After last week’s (Tuesday, May 23) announcement that Penn Principal Steve Hope is leaving to become Goshen Community School’s new Assistant Superintendent Penn-Harris-Madison’s Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker announced this week the following administrative changes will be effective July 1, 2017 for the upcoming 2017-18 school year: 
 

• Schmucker Principal Sean Galiher will Penn’s new principal
• Meadow’s Edge Principal Jayson Snyder will become Schmucker’s new principal
• Schmucker Assistant Principal Kent Mikel will become Meadow’s Edge new principal

Kent Mikel previously served as interim principal of Northpoint in 2015 and has been assistant principal at Schmucker since 2012. Before that he was assistant to the principal at Schmucker and taught science at Discovery for 15 years. Mr. Mikel, like Mr. Snyder, is currently working on his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Purdue University. For six years, Mr. Mikel served as a co-facilitator of Notre Dame’s University Guided Inquiry Math and Science Program, with a focus on 4th grade elementary, middle and high school teacher professional development. This experience will serve him well in his new role at Meadow’s Edge.

As this year’s IASP District 2 Elementary Principal of the year, Jayson Snyder 

will continue the great work Mr. Sean Galiher has begun at Schmucker. Before becoming principal at Meadow’s Edge, Mr. Snyder was assistant principal at Schmucker from 2010-2012. Meadow’s Edge was just named a “Four Star School”–a first in the school’s history and a first for a P-H-M Title 1 school. During his five years at Meadow’s Edge, the school has also earned an "A" rating for five consecutive years, named one of the state's "Top 3" Title I schools for student achievement, identified as a "Reward School" by the Indiana Department of Education, and nominated for a National Title I Distinguished School Award. Mr. Snyder is a P-H-M student alum; he attended elementary Mary Frank and middle school at Schmucker, going on to play baseball at Penn for Coach Dikos and graduated in 1997. Mr. Snyder is also completing his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Purdue.

“The P-H-M Board of School Trustees and I are confident that Kent and Jayson will continue to support, promote and advance the academic accomplishments of their new schools” said Dr. Thacker.

The Administrative changes will be effective July 1, 2017.

The Indiana Department of Education announced on Friday, May 26, 2017 the 2015-16 list of Four Star Schools and Meadow’s Edge, along with eight other P-H-M schools, have earned that distinction–the most the District has ever had! This is the first time our school has earned the Four Star designation from the IDOE, a truly great accomplishment for our Title 1 school.

P-H-M's other Four Star Schools are Discovery, Horizon, Madison, Mary Frank, Northpoint, Penn, Prairie Vista and Schmucker.  

Meadow’s Edge has earned an “A” rating from the Indiana Department of Education for five consecutive years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. In 2014, the school was nominated for a National Title I Distinguished Award. The year prior, Meadow’s Edge was honored as an Indiana “Top 3” Title 1 School for Student Achievement. In 2012, Meadow’s Edge was named a “Reward School” by the IDOE. Meadow’s Edge Principal Jayson Snyder was named 2017 District 2 Elementary School Principal of the Year by his fellow District 2 principals. Click here for more Meadow’s Edge “Points of Pride.”

To qualify as a Four Star school, a school must have received an “A” rating for the 2015-16 school year, tested at least 95% of students on ISTEP English/Language Arts and Math, and be in the top 25th percentile on ISTEP and ECA participation and passing rates. This list is based on 2015-16 school data. Click here to see the full list of criteria.

The Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation recently announced the recipients of the Spring 2017 grants—with grants totaling $16,640!

Traditional Grant Recipients

Kelso’s Kit: Tools for Kids – Horizon Elementary – Joann Hartline’ Grade K-5  —  300 students; Awarded: $636.73
Kelso’s Kit includes 23 comprehensive lessons that help children make good choices and solve conflicts on their own. The kit will give classroom teachers and/or college practicum students additional tools needed to help students with their everyday life difficulties.

iPod Touches for Walt Disney’s A/V Team

iPod Touches for Walt Disney’s A/V Team – Walt Disney Elementary – Robi Davidson, Emily Beeden; Grades K-4  —  510 students
Awarded: $597
The purchase of the iPods (3) will allow the AV team to record live broadcasts and to connect to other forms of media. In addition, the iPods will allow the team to explore new technologies such as music recording, computer coding, app review, and more extensive photo and video editing.

Wiggling Our Way to Success – Mary Frank Elementary – Lindsay Helman; Grades 3  —  40 students; Awarded: $1,432.34
Alternative seating at Mary Frank will support students who have difficulty focusing. In addition, these seats provide health benefits that include increased metabolism, motivation and engagement, creating better oxygen flow to the brain, and improve core strength.

Strumming Our Way To Musical Success – Horizon Elementary – Jon West and Jeannie Chettleburgh; Grades K-5 — 650 students
Awarded: $1,170
Recently, due to the increase use by pop performers, the Ukulele has quickly risen in popularity. The creates a phenomenon whereby students are expressing a desire to learn to play chords and sing with the Ukulele. The teachers intend to use this natural interest to continue to each the Indiana Music Standards using Ukuleles.

The Walking Classroom – Moran Elementary – Louise Black; Grades 5 — 80-90 students
Awarded: $3,950
Student learning is not limited to sitting in the classroom. This program would allow for a class to walk around/throughout the hallways while listening to pod-casts lessons. Each student audio device is preloaded with 111 pod-casts that are aligned with the 5th grade Common Core curriculum covering language arts, social studies, and health topics.

Documenting Bat Activity in an Urban Habitat – Elm Road School – Jackie Anderson; Grade K-5 —  520 students
Awarded: $323.61
From a school’s FIRST Lego League team, this bat house is located on the edges of the school ground. A remote camera, with infrared lighting, will allow students to observe the natural patterns of bats.

Penn Orchestra – Barrage 8 –  Penn High – Ann Tschetter (P-H-M’s 2017 Teacher of the Year); Grades 9-12 —  20 students
Awarded: $450
Earlier in the year, Penn High School hosted an international string group – Barrage 8 – whose focus is to introduce student to the new eclectic and contemporary side of being a string performer. Furthermore, Penn currently houses contemporary music performing groups in band and choir, but not orchestra. This inspired the teacher to create a before or after-school group where students would take their classical training to a “show” format. Students will learn a wide variety of popular, ethnic jazz, and show tunes. The grant will support purchasing 5 musical instruments for students to perform.

Cafetorium Acoustic Development – Grissom Middle – Heather Baker; Grades 6-8 —  600 students
Awarded: $5,181.39
The school’s cafetorium is used for numerous events throughout the school year, including meetings and conferences. The current sound situation involves outdated technology and bare walls to enable a massive amount of reverb and echo. A new system would increase the quality for musical performances, student news programs, athletic events, and student body assemblies.

Serving Students with Calming Sensory Tools – Elm Road – Audrey Kim; Grades K-5 —  520 students
Awarded: $800
As an educational assistant, the teacher has helped students with anger and behavior issues using sensory tools. Students have enjoyed using manipulative tools to help them calm down. Creating boxes that are readily available for students to help channel their frustrations in appropriate ways.

EZ grant recipients ($250 or less)
 

• Occupational Therapy Materials: Mary Frank Elementary – Tess Weaver; Grade PreK-8; Awarded: $246.67
• Book Clubs in the Classroom – Not Just for Adults; Prairie Vista Elementary – Karen Hlade; Grade 5; Awarded: $244.43
• Electronics Components for Updated Physics Curriculum; Penn High School; Jonathan Lockwood; Grades 11-12; Awarded: $225
• Aquaponics Experiments to Promote a Sustainable Food Future; Penn High School – John Gensic; Grades 9-12; Awarded: $247.99
• It’s All About the Bass Bow; Discovery/P-H-M Middle School Orchestras – April Oppenheim; Grade 6-8; Awarded: $234
• Bike to Build Muscles! Walt Disney Elementary – Kathy Greve; Grades K; Awarded: $250
• Take a Stand; Discovery Middle – Murray Weaver; Grades 6-8; Awarded: $250
• Pay Attention! Elsie Rogers Elementary – Stefanie Hanks; Grade K-5; Awarded: $245
• Table Top Easels; Penn PALS/Elsie Rogers Preschool – Alison Minegar; Grades Preschool; Awarded $250

As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1996, the PHMEF develops alternative sources of income to support learning while strengthening the partnership between schools and community.

Since the Foundation’s inception, more than $520,000 have been distributed in innovative teaching grants supporting P-H-M teachers, staff, and students. Click here to see the grants awarded Fall 2016. The Grants Committee is comprised of Foundation board members, community representatives, and a P-H-M administrator who evaluate each grant application.

Dedicated business leaders, administrators, and community volunteers, representing a cross-section of the school community, serve as the board of directors. PHMEF supports education through awarding innovative teaching grants, scholarships to students, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.

PHMEF’s funding comes from special events such as its premier Silver Mile Health & Fitness Fair, Donna & Dr. Jerry Thacker 5K Run/Walk for Education, the State of Indiana from the purchase of Read On Education License plates, Corporations for Education, Thank a Teacher, Entrance to Excellence bricks, and individual donations.

The Silver Mile was held this past weekend (Saturday, May 6).  The first place overall male race winner was Colton Shail, Junior track and cross country runner at Penn High School, with a time of 16:29.9. First place overall female was Erin Moore, 13-year-old Niles student, with a time of 20:07.6.

Meadow's Edge Elementary earned the top participation P-H-M school prize and will receive a $5,000 grant to be used for a fitness/health program.

Coming in at second place was Northpoint Elementary. They will receive a $1,000 grants. The school with the third most student participation was Madison, and they will receive a $500 grant.

Overall there were 500 participants in this year’s race.

This year’s Health and Fitness Fair was a huge success featuring health screenings by Saint Joseph Mishawaka Medical Center.

Healthy post-race snacks were provided by Whole Foods Market. Urban Swirl also helped runners cool off with frozen yogurt cups.

Penn Robotics Team 135 setup robot test drives so that younger children could learn to drive robots. And the Kingsmen Cheerleaders lent their face painting talents to make some prettier faces even prettier!  Click here to see a full gallery of pictures.

“Running is Elementary” took place on Monday, May 1 for the 9th consecutive year! Almost 700 students from all 11 P-H-M elementary schools participated in the 1 mile run on the Penn cross-country course located behind Elm Road School.

Although the weather was windy, cold and rainy, the runners’ spirits were high and full of excitement as family, teachers, staff and friends cheered them on.

Each year 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 Race.

Cindy Batalis (P-H-M’s 2009 Teacher of the Year and physical education teacher at Horizon Elementary) began the yearly tradition of Running Is Elementary 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 2017 Running Is Elementary Race were as follows:

• 5th Grade Girls 

     1. Bib 87- 6:14     Elm Road
     2. Bib 478- 6:16   Moran
     3. Bib 159- 6:26   Elsie Rogers

• 5th Grade Boys

     1. Bib 612- 6:26   Prairie Vista
     2. Bib 658- 6:35   Walt Disney
     3. Bib 23- 6:39     Bittersweet

• 4th Grade Girls

     1. Bib 293- 7:15   Horizon
     2. Bib 48- 7:21     Bittersweet
     3. Bib 550- 7:24   Northpoint

• 4th Grade Boys

     1. Bib 144- 6:26   Elm Road
     2. Bib 141- 6:37   Elm Road
     3. Bib 578- 6:46   Northpoint

Congratulations to all runners for their great spirit and effort!

A big thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation and Corporations for Education for hosting the event!

Sponsors for the 2017 event:

Presenting sponsor – Corporations for Education

Royal Excursion, the Hunter Family, and Team Pride Athletics

After Race Snack & Water Donations:

Urban Swirl, B&B Organics & Fleet Feet

​        

Jayson Snyder, principal of Meadow’s Edge Elementary School, was named 2017 District 2 Elementary School Principal of the Year! Jayson was elected by his fellow District 2 principals. The Indiana Association of School Principals will choose the state winner from all the district winners and announce the Indiana Elementary Principal of the Year at their Fall Conference in November.

Principal Snyder has been principal at Meadow’s Edge for the past five years. Under Principal Snyder Meadow’s Edge has achieved an “A” rating from the Indiana Department of Education. In 2014, the school was nominated for a National Title I Distinguished Award. The year prior, Meadow’s Edge was honored as an Indiana “Top 3” Title 1 School for Student Achievement. In Principal Snyder’s first year (2012) as principal, Meadow’s Edge was named a “Reward School” by the IDOE.

Principal Snyder created a school-wide RtI (response to intervention) model to provide early, systematic academic and behavioral assistance to students who are at risk for or already performing under grade level. This model was replicated and implemented at Penn-Harris-Madison’s 10 other elementary schools.

Before becoming principal at Meadow’s Edge, Snyder was assistant principal at Schmucker Middle School from 2010-2012. He started at P-H-M as an elementary school teacher at Prairie Vista in 2003. He also taught at Walt Disney (2005-2007) before returning to Prairie Vista in 2007-2010.

Principal Snyder is a Penn-Harris-Madison student alum. He attended Mary Frank Elementary and Schmucker Middle School and graduated from Penn High School in 1997.

Principal Snyder was named a member of the “Forty Under 40” 2014 Class by the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce and won the IUSB Excellence in School Administration Award in 2010. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Purdue University (expected completion December 2017).

Follow Dr. Thacker’s lead and get a jump start on the Give Local St. Joseph County May 9 day-long online giving event NOW!

Starting today, Monday, May 1 you can schedule your gift in advance for the P-H-M Education Foundation. When the 24-hour giving event kicks off on May 9, your gift will already be in ahead of the game!  

Penn-Harris-Madison School Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker made his #GiveLocalSJC donation May 1 designating the P-H-M Education Foundation. 

Make an online donation of $25 or more designating the P-H-M Education Foundation

as part of #GiveLocalSJC campaign and

• 75% of your gift to P-H-M Education Foundation will be paid out to help the Foundation now;
• 25%—plus generous matching funds—will   go into the Foundation’s Endowment Fund to generate annual earnings that will help from now on!
   

Every dollar donated on May 9 to any of the 67 charities participating in Give Local St. Joseph County will be increased by a share of $2.4 million in matching funds provided by generous sponsors.

So this is your opportunity to maximize your donation to the Education Foundation. 

DONATE NOW!

It’s the gift that continues to give!

The Education Foundation supports value add educational programs across the P-H-M school district by awarding innovative teaching grants, scholarships to students, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.

Online gifts may be made by clicking here May 9, 2017, starting at 12:01 a.m. and for the next 24 hours, using your credit or debit card. You can also schedule your online gift in advance, any time after the preview period begins on May 1, 2017. If you use a credit or debit card, your card will not be charged until May 9.

If you wish to send a check, please mail it early to ensure receipt by May 9, 2017. Checks are to be made out to the Community Foundation (P.O. Box 837, South Bend, IN, 46624) and dated May 9, 2017, make sure to include “P-H-M Education Foundation” in the memo field. Donations are 100% tax deductible.

Meadow’s Edge Teacher’s Aide Shari Cerney got the shock of her life when she walked back into the classroom after recess on Thursday (April 27, 2017).

Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, Principal Jayson Snyder and several members of

P-H-M Administration were waiting for her. That’s when Dr. Thacker surprised Mrs. Cerney telling her that she had been chosen as the 2017 P-H-M Classified Employee of the Year. The announcement was made even more special because several of her family members were also in the classroom waiting. Her husband Jim and her two daughters, Tai Cerney and Ali Renz, who is a kindergarten teacher at Elm Road, were present along with Mrs. Cerney’s first cousin, Shane Galloway and his wife Jaye Galloway, who is a P-H-M Board of School Trustees member.

Understandably, Mrs. Cerney was just a bit startled when she walked in and saw the TV news cameras and all the invited guests in the back of the room. She was moved to tears telling the students that they are the reason why she comes to work every day and thanked her fellow Meadow’s Edge staff members noting “It takes a village!” The students of 2nd grade teacher Ms. Leah Gerbeth's class were elated to celebrate with her.

Mrs. Cerney has been a P-H-M employee for 21 years! She started as an instructional aide in 1996 at Elm Road Elementary, where her daughter was attending at the time. After two years, she transferred to Meadow’s Edge and has been there ever since. Mrs. Cerney has had many roles at Meadow’s Edge including running a program that helped struggling students turn around their behavioral and academic problems. She takes great pride watching her students grow and excel. Her love for education is infectious and permeates everything she does.

Meadow’s Edge Principal Jayson Snyder describes Mrs. Cernery as  “collaborative and committed to excellence in everything she does. She leads by example, providing a model of what integrity and selfless leadership looks like for both students and staff,” said Mr. Snyder. “Simply put, Shari makes everyone around her better.”

Mrs. Cerney will be officially recognized and receive her plaque at P-H-M’s Employee Recognition Dinner on May 17th.

Mark your calendars for the 12th Annual Silver Mile Run for Education & Health and Fitness Fair, hosted by the P-H-M Education Foundation.  This popular fun-filled family event will take place on Saturday, May 6, from 8:30 a.m. – noon at Penn High School. 

Register online today!

Kids Club will be open for Spring Break 2017!

WHEN: Monday, April 3 – Friday, April 7

                 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

                *House of Bounce Carnival Day on Friday, April 7

WHERE: at the Mary Frank Elementary School location

                    13111 Adams Road, Granger (Entry through Door H) 

COST: $25 per child, per day + $10 activity fee per child

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Payment due Monday, March 27

                                                         Click here to download and print the registration form

Questions? Please contact Kailey Campanaro at (574) 258-9514 or Ashley Stoffl at (574) 258-9587 or click here for more information about P-H-M’s Kids Club program.