Meadow's Edge Elementary
September 30, 2022
POINTS OF #PHMEXCELLENCE
Penn-Harris-Madison is a state and national leader in Excellence in Education, and now thanks to Penn High School junior Felix Zhang and Penn Calculus teacher Mrs. Denise White we can say we have the #1 Student in the World! Felix recently learned that he earned a perfect score, not missing a single question, on the college-level Advanced Placement® (AP®) Calculus AB Exam last spring—the only student in the world to do so! Click for more details and to see the local and national news coverage.
Congratulations to Felix and his family! We thank P-H-M math teachers and all teachers for the amazing work they do to help all students reach their fullest academic potential!
From the Principal's Desk
Fall is here! Please make sure your child brings a sweatshirt to school for chilly recess days. We encourage you to write your child's name on the sweatshirt as this is the time of year when many sweatshirts are left out on the playground and find their way to our Lost and Found rack. Our Lost and Found rack currently has quite a collection of items looking for a home. Please take a few moments during conferences to check out the rack across from the IMC to see if any items from your child's closet may be hanging there!
We are looking forward to our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences this month. Your child's classroom teacher will be reaching out to you on Monday, October 3 to provide information regarding reserving a spot for your child's conference. Please be looking for communication on that day. Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for the evenings of October 18 & 19.
Fall break is coming up on October 21 - 24. I hope you have an enjoyable time with your family.
Together, we will SOAR!
Gary Gardner, Principal
Important Dates
The 2022-23 P-H-M district school calendar
October 3: Parent Teacher Conference Communications Email Sent
October 3-4: Families with Multiple MEE Students Register for PT Conference Slots
October 5: Families with One MEE Student Register for PT Conference Slots
October 7: Picture Retake Day
October 7: September Reading Hawks Calendars Due
October 12: End of First Grading Period
October 13: PTO Meeting, 6PM in the IMC
October 18-19: Parent Teacher Conferences
October 20: Classroom Harvest Celebrations
October 21-24: Fall Break, No School
Parent Teacher Conferences
October 3-Parents with multiple students attending Meadow’s Edge are asked to sign up for a time slot before families with one child since they have to attend more than one conference. Please allow at least 5-10 minutes in between each conference to allow for traveling to classrooms.
October 5-Parents with one child attending Meadow’s Edge are asked to sign up for a slot from the remaining times available.
Conferences are scheduled for the evenings of October 18 & 19.
Reporting Student Absences
Families may report absences in the following ways:
- Call the school office at 574-255-9347 and press 1 for the attendance line. You may leave a message.
- Email meadowsedgeattendance@phm.k12.in.us to make the school aware of a student absence.
- Go online and report the absence using Skyward. Directions can be found HERE.
Absences not reported are considered unexcused. Thank you for your help!
Picture Retakes
Student Photo Booklets
We received some messages from families who did not receive photo booklets with student pictures from the first picture day. Students who ordered digital prints received their images digitally through the parent's email. If you didn't receive the email, or non-digital prints that were ordered didn't come to the school, please contact Geskus for help at 1-800-473-3885 or www.geskusphoto.com/contact-us
Reading Hawks
A few important reminders:
- Reading logs are due the first Friday of each month. September Reading logs are due Oct.7th.
- Reading Logs must be filled out completely. Reading Logs that are incomplete will be returned home for missing information.
- Brag tags for September will be passed out the week of October 10.
- As always, we do not accept late calendars. Links are available below for families who need to reprint a calendar.
Scholastic Book Fair
Get Ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!). Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them to become bolder, prouder, and stronger readers. AND… as always, every book they buy earns rewards for our school.
Here’s what you need to know about the Fair, which will take place from October 17th - 24th in the IMC (Library). The fair will also be open during parent/teacher conferences.
This year, say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.
If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Online Book Fair. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school.
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/meadowsedgeelemschool
FYI: There is tax on all purchases this year.
The countdown to more Bookjoy is on! Catch you at the Fair!
Happy reading,
Katy Samples, Media Aide
Esther Vargas, PTO Vice President
Health Office
Report Cards & Progress Reports
You will be able to access your child's grade report on Skyward starting on Tuesday, October 19th at 2:30. Teachers will be sharing grades, as well as student data and progress on both evenings of conferences but the actual grade card won't be available to view until Wednesday (10/19) after 2:30 pm.
You may click HERE for directions on accessing grade cards. If you have difficulties accessing Family Access, please contact familyaccess@phm.k12.in.us.
School Delays
FREE LUNCH APPLICATIONS
All students have had access to free lunch the past two years due to the COVID pandemic. That program will no longer be in effect this year. As a result, families will once again NEED TO APPLY for free lunch for the 2022-23 school year. We encourage P-H-M parents to apply online at this website: www.schoolcafe.com. Applying online is faster and easier than using printed forms, and your benefits will start sooner!
Now Hiring!
P-H-M Employment Opportunities
A Note from PTO
Join us at 6PM on October 13 in the Meadow's Edge IMC for our next PTO meeting!
For those of you who are unfamiliar with us or new to Meadow's Edge, we are a volunteer organization made up of parents and school staff who are dedicated to the success of our students, teachers, and school. We encourage you to get involved in the 2022-2023 school year.
How to keep up to date?
- The MEE Parent Newsletter (monthly)
- Like us on Facebook (Meadow's Edge PTO)
- Email us at meadowsedgepto@gmail.com
We are truly excited for this upcoming school year!
School Fees
The initial fee statement of student curricular materials will be available to view in Skyward as of September 15, 2022. Fees are due by 3/31/23. There will be no paper copy sent home with students.
The following is the breakdown by grade of the 2022-2023 student curricular fees:
- Kindergarten $120.98
- 1st Grade $148.14
- 2nd Grade $148.54
- 3rd Grade $173.93
- 4th Grade $164.91
- 5th Grade $165.61
You have several options as to how you may pay this invoice. Your payment options are:
1. You may send your payment with your student to the office. We accept check, money order, or cash. Please note that the school office can only accept cash in the exact amount. Please make checks out to Meadow's Edge Elementary.
2. You may mail your payment to the school your student attends.
3. You may pay with a credit card by using our online payment system via your Skyward Family Access Account or the PHM website at www.phmschools.org/PayFeesOnline. Please note: There is an additional fee for this service.
4. You may contact the treasurer at your student's school and make arrangements for a payment plan prior to 10/31/22. Payment plan forms are also available on the PHM web page.
****For the 2022/2023 school year, IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR TEXTBOOK ASSISTANCE YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FREE/REDUCED MEAL APPLICATION INDICATING THAT YOU WISH TO RECEIVE TEXTBOOK ASSISTANCE. Applications are on the PHM website under the parents tab. This must be completed each year, it does not roll over to the new school year.****
Interested In Volunteering?
Volunteers are needed and are greatly appreciated. Please consider donating a few precious hours of your time if your schedule allows. The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation requires all volunteers to complete a limited background check prior to approval to volunteer.
P-H-M also requires all volunteers to watch an 8-minute video on anti-bullying before working with students and then fill out the form below for their child’s school. The link to the anti-bullying video is embedded with the form for each school.
PHM Volunteer Bullying and Harassment Training - Meadow's Edge
Background Checks for School Volunteers
School Safety is a Priority! In order to be considered as an approved volunteer, we provide volunteers two options to complete the limited background check or renewal of your approval status.
As a condition of serving in this role, you grant permission to Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation to conduct a background check including state/local criminal history records and national sex offender registry. As a result of your agreement, you agree to:
Option 1 - Pay $12.95 for SafeVisitor to conduct the background search, which Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation will honor for 3 years. Click here to visit SafeVisitor’s website to complete the online electronic search.
Using this link is the preferred method to reduce search time and fingerprinting requirements. If out of state records are located, additional fees may apply.
Option 2 - For those preferring not to pay and/or use SafeVisitor’s expedited electronic background check services, Penn-Harris-Madison Schools offers another option to complete the paper Volunteer Background Check form. Click here to fill out the form as a fillable pdf or download and print it.
Additional information can be found HERE!
Kids Club: Now Hiring!
We are in need of some extra helpers with our Kids Club Program after school care in the afternoons from 2:00-6:00 pm. There are openings at multiple buildings and we can be flexible with days and hours for those who are interested in working. If you are interested in working and your child(ren) attend Kids Club they may be able to attend for FREE!
For more information, please e-mail Kids-club-office-group@phm.k12.in.us
Testing Dates-Plan Ahead
Grade 3
IREAD-3 Test, March 6-17, 2023
Grades 3-5
ILEARN Test, April 17-May 12
Helpful Links
Articles Below Have Been Shared Previously
Bus Information
The transportation department is using the routing platform EZRouting. Please click this link to set up your parent portal.
Please use the email for the primary contact on your child’s Skyward account as your login ID to allow the system to link you automatically.
- As a security precaution, EZRouting will confirm the contact information before allowing you to set up your parent portal.
- If you don’t have an email on your Skyward account, please use the primary contact phone number as your login id.
Skyward Family Access
On August 12th you should receive an email from our Skyward Family Access that will give you your username so that you can establish a password. Once you log into Skyward your child’s class placement (teacher name) will be visible. Also within Skyward Family Access, parents and guardians will see a number of buttons to click. These are the back to school “forms”, and replace those that in the past we asked parents to complete with pen and paper. These include: Informational documents, Free/reduced meal applications, Emergency contact forms, Consent to Publish/Photograph, Health information, Immunization record sign-offs, the Chromebook parent packet, Handbook certification, and permission forms for the mandatory curriculum and SEL lessons. Please take time the first week of school to login and complete these online forms. A few additional forms will be sent home with your child the first week of school, which must be completed and returned to your child’s teacher.
Please make sure that you have family access set up in Skyward. It is extremely important that information be updated for health reasons and school communications.
Meadow's Edge Elementary School
Website: https://meadowsedge.phmschools.org/
Location: 16333 Kern Road, Mishawaka, IN, USA
Phone: (574) 255-9347
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meadowsedgehawks