Last night (Monday, August 31) the P-H-M Board of School Trustees unanimously approved a “Return to Learn” plan to bring students back to the classroom in phases, for those families who want to return to in-person learning, starting in two weeks: 

• Sept. 14, In-Person Learning for Elementary grades, PreK – grade 3
• Sept. 21, In-Person Learning for Elementary grades 4 & 5 
• Sept. 21, Hybrid model, a blend of In-Person and Virtual, for Middle and High School students (grades 6-12) 
• Parents at all grade levels will still have the choice to keep their students 100% Virtual if they so choose.

All students and staff will be required to wear a mask while at school.

Click to read P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker’s full letter to parents that was emailed Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Below is a graphic of the detailed schedule with school day start and end times. You can click the image below to print it off.

We asked our teachers to share their favorite moments from the first week of virtual learning, here is what they said!

Please use the links below for important information regarding the 2020 School Year.

Information for ALL students:

• Virtual Learning, Pick Up Dates, Meals and More
• Welcome Back

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Dear P-H-M Families,

I know that you have been anxiously waiting for the details on our plan to return to school on Wednesday, August 19 (for grades 1-12) and August 20 (kindergarten).

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives. There have been many changes in our daily lives making things our new normal, at least for a while. This also means that the procedures in our school buildings must also change to ensure the highest health and safety guidelines. Working in concert with the St. Joseph County Health Department and following the guidance and recommendations by the CDC, Indiana State Department of Health, Governor’s Office, and the IDOE we have developed a re-entry plan for Penn-Harris-Madison Schools.

EDUCATION OPTIONS

While we believe that the most effective instruction for your child happens in a classroom Face to Face with our highly qualified teachers, there will be an online Virtual option available for those who elect not to attend in-person.

Click the two links below to read more about the two different options that parents can choose between to have their students educated this fall:

1. Face to Face Learning: This plan also details how Transportation, Food Service, Recess, Cleaning, Extracurricular Activities will be handled in our facilities.
2. Virtual: This plan breaks down how online learning will take place at the three grade levels (elementary, middle and high school).
3. WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE? To help us plan for the Fall, we are asking parents to complete a survey with their choice for instruction for the upcoming school year.​ Please complete this survey by Monday, July 13.

As we communicated Tuesday of this week, we will follow our 2020-2021 school year calendar and these health and safety guidelines:

• Per the St. Joseph County Health Department Public Health Order, staff and students are required to have a mask (face covering) with them at all times. There will be times indoors or in enclosed spaces that 6 feet of physical distance cannot be maintained.
• Students and staff will be required to be fever free for 72 hours without use of fever reducing medication before returning to school.
• To maintain safe social distancing, lunch times will be staggered and available open space will be maximized.
• Restrict visitors and guests in our school buildings.
• Maximize instructional space and scheduling flexibility.
• Employee enhanced cleaning procedures with additional hand sanitizer stations.
• Identify and separate space in school clinics to treat symptomatic students.
• Discontinuation of perfect attendance incentives for the 2020-21 school year.

For more detailed information on the procedures for masks, social, distancing, cleaning, etc. on P-H-M buses and within our schools, please click here to review the Face to Face Return to Learn model.

We understand that these documents can’t answer every question about re-opening, however, we hope it gives you the framework necessary to make the best decision for your family, whether that’s  returning to school, or online learning. Individualized school plans are being created and will be communicated to families and posted on school websites on August 1st. If you have additional questions in the meantime, please email returntolearn@phm.k12.in.us.

If the number of cases of COVID-19 reaches a level where local and state officials determine that school cannot meet in person, eLearning will resume and would be similar to what it was last spring with some improvements based on the parental feedback we received. We tested some new education models over the summer with online summer school and feel confident that if we have to return to eLearning that we can continue to provide a quality education while also offering social emotional supports.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

Want to help prevent the “summer slide”? Help keep your students motivated with these grade specific lessons:

P-H-M Virtual Learning Summer Resources

Also, the IDOE has provided summer resources for parents to use with their children, grades 1^st – 8^th, to help keep their math and reading skills up over the summer.

Parents and students have access to the Lexile® Find a Book tool and the Quantile® Summer Math Challenge.

The Lexile® Find a Book tool helps students create a personalized reading list and then locate those books at the nearest library or bookseller.

Elm Road Elementary School was among 12 schools that he Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) recently announced as new STEM Certified schools. The state now has 90 STEM Certified schools, an increase of over 16 percent. Penn High School was named a STEM Certified School in 2016.

Created in 2015, the STEM Certified Schools program recognizes schools focused on a commitment to teaching STEM disciplines beyond the classroom. STEM Certified schools exemplify a highly non-traditional approach to education, employing a great deal of inquiry, project-based learning, community engagement, entrepreneurship, student centered classrooms, integration into humanities and related arts, and out-of-school STEM activities. STEM Certified schools take this approach while following educational policies set by the state and excelling under the system of accountability. Prior to certification, each school completed a rigorous application and review process.

Elm Road Elementary educators are focused on not only teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, but also providing creative ways of incorporating those subjects but throughout their curriculum. Some of Elm’s STEM initiatives include Project Lead the Way and co-curricular student clubs and activities like Girls Coding club and First Lego League.

To learn more about the Excellence in Education that Elm Road is providing to its students, click here.

Parents will have an opportunity to pick up student personal items left at school and drop off school issued items in front of Elm Road School Monday, June 1 through Wednesday, June 3, 8:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m. 

Click to use this form to choose your date and time for pick up.

Please click to fill out this form ONLY IF your child has items in any other location other than their tote.  

Our goal is to use a procedure that maximizes the safety of all parents and staff. When you come to school, please follow these directions:

• ONLY arrive at your appointment time, please.  This will assist us with our preparation. 
• Please enter the lot from the south only.  Loop around the lot, as in drop off and pick up time. 
• Follow the attendant’s directions.  Please remain in your car until you are asked to approach the table.  (If the line becomes too long, we will ask you to park until it is your turn. We don’t believe this will be a problem with our appointment times.)
• One adult from each family is asked to approach the table, as directed, and state your child(ren)’s last names.  The staff person will assist you in retrieving student materials.  
• Chromebooks do not need to be returned at this time unless you are moving.  (5th graders will take their Chromebooks to Grissom.)

Thank you for following these guidelines as we distribute materials to our families.  

Elm Road Elementary School office hours will be 8 a.m.- 3:00 p.m., Monday-through-Friday, while P-H-M schools operate in extended eLearning due to the COVID-19 national emergency.

For parents who need to pick-up items at your child’s school, click here for an appointment form to arrange for curb-side pick-up from a staff member.

The message below was sent out to all P-H-M staff and families the afternoon of March 12, 2020.

Dear P-H-M Families and Staff,

Based on Governor Eric Holcomb’s announcement released at 4:28 p.m. today, all P-H-M students will not report to school tomorrow Friday, March 13 and Monday, March 16, 2020. These days will be recess days (no eLearning will be conducted on these two days). Students and families should be prepared to begin extended eLearning beginning on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

All P-H-M staff are to report to their normal work location at normal times on Friday, March 13 and Monday, March 16 to help prepare the district for extended eLearning days.

More details to come for respective staff groups and families. Please be patient with us as we work through these details.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Thacker​
Superintendent of Schools