The Panther Post
September 16, 2023
Points of #PHMExcellence
Arrival and Dismissal
Thank you for helping ensure our students are kept safe during arrival and dismissal. It is important that parents remain in their cars at all times. We have three cones numbered 1, 2, and 3 in our carpool designated area. Cars are expected to pull forward into those spots to drop off and pick up students. Please make sure to pull all the way forward to ensure we can maximize our arrival/dismissal space and time. Students should be entering and exiting on the right side of the vehicle. Staff will be encouraging students to open/close doors independently, but will be available if assistance is needed. Students should be unbuckled and ready to exit the vehicle at arrival to cone 1, 2, or 3. If your child needs help buckling up at dismissal, please pull forward into one of the available parking spots.
Students are expected to be in the building by 7:55 AM or the child is considered tardy. If you arrive after 7:50 AM and do not see any staff members outside, please bring your child(ren) to the office (Door A).
Madison MVP's
10 More School Days
We will begin allowing visitors and volunteers into the building starting on October 3rd. 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.
You have two options for completing a background check.
- 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.
As always volunteers are needed and appreciated!
Important Dates
September 21
Picture Retakes
September 23
PHM Silver Mile Homecoming Parade & Activities
September 24
PHM Silver Mile 5K
October 1
Riley's Bike-a-Thon (more information coming soon)
October 10
PTO Meeting @ 6:30 PM
Veteran's Day News from Mrs. Dupuis
Greetings from the Music Room!
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)
Parents: If you are a parent volunteer and would be interested in decorating the stage for the concert it would be greatly appreciated! We already have a lot of decorations at Madison that can be used for this event, but could use some help with making the stage look patriotic! The more red, white and blue the better! Thank you in advance for your support!
This will be a very special event that not only showcases the Musical Talents of our Madison Panthers but will honor the amazing Veterans that so proudly serve our country. If you have any questions regarding this or would like to volunteer in any capacity please send me an email at jdupuis@phm.k12.in.us. Your children are an absolute joy to teach! I’ll look forward to seeing you all at this very special event!
Silver Mile Info from the PHMEF
Mark your calendar for an exciting weekend for our P-H-M families! PHMEF will be hosting our annual Silver Mile Run for Education and co-hosting Penn’s Homecoming!! The festivities will include a brand-new homecoming parade, the return of our TIMED Silver Mile 5k & 1-mile family fun run/walk, SJHS Health & Fitness Expo, a Fun Zone with inflatables & food trucks AND the Penn football game. This two-day event will take place on September 23 & September 24 at Penn High School! This will give our P-H-M families a chance to reconnect and strengthen our P-H-M community. Here’s a quick rundown of the events…
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 – Fun kicks off at 5:00pm
- HOMECOMING PARADE – Come decked out in your school colors or PHS black & gold to show off your P-H-M pride! Gather along the parade route with friends and family to be part of this exciting Homecoming tradition!
- SILVER MILE HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO – Saint Joseph Health System will be back offering valuable health screenings and interactive activities.
- FUN ZONE - P-H-M families can meet and reconnect while enjoying a variety of inflatables and dunking their favorite administrators in the dunking booth! There will also be food trucks on site for your nourishment.
- PENN vs. MARIAN FOOTBALL GAME – Stick around for kickoff!! Students 10 & Under will be
- SILENT AUCTION – There will be an amazing virtual silent auction available to bid on during homecoming week. More info will be available on the website
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 – 8:30am
- SILVER MILE RUN FOR EDUCATION - $10 student/$20 adult (fee includes finisher’s medal; t-shirts available for purchase)
Registration now open!!! Sign up today at Silver Mile – PHM Education Foundation (phmef.org)
The TIMED 5K is back! It will start and finish on the TCU Freed Field with a course that winds through the neighborhood behind the school. The 5K awards ceremony will begin at 9:15am.
The 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk is an upbeat entertaining mile-long walk withing the Penn campus. This event also starts & finishes on the TCU Freed Field track. This is not a timed event – strollers & strolling welcome.
Amber Kennedy
PHMEF Special Events Coordinator
574-276-8317 (cell)
574-259-7941 x 10721
55900 Bittersweet Rd.
Mishawaka, IN 46545
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
Skyward Information
This year we look forward to seeing more of our families in the building and working together to build positive relationships that support academic and overall growth. I will continue to communicate with you often, as well as your child's teacher. The ability to communicate immediately and efficiently with parents is a priority. Please ensure that you have an updated email address on file with us, through our Skyward student information system. I will be sending our school communication/newsletters through the Smore platform.
All families should be connected to Family Access in Skyward. Families that are new to PHM will receive an email from Skyward Family Access that will give you a username and you can establish a password. Forms such as Free/Reduced Lunch Applications, School Fees, Emergency Contacts, Consent To Publish, and many more are housed in Skyward. Please take time the first week of school to login and complete these online forms. If you need assistance with Family Access, please email familyaccess@phm.k12.in.us.
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