Penn Principal Steve Hope, pictured above right, and Engineering/Robotics instructor Jim Langfeldt, observe work on the “Voice for Braylen” project.  

Penn High School principal Steve Hope, Penn STEM Academy Leader Rachel Fry, and the Indiana Department of Education have announced that Penn’s  Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academy has been designated a full STEM-certified program, making it the first large, comprehensive public high school in Indiana to achieve the elite status!

The Indiana Department of Education singled out and congratulated Penn’s STEM Academy as the only full STEM-certified program in the “School within a School” model.  

According to the Indiana Department of Education, Full STEM Certification is awarded to schools or programs that demonstrate a commitment to providing high quality STEM programs in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math, while preparing students for success in the 21^st century. 

A total of 16 schools in the state applied for STEM certification this year; but Penn is unique among them in that it is not an entire STEM school, just the Academy. Only nine schools were STEM certified this year. Penn is now one of 19 STEM-certified programs or schools in Indiana.

Hope called the STEM certification a significant milestone.

“Penn High School's certification as an Indiana Department of Education Full STEM Program is a major accomplishment for our school and community,” Hope said. “The rigorous accreditation process recognizes only the highest quality programs, with state-of-the-art facilities and instructional programs that incorporate best practices like problem-based learning.

“I applaud the efforts of the teachers in technology, math and science who have come together integrating coursework to make our STEM Academy successful. I also applaud the efforts of all teachers as we continue to implement relevant coursework and mastery of skills that support the success of every student. STEM Academy Leader Mrs. Rachel Fry did a great job of collaborating with students, teachers and administration to complete the certification process and arrange for the Indiana Department of Education site visit.”

According to Hope, STEM certification will have a major impact.

“The STEM certification from the Indiana Department of Education is also a boon for this area,” Hope said. “As we build and maintain quality programs that offer relevant learning experiences, we make the P-H-M schools a draw for businesses to locate in our community. The college and career pathways available to our students in not only the STEM Academy, but also in the Fine Arts and Communications Academy, the Health and Human Services Academy and the Management and Business Academy all help our students transition from high school to the myriad of post-secondary options. These efforts also help to keep our graduates in our state and our community.”

Penn High School Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academy teachers and students showcased innovative and relevant learning in the STEM Academy Expo on Thursday, April 21.

At the Expo, Penn High School student Chris Dell spoke to representatives of the Indiana Department of Education representatives about his involvement with the “Hand of Grace” project, in which Penn technology students constructed a prosthetic hand for a Madison Elementary school student.

John Gensic, a Penn High School biology teacher and P-H-M’s 2016 Teacher of the Year, talked about working with scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a research project on Lake Michigan last summer.

“Although the certification process was lengthy, it was extremely exciting to document all of the wonderful things taking place in Penn High School's STEM Academy,” Fry said. “The  Penn High School Achievement Academies strive to connect students to community partners, specific to their area of interest, in order to provide them relevant learning experiences and opportunities.  IDOE STEM certification is proof that we are doing just that.” 

Fry noted the efforts of students and teachers to generate learning through work on authentic projects, and searching for real solutions to real problems.

“The teachers work tirelessly to develop partnerships with community members, businesses, and organizations,” Fry said.

Learning projects such as “Hand of Grace,” the annual Innovation Challenge with Whirlpool, Women in Technology (WIT) Day, Research Club, Computer Science Internship (CSI), Medical Statistics, Amboseli Baboon Research, “A Voice for Braylen”, and the STEM Expo were key components in Penn’s STEM certification.

Other classes, innovations and projects that were showcased during the application process were the Aerospace Engineering class, Robotics I & II, student-made drones and the augmented reality sandbox with Earth & Space science students.

Indiana Supt. of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz said congratulated the STEM-certified schools in a press release.

“I am pleased to recognize Indiana’s STEM Certified Schools today,” Ritz said. “Programs like these provide students with the tools they need to be successful after high school, whether they go to college or enter the workforce. Moving forward, my Department is committed to working with all schools to ensure that every student has the opportunity to be exposed to high-quality STEM programs.”

STEM Certified Schools must demonstrate a commitment to employing inquiry and project-based learning, community engagement, student-centered classrooms, and out-of-school STEM opportunities.

P-H-M will conduct two Summer School sessions prior to the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

Session 1 is scheduled from June 6 to June 24. Session 2 is scheduled from June 27 to July 18. There is no summer school on Monday, July 4.

Times vary depending on the program, please refer to the programs below. Please also check below for meal and transportation information.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SUMMER ACADEMY (June 6 – 24)

P-H-M’s English as a New Language (ENL) program serves all District students whose first language is not English. This summer academy offers more practice, exposure and tutorial opportunities for the students in the ENL program. P-H-M Transportation is offered.

Students currently in Grades K-5: Meadow’s Edge, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, lunch included

Students currenly in Grades 6 – 12: Penn High School, 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday – Friday

IREAD-3 SUMMER SCHOOL, Session 1 (June 6 – June 24)

Third graders who are preparing for the summer IREAD assessment will be invited to this intensive program taking place at Meadow’s Edge Elementary School. Classes will be held Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, along with P-H-M transportation.

ELEMENTARY SUMMER SCHOOL, Session 2 (June 27 – July 18, Closed July 4)

Current P-H-M elementary students who need the academic boost from summer instruction will receive invitations to attend a session at either Meadow's Edge or Walt Disney Elementary School. Classes will be held Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, along with P-H-M transportation.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER SCHOOL, Session 2 (June 27 – July 18, Closed July 4)

Current P-H-M middle school students who receive invitations and attend this program at Schmucker Middle School will be better prepared for classroom success next year. Classes will be held Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. A snack will be provided to students. P-H-M transportation will be available.

PENN HIGH SUMMER SCHOOL, Session 1 (June 6 – June 24)
PENN HIGH SUMMER SCHOOL, Session 2 (June 27 – July 18, Closed July 4)

P-H-M students entering grades 9-12 must register with their school guidance counselor to take high school classes at Penn for credit in either summer session. Some students will work online to complete coursework and make up credits. Classes will be held Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. P-H-M transportation will be available.

DRIVERS EDUCATION (Two sessions: June 6 – 17 and July 5 – 18)  Click for details 

Offered by Premier Driving Institute and based at Penn High School, it includes both classroom time and behind-the-wheel driver’s training. 

The 57^th Commencement Exercises for Penn High School took place Friday, May 27, at the Purcell Pavilion on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. There was a lot to be proud of from the nearly 850 seniors made up the Class of 2016, click here to see their “Points of Pride.” Here are some photographs taken at the happy event. 

Bob Yenna, a retired Grissom Middle School teacher, got quite a surprise when he visited his old school this morning, Tuesday, May 31. The former 7th and 8th grade Language Arts teacher was greeted by nearly 600 students, Grissom Principal Nathan Boyd, Penn-Harris-Madison School Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, and representatives from Riley Hospital for Children, as well as his own children and grandchildren.  The group was assembled in the gymnasium to witness a special event and a great honor: bestowing Indiana’s Sagamore of the Wabash award on the unsuspecting Yenna. 

Dr. Thacker—himself a 2014 Sagamore of the Wabash recipient—and Susan Miles from Riley Children’s Foundation presented Yenna with the state’s most prestigious award at the morning ceremony. Governor Mike Pence chose Bob Yenna as one of this year’s Hoosiers to receive the award in recognition of his very personal commitment to help raise more than $220,000 for Riley Hospital for Children.

Why? In 1978, Yenna’s 4-year-old daughter Heather was stricken with a rare form of cancer. Rhabdomyosarcoma attacked her muscles, tendons, cartilage and bone. She was at Riley for 6 months, and her life was saved. Feeling helpless to fight the diseases that ravaged their young children’s bodies, Yenna and the father of a child in the hospital room next to his daughter’s wanted to raise money for research. So the two determined fathers came up with the idea for the “Ride for Riley.”

The two rode a tandem bicycle 150 miles from Mishawaka/South Bend to Indianapolis. Their unique idea raised $9,000! They did the ride for about five years and then stopped for a few years. But Yenna’s fellow Grissom teachers talked him into starting the ride again. During the school year, Yenna even got the students involved, hosting activities through which the students could also raise money. Then, at the end of the year, Yenna and members of the Grissom staff would “Ride to Riley” to present the check of Grissom’s year of fundraising efforts.

Yenna retired in June 2012 with 33 years of service to P-H-M, all of them at Grissom, but he continued the annual ride with his Grissom family. As of last November, Yenna had made the ride 15 times! He was recognized for his devotion with the 2015 Dr. Morris Green Champion for Children Award from Riley Hospital. 

Click here to watch a video about Yenna’s passion to help give back to Riley Hospital for saving his daughter’s life. Fittingly, Heather was on hand for her father’s award presentation, joined by her proud brothers, Hollis and Heath.  

Stepping to the microphone to accept the award and express his gratitude, Bob Yenna addressed the middle school students in front of him. He emphasized how much truth is in the adage, “It’s better to give, than to receive,” and he encouraged them to become conscious givers so they could know the rewards and the richness of that experience, as he has. 

The Sagamore of the Wabash Award was created by the state of Indiana during Governor Ralph F. Gates' term of office from 1945 to 1949. “Sagamore” was the term used by tribal chiefs of Native American tribes to signify outstanding leadership. The Wabash is the "State River" of Indiana. Each governor since Gates has chosen to recognize notable recipients for their efforts to our state of Indiana. 

A team of Grissom employees is about to Ride to Riley again!

They depart June 2 and are collecting donations now.  To support the 2016 Ride to Riley, please click here now.

Penn High School and Principal Steve Hope will host the school's 57^th Commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 27 (7:00 p.m.) at the University of Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion.

Boasting 850 graduating seniors, Penn’s Class of 2016 showcased remarkable academic success, earning a combined value of college scholarships exceeding $9 million!

This year’s graduating class has 16 Valedictorians who will be studying everything from finance and business science to biomedical engineering. With GPAs ranging from 4.3103 to 4.4655, Penn’s Valedictorians will be attending such schools as University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, Purdue University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, The Ohio State University, Northwestern University and Cornell University. The three Salutatorians will all be attending Indiana University in the fall. To learn more about Penn’s top academic students, please click here.

More than half of the graduating class – 432 seniors – earned Academic Honors Diplomas, and 72 are receiving Technical Honors Diplomas.

One-third of Penn’s graduates – 296 seniors – earned High Honors (a 3.5 grade-point average or higher).

The Class of 2016 also has nine National Merit Finalists.

Senior Recognition Night was held May 10. The Senior Class chose Brooke Conrady as the Kingsman of the Year! Awarded annually since 1970, the Kingsman of the Year Award is the highest form of respect classmates can show to a leader in their class. Conrady is a member of Penn’s Health & Human Services Academy. She will continue her education at Indiana University. 

Camden Bohn, who will be attending Harvard University to study engineering, was named the winner of the Schmucker Award! The outstanding student award is voted on by the Penn faculty. Camden is a remarkable student-athlete. Not only is Camden one of this year’s 16 Valedictorians, he was also quarterback leading Penn to the Class 6A Football State Championship last fall. While Penn finished Runner-Up, Camden was awarded the prestigious Phil N. Eskew IHSAA Mental Attitude Award and also made 1st Team All-Conference and MVP.

Click here for logistical information about Commencement for general attendees. 

In two recent rankings—the Washington Post’s “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” and U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High Schools”—Penn High School ranks high for college and career readiness. Penn High School's graduation rate exceeds the state of Indiana’s with a 97% graduation rate and is rated a 90-25-90 school by the IDOE.  Penn is also one of the District’s six “Four Star schools” for the 2015-2016 school year, as named by the IDOE. In order to achieve this designation, a school must be in the top 25th percentile of schools in two ISTEP-based categories. Additionally, a qualifying school must have earned the highest designation in the state’s accountability system and be accredited by the Indiana Department of Education. A total of 287 schools received the award throughout the state. The other P-H-M “Four Star schools” are: Horizon Elementary, Mary Frank Elementary, Prairie Vista Elementary, Northpoint Elementary and Discovery Middle School. P-H-M has been rated an “A-rated” school district by the Indiana Department of Education, six years in a row. 

For the 2015 ISTEP+, P-H-M earned an 81.4% pass rate for ELA (English/Language Arts); 78.0% pass rate for Math; and an overall combined pass rate of 72.1% for both subjects areas. P-H-M now ranks 10th in the state among 293 public school districts. 100% of P-H-M teachers rank either highly effective or effective. To learn more about our school district, click here.

Just like those of every other year, the valedictorians and salutatorians of Penn High School’s Class of 2016 have worked exponentially hard to earn the exceptional grade-point averages and class ranks they have today.  

The Indiana Department of Education has announced the 2014-15 Four Star Schools and six Penn-Harris-Madison Schools made the annual roster for this elite distinction.

P-H-M’s Four Star Schools are Horizon, Mary Frank, Northpoint and Prairie Vista Elementary Schools, along with Discovery Middle School and Penn High School.

In order to achieve this designation, a school must be in the top 25th percentile of schools in two ISTEP-based categories. Additionally, a qualifying school must have earned the highest designation in the state’s accountability system and be accredited by the Indiana Department of Education. A total of 287 schools received the award throughout the state. A complete list of the schools that received the award, as well as a more complete methodology outlining Four Star determination, can be found on the IDOE’s website.

In January, the 2015 ISTEP+ scores were released and P-H-M ranked 10th in the state among 293 public school districts. The District earned an 81.4% pass rate for ELA (English/Language Arts); 78.0% pass rate for Math; and an overall combined pass rate of 72.1% for both subjects areas. P-H-M was also rated an “A-rated” school district for the 6^th year in a row.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation serves approximately 10,700 students in 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and Penn High School. Penn High School's graduation rate exceeds the state’s with a 97% graduation rate and is rated a 90-25-90 school by the IDOE. 100% of P-H-M teachers rank either highly effective or effective. 

Penn High School and Principal Steve Hope honored the Class of 2016 on Senior Recognition Night on May 10, 2016.

A total of 30 students were honored for their achievement in the Academies of Penn High School at a unique event held at the school on May 19. 

Students, parents, and faculty gathered in the Center for the Performing Arts that morning to celebrate the personal and academic success of this group of college-bound seniors representing themselves and their peers from the Class of 2016.  

These young men and women have accomplished much during their high school careers, and Penn’s academy structure was credited as one reason for their success. These 30 students have committed to attending fifteen different collegiate programs in Indiana and across the United States, come fall. 

The Academies of Penn High School—Fine Arts; Health and Human Services; Management and Business; and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)—have played a key role in college and career readiness for all of Penn’s students.

“The academies have transformed how we think about serving students,” Penn High School principal Steve Hope said. “No longer is graduating from Penn High School our goal. Rather, we are looking to help students make a successful transition from Penn to a thoughtful post-secondary plan leading to entering the workforce, the military, a two-year college, technical school or a four-year college.

“We have sought to make a more meaningful and relevant senior year with problem-based learning with our many community partners,” Hope continued. “All of these changes added up to better serving our students so that all Penn graduates will find success after graduation.”

Click here to see student honorees. 

CANVAS is an online communication platform that connects students, parents and teachers. CANVAS has boosted the success of P-H-M’s Chromebook program in middle and high school, and most of our users have given it a “thumbs up” this year.

Starting June 6, 2016, P-H-M’s CANVAS users will see a new and improved “dashboard” when they log on. In addition to the new look, the user will have new options for organizing and viewing CANVAS content. We think the changes being made to the user interface will merit two thumbs up!  

Parents and students, watch the video below for an overview of the changes. 

The URL (web address ) to CANVAS is not changing. You will find it at the same location, or by using the same link or shortcut, as you have used in the past. 

• Click here to go to the CANVAS login page now, or copy/paste this address into your browser bar: https://phm.instructure.com/ to go there. 

Your login information will not change. Your CANVAS login is the same as your HAC (Home Access Center) login.

• Contact the school office or email the HAC helpdesk HAC@phm.k12.in.us if you need help setting up your account. 

Visit the Canvas Help Page for additional resources and information.