P-H-M Return to Learn, Re-entry Plan for Fall 2020

This is your resource for all your Re-entry details and previously communicated information. This page was last updated on June 3, 2021.

Important “Return to Learn” information:

Update on Summer COVID Protocols: On May 28, 2021, Gov. Eric Holcomb extended the mask mandate in Indiana schools through June 30, 2021 with Executive Order 21-15. In response, P-H-M will continue its current practice of requiring face coverings to be worn by everyone inside of its buildings through June 30, 2021. Masks can be removed when outdoors on school property. Click here to read the full Update on Summer COVID Protocols sent to P-H-M staff and families on Thursday, June 3.
End of School Year & Summer Update: Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker sent an end of year communication regarding masks for the end of the school year, Penn Graduation, Summer School and Summer Camps. Click here to view it. Dr. Thacker’s email sent to P-H-M staff and parents on Tuesday, May 18 was based on the Return to Learn update presented at the May 17 Board Meeting. Click here to view that presentation.
School Year 2021-2022 Start Times Return to Normal: Click here to see the schedule.
Return to Learn Plan Update: Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, Asst. Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, and Chief Operations Manage Aaron Leniski presented an update to the P-H-M Board of School Trustees at the April 19^th Board Meeting. Click here to view it.
Middle & Penn High School students return to 5 days a week instruction beginning Monday, April 12. Middle School students will have a 2-hour delay on all Mondays through the end of the year to allow for teachers to prepare in-person and virtual lesson plans for the week. Click here to see the schedule. Click here for Dr. Thacker’s Feb. 4 email to parents.
eLearning Day called for all students PreK-12 on Tuesday, March 30: P-H-M teachers and employees are receiving their 2^nd dose of the Pfzier vaccine on Monday, March 29. The St. Joseph County Department of Health advised the District that 15-30% of staff could experience mild to adverse side effects and would not be able to report for work on Tuesday, March 30.
COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ: On March 29, the IDOH released this Frequently Asked Questions document.
IDOH Teen Vaccination Fact Sheet: The Indiana Department of Health released this Teen Vaccination Fact Sheet on March 24.
IDOH Vaccine vs. COVID-19 Infection Fact Sheet: The State released this fact sheet to help adults who’ve received the vaccine to know the difference of the side effects of the vaccine vs. a possible COVID-19 infection (posted March 17, 2021).
Parent Frequently Asked Questions: This FAQ was developed to help answer parents questions regarding P-H-M’s COVID-19 Safety Protocols.
Secondary Return to Learn Transition Plan: Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker sent this letter to parents on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021
P-H-M Board of School Trustees Resolution for Reducing Quarantines from 14 to 10 days: This Board Resolution was passed at the Jan. 11, 2021 Board Meeting.
Middle and High School Students May Opt to Return to Hybrid Learning Starting Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021: P-H-M Administration discussed secondary students’ return to school with the St. Joseph County Department of Health the week of January 4^th, 2021. SJCDH supports the return of our middle and high school students to the hybrid model beginning Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021 (Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 is a District Recess Day honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday). Families can also opt to keep their students virtual. Click here to download a pdf copy of the new secondary schedules.
Middle and High Schools Return to Virtual Learning for Monday, Nov. 23, 2020 – Friday, Jan. 15, 2021: On Wed., Nov. 18, St. Joseph County Department of Health recommended that secondary schools return to virtual learning. This was only for a temporary period of time as recommended by the St. Joseph County Department of Health.
School Start Times: Click for PreK, elementary, middle and high school start times.
2-Hour Delay Start Times: If weather conditions cause P-H-M Administration to call for a 2-hour delay, these are the start times that elementary (in-person & virtual) and all secondary virtual students will follow.
P-H-M Positive COVID Dashboard: P-H-M has created a COVID Dashboard showing the total number of student & staff positive cases since July 2020 and the number of cases showing the number of student & staff positive cases in the past 10 days (going by the date of the positive test results)
Indiana Department of Health Frequently Asked Questions: This is a good resource for staff and parents (updated on 2/11/21)
"Return to Learn" District Overview: P-H-M’s District Safety Plan during the Pandemic is updated regularly. To see a building specific plan for our 15 schools, please visit the school’s website. Click here for a school directory listing. This document was last updated on 4/6/21.
IDOH Parent Guides for Quarantine & Isolation: These documents were shared by the IDOH
COVID-19 School Attendance Quick Reference Guide: a helpful guide developed by the Indiana State Department of Health to help people determine when they can return to school/work if they’ve tested positive or have been identified as a close contact (updated by IDOH 12/4/20)
First Quarter Parent Survey Results: Parents were asked to respond to surveys about their child’s instruction during these time periods: Elementary School (Nov. 13-20, 2020), Middle School (Oct. 16-22, 2020), and Penn High School (Oct. 16-22, 2020)
COVID-19 Screening Tool for Parents: (updated by the IDOH 2/9/21)
Transportation needs & a link to infoFinder to look up your child’s bus stop information if they will be riding the bus
Before/after school childcare – Kids Club Registration
Food Service Return to Learn Plan
Chromebook Assistance
Videos highlighting P-H-M’s COVID safety procedures and protocols:
- Video of Transportation cleaning & safety protocols
- Video of Cafeteria COVID safety precautions
- Video of Custodial COVID cleaning protocols

For those students who have returned to the classroom, P-H-M provides transparent communication of any students and staff positive COVID-19 cases shared with us. Statistical date on positive cases reported to us are posted to the P-H-M Dashboard. We also ask parents to follow all CDC, Indiana State Department of Health, and St. Joseph County Department of Health guidelines, recommendations and protocols. Some of them are outlined below:

ISDH & CDC guidelines have changed and repeat testing is NOT recommended for making decisions about when people can return to work or school. If the person remains symptom free, they will be allowed to return to school when they meet the above criteria. The ISDH has also produced a quick reference guide for (click here to access).
Parents and staff are asked to continue to monitor their health and their child’s health every day using the ISDH screening tool. If staff or students experience any of the symptoms below, we ask that they do not report to school:
- fever or chills
- sore throat,
- uncontrollable or new cough or shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (especially new onset)
- diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- headache (especially new onset of severe headache with fever, or new loss of taste or smell)
Students and staff should not report to school if they have had close contact with a known positive case, including in your own household, or awaiting test results. When you have a positive case (tested or clinical) in your household, the positive case should self-isolate away from the rest of the family members and the family should remain in quarantine. If a family member/close contact (or anyone in the house) cannot isolate away from the positive person, the family member(s) quarantine period will begin the day of exposure and continue 10 days after the positive person quarantine ends. Click here for more information from the CDC on isolation and quarantine.
We ask families that have multiple children in P-H-M schools and one member of your family household is positive (tested or clinical), to please notify all P-H-M schools your children attend.