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 Horizon Elementary will take place during the hours of 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 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. Horizon is home to the Early Learning Academy.

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.

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.

The Food Service Department of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is participating in the Summer Food Service Program for Summer 2019.

FREE MEALS will be available to children 18 years of age and under, or persons more than 18 who are determined by a state or local public education agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who participate in a public or non-profit private school program established for the mentally or physically disabled. 

The program will operate Monday through Friday. All sites will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2018.

Please click here for more information and a complete list of sites and dates.

There was a break in the rain on Wednesday (May 1) for the 11^th annual “Running is Elementary.” The course was mostly dry, but the 4^th and 5^th grade runners did get a little muddy!

Click to watch the YouTube video below & then click here to see the full photo gallery on our Facebook page.

The one mile run is held at Penn’s Cross-country course, which is located behind Elm Road Elementary School. Approximately 610 students participated in Wednesday’s race. Many more students participated in the 6-week training leading up to the race, but could not participate in the rain day event held on May 1; originally the race was scheduled for Monday, April 29, but had to be rescheduled due to rain.

This annual event encourages fitness, healthy choices 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 one mile race. The students are 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. 

Cindy Batalis (P-H-M’s 2009 Teacher of the Year and physical education teacher at Mary Frank Elementary School) 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. 

The top times for the 2019 Running Is Elementary Race were as follows:

5^th grade Girls Winner

BIB# 485
Northpoint
Time: 6:42

5th grade Boys Winner

BIB# 431
Moran
Time: 6:11 

4^th grade Girls Winner

BIB# 522
Northpoint
Time: 7:21
 

4^th grade Boys Winner

BIB# 163
Elsie Rogers
Time: 6:15

“Running Buddies” accompany those students who may need a little extra assistance and/or encouragement. 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! After Race Snack Donations were donated by Urban Swirl.

In a surprise announcement Tuesday (April 23) afternoon at Horizon Elementary, Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker honored the District’s 2019 Classified Employee of the Year … Kids Club Assistant Program Coordinator Diane Dyer (click to view the entire photo gallery on P-H-M’s District website).

The surprise announcement was held at Horizon because Diane was Kids Club Site Coordinator there for four years before she was recently promoted to Kids Club Assistant Program Coordinator. Everyone at Horizon was happy to have her back and get in on the surprise.

Watch the video below to see her reaction when she walks into Horizon’s cafeteria to find Dr. Thacker, cameras, her family, a couple hundred students, and staff waiting to surprise her …

Diane has worked for P-H-M for five years; she started at Prairie Vista Elementary School as a Kids Club Assistant in August 2014. In 2015, she was promoted to Site Coordinator at Horizon; and in February 2019, she was named Kids Club Assistant Program Coordinator, based at Elsie Rogers Elementary School. In her new role, she’s helping to train the other Kids Club Site Coordinators and is working with the rest of the Kids Club staff to put into place the best practices at all other nine P-H-M Kids Club locations.

During her time as a Site Coordinator for Horizon, Diane implemented “After Homework Clubs” like LEGO League, Cooking Club, Helping Hands, Art Club, Tai Chi, Comic Book Club, Reading Club, Board Games Club and Knitting Club among several others. Her goal was to enhance the experience for the students by extending the academic experiences. In doing so, Diane brought about a cultural change helping Kids Club to be seen as an extension of the school. Her work at Horizon Kids Club now serves as a benchmark for the other locations.

Horizon’s Kids Club has the largest Kids Club enrollment. Students absolutely coming to the program, even over their other evening extracurricular activities like sports!

“Great collaborator, positive, kind.” “She goes above and beyond; she’s committed and gives her all every day!” These are just some of the many ways Diane’s co-workers describe her. As a true leader and role model they say she strives to make Kids Club better than the day before.

Diane and her husband, Sam, are raising their four grandchildren and have been foster parents to 10 children. She volunteers at a food pantry and is very involved with her church.

Click to view the entire photo gallery on P-H-M’s District website.

Kids Club 2019 Summer Program registration opens soon! Click here for more information and registration.

Full-day childcare is offered at two locations (Prairie Vista and Walt Disney 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 five days a week. All children not currently enrolled in Kids Club are required to pay a $25 registration fee along with a non-refundable $100 activity fee deposit.

Click to download a copy of the registration form.

Locations:    Prairie Vista Elementary School

                       Walt Disney Elementary School

Dates:          June 6 – August 20, 2019

                       (closed July 4)

Times:          6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

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

                       please call Binti Shah at (574) 258 – 9514 or

                       Ashley Stoffl at (574) 258 – 9587

Starting Friday, April 12^th  through Thursday, April 18^th, the Scholastic Book Fair will be held. The Book Fair will be open from 7:30am-3:00pm  most days with Tuesday having extended hours until 6:00pm.  Parents have a new option called e-wallet to pay for Book Fair Purchases. If you have questions about this e-wallet option click here. 

Saturday, May 4

8:30 a.m. – Noon

Penn High School

Register online today! Early Bird Registration is available until Sunday, April 21 ($20 for adults, $10 for students)!

Do you like bubbles? Well, if you do, you’ll enjoy the Silver Mile Bubble Bash!  

Highlighted changes for this year’s event:

• Earlier start time, 8:30 a.m.
• 1.5 mile and 5K route options
• Lower early bird prices:$20 for adults, $10 for students
• The school with the most participation will win a Gaga Ball Pit or 9 Disc Golf Baskets ($2,500 value)!
• And more bubbles!

Missed out on all the bubbly fun last year? Don't let it happen two years in a row! Watch the video and see how much fun you and your whole family will have …

The Student Talent Show starts at 9 a.m.

The Health & Fitness Expo will be in the cafeteria where everything from free health screenings by presenting sponsor Saint Joseph Health System to numerous businesses showcasing their health-related items will be offered.

And don’t forget about the Silent Auction!

The Silver Mile Run is the largest fundraiser for the P-H-M Education Foundation and all the proceeds go towards providing innovative P-H-M teaching grants, scholarships to students, staff development, and other corporation-wide initiatives.

Click here to take advantage of early bird registration and for more information on the Bubble Bash.

Screen-Free Week (April 8-11, 2019)  is an annual event where children, families, schools and communities are encouraged to turn off screens and "turn on life". Instead of relying on television programming for entertainment, participants read, daydream, explore, enjoy nature, and spend time with family and friends. Over 300 million people have taken part in the turnoff, with millions participating each year.

Horizon’s PTO has come up with a great way to celebrate and enjoy this week free from screens. Here is a list of dates and activities for you and your family to enjoy! 

Monday, April 8th = Cupcake Wars @ 6:00pm  (Bakers can set up at 5:30 & guests will be admitted at 6:00pm)

Tuesday, April 9th = Culver's Give Back Night 5:00pm – 8:00pm (Come & see your teachers working at Culver's tonight…they'll be happy to serve you!)

Wednesday, April 10th = Barnes & Noble Book Fair & Scavenger Hunt 5:30pm – 7:00pm  (Join the fun trying to find Horizon staff members hiding throughout the store & win prizes!)

Thursday, April 11th – Horizon Swim Night @ Penn High School Pool  5:30pm – 7:30pm (Come & have fun splashing in the big pool with your Horizon friends!)

We hope to see lots of Horizon Suns at all these events!
 

It’s been an eventful few weeks since Addison Singleton learned that she was the only 4^th grader in the state to qualify for Friday, March 29th’s state competition of the National Geographic GeoBee!

Addie has handled all the publicity and media interest like a pro—staying calm, cool, collected and maintaining her funny sense of humor! Leading up to the big day, she, her family, and 4^th grade Geography Club Teacher Mrs. Ann Lira have been interviewed by local TV stations WNDU and WSBT (click to watch the stories), as well as the South Bend Tribune. 

Addie is heading down to IUPUI in Indianapolis tomorrow (March 29) for the competition representing Horizon. She’ll be up against fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students across the state. Addison was was among Indiana’s top 100 scoring students!

While being interviewed by the South Bend Tribune today (Thursday, March 28), Addie’s former 1^st grade teacher Mrs. Joann Hartline brought in some “Good Luck” cards that students made her.

Addie has gotten a lot of support from her teachers, classmates and good friends. Two of her friends, Catie and Elle, have also been helping her study for the state competition. Using the national map painted on the back playground, Catie and Elle have been quizzing Addie on the states and state capitals during recess! Just another one of the many ways Addie has been preparing for the big day; she’s also been doing online quizzes and watching YouTube videos. It’s clear that the reason why Addie has done so well so far in the competition is because she loves history, geography and loves to learn!

If Addie wins on March 29, she will win a medal, $1,000 in cash, and other prizes. The state winners well then go on to compete in the National Championship to be held at National Geographic Society headquarters, Washington, D.C., May 19-22. Students that come in second and third place in their state competitions will receive cash awards of $300 and $100, respectively. 

Prizes for the National Championship include cash prizes and college scholarships:

• 1st Prize: $25,000 college scholarship, $1,000 in cash, an all-expenses-paid Lindblad expedition to the Galápagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour ll, and a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society​
• 2nd Prize: $10,000 college scholarship and $1,000 in cash​
• 3rd Prize: $5,000 college scholarship and $1,000 in cash

Seven runners-up will each receive $1,000 in cash. Visit the National Geographic GeoBee website for more information. 

We will keep you posted on Addie’s progress!

Horizon is one of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation’s seven “A” rated schools, a Four Star School and is among the state’s Top 25 public elementary schools! 

With music education programs at all grade levels (K-12), Penn-Harris-Madison has been named  one of 2019 Best Communities for Music Education for its outstanding commitment to music education. P-H-M is one of only 623 districts nationwide and 12 in Indiana to receive the honor from The NAMM Foundation. 

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. The BCME award acknowledges the commitment of P-H-M’s music teachers and administrators in the District’s 11 elementary, three middle schools and Penn High School.

In our elementary schools, music class is part of the regular curriculum following state standards. Students are instructed in both vocal and instrument classes. Beginning in 6th grade, P-H-M students at our three middle schools (Discovery, Schmucker and Grissom) have the opportunity to choose choir, orchestra or band as their music elective. Students at Discovery also have the option of choosing Piano Lab. 

Penn High School offers the Fine Arts & Communication Academy as part of its unique academy structure. The seven academy design provides Penn students with relevant and meaningful coursework taught in smaller, supportive environments where each student is known well by his teacher and peers. Nearly a third of Penn’s total 3,500 students are enrolled in the Fine Arts Academy with the majority being involved with music programs, either Choir, Orchestra, Band or another music program.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, P-H-M answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. In a series of landmark studies by scientists and researchers at Northwestern University a link was found between students in community music programs and life-long academic success, including higher high school graduation rates and college attendance. In another study from the University, it was discovered that the benefits of early exposure to music education improves how the brain processes and assimilates sounds, a trait that lasts well into adulthood.

Beyond the Northwestern research, other studies have indicated that music education lays the foundation for individual excellence in group settings, creative problem solving and flexibility in work situations, as well learning how to give and receive constructive criticism to excel.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation serves more than 11,100 students in 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and Penn High School. The School Corporation has consistently received an “A” rating from the Indiana Department of Education since 2011. 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. Northpoint is Indiana’s #2 public elementary school and Discovery ranks #3 out of the state’s public middle schools. 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. 

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. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.