Hopefully these will help you keep informed about important school topics.

Playgrounds: We ask that parent/guardians not visit our playgrounds during recess time or when school is in session. This policy is for your child’s safety and security as well as those of other parents.

Focused Instruction: Are you curious about what skill your child is working on and if they have mastered it or not? Teachers in grades K-4 are sending this information home. If you’re not seeing your child’s information coming home contact their teacher. FI skills are those state mandated skills we want all students to know and be able to perform.

Picking Up/Dropping off Your Child: Only bused students should use the front drop off area of our school. Students in cars, vans or trucks should be dropped off and picked up at the south entrance or exit. Please do not drop off students prior to 8:25 a.m. Help keep our students safe. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Parent/Teacher Conferences: We appreciated your attendance during our two evenings of parent/teacher conferences. Working together, in partnership, we can help your child reach their learning potential. We hope you found your conference helpful.

Picture Retakes: Retakes were completed on Wednesday, October 12.

Daylight Savings Time: November 6, at 2:00 a.m., marks the end of daylight savings time. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour.

D.A.R.E. Graduation: Tuesday, December 13 is D.A.R.E. graduation for 5th graders. Graduation starts at 11:30 a.m. in the IMR. Seating is limited.

Don’t forget to come visit us. We’d love to have you visit or volunteer. Please remember only approved volunteers may participate. If you have not been approved please stop by our office and pick up the forms you need in order to serve. Moran Elementary School is dedicated to serving its students and families. Please do not hesitate to call or stop by if we can be of service.

Sincerely,

Frank Anglin, Ed.S.

Fall Book Fair

Fall Book Fair Is Here

***Encourage your child’s love of reading and support Moran at the same time.  

October 21st – 27th 9:30 am – 3:00 pm

Our book fair will be open during Parent & Teacher conferences.

October 25th 3:00 pm – 7:30 pm

October 26th 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Community Events & Activities

New Way to Access Fliers of Community Events/Activities

Looking for the latest events and activities from our community organizations?  We’ve gone paperless!  Click above link to see details!

High Ability Identification

High Ability Identification

In accordance with the Indiana high ability law, we are required to have an identification process in place to identify students of high ability in the general intellectual and specific academic domains. We identify students who have high ability in language arts and/or math.

Every kindergartener, second and fifth grader who has not been previously identified in a subject area is considered for high ability identification.

Testing for the high ability identification process will begin in December.

Learn more about our identification procedures by visiting our high ability website at www.phmschools.org/highability.

School Messenger InfoCenter

Would you like to learn more about School Messenger and how to control the delivery of messages?  

School Messenger InfoCenter

Elementary Visual Arts Academy nominated for state honor

The mother of a 1st grade student states, “It’s brilliant!
The curriculum is so intentional, and the writing-art
connection is outstanding. We are thankful for your
passion to do this!”

Engaging, enriching—words that describe the 2016 Visual Arts Academy. 

Excited, enthralled—the reaction of so many of the children experiencing this unique summer program.

Now in its fourth year, over 800 children in grades K-5 are taking part in the 2016 Visual Arts Academy.  

The Visual Arts Academy has been nominated to receive the designation of “Promising Practice.” That distinction is granted by the Indiana Department of Education to programs that use innovative approaches to deliver educational benefits. Once “Promising Practices” are identified, other Indiana districts may choose to initiate similar programs for the families they serve.

The Visual Arts Academy represents an innovative partnership developed by Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame. The Academy features art making and writing through the examination of original works of art from both the Snite Museum and museums around the world.

One youngster proudly asked, “Did you know  
that I am an artist?”

It is comprised of six one-week programs, running from June 6 through July 15, 2016. Each week students from a different grade level experience a diversely rich curriculum that focuses upon the creation of an identity as an artist with words as well as images.

Each day students work with the visiting artists and art teachers in art making, elementary writing teachers for writing workshop and visual thinking strategies, multi-media experience to learn about art mediums such as glass blowing or architecture. Students also spend one day at the Snite Museum.

Since its inception, the vision and mission of the Visual Arts Academy has been shared by a core group of teachers and administrators at P-H-M and Notre Dame. Under the leadership of Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kay Antonelli, the group created the curricula “from the ground up” and provided the professional development for all teachers who participate during the Academy. Over 25 elementary writing and secondary art teachers are serving the Academy this summer.

Thanks to the financial support of these contributors, the Visual Arts Academy is provided for all children free of charge.

  • From the family of a 2nd grade student:  “He doesn’t
    normally participate in things. This is the most open he
    has been, and he now has something he feels is his!”

    The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County ($50,000 grant)

  • The P-H-M Education Foundation

  • Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

  • The Snite Museum of Art

  • The Law Offices of May, Oberfell, Lorber

  • And various other contributors

Coming Soon: New CANVAS dashboard for parent and student users

CANVAS is an online communication platform that connects students, parents and teachers. CANVAS has boosted the success of P-H-M’s Chromebook program in middle and high school, and most of our users have given it a “thumbs up” this year.

Starting June 6, 2016, P-H-M’s CANVAS users will see a new and improved “dashboard” when they log on. In addition to the new look, the user will have new options for organizing and viewing CANVAS content. We think the changes being made to the user interface will merit two thumbs up!  

Parents and students, watch the video below for an overview of the changes. 

 

The URL (web address ) to CANVAS is not changing. You will find it at the same location, or by using the same link or shortcut, as you have used in the past. 

 

Your login information will not change. Your CANVAS login is the same as your HAC (Home Access Center) login.

  • Contact the school office or email the HAC helpdesk HAC@phm.k12.in.us if you need help setting up your account. 

 

Visit the Canvas Help Page for additional resources and information.

P-H-M Receives “Best Community for Music Education” Designation

 

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation learned today (Thursday, March 24, 2016) that it has been honored with the “Best Communities for Music Education” designation from the NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. P-H-M is just one of 13 Indiana school districts and 476 districts across the country receiving this prestigious award in 2016.

The Best Communities Music Education (BCME) designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

Districts that have been recognized by the NAMM Foundation are often held up as models for other educators looking to boost their own music education programs.  The BCME award acknowledges the commitment of P-H-M’s music teachers and administrators in the District’s 11 elementary and three middle schools and Penn High School.  One of the reasons why Penn’s music program is so strong is because of the music programs at Discovery, Schmucker and Grissom Middle Schools. All students have the opportunity to choose choir, orchestra or band as an elective starting in 6th grade. In our elementary schools, music class is part of the regular curriculum following state standards. Students are instructed in both vocal and instrument classes.

Thursday’s news of the BCME award comes as Penn High School’s Jazz I Ensemble is preparing to perform and compete in the prestigious Savannah Jazz Festival competition coming up March 30 – April 1. Penn’s Jazz Ensemble I is just one of 12 high school jazz ensembles to qualify for this event. Penn Jazz I was selected by audition as a finalist and will have the opportunity to work with some of today's best jazz musicians and educators as a part of a three-day workshop and competition.

The accolades go on and on for Penn’s Fine Arts program … you can read more about them by clicking here. Ticket information for upcoming spring 2016 Fine Arts performances click here.

About The NAMM Foundation: 

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,300 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, school districts have submit answers to a detailed survey. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.  For more information about the NAMM Foundation or the BCME award, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.

 

All P-H-M Schools earn an “A”

The Indiana Department of Education released 2015 school accountability grades today and all 15 of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation’s schools earned an “A”! The final grades were approved unanimously by the State Board of Education during the January 26 Board meeting.

“This straight ‘A’ report card is a result of the hard work and dedication from principals and teachers to the staff, students and families at all of our schools,” said P-H-M School Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker. “This latest achievement is a result of our District’s commitment to excellence.”

Last year, 13 P-H-M schools earned an “A.” With Madison Elementary and Elsie Rogers Elementary each moving up from a “B” to an “A,” all 15 P-H-M schools (11 elementary, three middle and one high school) have now earned this top recognition from the IDOE. Out of 2,095 schools across the state that got a letter grade, only 123 schools saw their letter grades go up in this latest ranking.

A spreadsheet reflecting the final school grades as approved by the State Board of Education is available through this link, http://www.doe.in.gov/news/indiana-department-education-releases-2015-accountability-grades.

On January 6, 2016 the IDOE publicly released the 2015 ISTEP+ results. With an 81.4% pass rate for ELA (English/Language Arts) and a 78.0% pass rate for Math, P-H-M ranked 10th in the state among 293 public school districts. The District’s 2015 overall combined pass rate for both subject areas is 72.1%

Click here for more information on P-H-M’s 2015 ISTEP+ results.