In a surprise announcement Tuesday (April 23) morning at Penn High School, Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker honored the District’s 2019 Secondary Teacher of the Year Penn’s Freshman Academy Leader & World Languages French Teacher Jeanie Mitchell (click here to view the entire photo gallery on the P-H-M District website).

Watch the video below to see her reaction when she walks into the room to find Dr. Thacker and the cameras waiting …

Madame Jeanie Mitchell came to P-H-M and to Penn High School to teach French in the World Languages Academy in 2008. Last September, she also became Freshman Academy Leader.

Through her French classes Mme. Mitchell brings the world to her students providing classroom project based learning projects, as well as field trips to the French Market in Chicago and even to France! Mme. Mitchell sees her role as a French teacher is to “encourage students to gain a better understanding of themselves and their own world by studying and relating to the practices and beliefs of others.”

As the Freshman Academy Leader, Jeanie helps make the transition from middle school to high school manageable and less daunting for incoming freshmen. She worked with other Academy teachers to begin recognizing two freshman “Students of the Month” (two from each of the four freshman houses); so far more than 60 students have been highlighted this year.

Jeanie has also worked on a Tier 3 RtI program to identify Penn’s most at-risk freshmen students pairing them up with an administrator, counselor or dean. These students not only get the wraparound support they need, but more importantly they also come to realize that they have trusted adults who care about them and who they can go to for help. Speaking of help … Jeanie is also involved in Penn’s Natural Helper’s program, which helps students to not only care for themselves, but to also show compassion and reach out and help others.

Jeanie is a leader among her peers at Penn, frequently leading staff professional development on a variety of topics such as technology, literacy strategies, effective parent communication, and how to use social media to develop teachers’ personal learning networks.

Jeanie and her husband have two children who attend Horizon Elementary School.

Click here to view the entire photo gallery on the P-H-M District website.

As Paris’ most popular tourist stop, ahead of even the Eiffel Tower, people around the world have a connection Notre Dame Cathedral, including some here at Penn High School.

The fire that ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris Monday, April 15 stopped people in their tracts, stunned as they watched this major French, and world, historical and cultural landmark go up in flames.

Penn High School French teacher Jeanie Mitchell has visited the Notre-Dame de Paris five times over the course of her numerous trips to France.

Senior Hailie Kulikowski was just in Paris two weeks ago over Spring Break, the week of April 1st. She talks about how fortunate she considers herself to be among some of the last tourists to see  Notre-Dame de Paris before it went up in flames. Click the video below to hear their reaction …

P-H-M middle schools students take a trip every other summer to Europe, giving students the opportunity to go more in depth in the social students/history curriculum.

This was photo was taken in front of the Cathedral on a P-H-M middle school trip to Paris in 2012.

Penn High School Chemistry Instructor Diane Bowersox was named the initial recipient of the Jeneane Arter Teaching in Excellence Award, which is sponsored by the Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation.

This new $2,000 award – named after Northpoint Elementary School teacher Jeneane Arter – will be given to any current P-H-M staff member who exemplifies excellence in education. The award is underwritten by P-H-M parents Jason and Darla Lippert. The annual award will be determined based on a current P-H-M student one-page essay of how the P-H-M staff member has made a lasting impact on his/her educational experience. The Foundation’s Grants Committee selects the award winner from the group of essays.

“Mrs. Bowersox exemplifies excellence in education with her innovative and meaningful engagement with students,” said Mari Linn Wise, the director of the P-H-M Education Foundation. “The P-H-M Education Foundation is honored to partner with Mr. and Mrs. Lippert in awarding the Jeneane Arter Teaching in Excellence Award. The Lipperts want to recognize P-H-M staff members who every day go above and beyond in supporting our children.”

Bowersox was nominated for the award by Penn Senior Alyssa McNarney.

“I met Mrs. Bowersox my sophomore year when she was my teacher for Chemistry honors,” McNarney wrote in her nomination essay. “I then had her junior year for AP Chemistry. She has had a huge influence on my high school career and my career choices. Mrs. Bowersox has influenced me to go into chemistry as next year, I will be studying Chemical Engineering.

“Chemistry is one of those classes that most people dislike and find very difficult, but with Mrs. Bowersox as a teacher, Chemistry is enjoyable and easy to learn. She does labs, interactive activities, and other games that help you learn. One example is from sophomore year in Chem Honors. We played Jeopardy in class with buzzers. The questions were able orbitals and after that game I am pretty sure that everyone in class could give you orbitals for every element.”

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation will host Technovation 2016, a digital learning initiative for educators across the Midwest, at Penn High School on Wednesday, July 20, and Thursday, July 21.

Indiana State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz will provide a welcome address to participants on Wednesday, and George Couros, author and leading educator in the field of innovative leadership, teaching and learning, will give the keynote address on Thursday morning.

At last year’s inaugural conference, more than 300 Indiana educators participated in the event, which offers a wide spectrum of innovative techniques to blend technology with teaching in order to increase student engagement and student achievement.

“In this digital environment, our students move from mere consumers of education to actual participants and producers of educational content,” Penn High School Principal Steve Hope said regarding the purpose of Technovation 2016. “The use of technology is simply another tool – a very powerful tool – to continue the work of inquiry, problem-solving, and critical thinking.”  

Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker noted P-H-M’s commitment to 1:1 student-to-technological device ratio at Penn High School and its three middle schools has played a key role in teaching and learning engagement in and outside the classroom.

“With a Chromebook at their side, our teachers and students will have the world at their fingertips,” Thacker said.

P-H-M teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels, along with P-H-M administrators and staff, will deliver the presentations. Penn students will be on-hand to showcase and answer questions on the Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Science Lab tools used at the high school: augmented reality sandbox, UAV science drones, tornado generator and an earthquake machine (click here to see a “road map” of the Technovation classes).

Attendees will also see vendor demonstrations, such as zSpace, a 3D virtual learning tool. zSpace is an interactive hardware and software platform that brings resources to life through 3D technology helping students visualize and create.

“We see this as an opportunity for showcasing the talented teachers and students of the district as well as a launchpad of lifelong learning for the school year at Penn-Harris-Madison,” Technovation 2016 coordinator Duke Lines said.

Featured speakers at Technovation 2016 include Lisa Duerkson, Jeanie Mitchell, Rachel Fry, Amy Heavin, Terri Whitehead, Kelly Clifford, Sheila Toth, Beth Raker, Jarred Corwin, and Jill Kaufman.

More than 60 sessions will be offered in administration, technology personnel and teacher tracks.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with a wide-range of vendors including, but not limited to: Luma Audio & Visual, Automated Data Systems, Ruckus Wireless, Audio Enhancement, Brocade, CIBER Inc., Edmentum, Educational Furniture, Fortinet, Hewlett Packard, Indiana Connected Educators, Instructure and St. Joe Valley Metronet.

Each year the Penn High School students enrolled in Childhood Development classes offer the two unique programs described below for preschoolers in our community.  

We encourage you to take advantage of PLAYSCHOOL and TODDLER TIME if you have young children in your household, and to tell your friends as well!

Toddler Time

Click here for the Toddler Time enrollment form.

For children ages 1 – 3 and a parent or caregiver. It is led by the students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education classes and is designed to help them learn about the toddlers through direct interaction and observations.  It is FREE for the toddler and caregiver!

Dates and times: 

If you sign up for a group, we plan on you attending each day listed at that time. You are welcome to sign up for more than one! For Example: if you would like to go everyday, you can sign up for both the G3 Orange group & B3 Blue Group, or G4 Yellow Group & B4 Blue Group. Parents can sign up for more than one group.

Gold Dates:  Dec. 5, Dec. 7, Dec. 11, Dec. 13
 Black Dates: Dec. 6, Dec. 8, Dec. 12, Dec. 14

G2 RED GROUP TIMES: 10:10-11:10 a.m.
G3 ORANGE GROUP TIMES: 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
G4 YELLOW GROUP TIMES: 2-3 p.m.
B2 GREEN GROUP TIMES: 10:10-11:10 a.m.
B3 BLUE GROUP TIMES: 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
B4 PURPLE GROUP TIMES: 2-3 p.m.

Playschool

Click here for the Playschool Enrollment form.

Child Development students are in charge of creating intellectual, social, emotional, and physical lesson plans and games to engage 3 – 4-year-old children.  It is a wonderful, hands-on experience for these eager students to incorporate all that we have discussed throughout the school year. In addition, it is a great opportunity for young children to have interaction with fellow peers.  

Enrollment is for  toddlers from ages 3-4, and they must be potty-trained. There is a one-time enrollment fee of $10 per child as we do provide snacks/supplies.

If you sign up for a group, we plan on you attending each day listed at that time. You are welcome to sign up for more than one! For Example: if you would like to go everyday, you can sign up for both the G3 Orange group & B3 Blue Group, or G4 Yellow Group & B4 Blue Group. Parents can sign up for more than one group.

Gold Dates:  April 10, April 12, April 16, April 18, April 22, April 24, April 26, April 30, May 2, May 6, May 8, May 10

Black Dates: April 11, April 15, April 17, April 19, April 23, April 25, April 29, May 1, May 3, May 7, May 9, May 13

G2 RED GROUP TIMES: 10:10-11:10 a.m.

G3 ORANGE GROUP TIMES: 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

G4 YELLOW GROUP TIMES: 2-3 p.m.

B2 GREEN GROUP TIMES: 10:10-11:10 a.m. 

B3 BLUE GROUP TIMES: 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

B4 PURPLE GROUP TIMES: 2-3 p.m.

Additional notes:

It is very important that children be dropped off on time for PLAYSCHOOL and picked up on time afterwards! 

A small circle drive at the southeast corner of the high school (enter off Jefferson Road) provides PLAYSCHOOL parents convenient access to the PLAYSCHOOL entrance at Door K, where high school students are stationed to assist parents. This map will help you find your way.

If you do not want your child’s picture taken and possibly posted on social media for observation and education purposes (children’s names are never listed), please note that on the enrollment form. We will make sure your privacy is respected. 

Playschool 2

Click here for the Playschool enrollment form.

For potty-trained children, ages 4-5, gearing towards kindergarten. Student-led lesson plans with stations and routines. 

Dates: First Semester September 19- December 21. Second Semester January 23- May 9. 

Times: 

Option #1 Wach’s Group: 8:30-9:45 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday. $50 Per Semester

Option #2 Wetzel’s Group: 8:30-11:15 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday. $100 Per Semester

Additional notes:

• It is very important that children be dropped off on time for PLAYSCHOOL and picked up on time afterwards! 
• A small circle drive at the southeast corner of the high school (enter off Jefferson Road) provides PLAYSCHOOL parents convenient access to the PLAYSCHOOL entrance at Door K, where high school students are stationed to assist parents. This map will help you find your way.
• If you do not want your child’s picture taken and possibly posted on social media for observation and education purposes (children’s names are never listed), please note that on the enrollment form. We will make sure your privacy is respected. 

Both TODDLER TIME and PLAYSCHOOL give the Child Development students at the high school an opportunity to plan intellectual, social, and physical development-based lessons, teach these lessons, and observe behaviors of young children.  

Both programs are part of Penn High School’s Health and Human Services Academy and are under the direction of certified teacher Kylee Wetzel.  Mrs. Wetzel can be reached at (574) 259-7961, extension 20788 or click here to email Kylee Wetzel.

Becky Wachs also teaches Toddler Time and Playschools. Click here to email Bechy Wachs. 

Follow Toddler Time and Playschool on Twitter @PennFACS , Facebook at @Kylee Wetzel and Instagram at @mrswetzel.phm.

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