Fourth grade teacher Amanda Fox has been selected as a “Top 10” finalist for Indiana’s Teacher of the Year. She was selected as a Top 25 Finalist on August 18.

Mrs. Fox was P-H-M’s Elementary Teacher of the Year last school year. Mrs. Fox has won a few awards this year:

• 2022 Michiana Forty under 40 class, recognizing young adults, professionals, executives and leaders, under the age of 40, achieving outstanding professional success while also engaging in his/her community through charitable and civic involvement.
• Indiana’s only math finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). She traveled to Washington, DC in May to receive her award.

The next step for the Indiana Teacher of the Year is for Mrs. Fox to do an in-person interview with the Selection Committee on September 12.

At P-H-M’s Employee Recognition Dinner held Monday, May 16, the School Corporation honored 4th grade Elsie Teacher Mrs. Amanda Fox as Elementary Teacher of the Year, along with the Secondary Teacher of the Year Mrs. Becky Hope (Penn Art Teacher); Employee of the Year Julie Demske (Head Custodian, Schmucker); retirees; and employees who’ve been with PHM for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years. Some Elsie teachers were among those thanked for their years of service with PHM. Click to read the dinner program and then click to see the full photo gallery of the dinner on P-H-M’s website.

Mrs. Fox is a nationally recognized teacher winning the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) this year; but she hasn’t always liked math or school. Fortunately, she had a teacher that connected with her and helped her find joy in learning … and she’s never stopped!

Click to watch the video below to see just how Miss Fox is now using that love of learning to motivate her elementary students …

Cereal was flying around our 5th grade rooms today as two classes engaged in an EPIC St. Patrick’s Day showdown!

“Catapult Chaos” is an activity in which the students build catapults out of plastic spoons and rubber bands. The students then did their best to launch Lucky Charms cereal into cups at the opposite end of the table.

The target cups have a point value and the team with the highest total wins! 

This fun and unique activity allowed the students to practice engineering and physics in a playful way while also building camaraderie amongst the students.

Take a look at the photos below!

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Registration is now OPEN!

Cost is $25 per child, per day. If you are not currently enrolled in Kids Club, you must also pay the $25 registration fee per child. Please click to register. Payment must be submitted through https://www.myprocare.com/.

Registration and payment are due and non-refundable by midnight, Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Registrations will not be accepted after that date.

Kids Club will operate at Northpoint Elementary School, 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Entry will be through Door E; there will not be a door code for entry.

Students should bring their own sack lunch and drink. Morning and afternoon snacks will be provided.

Kids Club Cell Phone: (574) 261-9974 

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 14 & Sunday, March 15 for the FIRST Robotics St. Joseph District Event. Penn High School is once again hosting more than 40 high school FRC robotics teams from Indiana and Michigan who will battle it out for the title. Join more than 5,000 students, coaches, mentors, parents and fans during this one-of-a-kind two-day FREE event!

Saturday, March 14 

10 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Next Gen (K-8): 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sunday, March 15 

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Click to watch the video below to check out all the upcoming excitement, then come out to cheer on Penn Robotics Team 135!

Make sure to also bring your young Robotics fans to “Next Gen,” an area for students ages K-8, who can get hands-on engaging fun with some of Team 135’s other robots. Next Gen will be open Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This event is also FREE ADMISSION!

It’s Computer Science Education Week and to celebrate P-H-M Technology brought Dash Robots to the classroom.

During this week we are emphasizing doing an “Hour of Code” where students are introduced to computer programming languages.

Fourth grade teacher Mr. Cardoza and fifth grade teacher Ms. Givens planned activities for their classes that included learning about Binary Code, which is the computer language utilizing 1’s and 0’s, as well as other types of coding.

Mr. Cardoza and Ms. Givens welcomed Jessie Kinney from P-H-M Technology who brought some Dash Robots. The students were tasked with coding the robots to make deliveries to various gingerbread houses in the village.

On Thursday they are bringing in a professional coder from an outside company to talk to their students. In addition to the Dash Robots they are doing unplugged activities such as making Binary Code key chains that represent their name as well as coding directions to get from point A to B.

To see what we’re talking about please view the photo gallery below!

To download high resolution jpg files from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you, free of charge!

If you need advice on how to prepare your food this Thanksgiving, ask a fourth grader!

Ms. Ponsler’s class made pumpkin pie in a bag today and if smiles are any indication the results were quite good.

The students had to follow directions from a work sheet and exercise judgment to determine when the mixture was ready. 

What a great way to make learning fun, and tasty!

To download high resolution jpg files from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you, free of charge!

Our third-grade teachers came up with an idea to have a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) fair one time per month for their students.

With the help of parent volunteers, all of our third-graders go from room to room doing various science based projects that also allow for artistic creativity.

Today the theme was “November.” Our kids built thanksgiving tabes out of straws, teepees out of newspaper, thanksgiving day parade floats out of balloons and so much more!

To download high resolution jpg files from the photo gallery, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you, free of charge!

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.

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