2024 Community Connections Fair

P-H-M’s ENL Department is hosting their annual Community Connections Fair on Saturday, October 5th!
 
2024 Community Connections Fair
 
Join us for activities, arts & crafts, food, performances, and to learn about resources in our community. It is completely FREE and all P-H-M families are invited to attend. Click here to see photos on Facebook of past Fairs.
 
If you have somebody in your family that would like to perform for our event showcasing a traditional act from your family’s culture, click here to fill out a form to participate.
 
We can’t wait to see you there!

PHM Introduces ParentSquare, new parent communication tool

With the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, P-H-M is switching to ParentSquare, a new unified, user-friendly, communications platform designed with parents and guardians in mind. CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE INFO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED.

Download the ParentSquare app

ParentSquare provides a centralized location for families to receive communications from school principals, teachers, coaches, and front office staff on all their students, in all schools, in all classrooms! CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE INFO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED. 

Parents/guardians receive alerts, updates, and posts on:

  • important notifications, such as school closings and delays
  • attendance
  • principal & teacher newsletters
  • school & classroom calendar of events
  • volunteer & RSVP for events
  • fill out permission slips & other forms
  • … ALL IN ONE LOCATION!

Families chose their preferred mode of communication for non-urgent notifications– app, text, email, phone. Parents/guardians can also chose to have all communications automatically translated to their preferred first language.

As we approach the first day of school (Wednesday, August 21), principals and teachers will be using ParentSquare to share important “Back to School” information. Parents and guardians are asked to activate their accounts by Monday, August 12, 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: If your child is transitioning to a new building from last school year, the information will be updated later this summer. You are still able to register for ParentSquare.

To activate parent/guardian accounts, parents need to check their email for the welcome and introductory email.

The email was sent between Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12, 2024 with the subject line: “Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp. is now using ParentSquare.” 

The sender of the email will appear as “Penn-Harris-Madison via ParentSquare” with a donotreply @parentsquare.com email address, similar to this … 

Class of 2024 Seniors Come Back to Bittersweet

Every year the graduating seniors go back to their former elementary schools for “Senior Parades.” It’s fun not only for the students to see their former teachers, but it’s also fun for the current elementary students to see the graduates, congratulate them and wish them good luck!

Bittersweet’s Senior Parade was the last day of school Friday, May 31, 2024.

Graduates in caps and gowns walking on stage, children reaching out to touch them, a group of people clapping.
Graduates in caps and gowns walking across a stage.
Graduating students walking in procession, smiling as they receive high fives from audience.
Graduates posing in front of a building, holding signs and celebrating their achievement.
A group of graduating students posing in front of a school sign, proudly displaying their academic achievements and
Children holding signs at a parade, celebrating their graduation.
Graduates in caps and gowns walking down a hallway, children reaching out to them, people clapping, signs of celebration,
Two women posing for a picture at graduation ceremony.
Graduation ceremony in progress, graduates walking across stage with caps and gowns, audience watching from stands, proud
Children sitting on the floor, holding signs and posters.
Woman in graduation gown walking through a crowd of children, some holding signs, others clapping and cheering.
Graduates in caps and gowns walking down a hallway.

Last Day of School, 2023-24 School Year

Friday, May 31, 2024 was the last day of the 2023-24 school year. Our mascot the Bobcat made a special appearance joining the teachers and bus drivers to give the students a memorable send-off!

 

A yellow school bus filled with students waving goodbye to a woman standing outside.
A school bus parked at a stop with students boarding, one person waving from window, last day of school 2023-24.
Children walking to school on last day of school, 2023-24.
People standing in line at a school event, with a costumed mascot posing for photos.
Three women posing in front of a school building on the last day of school, smiling and celebrating.

Bittersweet has a New Mayor!

Over the years as a student Bittersweet, Jordy Kruger earned the nickname “The Mayor of Bittersweet” because of his commanding and outgoing personality. Just like a politician he knows how to work the room! Jordy always seems to be happy and gets along with everyone; everyone loves him!

Before Jordy’s last day as a 5th grader, we thought it would be a good idea for him to “pass the torch” onto a new “Mayor of Bittersweet;” and Elliot Fratena is just the student for the job!

So on Thursday, May 30–the second to last day of school for the 2023-24 school year–Principal Shonda Masterson presented Jordy, the first “Mayor of Bittersweet” with a key to the school pass on to Elliot as the new Mayor. A few staff members and Elliot’s Dad were present for the “ceremony.”

What advice to Jordy pass on to Elliot? “If there’s any more kids in a wheelchair, never put a speed limit on them! That’s the #1 rule!”

Jordy is going into 6th grade at Schmucker and Elliot will be going into 4th grade.

Woman in wheelchair shaking hands with two young boys in a library setting.
Three children in a classroom setting, one of whom is holding a guitar, all looking at something off-camera with expressions
This is a photograph of a woman standing in a library, smiling at a young boy seated in a wheelchair. The boy is holding a
Two boys in a library, one wearing glasses, standing next to each other, looking at something off-camera.
Two young boys proudly displaying their ribbons at a school event.
Man holding a young boy in front of a table with a red ribbon on it. The man is smiling and wearing a blue shirt.
Young boy proudly holding a red dog bone shaped key chain in front of his face.
Man in blue shirt giving a high five to a young boy. They are standing in a library with other people around them.
The group of people posing in front of a colorful display at a library event, celebrating Elliot's new role as mayor of

Mrs. Potts wins Impact Award

Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker started handing out the third and final round of district Impact Awards on Wednesday, May 22. The awards were given to teachers who had the most significant individual student growth with DIBLES, ILEARN, and SAT assessments for Spring 2024.

Dr. Thacker, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, Director of Professional Development and Student Learning, visited four schools to surprise five teachers letting them know that they were the latest winners.

Sherri Potts

Here at Bittersweet, Kindergarten teacher Sherri Potts was honored for having the highest DIBELS composite growth in the district! Congrats to Mrs. Potts and her students!

As this school year comes to a close we want to thank all our teachers and students for their commitment to academic excellence this school year. The hard work really paid off!

Thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation for covering the cost of the awards for purchasing the beautiful crystal awards given to the teacher award recipients.

 

Man in suit holding a small trophy.
Three women in a library, two standing and one sitting, posing for a picture. One woman is smiling at the camera, while
Man in suit holding a trophy, smiling at an audience of three people who are clapping. Two adults and one child behind him.
Man in suit congratulating woman on her work, both smiling at each other.
An older man and woman posing together at an event, both smiling, with the woman holding a glass plaque that reads "Sherri
Two people posing together in a room filled with educational materials, one holding an award.
Three people posing in a library setting, possibly for an event or ceremony.
People in a classroom setting, engaging in various activities.
Woman in front of children at a library.
Woman in blue shirt hugging three children in a classroom setting.

P-H-M’s DVT & Planetarium Renamed Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium

Mr. Art Klinger, the man credited with being the “father” of P-H-M’s DVT & Planetarium, was honored today when the facility he helped create 44 years ago was officially renamed in his honor. The new P-H-M Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium sign now hangs on the exterior of Bittersweet Elementary School, where the facility is housed. It was unveiled to cheers and applause on the afternoon of May 14, 2024. Click to watch the video below.

On hand for the unveiling and dedication were Klinger’s wife, son, and longtime friends. Also present was P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, Executive Director of P-H-M Education Foundation Jennifer Turnblom, members of PHMEF Executive Board, P-H-M School Board Members Jim Garrett and Ryan McCullough, P-H-M Administrators, and current Planetarium Director Melinda O’Malley. P-H-M former Superintendent Dr. Dean Speicher also attended. It was under Dr. Speicher’s leadership that Bittersweet school and the Planetarium opened in 1980. Bittersweet first grader teachers and students added to the celebration. The students made a banners to mark the occasion.


PHM School Trustee VP Ryan McCullough, former PHM Superintendent Dr. Dean Speicher, Art Klinger, current PHM Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, & PHM School Trustee Jim Garrett

Click to see the full photo gallery on P-H-M’s website.

Klinger began his 45 year career with P-H-M in 1970.  He taught Earth and Space Sciences at Schmucker Middle School, a position held for 10 years before taking over the Planetarium as its first director. Klinger’s interests in astronomy, aviation, and space travel made him a natural for the position. He was a pilot receiving his private pilot’s license in 1974. He was a member of the Great Lakes Planetarium Association and the International Planetarium Society. Klinger even authored an Introductory Astronomy text book that was used in Penn High School and IUSB astronomy classes; the last revision was August 2020. 

It was Klinger’s interest in the space travel history and NASA that really transformed the Planetarium. Astronaut Col. James Irwin, Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 15 (8th man to land on the Moon), was the honorary speaker at the Planetarium’s public dedication in February 1981. He was the first of six astronauts to visit the Planetarium over the years; a Russian cosmonaut even visited in 1994. With every visit, personalized autographed photos were donated.

The Planetarium’s Space Museum came about through a connection Klinger made with the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum because of his application for the “Teacher in Space Project” in 1984. From that connection, 47 artifacts, including 16 that have actually been on the Moon, were loaned to the museum. Klinger eventually secured autographed pictures of all flown astronauts. He even obtained the autographed photos of the scientific minds behind the “Space Race,” like Wernher von Braun and Yuri Gagarin. Klinger states that according to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, P-H-M is the only public school district that not only has artifacts from the space program, but also has items that have been on the Moon. Click here to watch a video of Klinger talking about the importance of space exploration.

Klinger served as Director of P-H-M’s DVT, Planetarium Space Museum for 35 years retiring in 2015 after working at P-H-M for 45 years.

Dr. and Mrs. Thacker donated $10,000 to the Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation to rename the Planetarium the Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium.

This $10,000 donation is among four donations to PHMEF that Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have made as part of the Naming Rights Campaign. All recognize the contributions P-H-M employees have made to the community:

Per PHMEF’s Naming Rights fundraising initiative, 80 percent of the donation will go into Foundation’s endowment, which will in turn provide alternative and additional funding for various co-curricular and extracurricular programs. The remaining 20 percent directly funds professional development initiatives for
P-H-M teachers. Continuing the education and training of teachers is a major priority the School Corporation.

The mission of the Education Foundation is to develop alternative sources of income to support education initiatives in the School Corporation by strengthening partnerships between the community and the District. PHMEF supports education through awarding innovative teaching grants, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.

2024 PHM Elementary Spell Bowl Results

Tuesday, March 19 was P-H-M’s annual Elementary Spell Bowl event. Student 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teams from all 11 elementary schools compete. Click here to see the photo gallery below.

Below is this year’s “leaderboard”:

3rd Grade Winners:

3rd gr. winners, Northpoint

  • 1st place- Northpoint with 29 points, coached by Nichol Monday
  • 2nd place- Prairie Vista with 27 points
  • 3rd place tie – Bittersweet, Horizon and Mary Frank each with 22 points

4th Grade Winners:

4th gr winners, Northpoint

  • 1st place- Northpoint with 30 points, coached by Jen Payne
  • 2nd place- Bittersweet with 29 points
  • 3rd place- Prairie Vista with 27 points

The 5th grade competition was very close with Northpoint and Bittersweet neck and neck. The tiebreaker words were: panache, soup du jour, fluorescence, pharmaceutical and Albuquerque.

5th Grade Winners:

5th gr winners, Northpoint  5th gr 2nd place, Bittersweet

  • 1st place- Northpoint with 38 points, coached by Ros Morehouse 
  • 2nd place- Bittersweet with 37 points
  • 3rd place tie – Prairie Vista and Horizon each with 26 points

Overall Bittersweet did so well that when the 5th grade team came out on stage to be recognized, the other students and parents cheered, clapped, and gave them a rousing round of congratulations!

Bittersweet team recognized  Bittersweet recognized

The teams spend weeks preparing for Spell Bowl with their teacher coaches. They may study word lists, learn about derivations (e.g., Latin roots) and rules (e.g., capitalization, pluralization), and how to spell correctly under pressure.

The format of the Spell Bowl is more like a written test. The emcee reads a word and uses the word in a sentence, the students listen and then write it on paper within a 15-second time limit. The students’ written entries are reviewed by a panel of judges and then their score is posted in front of the audience. Each correct word spelling is worth one point.

The annual event is held in Penn High School’s Center for Performing Arts to not only accommodate all the student teams, but also the students’ “fans,” which are their family, friends and other staff from their home schools!

Mrs. Cassie Scarsella, P-H-M’s High Ability Coordinator, manages the Spell Bowl and works to assure that it is a positive and enriching experience for students. Academic competition can give students confidence, increase their motivation to sharpen their skills and abilities, and expand their opportunities to receive recognition.

Children on stage performing at a school event, with audience clapping in support.
Students on stage participating in a spelling bee competition.
Auditorium filled with people seated in rows of chairs, watching a performance on stage.
Children in blue shirts standing on stage at a school event, posing for a picture with a sign that reads "2024 PHM
Group of people in a theater, some clapping, others watching, all wearing masks; audience members seated on chairs and
Group of students on stage at a school event, posing for a picture in front of a podium with a sign that reads '2024 PHM
Team of children at a podium, posing for a picture after participating in a spelling bee competition.
Children on stage in front of microphones, holding signs with names of cities and states, participating in a spelling
Crowd of people sitting in rows of chairs, clapping their hands in a theater setting.
Students on stage at a school event, posing for a picture in front of a sign advertising the 2024 PHM Elementary Spell Bowl
A group of children in blue shirts standing on a stage in front of a podium, smiling and posing for a picture.
A group of children on stage at a school event, posing in front of a podium and presentation screen.
Team of six students participating in a spelling bee competition on stage.
Young children on stage performing in a school event.

Ms. Lynn Named Culver’s Bus Driver of the Month

We’re happy to share the news that  P-H-M bus driver Andrea Enyeart, or “Ms. Lynn” as the students call her, was named Culver’s Bus Driver of the Month for February 2024!

Ms. Lynn drives for Bittersweet, Moran and Schmucker Middle School. Her positive and upbeat personality is highly valued by all in the transportation department.

The surprise took place at Bittersweet on Feb. 28, 2024 as she waited for her students to board for afternoon pick-up.

Transportation Administrators (Director Brandon Tugmon, Asst. Directors Amy Aschenbrenner and Robin Tharp) joined Osceola Culver’s restaurant co-owners Mark Nowak and Keith Remington, Bittersweet Principal Shonda Masterson, and P-H-M Education Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom to surprise/congratulate Ms. Lynn.

Thank you Culver’s and and the P-H-M Education Foundation for being valued partners to make this award possible! 

If you would like to nominate your student’s bus driver, click here to fill out the nomination form.

Bus Driver of the month - 1
Woman in red coat standing on school bus steps.
Woman standing next to school bus, smiling at camera.
Two people interacting in front of a school bus, one holding a gift box, another handing it over.
Bus driver handing gift to passenger at bus stop.
Group of people posing in front of a school bus; one person holding a blue gift bag.
Two people handing over a gift bag in front of a school bus.
Two women hugging in front of a school bus, one wearing a red coat and the other a black beanie, posing for a picture.
Group of people posing in front of a yellow school bus.

2024 Penn Musical, “The Music Man”

Penn’s school musical this year is “The Music Man.”

You won’t want to miss Penn’s talented student performers as they act out the play that follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize – this, despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef!

This year’s musical also includes the talents of a few P-H-M elementary and middle school students:

  • Mary Cortes, 5th grade, Prairie Vista Elementary School
  • Maxwell MacMillan, 5th grade, Mary Frank Elementary School
  • Anniston Steele, 7th grade, Grissom Middle School
  • Ezra Carrico, Katherine Hawkins, Benjamin Robertson and Noah Rohde, all in 8th grade, Schmucker Middle School

   

This isn’t the first year Penn’s musicals have included students from younger grades. In 2016, younger students also participated in “Mary Poppins.” But this is the first year in recent memory to have this many!

Visit bit.ly/PennMusicMan to purchase tickets.

 

The stage is set for a musical performance of "The Music Man".
Two women on stage in a musical theater production.
Woman in blue dress sitting at piano, child standing behind her, both looking towards camera.
Two women on stage dressed in period costumes, one reading a book to the other who is seated and holding a small child.
Two women in historical costumes performing on stage.
Two people on stage in a musical performance, one dressed as a band member and the other as a conductor, both wearing
Five men on stage dressed in suits and ties, posing for a picture.
Theatrical performance of a group of men in costumes on stage.
Theatrical cast of "Music Man" on stage in costumes, performing a musical number.
Two men on stage in costumes, one wearing a suit and tie, the other in a plaid jacket and hat, engaged in conversation.
Two men on stage dressed as characters from a musical, one in suit and hat, the other in striped jacket and bowler hat,
Group of people on stage in a theater, dressed in costumes from the musical 'Oklahoma!', posing for a picture with a frame.
Theatrical cast of a musical performance on stage.
Woman playing piano in an orchestra.
Theatrical performance of a musical production featuring a group of young men in colorful costumes and hats, standing on
Musicians performing on stage in front of an audience.
Theatrical stage production of "Music Man" in 2024, featuring a large cast on stage.
A symphony orchestra performing in a small room.
Theatrical stage performance of a musical play featuring actors in period costumes, posing for a group photo.
Theatrical performance of a group of actors dressed in vintage costumes, posing for a picture on stage.
Theatrical cast of a musical production, performing on stage, dressed in period costumes, posing for a group photo.
Three musicians playing instruments on stage.
The stage is set for a performance of "Music Man".
Five men on stage dressed as characters from the musical "The Music Man". They are pointing in different directions and

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