The message below was sent out to all P-H-M staff and families the afternoon of March 12, 2020.

Dear P-H-M Families and Staff,

Based on Governor Eric Holcomb’s announcement released at 4:28 p.m. today, all P-H-M students will not report to school tomorrow Friday, March 13 and Monday, March 16, 2020. These days will be recess days (no eLearning will be conducted on these two days). Students and families should be prepared to begin extended eLearning beginning on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

All P-H-M staff are to report to their normal work location at normal times on Friday, March 13 and Monday, March 16 to help prepare the district for extended eLearning days.

More details to come for respective staff groups and families. Please be patient with us as we work through these details.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Thacker​
Superintendent of Schools

Click here to register your child today for Summer 2020 Kids Club!

The last day for P-H-M Schools is Thursday, June 4. Full-day childcare will be offered at two locations (Northpoint and Walt Disney Elementary Schools) for current P-H-M students in grades K-5  June 8 – August 17. Children will enjoy a variety of educational and recreational activities, crafts and field trips.

Cost is $150 a week, for five days a week.

All children not currently enrolled in Kids Club are required to pay a $25 registration fee, along with a non-refundable $125 activity fee deposit.

Space is limited so families must register by midnight, Friday, May 29. Click here to register online.

Locations:   Northpoint Elementary School

                       Walt Disney Elementary School

Dates:          Monday, June 8 – Monday, August 17, 2020
*Please note Kids Club will not be operating Friday, June 5 or Tuesday, August 18. Kids Club will also be closed Friday, July 3 for the Independence Day holiday. The first day of school for P-H-M Schools is Wednesday, August 19, 2020.

Times:          6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Questions: If you have questions about Kids Club Summer Session, please call:

• Binti Shah, Kids Club Program Director, 574-258-9514
• Ashley Stoffl, Kids Club Assistant Program Coordinator, 574-258-9587
• Diane Dyer, Kids Club Assistant Program Coordinator, 574-286-1982

Saturday, May 16

8:30 a.m. – Noon

Penn High School

Register online today! Early Bird Registration is available until Sunday, May 3 ($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:

• Early start time, 8:30 a.m.
• 1.5 mile and 5K route options
• Lower early bird prices: $20 for adults, $10 for students
• Family Pricing: $60 for four or more (at same address)

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 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.

Presenting sponsor Saint Joseph Health System will offer free health screenings including body mass index and blood sugar! Other area businesses will also be on hand to showcase health and fitness related activities, resources and services. 

After a fun day, leave with great bargains purchased at the Silent Auction. The P-H-M student talent showcase is always a crowd pleaser. Last year, the student groups included Horizon Show Choir, Bittersweet Cardio Drummers, Elm Road Jumping Eagles, Meadow’s Edge Dancers, and Penn High School Dancers.

Choose to walk or run the 5K or take a shorter loop. This exciting untimed race welcomes runners of all experience levels while blasting through foam bogs and fun spirit stations along the course.

The Silver Mile Bubble Bash is a chance for P-H-M families and local community members to get together and show their support for excellence in education in all P-H-M schools.  Proceeds are returned to P-H-M schools by awarding innovative teacher 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.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 14 & Sunday, March 15 for the FIRST Robotics St. Joseph District Event. Penn High School is once again hosting more than 40 high school FRC robotics teams from Indiana and Michigan who will battle it out for the title. Join more than 5,000 students, coaches, mentors, parents and fans during this one-of-a-kind two-day FREE event!

Saturday, March 14 

10 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Next Gen (K-8): 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sunday, March 15 

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Click to watch the video below to check out all the upcoming excitement, then come out to cheer on Penn Robotics Team 135!

Make sure to also bring your young Robotics fans to “Next Gen,” an area for students ages K-8, who can get hands-on engaging fun with some of Team 135’s other robots. Next Gen will be open Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This event is also FREE ADMISSION!

Sign-up for the Kingsmen Junior Boys Basketball League on Tuesday, September 10^th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., at Penn High School, enter Door D.

All games will be played on Sundays in the Penn Fitness Center, enter Door G.

 Grades 3 & 4 Games Times: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Grades 5 & 6 Games Times: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

*Game times subject to change due to league size

Before each game, all players will learn a Team Concept. The 15 minute Team Concept will be led by Penn Varsity Assistant Coach Julius Smith. Team coaches will consist of approved volunteer parents and members of the community. Each team coach will assist with the team concept lesson before each game. The league will start on September 22nd with the last games being played on November 3rd.

The cost of the league will be $75 for every player, along with the additional cost of the Kingsmen reversible jersey. All players must purchase a Penn Jersey. We will have info to order your sons Jersey at the time of registration.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Assistant Boys Varsity Coach Julius Smith at jsmith5@phm.k12.in.us.

On Thursday, August 22, we welcomed back the youngest members of the P-H-M family … our kindergartners!

This up and coming Class of 2032 kicked off their educational careers in true #PHMExcellence fashion! Get a glimpse of the First Day of Kindergarten across the District. Some of our little Stars are featured at the beginning of the video …

P-H-M’s annual Community Tailgate to kick off the start of the Penn Football Season will once again be held at the TCU Freed Field, South End Concession Stand Plaza.

The Tailgate is hosted by Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and the Penn Boosters Club for all P-H-M families and patrons to enjoy.

So come out early to the football game, grab a hot dog and catch up with old friends! Then stick around to cheer on the Kingsmen as they take on LaPorte in the season Home Opener!

Friday, August 30
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
TCU Freed Field, South End Concession Stand Plaza

Tickets $4.00 (payable at the event) includes:

• Bratwurst or hot dog

• Potato Chips

• Cookie

• Drink

As shared with the Northpoint Elementary School community approximately two weeks ago, Principal Mrs. Diane Wirth announced her intention to retire at the end of the 2018-2019 school year after 32 years of service to the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. Mrs. Wirth had been principal at Northpoint since 2013.

Today (Thursday, May 30), P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker introduced the Northpoint teachers and staff to their new recommended principal, Mrs. Lorraine White. Her appointment is slated for approval at the June 17 Board of School Trustees Meeting.

The appointment will be a homecoming of sorts for Mrs. White, who has been serving as Assistant to the Principal at Bittersweet Elementary School for the 2018-2019 school year. Prior to her assignment at Bittersweet, Mrs. White was an elementary teacher at Northpoint Elementary School since the school opened in 1998, where she taught grades one through three. Mrs. White’s first teaching position was at Walt Disney where she served as a Title I teacher from January-May of 1998.

Mrs. White received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Ball State University, has a Master of Science in Education from Indiana University South Bend, and her Principal Licensure Program from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Mrs. Wirth began her career at P-H-M as an elementary teacher at Walt Disney Elementary School in 1987. In 2003, she became Assistant Principal of Northpoint Elementary School and became Principal of Walt Disney in 2006. She returned to Northpoint as principal in 2013. Under her six years of leadership at Northpoint, the school has achieved/maintained these recognitions and honors:

• consistently received “A” and Four Star School ratings from the IDOE​
• one of the nation and Indiana’s top ranked public elementary schools 
• named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2016
• consistently out scored the state average in student pass rates of ISTEP, with percentages in the high 90s
   

Principal Wirth’s guidance and dedication has left an indelible mark on Northpoint.

Mrs. Wirth said of Mrs. White today “I know I am leaving Northpoint in very capable and loving hands. Her experience and knowledge of the Northpoint community will serve her well as she continues to develop connections and relationships with families, students, and staff.”

We thank Principal Wirth for her years of leadership and wish her all the best as she embarks on this next phase of her life. And we are excited to welcome back Mrs. White as a Northpoint STAR!

Sign-up for the Penn Girls Basketball Leagues will be from noon-to-2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25.

The Junior League is for grades 3-6, and the Senior League is for grades 7-8.

Both the Junior League and Senior League start on Sunday, Sept. 8. The Junior League ends on Sunday, Nov. 10, and the Senior League ends on Sunday, Nov. 17.

• Click here for information on the Junior League.
• Click here for information on the Senior League.