The Panther Post
October 6, 2023
#PHMExcellence
2023 Homecoming Community Event
Thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation and sponsors for a wonderful community night. Thank you to our Madison families that were able to join us for the parade. Your time and attention are truly appreciated. It was such a fun way to connect with other P-H-M community members. I value your support and look forward to seeing more of our Madison families at events throughout the district.
Important Dates
October 12
Family Skate Night 6-8 PM
October 13
PTO Meeting @ 1 PM
October 14
Riley Bike-a-Thon
October 16-19
Lunch with a Loved One and Scholastic Book Fair
October 17-18
Parent Teacher Conferences
October 20-23
Fall Break-NO SCHOOL
Lunch with a Loved One
Madison is pleased to offer our annual "Lunch with a Loved One" during our Scholastic Book Fair week of October 16th-19th. Please review the available slots and sign-up by clicking on the blue button below. We are requesting that you sign up for ONE slot per child for the week to ensure all families have an opportunity to participate. We are limiting our number of guests for each lunch period to provide a safe and orderly environment. Families with multiple students must select a time slot for each student. We are unable to allow students to eat with siblings in a different lunch period.
Lunch times are as follows:
PreK and Kindergarten 11:00-11:30
1st and 2nd Grade 11:30-12:00
3rd, 4th and 5th Grade 12:00-12:30
All guest meals must be paid for in advanced by Friday, October 13th. Families that register to attend will receive confirmation regarding your visit and an envelope for lunch payment. Guest meals are $4.50. Snacks and bottled water are NOT included in the meal, but will be available purchase.
Lastly, 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.
Here are some helpful reminders...
- Make sure you are on time. We run a tight lunch schedule.
- Visitors must stay in designated area and are not allowed on the playground.
- Feel free to bring a lunch or prepurchase one from school.
- Families may visit the Scholastic Book Fair after their lunch.
- Add the name of the child you will be visiting in the comment section.
If you have any questions you may send an email to Lindsay Schirripa @ lschirripa@phm.k12.in.us or our Lunch Lady Tammy @ tyoder@phm.k12.in.us
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 16th – October 19th
Shopping hours: During Parent Teacher Conferences and Lunch with a Loved One
Special activities: Best of the Book Fair Raffle
Interested in setting up an e-Wallet for your child? If so, make sure to check out https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/fairs/how-ewallet-works.html?fairId=5405249.
We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Book Fair! Remember, all purchases benefit our school.
If you are unable to attend the Fair in person, we invite you to visit our online Book Fair at
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/madisonelementaryschool32. Our Online Fair is
available from October 16th to October 20th.
Interested in volunteering at the book fair? If so, check out https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084DA9AE29AAFD0-44817566-madison
Veteran's Day News from Mrs. Youngblood
Visitors and Volunteers
If you are interested in volunteering in one of our classrooms you will need to complete a background check (see below) and the PHM Volunteer Bullying and Harassment Training for Madison. 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.
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!
Textbook Fees Eliminated and Instructional Material Information
We are hoping you have heard, but we have great news to share regarding student book fees! The Indiana General Assembly passed a bill (HEA 1001-2023) that eliminated textbook and curriculum costs at public schools, which includes school supplies like pencils, paper, and notebooks. Parents will no longer be asked to pay school fees for curricular materials. For more information on the specific details, click here.
We wanted to share that legislation was passed (HB 1447, effective January 1, 2024) that all schools prepare a catalog of materials found in the school library Alexandria and a response and appeal procedure for materials parents find questionable.
We have that process in place already and it is posted on all school websites Instructional Material Feedback. In addition, secondary teachers will provide their syllabus to you with listed materials and classroom teachers have been asked to create a master list of titles in their classroom libraries. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact your classroom teacher or me.
Our goal is to support teachers as we move toward classroom libraries being cataloged. We believe classroom libraries are within the scope of recent legislation, and that providing parents with a list of classroom library books provides an opportunity for greater transparency and partnership and is a proactive measure. Teachers do not need to have a completed inventory by the start of school. We ask that they be completed prior to Winter Break.
Breakfast and Lunch
An important part of every student's day is lunch! Below are the times in which Madison students will eat:
Preschool & Kindergarten: 11:00 - 11:30
1st & 2nd: 11:30 - 12:00
3rd, 4th, and 5th: 12:00 - 12:30
We certainly encourage student guests for lunch throughout the school year; however, we do ask that you refrain from having lunch with your child until routines and school comfort levels are established. We welcome all guests beginning in October! Meal prices for the school year are listed below:
Student Breakfast - $1.35
Reduced price of $.30 for those who are eligible.
Student Lunch - $2.35
Reduced price of $.40 for those who are eligible
Adult Lunch - $4.50
Please be mindful that the student cafeteria cannot accept debit/credit cards. Below are two links to guide you with payment options:
https://www.phmschools.org/food-service-payment-options
https://www.phmschools.org/pay-meals-online
Parents that think they may qualify for free or reduced lunches need to apply ASAP at www.schoolcafe.com.
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
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.
The principals promote this link to parents through their school newsletters, as do some of the PTOs.
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: Ellen Beehler
Secretary: Abby Lusk
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