The PHPS Difference

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Show Notes Hootie’s Story Nest – Episode 6 Featuring Mrs. Peters Welcome back to Hootie’s Story Nest , part of the PHPS Difference Podcast Summer Series! In this episode, Mrs. Peters shares an excerpt from Wayside School Is Falling Down by Louis Sachar, published by HarperCollins. A favorite of hers beginning in third grade, this hilarious and imaginative story is filled with q...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Show Notes Hootie’s Story Nest – Episode 2 Featuring Ms. Gibbons, PHPS 2nd Grade Teacher Welcome back to Hootie’s Story Nest , part of the PHPS Difference Podcast Summer Series! In this episode, Ms. Gibbons, one of our wonderful 2nd grade teachers, shares the heartwarming story Bear's Lost Glasses. Join Bear as he searches for his missing glasses and discovers that a littl...

Send us Fan Mail Hootie’s Story Nest – Episode 5 Featuring Mrs. Plifka, PHPS School Counselor Welcome back to Hootie’s Story Nest , part of the PHPS Difference Podcast Summer Series! In this episode, Mrs. Plifka, our PHPS School Counselor, shares The Cool Bean by Jory John and Pete Oswald. This humorous and heartwarming story explores friendship, kindness, inclusion, and what it really means to be...

Send us Fan Mail Hootie’s Story Nest – Episode 4 Featuring Mrs. Walker, PHPS 1st Grade Teacher Welcome back to Hootie’s Story Nest , part of the PHPS Difference Podcast Summer Series! In this episode, Mrs. Walker, one of our wonderful PHPS 1st Grade Teachers, shares Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea by Greg Pizzoli. This funny and engaging story follows two unlikely friends as they navigate a not-so-g...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Show Notes Hootie’s Story Nest – Episode 3 Featuring Coach Green, PHPS Science Teacher Welcome back to Hootie’s Story Nest , part of the PHPS Difference Podcast Summer Series! In this episode, Coach Green, our PHPS Science Teacher, shares an exciting selection from I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 by Lauren Tarshis. Listeners will follow Ben, a young boy visiting Japan, as...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Show Notes Hootie’s Story Nest – Episode 1 Featuring Ms. Stewart, PHPS Art Teacher Welcome to the very first episode of Hootie’s Story Nest , part of the PHPS Difference Podcast Summer Series! In this episode, Ms. Stewart, our talented PHPS Art Teacher, shares the beloved story Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson. She brings the story to life with a fun and engaging read-aloud...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Show Notes Preventing the Summer Slide (Without Turning Summer Into School) In our final episode of Season 1 , Becky and Lauren talk about one of the most common summer concerns for families—the “summer slide.” If you’ve ever worried about your child losing skills over the summer, this episode is here to reassure you: summer doesn’t need to feel like school to support l...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Becky and Lauren sit down with Mr. Adler to learn more about his journey in education and what excites him most about leading the PHPS Middle School. This episode takes a fun and engaging turn as some of our amazing 5th grade students join the conversation, putting Mr. Adler in the hot seat with thoughtful and creative questions. From his favorite books growing up...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Show Notes Student Takeover with Drew Daywalt In this special episode of the PHPS Difference Podcast, we’re handing the microphones over to our students for a Student Takeover ! Fifth graders Penny and Wells lead the conversation as they interview bestselling children’s author Drew Daywalt, known for beloved books like The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Ca...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Show Notes Understanding ADHD & Executive Function In this episode of the PHPS podcast, we wrap up our three‑part series on learning differences with Leda Owens of the Housson Center. In this conversation, we explore ADHD through the lens of executive function — helping families better understand how attention, organization, working memory, and self‑regulation impac...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Show Notes Math Learning: Visual‑Spatial Processing & Working Memory In this episode of the PHPS podcast, we continue our three‑part series on learning differences with Leda Owens of the Housson Center . Together, we explore how visual‑spatial processing and working memory influence math learning and why some students may struggle with math even when they are trying...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Show Notes Understanding Dyslexia & Dysgraphia with Dr. Nicole Bell In this episode of the PHPS podcast, we kick off our three‑part series on learning differences with Nicole Bell, Head of School at PHPS. Dr. Bell shares insight into two common language‑based learning differences — dyslexia and dysgraphia — and helps families better understand how they affect readin...

Send us Fan Mail Navigating the Middle School Years with Pam Jordan In this episode of the PHPS podcast, we sit down with Pam Jordan, former Head of Middle School at an independent school, to explore the remarkable growth happening during adolescence. Together, we discuss what’s changing in the adolescent brain, the social and emotional needs that define the middle school years, and how strong rel...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The PHPS Difference , Lauren Marold and Becky Barrett take a closer look at the PHPS admissions journey—what it means to apply into our community and, when the time is right, apply out to the next best-fit school for a child. The conversation features Laura Holthouser , PHPS Director of Admissions, along with parent voices Kendall Murphey and Judge Platt , who s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The PHPS Difference , Lauren Marold and Becky Barrett celebrate the joy of reading and how PHPS nurtures confident, curious readers—with students who learn differently. Through student voices, favorite book picks, and a peek inside the PHPS library, they explore how choice, access, and connection help every child see themselves as a reader. The conversation also...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The PHPS Difference , Lauren Marold and Becky Barrett explore gratitude through the voices that shape our community every day. You’ll hear reflections from PHPS students and faculty—capturing the joy, humor, and heart of campus life—followed by a thoughtful conversation with the Street family on what PHPS has meant to them and why they chose to support the Found...

Send us Fan Mail After our parent education morning, Lauren and Becky sat down with Dr. Ben Kirby—an educator and administrator with more than 18 years of experience—to talk about raising kids in a digital world. In this short, practical conversation, Dr. Kirby shares real-world strategies for healthier tech habits, calmer after-school routines, and supporting developing adolescent brains with con...

Send us Fan Mail In our debut episode of The PHPS Difference , Dr. Nicole Bell , PHPS Head of School, joins us to share the PHPS mission, vision, and what makes this community so special. Dr. Bell's Reading List:  Educational Read: Building Learning Power by Guy Claxton — Practical strategies for strengthening students’ learning habits and independence. Pleasure Read: The Wager   (Historical...