Archer Update #6

#PHMExcellence recognized by the Indiana Department of Education last Friday night (Sept. 8, 2023) at the 2023 Educational Excellence Awards Gala. Penn High School was honored with the distinguished "Excellence in College Readiness Award," partially for being the top Indiana high school with the highest number of students earning ICC (Indiana College Core) or AGS (Associate of General Studies) certificates earned! The award came with a $250,000 grant which the high school will use to further develop and enhance its existing college readiness programs for students. Click for more details on this honor for your students' future high school!

Progress reports will be posted to Skyward at 4:00 on Sept. 15.

In this edition of the Archer Update you will find the following information:

1. Mrs. Piotrowski - Sept. Teacher of the Month via McKinnies Realty Homes for Heroes Teacher of the Month Program! Congratulations!
2. World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser is Back!
3. DMS CLUB/INTRAMURAL LIST
4. PHM Homecoming - Sept. 29th
5. DMS PTO INFO!
6. Information for 8th Grade Parents - Washington D.C. Trip
7. PHM Community Connection Fair in October Tailgate
8. Reporting Student Absences

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Friendly Reminders:

• Drop-off begins at 8:50 am and students will be marked tardy if they aren't in their seats by 9:05 am. Dismissal begins at 4:00 pm for car riders and buses depart by 4:08 pm.
• Unless approved by the building principal, no visitors or guests are allowed in the building.

Discovery Middle School is ranked #2 in the State of Indiana for top performing middle schools (this is out of about 300). Our teachers continue to be prepared to provide the most targeted, engaging lessons to help all our students reach their fullest learning potential. Our students are some of the best in Indiana and possibly the world! Thank you for sending us your finest!

Mrs. Piotrowski is Discovery's September Teacher of the Month through the McKinnies Realty Homes for Heroes Program. Mrs. Piotrowski goes above and beyond for her students teaching them the importance of integrity, aiming high on and off the court and always having a great attitude in academics and athletics! We appreciate all she does to make DMS Shine!

Information is coming home with your student!

Sale Begins: 9/6/23

Sale Ends: 9/18/23

The P-H-M Education Foundation is once again sponsoring Penn High School's Homecoming Parade, Family Fun Zone and new this year--FIREWORKS after the football game! The entire P-H-M community is invited to come out for this fun-filled family event. All the fun starts with the Homecoming Parade (grab your spot on the route by 5:00 p.m.). Info on the Parade route, Fun Zone, Football game and Fireworks can all be found on PHMEF's website. CLICK HERE.

1. PTO 5 Minute Form

2. Facebook

3. Scrip - Fundraising for field trips

4. Box Tops

1. Please take a few minutes to fill out this quick "5 minute form". This helps us get to know you and your areas of interest/involvement in the PTO.

2. Once you have filled out the 5 minute form, please join us on our closed Facebook page at “Discovery Middle School PTO” to stay up to date with PTO and school events. You must fill out the 5 minute form in order to be approved into the group.

3. Scrip is a national fundraising program for non-profit organizations. The PTO runs this program at DMS to help families save money toward their student’s trip(s) while at Discovery. The way it works is you buy physical or eGift cards at regular face value and earn a rebate between 2% and 20%. Of that rebate, 90% goes into your child’s DMS Trip Account and 10% goes to the PTO. It’s like earning free money! It’s a great way to save money without much hassle. Please see the form link below on how to get started.

School Trips for Free (23-24) info sheet. https://bit.ly/ScripInfo23-24

4. Please help our school earn money by submitting Box Tops. It’s all electronic and it’s easy! Download the app, add Discovery, and start scanning your receipts. It’s a quick, easy way to earn cash for our school!

Parents,

Click here to sign your child up for the DC trip this spring. Make an account and you will find details of the Discovery 8th Grade trip, links to sign up and pay your deposit.

If anyone has interest in traveling on this trip as a chaperone, please email Mr. Bontrager at dbontrager@phm.k12.in.us with your desire to accompany the 8th graders by 11/3/2023. He will respond to your email with information about the upcoming Chaperone meeting which will be held at DMS on Nov. 9th at 7:30 a.m. This is a mandatory meeting to complete the necessary paperwork needed.

EARN MONEY FOR YOUR CHILD'S DC TRIP

-To help with the cost of this trip, your son/daughter will be bringing home a box of The World's Finest Chocolate this week to sell. The profit they make will go towards their DC trip. Later in October and November 8th graders will have the chance to sell poinsettias and those profits also can be banked into their DC acct.

-Another way to offset the cost of this trip is using Scrip offered through the PTO. A great way to earn money without selling anything. Click link for the School Trips for Free (23-24) info sheet. https://bit.ly/ScripInfo23-24. On the sheet you can find information on how to sign up and get started earning money for your child's DC trip.

Get ready for the annual PHM Community Connections Fair. This will be the 7th year PHM has hosted this event. The fair is coming up in October!

The fair will also include cultural performances from P-H-M students and families. If you or any students would want to perform you can sign up at https://forms.gle/CB3Kxa5j85i2G1hw5

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

Website: https://discovery.phmschools.org/
Location: 10050 Brummitt Road, Granger, IN, USA
Phone: 574-674-6010