Cap and Gown orders due Friday, March 1
Attention Penn High School Parents and Students:
Graduation is fast approaching and we want to ensure that you have everything you need for this special day. Caps and Gowns will be passed out during Rehearsal scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, and Thursday, April 25. If you have not placed your order, please order no later than Friday, March 1, 2024, to pick up at the scheduled delivery event on April 24 and April 25.
The Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, June 3, 2024, at the University of Notre Dame.
The following link will take you to your school’s landing page for all your graduation needs. This link includes all the packages and ala carte items for announcements, apparel and your cap and gown unit.
If you only need a cap and gown (includes tassel) here is the direct link.
Congratulations on this milestone achievement. If you have questions, please contact the Jostens office at 574.216.6336.
All-State Band auditions postponed to Wednesday, Jan. 17
All-State Band Auditions scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at Penn High School have been postponed until Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.
Snowball postponed due to adverse weather
We have been monitoring the forecast for several days and unfortunately have decided to postpone Snowball that is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. The forecasted dangerous temperatures, wind chill factor, wind speed and road conditions factored into this decision. Safety is our top priority and we want to make sure our students would not be put in a dangerous position tomorrow night while traveling.
The dance will be rescheduled and we will communicate the new date next week sometime.
Stay safe and warm this weekend.
Penn literary magazine Spectrum wins highest honor from NCTE
The Penn High School student literary magazine, Spectrum, has won the highest honor for recognizing excellence in Art and Literary magazines from the National Council of Teachers of English.
Spectrum is published under the direction of Penn instructor Caelea Armstrong.
Editors of the 2022-2023 Spectrum Literary Magazine were Valentina Gianesi (graduated), Monique Caraman (graduated), Lauren Turnquist, Natalie Reed and Michael Mireles.
“Spectrum has been a literary publication at Penn High School since at least the 1988-89 school year,” Armstrong said. “The mission of Spectrum is to create an outlet for student expression – written, art, and multimedia.
“Over the years, Spectrum has evolved and is now involved in creating monthly newsletters known as “The Bathroom Bulletin,” the People of Penn displays in the stairwells, and events like Reality Cafe,” Armstrong said. “Our main focus is the Spectrum Magazine, and I could not be more proud of our students on the Spectrum staff.”
This year, schools in 46 states and five countries nominated 375 student magazines. Magazines from middle school, high school, and higher education were welcomed for the 2023 contest. A total of 108 magazines were awarded the contest’s highest distinction, REALM First Class.
The REALM program publicly recognizes excellent literary magazines produced by students with the support of their teachers. REALM is designed to encourage all schools to develop literary magazines that celebrate the art and craft of writing. Schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, US territories, Canada, and American schools abroad are eligible to nominate magazines.
For more information about the REALM Program, please visit: https://ncte.org/awards/program-to-
recognize-in-student-literary-magazines/.
2-Hour Delay Schedule during Final Exams
Click the PDF for the 2-hour delay schedules during Final Exams:
Penn Pep Band performs at Notre Dame Men’s Basketball game
Penn High School’s Pep Band, under the direction of D.J. Landoll, performed at the Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Game on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. The Fighting Irish played against North Carolina State.
“Being invited to perform was a reflection of the trust that Notre Dame has in the Penn music program and the P-H-M brand,” Landoll said. “It seems that we have a reputation that inspired confidence in the event organizers, who were gracious professionals and helped create a good experience for our kids.
“We’re proud of our product and enjoyed getting to show it to a new audience, but I imagine that the students were excited primarily because it was another good reason to be with their friends making fun music – everything else is secondary,” Landoll said. “We honestly love playing together and just being together.”
The Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Team features Penn graduate Markus Burton, who was named Indiana Mr. Basketball last season.
Penn Debate places first at Ben Davis
By LANGSTON ARTRIP
The Penn Debate Team won the Team Sweepstakes at the Ben Davis Debate Tournament. Penn Debate has won the last five consecutive meets they have competed in.
This team’s success is due to the immense amount of work that everyone puts into this team and how passionate they are about the Penn Debate Team. This is assisted by the middle school program that Coach Jeremy Starkweather and the debate team’s captains have put time and energy into to make sure that they are ready to compete at the high school level. The Penn Debate Team expects only excellence and success in its endeavors and they have achieved and overshot many of their expected goals.
These are the top individual awards.
- 1st Place Lincoln Douglas- Akul Bhambhani
- 2nd Place Lincoln Douglas- Sarah Rooney
- 2nd Place Policy- Kevin Wu & Rebeca Ramirez
- 3rd Place Policy- Leena Khan & Sarah Ahmed
- 3rd Place Public Forum- Alina Luck & Jaanavi Kaushik
German Club Gingerbread Houses
Penn High School’s German Club got into the Winter festivities by creating Gingerbread Houses at a recent meeting.
A Photo Gallery is posted below.
Dance Choreography Showcase set for Wednesday, Dec. 20
The Dance Choreography Showcase is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, at the Penn High School Center for Performing Arts.
Click here for ticket information.
Penn Debate earns honors at Chesterton
The Penn Debate Team won the Team Sweepstakes at the Chesterton Debate Tournament. Penn Debate has won the last four consecutive meets that they have competed in.
Penn Debate coach Jeremy Starkweather credited the team’s success to Leadership and the Middle School Debate Program.
“My team captains have shown some of my all-time best leadership skills, and have put in countless hours preparing not just for their performances, but also for our rookies and veteran members alike,” Starkweather said.
In the last two years, Penn Debate has invested in the middle schoolers, hosting an all-PHM District Tournament.
“With the preparations happening at the middle-school level, our team is starting their careers ahead of the game compared to some of the other teams throughout the state,” Starkweather said.
Penn’s top individual awards at Chesterton:
- 1st place Public Forum: Noah Schafer and Bohdan Kolomiiets
- 1st place Lincoln Douglas: Akul Bhambani
- 2nd place Lincoln Douglas: Sarah Rooney
- 2nd place World Schools: Noah Shafer, Stanley Liew, and Danielle Esgeuerra
- 2nd place Novice Policy: Danielle Cilliberti and Addison Schlundt
- 1st place Novice Congress: Selin Biligicer
- 2nd place Novice Congress: Langston Artrip
In the Lincoln Douglas Category, both Akul Bhambani and Sarah Rooney were undefeated. Their match was very close and came down to a tiebreaker round in which Akul Bhambani persevered to the end.