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!

P-H-M making school meals available during COVID-19 national Emergency through June 3, 2020:
 

“To Go” sack lunches for ALL students have been available for pickup at three sites since March 24:

• Early Meals (8-9 am)
  • Prairie Vista & Grissom 
• Midday meals (11 am – 1 pm)
  • Prairie Vista, Grissom, & Penn
• Late meals (5 – 7 pm)
  • Penn High School only

*We will not be handing out meals on Memorial Day, May 25. In addition to the additional sack meals we give given out at each meal, we will give out extra sack meals for the long weekend. We will be giving out backpacks Friday, May 22 at lunch at Grissom and Penn. They will have enough food for two meals for two kids in each pack.

This meal service schedule and locations will continue through June 3, 2020. The current pickup school locations (Prairie Vista, Grissom and Penn) will continue throughout the summer.

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. 

Longtime P-H-M employee Rita Szweda got the surprise of her 19-year career when P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker surprised her with the news that she had been named P-H-M’s Classified Employee of the Year!

Last Friday, May 1, Rita was on a video call with Horizon Principal Tressa Decker and Assistant Principal Amy Fadorsen when Dr. Thacker and other P-H-M administrators popped in on the call to surprise Rita with the news. Watch the video below …

Rita Szweda is the Secretary/Treasurer at Horizon Elementary School, a role she’s held for nine years. Rita began working at P-H-M when she was hired as a Teacher’s Aide at Horizon in 2001. She reflects back on her time as a TA and remembers fondly helping to instruct students; at one point, she even knew every student at Horizon by name! Rita continued to serve Horizon’s students, families, teachers and building staff when she became a full time Office Aide at Horizon in 2007.

Rita loves P-H-M and bleeds black and gold as a Kingsmen. When the position of Freshman Cheerleading Coach at Penn High School came open in 2004, Rita was a perfect fit for the job! In 2010, she became the Varsity Cheerleading Coach. She enjoys not only training the female student-athletes, but also getting them involved in a number of service opportunities/projects in the community. “Representing Penn High school in a positive way with these athletes has been so rewarding,” said Rita. “I feel I have been able to install confidence and friendship in the teenagers that I have worked with over the years and brought a cheerful heart to many students and staff members that have crossed my path.”

Rita is praised by Horizon’s Leadership Team, Mrs. Decker and Fadorsen, as being a dedicated and diligent employee who always has a smile to share. “Rita never stops working, whether it is as our Treasurer (the busiest treasurer in P-H-M) or as our building Secretary or as the Varsity Cheer Coach at Penn,” remarked Principal Decker. “She eats, breathes, and sleeps Penn-Harris-Madison Excellence!”

Amy Zimmer, Penn High School Exceptional Education Teacher, learned in a surprise pop-in video call on Friday, May 1 that she had been named P-H-M’s 2020 Secondary Teacher of the Year. Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker surprised Amy by joining a Google video Hangout meeting she was having with a colleague. Click to watch the video below …
 

Amy teaches Applied Biology/Life Skills Science at Penn High School working with Exceptional Education students. Amy jointed P-H-M in 2015 from School City of Mishawaka where she worked as an Exceptional teacher 23 years in a variety of roles from preschool and elementary to middle school. Amy was even named School City of Mishawaka Teacher of the Year in 1998 when she was an Ex Ed teacher at then Beiger Junior High School.

Amy’s devotion to her students is well recognized and admired by her fellow teachers, “She has provided hundreds of Exceptional Education students with the best learning experience not only concerning academics, also but their wellbeing,” said Colleen Gish Penn High School teacher who nominated Amy for the award. “Amy works tirelessly as a teacher, case manager, CPS liaison, special need's advocate, and team-player (substituting for her colleagues).”

Teaching Applied Biology/Life Skills Science at Penn, Amy looks for opportunities to expose her students to “maximize each student’s potential, whatever that potential may be.” This school year, she piloted a program with her students and local non-profit Cultivate Food Rescue. Once a month, a team of Penn Exceptional Education students volunteered at Cultivate learning how to process and package food in a commercial kitchen facility while following health and safety protocol. This unique learning experience as Amy describes it “allows students to develop citizenship and leadership skills as well as many important life skills. To date, my Exceptional Education students have packaged 1,696 balanced meals for underprivileged kindergarten and first grade students participating in Cultivate’s Backpack Program.” Through this program, students are learning so much more than how to do a job, Amy says her students “have gained a sense of pride in their work, possessed a feeling of satisfaction knowing they are helping children.” Little did Amy and her students know that the 300 meals they helped package on their last visit to Cultivate on March 9th would go to help students and families affected by the COVID-19 school shutdowns and the Shelter in Place order. 

There’s no doubt about the passion Amy has for her students, stating “It takes a village and at Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, we prioritize the collaboration of students, parents and teachers. … I incorporate the Triangle of Success model when developing differentiated instruction for my science lessons. … By utilizing all of the resources and supports available, I guide and connect students to opportunities, services, experiences, personnel, and programs.”

Amy along with P-H-M’s Elementary Teacher of the Year, Jessie Kinney, will be considered for the honor of the Indiana Teacher of the Year. Both P-H-M Teachers of the Year will receive a $500 classroom grant from P-H-M’s Education Foundation.

In a surprise video meeting drop-in morning of Friday, May 1 Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker named the District’s 2020 Elementary Teacher of the Year … Jessie Kinney, Technology Curriculum Integration Coach for P-H-M elementary schools. 

Click to watch the video below to see Jessie’s reaction when Dr. Thacker and other P-H-M Administrators dropped in on her Google Video Hangout Meeting with a colleague …

Jessie Kinney has 13 years’ experience as an educator starting her career as a reading specialist with Portage Township School District. She joined P-H-M in 2009 as a traveling Physical Education teacher serving Prairie Vista, Horizon, and Walt Disney elementary schools; she also served as an Assistant Volleyball coach at Penn High School.  Jessie moved to Elsie Rogers Elementary School as a 5th grade teacher in the fall of 2010 and taught 4th grade for the next six years there. In 2017, Jessie moved into the role of Elementary Title I Technology Integration Coach for the district. In this teacher on assignment position, Jessie regularly supports more than 200 elementary teachers in the successful integration of instructional technology with the goal to increase student engagement and improve student learning outcomes. Now in her 11th year with P-H-M, Jessie is currently based at Moran Elementary School.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that shutdown schools, Jessie traveled between P-H-M’s elementary schools working with students in small group settings on hands-on projects like coding miniature robots. But more directly, she helps students by teaching their teachers! She assists educators with ways to incorporate STEM into all facets of their curriculum.

While providing supports to all P-H-M elementary teachers spread out over 11 buildings, Jessie has a targeted focus of supporting P-H-M’s five Title I schools. Most recently, she put her passion and knowhow for technology to work by supporting Elm Road Elementary’s application to become an IDOE STEM certified school. While the outcome of the IDOE certification process is not yet known, Jessie’s contributions to help Elm Road land this designation are appreciated by her fellow teachers … “She has made a difference in every student's life by investing energy in training, encouraging, and motivating the Elm Road team of teachers to be their best for students who need to be college and career-ready in a new era,” said Elm Road teacher Heidi Tornquist, who nominated Jessie for P-H-M Elementary Teacher of the Year.

When COVID-19 abruptly shut down our schools, Jessie shifted gears quickly to help support and collaborate with teachers as a tech resource on how to keep their students engaged during this period of extended eLearning. She sends weekly “Tech Tips” on new educational tools that teachers can use in their virtual classrooms.

“By embracing technology and being open to the change,” says Jessie, “we have learned that relationships are stronger and can come in many different formats.  My message to my fellow teachers would be to remember sometimes all you need to overcome your limits is a little encouragement and the ability to jump in and build your wings on the way down.  The last few months have taught us to be flexible, embrace the unknown, and that technology can be used as a tool to enhance relationships and the learning environment.   Embrace the technology and be open to the change, and with a little bit of grace we will be able to create a new and possibly even better new-normal within our classroom.” 

Jessie along with P-H-M’s Secondary Teacher of the Year, Penn High School’s Amy Zimmer, will be considered for the honor of the Indiana Teacher of the Year. Both P-H-M Teachers of the Year will receive a $500 classroom grant from P-H-M’s Education Foundation.

Monday, March 23, 2020

Dear P-H-M Families,

Today (Mon., March 23), Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb ordered all Indiana residents to stay home except for essential duties. In an effort to reduce the potential exposure to our P-H-M families and staff, starting tomorrow Tues, March 24, we have updated the locations that will be supplying meals.

Starting Tuesday, March 24, Early Meals will be offered at Prairie Vista & Grissom from 8 – 9 a.m., Midday Meals will be offered at Prairie Vista, Grissom & Penn from 11 a.m. – ​1 p.m. and Late Meals will be offered at Penn from 5 – 7 p.m. This is available to ANY and ALL P-H-M students. 

 The student does not have to be with the parent/adult when they pick up the meals. The adult just has to be able to show proof that they have at least one P-H-M student that they are picking up a meal for. They can show an ID card, a piece of paper with the student ID number, a report card, etc.

To help parents, Early sack meals for the following day can be picked up at the Midday and the Late Meal pick up times. 

We are doing our best to try and relieve as much stress as possible for our families. Even though our students are not in our buildings and classrooms, they are at the top of our minds. All of us at P-H-M are working to make things as stable as we can for you.
 

The message below was sent out to all P-H-M staff and families the afternoon of March 10, 2020.

Dear P-H-M Families,
 

Several members of the P-H-M Administration Team met with leaders of the St. Joseph County Department of Health today to discuss the evolving health protocols and procedures for COVID-19. Today’s meeting was part of P-H-M’s ongoing communication with local health systems and the county health department.

The Indiana State Department of Health Department (ISDH) is tracking the state’s COVID-19 cases and sharing the information on their website (click here to read). Currently the ISDH has tested 36 people across the state and six people have tested positive in the following counties: Hendricks (2), Marion (1), Boone (1), Adams (1); and Noble (1). Right now, there are no confirmed cases in Saint Joseph County. 

We are taking guidance and direction from St. Joseph County Department of Health and ISDH. At this time, we have not been advised to make any changes to our academic or extracurricular calendars. The guidance provided at this time is that the elderly and those with serious medical underlying conditions should avoid large gatherings of any kind.

St. Joseph County Department of Health will notify us immediately of a confirmed case of COVID-19 should it impact our district. If there was a confirmed case, we would work directly with and take guidance from these local and state health experts. We will only be able to share information as permitted by HIPPA and by health officials.

We are also following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations on disinfection and sanitization of high traffic areas in our buildings. P-H-M Custodial Staff has been conducting extra cleaning in our schools since the beginning of flu season; we have since increased those measures to help prevent the spread of seasonal contagious diseases. These same cleaning measures are recommended by the CDC to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

We are reminding all P-H-M staff of proper hand hygiene, and teachers are reminding students. With our younger students, teachers are giving refreshers on proper hand washing techniques. St. Joseph County Department of Health officials reiterated with us today that the CDC recommendations continue to be the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

1. Clean hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Soap and water is best, washing the hands for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Cover your mouth and nose. Remind your students to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. The best thing is to cover the mouth and nose area with a tissue and then throw the tissue immediately away. Second best, if tissues are not available, is to cough/sneeze into your elbow. 
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
    

Please remember that we are still in flu season. If students are sick please keep them home. Students should not return to school until they are fever and symptom free (this includes coughing and sneezing during flu season) for 24 hours. Both influenza and COVID-19 are respiratory viruses and the symptoms are very similar (click here for COVID-19 symptoms as described by the CDC). If you or a family member is having flu-like symptoms, you should contact your family physician for medical guidance. 

Please use these resources for more information on the COVID-19 situation nationally and in our state:

• Center for Disease Control (CDC) 
• Indiana State Department of Health (IDSH)

You can also contact the St. Joseph County Department of Health at (574) 235-9750.

Thank you for your patience during this rapidly evolving situation. We will continue to provide updates to the P-H-M family when they become available.

Dr. Jerry Thacker​
Superintendent of Schools

Registration is now OPEN!

Cost is $25 per child, per day. If you are not currently enrolled in Kids Club, you must also pay the $25 registration fee per child. Please click to register. Payment must be submitted through https://www.myprocare.com/.

Registration and payment are due and non-refundable by midnight, Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Registrations will not be accepted after that date.

Kids Club will operate at Northpoint Elementary School, 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Entry will be through Door E; there will not be a door code for entry.

Students should bring their own sack lunch and drink. Morning and afternoon snacks will be provided.

Kids Club Cell Phone: (574) 261-9974 

The application window for P-H-M Education Foundation’s Spring 2020 Grant Cycle is now open!

PHMEF grants are eligible to any P-H-M staff member who can demonstrate a program’s innovation and creativity, and reflect commitment to excellence in education. Deadline for all grant applications is 4 p.m., Friday, March 27, at the P-H-M’s Educational Services Center (55900 Bittersweet Rd., Mishawaka).

PHMEF is seeking innovative programs that have not been previous funding through past grant cycles. Note there are funding restrictions such as not paying for substitutes, food, party supplies, etc. A complete list of restrictions can be found in the application packet (click to download & print the application packet). Those applications requesting non-funded expenses will not be presented to the Grants Committee.

So parents work with your student’s teacher or principal to write up a grant proposal for a program you’ve been wishing you child’s school had. PHMEF grants are eligible to any staff member who can demonstrate their program’s innovation, creativity and reflects commitment to excellence in education. During the Fall 2019 Grant Cycle, the PHMEF awarded $10,188.63 in grants! Click here for a list of the unique Fall 2019 grant awardees.

Watch the video below to see how a PHMEF grant awarded back in 2016 to plant fruit trees at three P-H-M elementary schools came to fruition in early fall …

There are two ways to apply—EZ Form or Traditional Form. Grant applications and filing details can be found online at the Education Foundation’s website or by clicking on the links below:

1. EZ Form: for grants less than $250
2. Traditional Form: to be used for grants requesting $250 or more and/or a request that is comprehensive (multi-classroom, school-wide or district-wide requests). This form cannot be emailed. It must be sent with 10 copies each and with the appropriate signatures. Forms that don’t have these requirements and/or are not complete, will not be considered.

Your project evaluation must be submitted within 30 days of completion of the project or at the latest within the 1 year of funds being awarded. Consideration of future grants is dependent upon submission of a completed evaluation form. Click here to fill out the Grant Project Evaluation Form online.

The timeline for the PHMEF Spring Grant Cycle is as follows:

• Friday, March 27, 4:00 p.m. – All applications (EZ Form and Traditional Form) must be turned in at the ESC or emailed if it is the EZ Form by the deadline! No late applications will be accepted! Note there must be 10 copies for the traditional form.
• Between March 30 – April 22 – PHMEF grant committee meets to select recipients and presents grants for approval to the P-H-M Education Foundation Board of Directors. 
• By April 24 – Recipients will be notified by email with formal letter to follow.

Horizon Elementary hosted the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees for their regularly scheduled Board Meeting held last night (Monday, Feb. 24, 2020). Four times each school year, the Board of School Trustees visits a school within the district to "spotlight" a particular program or accomplishment. Horizon hosted the Board's third visit for the 2019-2020 school year. The other schools on this year's visitation list include Prairie Vista and Walt Disney Elementary Schools, as well as Grissom Middle School.

Horizon Principal Tressa Decker highlighted various programs at Horizon that show how the school is “Going Above and Beyond” this school year. Principal Decker introduced the Board Members to second grader Olivia Kruyer who is a young philanthropist! Olivia loves reading and has a desire to help others. Olivia raised reads to other children at the YWCA once a month and wanted to help refurbish their reading room, so she started a fundraiser raising more than $5,000. Olivia was featured on WNDU a few times for her fundraising idea.

Third grader Anica Gensic was also introduced to the Board. Anica wrote a book about “How to Handle Anger,” which explains how she and her family use self soothing methods. After reading the book to the Board, she gave Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker a signed copy!

Next up Principal Decker introduced Horizon’s VEX-IQ Robotics Team which recently won the Regional Championship and next month will be competing at the State Competition at Lucas Oil Stadium! The team coached by Mr. Derrick Fairbotham demonstrated their robots for the Board.