Penn High School welcomed a new member of the Kingsmen Athletics team when Culver’s Sports Performance Center was dedicated on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. Keith Remington and Mark Nowak co-owners of Culver’s Restaurant (on McKinley Avenue near Penn High School) donated $125,000 to P-H-M Education Foundation’s Naming Rights campaign. 

The partnership between Culver’s, P-H-M, P-H-M Education Foundation, and Penn High School signals a new chapter in Kingsmen Athletics Excellence.

P-H-M Board of School Trustees VP Ryan McCullough, P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, PHMEF Exec. Dir. Jennifer Turnblom, P-H-M Chief Operating Officer Dr. Aaron Leniski, Penn High School Principal Dr. Sean Galiher, Assistant Athletic Director Bridget Williams, and Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Cates welcomed Remington (1997 Penn grad) and Nowak and their families today.

The new Culver’s Sports Performance Center signage in Penn’s weight room and upstairs student fitness center were unveiled. Remington and Nowak also got to see for the first time Penn’s new Strength & Conditioning class “uniform” shirts. Several Penn student-athletes, including Remington’s daughter Anna, were on hand wearing the T-shirts.

Per P-H-M Education Foundation’s Naming Rights fundraising initiative, 80 percent of the donation will go into Foundation’s endowment, which will in turn provide funding for PHMEF teacher/classroom grants and various co-curricular and extracurricular programs in P-H-M schools. The remaining 20 percent directly funds P-H-M teacher professional development initiatives. To date the Foundation has given $1.6 million disbursements in classroom grants.

The T-shirts that the student-athletes were wearing at today’s event are an additional annual gift from Culver’s valued at $7,000.

The mission of the Education Foundation is to develop alternative sources of income to support education initiatives in the School Corporation by strengthening partnerships between the community and the District. PHMEF supports education through awarding innovative teaching grants, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.

“Community support is vital for our ability to support excellence in education in P-H-M schools,” PHMEF Director Jennifer Turnblom said. “Culver’s generous donation shows their dedication to our schools and positive impact on our community and we are honored to partner with them through the naming rights program. Their commitment allows us to continue to increase grant funding and support district wide programs in all 15 P-H-M schools.” 

The P-H-M Board of School Trustees approved the Naming Rights partnership between the P-H-M Education Foundation and Culver’s at the Feb. 12 Board Meeting.

According to the agreement, Culver’s co-owners Keith Remington and Mark Nowak and agree to pay PHMEF $125,000 over 12 years to name the weight and performance center at Penn High School the Culver’s Sports Performance Center.

Penn Athletic Director Jeff Hart said that Culver’s sponsorship will provide a positive impact in the performance and lives of more than a thousand Penn students each school year.

“We sincerely appreciate the commitment that Culver’s is making to our school community,” Hart said. “By sponsoring our weight rooms, Culver’s is helping to put a spotlight on the Strength and Conditioning program at Penn and the importance that a successful program can have on our 1,100 student-athletes.

“The leadership at Culver’s understands the benefits this program provides through the prevention of injuries, self confidence, improved athletic performance, and long-term health,” Hart continued. “We look forward to an exciting partnership.”

The Culver’s Sports Performance Center is nationally renowned. The National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) named Penn’s Strength and Conditioning program a NHSSCA Program of Excellence School. This honor recognizes that Penn High School’s Strength & Conditioning program operates at a highest level of professionalism.

In awarding Penn and Coach Cates with this honor NHSSCA noted …

“This honor recognizes that this High School Strength & Conditioning program operates at a highest level of professionalism. To earn this honor Coach Cates & Penn High School has displayed excellence in safety, quality, efficacy, outreach & highlighting. While also displaying excellent continuing education & technology usage in their Strength & Conditioning program.”

Penn Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Cates was named the National High School Strength Coaches Association 2024 National Coach of the Year.

P-H-M’s annual Community Tailgate is a tradition and a great way to kick off the start of the Kingsmen football season. This year’s home opener will be against Valpo on Friday, August 23rd.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. Once inside the stadium head down to the white tents in the south end zone at the Zolman’s Tire Concessions Stand.

At 6:15 p.m. a special dedication for recently retired Penn Head Football Coach Cory Yeoman. Penn-Harris-Madison  Superintendent Dr. and Mrs. Thacker donated $10,000 to the P-H-M Education Foundation Naming Rights Campaign to name the plaza located at Penn High School’s Everwise Freed Field the Yeoman Family Plaza, after former Penn High School Head Football Coach Cory Yeoman and his family.

The Yeoman Family bleeds black and gold. Coach Cory’s father Wally Yeoman was an assistant coach with legendary Chris Geesman. Coach Cory played for Penn, earning all-state honors at defensive tackle. In 1979, he led a Kingsmen defense that only allowed 33 yards rushing a game. That Kingsmen team finished 11-1, winning an NIC Championship before losing to Hobart in the second round of the playoffs. Cory graduated from Penn in 1980. 

Cory Yeoman played for Miami (Ohio) University. He was a roommate and teammate of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl winning head coach, John Harbaugh. He joined the Kingsmen coaching staff after graduation from Miami, and has been on the Kingsmen sidelines for 40 seasons.

In his first season after replacing legendary Coach Geesman, Yeoman guided Penn to the 2003 State Championship Game. Yeoman also led Penn to Semi-state titles in 2017, 2015 and 2011. In addition to winning four Semi-state Championships, the Kingsmen have won nine regional crowns under Yeoman’s leadership, 13 sectional titles and 17 Northern Indiana Conference championships. 

Yeoman retired at the end of the 2023-2024 school year after 40 years with P-H-M.

Male members of Yeoman family and those who married into the family have either played for or coached for the Long Black Line at some point.

The dedication of the plaza in the name of the Yeoman Family is a great way to honor such strong supporters of the Kingsmen Family and all they’ve contributed to the Penn Football program!

Dr. Thacker has been superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation since 2006 and has supported the Education Foundation wholeheartedly. Over the course of 18 years, Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have donated $232,500 to the P-H-M Education Foundation. Most of this money has either been unrestricted donations or used as matching funds for fundraising initiatives.

Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have made five donations since 2021 totaling $65,000 as part of the Naming Rights Campaign, recognizing the contributions P-H-M employees have made to the community:

1. Chris Geesman Kingsmen Athletic Center (formerly the Kingsmen Athletic Center), $25,000 donated in December 2021 ($5,000 per year over five years, for an overall period of 12 years)
2. Al Rhodes Kingsmen Court, $10,000 donated in October 2023 (one lump sum)
3. Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium (formerly the  P-H-M DVT & Planetarium), $10,000 donated in January 2024
4. Yeoman Family Plaza, $10,000 donated in March 2024 
5. Greg Dikos Field, $10,000 donated in August 2024 

What to do in a School Emergency

IN AN EMERGENCY, visit the homepage of the P-H-M website first for P-H-M contact information and communication protocols to keep parents/families informed in an emergency. 

• Here are answers to frequently asked questions about school emergencies
• Tips for Families includes ways parents/guardians can support safety efforts at home and at school
• The Safety Suggestions Form can be used by families to share ideas for keeping students safe

What is emergency preparedness?

The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation has taken steps to insure your child’s safety while in school. Each school has developed a crisis response plan. Emergency preparedness includes an all hazard approach to school safety that includes mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.   

 

Below are answers to some more Frequently Asked Questions:

 

How can I stay informed?

P-H-M school’s broadcast emergency messages, when necessary, using a number of media options. General emergency messages, 2 -hour delays and closings can be found on the District website homepage. Emergency messages are sent by phone to all P-H-M families based on the emergency contact information provided to their child’s school using the School Messenger emergency notification system. Parents and guardians need to make sure they have provided their latest updated contact information to their student(s) school(s). Emergency messages are provided to local media, and parents are encouraged to listen to radio or television.  Additionally, we utilize the P-H-M crisis call center (574-258-9561) if needed.

 

Click here to download a pdf copy of our School Emergency Guide for Parents.

How will my child’s school handle an emergency situation?

All P-H-M School facilities have an emergency preparedness plan. The specifics of each plan differ for each location. The response to an emergency will differ based on the specifics of the crisis.  In general, each plan involves the designation of a crisis management team that conducts state required emergency drills.  These drills involve fire evacuation, shelter-in-place, severe weather, earthquake and lockdown procedures.  In response to a crisis, each plan includes a process of partent reunification to ensure all students are safe and reunited with parents.  All P-H-M School plans are reviewed, updated and communicated to the Department of Education within 60 days of the start of each school year.

 

 

How can I see the security plan for my child’s school?

P-H-M School’s do not release this type of specific information, pursuant to the Indiana Code 5-14-3-4. This law provides specific exclusions to the type of information that can be released. The Crisis Management Plan, includes a template which serves as the guide that schools use to construct their own site-specific plans in coordination with the Director of Safety, Security and Student Services and local emergency responders.

 

What is an Internal Lockdown?

An internal lockdown is initiated when a threat of danger is inside a school.   This emergency may prevent a safe evacuation and require steps to isolate students and faculty from danger.  In an interior lock down, teachers and staff are instructed to secure students in locked classrooms or behind locked doors.   Staff are asked to use the A.D.D. principle (AVOID, DENY, DEFEND) when faced with danger inside the school.  Avoid the threat, Deny access to a classroom or room by locking door and Defend yourself and students as required to safeguard the life of all.  The A.D.D principal requires staff to use discretion when safeguarding the lives of students.  While we have layers of security in place at all of our schools, we know decisions have to be made depending on the existing threat and exiting the building may be a life saving option.

 

What is an External Lockdown?

During an external lockdown, all school exterior doors are locked. This takes place if the threat is outside of the school. The business of learning continues in classrooms with administration monitoring doors and communicating with authorities.  If the situation allows, parents could be admitted into the school with proper identification.

 

If the school is in an external lockdown, what type of identification will I need to enter the school?
Once officials decide that it is safe for you to enter the building, you will need to show a proper form of identification such as a driver’s license, military ID, Penn-Harris-Madison school ID or other valid photo identification.  If a school has a reasonable suspicion of threat, they will not permit access to the school during an external lockdown.  

 

How will I know if a school is in an external lockdown?
The entrance doors will be locked and a sign may be posted on the doors indicating that the school is in a lockdown. All visitors will be directed to the front entrance to provide identification.  A message about the external lockdown may be available on the homepage of the District website and School Messenger emergency notification system may be utilized.

 

In the event of a large scale emergency situation, will P-H-M go into lockdown?

The specific actions taken by P-H-M School’s in any emergency situation-both district wide and at individual schools will depend on the specifics of the situation. Any action taken would depend on several factors, including the type of threat and the advice of local, state, and federal agencies. The safety of students and staff members will be the primary concern in any decision.

 

What is shelter-in-place?

Shelter-in-Place refers to moving students and staff to interior rooms with few or no windows and taking refuge until the danger has passed.  This action is designed to keep students safe from any hazardous materials that have been released into the air.  Shelter-in-Place is used if it is determined that evacuation or dismissal could place students and staff at risk.

 

Shelter-in-place is a short-term measure designed to use a facility and its indoor atmosphere to temporarily separate people from a hazardous outdoor environment. 

 

If Parents are concerned about reuniting with their students, rest assured that when local authorities have clear the school to release students, a parent reunification process will take place at a designated school or location.  You will be asked to produce identification before the school will release the student to the parent.  This is all part of our parent reunification plan in the school emergency plans.

 

What measures are being taken for students in unattached buildings?

If an accident or attack that created contaminated air occurred in the nearby area, staff and students will be requested to shelter in the closest school building or building that is safe from harms way until the authorities have cleared the school or facility.

 

Why are you keeping children from their parents?

P-H-M does not intend to keep children from their parents if a crisis occurs during school hours or school activities. It is the schools intent to safeguard students based on the type of threat or emergency situation.  When authorities have cleared the school, students will be released to their parents.   Parents will be informed of the parent-student reunification center location via the School Messenger emergency notification system, crisis call center (574-258-9561), school websites or District website and local media.

 

What is a parent reunification site?

If public safety officials require that a school building be evacuated, students and staff members will be directed to a nearby safe location.  Students may be safely transported by bus to a designated school where a parent-student reunification center will be established. Parents will be informed of the reunification location via School Messenger emergency notification system, crisis call center (574-258-9561), school websites or District website and local media.

 

Why can’t I be given the evacuation and parent reunification locations ahead of time?

P-H-M does not release this type of specific information, pursuant to the Indiana Code 5-14-3-4. This law provides specific exclusions to the type of information that can be released. Also, during emergency situations, circumstances could arise that might force changes to previously designated locations. Parents will be informed of parent-student reunification center locations via the local media and through school resources.

 

Are schools stockpiling food and water?

The school system evaluates resources on hand to determine needs for a short term (48 hours) shelter-in-Place.  P-H-M Food Service has a Crisis Plan in place for such emergency situations. In the event of a large-scale catastrophic event, P-H-M would rely on federal and state authorities for assistance.

 

There may be other local and national events that would result in sheltering, in such events, other community agencies, including the Red Cross, would be responsible for providing food and water. This response would be a shelter, not a shelter-in-place.

 

In all critical events of this magnitude, the school district becomes part of a larger emergency response team. The St. Joseph County Emergency Management Director and the county crisis response team are involved.  P-H-M has been approved to work with the American Red Cross for shelter facilities and Penn High School as well as Grissom Middle School will serve as a Mass Prophylaxis distribution site for St. Joesph County Health Department.

 

Does the school district have a food service crisis plan in place for such emergencies?

Most of the envisioned emergency situations would be localized short-term events and would not call for long-term supplies.However, P-H-M School’s does have a Food Service Crisis Plan in place and updated annually by the Director of Food Service. This plan involves utilization of available food and drinks in each facility during this short term crisis event.

 

What if my child is riding a school bus at the time of a crisis?

School bus drivers will be in contact with the Office of Transportation for instructions in the event that a crisis occurs while students are in transport. Bus drivers will always use common sense in safeguarding all students.  Parents will be informed of the parent-student reunification center location via the School Messenger system, the school and/or District website and on the P-H-M , along with local media.  Crisis Call Center (574-258-9561) may also be activated for parents to call for information.

 

Can I pick up my child?

Parents are allowed to pick up their children unless public safety officials have declared a shelter-in-place response, or there is some other reason why access to the facility is restricted. During any emergency, school personnel will maintain as safe and normal environment for children within the school as is possible. School is not automatically canceled in emergency situations. Remember, school may be the safest place for children.

 

Who can pick up my children?

Children may not be released to individuals who are not authorized on the student’s emergency care card or who do not have written parent authorization.

 

The emergency care form is completed by parents and guardians at the start of each school year. Parents and guardians are encouraged to update the emergency contact information as needed throughout the school year.

 

Friends and neighbors may sign a child or children out with written permission from a parent or parents. Both (or all) parents may give permission in writing for the sign out and pickup. Schools prefer to have written permission on the day that a child’s pickup will change, but schools may also keep written permission on file. School offices may keep the permission notes–and are asked to attach them to the emergency care card(s) of those involved. Schools may also ask for identification when the child is released to the one(s) mentioned in the permission note. It is advisable to communicate with the teacher as well, perhaps with a copy of the signed written note.

 

What about my child’s medication?

If your child takes medication regularly, You, the parent, should make sure that the school has an appropriate amount of additional medication on hand. Talk with your child’s school nurse for more information.

 

Are students allowed to have cell phones at school?

P-H-M School’s cell phone use is based on the individual school code of conduct. In the event of an emergency, students will be allowed to use their phones based on individual school code of conduct rules. It is important to recognize that in an emergency situation, however, cell phone circuits may become overloaded, interfering with public safety’s ability to communicate.

 

Can I contact my child?

Parents are asked not to call the school in emergency situations so phone lines can remain accessible for handling the specific situation. In the event of a crisis, P-H-M will open a Crisis Call Center to handle the numerous phone calls from parents and public. Parents will be kept informed via School Messenger, the school and/or District website, and Crisis Call Center (574-258-9561).

 

What will schools do if there is a biological or H1N1 outbreak?

P-H-M has worked with the St. Joseph County Health Department on the community wide response. Coordination with local, state and federal agencies will take place.

 

How will my children know what to do in the event of a immediate danger?

Inform your children that, if a crisis occurs while they are in school, their teacher will provide them with appropriate instructions. All staff are provided training and access to the school crisis plans and drills occur on a monthly basis at all school locations.

 

Parents are also encouraged to prepare a family disaster plan and practice it so that everyone will remember what to do if a disaster does occur. Everyone in the household, including children, should play a part in the families response and recovery efforts. Teach your children how to recognize danger signals. Make sure your children know what smoke detectors, fire alarms, and local community warning systems (horns, sirens) sound like.

 

Will children be allowed to view events via live television or radio reports?

In the event of a large scale event or other crisis, teachers will be informed as to the appropriate actions to take. Receiving live media coverage in the classroom about an attack or crisis will be left up to the administrators and teachers discretion. Appropriate measures will be taken depending on the age of the students.

 

How are field trips handled?

The impact of any critical situation on field trips–both district wide and at individual schools–will depend on the specifics of the situation. If the situation warrants, all field trips will be canceled. Cancelations could also include travel to schools, community programs, and other events. There may be circumstances that could require the cancelation of field trips to certain areas. All school buses are equipped with radio communications with the transportation office. If a field trip is under way and must be recalled, buses would be directed to return to the school or a designated safe area. Parents are reminded that P-H-M retains the right to cancel any field trip for safety reasons.

 

Sign-ups For the Penn Youth Girls Basketball League are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 8, from 12-2 p.m. in Penn High School Arena.

Enter Door D.

CLICK HERE for information/registration form.

CLICK HERE for the calendar.

The Junior League is open to girls in grades three-through-six. The Senior League is open to grades seven-and-eight. All those
participating in the Senior League MUST live in the Penn-Harris-Madison School District or attend a P-H-M School.

The league will begin on Sunday, September 15, for ALL age groups and end on Sunday, Nov. 10, with a single-elimination tournament for all age groups. All games will be played on Sundays at Penn High School in the Arena, Auxiliary and West Balcony courts. Tournament times may vary on Nov. 10.

Weekly Game Times are:
3rd & 4th grade league: 9-11 a.m.
5th & 6th grade league: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
7th & 8th grade league: 1-3 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 15, will be a skills practice/evaluation led by our High School Coaches. Sunday, Sept. 22, is when teams will be posted and have a practice day with their teams. Both practices will be at Penn High School during the specified grade level
times above.

A parent meeting will also occur on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Games will begin on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Regular weekly practices will occur once a week and will begin the week of Sept. 22. The cost of the league is $155 per athlete for grades 3-8. The coaching staff will be made up of interested parents and community members. This league has assisted in developing and maintaining a winning tradition for the Lady Kingsmen Basketball program. It has also helped to develop numerous Northern Indiana Conference players, Indiana All-Stars, All-State players and collegiate basketball players.

We are thrilled to announce that Nichol Mondy, a dedicated 3rd-grade teacher at Northpoint, has been honored by the Indiana Department of Education by making their TOP 25 list for Teacher of the Year! This prestigious recognition is a testament to Mrs. Mondy’s exceptional teaching skills, dedication to her students, and her commitment to educational excellence. 

Mrs. Mondy has had a remarkably busy summer, balancing her time between teaching summer camps, volunteering for children’s camps at her church, and participating in teacher professional development courses.

Her passion for education and continuous improvement truly sets her apart, which is why she was named P-H-M’s 2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year in May. 

Her innovative teaching methods, compassion, and enthusiasm create a nurturing and stimulating learning environment that leaves a lasting impact on her students. Congratulations, Mrs. Mondy, on this well-deserved recognition!

With the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, P-H-M is switching to ParentSquare, a new unified, user-friendly, communications platform designed with parents and guardians in mind. CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE INFO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED.

ParentSquare provides a centralized location for families to receive communications from school principals, teachers, coaches, and front office staff on all their students, in all schools, in all classrooms! CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE INFO YOU NEED TO GET STARTED.

Parents/guardians receive alerts, updates, and posts on:

• important notifications, such as school closings and delays
• attendance
• principal & teacher newsletters
• school & classroom calendar of events
• volunteer & RSVP for events
• fill out permission slips & other forms
• … ALL IN ONE LOCATION!

Families chose their preferred mode of communication for non-urgent notifications– app, text, email, phone. Parents/guardians can also chose to have all communications automatically translated to their preferred first language.

As we approach the first day of school (Wednesday, August 21), principals and teachers will be using ParentSquare to share important “Back to School” information. Parents and guardians are asked to activate their accounts by Monday, August 12, 2024. 

PLEASE NOTE: If your child is transitioning to a new building from last school year, the information will be updated later this summer. You are still able to register for ParentSquare.

To activate parent/guardian accounts, parents need to check their email for the welcome and introductory email.

The email was sent between Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12, 2024 with the subject line: “Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp. is now using ParentSquare.” 

The sender of the email will appear as “Penn-Harris-Madison via ParentSquare” with a donotreply @parentsquare.com email address, similar to this … donotreply+01d8d49e-b6f1-47f3-ac23-d45abf67b233@parentsquare.com