For one night only, Penn's newest choir, Viva Voce, and the Penn Jazz Band will be performing a unique concert together like no other. The Jazz Band and Viva Voce will be performing separate sets in the first half, as well as combining together for the second half to perform English composer Will Todd's Mass in Blue, a jazz setting of the traditional Mass text. Mass in Blue is a 40-minute work that expresses the Mass setting in a way you have never heard. Penn Viva Voce and Jazz Band members had the rare and wonderful opportunity to rehearse with Mass in Blue composer Will Todd back in early February (you can read more about that visit, by clicking here). To get a sneak peek of what to expect at the concert, click here to watch this YouTube video.

WHO:  Penn’s Viva Voce choir and Jazz Band

WHAT:  Mass in Blue

WHEN:  Tuesday, March 22, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:  Penn High School CPA, Door C

TICKET INFO: Advanced ticket prices online are $6

          At-the-door sales are $8

         (seating is General Admission, so come early to get the best seats!)

By KENNEDY PARKER

Penn High School student reporter

Penn’s all-girls Intro to Engineering Design (IED) class is working on a project to promote learning and helping others. The project, coined “Voice for Braylen” is allowing the students to work together to solve a real-life problem.

The project is centered around a kindergarten student at Elsie Rogers, named Braylen, who is affected with Joubert Syndrome, which affects his balance and coordination. He is very intelligent, but unable to speak or get around very well. He has received a new device to help him speak, called the Accent 800. This technology allows him to touch different pictures on the screen and the tablet will speak for him. The engineering class is designing and building a stand that will hold the device and make it mobile so that Braylen can easily take it with him during the school day.

Mr. Jim Langfeldt is the teacher of all-girls IED class, as well as robotics and other IED classes. “Besides the obvious that it’s all girls, there’s not a lot of difference between the all-girls and a traditional IED class.” Langfeldt said, “I think the chemistry inside the class is much different, but that really is driven by who ends up taking the class.”

Sophomore all-girls IED student Kaitlin “Kait” Kelsey agrees. “Having an all-girls class has been such a blessing. We approach problems differently. An all-girls class allows us to share our ideas unapologetically.”

Mr. Langfeldt found out about Braylen after last year’s “Hand of Grace” project was publicized.

“The principal (at Elsie Rogers) reached out to me in the fall of this year, mentioning that they had a need,” Langfeldt said.

The students have been in contact with Braylen’s teachers and aides, and are currently working on concepts and modeling their designs on the computer. They’re also working on mock-ups to show the general idea of the stand before building the final version.

On Monday, March 21, some of the girls in the class are visiting Elsie Rogers to interact with Braylen and see what concepts are going to work best for him.

When asked about the value of project-based learning, Langfeldt replied, in part, “Since I’ve started teaching, I’ve always found that giving students a reason and a passion to be in class and to work hard at things is important… when we connect things we’re learning in class to the real world, it makes everything that much more exciting.”

Aside from technical skills like computer modeling, using design software, and 3D printing, students in IED learn life skills as well. Kelsey stated, “But I believe the most important skills I’ve learned are team building, communication, and reliability.”

“My class has created an environment where I know I can succeed. Furthermore, the projects we do have been so much fun,” Kelsey added, “This has given me a sense of purpose and true joy because when I wake up I know I get to help someone in need.”

The class is giving the stand to Braylen free of charge. Some materials they have access to from school, but there will be some expenses involved. If you are interested in donating to help fund purchases of necessary materials, donations can be sent to Penn High School, directed to Jim Langfeldt and “Voice for Braylen.”

Two students representing Penn High School’s Fine Arts Academy earned national recognition in the Nation Scholastic Art Competition.

Courtney Seigel  and Akane Tokusumi were each awarded a Silver Medal in the nation’s most prestigious Art competition for high school and junior high school students. Buth Seigel and Tokusumi were Gold Key winners at the regional level.

Seigel won in digital photography for the work, “Little Artists.” Tokusumi won a Silver Medal in scratch drawing.

Scholastic is the largest and longest-running Art competition in the United States. The event is in its 92^nd year.

“It is very prestigious to have a piece chosen as a winner in the regional competition,” Penn High School Art Instructor Barb Miller said. “From the regional, only the Gold Key winners get to compete in the national competition.

“It is extremely prestigious for us to have one chosen as a winner at the national level,” Miller explained. Although, because of limited space at the national level, only the Gold Medal pieces get sent to New York for display and are invited to the awards ceremony, the honor of achieving an award at any level nationally usually brings with it all kinds of scholarship offers and is highly recognized on any collage application. This is a huge honor for Akane Tokusumi and Courtney Seigel.”

Miller praised Tokusumi’s talent and character.

“Akane is an extremely talented and diligent student who I was fortunate enough to have in drawing class for three years here at Penn, and she has also served as a gallery docent for 2 years,” Miller said. “Akane has always listened closely to everything I have tried to teach her, tries to do her best and then takes it beyond my requirements and expectations. She has always earned the highest of marks and I have chosen many of her works for various competitions. She is and amazing artist, student and person!”

Penn High School photography instructor Betsy Dunham lauded Seigel’s accomplishment of winning a national silver medal.

“Courtney is very passionate and talented individual especially when it comes to the arts,” Dunham said. “Every piece she has created you can see how much thought and time she puts into it.  What stands out to me in this piece is how it is put together so seamlessly.  It is very difficult, in taking all the individual pictures correctly and piecing it together just right to make it look realistic.  This image is also not just technically well done but very creative and unique.  It is something that I have not seen before.”

The national achievement of Tokusumi and Siegel is a reflection of the vision, instruction and talent within Penn’s Fine Arts Academy.

“The Scholastic Art and Writing competition is the biggest high school art competition that students are able to participate in, and I am very proud of all the students at Penn who participated,” Dunham said. “It is a great honor to have a student from Penn recognized at a National level for the arts.  The whole fine arts department here at Penn High School has a hand in the success of every student.”

On Thursday, March 17, at 7 p.m., the Penn High School percussion classes present, RHYTHM: Songs, a "Percussion Medley".

The focus of the event is on literature that combines the elements of rhythm and song.

Featured musicians include Penn High School flute soloist Michelle Tapp, the Kingsmen String Quartet and the Penn Viva Voce choir. 

All Penn-Harris-Madison students are FREE w/ student ID.

Additional tickets can be purchased online for $5 by clicking here.

To purchase tickets for other upcoming Spring Penn Fine Arts performances, click here.

Penn High School’s competitors in the Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science placed first in two divisions in competition at Trine University on Feb. 23.

Penn engineering teams under the direction of sponsor Becky Tagliaferri placed first in the A and B Divisions at the Trine Regional, and await notification in April on state placement and possible national qualification.

Fourteen teams competed at the high school level. Each team consists of eight students working together to solve an engineering problem. The regional competition has two parts, the awards were for part one, and part two is a written/design portion.

“I would like to recognize all seven captains of the engineering teams:  Julia Kwak (her team took this year’s Division A trophy)  Tina Lu (her all-freshman team took this year’s Division B trophy), Megha Devaraj, Alice Kwak, Jewon Oh, Josh Zhao, and Neal Patel.  Their hard work and effort had made it possible for 56 Penn students to learn about what engineers do and what they can do for our future.

“I would also like to thank John Gensic for helping this year,” Tagliaferri said. “Every year, we bring in speakers about our engineering topics, and this year Mr. Gensic led us to some amazing contacts at Notre Dame University.  We now wait excitedly to see all of our Part 2 scores that will determine who places in the state and who qualifies to go to the National competition.”

Penn Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academy leader Rachel Fry expressed pride at the performance of Penn’s students.

“Goals of the STEM Academy include creating opportunities for authentic and relevant learning experiences,” Fry said. “The TEAMS competition provides just that! 

“The Penn High TEAMS groups compete to solve real-world engineering challenges using integrated approaches,” Fry continued. “The collaborative and competitive nature motivates students; and also gets them thinking about related future career opportunities.  TEAMS sponsor, Becky Tagliaferri, has been working to grow the program by communicating with middle school principals.  I am very proud of the accomplishments of our TEAMS students!”

Penn High School wrapped up a strong showing in the Indiana High School Forensics Association season, qualifying seven students for the state finals.

Sanjana Kulkarni of Penn qualified for the National Speech and Debate Tournament to be held in Salt Lake City this June. She qualified in Informative Speaking.

Kulkarni is the first Penn student to qualify for this tournament in a speaking event in over 10 years. Most of Penn's National Qualifiers have been in the debate events.

Bryce Yoder highlighted the Penn showing at the state finals at Fishers High School on March 12 with a third place in the state finals in Original Performance.

Emma Tarkington reached the quarterfinal round in Declamation.

Penn’s state qualifier line-up featured:

Bryce Yoder, in Oral Interpretation of Poetry

Bryce Yoder in Original Performance

Sanjana Kulkarni in Original Oratory

Emma Tarkington in Declamation

Emmanuel Smith in Discussion

Mark Gindling in Humorous Interpretation

Rohit Das in International Extemporaneous Speaking.

"It has been a busy and productive end to a long season,” Penn High School Speech and Debate coach David Dutton said. “All of our team members have represented Penn well."

Penn High School’s Mock Trial team accomplished a Top 10 finish in the state competition in Indianapolis.

The Kingsmen finished in ninth place with a 5-3 record.

Penn’s Meillyn McVeigh was the team captain and received three best attorney certificates in the four competed rounds, as well as being recognized as one of the top four attorneys in the state. 

“The team worked hard to make it to state, practicing almost every night and some weekends,” Penn coach Anne Sauer. 

Penn High School’s competitive poms team placed third in the state competition held at New Castle on Saturday, March 12, 2016.

“We are so very excited with our placement!” Penn coach Cindi Minegar said. “At State, they only place the top five and our goal was top three!”

By ARIELLE KIRSCH

Penn High School student reporter

Beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, Penn’s 2016 Fine Arts Festival will be underway.  The event will showcase nearly every genre of the arts, including drawings, photography, vocals, and band/orchestra music.  

With no charge, this occasion is open to the public and will provide a wonderful experience of Penn High School’s Fine Arts program.There will also be a college fair, with an emphasis on the Arts.

The festival will begin with artwork on display in the art classrooms and hallway.  At the same time, will be a college fair in the lobby of the Center for the Performing Arts that will feature 10 colleges.  

Following the aforementioned events will be a 7:30 p.m. poetry slam in the Penn High School Center for Performing Arts, and all are encouraged to attend.  

Finally, Penn’s Viva Voce Choir and Advanced Jazz Ensemble will wrap up the night beginning at 8 with a remarkable performance of composer Will Todd’s Mass in Blue. To learn more about the March 22 Mass in Blue performance, click here.

Orchestra director Lavon Oke spoke fondly and excitedly of the Fine Arts Festival.

“We’ve done some orchestra-choral works…we’ve done some art during music that we hadn’t before.  This year, we’re having the pre-concert time; we’re having a poetry slam with a music and art combination.  It’s going to be interesting.”

Fine Arts Academy leader Glenn Northern is very hopeful that this year’s Fine Arts Festival will be a hit.

“Many people especially enjoy this concert because it features so many aspects of the Fine Arts Academy within one single performance.”

Penn High School academic teams placed first in four division in the Warsaw High School Academic Invitational on Monday, March 7, 2016.

Penn’s Science, Fine Arts, Math and Interdisciplinary teams each earned top honors in the Warsaw Invitational.

Additionally, Penn’s English team placed third, and the Social Studies team placed second.