Breakfast with Santa has been a big hit for more than 30 years at P-H-M and this year was no exception!

On Saturday, December 2, 300 people had the chance to spend some time with Santa at Bittersweet Elementary School. The attendees were treated to a program that included a laser show titled “Laser Holidays” at the DVT, breakfast in the cafeteria and then a personal visit with Santa. Please see a photo gallery below.

See you next year!

P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker was recognized last night (Thursday, Nov. 30) as Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS) 2017 Outstanding Educator of the Year!

This is the second time Dr. Thacker has received this prestigious honor from his IAPSS peers; the first time was in 2013. He was also named Indiana Superintendent of the Year in 2012 and received the Sagamore of the Wabash in 2014—Indiana’s highest award—from then Governor Mike Pence. He has also been recognized as Alumnus of the Year from both IUSB and Bethel College.

Dr. Thacker began his career in education in Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation as a 6th grade teacher at Madison Elementary School. Having filled a variety of leadership roles at districts across Indiana and Michigan, in July 2006 he returned to the P-H-M schools to serve as superintendent. Under Dr. Thacker’s leadership, the Indiana Department of Education has consistently named P-H-M an “A” Rated School District. The School Corporation now ranks in the state’s top 4% of public school districts with nine Four Star Schools.

The musical talents of middle school and high school students were showcased at the Penn High School Kaleidoscope Concert on Wednesday, November 15 and Thursday, November 16.

The groups that performed were the combined P-H-M eighth-grade band, the Penn High School Symphonic Winds, the Penn Advanced Jazz Ensemble and a stand-still performance by the Penn Marching Kingsmen.

Please see a photo gallery below of the combined P-H-M eighth-grade band (comprised of students from Discovery, Grissom and Schmucker).

Penn High School, regarded as one of the top high schools in Indiana, will feature its educational opportunities for prospective and current students during the Penn Showcase, 6:30-8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, and Tuesday, Dec. 12.

The Showcase event will start in the Center for the Performing Arts, and the Studio Theater. Events will then be held in the Cafeteria, Commons and classrooms across the building.

“The Showcase is designed to help incoming parents and students learn about all Penn has to offer, from Academies, to classes, and even extra-curricular activities,” Penn World Languages Academy Leader Kelley Watts said. “The Showcase also helps current 9th, 10th, and 11th graders and their parents make educated decisions about the pathways they should be following and the classes in which they should be enrolling.” 

Current eighth-grade students can explore possible pathways, electives, and clubs and activities.

Current ninth, 10th and 11th graders can explore elective courses and the achievement academies.

Named a Four-Star School by the state of Indiana, Penn High School is a heralded 90-25-90 school, surpassing the benchmarks of excellence by having a graduation rate of more than 90 percent, having more than 25 percent of students taking Advanced Placement classes, and having more than 90 percent of students passing ISTEP.

Current Penn-Harris-Madison students and families, along with those who live within P-H-M boundaries but maybe attending other schools, are invited to attend. The is an opportunity for community members, students and families to learn more about all the amazing programs Penn High School has to offer.

All visitors should enter Penn High School at Door C on Monday, Dec. 11, and Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Here is a schedule of the nights’ events:

• Welcome and orientation for current eighth-graders will be held in the Center for Performing Arts starting at 6:30 p.m.
• Welcome and diploma track overview for current students is scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. in the Studio Theater.
• Honors/ACP/AP/Dual Credit Class Presentations will be from 7:10 to 7:35 p.m. in LGI-A.

At the conclusion of the Welcome sessions, students may visit the cafeteria, where teachers representing the Academies and elective classes will be available to answer questions and provide information. Representatives of Penn Exceptional Education Academy will also be available to answer questions.

Elective areas to tour and meet teachers include:

• Visual Arts
• Business
• Family and Consumer Science
• World Language
• Performing Arts
• Health & Wellness
• Technology  

The Elkhart Area Career Center will also have staffers available to provide information in the Commons area.

Representatives of Penn’s Counseling Center will also be available to provide support in the course selection process.

Representatives of the clubs at Penn High School will be available to meet with students in the Commons area in front of the Instructional Materials Center (by the large Kingsman sculpture).

With a graduation rate of more than 97 percent, Penn High School offers exceptional opportunities for college and career readiness through its academies – STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Health and Human Services, Management and Business, Fine Arts and Communications, Early College, and Freshman Academy.

Penn stresses the Penn-Harris-Madison Triangle of Success – rigor, relationships, and relevance – while also being dedicated to a technology-rich learning environment. Each Penn student is issued a personal Chromebook.

For more information about Penn High School, email Principal Sean Galiher at srgaliher@phm.k12.in.us.

At the Board Meeting held Monday, November 13, the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees approved the agreement between the P-H-M Teachers Association and the School Corporation increasing the minimum base starting salary for current P-H-M teachers and new hires for the 2018-19 school year to $39,300—the highest starting teacher salary in the area!

“Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is committed to providing an excellent education to all of our district’s students,” commented Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker. “And an excellent education starts with exceptional teachers. This new agreement will help us attract and retain the best teachers in our area.”

For current eligible P-H-M teachers, the agreement will be retroactive to July 1, 2017 running through June 20, 2018 and will provide increases indicated below:

• Teachers with a base salary range of  $37,500 – $39,999, will receive a salary increase of $1,800;
• base salary range of $40,000 – $55,999, will receive a $1,600 increase;
• base salary range of $56,000 – $64,478, will receive a $1,300 increase plus a one-time $300 stipend;
• and those with the base salary of $64,479 and above, will receive a $1,250 increase plus a one-time $350 stipend.

Teachers who coach extracurricular activities, academic and athletic, will receive a 3% increase in their stipends. Several new academic ECA positions have been added increasing the district’s commitment to excellence in education.

The PHMTA membership overwhelmingly ratified the agreement Friday, Nov. 10. The collaboration between P-H-M administration and the Teachers’ Association shows the value and vision that both sides share in attracting and retaining the area’s most highly qualified teachers.

P-H-M schools participated in Veterans Day programs today.

At Bittersweet Elementary, members of the local VFW spoke to Bittersweet 5th grade students about the history of the flag, meaning, the Star Spangled Banner and how to properly fold a U.S. flag as part of their the Flag Awareness Program. They also presented the school with a new flag and conducted a flag retirement and raising ceremony for students. Click here to read the full story and see a photo gallery.

At Grissom Middle School, the eighth grade students as part of their Social Studies class learning host the annual the school’s Veteran’s Day celebration. The celebration is a way of not just learning history first hand, but a chance to say thank you by meeting and honoring veterans in person. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R, 2^nd District) was also on hand as the honored guest speaker. Click here to read the full story and see a photo gallery.

At Schmucker, the keynote speaker Major General Peter K. Sullivan. Major General Sullivan is the mobilization assistant to the assistant secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, the Pentagon, Washington D.C. As part of the Major General’s remarks, he asked for every veteran to stand and give his name, rank and the branch of the military he or she served in. A couple of World War II veterans were in attendance. Click here to read the full story and see a photo gallery.

Out of 410 Indiana High School Athletic Association members, only one — Penn High School – hoisted a Sectional Championship trophy in each of the eight Fall Sports.

Penn-Harris-Madison Supt. Dr. Jerry Thacker, Penn Principal Principal Sean Galiher, and Athletic Director Aaron Leniski announced that for the first time, Penn swept Sectional Championships in each of the eight IHSAA Fall sports, and that Penn is the only school in the state to accomplish that feat this year.

“What an amazing example of excellence!” Dr. Thacker said. “I am so proud of these champions – coaches and players.  They are remarkable role models and products of our Triangle of Success.  Congratulations!”

Galiher lauded the efforts of the entire Penn community in the remarkable achievement.

“This accomplishment reflects the collective efforts of our students, coaches, teachers, parents and school community,” Galiher said. “I am so proud of these student-athletes. We take great pride in providing experiences that challenge students both academically and on the field. Our coaches are the best in the state.  “

Leniski said that being the only team in the state this year to sweep Sectional crowns in all of the Fall Sports is a comprehensive effort.

“The Athletic Department is pleased to play a vital role in providing education-based athletics for our school community,” Leniski said. “The school administration is extremely proud of the accomplishments by the Fall sports teams. 

“An IHSAA Sectional Championship, due to the number teams involved at that tournament level, is the most challenging championship to earn in the state series.  Our student-athletes and coaching staff have dedicated countless hours in the off-season to sports-performance training and open-facility development work in order to attain their goals. 

“Hard work, dedication, and perseverance continue to produce outstanding results on the athletic field and in the classroom for Kingsmen student-athletes,” Leniski said. “This is a win-win for our school community.”

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY (Coach Tom Miller): Penn won its second consecutive Cross Country Sectional Championship and 22nd in Program history. The Kingsmen placed five runners in the Top 10. Penn scored 27 points. Mishawaka placed second with 68 points. The Kingsmen also won a Regional Championship.

BOYS SOCCER (Coach Josh Nakayama): Penn won its seventh consecutive Sectional Championship in Boys Soccer and 11th overall with a 2-1 victory against South Bend Riley in the Championship Match.

BOYS TENNIS (Coach Eric Bowers): Penn won its 16th consecutive Sectional Championship in Boys Tennis and 23rd Sectional Championship overall. The Kingsmen defeated Marian, 5-0, in the Championship Match. The Kingsmen also won a Regional Championship.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY (Coach Michael Clements): Penn won its 14th consecutive Girls Cross Country Sectional Championship and 26th overall. The Kingsmen placed six runners in the Top 10 to finish with 29 points. Mishawaka placed second with 52 points. The Kingsmen also won a Regional Championship.

GIRLS GOLF (Coach Dominic Demeter): Penn Girls Golf  won its ninth Sectional Championship in a row and 19th in Program history. Penn shot a 349 to lead the 11-team field. South Bend St. Joseph placed second with a score of 367.

GIRLS SOCCER (Coach Jeff Hart): Penn extended its state-best streak of consecutive Sectional Championships to 11. The Kingsmen own 16 Sectional Championships in Program history. Penn went on to win the Class 3-A State Championship, and were named National Champions by topdrawersoccer.com.

FOOTBALL (Coach Cory Yeoman): Penn beat Warsaw, 40-0, to win its fifth consecutive Football Sectional Championship and 24th in Program history. Penn competes in the Regional Championship at Crown Point on Friday, Nov. 10.

VOLLEYBALL (Coach Sarah Hendricks): Penn defeated No. 16 LaPorte, 25-14, 25-13, 25-16, to win the Sectional Championship. It was the 14th Sectional Championship in Program history.

Penn High School honored 15 student-athletes who participated in NCAA National Signing Day on Wed., Nov. 8.

Click here for a list for a profile of each student-athlete.

In honor of upcoming Veteran’s Day, P-H-M’s DVT & Planetarium is proud to show once again the historical mini documentary “D-Day: Normandy 1944” narrated by Tom Brokaw.  

The showing will be at the P-H-M DVT/Planetarium on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m. The DVT/Planetarium is located inside Bittersweet Elementary School at 55860 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka.

In gratitude to our veteran’s, the show will be FREE TO ALL VETERANS!!!

Ticket prices for adults are $4, Seniors $3 and children are $2.

Do you like to dance? Do you want to learn how to spin a flag? Do you like to perform?

All levels are welcome to come to the Penn Cadet Winter Guard Auditions at Walt Disney Elementary School (enter in back). There will be two audition dates of Monday, Nov.20 and Wednesday, November 22. Audition times for both dates are 6-8 p.m.

Girls and boys, grades 4-6, will be accepted. 

Rehearsals will be every Monday and Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. Competitions will begin Saturday, January 27.

Come be a part of this incredible performing arts group!

Click here to download and print the flyer.