P-H-M kicked off Black History Month on Monday, February 1^st by sharing a post on the district’s Facebook page that explained the origin’s of Black History Month …

Did you know that Carter G. Woodson celebrated Black History Week for the first time in February 1926? Woodson (the 2nd African American to receive a doctorate from Harvard, after W.E.B. DuBois) dedicated his career to lobbying for the establishment of Black History Month as a nationwide recognition. He's known as the "Father of Black History" because in February 1926 he sent out a press release announcing the nation's first Negro History Week. He chose February because the month contained the birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass (an escaped slave who became a prominent abolitionist, author, & public speaker). Lincoln’s birthday was February 12; Douglass (as a former slave, hadn’t known his actual birthday) marked his on February 14. The result is now Black History Month celebrated by communities, schools, colleges & universities, and organizations nationwide. Click here to learn more here. 

This historical factoid was the first of many we shared throughout the month. For the rest of February, we shared historical facts about Black Hoosiers:

• Bill Garrett, 2/2/21
• Madam C.J. Walker,  2/5/21
• Samuel and Andrew Huggart,  2/9/21
• Emma Christy Baker,  2/12/21
• Frank Beckwith,  2/16/21
• Dr. Daisy Riley Lloyd,  2/19/21
• Belford “Sinky” Hendricks,  2/23/21
• John W. Hardrick,  2/26/21

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In our 15 schools, students and staff have been learning about historical events and leaders that made valuable contributions to U. S. History. As P-H-M takes another conscious step forward in the district’s effort to incorporate history of all peoples', races and cultures into the curriculum, teachers and staff across the district found ways to make this happen. Here are just some examples:

Videos:

Horizon 2^nd graders make a quilt inspired by Black History Month. Click to watch the video below …

Grissom Middle School student teacher teaches students what diversity representation means. Click to watch the video below …

Schmucker Libriarian arranged a virtual author talk for students. Click to watch the video below …

These are links to web stories and photos of other school projects:

•  Penn Art students make African masks
• Northpoint 3rd grade virtual teacher assigns research project
• Northpoint Library Display
• Walt Disney 2nd grade historical timelines
• Schmucker student research projects

On Friday, May 25, 869 students graduated from Penn High School in Commencement Ceremonies at Purcell Pavilion on the University of Notre Dame campus. Click to view the Class of 2018 Commencement photo gallery .

Penn’s Class of 2018 features 17 Valedictorians: Nicholas Casetti, Madeline Cullison, Margaret Finnessy, Kendra Fuelling, Kristine Hocker, Morgan Jankowski, Fezaan Kazi, Veronica Kirgios, Sybil Kurian, Kendra Laidig, Erin Ludwig, Bryan Mai, Christopher Mazurek, Matthew Rach, Maheera Siddique, Mackenzie Wood and Renee Yaseen. Click to read more about these students and see where they’ll be attending college/university. The Valedictorians have an average GPA of 4.4 on a scale of 4.0!

Lauren Frank and David Li earned Salutatorian status. The average GPA of the salutatorians is 4.3! Click to read more about this year’s Salutatorians.

This year’s class also has six National Merit Scholarship Finalists: Nicholas Casetti, Margaret Finnessy, Kristine Hocker, Shane Hullinger, Kendra Laidig, and Renee Yaseen. 

Nicholas Casetti also earned Indiana Academic All-State Honors.

Of the 869 member graduating class:

• 304 are graduating with High Honors
• 446 – Academic Honors
• 105 – Technical Honors
   

Another highlight of this year’s graduating class is that it includes 82 students of the first cohort of the Early College Academy. The Academy was started four years ago to offer students, who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to attend college, to earn dual college credit in the supportive environment of Penn High School. These students have been taking classes at Penn and also earning college credit through courses at Ivy Tech Community College.

• 37 earned Associate of General Studies degrees
• 31 earned Technical Certificates (earning between 32-62 credits, the equivalent of one year of college or more)
• 14 earned at least 15 college credits

To date, members of this year’s graduating class continuing their academic career in higher education have received just over $8 million in scholarships!

Many students will be attending in-state colleges and universities:

• Purdue University – 86
• Indiana University South Bend – 84
• Indiana University Bloomington – 65
• Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis– 38
• Ball State University – 25
• Butler University – 11
• University of Notre Dame – 6
• University of Indianapolis – 4

A few Kingsmen will also be venturing a little farther from home attending across the country, for example: Oregon State University, University of Southern California, University of Utah, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Mississippi, Florida State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

We take pride in providing a wide array of academics and career learning opportunities to appeal to a wide base of student interests supporting our students for college and career readiness.

Fourteen students have enlisted in the military and armed services to honorably serve our country.

Several members of the Class of 2018 will also pursuing Electrician School, Apprenticeship for Photography, Apprenticeship for Carpentry, and finishing Cosmetology Programs.

Click to read more about the Penn’s Class of 2018 and the Student Awards handed out at Senior Recognition Night held last week (Tuesday, May 15, 2018). 

Click to watch Class of 2018 Excellence Happens Here student profiles on Penn-Harris-Madison’s YouTube channel.

Article written by Melinda O’Malley, Director of P-H-M DVT & Planetarium

On the morning of Wednesday, January 31st, Michiana and all of North America will see its first Super Blue Blood Moon in more than 150 years!

P-H-M families will want to rise early and try to find a nice open viewing area to see as much of  this beautiful “lunar trifecta” as possible. On the morning of Jan. 31^st, the moon will be low on the western horizon–opposite the rising sun when the eclipse begins. Around 5:51 a.m., the left side of the moon will begin to take on a slightly pink color as it moves into the outer edge, the penumbra, of the Earth’s shadow. The moon will continue to move deeper into the Earth’s shadow as it slowly sets.  By 6:48 a.m., viewers in our area will begin to see the Moon’s color changing to a deep red as the Moon moves into the center, the umbra, of the Earth’s shadow. 

Now here’s an explanation of the Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse is why it is so special …

A supermoon is when a full moon occurs during perigee, its closest distance to Earth within its orbit. This makes the moon appear bigger and brighter than normal.

A “blue” moon, despite the name, actually has nothing to do with the color. Instead, it signifies the second full moon within a single calendar month. The expression “once in a Blue Moon” implies something rare. Blue Moons typically happen every two to three years, but double Blue Moons only happen three to five times per century and 2018 we will experience double Blue Moons in January and March! 

Finally, a Blood Moon is often the name given to a total lunar eclipse because the moon appears a reddish color when it enters the Earth’s shadow. The red coloration is caused by sunlight that is refracted, or bent, as it passes through the earth’s atmosphere.

Just as the entire lunar surface is bathed in a “blood red” tint totality begins and the Moon will start to disappear below the horizon. So, make sure to wake up early to beat the rising sun and witness a once in a lifetime “lunar trifecta!”

Bringing the world to students and students to the world!

Penn-Harris-Madison believes there is immense value in enhancing students’ understanding and comprehension of globalization and history through experiential learning opportunities. Annually, we offer one week trips at the end of the school year to Washington, D.C. for 8^th graders. Every other Spring Break we offer one week immersion trips to China through our cultural exchange program with Lishan school district in Anshan, China. Qualified middle school students also have the opportunity to travel to Europe every other summer visiting historical sites during our curriculum based trip. All of these travel opportunities are open to students from all three of our middle schools (Discovery, Grissom and Schmucker).

The safety of our students and staff is the number one priority for P-H-M, that is what we partner with the EF Educational Tours for our China and European trips. As our trusted educational partner, P-H-M has conducted numerous tours with EF. The company has more than 50 years of experience providing a 24/7 Tour Director who is able to connect with a local EF office present in 53 countries around the world.

Europe Summer 2018 Trip

The 10-day-trip trip planned for the summer of 2018 is scheduled to depart June 25 and return July 4, 2018. Students will visit historic sites in Germany, Italy & Switzerland. This trip will provide an opportunity for students to take the knowledge and standards they gain in the classroom and connect it to the real world. The trip is designed to align with the Social Studies sixth, seventh and eighth grade standards that focused on western civilization, world religions, exploration, scientific revolution and the enlightenment periods. World War II and the Holocaust will also be studied when the children are in Germany.​ Click here to see the full travel itinerary.

The safety of our students and staff is the number one priority for P-H-M, that is what we partner with the EF Educational Tours for our China and European trips. As our trusted educational partner, P-H-M has conducted numerous tours with EF. The company has more than 50 years of experience providing a 24/7 Tour Director who is able to connect with a local EF office present in 53 countries around the world.

Trip enrollment is going on right now! If you are interested in having your child participate, please email Mr. Kevin McMillen or Mrs. Sheryl Harper for details. Students must be in good discipline standing.

If you missed the previous parent meetings, you can get more trip details by viewing the Google Slide show by clicking here.

China Spring 2019 Trip

One of the many educational value adds that Penn-Harris-Madison students have a chance to encounter are travel abroad experiential learning opportunities. Every other spring break, students from all three middle schools (Discovery, Grissom and Schmucker) are given the amazing chance to travel to China. P-H-M Discovery Middle School Principal Sheryll Harper established the exchange program with Lishan school district in Anshan, China in 2008, trips began in 2009.  The next trip is planned for March 27 – April 4, 2019.

The curriculum based immersion trip engrosses the students in Chinese culture during the one week plus trip. The curriculum was developed by P-H-M educators and meets Indiana state Social Studies educational standards. It is well timed and coordinates to when the middle school students are studying ancient and modern day China in their Social Studies classes. 

And for the first time ever, the P-H-M Education Foundation is making available two (2), $2,500 travel grants enabling two (2) qualified current P-H-M 6th and 7th grade students for participation in the Spring 2019 Middle School China Immersion Trip. Please click here to download a pdf copy of the grant description, criteria, application process and acceptance of terms. Applications are being accepted now!

If you are interested in having your child participate, please email Mr. James Howard or Mrs. Sheryl Harper for details. Students must be in good discipline standing.

Enrollment for this trip will open soon. Stay tuned for more information about upcoming parent and student information meetings.

Washington, DC 8^th Grade Trip Spring 2018

Each year 8th graders from all three middle schools travel to Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania at the end of May for a week long national history field trip!  Our students tour the nation’s capital by boot, bus, and boat, taking in monuments and museums. If that isn’t enough, students charge the battlefields of Gettysburg before we make our way home.  This is an incredible opportunity for our students and is a memory-making experience to conclude their study of U.S. history.

Each school handles the trip as a school field trip, so please visit the Discovery, Grissom and Schmucker websites individually to view more detailed information about each school’s specific trip. 

Summer instruction is provided for elementary, middle and high school students who need additional time and extra support mastering grade level skills.

Based on teacher recommendations, parent requests, test results and evidence of need, principals will issue invitations in the spring for certain students to attend one or more sessions of P-H-M’s summer school program.  

Instruction is very focused, and may cover only math or only reading, depending on the student’s needs.  The approach is remedial, prescriptive, and highly supportive.  Bus transportation and food service are provided as part of summer school. 

Penn High School’s summer program is credit-based, meaning students undertake and complete actual courses for credit, some in the classroom and some online.  Students who wish to include summer classes in their schedule should see their counselor. 

Information about P-H-M’s summer instructional programs are mailed to families who students participate in the program. Dates, times and locations are posted on the website in the spring.

Homebound instruction provides continuity of educational services between the classroom and the home for students whose medical needs, both physical and psychiatric, prohibit school attendance. 

Additionally, homebound instruction may be used to supplement the classroom program for health-impaired children whose conditions may interfere with consistent attendance or children with disabilities that prevent regular school attendance. 

Homebound instruction is intended to be temporary. The “temporary” requirement is based on the premise that instruction should take place in the school setting to the fullest extent possible. 

Who is eligible for homebound instruction?

The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, per Board Policy #2412 and in accordance with Indiana Code 20-26-3, will provide individual instruction to students of legal school age who are not able to attend classes because of accident, illness, or disability. 

A student is eligible to receive homebound instruction if:
•    The student is expected to miss 20 consecutive days of school, or
•    A total of 20 days over a period of one year, or
•    Any number of days of homebound care or hospital care necessary to complete the school year
 

Continuity of educational services for the student is the goal of homebound instruction. 

How does homebound instruction work?

•    The homebound instructor is a licensed teacher who acts as a bridge between home and school. 
•    If services are provided in the home, the parent/guardian must be present. Services may be provided at an alternate location per agreement between the parent and the homebound teacher. 
•    Laboratory and activity-based classes like physical education and choir are not available through homebound services. 
•    Five hours of instruction per week is the maximum available to a homebound student.  
•    The homebound teacher will keep a log of all tutoring hours and materials taught. 
•    When the student returns to school the homebound teacher will prepare a report summarizing the student’s academic progress and submit it to the principal or guidance counselor. 

How do I arrange for homebound services for my child?

Documentation of a disabling condition must be done by a physician licensed to practice in the State of Indiana.

The physician must:
•    Certify the nature of the medical disability, and
•    State the probable duration of the confinement, and 
•    Certify the student’s ability to participate in an educational program

The parent starts the application process by filling out the Request Physician Form or request a printed copy from your school principal or your student’s guidance counselor. This form must be presented to the student’s physician who should complete and sign it, and then returned to the school or the parent. 

In addition, the parent must read, sign, and return the Homebound Requirements and Parental Agreement. The information on this page makes clear how important parental support is to a child’s successful homebound experience.

Both forms must be on file at the school before a homebound instructor can be scheduled. 

How long can my child receive homebound instruction?

The goal of homebound instruction is to facilitate the student’s return to the classroom setting as quickly as possible. 

Application for homebound services must be completed each year. Homebound services do not continue from one school year to the next without a new application form and physician-certified statement of need. 

Questions? 

Contact Heather Short, Asst. Superintendent for Instruction
Office 574-258-9588 ♦ hshort@phm.k12.in.us

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
55900 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka IN 46545
Receptionist 574-258-7941 ♦ Fax 574-258-9547

Click here to fill out the 2024-25 registration form

*please only use the link above to register for the current 2024-2025 school year

Early Learning Academy is offered at these three locations:

• Northpoint Elementary *New site for the 2025-2026 school year
  • Address: 50800 Cherry Rd, Granger
  • Main Office: (574) 271-8598
  • Click here to Register for Northpoint
• Mary Frank Elementary
  • ​Address:  13111 Adams Road, Granger
  • Main Office: (574) 272-0340
  • Teacher:  Tonya Rhodes trhodes@phm.k12.in.us
  • Click Here to Register for Mary Frank

• Horizon Elementary
  • Address:  10060 Brummitt Road, Granger
  • Main Office:  (574) 679-9788
  • Teacher:  Lisa Langfeldt llangfeldt@phm.k12.in.us
  • Click Here to Register for Horizon

Additional Information: 

The non-refundable registration fee of $60 is due before your child is officially registered into the Early Learning Academy.  The fee can be dropped off at the school office between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

In addition to submitting the online registration form (linked at the bottom of the page), you will need to provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate, immunization records, and two proofs of residency (mortgage/lease/rental statement and a current utility bill). Instructions on where to send these documents are found on the electronic registration form.  School front office staff will be happy to help you with any questions you may have.

Who is eligible to apply? 

Registration for the Northpoint, Horizon and Mary Frank Early Learning Academies are open now.

The child must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025 to attend during the 2025 – 2026 school year. There is no residency requirement. Youngsters who live in neighboring school districts are welcome to apply. Please note – when non-resident preschool children are of age to attend Kindergarten, parents/guardians must apply for a spot during the P-H-M non-resident application process.  Attending the Early Learning Academy does not qualify non-resident students to automatically attend a P-H-M school.

How many days a week does this program operate? 

The program operates 5 days a week, Monday through Friday.

What are the hours of operation? 

Both ELA locations at Mary Frank and Horizon operate from 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. , Monday through Friday. We follow the established P-H-M school calendar, including school closings and delays that may occur due to weather. 

• Click here for the school calendar

How much does it cost? 

In addition to the non-refundable registration fee of $60, the cost for the  2025 – 2026 school year is $35 a day.  Cost includes full-day programming, a daily lunch and a snack.

We do offer an option to pay fees online. Please click here for more details on how to pay Early Learning Academy fees online using e~Funds for Schools.

What is the curriculum for the program? 

Each location is served by a certified lead teacher, assisted by para-educators in the classroom setting. We use a research-based, early childhood program that builds strong foundations for school success focusing on each student’s social, emotional and cognitive learning through a variety of tools. Our preschoolers spend time in role-play which has shown to lead to higher measures of creativity and cognition. Students are exposed to learning through multiple intelligences including literacy, mathematics, socialization, music, physical education, and the arts. Through fun, creative activities, we scaffold students through multiple levels of learning. 

Watch this video highlighting how our professionally-staffed, full-time programs promote learning while encouraging creativity and problem solving. 

Are either transportation service or Kids Club available? 

We do not offer bus transportation to and from preschool. If it is necessary for your child to attend Kids Club (P-H-M’s child care services before and after school program), please indicate the need on the ELA application.

Click here to Register for Northpoint Early Learning Academy Registration Form for the 2025 – 2026 school year.

Click here for the Mary Frank Early Learning Academy Registration Form for the 2025 – 2026 school year.

Click here for the Horizon Early Learning Academy Registration Form for the 2025 – 2026 school year.

Our Parent Handbooks cover many details and are available here:

• Parent Handbooks

Alternative education provides options to students who are not successful in the traditional school setting. The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation offers the following alternative programs.

Pennway Alternative Program

The purpose of the Pennway Alternative Program is to provide each student with the resources and support necessary to successfully complete a program of studies that will lead to a high school diploma as well as obtain marketable work skills.

Pennway Alternative Day School offers a program for 11th and 12th grade students. This program connects to the corporation program at Penn High School. If students are employed or volunteer, they may be eligible for additional credits. Pennway Alternative also houses the Penn High School Independent Study program. This is for Penn High School students in grades 9-12 who need to retake a course for credit.

For more information, contact the Penn High School Guidance office at 574-258-9502.

Listed below is the Student Alternative Education Application and the Pennway Student Handbook:
2024-2025 Penn High School Student Handbook

Pennway Night School

The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation also offers a Pennway Night School program whose purpose is to provide coursework for a high school diploma. There is a comprehensive core curriculum of North Central Association and Indiana Department of Education-approved courses delivered through several software programs. Students are required to pass the Indiana End of Course Exams (ECA) in Language Arts 10 and Algebra 1 and take the Biology 1 ECA as a requirement of No Child Left Behind.

To qualify for the Pennway Night School you must be 18 years of age or older and need a high school diploma. Individuals who are currently enrolled in high school classes are not eligible to enroll as a full time night school student. Enrollment is quick and easy. You must be 18 years of age or older to enroll. A fee of $25 is required at the time of enrollment. You can register by appointment with Brad Boyd, Pennway Night School in the evenings Monday through Thursday (between the hours of 3:00 to 9:00 p.m.). Enrollees will need the following documents to enroll: government issued picture ID or birth certificate for proof of age. Only checks or money orders will be accepted. Penn-Harris-Madison reserves the right to determine appropriate academic placement for students.

Pennway Night School is located at 55985 Bittersweet Road across from Penn High School and north of the Paul H. Schmucker Middle School. For more information, contact the Guidance Office at Penn High School at (574) 258-9502 or Pennway Night School Director Brad Boyd by telephone at (574) 254-2895.

P-H-M’s English as a New Language (ENL) program serves all students whose first language is not English.

Upon enrollment in U.S. schools, all students complete a Home Language Survey to indicate the student’s native language.  If English is not the student’s native language, an English language assessment is completed. Indiana utilizes the WIDA Screener to determine the student’s English language fluency. If a student has obtained a fluent score (from a WIDA assessment of 5.0 or higher) from a previous school, it is helpful to present this at the time of registration. 

ENL services are provided in all P-H-M schools. An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is developed for each “limited English proficient” (LEP) student.  This document outlines specific modifications appropriate for all classroom instruction and state testing accommodations. 

Elementary students are serviced by a licensed English language teacher and through small groups or individual in class assistance by an ENL aide. These services are presented according to the language level of the student in conjunction with Indiana Department of Education standards as well as WIDA’s English Language Development (ELD) Standards. Collaboration occurs between the mainstream teacher and EL staff to address areas of focus. 

Middle and high school students are enrolled in English Language Development (ELD) and/or Language Lab. Both courses provide opportunities to develop skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. WIDA’s English Language Development (ELD) Standards are also addressed.

Additional information can be found at the Indiana Department of Education’s website for English Learning and Migrant Education. 

CONTACT

• For district related questions, please contact the Director of Alternative Education and Special Projects, Robert Thompson, phone (574) 254-2857 extension 20617. Email him at rthompson@phm.k12.in.us 
• At the elementary level (grades K-5), please contact the Elementary EL Coordinator, Nicole Parker, phone (574) 259-2486, extension 53261. Email her at nparker@phm.k12.in.us​
• At the middle school level (grades 6-8), please contact the Middle School EL Coordinator, Rylee Jacobson, phone (574) 674-7375, extension 49245, Email her at rjacobson@phm.k12.in.us
• At the high school level (grades 9–12), please contact the High School EL Coordinator, Lauren Tarbet, phone (574) 258-9543, extension 20461. Email her at ltarbet@phm.k12.in.us