Archer Update #9

P-H-M Lead School Psychologist Mike Manis, Ed.S. was recently recognized by the Indiana Association of School Psychologists (IASP) and was named 2023 Indiana School Psychologist of the Year! Manis partnered with IASP, Representative Mike Karickhoff (R-30), and P-H-M School Board Member Clare Roach on a State bill that adds a school psychologist as a qualified provider for purposes of the Medicaid program. Mike is seen in this picture with Rep. Karickhoff and a representative of Indiana School Boards Association. Board Member Roach was honored with the Friend of School Psychology Award. For more information on what Manis and Roach's means for P-H-M students and families. Click here.

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

1. Student Led Conferences - Sign Up Today!
   
2. Scholastic Book Fair
3. SKI CLUB Information and Oct. 11th Parent/Student Meeting Info
4. Play It Forward Equipment Drive Oct. 2nd-19th
5. DMS PTO INFO!
6. Information for 8th Grade Parents - Washington D.C. Trip
7. Teacher Job Fair for PHM
8. PHM Community Connection Fair in October Tailgate
9. DMS CLUB/INTRAMURAL LIST
10. 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!

Hello DMS Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to offer two evenings for your child to conduct their Student-Led-Conferences (SLC's) here at Discovery. Please indicate on this Google Form which night you will be attending for your child. If you have more than one child at DMS, you will have to complete this form more than once. Students conduct their SLC presentation in their first period classroom and then you as a parent along with your child can walk around to the remaining classes to check in with teachers. Students take time to prepare their slides to share their learning, growth and goals with their families! We look forward to seeing you at one of our SLC Nights!

SLC Dates/Times:

Monday, October 16th, 5:15pm-8pm

Wednesday, October 18th, 5:15pm-8pm

*Scholastic Book Fair will be open both nights in the IMC!

**Please complete the form below!

Dear DMS Families:

Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!). Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. AND—as always—every purchase at the Fair benefits our school.

Here’s what you need to know about the big event, which will take place from Monday, October 16, 2023 – Thursday, October 19, 2023 in the IMC.

Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy. Funds not used at the 2023 Book Fair will roll over into next year – or use them to shop the online store. Learn more here eWallet setup

If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Book Fair online. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book (only) orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school.

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping:

DMS Scholastic Book Fair homepage

The countdown to more book fun is on! Catch you at the Fair!

Happy reading,

Elizabeth Cunha

Principal

Discovery Middle School

Any student interested in ski club should attend a meeting with a parent on October 11th, 8:00a.m. in the LGI. Please contact Donna Schau at dschau@phm.k12.in.us if you have any questions.

Alumni from DMS have decided to create an opportunity for students to donate their gently used sporting equipment. The Donation drive will run from Oct. 2nd-19th. Bins will be set up inside Doors A and E. This is a wonderful initiative by former students of DMS and an opportunity to share equipment for students in need! Thank you!

1. Staff Appreciation - October conferences

2. Direct Donation Drive

3. PTO 5 Minute Form

4. Facebook

5. Scrip - Fundraising for field trips

6. Box Tops

1. The Staff Appreciation committee will be providing dinners for our teachers during student led conferences in October. If you are a restaurant owner, or can assist with donations in any way, please reach out to us at discoverypto@phm.k12.in.us

Please see the Signup Genius for other easy ways to volunteer/donate for the upcoming conferences!

2. Our No Hassle PTO Donation Drive is underway now until November 3rd. Thank you for your generous and unwavering support of our students, school, teachers and staff!

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

**Flash Bonus on Amazon gift cards. They’ll have a 2.7% rebate (rather than 1.7%) from now through Sunday, October 15th. You can get your eGift cards right away or if you want to stock up on birthday or holiday gifts, order now while the special is on and the cards will be in the first week of November.**

6. 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.

After this week's big Homecoming weekend be sure to mark your calendars for the Community Connections Fair on Saturday, Oct. 7, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Schmucker Middle School. Come out and enjoy the many cultural performances and student work that will be on display representing countries from all over the world! Click for more details.

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