This letter was sent to P-H-M staff and parents:

Thursday, June 25, 2020

This morning members of Penn-Harris-Madison and Penn High School administration met with current Penn students and alumni about the state of race relations not only at Penn, but throughout P-H-M. Last Tuesday, June 16, Penn alumni and current students started a petition and shared an open letter to bring to our attention the hurtful incidents of racism that have occurred to students during their time with us. The group brought forward a list of action items and a timeline that they’d like for the School Corporation to follow in order to bring about change. We will be meeting in July to collaborate with current students and alumni to begin implementation of some of the action items. 

Today, we listened and we apologized to the group. I am taking the time now to also apologize to our greater P-H-M community and to say we must and will do better. 

As I stated in my letter to P-H-M parents last Friday, June 19, “The Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees, District Administration, teachers and staff are proud to be educators. It is a call to service, and we don’t take our role of helping to form future citizens of our community, country, and the world lightly.” 

After listening to the students today, we know that our role as educators is more than to just teach basic academics. We must also teach and model for our students what it means to treat others as we would want to be treated. This means we cannot only not tolerate acts of bigotry and complicity, but we must be actively anti-racist. We must always be cognizant, aware and ever vigilant. This must not only be an expectation for ourselves, but also for all of our students.

Today was just the first step in a self-examination and reflection of ourselves as a school corporation, both in what we’ve done and failed to do. We pride ourselves in providing excellence in education, but excellence does not happen here if even one of our students feels pain and indignity. This conversation and journey to change the culture in our schools is just the beginning. Valuing and celebrating diversity is a tenet of P-H-M’s “Vision of Excellence” I’ve spoken of many times. We are committed to implementing reforms necessary to end racism and racial discrimination to create a positive, healthy learning environment for all students. We look forward to working with all of you!

Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation

The IDOE has provided summer resources for parents to use with their children, grades 1^st – 8^th, to help keep their math and reading skills up over the summer.

Parents and students have access to the Lexile® Find a Book tool and the Quantile® Summer Math Challenge.

The Lexile® Find a Book tool helps students create a personalized reading list and then locate those books at the nearest library or bookseller.

The Quantile® Summer Math Challenge is a six-week refresher course for students in grades 1^st – 8^th.

For more information, visit MetaMetrics’ Summer Learning website. 

The Coronavirus pandemic canceled many of our in-person celebrations, not only for students, but also for staff. One of our annual events is the Employee Recognition Dinner where we honor our retirees and recognize our employees who’ve worked for Penn-Harris-Madison 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 and 10 years. Please see the list below of the 2020 Retirees, followed by the list of Service Award Winners of current P-H-M employees:

2020 Honored Retirees

• Evelyn Allison – Transportation
• Frank Anglin – Administrator
• Rhonda Arndt – Transportation
• Sandra Badur – Counselor
• Mary Ann Bogucki – Teacher
• Caroline Brill – Administrator
• Robin Cahall – Auxiliary 
• Barb Colborn – ESP 
• Cheryl Cyman  – Transportation
• Lucia Davis – ESP 
• Megan Decker – Teacher
• Tressa Decker – Administrator
• Suzette Doolittle – Teacher
• Darlene Evans – Custodian
• Christine Fisher – Teacher 
• Lisa Foster – Teacher 
• Elnora Freeman – ESP
• Shannon Gray – Teacher 
• Lori Heise – Teacher 
• Randal Hogue – Teacher
• Donna Humes – Administrator
• Pam Hunsberger – ESP 
• Joy Johnson – Teacher
• Timothy Kalavity – Maintenance
• Dawn Koenig – Food Service
• Robert Lovett – Administrator
• Kathy Minix – Transportation
• Garold Naragon – Custodian
• Rodney Perry – Maintenance
• Pam Peters – Transportation
• Mila Pierce – ESP 
• Laura Pride – ESP 
• Bruce Quick – Custodian
• Kathleen Satkoski – Teacher
• Sherry Sill – Teacher 
• Mike Stephens – Custodian
• Pam Stockbridge – Food Service
• Rebecca Tagliaferri – Teacher
• Deborah VanPoppel – ESP
• Patricia Walton – Teacher 
• Judy Watson – ESP 
• Virginia Wery – ESP  
• Rhonda Williams – Teacher
• Diane Wirth – Administrator
• Susan Wozniak – Auxiliary  

Service Award Winners of current P-H-M employees

40 Years of Service 

• Greg Dikos 

35 Years of Service

• Lisa Foster 
• Peggy Orosz 
• Kim Rice 
• Annette Wisler 
• Cory Yeoman 
• Sheila Toth 

30 Years of Service

• Chisty Cook 
• Jennifer Crist 
• Peter DeKever 
• James Kominkiewicz
• David Manspeaker
• David Metcalf 
• Thomas E. Miller (Teacher)
• Julie Ohlson 
• Melinda O’Malley 
• Judy Scarbeck 
• Wendy Schuster 
• Keely Twibell 
• P. Deb Woodlee

25 Years of Service

• Steven Beery 
• Gloria Brown 
• Mark Burns, Jr.
• Michelle Crawford
• Elizabeth Dix 
• Melissa Grover 
• Vivian Haney 
• Roger Hansel 
• Mary Beth Hollinger
• Andrew Horein 
• Erin Horvath 
• Kristina Hursh 
• Jim Langfeldt 
• Kevin McMillen
• Therese Mellor
• Roseann Morehouse
• Regina Mow 
• Lavon Oke 
• Tamara Portolese
• James Schmidt 
• Murray Weaver 
• Jon West 
• Carol Whittaker
• Rhonda Williams 
• Tami Wisniewski 

20 Years of Service

• Kathy Butterworth
• Jennifer Dakins
• Betsy Faulkenburg
• Cynthia Gearhart
• Wendy Hayes
• Maryellyn Knight
• James Mester
• Karen Miller
• Rachelle Morris
• Dorothy Mroczek
• Cheryl Nellis
• Patricia Roby
• Kathleen Sharkey
• Eileen Shingledecker
• Cathy Smith 
• Vickie Stickel
• Melanie Stock
• Scott Vandygriff
• Barbara Zuidema

15 Years of Service

• Mary Carpenter
• Lisa Dallich
• Judy Donati
• Johanna Gregory
• Lynn Hill 
• Melissa Laidig
• Robin Maden 
• Lisa Milliner 
• Rina Parikh
• Jennifer Payne
• Jennifer Sears
• Jenna Tomaszewski

10 Years of Service

• Angela Allen 
• Paula Ellsworth
• Kathryn French
• Renee George 
• Lori Jaworski
• Crystal Keigley
• Susan Mater 
• Alicia Sullivan
• Jennifer Tebell
• Elyse Toth 
• Marisa VanDeventer
• Ginger Whedon​ 

On Friday, May 29, we hosted our Sixty First Commencement online recognizing more than 700+ graduating seniors. The pre-recorded ceremony debuted live on P-H-M District’s YouTube and Facebook channels starting at 7:00 p.m. Friday night (the time the originally scheduled in person ceremony was supposed to begin at on the campus of Notre Dame). You can click below to watch an archive of the video on YouTube. The virtual ceremony portion lasts approximately 2 hours and is preceded by a 30 minute  picture slideshow of some of the seniors with their yard signs and picking up their caps and gowns. Upwards of nearly 1,500 people, between YouTube and Facebook, tuned in the evening of May 29 to watch this one of a kind event!

Click here to view a gallery of photos we collected of the senior sign delivery that took place on Friday, May 15.

Plans of an in-person Commencement for the Class of 2020 are progressing. The event will be held at Penn High School in late July. More details will be shared with students and families in the coming days.

How to watch the Virtual Commencement

We are excited to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of Penn High School’s Class of 2020 in the Sixty First Commencement to be held online on Friday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. You can tune in as early as 6:30 p.m. to watch a picture slide show of seniors with their yard signs and picking up their caps and gowns (please note every senior may not be pictured; this was created with pictures that either we took or shared with us). Click here to download and view a PDF copy of the program booklet. Click to learn more about the great achievements by this year’s graduating class.

To watch this live event, make sure to tune to P-H-M District Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/phmschools or P-H-M District YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/pennharrismadison

*Please note these are PHM District social media pages, not Penn High School’s

**You do not have to have a Facebook or YouTube account to tune in watch. However if you would like to post congratulatory messages or pictures of your graduate in the live comments, you will have to have an account on that social media platform.

We invite graduates to wear their cap and gown while they watch the live feed of the Virtual Commencement with their family and loved ones. As you watch, we invite family and friends to post congratulatory messages in the live comments & post a picture of your senior in their cap & gown using the hashtag #​Kingsmen2020 to help us collect and see all your pictures (pictures can only be posted in comments on Facebook).

If you plan on on watching the Virtual Commencement on P-H-M District YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/pennharrismadison) follow the directions below for the device you will be using to watch the broadcast on YouTube:

1.  Laptop/computer: Please make sure to change your quality settings to view the program in 1080pHD. Look at the screengrab instructions below to change your settings …

2.  via app on a Smart TV: If you are going to be watching the program through the YouTube app on your Smart TV, follow the screengrab instructions below to go into your settings and change it to 1080pHD …

3. via app on a Smartphone: The quality setting may default to 480p. Some smartphones will automatically change the setting to 1080p the longer the video plays. However if you notice that the lip sync seems to be off, follow the screengrab instructions below to go into your settings and change it to 1080pHD …
    

Penn High School’s Girls Basketball Coach Kristi Ulrich was named among this year’s recipients selected to the 2020 Michiana “Forty under 40” class. The announcement by the South Bend Regional Chamber, in collaboration with the Young Professionals Network (YPN) South Bend, was made yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, May 26).

The Michiana Forty under 40 program recognizes young adults, professionals, executives and leaders, under the age of 40 (on May 15), achieving outstanding professional success while also engaging in his/her community through charitable and civic involvement.

Coach Ulrich is a phenomenal teacher and coach. She has been with Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation for approximately 12 years. She leads her student-athletes with integrity and brings value and success to the Penn High School Athletic program, enriching the lives of hundreds of her students.

Coach Ulrich’s highlights of excellence include:

• Overall Coaching record 256-32 .889% win percentage in 11 seasons (highest % in the State of Indiana for active Girls Coaches)
• All-time winningest coach for Penn High School Girls Basketball – 256 wins

• NIC Record 105-3 in 11 seasons

• 1 State Championship

• 3 Semi-State Championships

• 6 Regional Championships

• 9 Sectional Championships

• 9 NIC Championships

• 23 Different Players Selected to All-Conference Teams (multiple players selected more than one time)

• 3 Conference MVP’s (1 2x in a row)

• 4 Indiana All-Stars

• Produced 22 Collegiate Basketball Players

Off the court, she leads her players in community service projects such as the Penn Girls Basketball Adopt a Family for Christmas. She also runs community basketball camps and fall leagues for K-8 students in the district.

“Coach Ulrich’s leadership and commitment is truly inspiring,” said P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jery Thacker.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's honorees with a Celebration Video, rather than present a luncheon. The video will premiere on June 26 on the michiana40.com, South Bend Regional Chamber, and YPN South Bend websites. The South Bend Tribune will also feature a special Michiana Forty under 40 section in their June 28 issue.

Tomorrow (Wednesday, May 27) at 4:33 p.m. EDT the next stage of the United States space program will blast off, in a small part due to the engineering efforts of a 1997 Penn High School alum!

Jon Edwards is a “Kingsmen Making a Difference” in the world of aerospace engineering and space travel as the working for SpaceX as the Vice President of Falcon Launch Vehicles. SpaceX is only one of two commercial companies (Boeing being the other) NASA contracted with to build private “space taxis” to fly its astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The goal of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is a turning point for America’s future in space exploration that lays the groundwork for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”

The Falcon 9 rocket will launch late Wednesday afternoon from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, FL (rain days are Saturday, May 30 at 3:22 p.m. EDT, and Sunday, May 31 at 3:00 p.m. EDT) carrying NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on board the Dragon spacecraft. The Demo-2 mission is the “final major test for SpaceX’s human spaceflight system to be certified by NASA for operational crew missions to and from the International Space Station.” Coverage for the historic launch will begin about 4 hours before liftoff. Click the links for more information on watching the launch LIVE on NASA TV and to participate in the events virtually. There are lots of educational components for students.

Jon was promoted to Vice President of Falcon Launch Vehicles in February of this year. Last July, we reached out to Jon via email to ask him about his role at that time in this historic space mission and joint project with NASA. At the time of the interview, Jon was the Senior Director of Falcon Engineering and Falcon Product Director. He described his role then as leading a team of 100 engineers in the development and operation of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. He stated then that he was “responsible for all Falcon related development projects during all phases of the vehicle life cycle including: design, development, qualification, and operation.” SpaceX.com describes the Falcon rocket as a “reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond. Falcon 9 is the world’s first orbital class reusable rocket.” Throughout the course of SpaceX’s development and testing of the Falcon 9 rocket, the Penn grad provided briefs and updates to SpaceX CEO/CTO Elon Musk and President Gwynne Shotwell. Jon also works closely with SpaceX’s commercial and government customers including the United States Air Force and NASA.

We asked Jon about his time as a Penn High School student. Obviously his favorite subject was Physics, but we were also curious as and asked him … Who was your favorite Penn teacher and how did they influence you?
“My absolute most favorite teacher ever was Mr. Jim McPhee. He was my AP Physics I and II teacher back in ’96 and ’97. Mr. McPhee was fantastic at getting the class excited about the way the universe works. He would often start the class by beginning to discuss the normally scheduled topic, but if the class asked a question that took the discussion in a different direction, he was more than happy to spend the rest of the class exploring the tangential topic. We used to explore questions such as ‘what would happen if you jumped into a tunnel that went all the way through the earth?’ and even dove into discussions about astrophysics and electromagnetism. The discussions we had in class were so exciting to me I would often read ahead in my physics book and seek out other physics media such as Carl Sagan’s Cosmos documentaries and Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. There is no doubt that Mr. McPhee inspired me to pursue a career in aerospace. I even think about becoming a high school physics teacher someday in the hopes that I might inspire kids in the same way.”

After Jon graduated from Penn in 1997, he attended Purdue University’s School of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 2001, and later a Master of Science degree in 2004. Jon also earned his MBA from Kelly School of Business at Indiana University in 2012.

Jon started at SpaceX in 2004. His career highlights over the years at SpaceX include:

• Lead Engineer for the Kestrel rocket engine and Responsible Engineer for the Falcon 1 2nd Stage (2004-2009)
  • Falcon 1 became the first ever privately funded liquid fueled rocket to achieve earth orbit in September 2008
• Responsible Engineer for the Falcon 9 2nd Stage (2009-2010)
  • Falcon 9 successfully reached orbit on its first launch attempt in June 2010
• Promoted to Manager of Falcon 9 Propulsion Systems Engineering (August 2010)
• Promoted to Director of Falcon 9 Propulsion Systems Engineering (May 2013)
• Promoted to Falcon Product Director (May 2014)
  • The Falcon 9 1st stage booster successfully landed after performing an orbital launch on December 22, 2015; the first time an orbital class rocket has ever successfully landed propulsively (with propulsion force) 
• Promoted to Senior Director of Falcon Engineering (January 2016)
  • Successful reflight of recovered Falcon 9 booster on March 30, 2017, proving orbital class rocket reusability.
  • Successful inaugural launch of the Falcon Heavy in February 2018. Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket in operation today. 
• Promoted to Vice President of Falcon Launch Vehicles (February 2020)

Jon received the Purdue Outstanding Aerospace Engineer award in April 2017–the school’s highest honor to recognize the school’s most distinguished alumni!

Jon Edwards is not the only Penn graduate involved in our nation’s efforts to return humankind to space. Last summer during the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, we told you about 2010 alumna Sadie Holbert–a government contractor for Leidos working as a flight controller in mission control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.  Sadie, also a 2015 graduate of Purdue University, is involved in NASA’s “Explore Moon to Mars” missions that will send humans back to the moon. 

Sadie is on the Guidance, Navigation, and Control team for the first Orion mission. The Orion capsule will fly out around the moon and back, testing the vehicle before NASA flies humans on the capsule for deep-space missions to mars and possibly beyond. The project was delayed because of COVID-19 and is now projected for November 2021, with the goal of flying astronauts around the moon on the second SLS/Orion flight in late 2022 or early 2023. Click to read the full “Kingsmen Making a Difference” profile on Sadie Holbert here.

Penn High School will graduate approximately 820 students on Friday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m. in a Virtual Commencement will premiere LIVE on P-H-M District’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

Click to preview a pdf copy of the 2020 Commencement program (a version will be printed and given to graduates when they receive their diplomas at a later date).

The Class of 2020’s Senior Recognition was held online this year due to the pandemic that shutdown schools. Instead of a Recognition Night ceremony seniors were recognized on Penn’s Facebook and Twitter accounts academic excellence, scholarships, leadership, service to school and community, citizenship, attendance, athletic accomplishments, Academy awards and many other accomplishments. Click here for a full listing of this year’s Academy award winners. Many of the award winners will also be recognized during the Virtual Commencement on the 29^th.

This year’s graduating class seniors have earned more than $9 million in scholarships!

This year’s graduating class includes 17 valedictorians: Elisabeth Casetti, Richard Chapple, Abbie Clay, Rajeev Datta, Andew Kabowski, Vishrut Khandelwal, Michelle Kwok, Darbie Kwon, Lyvia Li, Yewon Oh, Mia Schwartz, Courtney Sharpe, David Simonetti, Seunghoon Sun, Emma Tornquist, Karen Wang, and Peter Yang. This year’s valedictorians have an average GPA of 4.4 on a scale of 4.0.

There are three salutatorians with an average GPA of 4.3 on a scale of 4.0. This year’s salutatorians are Jack Dinnon, Jeffrey Du, and Josiah Railton

The Principal’s Leadership Award is presented annually to students who contribute their talent, time, energy, and motivation to the leadership of Penn’s student body. Haley Sidorowitz  and Aidan Meuninck were honored for helping to make a difference in the culture of Penn on behalf of their classmates. 

The Principal’s Citizenship and Service Award was presented to eight Penn High School students who have selflessly donated many hours to make sure that Penn High School is well represented in whatever service project they’re involved in. The winners of the 2020 Principal’s Citizenship and Service Award were: Elisabeth Casetti, Caroline Dell, Jada Edison, Michelle Kwok, Abigail Nush, Megan Rach, Rachel Santosh, A.J. Tu, 

Every year since 1967, Penn’s faculty vote to recognize an outstanding member of the graduating class based on service, character and leadership; the student must also, at the end of seventh semester, be in the top 10% of their graduating class. The senior selected is awarded the Paul H. Schmucker Award in memory of the distinguished member of Penn High School faculty from 1960-1967. This year’s recipient is Abbie Clay.

The graduating class also nominates a classmate who best exemplifies the qualities of service to his/her school community, school spirit, respect for classmates and Penn High School for the Kingsman of the Year Award. A tradition since 1970, the recipient is recognized for his/her leadership and willingness to accept challenge and is a great honor and show of respect from the recipients fellow classmates. The Class of 2020 Kingsman of the Year Award winner is Karen Wang.

Some P-H-M elementary or middle schools award scholarships to students who attended those schools. Click to see this year’s P-H-M school scholarships on Penn’s Facebook page. Scholarships for the Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Thacker Scholarship and the Larry Beehler Scholarship are also awarded every year. Dr. Jerry Thacker is Superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and Mr. Larry Beehler is a longtime member of P-H-M’s Board of School Trustees. Anna Madlem received the Larry Beehler Scholarship; and Abbie Clay won the Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Thacker Scholarship.

Here are some other points of excellence from the Class of 2020:

• 374 students graduating with Academic Honors Diplomas (3.0 GPA)
• 31 students graduating Summa Cum Laude (4.25 GPA)
• 83 students graduating Magna Cum Laude (4.0 GPA)
• 103 students graduating Cum Laude (3.75 GPA)
• 303 students graduating with High Honors (3.5 GPA)
• 73 students graduating with Technical Honors
• 12 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, 11 were named Finalists
• 11 students Commended Scholars
• 5 Students were nominated for Presidential Scholars: Lyvia Li, Richard Chapple, Rajeev Datta, Andrew Kaboski, and Michelle Kwok
• Elisabeth Casetti was named Indiana Regional Academic All-Star, one of only 40 students across our state to be honored.  Elisabeth chose her Penn English teacher, Michael Coffee to be recognized along with her.
• Michelle Kwok, Courtney Sharpe, and Lyvia Lee are being awarded the Community Foundation of Saint Joseph County Eli Lilly Endowment Scholarship based on their high academic merits and test scores. 
• David Simonetti was named one of four winners of the 2020 Governor’s STEM Team awards. David received the Technology award. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship, courtesy of the College Choice 529 Program.
• 11 students are enlisting in the military: United States Marine Corp, United States Army, United States Air Force, United States Navy, and the United States Army National Guard
• Josh Temeles will be attending the Naval Academy
• 12 students competed Penn’s Cadet Teaching program

This is the 3rd co-hort for Penn’s Early College Academy. Here are the highlights from the Class of 2020:

• 100 graduates
• 19, earned 30 credits or more through Ivy Tech Community College
• 64, earned Associate’s Degrees

On Friday, May 22, approximately 130 teachers and staff from Penn High School and P-H-M staff and Administration, practicing safety precautions, delivered signs to the more than 800 seniors. Penn Principal Sean Galiher and P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker paired up to deliver some of those signs. See the pictures below. 

To download high resolution jpg files from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you, free of charge!

The Food Service Department of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is participating in the Summer Food Service Program for Summer 2020. The summer program will run June 4 – August 18 at nine locations. 

Our school year meal service at the three locations of Prairie Vista, Grissom and Penn will continue through June 3. Click here for details on those pickup hours. Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day and no meals will be available. However, we will be handing out food backpacks at Grissom and Penn Friday, May 22 during lunch. Each backpack will have enough food for two meals for two kids. More details can be found here. 

The summer meal program will operate Monday through Friday, June 4 – August 18 at nine locations. Each location has different hours and dates of service. Please click here for more information and a complete list of sites and dates.

All sites will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2020.

FREE MEALS will be available to children 18 years of age and under, or persons more than 18 who are determined by a state or local public education agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who participate in a public or non-profit private school program established for the mentally or physically disabled.