Spartan Herald May 2019
Building Community Empowering Learners Inspiring Creativity
ILEARN In Full Swing
Hello Schmucker Families,
We are in the second week of ILEARN and everything continues to go smoothly. I have been so impressed with how hard our students are working and the dedication they have shown to do their very best! I am so proud of our Spartans!
As we move into the end of fourth quarter, we have many events planned for our SMS community! We will be recognizing our 8th grade students and third quarter 4.0 students. More details about these events will be coming soon. Our 8th grade students will soon either be heading off to Washington DC or traveling around our local community to extend their learning. Our sixth grade class will dive into the history of medieval times during their field trip in June. Lastly, our whole student body will have the opportunity take part in our Star Card celebration at the end of the year. Students can earn a pass into this celebration by filling a Star Card with teacher signatures. Mrs. Martin and Mr. Fry will be sharing more details about this event on WSMS.
When looking forward to summer, please keep in mind that P-H-M offers many opportunities for students, and you can check out the details here. One wonderful opportunity is the Learn a Foreign Language Academy. This three-week academy runs from July 8-26 and is open to current P-H-M 6th and 7th graders. Taught by Penn High School language teachers, students will learn how to read, write, and speak in one of the offered languages this year: German, Spanish, or Chinese! Click here for more details about this opportunity.
With your child in mind,
Lavon Dean-Null
Principal
Silver Mile Bubble Bash
In just a few short days (May 4th), the P-H-M Education Foundation will be hosting Silver Mile Bubble Bash. This event is sponsored by both Dr. and Mrs. Thacker and is designed to raise funds to support our students through teacher grants, scholarships for students, staff development, and other initiatives designed to give our students the very best of everything in education.
Our own Schmucker Spartans have spent the last three weeks participating in a variety of fundraising events to support this community wide event. Students and staff alike have been donating funds all month to show their Schmucker Spartan Pride. This year we raised over $2,000.
The Silver Mile Bubble Bash will take place on Saturday, May 4th, and you can find more details about the event here.
Thank you for your continued support of our children and our school corporation. You can still register for this event by visiting this link.
Athletic Physicals
Penn High School is offering athletic physicals on Tuesday, May 21. The cost is $25.00, checks made payable to Penn High School or cash is accepted. This opportunity is for incoming freshmen (current 8th graders) and current high school students/athletes only. This is a good deal for all athletes and the physicals will be good for the 19-20 sports season. IHSAA physicals are available online and pages 1 and 3 need to be filled out and signed by the athletes and parents and brought with them to the physical.
Important Dates
May 1-3 - Math Ilearn
May 2 - PTO Meeting
May 6-10 - 6th Grade Science ILEARN
May 15 - End of the Year 4.0 Breakfast
May 15 - DC Parent Meeting
May 21 - IHSAA Sports Physical
May 22 - 6/7/8 Orchestra Spring Concert
May 23 - 6/7/8 Spring Band Concert
May 22 - 6th Grade Field Trip
May 24 - 8th Grade End of the Year Party
May 27 - Memorial Day Recess
May 28-June 1 - 8th Grade "Washington DC Trip"
May 30 - 6/7 Spring Choir Concert
June 4 - 6th Grade Field Trip
June 5 - Last Day of School
Check out all events on our Website calendar: SMS Calendar
PLEASE READ OUR PTO NEWSLETTER BELOW:
NJHS News!
In August next year, our returning 8th grade members need to be sure to check their email for back to school service hour opportunities! There are always a few events (schedule pick up, and envelope stuffing) that could use volunteers! Thanks for an awesome school year!
VEX Robotic 2019-20 Information
Current 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students, along with their parents, that are interested in joining Schmucker’s VEX Robotics Competition Team 775 for the 2019-2020 school year are invited to attend an informational meeting on Tuesday, May 14 from 5:30- 6:30PM at Schmucker in room 247.
At the meeting you will be introduced to the new robot game for 2019-2020, Tower Takeover. We will also discuss an overview of the robotics season and team member responsibilities. If you have questions, contact Matt Reininga at mreininga@phm.k12.in.us
P-H-M SILVER MILE - Bubble Bash
Remember the bubbly fun of car washes and bath time? The Silver Mile 5K run is changing into a Bubble Bash – welcoming runners of all experience levels while blasting through foam bogs along the course. It is a non-timed 5K Run/Walk that incorporates bubble stations for participants to travel through during the event. Those not wanting to run/walk a 5K, there will be an option to take a shorter loop.
The Silver Mile Run for Education will also include our amazing Silent Auction, Health & Fitness Expo, free health screenings by Saint Joseph Medical Center, and Talent Showcase! Our Talent Showcase will be expanded this year so we can include more of our incredibly talented students throughout P-H-M.
This fun-filled, family friendly event will take place on Saturday, May 5, from 8:30am to noon at Penn High School. Register by Friday, March 30th for Early Bird prices ($15 students/$25 adults) and come out with your friends and family and enjoy a morning of fun and bubbles! Register athttps://runsignup.com/Race/IN/Mishawaka/SilverMileRunforEducation (also found on phmef.org website).
For questions or more information, visit www.phmef.org or contact Amber Kennedy at amber@phmef.org
8th Grade Washington DC Information
Attention all 8th grade students going on the Washington, DC class trip: There is a mandatory meeting for you and your parent/guardian on Wednesday, May 15th at 6pm in the SMS cafeteria. We will be going over student behavioral expectations, the travel itinerary, answering questions, and handing out your tshirts, luggage tags, and travel bags. Please plan to attend this very important meeting.
There will also be a mandatory parent chaperone meeting from 5:30 to 6:00 pm that same night, May 15th, for our parent chaperones. The parent chaperone meeting will be in the IMC. We will be going over chaperone expectations and duties and answering questions. You will also find out which bus you're on, who your roommate is (unless you paid for a single room), and which students you will be escorting on the trip. After the parent chaperone meeting ends, we will move to the cafeteria for the big student/parent/guardian meeting.
Please email Ms. Scarbeck (jscarbeck@phm.k12.in.us) if you have any questions or concerns.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone on May 15th!
SafeVisitor
Visitors/Guests include:
- Classroom Guest Speakers
- Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Classroom/School Special Events (example: Grandparents Day)
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.
HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
Important Information from the Health Office
Notifications will be mailed out in May reminding an adult to pick up medication that was stored at school for your student. Daily medications and emergency medications will be disposed of by the end of the day on the last day of school unless other arrangements are made with the health office. Other medications (cough drops, cold medicine, Advil, Tylenol etc.) will be disposed of on Friday, May 31st, unless other arrangements are made with the health office.
If your student has an Individualized Health Plan, copies of that plan will be mailed home. Please look it over and make any revisions for school year 2019-2020. Please make sure that this is returned to the health office by the start of school year 2019-2020 so that we can adequately care for your student.
If your student will require any additional vaccines, you will be notified via a letter. Please make sure that those are taken care of as soon as possible in order to prevent any interruption of your student’s education in the fall of 2019.
Please note:
Current 5th grade students: to enter the 6th grade in August, you must have a Tdap, a meningococcal (MCV4) vaccine, and 2 Hepatitis A vaccines BEFORE the first day of school August 21, 2019
Current 11th grade students: to enter 12th grade in August, you must have a meningococcal (MCV4) booster and 2 Hepatitis A vaccines BEFORE the first day of school August 21, 2019. It is a recommendation that you also have two doses of Meningococcal B vaccine
May is Mental Health Month
May is Mental Health Month. The flyer attached has important information about ways to increase mental health based on the themes this year for Mental Health America.
Keeping mental health as part of the discussion helps to normalize it, reduce the stigma, help others find needed resources and communicates our priority regarding the topic.
IHSAA Sports Physical
IHSAA SPORTS PHYSICALS FOR PHS
7th (Going to be 8th) Grade Schmucker Cheerleading Tryouts
2019-2020 Football and Basketball Squads
Practice Dates and Times:
Monday, May 14th 4:00-5:30
Tuesday, May 15th 4:00-5:30
Wednesday, May 16th 4-5:30
*Students should report to the LGI
Girls will learn an individual cheer, group cheer, fight song, jumps and practice their spirit runs. Attire: athletic shorts, shirt and shoes are required. Pull hair back in a ponytail.
Selection: A maximum of 28 cheerleaders per grade level, minimum of 24 cheerleaders per grade level will be chosen, 12-14 for football and 12-14 for basketball. Candidates may choose to try out for a specific squad if they participate in another sport. For example, if someone runs cross-country or plays volleyball, they would try out for the basketball squad. We need to know if you parti sport prior to you trying out, so we can place you on the correct squad if you are selected. Otherwise, you will try out, and if selected, will be assigned to a squad for either football or basketball.
Everyone must have a physical on file and also the code of conduct form completed and on file. If you participated in a sport this school year 2017-2018 then you already have a physical you get now will count for tryouts AND next school year 2019-2020 sports. You will not be allowed to participate in practices or tryouts without a physical.
Congresswoman Walorski visits SMS!
All students had the opportunity to hear her answer questions on a memorable addition of WSMS. "One person can make a difference" -- Congresswoman Walorski
Athletics
Our boys and girls track teams are in full swing and doing very well this season. They are running meets every Tuesday and Thursday with one team home and the other team away. Make sure you check out our schedules and come out and support our Schmucker Spartan track teams! The Big 11 Track Prelims for boys and girls will be held at Concord High School on Tuesday, May 7th with the rain date being on May 8th. The Big 11 Track Finals will be held on Friday, May 10.
Intramurals
21st century scholars
Free $$ for college!
The 21st Century Scholars program is need-based assistance which will help students have the ability to go to college who otherwise may not be able to afford it. The program can save you and your family thousands of dollars on higher education past high school, as well as connect you and your student to other great resources.
The deadline for this opportunity to enroll is JUNE 30 of a student's 8th grade year. Once this date has passed, students cannot enroll while at the high school. Please take the time to visit http://scholars.in.gov/parents/enroll/ to learn more about the program and enroll your student right away before this opportunity is no longer available. Email or call your child's school counselor if you have further questions.
How Your Child Can Connect to Schmucker Happenings
1. Each morning students produce a newscast on WSMS that highlight upcoming events.
2. Every Monday students are emailed a Student Newsletter. This publication includes the weekly menu, important dates like athletic events and clubs, and important announcements and reminders.
COMMUNITY EVENTS/ACTIVITIES
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:
Lunch Menus
Homework Requests
School Messenger
Canvas
Canvas is a LMS (Learning Management System) that is used in PHM. Teachers can put content online for students, make announcements and provide assignments. All parents are enrolled in the Canvas course of their students as observers. As observers, you can see the content, but are not able to interact with it. Please access the links below to learn more.
To keep you organized, you can also download the Canvas app for your phone or tablet.
Student Hours
9:00am - First Bell
9:05am - Classes Begin
4:00pm - Dismissal
4:10pm - Bus Departure
Lavon Dean-Null
Email: ldean-null@phm.k12.in.us
Website: http://schmucker.phmschools.org/
Location: Schmucker Middle School, Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, IN, United States
Phone: 574-259-5661
Twitter: @SMSSpartanPride