The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation considers the health and safety of our school community as a top priority. As such, we are piloting a voluntary COVID-19 walk-up testing clinic. If a student, teacher, or staff member is symptomatic or quarantined due to exposure, they may receive a free BinaxNOW rapid antigen test for the COVID-19 virus. This program uses Abbott Laboratories BinaxNOW tests provided by the federal government.

Click here for the full document, including the consent form and what happens next after you receive results.

Who can be tested? 

• Symptomatic students, teachers, and staff within the first seven (7) days of symptom onset.  
• For close contacts to discontinue quarantine. May be used to test on days 5, 6, or 7 to be considered for early return to school with enhanced precautions on day eight (8) if symptoms are resolved.

The test cannot be used to:

•   Allow close contacts to return to school prior to day eight (8) 
• Serve as proof of negative COVID status to allow participation in extracurricular activities 
• Apply to symptomatic students, teachers, or staff greater than seven (7) days past symptom onset

Where can they be tested:  

• The walk-up clinic will take place at the P-H-M Bank Locker Room Building located on the corner of Bittersweet and McKinley Hwy (US20) near Penn High School. Parents and staff should enter off McKinley Hwy. 
• The clinic will be open when school is in session on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. No appointment is necessary. This will begin on Monday, November 1st.
• We will only test a student accompanied by a parent/guardian. Please bring the completed consent form to the clinic at the time of testing. Students or staff electing to participate in testing should plan to quarantine following the test until results are received. 

Click here for the full document, including the consent form and what happens next after you receive results.

Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program offers income-eligible Indiana students up to four years of paid tuition at an eligible Indiana college or university after they graduate from high school. Students must be enrolled in the program by 8th grade and the family must meet income eligibility guidelines.

Students enroll in middle. In high school, 21st Century Scholars are connected to programs and resources to help them prepare for college. Once in college, Scholars receive support to complete their college degrees and connect to career opportunities.

ENROLL IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Click here for more information on eligibility. Your Middle School Guidance Office can also answer more questions about the program and help students who meet the eligibility requirements with the enrollment process.

Click here for a copy of the 2021-2022 Worksheet (English) that will help families determine eligibility. 

• Click to download a copy in Spanish. 

Click to watch the video below on how to set up your Scholar Track account & enroll today.

Click here to login to Scholar Track. 

Visit learnmoreindiana.org/scholars to learn more about 21^st Century Scholars program, and learnmoreindiana.org/scholars/resources/​ for more resources.

HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

As Freshmen, there are three (3) Scholar Success Programs that students must complete to stay on track for success. By the end of their senior year, students will complete a total of 12 activities to complete to earn the 21st Century Scholarship. Students log their completed activities by logging into their ScholarTrack account to track their progress and completion. Below are some helpful links that not only explain the steps that need to be completed throughout the four years of high school, but also provide access to the resources and tools 21^st Century Scholar high school students will use frequently. Students should work with their high school counselor for help or questions completing the 12 activities. 

• Click here to review a brochure about being a 21st Century Scholar from enrollment to high school requirements to College Requirements.
• Click here to review a brochure that outlines all 12 activities that high schools students need to complete to earn the 21st Century Scholarship (click here for the Spanish version).
• Click here to logon to ScholarTrack to record activities 
• Click here for the Senior Scholarship Checklist  
• Click here for the Grade 9 Scholar Guide  
• Click here for the Grade 10 Scholar Guide  
• Click here for the Grade 11 Scholar Guide  
• Click here for the Grade 12 Scholar Guide  
• Seniors, click here to fill out the FAFSA

On Monday, August 2nd and Tuesday, August 3^rd, P-H-M Administration held three Parent Information Sessions and Workshops on Social Emotional Learning & Diversity Equity Inclusion Student Lessons.

196 people attended the Parent Information Sessions/Workshops; 316 had pre-registered.

For those unable to attend the sessions, P-H-M is providing a recording of the August 3^rd 7:00 p.m. session. Click to watch the recording below.

Click to view a PDF of the Google Slide Show that was used in the presentation in the recording above.

Penn’s 62^nd Commencement was held Friday, June 4, 2021 at TCU Freed Field. 868 graduates, their families, Penn faculty, staff, Penn & P-H-M administrators, and P-H-M Board of School Trustees members weathered the hot and steamy evening to celebrate the many accomplishments of the Class of 2021. Click to watch the recording below of the live stream that aired on P-H-M’s YouTube Channel …

For a listing of student awards and accomplishments highlighted on Senior Recognition Night held May 11, please click here.
 

Candid photos that were taken throughout the evening by Penn & P-H-M staff were posted on Facebook. Click to view album #1 on Penn’s Facebook page posted 6/4/21. Click to view album #2 on Penn’s Facebook page posted 6/7/21.

Inter-State Studios was the Official Commencement photographer and was in position to take individual pictures of seniors with P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker holding their diplomas. Click here to access Inter-State Studios’ secure website. Password = Penn2021.   

Valuing and celebrating diversity is a tenet of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. We have rich cultural diversity amongst our student population. We different opportunities for all of our students to learn more about their fellow students and other world cultures as a way of preparing our students for college and career readiness in a global society.

Over the last several weeks, our elementary schools have been studying different cultures around the world. We encourage students to embrace and share about their culture all year long, but even more so, during our units of study in May.

Walt Disney Elementary School is one of P-H-M’s more diverse schools with 33 different languages spoken in Disney family homes! In a normal school year, the culmination of the multicultural study unit ends with a "Multicultural Night" where Disney families to come together, share their cultures, and celebrate our vibrantly diverse community.” Click to see pictures from the 2017 event. This year the event was turned into a Culture Day where every student in grades K-5 got to go through the school and learn about cultures of the countries spanning six continents. Even the virtual students got to participate. As part of the studies earlier in the week Mrs. Joshi, at Walt Disney, explained the background history of Henna tattoos and even gave some of the students Henna designs!  It was fabulous having the students be the teacher! Click to learn more about Disney’s Culture Day and see the full photo gallery.

At Horizon, students ended the unit with by teaching about their own cultures. Students created slide presentations or completed a paper with information about their culture and heritage. Click to see pictures on Horizon’s website.

At Northpoint, hallways were decorated with artwork, displays, and fact cards. Click to see pictures from Northpoint’s website. 

The letter below was shared with P-H-M Staff and Families on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

Good Afternoon,

The CDC released an update last week regarding masking for fully vaccinated people and the St. Joseph County Department of Health’s (SJCDH) subsequently rescinded its Public Health Order 1-2021 on Thursday, May 13.

In our weekly conversation with SJCDH on May 13, we discussed the County Health Department’s requirement of masks in schools. The following guidance was shared with us:

• Overall county case rates for COVID are down. It’s the first time since September it’s been this low.
• Governor Holcomb issued the continuation of Executive  Order 21-12 on April 29. It is through the end of the school year. Students, staff, and external school visitors must be masked while in any school building, facility, or grounds.
• For P-H-M Summer School and Summer Camps (beginning Monday, June 7), SJCDH gave approval for optional masking; it will no longer be required as long as social distancing and hand washing are still in place. If all of this is in place, SJCDH will not require masks indoors for classrooms for summer indoor classes and outdoor activities. 
  • SJCDH made these recommendations for the following reasons: 
    • Students ages 12+ (which is middle and high school age) have the opportunity to now get vaccinated.
    • Elementary age students are least likely to have serious complications and least likely to transmit.

Therefore based on the guidance from the St. Joseph County Department of Health at last night’s Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees meeting (Monday, May 17), I shared the following information:

• Masks will still be required on all P-H-M buses and property through the evening of Friday, June 4. This includes the last day of school, Wednesday, June 2, for all P-H-M students grades PreK-12 and Penn High School’s Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 4, 7:00 p.m. Should rain or inclement weather delay the ceremony, Graduation will be moved to Sunday, June 6th at 7:00 p.m., and the mask requirement will be in place through the end of that evening’s ceremony. All the prior details that Principal Sean Galiher has shared with senior families remain in effect. Click here for that information shared back in April.
• Masks are optional starting Monday, June 7, for summer school students, summer camps, and all P-H-M staff working through the summer. Please click to read the updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols that will be in place for P-H-M summer school and camps.
• Through the summer masks will remain required on all P-H-M buses for drivers and summer school students using P-H-M transportation per the U.S. Dept. of Transportation regulation. 
• The First Day of School for the 2021-2022 school year is Wednesday, August 18, 2021. When school starts in the fall, the following will be in place: 
  • We will return to five (5) days per week of in-person instruction for all students.
  • We will return to normal school start times as listed on our website at this link, https://www.phmschools.org/p-h-m-school-directory
  • COVID-19 health safety protocols will continue to be adopted based on the guidance from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and St. Joseph County Department of Health (SJCDoH).
  • The Administration will continue its commitment to transparency through communication and the COVID dashboard. 

(Click to read Dr. Thacker’s Return to Learn presentation shared at the May 17 Board Meeting).

Safety is our top priority, and we are committed to promoting an optimal, safe learning environment for our students and an optimal, safe work environment for our staff members. 

Sincerely, 
Dr. Jerry Thacker
Superintendent of Schools

At the Monday, May 17 (2021) Board Meeting P-H-M Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jerry Thacker recommended the appointment of Madelyn Beers as the new principal of Elm Road Elementary. Current Principal Dr. Lisa Soto Kile will take on the role of Director of Professional Development and Student Learning at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year.

Madelyn Beers worked at Elm Road as Assistant to the Principal for the 2019-2020 school year. For several months, Madelyn worked with the Elm teachers and Principal Dr. Lisa Soto Kile on the school’s application process to become an IDOE STEM Certified School; the IDOE recognition came last May. Madelyn also developed a five year sustainability plan for STEM integration at Elm, along with writing and receiving grants for STEM programs. While at Elm, she was intricately involved with tracking and analyzing formative and summative assessment data from DIBELS and ClearSight to ILEARN. 

Madelyn was part of a cohort of P-H-M teachers who applied and were selected to participate in IU Kelley School of Business’ MBA in Educational Leadership program free of charge! Madelyn received her MBA in November 2018. She participated in this program while serving as a 5th grade teacher at Elsie Rogers (2018-2019) and at Meadow’s Edge teaching 4th grade (2017-2018), 3rd & 4th grades (2016-2017), and 3rd grade (2015-2016). This school year Madelyn has served as Assistant to the Principal to Gary Gardner at Meadow’s Edge Elementary. 

Among the many programs that Madelyn has either assisted with, participated in, or helped manage were: served as principal of virtual summer school for summer 2020; developed district wide professional development on PBIS and motivation, Girls on the Run, American Heritage Girls, 5 Star Life, and Seeds of Science. On her personal time, Madelyn also volunteers for Cultivate Culinary. In her first year of teaching at P-H-M, she also donated her time at Ray of Light Orphanage. While completing her work for her B.A. in Education at Spring Arbor University (MI), she did a summer abroad and worked full-time teaching English using the Kumon method to Japanese students.

Madelyn has impeccable credentials and will do a wonderful job carrying on the academic excellence that Dr. Soto Kile has built at Elm Road. 

The first week of May is national Teacher Appreciation Week. Leading up to this special week every year Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent surprises the district’s Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year with the news that they have been chosen. This afternoon Dr. Jerry Thacker walked into the Elm Road Elementary classroom of 5th grade virtual teacher Mrs. Kathy Shreiner to let her know she had been chosen as the district’s 2021 Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Shreiner was in the middle of conducting class with her 5th grade virtual learners. She was just as surprised as her students were when Dr. Thacker, Elm Road Principal Dr. Lisa Soto Kile, P-H-M Administrators, and some of her colleagues walked into the room to give her the good news.

One of the Administrators on hand for the surprise announcement was P-H-M Chief Operating Officer Mr. Aaron Leniski, who was in Mrs. Shreiner’s first class when she became a teacher in P-H-M 32 years ago! Click to see the photo album below.

Mrs. Shreiner joined P-H-M in 1989, teaching at Elm Road Elementary School; she has been teaching at Elm for her entire tenure! She received her BA in Education from Goshen College and a Master's degree in Elementary Education from IUSB.

Four of her colleagues nominated Mrs. Shreiner for the P-H-M Elementary Teacher of the Year award. As a veteran experienced teacher, her co-workers have praised Mrs. Shreiner on what a great resource she’s been to the other virtual teaching team members … “She has such a positive outlook and is always looking for solutions to the problems we face in a digital world. She has worked tirelessly to learn all the new platforms and continually contributes to the group to help us find ways to meet the needs of all of our learners.” Her excitement for teaching has not waned in 32 years, co-workers say she’s just as energetic today as when she first started teaching, even during these challenging times. One of the creative ways Kathy has worked to keep her students engaged is using her dog in some of her recorded lessons. She maintains a personal connection with her virtual students by sending them surprise prizes and notes via “snail mail!” Mrs. Shreiner also works extremely hard at keeping the parents of her virtual teachers informed so they are a part of their students’ educational experience.

“All of our teachers have work extraordinarily hard during the pandemic, going above and beyond to engage their students and maintain relationships,” said Superintendent Dr. Thacker. “Kathy Shreiner, and many of teachers like her, are dedicated to helping our students close the learning gaps and help them continue to achieve academic success.”  

Mrs. Shreiner is well respected by her peers, whether she’s worked with them for 26 or five years. One of the teachers who nominated Mrs. Shreiner stated … “She is always willing to help and really thinks deeply about each situation prior to giving advice or helping in any way. She is a person that I know I can always go to for guidance in any situation.” The IDOE named Elm Road a STEM certified school in May of 2020; and Mrs. Shreiner was an integral part of the application process.

Mrs. Shreiner along with P-H-M’s soon-to-be announced Secondary Teacher of the Year will submit applications to be considered for Indiana Teacher of the Year. Both P-H-M Teachers of the Year will receive a $1,000 classroom grant from P-H-M’s Education Foundation. The 2020 Teachers of the Year will also submit their applications for Indiana’s TOY. Last year during the pandemic, Elementary Title I Technology Integration Coach Jessie Kinney was named P-H-M Elementary Teacher of the Year and Penn High School’s Applied Biology/Life Skills Science teacher Amy Zimmer was named P-H-M Secondary Teacher of the Year. 

A photo album of high resolution JPG files are posted below. To view the images from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you, free of charge! If you are a member of the media and you are using these photos for news purposes, please credit Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation.

Penn High School has once again been ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the nation's best high schools. Penn ranks 1st in the South Bend area, 14th in Indiana, and #1,225 in the national rankings (out of nearly 18,000 high schools nationwide). This puts Penn in the top 7% of the nation's best high schools for 2021!

Penn’s other points of distinction noted by the prestigious national magazine ranking, students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement course work and exams. The AP® participation rate at Penn High School is 45%. The total minority enrollment is 27%, and 20% of students are economically disadvantaged. And with the release of the Spring 2019 ISTEP (grade 10) results, Penn High School as 12th among Indiana’s public schools for combined ELA & Math scores in grade 10.

The rankings are based on the 2018-2019 school year, detailed school-specific information on enrollment, graduation rates, student body demographics, location, school type, and results of state assessments as well as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests. Click here to read more about the methodology.

Indiana high school students typically follow the Core 40 curriculum, which includes required classes in English Language Arts, math, Social Studies and Science, among others. Students who fulfill additional requirements can earn a diploma with academic or technical honors. Penn has a 97% graduation rate with more than 85% of students graduate with Academic Honors, High Honors,  or Technical Honors. 

Class of 2020 included these points of distinction:

• @820 graduates earned more than $9 million in scholarships
• 17 valedictorians and 3 salutatorians

• 12 students have named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, 11 were named Finalists

• 11 students were named Commended Scholars

• 5 students were nominated for Presidential Scholars

• Indiana Regional Academic All-Star, one of only 40 students across our state to be honored

• 3 students were awarded the Community Foundation of Saint Joseph County Eli Lilly Endowment Scholarship based on their high academic merits and test scores

The Academies at Penn High School provide the framework for student success. Through their work in each academy, students find relevant and meaningful coursework taught in a supportive environment where each student is known well by his teachers and peers. Through these “smaller learning communities,” students build relationships while engaged in relevant learning experiences.

Penn’s Early College Academy has received an endorsement as an Early College High School by The Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning. As an endorsed Early College High School by the CELL, Penn’s Early College Academy is regarded as an exemplar for other high schools across Indiana implementing an Early College program.

Penn is a Four Star School earning the Project Lead the Way Distinguished School distinction in 2017-18 (for the 2016-17 school year), and the STEM Academy has been certified as a Full STEM Certified Program by the Indiana Department of Education. 

Click to see the full list of Indiana High Schools as ranked by US News & World Report in 2021. 

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation was named among the Best Communities for Music Education (​BCME) in the country (686 school districts, in 40 states) by the the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation.  This is the 8^th year in a row that P-H-M has received this national honor!

This week the NAMM Foundation celebrated and recognized K-12 music teachers in school districts who found creative ways for the “show to carry on” despite schools moving online or to in-person settings where masks were required not only for student musicians and instruments.

In 2020, as districts shut down for in-person learning, teachers began sending sheet music, videos, and audio to students via the internet. Classes went from the band room to Zoom. Music education became much more individualized and difficult.

Within P-H-M, music teachers worked really hard to make sure their students’ music education did not suffer due to the necessary pandemic safety protocols. Here are a few examples:

• In December, Penn High School Choirs’ annual “Sounds of the Season” concert was held virtually.
• Also in December, Discovery Middle School Choir teacher Jennifer Graybill led the schools’ choirs in a virtual, recorded performance of “One Candle.”.
• In March Penn High School’s annual musical was held in person with many safety precautions: a limited audience, live streamed, and the student actors wore masks. Click to watch a video about how Penn Musical Director pulled it off.

These examples are just a few out of the many ingenious ways P-H-M music, choir, band, and orchestra directors/teachers succeeded in reinventing music instruction and performances. Their successes wouldn’t have been possible without the flexibility and support of students’ families and the larger community. This is just one of the many reasons why P-H-M and other districts were recognized by the NAMM Foundation this week as “Best Communities for Music Education.”

In our elementary schools, music class is part of the regular curriculum following state standards. Students are instructed in both vocal and instrument classes. Beginning in 6th grade, P-H-M students at our three middle schools (Discovery, Schmucker and Grissom) have the opportunity to choose choir, orchestra or band as their music elective. Students at Discovery also have the option of choosing Piano Lab.

Penn High School offers the Fine Arts & Communication Academy as part of its unique academy structure. The seven academy design provides Penn students with relevant and meaningful coursework taught in smaller, supportive environments where each student is known well by his teacher and peers. Nearly a third of Penn’s total 3,500 students are enrolled in the Fine Arts Academy with the majority being involved with music programs, either Choir, Orchestra, Band or another music program.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, P-H-M answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. In a series of landmark studies by scientists and researchers at Northwestern University a link was found between students in community music programs and life-long academic success, including higher high school graduation rates and college attendance. In another study from the University, it was discovered that the benefits of early exposure to music education improves how the brain processes and assimilates sounds, a trait that lasts well into adulthood.

Beyond the Northwestern research, other studies have indicated that music education lays the foundation for individual excellence in group settings, creative problem solving and flexibility in work situations, as well learning how to give and receive constructive criticism to excel.