Tuesday, May 14

6:00 p.m.

Penn Cafeteria (enter through Door D)

Attention 8th grade boys interested in playing football at Penn High School in the fall 2019: there will be an informational meeting for both parents and 8th grade boys interested in being a part of the Penn Freshman football team in the fall.  

The meeting will take place Tuesday, May 14, 6:00 p.m. in Penn’s Cafeteria.

Please plan on attending.

Contact Coach O'Connell at koconnell@phm.k12.in.us for details.

Saturday, May 4

8:30 a.m. – Noon

Penn High School

Register online today! Early Bird Registration is available until Sunday, April 21 ($20 for adults, $10 for students)!

Do you like bubbles? Well, if you do, you’ll enjoy the Silver Mile Bubble Bash!  

Highlighted changes for this year’s event:

• Earlier start time, 8:30 a.m.
• 1.5 mile and 5K route options
• Lower early bird prices:$20 for adults, $10 for students
• The school with the most participation will win a Gaga Ball Pit or 9 Disc Golf Baskets ($2,500 value)!
• And more bubbles!

Missed out on all the bubbly fun last year? Don't let it happen two years in a row! Watch the video and see how much fun you and your whole family will have …

The Student Talent Show starts at 9 a.m.

The Health & Fitness Expo will be in the cafeteria where everything from free health screenings by presenting sponsor Saint Joseph Health System to numerous businesses showcasing their health-related items will be offered.

And don’t forget about the Silent Auction!

The Silver Mile Run is the largest fundraiser for the P-H-M Education Foundation and all the proceeds go towards providing innovative P-H-M teaching grants, scholarships to students, staff development, and other corporation-wide initiatives.

Click here to take advantage of early bird registration and for more information on the Bubble Bash.

With music education programs at all grade levels (K-12), Penn-Harris-Madison has been named  one of 2019 Best Communities for Music Education for its outstanding commitment to music education. P-H-M is one of only 623 districts nationwide and 12 in Indiana to receive the honor from The NAMM Foundation. 

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. The BCME award acknowledges the commitment of P-H-M’s music teachers and administrators in the District’s 11 elementary, three middle schools and Penn High School.

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.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation serves more than 11,100 students in 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and Penn High School. The School Corporation has consistently received an “A” rating from the Indiana Department of Education since 2011. With the release of the Spring 2018 ISTEP+ results, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation ranks in the state’s Top 5% of public school districts for grade 10 ISTEP+ results and in the Top 6% for grades 3-8. Northpoint is Indiana’s #2 public elementary school and Discovery ranks #3 out of the state’s public middle schools. Penn High School ranks in the Top 5% of all Indiana public high schools and has a 97% graduation rate, exceeding the state’s graduation rate. P-H-M’s “Triangle of Success” connects students, teachers and parents for excellence in education. 

About The NAMM Foundation: The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,300 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.

A group of 8th grade students from Ms. Elizabeth Marshall’s art class are getting some real world experience thanks to a project based learning project developed in partnership with local advertising/design firm Pathfinders in Mishawaka. Click to see the photo gallery below.

Ms. Marshall’s goal with this project is to help these art students, who will be Freshmen next year at Penn High School, to see first-hand what it’s like to work on a graphics design project. Introductory vocational projects such as these give students practical “on the job training” giving them insight into what a job they are interested in would really be like. These types of experiences are invaluable for middle and high school students as the District prepares them to be college and career ready.

“Many of our students are attempting to make decisions about scheduling and their next steps towards their career,” said Ms. Marshall. “In order to give students the opportunity to see if the arts are an avenue they would like to pursue, we have teamed up with the Pathfinders.”

Ms. Marshall worked with Pathfinders’ Associate Creative Director James Jursinic to develop a logo/brandmark development project for the students. The students have seven weeks to create two concept sketches (one black & white, the other color) for a logo/brandmark for the fictitious company “FLEEK Footwear.” The students have deliverables to meet throughout the timeline of the project with Ms. Marshall and Mr. Jursinic giving feedback at each milestone. The project was designed to give students exposure in art direction, creative direction, graphic design, project management, time management and client relations.

Students learned of their project scope on a recent visit to Pathfinders’ offices (Friday, March 15). Students got to see for themselves the fun and professional world of advertising and design. After the tour and introductions to staff members with brief explanations of job responsibilities, Mr. Jursinic presented the students with the project brief, giving students a chance to ask questions. The winner of the project will win bragging rights, a prize from Ms. Marshall and of course get an “A” on the assignment!

*To download high resolution jpg files 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.

This past weekend Friday, March 15th and Saturday, March 16th Penn High School hosted the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) Middle School Band and Orchestra Festival. Penn hosted 34 middle school groups, including 18 from P-H-M’s Discovery, Grissom and Schmucker Middle Schools.

Of the 18 P-H-M Orchestras and Bands that participated, 17 of these ensembles received Gold Ratings! In addition, 11 received superior scores indicating a “With Distinction” status! 

The “With Distinction” status indicates a near perfect score and is achieved by less than ten percent of all groups across the state of Indiana.

Congratulations to the following P-H-M Ensembles and their Directors …

Grissom:

• 6th Grade Orchestra, Director: Vickie Marshall, Gold Rating
• 6th Grade Band, Director: Heather Baker, Gold Rating
• 7th Grade Orchestra, Director: Vickie Marshall, Gold Rating
• 7th Grade Band, Director: Heather Baker, Silver Rating
• 8th Grade Orchestra, Director: Vickie Marshall, Gold Rating (With Distinction)
• 8th Grade Band, Director: Heather Baker, Gold Rating

Discovery:

• 6th Grade Orchestra, Directors: April Oppenheim/Carol Weirich, Gold Rating (With Distinction)
• 6th Grade Band, Directors: Murray Weaver & Carol Weirich, Gold Rating (With Distinction)
• 7th Grade Orchestra, Director: April Oppenheim, Gold Rating
• 8th Grade Orchestra, Director: April Oppenheim, Gold Rating (With Distinction)
• Symphonic Band, Directors: Murray Weaver & Carol Weirich, Gold Rating (With Distinction)
• Honor Band, Directors: Murray Weaver & Carol Weirich, Gold Rating (With Distinction)

State Show Choir ISSMA competitions were also held on Saturday, March 16. Discovery’s three choirs all received Gold “With Distinction”:

• 6th grade Choir, Group 4, Director: Jennifer Graybill, Gold Rating (With Distinction)

• 7 & 8th grade Male Choir, Group 2, Director: Jennifer Graybill, Gold Rating (With Distinction)

• 7 & 8th grade Treble Choir, Group 1, Director: Jennifer Graybill, Gold Rating (With Distinction)

  Schmucker:

  

  • 6th Grade Orchestra, Director: Dodi Carnall, Gold Rating (With Distinction)​
  • 6th Grade Band, Directors: Jeff and Dodi Carnall, Gold Rating (With Distinction)​
  • 7th Grade Orchestra, Director: Dodi Carnall, Gold Rating (With Distinction)​
  • 7th Grade Band, Directors: Jeff Carnall, Gold Rating (With Distinction)​
  • 8th Grade Orchestra, Director: Dodi Carnall, Gold Rating​
  • 8th Grade Band, Directors: Jeff and Dodi Carnall, Gold Rating (With Distinction)

Grissom Instrument Selection Night

Thursday, March 7, 2019

4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is nationally recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” offering choir, band and orchestra at Grissom and the other two P-H-M middle schools Discovery and Schmucker.

Every P-H-M 5th grader who will be attending a P-H-M middle school as an incoming 6th grader in the Fall 2020 has the opportunity to join an instrumental music class, which includes either band or orchestra. “Instrument Selection Night” is when students and families get to make their choice!

In order to join 6th grade band or orchestra, students must select an instrument that they will learn, practice and perform for the school year.  Click this link to sign-up for your appointment at your designated school and date. *If you have not received a letter with details about this process, please contact Glenn Northern at gnorthern@phm.k12.in.us.

At “Instrument Selection Night,” a music professional will be available to give students advice about which instrument may be best suited for them. They will be allowed to “try out” instruments from various instrument groups.

The first day for students of the 2019-2020 school year is Wednesday, August 21, 2019 and the last day for students is Wednesday, June 3, 2020.

Other important dates include:

• September 2, 2019: Recess Day – Labor Day
• October 25 & 28, 2019: Fall Recess Days
• November 5, 2019: Recess Day – General Election
• November 27-29, 2019: Thanksgiving Recess Days
• December 23-Jan. 3, 2020: Winter Break
• January 20, 2020: Recess Day – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• February 17, 2020: Recess Day – Presidents’ Day
• April 6-10, 2020: Spring Break
• May 5, 2020: Recess Day – Primary Election
• May 25, 2020: Recess Day – Memorial Day

Click here for a one-page pdf copy of the 2019-2020 school year calendar.

If you need copies of the 2018-2019 school year and activity calendars, please click here.

Discovery Middle School PTO in Partnership with Discovery Middle School presents “An Evening of Vocational Options and Saving for College.” 
 

Please join us at Discovery Middle School for presentations about the College Savings 529 Plan and by Elkhart Area Career Center. The programs at the EACC are available to Penn High School students. A complete listing of classes and programs are outline in the Penn High School Program of Studies—just use the “Cntrl F” function to search for the Elkhart Area Career Center.

Monday, February 11, 2019, 7:00 p.m. at Discovery Middle School.

Congratulations are in order for seven of our band members, pictured and named above, after recently being selected to Purdue University Fort Wayne’s 2019 Middle School Three Rivers Honor Band.

As part of the selection, honor band participants will spend three days at Purdue University Fort Wayne doing intensive rehearsals with nationally renowned faculty and conductors. The weekend culminates with an afternoon student performance on Saturday, January 26 at 1:30 p.m.

The concert will take place at the Auer Performance Hall on the campus of Purdue University Fort Wayne. Admission is free to the public. Click here for more information on Three Rivers Honor Band. 

Monday, Nov. 5
5:30 p.m.
Schmucker Middle School, 56045 N Bittersweet Rd.

Indiana law (IC 20-19-3-11) now requires that all schools provide age appropriate and research based instruction on child abuse and child sexual abuse to students in grades kindergarten through 12th. Penn-Harris-Madison has partnered with the Youth Service Bureau of St. Joseph County and the St. Joseph County Special Victims Unit to provide this instruction for our students.  

In November and early December, staff from the Youth Service Bureau St. Joseph County and St. Joseph County Special Victims Unit will present the materials to secondary students in grades 6-12. Each unit is age appropriate specific to the grade level.

To learn more about the new State mandated child abuse/sexual abuse prevention curriculum, all P-H-M parents are invited to attend an optional parent information night on Monday, November 5, 5:30 p.m., at Schmucker Middle School, 56045 N Bittersweet Rd.

Parents have the option to have their student(s) participate in the state mandated educational program.

Parents are asked to return either a paper version of the permission slip or click here to submit it electronically through our school website. *Please note a permission form needs to be returned for each individual child enrolled in a Penn-Harris-Madison School.

If you wish to fill out the electronic version of the form, please click here. 

To download and print a pdf copy of the secondary (grades 6-12) permission form, please click here.

Adobe Acrobat Reader will be required to view the pdfs. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, please visit Adobe’s website, at this link www.get.adobe.com/reader/, to download your free version.

If you opt to fill out the paper form, you will need to print the form, fill it out and return it to the school.