Penn biology teacher John Gensic, was one of 15 educators chosen from more than 60 applicants, to work alongside scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this summer on a research project on Lake Michigan. As part of the Lake Michigan Shipboard Science Workshop, Gensic and the scientists worked on onboard the research vessel Lake Guardian from July 12-18, 2015.

“This was a once in a lifetime experience,” Gensic recounted. “Since I was a kid, there have been many things I’ve always wondered about Lake Michigan. This trip addressed some of these questions from how the bottom of Lake Michigan looks and functions, to how scientists gather information regarding the Great Lakes. Yet, there is still so much we don’t know.”

Gensic and the other teachers evaluated the presence of microplastics and assessed the impact of aquatic invasive species—particularly zebra and quagga mussels—on Lake Michigan’s ecosystem. Samples were analyzed onboard the research vessel’s laboratories.

With the goal in mind for the participating teachers to take their experiences back to the classroom, the research projects focused on food-web dynamics, endangered and invasive species, climate change, plastics pollution and water contaminants. By encouraging Lake Michigan stewardship opportunities for and to the students, perhaps some children would even be encouraged to do study scientific exploration and conservation of the Great Lakes.

“Every trip I take to the beach will be forever changed. I experienced firsthand many concepts about scientific research and Lake Michigan that I will take directly back to my students and fellow educators,”  Gensic said. “I think I share a passion for Lake Michigan with many of its regular visitors from our area. This experience has broadened my understanding of how the lake and our region works.”

Facilitators from the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) helped structure the educational aspects. The goal is for teachers to take their experiences back to the classroom and inspire their own students to want to do scientific exploration of the Great Lakes.

“Educators were immersed in authentic, place-based learning, working side by side with scientists to address current environmental issues. Using innovative sampling and monitoring equipment, teachers were provided with once-in-a-lifetime professional development experience to explore science up-close and personal,” said Terri Hallesy, IISG education coordinator. IISG is part of NOAA Sea Grant, a nationwide network of 33 science-based outreach and education programs.

The workshop was supported by the EPA and received funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Center for Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL). CGLL fosters informed and responsible decision-making that advances basin-wide stewardship by providing hands-on experiences, educational resources and networking opportunities.

Penn High biology students will directly benefit from Gensic’s summer learning experience and scientific findings in the coming months. To read about Gensic and all the teachers’ experiences during the project, read the Center for Great Lakes Literacy daily blog of their activities.

Breakfast & Lunch is served at all 11 elementary schools.

Monthly Menus:

• September 2025 Elementary Menu (Updated 8.25.25)
• August 2025 Elementary Menu (Updated 7.28.25)
• Click Here for Information on our Summer Food Service Program

*School menus are also posted in Schoolcafe.com. 

The Penn-Harris-Madison Food Service department implements the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) system. OVS allows students to accept or decline some of the food offered as part of a complete meal. The goals of “OVS“ are to reduce food waste in the school nutrition programs and to allow students more customization of the meal they select. 

CLICK HERE to fill out a new application for Free / Reduced Lunch. 

School Breakfast – Good for Kids and Good for Parents!

For parents with busy schedules, it can be hard to make sure that kids are eating a healthy breakfast before they go to school in the morning. Sometimes children aren’t hungry right after waking up, and it’s hard to find food they like to eat that is also healthy. Also, some kids refuse breakfast at home but are hungry when they arrive at school. Fortunately, we have a great breakfast program for all students, and it’s available at school every day. If morning meals are difficult for your family, let the School Breakfast Program help you out!

Free meal students receive a free breakfast. Reduced price breakfast for qualified students is .30. Regular priced breakfast is $1.50 at elementary schools. Ala-carte is also available at the middle and high schools. Adults may purchase breakfast for $2.65

The following schools serve breakfast each morning.
Bittersweet Elementary serves breakfast in the cafeteria
Elm Road Elementary has a grab and go breakfast that students enjoy in the classroom.
Elsie Rogers Elementary serves breakfast in the cafeteria
Horizon Elementary serves breakfast in the cafeteria
Madison Elementary serves breakfast in the cafeteria
Mary Frank Elementary serves breakfast in the cafeteria
Meadow’s Edge Elementary has a grab and go breakfast that students enjoy in the classroom.
Moran Elementary has a grab and go breakfast that students enjoy in the classroom.
Walt Disney Elementary has a grab and go breakfast that students enjoy in the classroom.

*Due to nation-wide supply shortages, meals could be subject to change. Products or menu items are being substituted when a school kitchen runs out of any particular item. School kitchen staff are trying to make sure that the students have their first choices available, but that may not always be possible. If a student has a specific dietary need, the family is welcome to fill out a special diet form that can be obtained from the school nurse or click here to download it off our website, and then there will be a full meal waiting for the student each day. 

Calling all parents of P-H-M students in grades 4-8^th … is your child interested in robotics?

Does your child love playing with LEGOs®?

Then P-H-M’s FIRST® LEGO® League is your answer!

WHO:                   4^th-8^th grade P-H-M students, families, elementary and middle school teachers

WHAT:                 FIRST® LEGO® League (sponsored by Penn Robotics, Team 135)

WHEN:                 Wednesday, August 5
                              7:00 p.m.

WHERE:               Penn High School, Door J
                              56100 Bittersweet Rd Mishawaka, IN  46545

WHY:                   

P-H-M’s FIRST® LEGO® League is sponsored by Penn Robotics, Team 135. Penn’s team was a 2015 Indiana District-Kokomo City winner of the FIRST® Robotics Competition; Penn’s team also won the Chairman’s award. FIRST® LEGO® League is a national program that introduces younger students to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. This year’s challenge will be Trash Trek: discovering the hidden world of garbage!

In FLL, elementary and middle-school students (ages 9-14) get to:

• Design, build, test and program robots using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology
• Apply real-world math and science concepts
• Research challenges facing today’s scientists
• Learn critical thinking, team-building and presentation skills
• Participate in tournaments and celebrations

What FLL teams accomplish is nothing short of amazing. It’s fun. It’s exciting. And the skills they learn will last a lifetime.

Come learn all about joining P-H-M’s FIRST® LEGO® League. Register, find out about the resources and get the season timeline.

We’re thrilled to welcome back all of our 11,000+ students and are excited to help all our students achieve Excellence.

The first day of school will be Wednesday, August 20, 2025 for grades 1 – 12.

• All students in 1st through 12th grades will report to their school buildings that day, and all those who are signed up for transportation services may ride the bus that day.  
• Kindergarten orientation takes place on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 with the first full day of kindergarten being Thursday, August 21st.

BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS. MARK CALENDAR & ATTEND! 

• Our elementary schools are hosting many fun Back to School family events starting the week of August 11. Check your school’s Google calendar on its website or be on the lookout from communication directly from your school principal. 
• All three Middle Schools are also planning a Walk-Around on Thursday, August 14^th. Check the school’s Google calendar on its website or be on the lookout from communication directly from your school principal. Make sure you mark your calendar and plan to attend!
• Penn is hosting a “Walk Around” to help parents and students get familiar with the school:
  • Penn High School’s “WALK AROUND” on Saturday, August 16, from 9 a.m. – Noon gives students a chance to familiarize themselves with the school and find where their classes and activities are located.

The BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION listed below will help P-H-M parents and students get ready for the 2025-26 School Year! 

CONTACTING SCHOOLS OVER THE SUMMER

• Elementary and Middle School Front Offices open Monday, August 4th.
• Penn is open every week day over the summer.
• All schools are open Monday – Friday during business hours. Those hours vary by school.
• Click here for the School Directory of all 15 schools

REGISTERING STUDENTS

• Register a new elementary or middle school student by visiting the school after offices open August 4, 2025. Click here to know what documentation you need to bring with you for registration.
• Register a new Penn High School student by calling (574) 254-2851. We will help you schedule your registration appointment and advise you on what information to bring with you to the appointment.  

BACK TO SCHOOL PACKETS & FORMS

• Back to School packet & information sheets
• Parent/guardians will sign these three forms in ParentSquare:
  • Photo Consent
  • Mandatory Curriculum Consent
  • Handbook Certification   
• These forms will be in Skyward Family Access:
  • CHIRP Release
  • Chromebook packet
  • Authorization to administer non-prescription medication at school
• Back to School Info Sheets

Click here for more information on how to login into your Skyward Family Access account

SCHOOL CALENDARS

• Here is the SY 2025-26 one-page calendar showing “at a glance” the start and end dates, as well as scheduled recess and vacation dates.
• All P-H-M families are mailed a District Activities Calendar early August. It lists key school and district events throughout the year. Click here to view a PDF version.
• Our online (Google) calendars are the most up-to-date. You’ll find a link to the P-H-M Corporate Calendar posted on the home page of the District website. It’s a Google calendar that can be added to your personal calendar.
• Each school also maintains an online Google calendar on the home page of each school website that is updated frequently with the school’s scheduled activities and event details. You can also the school’s Google calendar to your personal calendar to remember important dates.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

• All P-H-M schools provide basic school supplies to our students, free of charge. Therefore, our schools do not issue supply lists. You will need to purchase a backpack, water bottle, lunch box, and other items you want your child to have at home or take with them to school. If other specific items need to be purchased for a class or lab, your child’s teacher will inform you after school starts.  

IMMUNIZATIONS AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES

• Click here to make sure you child is up-to-date with all required immunizations. 
• Proof of immunizations must be provided to the school office by the first day of school.
• Kindergarten parents, please click here to learn about important kindergarten health information and medical forms before your kindergartner’s first day of school. 
• Click here for the forms administering medications at school
• Click here for more information on P-H-M Healthcare Services 

TRANSPORTATION

• School bus route times and locations will be shared with parents in a Transportation letter to be emailed before school starts
• Parents can check EZRouting to see your child’s bus route information online
• Here Comes the Bus provides real time GPS bus location info so parents know when to send their students out to the bus stop
• Have more questions about Transportation? Visit their webpage for contact information.

FOOD SERVICE

• Visit our Food & Nutrition page  to see monthly menus and find nutritional information
• See if you qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch and Textbook Assistance. Click here to apply online.
• Online payment for child’s meals
• Other Payment options

PARENTSQUARE

• Penn-Harris-Madison uses ParentSquare to send urgent alerts, such as school closings and delays.
• Principals and teachers also use it for noncurricular school and classroom communications.
  • Penn High School coaches and teachers who sponsor clubs, academic teams or extracurricular activities use StudentSquare to safely communicate with students, without exchanging cell phone numbers. Click here for details on how students can sign up for StudentSquare.
• Click here for instructions on setting up your account.
• Once your account is set up, families can chose their preferred mode of communication for non-urgent notifications–app, text, email, phone. You can also chose to have all communications automatically translated to your preferred first language. Click here for details on how to personalize your account and check your notification settings.

CLOSINGS/DELAYS PROCEDURES

• Make sure you sign up for ParentSquare to receive school closings/delays urgent alerts.
• Click to see how, when and what factors into P-H-M’s decision makings for 2-hour delays and closings. 

Penn-Harris-Madison’s culture of excellence, what we call #PHMExcellence, is built upon the “Triangle of Success”– linking students, teachers, and parents for the the best outcome for students. Success depends on supportive parents … help us help your children!

PARENTS Click here for ways to stay informed, as well getting connected and volunteering. 

Two Penn High School rising seniors, Morgan Ludwig and Emma Moon, have earned Congressional Award Gold Medals. Morgan and Emma were the only students from Indiana’s 2^nd District to win the awards, and two of six Gold Medalists for the entire state.

The United States Congress established the Congressional Awards program to recognize young men and women who set and meet ambitious goals in four program areas: Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness and Expedition/Exploration. As registered participants, Morgan and Emma had to challenge themselves to complete their projects within a given time frame and meet other program requirements.

To meet the public service goal, Morgan started a club at Penn called “Handwritten Hearts.” Students volunteered each month to write handwritten ‘get well’ cards and hand deliver them at local hospitals. Through “Handwritten Hearts,” more than 100 uplifting cards were delivered to hospital patients.

Morgan is a member of the tennis team and Penn’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Academy. To meet her program goals, Morgan mastered and performed Beethoven’s Sonatina in F Major (Anh. 5, No. 2) and Mozart’s Sonata K545 in C Major, as well as planned a historical trip to Boston and a wilderness exploration trip along the rugged coast of Maine.

Morgan accepted her award in the Mishawaka office of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN, 2^nd District) on Thursday, July 2. She was accompanied by her parents, Jennifer and David and her two younger sisters and brother (also P-H-M students). Superintendent Jerry Thacker was also on hand for the presentation.

Penn’s other Congressional award winner, Emma Moon, received her Gold Medal at the national awards ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on June 17. She was later congratulated by Rep. Walorski at her Congressional office.

Emma, a member of the Penn’s varsity tennis team, earned her Gold Medal by completing more than 400 hours of volunteer service participating in “Handwritten Hearts.” She not only helped write and deliver cards to area hospital patients, she also visited with patients. Emma taught herself to play the guitar and ukulele. For her expedition goal, she planned an adventure excursion to Huntsville, Alabama, where she did outdoor activities such as cliff jumping, rock climbing, boating and bat cave tours.

Posted July 2, 2015 12:15 p.m.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation will pay stipends to special education personnel who qualified yet were excluded from School City of Mishawaka’s (SCM) disbursement of Annual Performance Grant (APG) monies last December. Set to receive the one time stipend are those special education personnel whose employment is shifting from SCM to P-H-M, following the dissolution of Joint Services, the two districts’ cooperative staffing agreement for special education.

Annual Performance Grant funds are state dollars intended to reward teachers whose performance is rated as effective or highly effective. P-H-M could not apportion shares of its 2013-2014 APG to the personnel who were employed by SCM, but assigned to work in P-H-M schools. The Indiana Department of Education’s policies stipulate that only the district that employs the personnel can issue the stipend.

Joint Services will be officially dissolved on July 1. At that time 57 special education personnel will become employees of Penn-Harris-Madison for the coming 2015-2016 school year. The new division will be known as Exceptional Education to coincide with how the department is known currently within the P-H-M district.

In a good will gesture that serves to acknowledge the contributions of this group of educational professionals to student achievement, the P-H-M Board of School Trustees approved stipends at the Board Meeting held Monday, June 22. P-H-M will reward each teacher with a one-time stipend of $1096.96, which is the equivalent of what P-H-M personnel received in the December 2014 APG payout.

“We are so happy to provide this group of devoted and hardworking special educators a signing bonus to express how much we value them and their incredible devotion to students,” says Director of Exceptional Education Gena L. Todd. “We look forward to many more years of their exemplary level of service, always striving for excellence for every single student we serve.”

Posted June 23, 2015 / 9:00 a.m. EDT

Teachers Credit Union, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and P-H-M Education Foundation proudly announce the continuance of the organizations’ long-standing partnership. TCU’s commitment is targeted to support the development of financial education programs, scholarships, functions and activities. With the assistance of the P-H-M Education Foundation, TCU will be providing a benefit to the students in each of P-H-M’s 15 schools in St. Joseph County.

The partnership will provide P-H-M students and their families access to a number of unique financial health and awareness programs. The benefits of educating students on financial responsibility from the time they begin elementary school not only helps families plan for college, but also helps the broader community by ultimately producing fiscally responsible adults. This partnership is in perfect alignment with P-H-M Education Foundation’s vision to support the School Corporation’s commitment to provide an excellent educational environment for students to reach their highest academic achievement preparing them to be responsible, healthy and contributing to an ever changing world. These programs will also be an extension of TCU’s mission to be a financial benefit to its members, team members and to the communities of which it is a part.

“What’s so exciting about this partnership is its ability to benefit so many students and to teach students and their families the importance of financial education,” said Paul Marsh, president & CEO of TCU.  “The skills students will gain from financial education courses will benefit their futures, families and communities. We are proud to be a part of the Penn Harris Madison School Corporation’s goal to provide students with superior education that will be the foundation of their future and their success.  We look forward to all of the great achievements we will make alongside the PHM Education Foundation and School Corporation.”

As a part of this partnership, the P-H-M Education Foundation will facilitate the addition of TCU’s name and brand to Penn High School’s Freed Field.  The renamed field, which is being publicly announced today, will be known as TCU Freed Field. TCU’s logo and brand will be added to the field’s new and existing signage, and is expected to be in place by the start of the fall 2015 football season.

Last night (Monday, June 22), the P-H-M School Board of Trustees approved the agreement between the P-H-M Education Foundation and TCU.

“Our goal is to provide our students with an outstanding education to prepare them for college and career success,” said P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker. “Along with teachers and parents, community partners are vital to creating and sustaining excellence in education.”

“Our children are now competing on a global scale. We are thrilled to expand our partnership with TCU, which will have a lasting impact on students for generations to come,” said Mari Linn M. Wise, executive director of P-H-M Education Foundation. 

Posted June 23, 2015 / 9:00 a.m. EDT

The Penn Baseball team capped a terrific season with a 3-2 win over Terre Haute North in the 4A State Championship game on Saturday, June 20. The win was celebrated by a jubilant team and hundreds of fans at Victory Field in Indianapolis under the lights. While not a nail-biter, the match-up was not a walk in the ball park either. Penn took and held an early lead but Terre Haute fought back, bringing it within one run in the fifth inning. Penn pitcher Skylar Szynski brought renewed focus to his game and he and the Kingsmen settled it in six innings.

Following the game, senior catcher Tim Lira was named the L.V. Phillips Attitude Award winner. The award recognizes not only Lira’s athleticism, but his leadership among his teammates and his contributions to the community.

The recipient of IHSAA’s L.V. Phillips Attitude Award is a senior nominated by his principal and coach and must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. The award is named in honor of the late L.V. Phillips, who served as the second commissioner of the IHSAA from 1945-1962.

This is the fourth state championship for head coach Greg Dikos, whose other big wins came in 1994, 1998 and 2001. This is the last state championship for Penn’s retiring athletic director Ben Karasiak, who was clearly thrilled to be on the field as the honors took place.

A public celebration will take place Monday, June 22, at 6:00 p.m. in Penn’s Main Arena. Students and community members are invited to be on hand to cheer the team bringing home the trophy!   

Posted June 22, 2015 / 9:20 a.m. EDT

On Thursday, June 18, Penn High School hosted a public visitation on behalf of the family of Nick and Jack Savage to accommodate the large outpouring from the community. The brothers died tragically overnight on Sunday, June 14 after attending graduation parties of what St. Joseph County and South Bend Police departments suspect were accidental overdoses caused by the lethal combination of prescription drugs and alcohol. Both were Penn alumni; Nick (19) was a member of the Class of 2014 and Jack (18) just graduated in May 2015. They are survived by their parents and two younger brothers.

As expected, the turnout of community members who came to pay their respects was very large. One estimate put it at 1,300. Many people from the P-H-M family were present including current and former Penn students, faculty and staff from all the P-H-M schools the boys had attended. A large number of hockey players, parents and coaches from Penn High School's championship club hockey team and other community teams came to comfort the Savage family. Time on the ice had been a big part of the boys’ lives. Nick was a member of the 2011 state championship team and Jack the 2015 championship team. Both state title banners hung on other side of the caskets. The family provided lots of photos and other memorabilia from the boys' young hockey careers along with other family photos to share with the community. Mourners were invited to bring their own pictures and make scrapbook pages with memorial messages that the Savage family would reflect on later.

At the close of the public visitation, a large group of Penn students gathered outside the school for a candlelight vigil. Students comforted one another both in moments of silence and by sharing their memories of Jack and Nick and their thoughts about the loss. Penn counselors have been actively involved helping students cope with the events of the last week, and will continue to provide support.  

Posted Friday, June 19, 2015 / 11:30 a.m. EDT