Penn High students participated and placed in the recent Canstruction competition hosted at University Park Mall. The challenge: Constructing large 3-dimensional displays of stacked food cans in entertaining or surprising forms. The purpose: Raising awareness about local hunger, while gathering and donating thousands of cans of food to alleviate hunger.

Canstruction is the international program behind the local “junior” event. Success depends on student creativity and ingenuity along with community support.  Penn took a multi-disciplinary approach, combining the forces of Architecture students, an Introduction to Engineering coed class as well as an all-female engineering class.  With leadership from teachers Jim Langfeldt and Josiah Parker, the students undertook a massive food drive, then trucked the 7,000 cans they collected to the mall, followed by many hours of precise stacking in the Center Court on Friday, October 9.

After the students finished and stepped back, shoppers could recognize the subjects of their two colorful displays: one was Rosie the Riveter, the iconic WWII figure, and the other a much more contemporary character, Pac-Man of the game fame!  Rosie received the “Voters’ Choice” award and “Best Meal” award, while Pac-Man won in the “Creativity” category.

At the conclusion of the event all the canned goods were donated to Hope Ministries, serving our St. Joseph County neighbors in need.  The students benefited too from the hands-on collaborative learning experience, not to mention the fun of working together and the satisfaction of seeing their vision take shape. 

Speak Up is a national research initiative that seeks to gather widespread input on the topic of educational technology.  Each fall the Speak Up survey is posted online so students, parents, teachers, school staff, and the general public can share their views on technology in schools. 

The Speak Up survey has three primary objectives:

• To provide a means for local schools and districts to easily and effectively listen to and act upon the ideas of their stakeholders
• To provide a conduit for the voices of education stakeholders, most notably students, to inform national and state policies and programs
• To stimulate new local discussions around the use of technology within education.

Survey results are typically released in February, and are important to those who shape educational policy, direct school finance, create curriculum, and implement technology in our schools.

Penn-Harris-Madison participates in the survey in part because we are recipients of a Digital Learning Grant that helps to fund our technology.  

Another reason we support Speak Up is because the results can be helpful in the development of our formal technology plans. Each P-H-M school develops and follows a 3-year technology plan that outlines its goals for educational technology and directs how resources may be spent to achieve those goals.

Here’s a link to learn more about the SPEAK UP survey and the agency that conducts the research, Project Tomorrow.  Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Speak Up here.

Or, you may want to just jump right in and take the survey!

Parents and community members CLICK HERE to TAKE THE SPEAK UP SURVEY NOW

The survey takes 15-20 minutes to complete and you will not need to create an account. The survey will be open until December 18 and the link on this webpage will remain active until then. 

P-H-M staff and students will have opportunities to take their version of the Speak Up survey at school / at work through arrangements made in the coming weeks.

This morning (Wed., September 30, 2015) in a special meeting Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees unanimously voted to approve the Teachers Agreement for the 2015-2016 school year raising the eligible teachers’ salaries by at least $2,000.

In the new one-year agreement ratified Friday, Sept. 25 by the Teachers Association, the starting salary for teachers will go from $35,000 to $37,000. For teachers receiving a rating of “Effective” or “Highly Effective” for the 2014-2015 school year, who made $61,479 or more during the 2014-2015 school year, will receive a $2,000 increase to their base salary. Teachers in their second contract year or above and make less than $61,479 will receive a $2,500 increase.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation has been consistently rated an “A-rated” school district by the Indiana Department of Education with 100% of P-H-M teachers rated “Effective” or “Highly Effective.”

Along with raising teachers’ salaries, the School Corporation was also able to maintain health insurance premiums; therefore, employees will not see an increase in employee insurance contributions.

“This is a way to recognize and thank our teachers for the contributions they make to providing excellence in the classroom for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker. “P-H-M wants to not only attract the best school teachers, but retain them. These benefits help make that possible.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today that Prairie Vista Elementary School is among the 335 schools (10 in Indiana) named a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School. Prairie Vista is being recognized for being “Exemplary High Performing School,” per the Department of Education’s classifications.

This makes the second time that the Penn-Harris-Madison elementary school has been awarded this national honor; the first award was given in 1996-97. The school has a strong track record of maintaining high standards and helping their students achieve academic success.  For the past seven years, the Indiana Department of Education has also recognized Prairie Vista as a Four Star School.

Principal Keely Twibell is calling an all-school assembly this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. to make the surprise announcement to students, teachers and staff so that everyone could share in the excitement together.

“This is a remarkable accomplishment for our students and teaching staff,” said Twibell. “Prairie Vista was selected for this award based on a comprehensive review of our achievements over the past five years. This award belongs to all of us because it is the combination of talented educators, energetic students, committed parents and a supportive community and school district that makes Prairie Vista such an outstanding school. ”

Organized into traditional K-5 grade levels, averaging 25 students per class, Prairie Vista is a diverse student-centered learning community where 21 languages are represented amongst our student body. The staff of 65 creates a safe, secure, nurturing and diverse environment for each and every one of the 500 students.

“Today’s award is an affirmation for Prairie Vista and P-H-M School Corporation that our formula for success works,” said Penn Harris Madison School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker. “Students committed themselves, they were supported by their parents and families, and of course were guided and taught by excellent teachers … that’s the P-H-M ‘Triangle of Success’—students, parents, teachers!”

Success at Prairie Vista is not just defined by academic excellence, fostering strong character development in students is also paramount. The school’s positive behavior plan (PRIDE) and Whole Brain Teaching strategies empower students to take ownership of their actions and learning. Students are nurtured as leaders, producing videos and crafting morning announcements to positively influence their own school culture. A commitment to rigor and relevance leads students to become problem solvers, critical thinkers and decision makers prepared to thrive in college, career and life.

Prairie Vista’s 2015 recognition makes the eighth time that a P-H-M school has received the National Blue Ribbon designation: Penn High School in 1994, 1995 and again in 2001; Discovery Middle School in 2006 and 2013; Northpoint Elementary School in 2010; and Prairie Vista received the award for the first time in 1996.

The Department will honor 285 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony at the Omni-Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC to be held on Monday and Tuesday, November 9 and 10, 2015.

In its 33-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on more than 8,000 of America's schools.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content.

All schools are recognized in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates are also at the highest levels.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state's highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school's subgroups and all students over the past five years. Student subgroup performance and high school graduation rates for each subgroup are at high levels.

Specifically, for the 2014-2015 award year, the Department strengthened the focus of both categories' performance criteria around subgroups within a school and improving graduation rates for all students.

The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated, with allocations determined by the numbers of K-12 students and schools in each jurisdiction. The U.S. Secretary of Education invites nominated schools to submit an application for possible recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Penn students will present the critically acclaimed stage drama “Devour the Snow” on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2.  

“A riveting courtroom drama drawn from the harrowing saga of the ill-fated Donner Party, some of whose members perished (and were cannibalized by the others) while snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountains.”  

"…a powerful piece of theater." —NY Post.  "Polsky has written powerful dramatic scenes of confrontation…" —The Hollywood Reporter.  "…an undeniable dramatic fascination." —NY Times.

• The performances will take place in the Studio Theater (enter Door C).  
• The curtain rises at 7:00 p.m.  We apologize that the 7:30 p.m. curtain time printed on the corporation’s activities calendar is not correct.
• Tickets are $5 and available online at Ticketracker.com.  They will also be sold at the door starting one hour before showtime. 

Penn’s Theater Department produces outstanding shows. Don’t miss this one! 

Penn High School was honored to serve as one stop on Congresswoman Jackie Walorski’s (R-IN 2nd District) Fall 2015 Education Tour.  Indiana’s 2^nd District congresswoman had recently announced plans to visit a number of northern Indiana schools to view programs and talk with staff and students about educational priorities.

Walorksi visited Penn High on Wednesday morning, September 2. Superintendent Jerry Thacker was joined by Board of School Trustee member Randy Leliaert, Associate Superintendent Dr. Denise Seger and Director of Professional Development Heather Short. Penn Principal Steve Hope led Rep. Walorski on a tour of Penn High School explaining Penn’s Academies, specifically highlighting the Health and Human Services Academy. 

Penn’s Health and Human Services Academy is just one of the school’s four specialized academies aimed at college and career readiness.  The other three are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Fine Arts & Communications, and Management & Business.  In addition to these, the Freshman Academy offers students a cohesive first-year experience and the Early College Academy offers a dual credit Associate Degree program.

Health and Human Services Academy Leader Sarah Hickle took Walorski into Courtney Lannen’s Project Lead the Way-Principles of Biomedical Sciences class, where the Congresswoman talked to students studying forensic science. Walorski told the students about a forensic scientist from Indiana that she met while on a recent tour of Afghanistan. The scientist was working to identify shrapnel pieces that would help convict bombers that target U.S. troops. Walorski then observed Penn’s problem solving learning model in action as the students worked to solve a "crime scene" as part of their class project.

Also as part of the 45-minute tour, Physical Development Instructional Coach Lisa Pawlik showed Walorski how Penn takes an integrated approach to physical education, blending strength building, physical conditioning and health education. The Congresswoman visited the health rooms, a CrossFit class, and the Fitness Center. Walorski was amazed by the hundreds of pounds of weights the students were lifting!

Penn-Harris-Madison is very appreciative of the time Walorski took to visit the district and learn more about our outstanding programs. If you are interested in following Congresswoman Walorski on her education tour, follow her on Twitter using #WalorskiEDTour. 

On Friday, August 28, the community that had gathered for a great night of high school football was also treated to a very special event: Formal dedication of the newly renamed TCU Freed Field at Penn High School.

In a brief ceremony before the 7:30 p.m. kick-off, P-H-M Superintendent Jerry Thacker stood with Teachers Credit Union President and CEO Paul Marsh, and Mari Linn Wise, executive director of the P-H-M Education Foundation, to proudly celebrate the continuance of the organizations’ long-standing partnership.

Joining Thacker, Marsh, and Wise on the field was Associate Superintendent Dr. Denise Seger and members of the P-H-M Board of School Trustees: Vice President Larry Beehler, Gary Fox, Randy Leliaert and Jamie Woods. P-H-M Education Foundation Board President Jody Bruetman and Past President Tom Meilstrup were also recognized along with representatives from Penn High School.

P-H-M and TCU’s partnership dates back to 1966—P-H-M was TCU's first Direct Deposit relationship. TCU has also partnered with the P-H-M Education Foundation for the past 20 years supporting a variety of events along with co-curricular student activities such as Penn Robotics. All three organizations are excited about the opportunities and the long term impact this new partnership will have on our communities. This continued partnership does not simply grant naming rights for the TCU Freed Field; more importantly, it gives us the opportunity to empower the students, their families and our communities with the financial literacy tools that will impact their future. The partnership between TCU and P-H-M relates back to TCU's commitment to our membership and our communities, and we look forward to serving both as this relationship grows and allows us to provide services beyond the naming of the field. Read more about the partnership from the June 2015 announcement.

The evening only got better as Penn’s varsity football team gained their second regular-season win. Led by head coach Cory Yeoman, the Kingsmen handed the visiting Merrillville a 31-12 defeat.

Another highlight was a lively half-time performance by the 200+ Marching Kingsmen. The band and color guard took the field to present the first portion of their show, “Bloom.” They will continue to develop the show in rehearsals and at home games in preparation for upcoming regional and state competition.

If you were not one of the several thousand people in attendance on Friday the 28th, we invite you to drive behind the high school the next time you are in the vicinity to view the new signage at TCU Freed Field.  You will see the familiar red TCU logo standing proudly alongside the Penn Kingsmen emblem, representative of a community partnership that goes far beyond football and finance.

Thank you, TCU, for your commitment to the Penn-Harris-Madison community!

As an “A”-rated school district, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation excels at providing an excellent education for our students! And the 2015-2016 School Year will be no different!

This year P-H-M has several new initiatives:

• For the first time this year, 2,500 middle schoolers at Schmucker, Grissom and Discovery Middle Schools will receive Google Chromebooks! Last year, all 3,500 students at Penn High School received them. That makes 6,000 students in P-H-M with personal Chromebooks—more than half of our student population!
• P-H-M’s Transportation Department is utilizing GPS tracking and the latest technology to help parents up-to-date with their child’s bus routing. Through the web-based  infoFinder i  and “Here Comes the Bus” website and smart phone app, P-H-M continues to provide great customer service to our families.
• 130 Penn High School students are on track to be in the Graduation Cohort of 2019 of the Penn Academy of Early College. In this unique program, Penn High School has partnered with Ivy Tech Community College to offer a selection of courses, including dual credit courses, that can potentially earn a student college credits up to an Associate Degree by the time the student graduates. 
• P-H-M continues to build community partnerships to help enhance the quality education, resources, along with extra and co-curricular activities we offer to our students. One such partnership is with Teacher’s Credit Union. On August 28, Penn High School’s football field, formerly known as Freed Field will be dedicated as TCU Freed Field. TCU will also work with P-H-M teachers and staff to provide financial education opportunities to our students and families.
• In keeping with P-H-M’s Vision of Excellence, P-H-M established Exceptional Education, an in-house department whose goal is to provide special education services for students with identified needs. P-H-M’s goal is to provide an inclusive, cooperative, excellent education to ALL our students.
• 100% of P-H-M teachers are rated “Effective” or “Highly Effective” by the state DOE standards and evaluations. This is because we invest in our teachers and educational staff by offering year round professional learning opportunities. This will continue to be an important initiative of P-H-M.

Highlights from 2014-2015:

Here’s a look back at the school district accomplishments achieved by our schools, students, teachers and staff from last school year:

• P-H-M students perform in the top 5% of all Indiana districts on ISTEP+
• P-H-M has seven Four Star schools, as named by the IDOE. They are: Horizon Elementary, Mary Frank Elementary, Prairie Vista Elementary, Northpoint Elementary, Discovery Middle, Grissom Middle, and Penn High School.
• Prairie Vista Elementary School was named a finalist for the 2015 National Blue Ribbon School (announcement to come in the fall of 2015).
• Northpoint Elementary School was ranked #27 in the nation among 70,000 schools by the organization TheBestSchools.org. Northpoint was cited for its academic performance, the strength and richness of its programs, and for earning National Blue Ribbon School status in 2010.
• Discovery Middle School Science Teacher Sheila Toth was named P-H-M Teacher of the year and was nominated for 2015 Indiana Teacher of the Year (announcement to come in fall 2015).
• Penn High School Principal Steve Hope was named Indiana District 2 High School Principal of the Year.
• Penn High School ranks as the seventeenth best high school in the state by U.S. News and World Report, moving up from bronze to silver since the last U.S. News and World Report Ranking.
• With a 97% graduation rate and a 90-25-90 rating by the IDOE, more than half of Penn High School’s graduating seniors receiving Academic Honors diplomas—a first for Penn High School—with a third earning High Honors, a distinction reserved for those with a 3.5 GPA or higher. Ninety-one graduates received Technical Honors diplomas, a tribute to the strength of the district’s STEM programs. Twelve seniors were named National Merit Finalists. There were 17 valedictorians and two salutatorians. Three seniors have earned coveted appointments to United States Military Academies. The combined value of their collegiate scholarships exceeds $8.5 million!
• Over the Summer of 2015, Morgan Ludwig and Emma Moon, now rising seniors at Penn High, earned Congressional Award Gold Medals. Moon received her on honor on Capitol Hill from Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN, 2^nd District). Ludwig received hers from Walorski at her Mishawaka District Office.  The United States Congress awards medals to ambitious young Americans who set and meet goals in four program areas: Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.
• Winning works of art by 13 Gold Key Scholastic Art Award winners from Penn were included and judged in the Scholastic Art Awards’ national exhibit.
• The Black Knights, Penn High’s advanced robotic team, received the prestigious Chairman’s Award at state competition hosted by Indiana FIRST Robotics, then went on to represent Indiana in international competition.
• The Baker's Dozen, a FIRST Lego League Robotics team made up of Horizon Elementary and Discovery Middle School students, attended the Razorback International Invitational at the University of Arkansas, competing against 71 teams from 31 states and 12 countries. The Baker's Dozen captured 1st place for Robot Strategy and Innovation, and earned a 4th place trophy in the Robot Game competition.
• Penn High School TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) did very well at national competition in June 2015: Penn’s 9/10 Team was named the Indiana State Champions; Penn’s 11/12 Team 1 brought home the 3rd place trophy in the Problem-Solving Competition; and Penn’s 11/12 Team 2, brought home the 2nd place trophy in the Written Competition. These students are coached by Mrs. Becky Tagliaferri.
• Penn’s Spell Bowl Team won its 14^th state championship with a perfect score of 90. The team is led by Mr. Pete DeKever and its success is based on the hard work of eighteen dedicated team members.
• Schmucker Spell Bowl Team brought home the Spell Bowl State Championship for the third time in the school’s history. The team is led by Mrs. Sue Dale.
• The Penn High School Symphonic Winds were awarded 1st place at ISSMA state finals, tying with Carmel. The Penn High Orchestra also did a tremendous job in the competition and judges awarded them a 6th place finish.
• Penn Boys Baseball won the 4A State Championship and senior catcher Tim Lira was named the L.V. Phillips Attitute Award Winner.  This is the fourth state championship for head coach Greg Dikos, whose other big wins came in 1994, 1998 and 2001.
• Penn Baseball coach Greg Dikos was named the Indiana Boys Coach of the Year by the South Bend Tribune.
• Penn pitcher Skylar Szynski was chosen to represent the Chicago White Sox in the 2015 Area Code Baseball Games played in California in August 2015.
• Penn Varsity Wrestling won the Team State Wrestling championship, after seven contenders advanced to state finals. The team championship is a celebrated first for Penn Wrestling.
• Kobe Woods earned the Individual State Wrestling championship in his weight class. Penn last had an individual state champion wrestler in 1971.
• Chase Osborn who earned the Individual State Wrestling Championship in his weight class, was the recipient of the Ward E. Brown Mental Attitude Award, issued by the Indiana High School Athletic Association, and also named MVP of NIC Wrestling.
• Football coach Cory Yeoman was named Northern Indiana Conference Coach of the Year. He led the Kingsmen through a 12-1 season and on to the Class 6-A semi-state.
• Penn Boys Rugby won the state championship, while Penn Girls Rugby took second place at the state tournament.  Penn Boys Rugby also competed and placed in the top ten at the national tournament.
• Penn Softball coach Beth Zachary was named NIC Coach of the year.
• Penn Girls Soccer coach Jeff Hart was named NIC Coach of the year and District I Coach of the Year by the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association.
• Penn Girls Cross Country coach Josh Fletcher was named NIC Coach of the year.
• Penn Boys Tennis coach Eric Bowers was named NIC Coach of the year.
• Penn Boys Golf coach Tony Polizzzotto was named NIC Coach of the year.
• Penn High School is the Northern Indiana Conference All-Sports Award winner for the 21st consecutive year.
• Thirty-nine Penn student-athletes signed letters of intent to attend colleges and universities across the country; 12 of them with Division 1 Schools.
• Glenn Northern, Penn band director and head of Penn’s Fine Arts Academy, was presented Phi Beta Mu’s Outstanding Bandmaster Award by the Indiana Chapter of the International Bandmaster’s Fraternity.
• Superintendent Jerry Thacker was chosen by Indiana University South Bend to receive the 2015 IUSB Distinguished Alumni Award. He was recognized for his accomplishments at the May commencement ceremony.
• Sean Galiher, principal of Schmucker Middle School, was named by the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce to the 2015 class of “Forty Under 40” as a young professional who’s making a difference.
• Tom Hartman, Director of Facilities, was named the 2015 Indiana Support Professional of the Year by IASBO (Indiana Assn. of School Business Officials). 

Alarm clocks were set early. The weather cooperated beautifully. Children got themselves ready for school while parents snapped photos. Then the yellow buses started to roll and School Year 2015-2016 was underway!

Today was the first day of school for grades 1-12 at Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. We welcomed back more than 10,600 students to our 15 schools. About 700 kindergartners, members of the future Class of 2028, attended orientation sessions with their parents and families getting prepared for their first day tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 20. And close to 800 seniors, making up the Class of 2016, followed a Gold Day schedule at Penn High School.

We want to see all your “1^st Day of School” photos. We asked parents, families and high school students to snap, tag ‪and share their pictures on Facebook and Twitter using #‎PHMBACK2SCHOOL. Go to our channels or check out our picture gallery on the home page to get a glimpse.

The start of school also means new faces at the front of the classroom as well! Last week, we also welcomed more than 50 new teachers to P-H-M. Click here to see their friendly faces.

Thank you to ALL our students, parents, teachers and staff for all the great pictures. Here’s to a great year!

Brats and sauerkraut? Dogs and chips?  It won’t matter which you choose, you’ll have a great tailgate experience!

Join us on Friday, August 28, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the big tents behind the Educational Services Center (ESC) at 55900 Bittersweet Rd., Mishawaka.

That’s plenty of time to grab dinner for the family, visit with friends and get your seat inside TCU Freed Field before the 7:30 p.m. kick-off.

A dedication ceremony for the new TCU Freed Field renaming will take place just before kick-off. Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker will be joined by TCU CEO & President Paul Marsh, members of the P-H-M School Board of Trustees and the P-H-M Education Foundation.

This year the Penn Kingsmen will take on the Merrillville Pirates!

The P-H-M Community Tailgate, hosted by the district’s central office staff and administrators,  is a tradition. The event is always scheduled ahead of the first home football game and is open to the public. Tickets are $3.50 and are sold onsite, not in advance.

Dr. Thacker and P-H-M administrators will be on hand and look forward to meeting members of the community and P-H-M families.