Elsie Rogers Express

Registration for kindergarten students for the 2022-2023 school year will begin at each P-H-M elementary school on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

This registration opportunity is for youngsters who live within the P-H-M district and who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2022. A parent or guardian must register their child.

Required Registration Forms

Each child entering kindergarten at P-H-M must complete a Registration Packet and is also encouraged to have a physical exam and a dental exam completed before entering kindergarten.

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is limited access to our school and administrative offices. We have created an easy way for you to complete the registration process electronically. Please click here for more details and information.

• Registration Packet: If you are unable to complete the initial registration forms online, these forms can be printed and submitted to the school’s office. The packet includes the Registration Form, Home Language Survey Form and the Transportation Add/Change/Withdrawal Form. In addition to the forms, you will also need to submit the child’s birth certificate, immunization records and 2 proofs of your Indiana residence (current mortgage/lease statement and a current utility bill).
  

• Click here for the other forms you will need to fill out after you complete the online registration process for your child

Here are two other important pieces of information for parents of incoming kindergartners:

• Immunization Requirements - Immunizations are used to protect your children against certain diseases as well as other children in the school. Under Indiana Public Law, when a child enrolls in school his/her parent/guardian is required to furnish written proof that a child is fully immunized as required by the Indiana State Department of Health. Immunization paperwork must be submitted to your school office before the first day of school. Immunizations may be obtained from your family doctor, St. Joseph County Health Department, or other area clinics. Please call your school health office for resources.

• Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center Letter – The schools’ onsite healthcare services are provided by trained SJRMC personnel, who are prepared to help you with medical concerns and questions about medications at school.

*Adobe Acrobat Reader will be required to view pdf documents. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, please visit Adobe’s website, at this link www.get.adobe.com/reader/, to download your free version.

We look forward to welcoming our newest roadrunners - class of 2035!

If you did not get a chance to attend the PHM Elementary Reading Open House, we have a resource to learn more about our proposed reading program in our vestibule. Stop in to learn more about the series and take a look at the lesson walkthrough information available to parents and community members.

Take a look at the picture TEASER! Any ideas what we will be reading as a school this year? The school wide community read is coming soon - February 22 to be exact! Be on the lookout for some family literacy FUN headed our way!

Mrs. Elliott is in the process of creating a book, by and for Elsie Rogers. Students, families, and staff members are encouraged to submit a song, fingerplay, or chant that has been sung in your home, or may even be still sung today. These songs can be lullabies, one that grandma would sing around the house, one that was sung while learning colors or animals, or one that was sung just because it was fun! These may be folk songs, childrens' songs, or more current songs, and can be submitted in ANY language! All song submissions are due by March 4th, and a digital copy of the book will be made available by May so we can share our world of music with each other. To submit a song, click on the Google Forms link:https://forms.gle/jE96WdQvWfu3MV69A . Any questions can be directed to Mrs. Elliott through SeeSaw or at eelliott@phm.k12.in.us

Mrs. Elliott

Children in grades 3-5 will participate in the yearly state assessment beginning in April. The Indiana Department of Education will open the ILEARN testing window on Monday, April 18. If you have a child in grade 3, IREAD3 will be administered March 8 - March 11. Please make every effort to have your child in school during this time. Though we do not wish to cause any unwanted stress on your child during this experience, we do want children to be cognizant of the fact these are very important tests. Teachers have begun working with students on sample questions and the test format so they are familiar with what they will see. That being said, the state department has also made information available to families. PLEASE consider checking out the following link Click Here

• Please make sure your child is in school during testing. Please DO NOT plan any appointments during testing or bring your child in late on these days. Testing rooms cannot be interrupted once the test begins. If your child does come in late, he/she will be asked to sit in the office until testing is completed.

• Make sure your child gets a good night sleep before a test, and make sure your child eats properly the day of a test.

• Try to maintain a pleasant home environment and avoid unnecessary conflicts.

• Make sure your child has taken any needed medication.

• Remind your child to listen carefully to the instructions from the teacher and to read the directions and each question carefully.
  
• Wish your child good luck each morning of the test. Tell your child that he/she is special and that you believe in him/her! Encourage a "Just Don't Quit" mindset!

There are NO built-in snow days for the 2021-2022 school year. This means the first day school is canceled it is an automatic eLearning day for P-H-M teachers and students. Get a full refresher by checking out our Closings & Delays Procedures at this link: closing and delays

TWO-HOUR DELAY SCHEDULE:

• A two-hour delay may be called when indications are that the weather conditions will improve later in the morning.

• We will start school at 10:40 a.m. and the doors will open at 10:25 a.m.
  

• Buses will run their normal routes with pick-up times two hours later than normal. The Here Comes the Bus app can be helpful to use on 2-hour delay days so that you are notified when your child’s bus is approaching the bus stop.

• Schools will end at their normal time.

• Morning Kids Club (the District’s before- and after-school childcare program) is CANCELED.

SCHOOL MESSENGER:

Penn-Harris-Madison utilizes the School Messenger® alert notification service to distribute emergency messages, such as school closings, delays and student attendance (for unexcused absences).

Parents are encouraged to visit infocenter.schoolmessenger.com to create an account and set up your preferences for receiving emergency messages from the District. Instructions for how to set up your account, with step-by-step directions are below, just click here.

Cold weather is here...

Please remember to send children with adequate outerwear for recess. Outside recess generally occurs if the outside temperature (wind chill included) is above 0 degrees. Because children are on the playground for approximately 20-25 minutes after lunch, it is important that your child is dressed appropriately during the cold weather months: coat, hat, mittens, boots, and snow pants. Please remember to label your child's items!!

If the playground area is snow-covered and your child does not have snow pants and boots, they will have to remain on the shoveled pavement during recess.

Elsie Rogers PTO has some fun and exciting things planned for February!

Snow tubing has been CANCELLED for February 2. Ferrettie Baugo Creek County Park reached out to us today and indicated that they just do not have enough snow to offer the event. We apologize in advance.

February 14 will be the kick off for our spring fundraiser. This year we will be sponsoring a Read-a-Thon that will correspond with the Elsie Rogers One School, One Book initiative.

February 20 is Family Night Out at Merrifield Ice Skating Rink from 5:00 - 7:30 PM. Admission is $1.00 and skate rental is $2.00.

Box Top Winter Competition end Friday, February 25th. The winning class will receive a HOT CHOCOLATE party!

Calling all young authors and their parents! P-H-M’s annual Young Author’s Conference will take place Saturday, March 5—and you won’t want to miss it. This year our guest author, Gabrielle Balkan is coming to meet YOU! She is best known for her non-fiction books about the United States, animal record-breakers, and ground-breaking artists. The morning program will be full of engaging activities, fun entertainment, and opportunities to learn and share. Save your spot...sign up now!

Check the link for more information!

Just a friendly reminder regarding masks. Please be reminded that P-H-M still requires the wearing of masks by all students and staff while in the building. Overall the majority of students do a nice job keeping their masks in place. The biggest challenge comes with students keeping their masks over their noses. Please use the graphic below to review the mask dos with your students. Also note that if your child is using a cloth mask to PLEASE wash them frequently!!

Below is the link to the P-H-M Health and Safety Overview. Page 10-11 reviews masking updates.

K-12 Isolation Guidance for Masked Students and Staff

Christy Campbell, Principal

Email: ccampbell@phm.k12.in.us
Website: https://elsierogers.phmschools.org/
Location: 56219 Currant Road, Mishawaka, IN, USA
Phone: 574-259-5231