At the Monday, March 26 (2018) Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees Meeting, the Board approved the appointment of Aaron Leniski as P-H-M’s new Chief Operating Officer. With the retirement of Dr. Denise Seger, Aaron will succeed Dr. Seger as Chief Operating Officer with responsibilities overseeing Facilities, Transportation, Safety, as well as serving as a liaison for Penn High School’s Athletic Department.

Mr. Lenski was an outstanding student-athlete at Penn High School, graduating in 1998. He went on to play football at the University of Findlay in Ohio, earned his degree in mathematics education at IU South Bend, and completed graduate studies at Indiana Wesleyan University. He has served as a math teacher at Penn, Assistant Athletic Director at Penn, and Principal at Madison Elementary School. In July of 2015, Mr. Lenski became the Athletic Director at Penn High School.

Filling the role of Penn Athletic Director will be Penn High School Girls Soccer Coach, Jeff Hart. Coach Hart was hired in May of 2012 and has coached the Penn High School Girls Soccer team to three straight IHSAA state title games, as well as one national championship title in 2017. He has established strong relations with the Penn High School coaching staff and administration; he is well known and respected by both students and parents.

Jerry Hawkins was also named Executive Director of Business Services and with this new title, Mr. Hawkins will have full responsibility for the district’s financial business. In addition, he will also oversee the Food Services Department.

Madison Elementary School in the spotlight:

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

Madison’s Panther Pride was in the spotlight as Principal Kevin McMillen, teachers/staff and students presented on a few of the great programs and opportunities available at the school. Students from Ms. Julie Kuzdzal’s Madison’s Circle the State with Song group performed for the Board and parent audience. Other school programs were highlighted in a video that Principal McMillen showed the Board. 

*To download a high resolution jpg file from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right hand corner of the photo wile viewing it in the Photo Gallery function.

Mark your calendars now!

Excellence at Penn High School was in the spotlight today (Thursday, March 22, 2018) for a visit from Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick.

Escorted by Penn students Rebecca Luzney, Charles Lane, Italia Fields and Johnathon Laatz, Dr. McCormick got an up close and personal tour of our award winning, Four Star high school. Dr. McCormick’s tour of Penn included the innovative Early College Academy and the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Academy. 

Penn-Harris-Madison Supt. Dr. Jerry Thacker, Penn Principal Sean Galiher and P-H-M Board of School Trustees Member Jim Garrett were also on hand to give Dr. McCormick and special guest Indiana State Senator Ryan Mishler (R, 9th District) details on how Penn has been able to achieve accomplishments such as being named the state’s first large comprehensive public high school to be STEM certified in 2016.

Early College students Rebecca Luzney and Charles Lane took Dr. McCormick and guests into Spanish and Biology classes to observe (please click here to see the photo gallery below of the tour). On this part of the tour, she learned from student guides about the Early College Academy concept.  Penn’s Early College Academy is at the forefront of dual-credit programs in Indiana, and is a contributing factor in Penn’s remarkable 97 percent graduation rate. 

Next up on the tour, STEM student tour guides Italia Fields and Johnathon Laatz took Dr. McCormick into STEM Architecture and Design Processes classrooms. Dr. McCormick was able to observe and speak to those students about their current projects and even got to see a 3-D printer in action. The tour then moved into the engineering shop area to observe the Precision Machine class. The student tour guides informed Dr. McCormick about Penn’s world-class Robotics Program and the different community projects they have done. The STEM Academy was honored earlier this month when the school was named one of five schools in Indiana to achieve Project Lead the Way Distinguished School Status. 

The final stop of the visit was in the PNN TV studio, where the PNN students conducted their own interview with Dr. McCormick. This was an opportunity for the students to not only meet her, but gain real journalism experience by conducting an interview. There was a small group of Penn students who sat in as a guest audience for the interview.

Penn High School’s Center for Performing Arts brimmed with excitement as nearly 200 third, fourth and fifth graders from P-H-M’s 11 elementary schools participated in the 32nd annual P-H-M Elementary Spell Bowl on Tuesday (March 20, 2018). It was a full house; the seats were filled with family, friends and staff from the students’ home schools. Click to see the photo gallery below (To download a high resolution jpg file from the photo gallery, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right hand corner of the photo wile viewing it in the Photo Gallery function).

Each first place winning team got their picture taken with their coach, principal and Superintendent Dr. Thacker. This year's winners were a mixture from all schools. See the entire list of winners below …

3rd Grade Winners: 1st place – Northpoint with 28 points, coached by Mrs. Nichol Mondy and Ms. Molly O’Rear (team pictured to right) 2nd place – Bittersweet with 25 points 3rd place – Horizon with 22 points

4th Grade Winners: 1st place – Mary Frank with 30 points, coached by Mrs. Lindsay Helman​ (team pictured to right) 2nd place – 4-way tie between Horizon, Northpoint, Prairie Vista and Walt Disney, each with 28 points 3rd place – 2-way tie between between Meadow’s Edge and Bittersweet with 20 points each

5th Grade Winners: 1st place – Northpoint with 30 points, coached by Ms. Rosane Morehouse​ (team pictured to right) 2nd place – Mary Frank with 25 points 3rd place – Prairie Vista with 24 points

Spell Bowl consists of three six-person teams (plus one alternate) from each of the 11 elementary schools representing grades 3, 4 and 5.

Preparation for the Spell Bowl takes weeks, as teams work with their teacher coaches. Preparation includes spelling under pressure, studying word lists, learning about word sources (e.g., Latin roots) and rules such as capitalization and pluralization.

The format used for the Spell Bowl is very similar to a test. Much like a traditional spelling bee, the host, or emcee, reads a word aloud and then uses it in a sentence. The students then have a time limit of 15 seconds to write the word on paper. The words get progressively more difficult through each round. A panel of judges reviews the answers and then posts the scores for the audience to see. Scoring is one point for each correct spelling.

P-H-M’s K-5 High Ability Coordinator, Mrs. Anne-Marie Reininga, is the Spell Bowl manager and works very hard to provide students with an enriching experience.

To download a high resolution jpg file from the photo gallery, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right hand corner of the photo wile viewing it in the Photo Gallery function.

The 2018 ISSMA Middle School Festival was held this past weekend (March 17) at Penn High School.

The student music groups listed below performed and all received Gold Ratings!

• Four Orchestras from Discovery
• Four Bands from Discovery
• Three Orchestras from Grissom
• Two Bands from Grissom
• Two Orchestras from Schmucker
• Three Bands from Schmucker

In addition, the following groups received a Gold Rating "With Distinction" for a most outstanding performance:

• Discovery Orchestra #1
• Discovery Orchestra #4
• Grissom MS Orchestra #2
• Schmucker Orchestra #1
• Schmucker Orchestra #2
• Schmucker Band #1
• Schmucker Band #3

This level of performance shows great passion and great care from our teachers, as well as excellent preparation and dedication from our students!

If you will be an incoming freshman student-athlete next year, Penn High School and St. Joseph Health Systems is offering 2018-19 Athletic Physicals on Tuesday, May 22, from 3:17-5 p.m. in Penn’s Arena Gym. The cost is $25. Checks must be made payable to Penn High School. Penn will also accept cash and credit card payment at the door. Credit card payment is subject to a $1 processing fee. This is open to all Penn High School students and incoming freshmen.

You can opt to have your physical done by your personal physician at their office. However,

please remember that the IHSAA requires physicals be completed AFTER April 1, 2018, in order to be valid for the 2018-19 school year. Click here to download a copy of the IHSAA Pre-Participation Physical Form to have your doctor complete. 

Student-athletes attending the Penn/St. Joseph Health Systems Physicals should have their physical forms COMPLETELY FILLED OUT, INCLUDING PARENT SIGNATURE, before the physical is completed.

We also ask all parents of Penn student-athletes to register their athlete using the “Register My Athlete” website. Click here for instructions.

Saturday, May 5

8:30 a.m. – Noon

Penn High School

Register online today!

Do you like bubbles? Well, if you do, you’ll enjoy this fun change coming to the Silver Mile this year. The Silver Mile 5K Run/Walk will now be a Bubble Bash! 

What is a Bubble Bash, you ask? Watch the video below from P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker and then click here to register your family today!

The non-timed 5K Run/Walk will incorporate bubble stations along the route for participants to travel through during the event. The Fun Walk will now be incorporated into this event, and there will be an option to take a shorter loop for those not wanting to run/walk the 5K. This event will start at 9:00 a.m. on the TCU Freed Field Track.

After the Bubble Bash, runners and families are invited inside Penn High School’s cafeteria for the Education & Health and Fitness Fair complete with free health screenings provided by the St. Joseph Medical Center. The popular Silent Auction offers a chance to bid on prime Penn student parking spaces and new this year … Penn Commencement front row seat!!! Student works of art and other items from community businesses are also offered. And the Talent Showcase has been expanded to an hour this year.

All proceeds benefit the P-H-M Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support excellence in education in all 15 P-H-M schools by awarding innovative teaching grants, scholarships to students, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.

Click here for early bird registration and for more information on the Bubble Bash.

Monday, April 30 (Rain Date Wed., May 2)

3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

behind Elm Road Elementary School 

59400 Elm Road, Mishawaka

“Running is Elementary” is gearing up for another great year! This is the 10^th year for the one mile, non-competitive run which will feature the participation of almost 700 fourth and fifth grade students from all 11 P-H-M elementary schools. This event is free to students and takes place on the Penn cross-country course located behind Elm Road Elementary School.

Horizon physical education teacher and P-H-M’s 2009 Teacher of the Year Cindy Batalis began this event in 2008. Running has always been a true passion for Batalis and she shares that passion with students by organizing this yearly event.

Each school year fourth and fifth graders are encouraged to join the running club at each of P-H-M’s elementary schools. The kids go through this six-week club trained by designated coaches at each school. The end of the six weeks is then celebrated by participating in the Running is Elementary run.

The event is hosted by the P-H-M Education Foundation and Corporations for Education.

Approximately 150 students attended this year’s Young Authors’ Conference with their parents (Saturday, March 10). This year’s guest writer was Ruth McNally Barshaw, author and illustrator of Ellie McDoodle Diaries and Leopold the Lion.

P-H-M students in grades K-5 enjoyed the unique opportunity to learn directly from a well-known children’s writer. Barshaw led the students through sketching exercises and gave them creative writing and storytelling techniques. After the program was over, Barshaw held a book signing for the families. As a reward for the students that waited in line for 2 hours … she did their illustrations as part of giving the students her autograph! See the photo gallery below.

Students aren’t the only ones that benefit from the Young Authors’ Conference, parents do too! While students were participating in their small group writing sessions, parents attended a special presentation by Prairie Vista teacher and writing expert Carrie Mumaw who gave parents fun tips on ways to inspire ideas for creative writing with their children. Click here for Mrs. Mumaw’s presentation.

Students and parents also enjoyed a presentation of “Stuart Little” by Bethel College Genesians. This was the 10th year for Young Authors’ Conference; it is sponsored by Corporations for Education, a division of the P-H-M Education Foundation. 

Parking will not be allowed along the back drive on the east side towards the football practice field (the area highlighted in red in the picture below). These parking spaces will be designated CONSTRUCTION PARKING ONLY from 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. starting on Monday, March 5, and remaining that way through the summer and into the start of the 2018-19 school year.

Parking next to the building and the designated handicap parking spots will remain unchanged.