Dolphin Details
The Walt Disney Elementary Newsletter
May
Celebrating Our Diversity at Walt Disney
May will bring many exciting events at Walt Disney! We will celebrate students' academic accomplishments and acknowledge classes that have consistently demonstrated the 5 Bs. We will also celebrate our diversity at our Cultural Night. Please see the following update from our Cultural Night Committee. We look forward to seeing all of you there!
This year marks our 18th Annual Cultural Night. This evening is truly one of the major events at Walt Disney Elementary School. It gives us the opportunity to celebrate the diversity that makes our school a unique and special learning community.
Beginning in May, teachers will be sharing specific cultures within their classrooms and/or units with a variety of learning activities. We will also host our annual “Cultural Night” on Thursday, May 18th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This is a time to share what students have learned during instructional time in the classroom, music, gym and in the library as well as a chance for all of our Disney families to come together, share their cultures, and celebrate our vibrantly diverse community.
With your child in mind,
Lavon Dean-Null
Principal
Greetings from Miss Duerksen
This week marks the end of ISTEP and we are so proud of all the hard work our students did to complete these tests. We love to have our students take the opportunity to show off what they've learned and that's exactly what they did!
We are also looking forward to the culmination of many of our after school programs. Running is Elementary held their meet on May 1st at Elm Road. Girls on the Run ladies will be running on May 13. At the end of May, our chess club will have their invitational to welcome parents and show what they've learned. Thank you to all the students (and parents who provided transportation!) who participated in these after school opportunities.
Sincerely,
Lisa Duerksen
Assistant to the Principal
Tidbits From Mrs. Tachman
Dear Dolphin Families,
Our school days are winding down to a precious few. It is hard to believe it is already May! With the days flying by and the promise of spring in the air, it is sometimes tough to keep kids focused on the job at hand--school. But as the great baseball player and manager Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over 'til it's over," and the same goes when we're talking about learning and school.
Thank you for your continued support of your children and their teachers! Staying actively interested in what your child is learning in school lets him or her know school matters to you and that you value the educational process. As your child's first teacher, your influence over your child is immeasurable. Stay in touch; let us know what's going on in your child's life. We will do the same from the school side. Thank you for partnering with us to create seamless communication from home to school.
With warmest regards,
Cindy Tachman
Assistant to the Principal
Elementary Coordinator, PHM English as a New Language Program
Important Dates
May 1-5 ISTEP Testing
May 1-5 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 1 Running is Elementary Meet at Elm Road
May 4 1st Grade Field Trip
May 4 Spring Pictures
May 6 Silver Mile
May 10 & 11 Incoming Kindergarten Student Assessments
May 13 Girls on the Run Marathon
May 17 3rd Annual E.L.L.I.E. Awards at PHS
May 17 & 19 Kindergarten Field Trip
May 18 Cultural Night
May 25 PTO Meeting 6:30
May 26 WD Chess Club Friends & Family Invitational Match
May 29 No School- Recess Day
Check out all of our school events on our school website: WD Website
13 Reasons Why - Note to Parents
P-H-M Counselors have been made aware of a new Netflix show "13 Reasons Why." The story is about a high school student who dies by suicide and then leaves a message blaming the people close to her for her death. Mental health experts nationwide have expressed concerns that the program glorifies suicide and leaves survivors with the idea that it is their fault if a loved one completes suicide.
We want the parents of our 4th-8th grade students, along with Penn High School parents, to be aware of this television program and give you resources to use if your son or daughter watches the show and needs to process its content. We have loaded "13 Reasons Why" talking points to the District website that you can use when discussing with your child:
https://www.phmschools.org/sites/phmschools.org/files/13rw_talking_points_final.pdf
Remember that talking about suicide doesn't cause suicide. Making connections and showing people we care reduces isolation that may contribute to suicide ideation. Please remember that the counselors at all our schools are available to talk to your son or daughter and parents if you or they need help.
We also have many resources on the District website that can help parents and students. Please visit www.phmschools.org/lifelines.
Thank you,
Lavon Dean-Null
PTO Spring Flower Fundraising
SILVER MILE RUN FOR EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND FITNESS FAIR
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 6th from 8:30am – noon at Penn High School.
The Silver Mile Run for Education includes a 5K Run/Walk, festive Fun Walk around Penn HS campus and a Timed Mile Run on TCU Freed Field Track. All events start and finish on the Penn HS track with finisher medals to all student-age participants. Cost to participate range from $12-$45 depending on event. Register online at www.phmef.org by April 28 to ensure you receive an event t-shirt.
Join us inside Penn HS for more family friendly fun at the Health and Fitness Fair presented by Saint Joseph Health System Health Fair.
Visit the Saint Joseph Health System Health Fair and participate in the numerous free health screenings and educational booths.
Linger at the high-energy, interactive Summer Family Fitness Expo featuring businesses and organizations presenting family summer and year-round fitness fun and education.
The Silver Mile Silent Auction will again be bursting with items, including a full set of braces from Dr. Shawn Long, Penn High School parking passes, 14 front row seats to Penn Commencement, Burns Tent Package, Disney Hopper Passes – and many more items and gift certificates from area businesses, restaurants and recreational favorites. Come early and bid often!!
P-H-M’s Got Talent! Stop by the Main Arena for performances from our talented P-H-M groups, Grissom Drum Brigade, Elm Road Jumping Eagles, Meadow’s Edge Dance Club and Penn Dance.
The Silver Mile also features tours of the Pen Art Gallery and Robotics Lab, Penn Summer Camp registration and much more.
This is a great way to kick off Spring and connect with our amazing P-H-M community! Visit www.phmef.org and the P-H-M Silver Mile Run for Education Facebook page @phmsilvermile for more information and updates.
Questions?? Contact Amber Kennedy, at amber@phmef.org
Thanks again for supporting this P-H-M community event!
Quarter War - Silver Mile Fundraiser
We will be participating in a Quarter War to raise money for the Silver Mile so BRING YOUR QUARTERS on Fridays!
All quarters added to your classroom bucket count toward the total for your class. Place dollar bills in other classroom buckets to subtract from their team total. All money collected will go toward the PHM Silver Mile Event. Winning teams will be awarded an extra recess, along with a treat. A traveling trophy will be awarded each week to the top class. Money will be collected on May 5th.
#GiveLocalSJC: Give Local & Support the P-H-M Education Foundation
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!
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!
For more details visit: https://www.phmschools.org/news/apr-2017/givelocalsjc-give-local-support-p-h-m-education-foundation
Running is Elementary
Learning the Art of Yoga in Kindergarten
PTO Update
Summer 2017 P-H-M Academies & Camps
TEAM Cramer’s Day at the Cubs
Check out this link for more details about the outing!
https://waltdisney.phmschools.org/team-cramer%E2%80%99s-day-cubs
High Ability Identification Update
The elementary and middle school high ability selection committees have met to discuss students in grades kindergarten, second and fifth. Letters were sent to the parents of the newly identified students and should have arrived in homes by April 3. For more information about our high ability identification process, please visit our website https://www.phmschools.org/high-ability-enrichment.
3rd Annual E.L.L.I.E. Awards - May 17
As always, the highlight of the event will be a screening of a video about our ENL students--BY our ENL students! Students will also be recognized for their hard work with certificates and a special book.
Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. Please join us in honoring your children--our students--for their accomplishments this year.
Warmest regards,
Cindy Tachman
PHM Elementary ENL Coordinator
Community Events/Activities
Looking for the latest events and activities from area community organizations? We’ve gone paperless! Check out the P-H-M website for an online listing of non-school events & activities agencies have asked us to share with P-H-M families:
www.phmschools.org/community-events-activities Just look for the bullhorn icon on the District website.
Parent Volunteers and Visitors
WD Chess Club Spring Session in Full Swing!
Students have been invited to participate in an open tournament sponsored by Michiana Chess (Mr. Patrick is the president of this non-profit youth chess outreach effort). This is NOT a school-sponsored event and parents must remain with their children throughout the tournament. For more information, click HERE or contact Mr. Patrick at michianachess@gmail.com
Please save May 26, from 3:00 - 4:00, for our 2nd WD Chess Club Friends & Family Invitational Match. We will once again welcome everyone--regardless of skill level--to play a game or two with our WD Chess Club members.
Until then, keep thinking before you move!
Warmest regards,
Mrs. Tachman & Mr. Patrick, WD Chess Club Sponsors
Lavon Dean-Null
Email: ldean-null@phm.k12.in.us
Website: https://waltdisney.phmschools.org/
Location: 4015 Filbert Rd, Mishawaka, IN, United States
Phone: 574-259-2486
Twitter: @WDDolphinPride