Where We’re Located:
55860 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545
How to Contact Us:
Phone: (574) 259-6341
Fax: (574) 254-2866
Our Front Office Staff:
Bob Thompson, Principal
Cassie Mills Scarsella, Assistant to the Principal
Fran Haughee, Secretary/Treasurer
LeAnn Bruntz, Office Aide
Tresur Pritz, Office Aide
District Contacts:
Click here for a list of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation contacts.
Who We Are:
Bittersweet Elementary School is a K-5 elementary school part of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, where excellence in education is pursued and achieved at all levels. We are a community and our students feel supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Our staff of compassionate and engaged teachers receive ongoing professional development in everything from the IDOE state standards to utilizing social emotional learning and restorative practices in the classrooms.
Students are connected to each other and the greater school community so that they realize the are part of the Bittersweet family. The school as a whole participates in many project fundraisers that connect us together and also provide fun activities for the students, whether it's the Bobcat Blitz Color Run or Silly String Showdown.
Our school culture is captured in our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) plan and school motto, which is P.A.W.S. We teach our students that when they are Polite, Accountable, make Wise choices, and practice Safey of themselves and others, our school community benefits. Click here to read an example of the Bittersweet P.A.W.S. in practice.
We are a 1:1 Technology district, which means that every student at Bittersweet, as well as every student in the P-H-M school district, has access to their own Chromeoook that they use every day in the classroom (kindergartners use iPads).
We opened our doors in August 1980 and affectionately refer to ourselves as the “Bobcats,” proudly sporting the school colors of red, white and black.
Grades: Kindergarten – 5th grade
Enrollment 2019-20: 466
School day: 7:55 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Bittersweet students will attend Schmucker Middle School and Penn High School.
Visiting our School:
As part of our P-H-M Safety and Security protocols, parents and other visitors will be asked to register when the arrive at the front office. Visitors can pre-register to save time. Please click here for more details on our SafeVisitor Registration system.
Special Facilities/Resources:
- P-H-M Planetarium/Digital Video Theater
- PennPALS Preschool
- Kids Club (before and after school care)
- Chromebook carts providing 1:1 Technology for every student
Academics:
Students in grades K-5 learn writing skills through the 6+1 Writing Traits and Simple 6. All students participate in Everyday Math and MacMillan/McGraw-Hill reading programs. Many electronic learning opportunities are available for students including Lexia, Math Facts in a Flash, and Study Island. Foss science kits and and inquiry-based social studies are used to broaden student's interest in these areas. A wonderful show that displays student art takes place each spring. Students with special needs are included in the regular classroom.
How We Rate:
”A” rated School District
Bittersweet is one of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation’s 11 elementary schools. P-H-M has consistently received an “A” rating from the Indiana Department of Education for seven consecutive years. P-H-M serves more than 11,100 students in its 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and Penn High School. With the release of the Spring 2019 ILEARN results, P-H-M ranks 12th in the state for combined ELA & Math scores in grades 3-8.
For the 2017-18 School Year, Bittersweet received an “B” rating from the IDOE. Overall, 64 percent of Indiana schools received an A or B. For more information on and to view the 2017-18 School Accountability Grades, please click here to visit the IDOE website. The IDOE has not yet released the Accountability Grades for the 2018-19 school year.
ILEARN Spring 2019 Results–Percent of students passing ILEARN
English/Language Arts Math
Grade 3 64% 73%
Grade 4 69% 75%
Grade 5 67% 73%
Click here for 2018-19 IREAD-3 Results.
Click here to view the 2017-2018 federal report cards on the IDOE Compass website.
School Activities:
- Academic competitions
- After-school clubs
- 5th Grade Basketball
- Science Expo
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Music programs
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Various family evening events throughout the year
How Families Can Get Involved:
The Bittersweet staff welcomes the active involvement of our parents and families. Volunteer opportunities include PTO, classroom parents and chaperones for special activities and trips. We are very fortunate to have a very active PTO.
Click here for more information on how you can become a school volunteer.
Interested in getting involved with the PTO? Please email Kollar.Sarah@yahoo.com.