Speak Up is a national research initiative that seeks to gather widespread input on the topic of educational technology.  

Each fall the Speak Up survey is posted online so students, parents, teachers, school staff, and the general public can share their views on technology in schools. 

The Speak Up survey has three primary objectives:

• To provide a means for local schools and districts to easily and effectively listen to and act upon the ideas of their stakeholders
• To provide a conduit for the voices of education stakeholders, most notably students, to inform national and state policies and programs
• To stimulate new local discussions around the use of technology within education.

Survey results are typically released in February, and are important to those who shape educational policy, direct school finance, create curriculum, and implement technology in our schools.

Penn-Harris-Madison participates in the survey in part because we are recipients of a Digital Learning Grant that helps to fund our technology.  

Another reason we support Speak Up is because the results can be helpful in the development of our formal technology plans. Each P-H-M school develops and follows a 3-year technology plan that outlines its goals for educational technology and directs how resources may be spent to achieve those goals.

Here’s a link to learn more about the SPEAK UP survey and the agency that conducts the research, Project Tomorrow.  Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Speak Up here.

Or, you may want to just jump right in and take the survey!

Parents and community members CLICK HERE to TAKE THE SPEAK UP SURVEY NOW

The survey takes 15-20 minutes to complete and you will not need to create an account. The survey will be open until December 18 and the link on this webpage will remain active until then. 

P-H-M staff and students will have opportunities to take their version of the Speak Up survey at school / at work through arrangements made in the coming weeks.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today that Prairie Vista Elementary School is among the 335 schools (10 in Indiana) named a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School. Prairie Vista is being recognized for being an “Exemplary High Performing School,” per the Department of Education’s classifications. 

This makes the second time that the Penn-Harris-Madison elementary school has been awarded this national honor; the first award was given in 1996-1997. The school has a strong track record of maintaining high standards and helping their students achieve academic success. For the past seven years, the Indiana Department of Education has also recognized Prairie Vista as a Four Star School. 

Principal Keely Twibell is calling an all-school assembly this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. to make the surprise announcement to students, teachers and staff so that everyone could share in the excitement together.

“This is a remarkable accomplishment for our students and teaching staff,” said Twibell. “Prairie Vista was selected for this award based on a comprehensive review of our achievements over the past five years. This award belongs to all of us because it is the combination of talented educators, energetic students, committed parents and a supportive community and school district that makes Prairie Vista such an outstanding school. ”

Organized into traditional K-5 grade levels, averaging 25 students per class, Prairie Vista is a diverse student-centered learning community where 21 languages are represented amongst our student body. The staff of 65 creates a safe, secure, nurturing and diverse environment for each and every one of the 500 students.

“Today’s award is an affirmation for Prairie Vista and P-H-M School Corporation that our formula for success works,” said Penn Harris Madison School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker. “Students committed themselves, they were supported by their parents and families, and of course were guided and taught by excellent teachers … that’s the P-H-M ‘Triangle of Success’—students, parents, teachers!”

Success at Prairie Vista is not just defined by academic excellence, fostering strong character development in students is also paramount. The school’s positive behavior plan (PRIDE) and Whole Brain Teaching strategies empower students to take ownership of their actions and learning. Students are nurtured as leaders, producing videos and crafting morning announcements to positively influence their own school culture. A commitment to rigor and relevance leads students to become problem solvers, critical thinkers and decision makers prepared to thrive in college, career and life.

Prairie Vista’s 2015 recognition makes the eighth time that a P-H-M school has received the National Blue Ribbon designation: Penn High School in 1994, 1995 and again in 2001; Discovery Middle School in 2006 and 2013; Northpoint Elementary School in 2010; and Prairie Vista received the award for the first time in 1996.

The Department will honor 285 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony at the Omni-Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC to be held on Monday and Tuesday, November 9 and 10, 2015.

In its 33-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on more than 8,000 of America’s schools.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content.

All schools are recognized in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates are also at the highest levels.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates for each subgroup are at high levels.

Specifically, for the 2014-2015 award year, the Department strengthened the focus of both categories’ performance criteria around subgroups within a school and improving graduation rates for all students.

The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated, with allocations determined by the numbers of K-12 students and schools in each jurisdiction. The U.S. Secretary of Education invites nominated schools to submit an application for possible recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Alarm clocks were set early. The weather cooperated beautifully. Children got themselves ready for school while parents snapped photos. Then the yellow buses started to roll and School Year 2015-2016 was underway!

Today was the first day of school for grades 1-12 at Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. We welcomed back more than 10,600 students to our 15 schools. About 700 kindergartners, members of the future Class of 2028, attended orientation sessions with their parents and families getting prepared for their first day tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 20. And close to 800 seniors, making up the Class of 2016, followed a Gold Day schedule at Penn High School.

We want to see all your “1^st Day of School” photos. We asked parents, families and high school students to snap, tag ‪and share their pictures on Facebook and Twitter using #‎PHMBACK2SCHOOL. Go to our channels or check out our picture gallery on the home page to get a glimpse.

The start of school also means new faces at the front of the classroom as well! Last week, we also welcomed more than 50 new teachers to P-H-M. Click here to see their friendly faces.

Thank you to ALL our students, parents, teachers and staff for all the great pictures. Here’s to a great year!

Girls in grades 3 through 8 are invited to be part of a community-sponsored girls basketball league run by PHS girls varsity basketball coach, Kristi Kaniewski Ulrich. 

JUNIOR LEAGUE is for girls in grades 3 through 6.  

SENIOR LEAGUE is offered for girls in grades 7 and 8. 

Sign-up takes place on Sunday, August 30 in the Penn High School Arena from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.​ 

The league begins on Sunday, September 13. 

This is a great opportunity to learn the game, pick up skills, build fitness and make friends! 

Click here to access the informational flyers and the registration form.

Please join us on August 17th  for the PTO Ice Cream Social from 5:00-7:00 P.M.

Families may also tour the building to find classrooms.

Wednesday, August 5th – 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – The school office reopens!

Here are other important dates for Prairie Vista families:

Friday, August 14th

• Class lists posted

Monday, August 17th

• 5:00-7:00 p.m.– Parent and Student Walk Around
• 6:00 p.m. – New Parent Meeting

Tuesday, August 18th

• 1:00-2:00 p.m.—Meet and Greet (parent and student meet teachers)

Wednesday, August 19th

• Grades 1-5 (7:55-2:20)- First day for students, bus transportation will be provided.
• Kindergarten parent and student orientation (9:00-10:00 a.m.) – Students attend with a parent/guardian. Parent/Guardian provides transportation.

Thursday, August 20th

• 7:55-2:20 p.m. – Kindergarten students begin their first full day of school. Bus transportation will be provided.

Thursday, August 27th

• 6:00 p.m. – Parent Information Night and Camp Information Meeting

Tuesday, August 25th

• 5:30 p.m. – Parent Information Night (Grade 1)
• 6:30 p.m. – Parent Information Night (Grade 4)

Thursday, September 3rd

• 6:00 p.m. – Parent Information Night (Grade 2)

Thursday, September 10th

• 6:00 p.m. – Parent Information Night (Grade 3)

The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 19 and that means along with school supplies, parents also need to make sure their children are up-to-date on their immunizations.

A record of your child’s immunizations are due to your student’s health office on or by the first day of school. All P-H-M schools are open to the public beginning Wednesday, Aug. 5 (7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.). You can drop off the records at the schools between Aug. 5 and Aug. 19.

Please find the list of required immunizations by grade levels listed below …

For incoming Kindergarten students:

• 3 Hep B
• 5 DTaP (4 doses are acceptable if the fourth dose was administered on or after the 4th birthday)
• 4 Polio (the 3^rd dose must be given on or after the 4^th birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose with only one type of vaccine used, all OPV or all IPV. Final 4^th dose must be given on or after the 4^th birthday and administered at least 6 months after the previous dose).
• 2 MMR
• 2  Varicella
• 2 Hep A

Additional immunizations needed for incoming 6^th grade students:

• 1 Tdap (Tetanus & Pertussis)
• 1^st dose of MCV4 (Meningococcal conjugate)
   

Additional immunizations needed for incoming 12^th grade students:

• 2^nd dose of MCV4 (Meningococcal conjugate)

Immunizations may be obtained from your family doctor, St. Joseph County Health Department, or other area clinics. Please call the school health office for resources.

For more information on state immunization requirements, please visit the P-H-M Healthcare Services webpage on our site.

Posted July 17, 2015 – 9:00 a.m. EDT

The 2015 Summer Visual Arts Academy is offered to all P-H-M elementary students – at no charge!

Your child’s health is important to us. It is well known that healthy children are in a better position to take advantage of the educational opportunities presented to them than children who are physically or emotionally struggling.

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. Parents must furnish immunization paperwork to the school health office before the first day of school, which is August 19, 2015.

Immunizations may be obtained from your family doctor, St. Joseph County Health Department, or other area clinics. Please call the school health office for resources.

Minimum Immunization Requirements for 2015-2016 School Year

• 5 doses of DtaP/DTP/DT or 4 doses are acceptable if the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday

• 4 doses of Polio-the 4th dose must be on or after the fourth birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose or another dose will be required or 3 doses are acceptable if all are IPV or all are OPV and the 3rd dose was given after the 4th birthday and at least 6 months after the previous dose.

• 3 doses of Hepatitis B

• 2 doses of MMR- on or after the first birthday

• 2 doses of Varicella (chickenpox)-on or after the first birthday and separated by 3 months or written physician documentation of the month and year of disease.

• 2 doses of Hepatitis A

Questions about immunizations can be directed to the school health office.

Prairie Vista has been rated an A school by the Indiana Department of Education. This grade reflects Prairie Vista's  most recent academic performance and is calculated based on data collected throughout each school year. The grade takes into account a variety of factors including student performance and student growth. For more information and to see the report card, go to the Indiana Department of Education's COMPASS website.