The Panther Post
October 14, 2022
Points of #PHMExcellence
P-H-M Board of School Trustees and Administration is committed to academic excellence and supporting our teachers inside the classroom with a multitude of supports. To help attract, retain and reward P-H-M teachers, the Board Monday night (10/10/22) approved the financial increases below making P-H-M teachers the highest paid in the area!
7% salary increase for eligible teachers
Qualifying 2021-2022 teachers receive $600 stipend
This is why P-H-M is able to attract the brightest, the best and most experienced. In fact we've had 8 Top 10 Indiana Teachers of the Year since 2008--most recently Mrs. Amanda Fox from Elsie Rogers. We've had one Teacher of the year in 2011.
Have a friend or family member that wants to join the P-H-M family? Have them contact P-H-M's Human Resources Department at phmhumanresourcesinfo@phm.k12.in.us.
Madison MVP's
Important Dates
October 14-20
Scholastic Book Fair (more details coming soon)
October 17
PTO Meeting @ 6:30 PM
October 18 -19
Parent Teacher Conferences
October 19
Lunch with a Loved One
Madison Bike-a-Thon
Lunch with a Loved One
We are so excited to have Lunch With a Loved One on Wednesday, October 19th. If you filled out the online RSVP and indicated that you would be needing a lunch please send in your payment with your child in an envelope marked LUNCH WITH A LOVED ONE and the student's name. We are asking ALL guest to pre-pay.
Adult lunches are $4.60. Cash or check are welcome. If paying by cash, we will need exact change. If paying by check please make it out to PHM Food Service.
Please note that we will be unable to pull students from classrooms to eat with their older/younger siblings. Thanks in advance for your understanding!
Scholastic Book Fair
Reading for pleasure unlocks the power of information and imagination and helps children discover who they are. Here’s what you can do to help children develop stronger reading skills and a love for reading:
- Set the example. Let children see you read.
- Have a collection of books in your home. Update this collection routinely to keep up with changing tastes and reading skills.
- Support our school’s Book Fair. Allow your children to choose their own books to read.
Our Scholastic Book Fair is a reading event that brings the books kids want to read right into our school. It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Please make plans to visit our Book Fair and be involved in shaping your child’s reading habits.
Book Fair dates: October 17th – October 20th
Shopping hours: During Parent Teacher Conferences and Lunch with a Loved One
Special activities: Best of the Book Fair Raffle
If you are unable to attend the Fair in person, we invite you to visit our online Book Fair at
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/madisonelementaryschool35. Our Online Fair is
available from October 17th to October 30th.
We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Book Fair! Remember, all purchases benefit our school.
Visitors and Volunteers
Please remember if you are interested in volunteering in one of our classrooms you MUST complete a background check (see below) and the PHM Volunteer Bullying and Harassment Training for Madison. If you are unsure if your background check is still valid, please call Gina or Patty in the front office.
At Madison we are encouraging all of our visitors to preregister with Safe Visitor. Pre-registration is available to make the check-in process at the school run faster. Click here to utilize SafeVisitor’s Online Pre-registration process.
What to expect when you arrive at the school:
- All visitors will now be required to present a valid photo ID, which may include a driver’s license, State issued photo ID, or passport every time you enter as a school visitor.
- All approved visitors will have a picture taken at each visit and receive a temporary badge that must be visibly worn at all times.
- All visitors must return to the main office and check-out at the front desk, returning their badge.
As always volunteers are needed and appreciated!
Student Fee Update
Student fees were just uploaded into Skyward. Parents have the option of paying by cash, check, or online. If paying by check make sure the check is made out to Madison Elementary. If you are interested in paying online please follow the directions below.
To get started, follow the following steps:
Step 1: Ensure that you have login credentials to Skyward Family Access
Step 2: Follow this link to e~Funds for Schools
Step 3: Select “Pay for Student Fees”
Step 4: Select “Login to retrieve my information”
Step 5: When prompted, click to sign in to Skyward Family Access
Step 6: Select “Pay for Student Fees”
Step 7: Select your students, add all fees to the cart, then follow prompts to online checkout!
Note: There is a flat fee of $1.50 for payments made when using a checking account. For payments using a credit or debit card, there is a fee of $2.85 for every $100 increment
All student fees are due by March 31st.
Veteran's Day Performance
I am proud to announce that all 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders are invited to perform in this year’s Veterans Day Concert! Please save the date and see concert details below:
When: Friday November 11th (Veterans Day)
12:30-1:30 Performance during the school day where Veterans in our community are invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided.
6:30-7:30- Evening performance for Madison families
Where: Madison Gym
Who: All 1st, 2nd and 3rd Graders (If your child is unable to attend please let me know A.S.A.P)
Attire: Patriotic Clothing (Red, White, and Blue)
Breakfast and Lunch
Just a reminder that breakfasts and lunches are not free this year and that parents need to apply asap for free lunch and book rental assistance at www.schoolcafe.com if they think they may qualify for free or reduced lunches.
Reporting Student Absences
If your child will be absent for any reason, please notify our office as soon as possible! Our office staff records all absences beginning at 8:00 am and must phone any student's home who does not report to school without notice.
Another option is to go to your Skyward Family Access Account and follow these steps:
- Click on the Attendance Tile for the child who will be absent.
- Click on the Absence Requests Tab
- Click Add Absence Request on the right side of the screen
- Enter Start and End Date
- Check All Day if the absence will be the entire school day
- Attendance Reason - Choose from the drop down menu
- Comment - Add any information regarding the absence reason
- Click SAVE in the upper right hand corner
Dyslexia Universal Screener
Outside Organizations
P-H-M no longer distributes paper flyers or other promotional items of outside organizations through our schools. Please do not print and send flyers to our schools for distribution.
Instead, we now post digital flyers on our Community Events & Activities section of P-H-M District website at this link: https://www.phmschools.org/community-events-activities (linked below, as well) There is also a link back to this page off all 15 school websites.
Social Emotional Learning
P-H-M is committed to helping students reach their fullest potential, which includes the whole child! Please visit the PHM website HERE for various valuable parent resources to help you in supporting your child.
Helpful Links
The Safe School Helpline® is a confidential way to report student concerns about threats, suicide, drugs, bullying or anything that threatens the safety of our schools. It's Available 24/7. Click to watch a video on how to get in touch with Administration anonymously 24/7/365.
Four Ways to Report to the Safe School Helpline®
Call: 1-800-418-6423 ext 359
Text: TIPS to 66746
Online: SafeSchoolHelpline.com
Mobile App: Download the FREE app from the GOOGLE PLAY STORE and the APPLE APP STORE
The app makes it easy to anonymously report a safety or mental health concern using your mobile device to text, call, or submit an online form.
A Note from PTO
Announcing this year's PTO Officers:
President: Mary Schori
Vice President: Julie Mattison
Secretary: Brittany Fox
Treasurer: Betsy Bartholomew
More information coming soon !
Madison Elementary Contact Information
Email: lschirripa@phm.k12.in.us
Website: https://madison.phmschools.org/
Location: Madison Elementary School, Dogwood Road, Wakarusa, IN, USA
Phone: (574) 254-2816
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonPanthersPHM