Bittersweet Elementary Walkathon: A Step Towards Thriving Education
Bittersweet Elementary recently witnessed an outpouring of support and enthusiasm during its annual Walkathon event. The elementary school, known for fostering an environment where student learning thrives, once again demonstrated the power of community, as students, staff, and some family volunteers came together to raise funds for a brighter future.
Incredible Students: The heart of any school is its students, and Bittersweet Elementary boasts an incredible group of young learners who are not only passionate about their education but also eager to make a positive impact on their community.
Awesome Staff: The staff at Bittersweet Elementary play a pivotal role in shaping the educational experience. They understand that building strong relationships with students is the key to optimal learning. During the Walkathon, they showed their support not only by participating but by cheering on the students every step of the way.
Incredible Support of Families: The backbone of Bittersweet Elementary is its supportive and engaged families. Their generosity and commitment to the school are truly remarkable. Their presence and involvement in the Walkathon highlighted the strong bond between the school and its community.
The funds raised during this year’s Walkathon will contribute to several essential aspects of the school:
1. Classroom Supplies: Ensuring that every classroom is well-equipped with the necessary learning materials is crucial for effective education.
2. Art Program: Encouraging creativity through art is an integral part of Bittersweet Elementary’s curriculum. The funds will help maintain and expand this vital program.
3. Field Trip Transportation: Field trips provide students with hands-on learning experiences. The funds will help cover transportation costs, allowing students to explore the world beyond the classroom.
4. Positive Behavior Rewards (PAWS): Recognizing and reinforcing positive behavior helps create a harmonious and respectful learning environment.
5. Community Building Events: These events foster a sense of belonging and unity among students, staff, and families, enhancing the overall school experience.
6. Student Only Special Days/Activities: Special days and activities add excitement to the school calendar and create cherished memories for students.
7. Extracurricular Education: Supporting extracurricular activities allows students to explore their interests and talents outside of the regular curriculum.
The success of the Walkathon is a testament to the shared commitment to providing Bittersweet Elementary students with the best educational experience possible. The school acknowledges that no donation is too small, and every contribution plays a significant role in shaping the future of its students.
Bittersweet Elementary extends its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated, donated, and supported the Walkathon. It is through the collective effort of students, staff, and families that this event was a resounding success, reminding us all that at Bittersweet Elementary, the journey of education is truly a community endeavor.
Fall 2023 Penn Youth Girls Basketball League, 3rd-8th grade
Penn Girls Basketball Head Coach Kristi Ulrich is once again offering a fall youth basketball league
The “Junior” League is open to girls in 3rd – 6th grades. The “Senior” League is for student-athletes in 7th & 8th grades. All those participating in the ”Senior” league MUST live in the P-H-M District or attend a P-H-M School.
Sign-ups are on Sunday, September 10 from 12 – 2 p.m. in the Penn High School Main Arena. Enter Door D.
The League runs September 17th – November 12th with a single elimination tournament for all age groups.
All games will be played on Sundays at Penn High School in the Main Arena, Auxiliary and West Balcony courts. Tournament times may vary on Nov. 12th.
Weekly Game Times are:
- 3rd & 4th grades: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- 5th & 6th grades: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- 7th & 8th grades: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Click here to download the PDF with more information and to register.
PennPALS Open Houses, Wed., August 16
PennPALS will be holding Open Houses on Wednesday, August 16. Please attend the session that corresponds to your child’s teacher, age group and time of attendance.
- Miss Christine 4 & 5’s Morning Class: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- Miss Christine 4 & 5’s Afternoon Class: 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.
- Miss Amanda 2.5 – 4’s Morning Class: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
- Miss Amanda 2.5- 4’s Afternoon Class: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
PennPALS Open House, Wed., August 16
On Wednesday, August 16, Bittersweet PennPALS will be holding an Open House for parents and students.
Please attend the Open House session that corresponds with the age group/timeslot that applies to your child.
- Miss Christine 4 & 5’s Morning Class: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- Miss Christine 4 & 5’s Afternoon Class: 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.
- Miss Amanda 2.5 – 4’s Morning Class: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
- Miss Amanda (2.5 – 4’s Afternoon Class: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
2023-2024 District Activities Calendar
The 2023-2024 District Activities Calendar was mailed to the homes of P-H-M families the last week of July.
The calendar provides key dates for testing, recess breaks, and school specific events (for the schools that provided the information).
You can click here to view a PDF copy of the calendar. You can also view a one-page of the 2023-2024 school calendar that shows the school year at a glance.
The P-H-M District online (Google) calendar is the most up-to-date. You can add this district and any school calendar to your own personal Google calendar.
Each of our 15 schools also maintains an online calendar that is updated frequently with the school’s scheduled activities and event details. You’ll need to visit your school’s website to add that calendar to your personal Google calendar.
Support Staff Job Fair, Feb. 15, 2023
Looking for a job with flexibility around your student’s school schedule? Do you know of a friend or family member looking for a great place to work?
We’re hiring these positions:
- Educational Assistants, starting at $16.42
- Teacher Aides, starting at $15.35 per hour
- School Bus Drivers, up to $25.00
- Food Service, $15.03 – $25.40
- Custodians, $17.74 – $23.96
- Kids Club Childcare Assistants, starting at $13.38
*click here for more info on hourly wages for these positions
Come out to our Job Fair for on the spot interviews!
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Schmucker Middle School (Door B)
56045 Bittersweet Rd, Mishawaka
Click here to see the open positions that are accepting applications. If you can’t make it to the job fair, fill out an application online today!
Young Authors’ Conference 2023
Save the date for the P-H-M’s Young Authors’ Conference:
Saturday, March 4
8:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Schmucker Middle School
P-H-M Elementary students, grades K-5
FREE!
Space is limited. Online Registration opens Monday, Jan. 30 & closes Friday, Feb. 17.
The Young Authors’ Conference is for P-H-M students in grades K-5. The event, sponsored by the P-H-M Education Foundation, provides an opportunity for students and their parents to meet and learn from a well-known children’s authors. Click here to view the photo gallery of the 2022 event.
This year students and their parents will meet and work with former Notre Dame Leprechaun mascot turned children’s author Mike Brown. Brown’s first book Little Netta’s Gift is the touching story of a “Little Netta’s” compassion to share the gifts of Christmas with other children. Brown is the founder and CEO of SOULSTIR, a social enterprise with a mission of enriching lives by creating “soul-stirring experiences that inspire empowerment and action.” Under SOULSTIR Books, the publishing division of the company, Brown co-authored his second book with Cara Krenn The Leprechaun’s Game Day at Notre Dame. The delightful story describes the family, fun-filled experiences of a Notre Dame home football game told through the eyes of Notre Dame’s first Black student to play the mascot, Brown himself.
Participants and parents will also enjoy an interactive experience with local illustrator Corey Mann. As part of the morning activities, students will share their own writing piece in small group sessions with students from other P-H-M elementary schools. (Note: Students should bring a piece of their writing with them that morning.) While students are meeting with their peers, parents will join Dr. Michelle Fish, as she explores promoting writing through children’s literature.
This year, thanks to P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker and other generous #GivingTuesday donors this year’s Young Authors’ Conference is FREE OF CHARGE to all attendees!
Please note, one parent only must accompany the student attendees. However, keep in mind that students and parents will separate for a portion of the day. This experience is for your young author and parent. However, we’ve found the attendance of younger siblings is not encouraged.
ONLINE REGISTRATION: Registration will open January 30, 2023. Click here to access the form.
CONFIRMATION: Participating students will receive additional information prior to the conference through their home school at the beginning of March.
QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, please contact Candace Cussen at ccussen@phm.k12.in.us.
Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed Dashboard (GPS) Launches
Penn-Harris-Madison schools are focused on continuous academic improvement that results in academic success for all students.
Standardized testing, or summative assessment, is one measure of academic success, but it is not the only measure.
In pursuit of providing more comprehensive analysis and to expand upon the data provided by state standardized tests, the Indiana Department of Education publicly launched this week (Tuesday, December 13, 2022) the first iteration of the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard, or Indiana GPS (click here to view the State Indiana profile).
The description of the Indiana GPS dashboard on the IDOE website states “Together, our mission is to empower Indiana’s educators, families, communities, and employers with a learner-centered, future-focused dashboard that displays how our students are building the necessary knowledge and skills—in all grades and in all schools— through the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard, or Indiana GPS.”
The IDOE’s goal is to support Indiana’s goal to educate and graduate Hoosier students who can compete in the global economy. P-H-M supports this goal. Students whether they are going on into higher education, directly into the workforce or enlisting in our nation’s military must be prepared to be successful in life beyond high school. Strong and valuable education of today’s youth results in a knowledgeable and skilled adult Indiana workforce for tomorrow.
A student’s access to early education is an essential first step in their academic and overall development. Measuring kindergarten readiness, as well as a student’s PreK-2 literacy progress can provide key indicators of future success across the K-12 continuum.
We know that effective literacy skills play a vital role in helping students gain a deeper understanding of the world, explore topics in-depth, and seek credible information. At Penn-Harris-Madison, we have a well-articulated approach to teaching literacy based on the five critical pillars: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
All of these components woven together help create a skilled reader. Our daily literacy block incorporates whole-group instruction, small-group (leveled) instruction, explicit phonics instruction, and vocabulary building.
Our teachers have been trained in order to deliver high-quality instruction that is supported through curriculum resources to meet the needs of all learners. Teachers are in regular contact with parents regarding their student’s progress and instructional goals.
At the elementary level, a couple of the indicators the GPS dashboard measures are early literacy and math growth. See some of P-H-M’s highlights are below; click here to view the full P-H-M GPS profile.
Early Literacy Measures
- Percentage of PHM 3rd graders showing proficiency on IREAD-3: 88.3%
- State Goal: 95% by 2027
- Current State Status: 81.6%, 1 out of every 5 third graders in Indiana is not proficient in key literacy skills
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Students who pass the IREAD-3 assessment by grade three are roughly 35% more likely to graduate high school (as referenced on the GPS information webpage).
Math Growth
- Percentage of PHM 6th graders meeting their individual growth targets on the math ILEARN: 41.9%
- State Goal: 45.8% by 2030
- Current State Status: 34.1% of Indiana sixth graders are meeting their math growth goals
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Early mathematics instruction focuses on concrete concepts before transitioning to more complex ideas after grade six. Students who are meeting growth goals at this critical juncture have a leg up on future math and science learning.
Graduation Pathways Completion
While still in its first iteration, the goal of the GPS is to examine Indiana high school’s graduation and post-graduation data with the goal to ultimately measure long-term success of each Hoosier.
- Percentage of Penn Students who complete graduation requirements: 97.3%
- State Goal: 95% by 2030
- Current State Status: 86.4% of Indiana students complete their graduation requirements
- Percentage of Penn Seniors who completed advanced coursework (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Dual Credit) during high school: 75.4%
- Current State Status: 59.5% of Indiana students complete advanced coursework
- Percentage of Penn Seniors earning Indiana Diplomas above a General designation (Core 40 or higher): 98.3%
- Current State Status: 90.1% of Indiana students earn Core 40 diplomas or higher
- Percentage of Penn Seniors earning high quality college and career credentials: 11.3%.
Members of the Class of 2021 who earned either an Indiana College Core (ICC) or an Associates Degree was 11.3%–the graduates who completed one or two years of college were members of Penn’s Early College Academy. In 2021, Penn High School ranked FIRST in the state with the highest number of students earning the Indiana College Core (ICC)! Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, non-Early College students will also be able to pursue an ICC Certificate.- State Goal: 60% by 2030
- Current State Status: 5% of Indiana students earn a college or career credential before graduation, opening doors of future opportunity
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Increased education levels are positively correlated to labor participation, wages, and overall net worth.
COMING SOON:
The second iteration of the Indiana GPS dashboard – which will display all local data, including longitudinal and disaggregated data – is coming soon. Later in 2023, schools will be able to use the dashboard to view authenticated student-level data (not available to the public).
- PreK-Grade 2 Literacy – Percentage of PreK-Grade 2 students demonstrating progress in essential early reading skills from one year to the next.
- Kindergarten Readiness – Percentage of students demonstrating the skills necessary to be considered ready to start kindergarten.
- Employment & Enrollment – Percentage of high school graduates employed or enrolled 1 year after their expected graduation year. Goal TBD.
Click here to learn more about the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard.
Click here to view the full P-H-M GPS profile (scroll to the bottom of the webpage to find links to all 15 P-H-M schools–11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and Penn High Schoo
PHM Schools Polling Locations on Nov. 8
Gaga Ball Fun for Everyone!
There has been a major renovation to the Gaga Ball pit on our playground this week that makes it accessible to all of our friends.
“Gaga is a fast paced, high energy sport played in an octagonal pit. The more players the better! Dubbed a kinder gentler version of dodge ball, the game is played with a soft foam ball, and combines the skills of dodging, striking, running, and jumping, while trying to hit opponents with a ball below the knees. Players need to keep moving to avoid getting hit by the ball. Fun and easy, everyone gets a serious workout.” – Description courtesy of the Gaga Center
In early September, a fourth grade student named Jordy, who has some mobility challenges asked his teacher, Nikki Kornrumph, if she could lift him up and put him in the Gaga Ball pit.
For safety reasons that could not be done, but that conversation sparked an idea: what if there was a gate that would allow everyone to access the Gaga Ball pit?
Fourth grade teacher Mrs. Kornrumph made it her mission to research and find out how we would be able to install a door on the Gaga Ball pit in order for all students to be able to play.
Mrs. Kornrumph found a gate that could be installed and contacted the Bittersweet PTO to see if they would be willing to help with funding and they were happy to do so!
Not only did the PTO pay for the gate to be installed but they also oversaw the installation process. Mr. Nate worked closely with the P-H-M maintenance staff to cut a hole in the existing Gaga Ball Pit and to securely install the gate.
Jordy had been waiting so patiently, asking everyday if it was installed yet. Thursday, September 22, 2022 was the day! When he went out for recess, they were just finishing the installation of the door.
Our Office Aid Cortenay Rowe was on hand when Jordy was FINALLY able to play with his friends. Take a look at the video, he was over the moon!