Revolutionary War Era Replicas Come to AP U.S. History
Penn High School teacher Eric Bowers found a way to bring history to life by bringing in the “Revolutionary War Traveling Trunk” from the American Battlefield Trust.
The Traveling Trunk came complete with teacher manuals, lesson plans and of course, realistic replicas of common items that would have been used in every day life during the time period of the Revolutionary War.
From playing cards to clothes to fold out paper fans, take a look below of some items the students had the opportunity to experience!
Homecoming Dance Ticket Information
Homecoming 2024 Details
Friday, October 4, 2024
Family Fun Zone
• Time: 4-7 p.m.
• Cost: Free
• Location: Jordan Automotive Group Baseball Stadium
• What: Bounce Houses, Gaga Ball, Obstacle Courses, 22 ft slide and more!
• The Family Fun Zone is Free thanks to Fun Zone Sponsors Gary and Tammy Fox
Vendor Expo
• Time: 4-7 p.m.
• Cost: Free
• Location: First Base Side of the Jordan Automotive Group Baseball Stadium
• What: Tables with vendors sharing valuable information & Free “Go Penn” temporary tattoos for all Kingsmen and future Kingsmen!
Food Trucks
• Time: 4-7 p.m.
• Cost: Varies
• Location: North End of Penn High School Parking Lots
• What: Get dinner or a snack from a varity of delicious local food trucks!
Homecoming Parade
• Time: 5:30 p.m.
• Cost: Free
• Location: Wraps around the rear of Schmucker Middle School, Left turn onto Bittersweet Road, Right turn past Penn Student Parking (See Map)
• What: Each P-H-M Elementary and Middle school will be marching as well as floats created by a varity of Penn High School sports, clubs and students groups. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite float at the Expo!
Football Game
• What: Penn vs Elkhart
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Cost: $6 in advance (online or high school students may purchase in the Penn Athletic Office until 8 a.m. on Friday) $7 at the gate (or after 8 a.m. in the Penn Athletic Office)
Any elementary student or younger, who attends with a paying adult, is free! (Ex. 1 paying parent with 3 elementary children, all 3 children are free)
• Location: Everwise Freed Field
• Click for facility Rules to Remember
Parking
• Cost: $3 to park in lots around Penn High School (See Map)
All money raised through parking supports the Penn High School Band Boosters
• Cost: Free to park in Schmucker, Pennway, Baseball and softball lots (See Map)
Families are encouraged to arrive early to allow plenty of time to find parking and walk to the events
Fireworks
• Time: TBD – After Football Game
• Location: Everwise Freed Field
• What: Spectacular firework’s show to end the evening
Click Map to Expand
Saturday, October 5, 2024
“An Enchanted Evening” Homecoming Dance
• Time: 7:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• Location: Everwise Freed Field & Yeoman Family Plaza
• Cost: $25 Per Ticket
• Purchase Tickets Here
• What: An Enchanted Evening for PHS students! Great music, games, and food! Plus, new addition of a 360 -degree videography photo booth!
October 1-7, 2024
Silent Auction
• Beginning October 1st, bid on a variety of items compliments of our community partners
• Click Here for Silent Auction
• All proceeds benefit the P-H-M Education Foundation
For sponsorship opportunities or other information, please reach out to Jen Turnblom jturnblom@phmef.org
Rules to Remember:
- No reentry; once you leave, you are not allowed back in.
- No outside food or beverages, no insulated cups
- No backpacks
- Diaper bags & large women’s purses are allowed
- Penn does not have a clear bag policy
- No electronic noise makers
- No Footballs or Beach Balls
- No weapons of any kind
- No alcohol
- No Smoking/Vaping products of any kind. All PHM school property is smoke free.
- No open flames at private tailgating
Drumline Hypes Up the Kingsmen
The halls of Penn High School buzzed with excitement as the Marching Kingsmen drumline made their way through the school on Friday, setting the tone for the first home football game of the 2024 season. This tradition, which takes place every Friday before a home game, fills the school with the rhythmic sound of drums, energizing students and staff alike.
This tradition is a beloved part of the Penn High School experience, signaling the start of football season and rallying the school community together in support of their team. The Marching Kingsmen drumline continues to inspire school spirit and excitement as they lead the charge into another season of Friday night lights.
Penn Exchange Students Experience June in Germany
While we are back in school now, we’d like to take a look back at a summer trip that 15 of our students got to experience.
The German American Partnership Program (GAPP) has been running at Penn High School since 1999 under the leadership of Elizabeth Dix. GAPP is an initiative of the Goethe Institute to encourage intercultural exchange, dialogue and friendship. It is an exchange, with a group of German high school students coming to visit Penn in the fall, and Penn students visiting Germany in the early summer. Our partner school is Christian-Rohlfs-Gymnasium in Hagen, Germany, and students on both sides get to practice their language skills and experience true student life and what it is to be a teenager in another country.
The students were in Hagen for 25 days, leaving right after graduation. While in Germany, our students lived with host families, went to school with their partner, experienced new activities, new food, and new landmarks to say the least. Some highlights were the Cologne Cathedral, touring a WWII submarine bunker, seeing the famous Bremen city musicians, and so much more. Students returned to the States with a renewed sense of curiosity, respect for other cultures, and, perhaps most importantly, more confidence in their German language skills.
15 Penn High School students on their way to O’Hare to travel to Germany.
Reunited at last! 2024 Penngrad Lillian Gregory (right) with partner Nele.
Penn Senior Avery Pawlak (right) with partner Gerald in Hagen.
Above is a picture of the entire group, with Frau Tarbet Burnett to the far right.
Each school day, the American students would get together in our designated classroom for “American hour,” where they would spend time discussing experiences and cultural differences, and work on language practice to use with their host families.
The entire group of German and American students at the Welcome Party.
The Penn students were blown away by the generosity of their German host families!
2025 senior Emily Eby (left) and 2024 graduate Kylie Fravel (right) in front of the Cologne Cathedral, one of the region’s top sightseeing destinations. Students also got to tour the inside.
German and Penn students getting ready to climb the Cathedral tower in Cologne.
Students enjoying traditional Bavarian food at a local restaurant in Hagen. Pictured left to right: Fabian, Lillian Gregory, Nele, Joelle, Ruby Lehtomaki
Visiting Zeche Zollverein, a local coal mining plant that’s been turned into a museum.
The Penn group in Bremen, Germany after an informative walking tour.
Pictured left to right: Emily Eby, Kylie Fravel, Oliver Dvorak, Sean Kinnucan, Jack Busch-Evans, Avery Pawlak, Ellie Satre, Adam Herath, Ruby Lehtomaki
Students on a mud flat hike in the Wadden Sea near Cuxhaven! We learned about local ocean life and how this area loses so much water when the tide goes out.
Students observing the German WWII submarine bunker Valentin.
Thousands of forced laborers worked over several years to construct this structure. It was never completely finished and no submarines were built here during the war.
The group in Hamburg, Germany. Across the water you can see part of the main downtown area. Pictured left to right: Frau Tarbet, Ruby Lehtomaki, Kylie Fravel, Amina Spahic, Sean Kinnucan, Alaina Dudas, Oliver Dvorak, Rebecca Wolter, Avery Pawlak, Adam Herath, Ellie Satre, Lillian Gregory, Jack Busch-Evans, Ian Hahn, Ashlynn Bice.
The students visit Burg Altena, a castle in the area near Hagen. Students learned about the history of the castle and medieval life.
Students enjoy their farewell party by recreating a photo taken when the Germans were visiting Penn. L-R: Luke, Oliver Dvorak, Avery Pawlak, Adam Herath, and being held is Gerald.
Markus Burton Hosts Summer Skills Camp
Penn alum Markus Burton, 2023 Indiana Mr. Basketball and a standout guard at Notre Dame, returned home to inspire the next wave of basketball talent.
At his recent camp, Burton shifted from player to mentor, guiding young athletes not only in basketball techniques, but also in the values that shaped his own career—teamwork, discipline, and perseverance.
A legend in Saint Joseph County, Burton set records by averaging 30.3 points per game during his high school years. Now, he’s channeling that experience into helping others.
The camp was a tremendous success and Markus is eager to host more in the future, continuing his mission to foster the next generation of basketball stars.
Class of 2024 Grads Impress in Miss Indiana’s Teen Competition
Class of 2024 Penn High School graduates Bella Bauer & Gabby Mammolenti both took the top spots as Miss Teen Indiana and 1st Runner Up in last night’s Miss Indiana Organization pageant competition, winning in college scholarships.
Bella Bauer is the winner of the 2024 Miss Indiana Teen pageant and is a person with epilepsy. She uses her platform to advocate for seizure training in schools. In 2023, Bella gave a presentation to Board of School Trustees on Epilepsy for Epilepsy Awareness Month. Bella suffers from Epilepsy having her first episode in 5th grade. She now hopes to educate as many students, teachers, and members of the public on Epilepsy and what to do when someone has a seizure. She’s written a book “The ABC’s on Epilepsy.” Bella was also an award winning member of Penn’s Dance team.
Bella has been featured in the South Bend Tribune.
Congratulations to Gabby Mammolenti on earning the the distinction of 1st runner up!
Night School Class of 2024 Commencement & Photo Gallery
Congratulations to the Night School Class of 2024!
Graduates had the opportunity to cross the stage during commencement exercises in front of their family and friends on Thursday, June 6th, 2024.
The Night School program provides coursework for adults toward completion of a high school diploma, not a GED, regardless of residency.
Please view the full photo gallery below!
Penn News Network (PNN) Students Earn Accolades
Each year, the Ball State University School of Journalism and Strategic Communication hosts a “Media & Communications” conference for middle and high school students and teachers.
The conference is a great place to learn and share new ideas with other students and teachers from other school districts.
This year’s conference featured Keynote Speakers Adam White (Emmy Award Winning Cinematographer/Producer/Director) and Kara White (Emmy Award Winning Director and producer).
In addition to the learning that takes place, students also have the opportunity to submit their own works to be reviewed and judged. Out of thousands of media entries, PNN students stood out!
Penn Students Lead Construction of New Sidewalk
Penn High School’s commitment to hands-on learning was demonstrated on Friday, April 26th, 2024 as students from the Civil Construction Class took charge of planning and constructing a new sidewalk. Situated in the soccer and softball parking lots, the sidewalk serves as a pathway leading to the practice fields located behind the soccer field.
Under the guidance of Penn Civil Construction teacher Evan White, students were able to participate in every phase of the project, showcasing the power of real-world, project-based learning. From selecting the ideal location to conducting site surveys and assisting in the pouring and leveling of concrete, these young minds were actively engaged in the entire construction process.
The project not only provided students with invaluable practical experience but also fostered a sense of ownership and pride in their school environment. By actively contributing to the enhancement of campus infrastructure, students gained a deeper understanding of the principles taught in the classroom and their practical applications in the real world.
Penn High School extends its sincere appreciation to the partners who made this endeavor possible:
- Ozinga: Custom Concrete Solutions & Concrete Materials
- AP Concrete LLC
- Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association (IRMCA)
- Penn Harris Madison Education Foundation
The successful completion of the new sidewalk stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of students, educators, and community partners, exemplifying the school’s commitment to excellence in education and community engagement. Through projects like these, Penn High School continues to empower students to become active participants in shaping their future and making a positive impact in their community.
Watch the raw video below!
