On Thursday, March 8, P-H-M’s Forum is sponsoring a districtwide parent meeting on Internet Safety.

According to the Pew Research Center, 94% of teens use their cell phone for their online activity and 71% use more than one social media site.

What do you need to know as parents and guardians to keep them safe online when they’re at home?

Hear from cybercrime and internet safety expert St. Joseph County Police Department’s Officer Eric Tamashasky on Thursday, March 8, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., in the cafeteria of Schmucker Middle School (56045 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka).

This is a districtwide event sponsored by the P-H-M Forum parent group and is open to all P-H-M parents. Because of the nature of Offc. Tamashasky’s presentation concerning the online dangers parents need to be aware of, this event is not suitable for students below 9th grade. Spread the word to other P-H-M parents about this informational opportunity.  

The P-H-M Teacher Job Fair previously scheduled for Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 is being rescheduled due to the weather for Friday, Feb. 23, 2018.

2:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Schmucker Middle School (Enter Door B)
56045 Bittersweet Road
Mishawaka, IN 46545

Click here for more details and to start an application. 

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is nationally recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” offering choir, band and orchestra at our three middle schools.

Every P-H-M student who will be attending a P-H-M middle school as an incoming 6th grader in the Fall has the opportunity to join an instrumental music class, which includes either band or orchestra.

In order to join 6th grade band or orchestra, students must select an instrument that they will learn, practice and perform for the school year.  Students/parents must click to use this link to sign-up for your appointment at your designated school and date.

“Instrument Selection Night” is when students and families get to make their choice!

At “Instrument Selection Night,” a music professional musician will be available to give students advice about which instrument may be best suited for them. They will be allowed to “try out” instruments from various instrument groups.

Please see the dates and times below for your students’ soon-to-be middle school …

Discovery Middle School

Monday, Feb. 26, 2018

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018

4:30-8:00 p.m.

Grissom Middle School

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018

4:30-8:00 p.m.

Schmucker Middle School

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018

4:30-8:00 p.m.

Click here to learn more about Instrument Night and to make your appointment for designated school and date.

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!”

The Indiana General Assembly honored the outstanding achievements from the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation on Monday, January 29. Three resolutions authored by State Sen. Joe Zakas (R-Granger) recognized P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, Penn High School Girls Soccer Coach Jeff Hart and Penn Band Director Glenn Northern for their recent accomplishments.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 21 honored Dr. Thacker for being named 2017 Outstanding Educator by the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents. Dr. Thacker also received this award in 2013. He has received a number of other awards, as well, including Indiana Superintendent of the Year in 2012. The award honors Dr. Thacker for his successful oversight of 15 schools with an enrollment of nearly 11,200 students. P-H-M has consistently been named an “A” rated school district and ranks among the state’s Top 4% of Hoosier public school districts.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 congratulated the Penn’s Girls Soccer team for winning their second straight Class 3A state championship. They defeated the Guerin Catholic High School girls team 2-0 for the title. The remarkable Penn team completed the 2017 season ranked first in the nation, as well. Coach Jeff Hart was present at the Statehouse to receive the recognition on behalf of the team’s student-athletes.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 23 honored Kingsmen Band Director & Fine Arts Academy Leader Glenn Northern on receiving the 2018 Outstanding Music Educator of the Year from the Indiana Music Educator Association. Northern arrived at P-H-M in 2001 and he directs more than 450 students in four concert bands, three jazz ensembles, two percussion classes, pit orchestra, pep band, marching band and five winter guards! P-H-M has been recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” by the National Association of Music Merchants due in great part to Northern’s work.

“It is fitting for the General Assembly to honor these tremendous achievements and to recognize them on a statewide basis,” Senator Zakas said.

State Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen) and State Sen. David Niezgodski (D-South Bend) also served as sponsors of the resolutions. Rep. Dale DeVon (R-Granger) served as the principal sponsor in the Indiana House of Representatives.

On Friday, January 19, P-H-M hosted  21 students and seven teachers from P-H-M’s partner school in Anshan, China.

The visit started at Discovery where students, staff and P-H-M administrators attended a kick-off breakfast. The student visitors spent the morning at Discovery sitting in on various classes with their P-H-M host student learning from DMS teachers. The students and teachers also got to ride P-H-M school buses to visit classrooms at Grissom and Schmucker Middle schools—giving them a complete flavor of academic life in Penn-Harris-Madison. Click to see pictures and get more details about the visits to Discovery, Schmucker and the Grissom.

Click to watch the “Excellence Happens Here” video of Discovery Principal Sheryll Harper explaining the value of the cultural exchange program.

Click to see more Excellence Happens Here videos about Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation.

P-H-M has had this partnership with the school in Anshan, China sine 2009. Every other year P-H-M middle school students get the opportunity to visit the school in China and also host Chinese student visitors here.  The next trip to China is planned for  March 27 – April 4, 2019. Click to learn more.

Penn High School students and programs were the stars of the show at Monday night’s Board meeting (Jan. 22, 2018). Every year, the Board chooses a few schools to hold their Board meetings. The school meeting sites are a way for the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees to not only visit the schools, but to also give the schools a chance to highlight their successes.

As Board Members and guests arrived for the meeting, they were treated to Penn’s Jazz Combo, under the direction of Mr. Lavon Oke. The group recently received the "Judges Award" (third place) at the Purdue Jazz Festival.

With the help of Board President Chris Riley, STEM Academy/Biology teacher Andrew Warner demonstrated the school’s virtual reality unit that he uses in his classroom with students. President Riley travelled from outer space to Paris and climbed the Eiffel Tower all while never leaving Penn’s IMC!

Penn Principal Sean Galiher also asked students to present on the value of the dozens of Clubs offered at Penn.

More than half of Penn’s approximate 3,700 students take courses within Penn Fine Arts. Academy Leader Glenn Northern updated the Board on some of the recent accomplishments of Fine Arts Students:

• Penn High School students excelled in the Scholastic Art Awards, which is the largest Art competition in the nation. Penn students received 13 Gold Key Awards, 16 Silver Key Awards, and 25 Honorable Mentions.
• Two students have been invited to perform in the 2018 Carneige Hall Honors Performance Series National Youth Orchestra.
• The Penn Orchestra will be performing and participating in a recording soundtrack workshop at Disney World in April, 2018.
• Symphonic Winds placed 7th in the Indiana State Concert Band Finals in 2017.

    
   

Mr. Northern himself was recognized by the Board for his recent award for 2018 Outstanding High School Music Educator of the Year by the Indiana Music Educator Association Board, as well as Penn Softball Coach Beth Zachary for being named 2016-2017 Central Sectional Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Registration for kindergarten students for the 2018-2019 school year begins Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Parents can register their student at their home P-H-M elementary school. 

This registration opportunity is for youngsters who live within the P-H-M School Corporation and who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2018. A parent or guardian must appear in person to register their child. 

Penn-Harris-Madison has 11 elementary schools, each offering full-day kindergarten. You may use the interactive Google based District Map to verify which elementary school serves your neighborhood. 

Registration will take place at the schools during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in most cases. The offices at Elsie Rogers Elementary School and Moran Elementary School will take registrations from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Please click here for more information on kindergarten registration and to print and download the registration forms.

At the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees first meeting of 2018 (held Monday, January 8), Board Members elected new officers.

Chris Riley was elected President, Larry Beehler was elected to continue as Vice President and Angie Gates was elected Secretary. All were elected unanimously.

Mr. Riley succeeds as President after Gary Fox, who had served as President since 2015. Mr. Beehler has served as Vice President also since 2015. And Mrs. Gates carries on as Secretary after Mr. Riley who had served in that role since 2016.

At the meeting the Board and P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker thanked and recognized Mr. Fox for his service as Board President by presenting him with a commemorative plaque. Mr. Fox represents Harris Township and holds Seat 4. He’s served on the Board of School Trustees since 2001.

Mr. Riley is an attorney with the Law Firm Thorne Grodnik LLP of Elkhart. Representing the At-Large Seat, Mr. Riley has served on the P-H-M Board since 2011 and was previously President in 2014 – Sept. 2015.

Mr. Beehler is the longest serving Board of School Trustees member—entering his 32nd year of service! Mr. Beehler holds Seat 5 representing Madison Township.

Mrs. Gates holds the Board’s 6th Seat representing Harris Township and was appointed to the Board in March 2016. 

Other Board Members include Jaye Galloway (Seat 1 – Penn Twp.), Jim Garrett (Seat 3 – Penn Twp.) and Jamie Woods (Seat 2 – Penn Twp.). Learn more about Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees.

The window to apply for 2018-19 school year non-resident enrollment will be open between Feb. 20, 2018 – March 9, 2018. 

There will be limited schools and spots available for non-resident students for the 2018-19 school year.

Details about non-resident enrollment will be posted on Tuesday, February 20. Visit this page for more information.