Penn Harris Madison COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic

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?

Student of the Month-November

Each month our teachers recognize one student in their class that exemplifies the Lifeline that we are focusing on for that month.  During the month of November,  we focused on the lifeline of Gratitude. Gratitude can best be defined as the readiness to show appreciation for things received and not needing to constantly seek more. These students, according to their classroom teachers, best exemplify this lifeline. Join us in congratulating these students. 

November Students of the Month-Gratitude

Kindergarten

  • Mrs. Curry-Ashton Odom
  • Mrs. McCambridge-Kyle Bauer
  • Mrs. Schieman-Norah Thomas
  • Mrs. VanDuyn-Brock Wilkey
     

First Grade

  • Mrs.-Dussel-Aubree McCoy
  • Mrs. Hapke-Addie Petersen
  • Mrs. Hartline-Leana Konstantinidi
  • Mrs. Hollinger-Cole Schieman

Second Grade

  • Ms. Krueger-Caleb Eck
  • Mrs. Danksy-Alexander McCavitt
  • Mrs. Moore-Ava Stepp
  • Mrs. Rice-Leia Hamilton
  • Mrs. Roberts-Claire Burggraf

Third Grade

  • Mrs. Cussen-Seth Taylor
  • Mrs. Marks-Kasey Kobold-Perkins
  • Mrs. Messer-Cami Paiano
  • Mrs. Pressler-Madeline Smith
  • Mrs. Zache-Kayleigh Anton

Fourth Grade

  • Mrs. Briones-Chase Rerick
  • Mr. Budd-Clara Gillin
  • Mrs. Lira-Evelyn Mitchell
  • Mrs. Pond-Anica Gensic
  • Mrs. Rehlander-Amilia Lankford

Fifth Grade

  • Mrs. Coletti-Bentley (Travis) Baird
  • Mrs. Nowak-Max Nettrouer
  • Mrs. Osbeck-Kennedy Lundquist
  • Mrs. Shenk-Ella Gour

Winter Guard Open House, Tuesday, Nov. 16

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.

U.S. News Ranks Horizon #11 Indiana Public Elementary School

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! And our very own Horizon ranks #11 in Indiana for Public Elementary Schools (data is based on the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years). Click here to see why Horizon ranks so highly.

A total of 10 of P-H-M elementary schools earned the high ranking as a U.S. News “Best Public Elementary School.” Other than Horizon at #11, the other nine schools are ranked as follows:

1. Northpoint Elementary​
3. Prairie Vista Elementary
8. Mary Frank 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.

Penn Robotics October & November Workshops

Penn High School Robotics Team 135 is pleased to once again offering Next Gen Camps this Fall to inspire elementary and middle school students pursue Robotics. The dates are October 29th & 30th, as well as three dates in November: Nov. 13th, 26th, and 27th.

Click the images of the flyers below to enroll your student today.

 

October Workshop    November Flyer

Meals for eLearning Day on Tues., March 30, 2021

With the announcement that Tuesday, March 30, 2021 will be an eLearning day, the meal plan for March 30th is as follows:

Elementary:

  • Every elementary student in school on Monday, March 29th will receive a meal for Tuesday, March 30th as they leave. 
  • Breakfast AND lunch will be included for students who attend Bittersweet, Elm Road, Elsie Rogers, Horizon, Mary Frank, Meadow’s Edge, Walt Disney, Moran & Madison.
  • Lunch only will be provided for students who attend Northpoint & Prairie Vista
  • Elementary School Menu

Middle:

  • When students leave school on Friday, March 26th, they will receive 2 days worth of meals. Those meals will cover Monday, March 29th and Tuesday March 30th.
  • Students at Grissom and Schmucker will receive pre-packaged breakfast and lunch.
  • Students at Discovery will receive pre-packaged lunches.
  • Middle School Menu

High School

  • When students leave school on Friday, March 26th, they will receive 2 days worth of meals. Those meals will cover Monday, March 29th and Tuesday March 30th.
  • High School Menu

Meals for 100% Virtual Learners:

  • Pick up meals at Door K at Penn High School
  • Day & Time: Monday, March 29, 1-3 p.m.
  • Students will receive a refrigerated box and a frozen bag with four (4) breakfasts and four (4) lunches since Friday, April 2nd is a recess day.

Additional Information

  • Students do not need to be present for the parent or guardian to pick up meals.
  • Student ID’s WILL NOT be required.

*Meals will not be provided on Recess Days.

 

Menus for all schools and virtual learners can be found here.

2nd Graders make Quilt Honoring Black History Month

There is a theory that quilts were utilized as signs and secret code as part of the Underground Railroad helping to guide runaway slaves to freedom. As part of her history lessons, Horizon 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Mary Dansky had students study historical African Americans and then make individual “quilt patches” with facts about their person. Ms. Dansky then put all the patches together to create her class quilt honoring Black History Month. Take a look …

 

Registration Opens for Spring Break 2021 Kids Club

Spring Break Kids Club

April 5 – 9, 2021

6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Northpoint Elementary School (Door E)

Cost is $35 per child, per day or $150 per child for the full week. If you are not currently enrolled in Kids Club, you must also pay the $25 registration fee per child. Registration and payment are due, and non refundable, by Tuesday, March 30, 2021. 

Click here for more details and online registration.

Registration Now Open for the 2021 Virtual Young Authors’ Conference, Sat., March 6

Calling all kindergarten through fifth grade students and their families…it’s time for the VIRTUAL Young Author’s Conference! 

Sponsored by the P-H-M Education Foundation, the Young Authors’ Conference is an opportunity to meet and hear from multi-talented children’s author and speaker, Matthew Gollub.  Mr. Gollub has written over 20 picture books and will share his experiences as a writer during his engaging, grade-level presentations.

Participants will also enjoy an interactive music and movement experience with Horizon Elementary School’s very own music teacher, Jon West. 

Mr. West is a seasoned Elementary music teacher in the P-H-M School Corporation in addition to being the Executive Director of a local nonprofit community theater company, The Main Stage Inc.

COST:

  • FREE for any K-5 P-H-M Student.

REGISTRATION:

  • Students MUST be registered and registration is limited!
  • Every student, including multiple students within the same family must have their own registration.
  • Register at YAC Virtual Registration.
  • Deadline for registration is Friday, February 19, 2021

VIRTUAL EVENT DETAILS:

Saturday, March 6, 2021       

9:00am – 10:30am

  • Prior to the conference at the beginning of March, participating students will receive the link for the virtual event and additional information.
  • This information will be sent to the email that was provided on the registration form.
  • If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Schirripa at lschirripa@phm.k12.in.us

Special thanks to our community partners who help make events like these possible: 

May Oberfell Lorber, Laidig Systems, Crowe Horwath, Gibson, Teachers Credit Union, Tuesley Hall Konopa, Lake CityBank,  Holiday Coral, EdwardJones – Joel Laidig & Barnes & Noble.

Student of the Month-January

Each month our teachers recognize one student in their class that exemplifies the Lifeline that we are focusing on for that month.  During the month of January, we focused on the lifeline of Effort. Effort can best be defined as participating, persevering, and taking the initiative in any given task. The following students were “all in” with everything they were asked to do. Join us in celebrating the following students: 

Students of the Month

Kindergarten:

  • Schieman – Mia McNulty
  • Curry – Elijah Beckham
  • McCambridge – Grace Henke
  • Van Duyn – Maddy Gorsuch

1st Grade:

  • Dussel – Colson Parker, Caleb Bohner
  • Hapke – Adalyn Post
  • Hartline – Andrew Preniczny
  • Hollinger – Emmett Sears

2nd Grade:

  • Dansky – Nathan Safeukui
  • Moore – Ali Trevino
  • Roberts – Kinley Rogers
  • Rice- Aubrey Wolfe
  • Martens – Bailey Castello

3rd Grade:

  • Pressler – Lea Tafelski
  • Cussen – Hunter Dorton 
  • Marks – Shelby Bohner
  • Messer – Libby Martin, Taylor Schramski
  • Zache – Aiden Bailey

4th Grade:

  • Briones – Kendal Summe
  • Pond – Jack Richmond
  • Rehlander – Drew Mack
  • Lira – Tyler Jacobsen
  • Budd – Elizabeth Holmes

5th Grade:

  • Coletti – Zoe Crawford
  • Nowak – Harper Rumble
  • Shenk – Lauren Pechous
  • Osbeck – Graham Fronek