Archer Update #27

Penn High School's beloved and hard working Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Cates was recently named 2024 National Coach of the Year by the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA). This is just the latest in a string of honors. In 2022, Penn's program led by Coach Cates was awarded with a NHSSCA Program of Excellence School designation! Coach Cates is a mentor, motivator, and great role model for students; he's one of Penn students' most beloved adults! Click here to learn more about Coach Cates.

FIRST-IN District Robotics Competition, March 2 & 3

The 2024 FIN Mishawaka FRC District Event will once again be held at Penn High School. If you've never been a spectator at a Robotics Competition, you don't know what you're missing! So come out and cheer on Penn's Teams 135 and 328 as they take on other Indiana high schools. The two-day event is Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3 in Penn’s Main Arena. No tickets needed, the event is FREE! Click here for more details.

The Music Man, March 1st - 3rd

You can spend the entire weekend at Penn if you want, after the Robotics tournament, you can take in a musical too! Visit bit.ly/PennMusicMan to purchase tickets for Penn's annual student musical (scroll to the bottom of the page).

A friendly reminder from the IMC:

We'll be sending letters home soon with invoices regarding overdue library book replacement costs. We kindly ask that you remind your student(s) to return or renew their books within the next week. We appreciate your help in getting our books back on the shelves!

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

1. Discovery Middle School's Musical Production 2024
2. February Teacher of the Month - Mr. Braunsdorf
3. YEARBOOKS FOR SALE! ORDER BY FEB. 26th
4. 21st Century Scholars Program - Attention Parents of 7th Grade Students
5. PTO Updates
6. In Case of Inclement Weather - School Closing E-Learning Information
7. Teacher Job Fair for PHM
8. Reporting Student Absences

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!

A Message from Dr. Leniski, Chief Operating Officer, PHM

Best Practices in Safe Possession and Storage of Firearms

As required by Indiana Code (IC) 20-19-3-30.4, the Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana State Police developed resources to serve as best practices regarding the safe possession and storage of a firearm in a home with a child.

Come see Discovery Middle School's Production of Madagascar A Musical Adventure JR! This show is, "Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar JR. will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!”" (Music Theatre International).

Performances are all located in the Discovery Middle School Cafetorium on...

Friday, February 23rd at 7:00 PM

Saturday, February 24th at 2:00 PM

Saturday, February 24th at 7:00 PM

Tickets are $5 each and our PTO will have concession stands open for purchase of snacks and beverages!

We hope you join us for a night full of fun, laughter, and talent!

Mr. Braunsdorf is a teacher of high integrity and high expectations for his students. He is an integral part of DMS and works with students in his Project Lead the Way rotation classes that gives students opportunities to work on projects that infuse technology and robotics together that allow students to be critical thinkers, creative and explore other methods of learning. Outside of the classroom Mr. Braunsdorf has sponsored many clubs over the years and works on committees like the One Book One School committee to ensure that literacy is a fun school initiative. He is always a calm presence in the hallway and guides students to work through their challenges. We appreciate him and we thank him for all he does for DMS!

Monday, February 26th is the last opportunity to purchase and be guaranteed a yearbook for your student.

WE WILL NOT ORDER MANY EXTRA, so secure your copy.

Yearbook deadline is approaching. If you want a yearbook you need to preorder before February 26. Order online at www.jostensyearbooks.com

1. Scrip - IMPORTANT DATES!

2. PTO 5 Minute Form

3. Facebook

4. Box Tops

5. PTO Involvement

6. PTO Scholarship - Deadline 2/28

1. ATTENTION 8TH GRADE FAMILIES: Scrip E-gift cards can be earned through the end of February. There are also Raise Bonus Days on February 29th and March 1st. If you have any questions or need help getting started, please contact Laura Nayee at laura.nayee@icloud.com or Elizabeth Cichowicz at ema817@aol.com. Thanks!

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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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!

5. Are you interested in being involved with the PTO next year? Please reach out to any board member or email discovery.pto@phm.k12.in.us

PTO Scholarship Info

Every year, the DMS PTO awards two scholarships to graduating seniors, who were previous DMS graduates, and are pursuing a post-secondary education. Both scholarships this year will be for $1,000 and are for those former students who graduated in 2020. Application details are available on the DMS website under School Info > PTO > PTO Scholarship or by following this link https://discovery.phmschools.org/dms-pto-scholarship. The info has also been advertised to current seniors at Penn High School through Naviance, Canvas, and Twitter. If you have/know a graduating senior/former DMS student, even if they attend a different high school, please share the info with them. The application deadline is February 28th.

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