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Elm Road Updates

Elm RoadUpdates

STEM at Elm Road

Elm Road Families,


Through partnerships with parents, teachers, and students we have accomplished many great things within our Elm Road community. We are an A rated elementary school that is STEM certified by the state of Indiana. Our certification will need to be renewed through the state of Indiana next school year. We focus on building lifelong learners through collaboration and connections. Through the hard work and dedication of our teachers, the contributions of our students, and support of our parents/guardians we have created a welcoming school community that I am thankful to be a part of. We strive to continually strengthen the opportunities provided for our students. As we start our 2023-2024 school year, we want to continue to strengthen our Elm Road community and provide great learning opportunities for our students.


As part of our STEM certification and recertification, we are to teach the Employability Skills. One way we want to continue to strengthen our integration of the STEM employability skills is through “Buddies” in which students will focus on the Indiana Employability Skills, in collaborative groups while getting a chance to get to connect with other students from a different grade level in our building. Through this, we hope to help our students make STEM and career connections, in a collaborative environment that helps pave the way for academic and social success. The teams will be across multi-grade levels and involve students, and staff. The teams will meet two times per month and engage in an activity that focuses on the employability skills through the integration of a STEM project/lesson that will help our students in the school environment, and beyond (please see the link to the IDOE’s Employability Skills). Additionally, these activities/projects tie into our STEM accreditation through the state of Indiana.


In order to do this, we welcome parent/guardian involvement, which is important for students’ success. We would like to have some guest speakers to talk about their careers, and involvement in STEM fields. If you would like to get involved, please complete the sign up form at this link.


We are excited to work with the students this year to build skills while continuing to build the Elm Road School community for our students. If you have any questions, or wish that your child does not participate in these activities, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.


Mrs. Beers

Welcome New Staff Members!

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Kelsey Cahoon

Hello families! I am joining the Elm community this year as a second grade teacher. I have worked as a second grade teacher and as an interventionist in the South Bend School District prior to coming to Elm. I am very excited to be back in the classroom again. Let's have a great year!
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Amanda Hertel

Hello, my name is Amanda Hertel and I will be teaching 4th grade at Elm Road this year. I was the Universal Sub at Elm last year. Prior to that I had taught Elementary Special Education and preschool. I also worked as the Director of Education at Sylvan Learning Center. All three of my children went to Elm, so I am a proud Elm Road parent. I am so excited to expand my journey at Elm Road by joining the amazing staff full time this year. I cannot wait to meet the students and help show each of them how awesome they are! Let’s have an amazing year!
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Julie Mattison

Hello! My name is Julie Mattison and I will be teaching kindergarten at Elm Road this year. I am excited to be joining the Elm Road community and look forward to getting to know the students and families here! This will be my first year teaching, prior to this I have been a stay at home mom for 12 years to my four children. I have also substitute taught in the PHM district the past two years.
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Chanda Skalski

My name is Chanda Skalski and I will be an education assistant at Elm Road Elementary School this school year. I am a medical assistant by trade, spending 16-years in medical oncology. Recently, I worked at the collegiate level, running their nursing simulation lab. This school year, I am excited to help kiddos grow, develop and make new discoveries while learning.
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Cynthia Berryman

Mrs. Cindy Berryman is the new music teacher at Elm Road Elementary. Mrs. Berryman has taught music in many settings, from preschool through college graduates at Notre Dame, and is excited to be back in an elementary classroom teaching singing, ukulele, xylophones, drums, and more. She is married and has two children. When she is not teaching, she enjoys playing French horn professionally, singing in choirs and playing harp on a praise band. She also enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy; hiking; gardening and baking.
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Victoria (Henkler) Dillenbeck

Hello families! My name is Tori Dillenbeck and I will be an interventionist this year at Elm Road. Prior to here, I was a 4th grade teacher at Walt Disney for 4 years, a 5th grade teacher at Moran and filled various roles within PHM this last school year.


I am beyond excited to join the Elm Road family and meet all the wonderful students I will get to work with!

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Assistant to the Principal

Greetings! I am thrilled to introduce myself as Derrick Fairbotham, the newly appointed Assistant to the Principal. My journey in education has been a rich tapestry of experiences that have shaped my passion for fostering positive learning environments. Prior to embracing this new role, I had the privilege of serving as the Dean of Students at Penn High School, where I honed my skills in maintaining discipline and promoting student well-being. My journey started in the classroom, where I spent several years as a dedicated 5th-grade teacher at both Elsie Rogers Elementary and Horizon Elementary, instilling a love for learning in young minds. Beyond the classroom, I have also contributed my expertise in various support roles within another school district, allowing me to develop a comprehensive understanding of the educational landscape. My diverse background has prepared me to support our school community in new and dynamic ways. I am committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, growth, and success for all students, and I eagerly anticipate the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in this exciting new chapter of my educational journey.

Books Fees and Library Books

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 more information on the specific details, click here.


We also wanted to share that legislation was passed (HB 1447) that all schools prepare a catalog of materials found in the school library (https://elmphm.goalexandria.com/) 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 ( https://elmroad.phmschools.org/parents/instructional-material-feedback/ ). Classroom teachers have been asked to create a master list of titles in their classroom libraries. More information will be provided by your teacher in classroom newsletters. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact your classroom teacher or myself.

Free/ Reduced Lunch Form
Paper copies are also available in the front office

Important beginning of the year dates include:

First Student Day, Grades 1st -5th grade: August 16th

Kindergarten Orientation: August 16th, 8:45-10:45 a.m

First Day of Kindergarten: August 17th

Picture Day: September 8th