Artwork by students of Penn High School Art Instructor Becky Hope is showcased in the gallery posted below.

Monday, August 31 the P-H-M Board of School Trustees unanimously approved a “Return to Learn” plan to bring students back to the classroom in phases, for those families who want to return to in-person learning, starting in two weeks:
 

• Sept. 14, In-Person Learning for Elementary grades, PreK – grade 3
• Sept. 21, In-Person Learning for Elementary grades 4 & 5 
• Sept. 21, Hybrid model, a blend of In-Person and Virtual, for Middle and High School students (grades 6-12) 
• Parents at all grade levels will still have the choice to keep their students 100% Virtual if they so choose.

All students and staff will be required to wear a mask while at school.

Click to read P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker’s full letter to parents that was emailed Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Below is a graphic of the detailed schedule with school day start and end times. You can click the image below to print it off.

For the safety of our PHM partons & our community, The Pennant will Livestream Penn vs. Valpo Football (12:30 p.m. EST, Sat., Aug. 22) for free on our YouTube Channel.

Click here for the link or search Penn Pennant on YouTube.

There will be no audio, but the camera will occasionally display the scoreboard for the score/time.
 

Penn vs. Valparaiso Varsity Game

(Click here for details on Penn JV & Freshmen games)

New Date:  Saturday, August 22

New Time: 12:30 p.m. (ET)

Location: Penn High School’s TCU Freed Field

Tickets: Limited. Click here to purchase. A limited number of tickets will be available at the gate.

• Fans planning to purchase a ticket on site for the Valpo at Penn Varsity Football game (12:30 p.m. ET, Sat., Aug. 22, 2020) must enter at the Larry Beehler Ticket Booth Gate on the North Side of TCU/Freed Field.
• Only All-Sports Passes/online ticket holders can enter through the middle double-gate. They can also enter at the Larry Beehler Ticket Booth Gate.
• All Valpo fans must enter at the South Ticket Booth.

Masks ARE Required!  
 

• Everyone entering the stadium must be wearing a face covering. No mask = No admittance!!!
• Spectators are asked to self-monitor prior to attending the contest for symptoms of COVID-19. Those with symptoms are asked not to attend.
• Hand sanitizer will be located at all entry gates, near all bleachers, and concession areas 

Other Guidelines for Spectators

• Spectators are expected to wear masks the ENTIRE TIME they are in TCU Freed Field (entering, watching the game, and leaving)

• Spectators should sit on their teams designated side of the field 

• Spectators can sit as a family unit, but should social distance from other spectators at least 6 ft. away

• Social distancing at the concession stand and restroom facilities is important

• Spectators are asked to leave the facility immediately following the conclusion of the contest 

Ticket Policies:
Tickets will be first come, first serve.

*TCU Freed Field modified maximum spectator capacity will be 1,250. This is following the capacity limits of Indiana Back on Track 4.5 and that the event plan be approved by local health officials before proceeding. This plan was approved by the St. Joseph County Department of Health on Monday, August 17, 2020. Tickets will be first come, first serve. 

Order  of Purchasing Tickets:

• All-Sport Pass holders
• Families of student-athletes and cheerleaders (home and visiting) and Penn Marching Band will be given an advance window to order tickets online before other groups
• P-H-M staff members will be given the next opportunity to reserve a ticket, before the online option is released to the general public 
• After tickets have been made available to families and P-H-M Staff, Penn Athletics will release a online ticket link for the general public to purchase General Admission. All online tickets will be $6 because age can not be verified. The window for online ticket sales will close 4 hours before the start of the game.
• All remaining available tickets will be sold at the ticket window beginning 1 hour prior to the start of the game. Once those tickets are sold, no more will be available for spectators.
• Ticket sales will close when we have reached a 1,250 seat capacity

Help Minimize Risk by Bringing Exact Cash
To minimize the risk of exposure the exchange of cash and change should be minimized. Therefore the following recommendations are being encouraged for spectators attending the game.

• Band Parking Donation: suggested donation price is $2. Please bring exact cash. Band parent volunteers will ask patrons to drop the money into a container. These donations support Penn Marching Band.

• General Admission Ticket Booth Sales: ticket prices are $6 for students and adults, $4 seniors (over 62), preschool age children and younger are free. Please bring exact cash for tickets. There are card readers at the ticket booths. Please note that only a select number of tickets will be available for purchase at the gate due to the online ticket sales for families, followed by staff, followed by General Admission.

• Concession Sales: Please try to bring single dollar bils and quarters to minimize the exchange of money. There are card readers at the Concession Stands. Concession sales are operated and benefit the Penn Booster Club.

JV & Freshmen games

Unfortunately the JV game is not taking place at this time. Details on the game being rescheduled will be communicated to families by the Penn Coaching Staff. The Penn Freshmen game vs. Valpo will take place on Saturday, Aug. 22, 10:30 a.m. (ET) at the Schmucker Middle School football field. Details on spectator restrictions will be shared by Penn Athletics/Coaching Staff.

Media Guidelines

Media will be permitted at the Varsity Football game. Penn Athletics COVID Media Guidelines will be shared with media via email.

8:05 – 8:25 a.m.: Office Hours

8:25 – 9:25 a.m.: Block 1 (60 minutes)

9:40 – 10:40 a.m.: Block 2 (60 minutes)

11 – 11:30 a.m.: Lunch

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.:  Block 3 (90 minutes – 60 minutes  of instruction, plus 30 minutes for Advisory during first Gold day each week; non-Advisory days will be used for club meetings and small group sessions with students and occasional live messages from administration).

1:15 – 2:15 p.m.: Block 4 (60 minutes)

2:15-3:15 p.m.: (Office Hours, Correspondence, Asynchronous work for students) 

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

August 4, 2020

Dear P-H-M Families:

Thank you for your suggestions, concerns, and support offered after my July 30, 2020 communication regarding all students starting school in virtual learning. As you may remember, the St. Joseph County Department of Health medical professionals recommend a virtual start for all county school districts. Your correspondence and communication led to an amended recommendation. Please accept my deepest gratitude for your commitment to the students of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation.  

Last night, the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees held a special meeting to discuss and vote on students returning in the fall. The Board approved a plan to begin the school year virtually for the first four weeks of the 2020-2021 school year. P-H-M students will attend school virtually from August 19-September 11. (Please click here to view a recording of the August 3, 2020 meeting and click here for the Virtual Learning Presentation.)

While we want our students to return to in-person instruction as soon as possible, safety is our highest priority for our students, faculty, and staff. We will assess the data daily and the metrics that are provided by the St. Joseph County Department of Health will guide a safe return to in-person learning. We will notify parents no less than 10 business days prior to advancing from virtual learning to in-person learning. Students who have selected the option of virtual learning only will continue in the virtual learning format.

Additional information regarding the virtual learning process, pickup of student materials, schedules, and other pertinent information will be shared by principals soon. Questions regarding the start of the year can be directed to your building principal or by emailing returntolearn@phm.k12.in.us

Thank you for your continued support and partnership!

Stay healthy and safe,

Dr. Jerry Thacker

Superintendent of Schools

Hours have been extended for textbook & resources pick-up for students in Grades 10-11-12. There will also be a Chromebook station.

Grade 10

• Wednesday, Aug. 19: 2:15-6 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 20: 2:15-6 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 21: 2:15-6 p.m.

Grades 11-12

• Saturday, Aug. 22: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Monday, Aug. 24: 2:15-6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 25: 2:15-6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 26: 2:15-6 p.m.

Penn High School textbook and Chromebook pick-up times have been set for the 2020-2021 school year.

All persons visiting Penn High School are asked to conduct a health screening at home, wear a face mask, and maintain six-foot physical distancing at all times on the campus. Visitors must enter at Door A. Floors will be marked appropriately.

Any students who have textbooks from previous school years are asked to bring them to the school as soon as possible.

Incoming Freshmen and Parents/Guardians and new students can pick up their textbooks and Chromebooks the week of Aug. 10-14 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The textbook/Chromebook pick-up schedule for new students, and incoming freshmen and parents/guardians:

• Monday, Aug. 10 – Last names A-I
• Tuesday, Aug. 11 – Last names J-R
• Wednesday, Aug. 12 – Last names S-Z
• Thursday, Aug. 13 – Make-up day
• Friday, Aug. 14 – Make-up day

Call the main office at (574) 258-9500 with questions about textbook/Chromebook pick-up.

Penn High School will host a series of Incoming Freshmen Virtual Transition events  and Textbook/Chromebook pick-up Aug. 10-14.

Incoming Freshmen and Parents/Guardians can access the links and information about the Virtual events through the Class of 2024 Canvas Course. E-mail with the Canvas Course information, as well as letters, will be sent to Incoming Freshmen and Parents/Guardians later this week.

The Virtual events are:

• Monday, Aug. 10 – Places & Faces of Penn
• Tuesday, Aug. 11 – Virtual Penn Tour & Challenge
• Wednesday, Aug. 12 – House Parties
• Thursday, Aug. 13 – Get Involved!: Clubs & Activities
• Friday, Aug. 14 – Q&A Panel

Chromebook and Textbook pick-up for Incoming Freshmen will take place Aug. 10-14 from 9 a.m.-to-3 p.m. at Penn High School (Enter Door A). 

The pick-up schedule for incoming Freshmen is:

• Monday, Aug. 10 – Last Names A-I
• Tuesday, Aug. 11 – Last Names J-R
• Wednesday, Aug. 12 – Last Names S-Z
• Thursday, Aug. 13 – Make-up day
• Friday, Aug. 14 – Make-up day

Contact Penn High School Assistant Principal Rachel Fry at rfry@phm.k12.in.us with questions about the Incoming Freshmen Virtual Transition.

Penn High School is pausing the sale and distribution of parking passes.  Additional information will be available at a later date.

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

July 30, 2020

Dear P-H-M Families, 

We have been communicating regularly with medical professionals at the St. Joseph County Department of Health (SJCDH) and receiving guidance regarding the status of coronavirus activity and community transmission in making decisions regarding the safest model for curriculum delivery. The current thresholds for consideration by SJCDH strongly recommend that St. Joseph County Schools open in a virtual learning environment.

They also provided guidance on extracurricular and co-curricular activities. Those programs are being monitored and are under review.

The administration will recommend to the P-H-M Board of School Trustees at a School Board meeting on August 3, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. that all students participate in a virtual learning environment from the first day of school, August 19 through October 22. During the established virtual learning period, we will continue to collaborate with the SJCDH regarding further discussions and recommendations.

Prior to October 22, and the decision to return students to in-person instruction, we will ask parents which option they will be choosing by providing a parent survey. Parents will not be bound by their previous choice.

When we return, we will continue to offer two options: in-person or virtual instruction. 

• On October 27 (or when the SJCDH deems it appropriate) students who are enrolled in the in-person program will return to school.

• On October 27 students who are enrolled in the virtual learning program will continue with virtual learning.

Established metrics, provided by the SJCDH, will determine when it is safe to return to in-person learning. Families will be given a two week notice of any changes to return to in-person learning.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. 

Please stay safe and healthy!

Dr. Jerry Thacker

Superintendent