Community Tailgate, Friday August 21, 2026

P-H-M’s Annual Community Tailgate is a long-standing tradition that brings families, students, staff, and community members together to show their Penn pride. The event is held before the Penn Football home opener and is a chance for everyone across the district to connect, celebrate, and support the Kingsmen.

This year’s home opener will be against Valparaiso. Click here for game ticket info.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. Once inside the stadium head down to the white tents in the south end zone at the Yeoman Family Plaza to buy your $6.00 Meal Ticket.

An advertisement for a tailgate event at a high school football game on Friday, August 21st from 6:00 to 9:30pm

Do you have an incoming kindergartner or a Penn senior? 

P-H-M Education Foundation is hosting a special “Kindergarten Kickoff” before this year’s football game!

The Class of 2027 will welcome the future Class of 2039 into the P-H-M family by meeting kindergartners on the 50-yard line of the Kingsmen football field and presenting them with black and gold pom-poms.

Click here for more details and to sign your student up to participate.

Teacher Job Fair on March 26

We’re Accepting Applications for the
2026-27 School Year

Teacher Job Fair

Thursday, March 26, 2026

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Penn High School Fieldhouse
12641 McKinley Highway, Mishawaka

Teachers Click Here

Click to learn more about P-H-M and why you should join our family.

 

Penn hosts Robotics Tournament March 7-8

📍 Penn High School | 🗓 March 7–8, 2026
🎟 Admission: Free

Penn High School will host a FIRST Indiana Robotics District Competition on Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8, 2026. The competition will take place in the Main Arena and feature more than 40 teams from across Indiana.

Click here to see a photo gallery of last year’s competition.

📅 Event Schedule

Saturday, March 7

  • 10:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

  • All Day – Qualification Matches

  • @7:00 p.m. – Competition concludes

Sunday, March 8

  • 9:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

  • 2:00–5:00 p.m. – Playoff Matches & Awards

🤖 About the Competition

  • Theme: FIRST AGE (Archaeology)

  • Game: REBUILT

  • This event serves as a qualifier for the FIRST Indiana Robotics Championship
    (April 17–19 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds)

  • Top teams may advance to the FIRST Robotics World Championships

👉 Click here for more information on the REBUILT game

🚗 Parking & Entry

  • Parking: Penn High School parking lots: Main, Softball, Soccer; and across the street at Schmucker Middle School

  • Spectator Entrance: Door D (northwest corner of the school)

🍔 Food & Amenities

  • Food trucks available both days

  • Spectator-friendly event for all ages

Come cheer on Indiana’s best student engineers and experience innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving in action!

Grissom Middle School Honors Veterans in Special Ceremony

Grissom Middle School students, staff, and families came together Friday, Nov. 14 to honor local veterans during a moving Veterans Day ceremony. The annual event, originally postponed due to this week’s snowy weather, began with a breakfast where veterans and their families gathered before proceeding to the school cafeteria for the formal ceremony.

GMS Veterans Day Ceremony As guests entered, Student Council and National Junior Honor Society members guided veterans to their seats, proudly carrying the American flag and the Indiana State flag. Principal Jenn Sinclair welcomed attendees and shared her gratitude for the veterans’ service and the community’s support.

The ceremony featured several student musical performances. The 8th Grade Band performed “V-E Day Concert March,” followed by the 7th and 8th Grade Choir singing “Make Them Hear You.” The 8th Grade Orchestra also performed a rendition of “America the Beautiful.”

Assistant Principal Mr. Spatt provided a historical reflection on the significance of Veterans Day, while select students shared their own original poems and letters expressing appreciation for the sacrifices made by those who have served. GMS Veterans Day Ceremony

The keynote speaker, Lt. Col. Dennis R. Bourdo II, USAFR, BSC, delivered an inspiring message about service, leadership, and gratitude. Following his remarks, students presented Lt. Col. Bourdo with a commemorative wreath. 8th grader Ariana Navarro concluded the ceremony with a solemn performance of “Taps.”

The event closed with student leadership officers leading veterans out of the ceremony as students and staff applauded in thanks and respect.

Grissom Middle School extends its heartfelt appreciation to all veterans for their courage, dedication, and service to our country.

Click here to view the full photo gallery from today’s event.

P-H-M Board of School Trustees Appoints Jen Smoker to Fill Penn Township Seat

The Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees voted unanimously this morning to appoint Mrs. Jennifer (Jen) Smoker to fill the Penn Township Seat #1 vacancy created by the resignation of Matthew Chaffee in early October. 

Jen Smoker awarding Grissom Scholarship to an 8th grade student (2023)
Jen Smoker awarding Grissom Scholarship to an 8th grade student (2023)

A long-time resident and active community volunteer, Mrs. Smoker is a dedicated P-H-M parent of four children attending district schools. Her service and advocacy for students and staff have been felt across the district and throughout the greater community.

Mrs. Smoker currently serves on the P-H-M Education Foundation (PHMEF) Board of Directors, where she has chaired the Grants Committee since 2019. In that role, she helps oversee the process of awarding teacher and school grants that enhance learning, spark innovation, and promote excellence in all 15 P-H-M schools. She also supports PHMEF’s fundraising events and community partnerships that benefit students across the district.

Beyond her PHMEF service, Mrs. Smoker is deeply involved in several community organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for Granger Community Church, where she helps guide strategic planning and budget oversight; chairs the Grissom Middle School PTO Scholarship Committee, which awards scholarships to Penn High School seniors; and previously served as Board Secretary for Jr. Irish Soccer Club and Development Chair for Girls on the Run Michiana. Through these roles, she has combined her love of youth development, leadership, and service—supporting programs that build character, confidence, and connection.

Professionally, Mrs. Smoker brings two decades of business leadership and creative experience. A graduate of Miami University’s Farmer School of Business, she began her career as an Account Executive for major advertising firms in Detroit and Chicago, managing national brands such as Lincoln/Mercury and Quaker Oats. In 2003, she founded and operated CardCare.com, an online greeting card company she successfully led for 20 years.

“Mrs. Smoker’s commitment to servant leadership and her deep connection to our schools make her an outstanding addition to the Board,” said Board President Christopher Riley. “She has demonstrated her heart for P-H-M through years of volunteerism and community involvement and will bring a strong parent perspective to the table.”

PHMEF Grant Award
PHMEF Grants Committee Chair Jen Smoker (2nd from right) seen here awarding Grissom Middle School with a PHMEF grant award in 2023

Superintendent Dr. Heather Short added, “Jen’s energy, insight, and collaborative leadership reflect the very best of P-H-M’s Triangle of Success—students, teachers, and parents working together. Her service to our schools and community exemplifies P-H-M Excellence.”

Arrangements will be made with the P-H-M Board Attorney for Mrs. Smoker to take her Oath of Office. She will serve through the remainder of the current term, which expires in 2026. She may choose to run for election to the ensuing four-year term in the November 2026 general election.

Mrs. Smoker was chosen from five applicants. The other four candidates were John “Todd” Douthit, Brandon M. Kastner, William “Matt” Ludwig, and Ryan C. Woodruff (click here for their resumes). Public interviews of these applicants took place during a special board meeting held Tuesday, October 28th. President Riley said the decision to fill the vacancy was a difficult one, as all five candidates would have been excellent choices.

Click here for the process the Board of School Trustees followed for filling the vacancies.

Get to Know Principal Jenn Sinclair

October is National Principals Month! To celebrate, we’re sharing short Q&As with each of our principals—giving you a glimpse into their leadership style, favorite parts of school life, and what drives their #PHMExcellence every day.

If you could swap places with a student for one day, what class or activity would you be most excited to participate in — and why?

Art – I am always amazed by the skills and techniques students learn during their time in art!

What’s your go-to morning routine (or must-have snack/coffee order) that helps you tackle the day?

Always coffee and usually a podcast on the way to school.

What were you like as a middle or high school student — and what’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

I was very shy and quiet, except with my friends. Advice I would give to my younger self is that the people you surround yourself with are very important — so choose wisely!

Jenn Sinclair

If your job as a principal had a theme song, what song would be your walk up song–the one playing when you walked into school each day?

Whatever It Takes – Imagine Dragon

What was your favorite school lunch or snack when you were a student? What is your favorite school lunch now as a principal?

I think everyone loved the rectangular pizza — it’s still great to this day!

What’s one fun fact about you that most students or staff don’t know?

I grew up on a farm in Southern Indiana

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies outside of school that might surprise people?

I have an 18 month old, so that takes up most of my time, but I love to play board games, hiking, and traveling!

What’s one thing on your bucket list you still hope to do one day?

Hike to Machu Picchu, visit all 7 continents

What’s your favorite school tradition or event?

Riley Events and 14 Under Fourteen

If you could describe your school in one word, what would it be?

Supportive

2025 Community Connections Fair

P-H-M’s ENL Department is hosting their annual Community Connections Fair on Saturday, November 1st.

Join us for activities, arts & crafts, food, performances, and to learn about resources in our community. It is completely FREE and all P-H-M families are invited to attend. Click here to see photos on Facebook of past Fairs.

2025 Community Connections Fair

For any families that want to sign up to perform, please click here to fill out the Google form.

 
We can’t wait to see you there!

Drug Awareness Parent Community Meeting

P-H-M hosted a districtwide drug awareness parent and community meeting on Tuesday October, 21, 2025 to help educate P-H-M families and the greater community about the current drug trends attracting teenagers. This valuable information is something all adults should be aware of, click the image above to watch the recorded video of the presentation. It will only be available until end of business day Thursday, Nov. 20th.

woman in yellow & plaid jacketThe session was led by Tall Cop Says Stop™ contracted educator, Melissa Moore, CPS. Tall Cop Says Stop™ was created by Officer Jermaine Galloway, an Idaho law enforcement officer since 1997. Galloway is regarded as one of America’s top experts in various drug and alcohol trends and specializes in underage drinking and drug enforcement. For more than 15 years, he has trained school administrators and safety personnel in spotting the dangers that threaten teens and the community. Melissa Moore, a 24-year public health experienced professional, who works to advance the mission of Tall Cop Says Stop™ in helping educate parents/guardians and students about the latest deadly effects of so-called recreational drug use.

Click here to access Melissa Moore’s resources referenced in her presentation.

Questions can be directed to the presenter at m3consultingllcwi@gmail.com.

Moore also presented a student focused presentation to Penn students (grades 9-12) during the school day on October 21st and 22nd.

This Friday, Aug. 29, 2025: P-H-M Community Tailgate Party

P-H-M’s Annual Community Tailgate is a long-standing tradition that brings families, students, staff, and community members together to show their Penn pride. The event is held before the Penn Football home opener and is a chance for everyone across the district to connect, celebrate, and support the Kingsmen.

This year’s home opener will be “The Backyard Brawl” against Mishawaka on Friday, August 29th, 2025. Click here for game ticket info.

Gates open at 5:00 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. Once inside the stadium head down to the white tents in the south end zone at the Yeoman Family Plaza.

This Friday, Aug. 29, 2025: P-H-M Community Tailgate Party

Friday night marks the 67th meeting between Penn and Mishawaka. Penn leads the all-time series 49-16-1. 

P-H-M Students Excel on Spring 2025 ILEARN

Spring 2025 ILEARN Assessment Results

Outstanding Achievement

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation (P-H-M) proudly shares the outstanding performance of its students on the Spring 2025 ILEARN assessment, as released by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). P-H-M students outperformed the state average by an impressive 20 percentage points in the percentage of students passing both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, placing P-H-M in the top 4% of public school corporations across Indiana.

“These results reflect the exceptional work of our teachers, students, and staff. We remain deeply committed to ensuring every child reaches their full potential, and this data shows that our efforts are paying off.”

Superintendent Dr. Heather Short

District-Wide Achievements

  • P-H-M has maintained its Top 4% ranking for a second consecutive year, a testament to the district’s commitment to academic excellence
  • Northpoint and Prairie Vista Elementary Schools are in the Top 10; Discovery Middle School is #3 in the state
  • P-H-M 8th grade Math performance is up 24% since the 2021 benchmark year, with a 28% variance over the state average
  • Among Indiana’s largest public school districts testing close to 5,000 students, P-H-M ranks #1 in the state for the percentage of Free and Reduced Lunch (F/R) students passing both ELA and Math
  • Penn High School moved up from #27 last year to #15 this year in SAT pass percentage among public high schools

“These achievements are not by accident. They are the result of intentional investments in teacher professional development and the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices. We are fortunate to have educators and staff who are deeply committed to supporting every learner.”

Dr. Heather Short

Indiana junior high school students are now required to take the SAT for graduation. Results from the Spring 2025 IREAD assessment are expected to be released in early fall, and P-H-M looks forward to sharing those outcomes as well.

Assessment Data by Grade Level

ILEARN Math Results
Metric Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
P-H-M 71% 65% 65% 52% 57% 63%
State 52% 50% 42% 40% 36% 35%
Variance +19% +15% +23% +12% +21% +28%
ILEARN ELA Results
Metric Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
P-H-M 60% 55% 64% 57% 56% 64%
State 41% 42% 41% 41% 38% 43%
Variance +19% +13% +23% +16% +18% +21%