Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed Dashboard (GPS) Launches

Penn-Harris-Madison schools are focused on continuous academic improvement that results in academic success for all students.

Standardized testing, or summative assessment, is one measure of academic success, but it is not the only measure.

In pursuit of providing more comprehensive analysis and to expand upon the data provided by state standardized tests, the Indiana Department of Education publicly launched this week (Tuesday, December 13, 2022) the first iteration of the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard, or Indiana GPS (click here to view the State Indiana profile).

The description of the Indiana GPS dashboard on the IDOE website states “Together, our mission is to empower Indiana’s educators, families, communities, and employers with a learner-centered, future-focused dashboard that displays how our students are building the necessary knowledge and skills—in all grades and in all schools— through the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard, or Indiana GPS.”

The IDOE’s goal is to support Indiana’s goal to educate and graduate Hoosier students who can compete in the global economy. P-H-M supports this goal. Students whether they are going on into higher education, directly into the workforce or enlisting in our nation’s military must be prepared to be successful in life beyond high school. Strong and valuable education of today’s youth results in a knowledgeable and skilled adult Indiana workforce for tomorrow.

A student’s access to early education is an essential first step in their academic and overall development. Measuring kindergarten readiness, as well as a student’s PreK-2 literacy progress can provide key indicators of future success across the K-12 continuum.

We know that effective literacy skills play a vital role in helping students gain a deeper understanding of the world, explore topics in-depth, and seek credible information. At Penn-Harris-Madison, we have a well-articulated approach to teaching literacy based on the five critical pillars: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. 

All of these components woven together help create a skilled reader. Our daily literacy block incorporates whole-group instruction, small-group (leveled) instruction, explicit phonics instruction, and vocabulary building. 

Our teachers have been trained in order to deliver high-quality instruction that is supported through curriculum resources to meet the needs of all learners. Teachers are in regular contact with parents regarding their student’s progress and instructional goals.

At the elementary level, a couple of the indicators the GPS dashboard measures are early literacy and math growth. See some of P-H-M’s highlights are below; click here to view the full P-H-M GPS profile.

Early Literacy Measures

  • Percentage of PHM 3rd graders showing proficiency on IREAD-3: 88.3%
      • State Goal: 95% by 2027
      • Current State Status: 81.6%, 1 out of every 5 third graders in Indiana is not proficient in key literacy skills

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? 
Students who pass the IREAD-3 assessment by grade three are roughly 35% more likely to graduate high school (as referenced on the GPS information webpage).

Math Growth

  • Percentage of PHM 6th graders meeting their individual growth targets on the math ILEARN: 41.9%
    • State Goal: 45.8% by 2030
    • Current State Status: 34.1% of Indiana sixth graders are meeting their math growth goals

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Early mathematics instruction focuses on concrete concepts before transitioning to more complex ideas after grade six. Students who are meeting growth goals at this critical juncture have a leg up on future math and science learning.

Graduation Pathways Completion

While still in its first iteration, the goal of the GPS is to examine Indiana high school’s graduation and post-graduation data with the goal to ultimately measure long-term success of each Hoosier.

  • Percentage of Penn Students who complete graduation requirements: 97.3%
    • State Goal: 95% by 2030
    • Current State Status: 86.4% of Indiana students complete their graduation requirements

 

  • Percentage of Penn Seniors who completed advanced coursework (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Dual Credit) during high school: 75.4%
    • Current State Status: 59.5% of Indiana students complete advanced coursework

 

  • Percentage of Penn Seniors earning Indiana Diplomas above a General designation (Core 40 or higher): 98.3%
    • Current State Status: 90.1% of Indiana students earn Core 40 diplomas or higher
  • Percentage of Penn Seniors earning high quality college and career credentials: 11.3%.
    Members of the Class of 2021 who earned either an Indiana College Core (ICC) or an Associates Degree was 11.3%–the graduates who completed one or two years of college were members of Penn’s Early College Academy. In 2021, Penn High School ranked FIRST in the state with the highest number of students earning the Indiana College Core (ICC)! Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, non-Early College students will also be able to pursue an ICC Certificate.

    • State Goal: 60% by 2030
    • Current State Status: 5% of Indiana students earn a college or career credential before graduation, opening doors of future opportunity

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Increased education levels are positively correlated to labor participation, wages, and overall net worth.

COMING SOON:

The second iteration of the Indiana GPS dashboard – which will display all local data, including longitudinal and disaggregated data – is coming soon. Later in 2023, schools will be able to use the dashboard to view authenticated student-level data (not available to the public). 

  • PreK-Grade 2 Literacy – Percentage of PreK-Grade 2 students demonstrating progress in essential early reading skills from one year to the next.
  • Kindergarten Readiness – Percentage of students demonstrating the skills necessary to be considered ready to start kindergarten.
  • Employment & Enrollment – Percentage of high school graduates employed or enrolled 1 year after their expected graduation year. Goal TBD.

Click here to learn more about the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard.

Click here to view the full P-H-M GPS profile (scroll to the bottom of the webpage to find links to all 15 P-H-M schools–11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and Penn High School).

3D Printed MRI Machine Eases Fears for Area Children

Teachers within the P-H-M School corporation come from all walks of life. While some come straight out of college, others transition to teaching after having worked in other career fields. 

First year Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teacher Becky Wachs worked as a certified child life specialist (CCLS) at Beacon Children’s Hospital for fifteen years.

Child life specialists are liaisons between the medical personnel and the families. They do everything from playing with child patients to explaining complex medical procedures in a way that children and their families can understand.

Ms. Wachs heard from a current child life specialist at Beacon Children’s Hospital, Rileigh Zickafoose, CCLS, that they were looking for a small MRI Machine that could be used while talking to their children.

Knowing that Penn High School has extensive manufacturing capabilities, Ms. Wachs began to ask around and was eventually put in touch with Technology & Project Lead the Way teacher Tara Pieters.

Ms. Pieters knew that her students had what it took to create this “barbie-sized” MRI Machine.

Penn Student

Penn senior Hadley Jessop has been working with 3D Printers since he was a Freshman, when he was introduced to them in Ms. Pieters class.

Hadley began researching MRI Machines and created a 3D model on the computer from scratch. With Ms. Pieters help, they sent the file to the 3D printer and got to work printing out the components.

The final print will be an invaluable tool in easing fears of children and their families.

mri

Hadley has a desire to get into manufacturing so he can create products that will help people, and this was a great start. Watch the video below for the full story!

Notre Dame Brings High Tech Microscope to Penn

So much of what needs to be examined in the field of Biology needs to be examined under a microscope. While the first microscope was invented around 1590, microscope technology has been evolving ever since. 

Sara Cole, the director of Integrated imaging facility at the University of Notre Dame, brought a Keyence all in one fluorescent microscope to our Biology students.

All-in-One Fluorescence Microscope

The Keyence microscope contains automated high-resolution technologies. It is a unique microscope because it is more compact and can automatically detect samples and capture images of various specimens.

It can do plates and slides for live cell imaging as well. The system works by using various wavelengths of lasers that excite certain wavelengths of light. Fluorescent microscopy is important in determining location of many types of proteins or structures inside a cell. This microscope can also do light microscopy.

All-in-One Fluorescence Microscope

Sara Cole gave a brief presentation on different microscopes available at Notre Dame before giving students a hands on demonstration of the Keyence all in one fluorescent microscope.

This is an exciting opportunity for the students to see new tools in biotechnology and real research examples that were created in our area.

By bringing new biotechnology available to researchers around the world, students can see the advancements these new tools can provide to scientific research. 

All-in-One Fluorescence Microscope

This experience fits Penn’s vision to prepare students for careers in the 21st century by giving students a head start in understanding bioengineering, biotechnology, Medicine, and the Biological sciences. We are relying on science, computers, and technology more than we ever have before in our history. The number of jobs in these fields is only increasing and if we can help our students see what is actually used in the field of science it might help them decide if they would like to pursue a career in these fields. 

All-in-One Fluorescence Microscope
 To download high-resolution jpg files from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you, free of charge!

Two Penn Seniors named 2023 Lilly Scholars

Penn High School is thrilled to learn that once again Penn students have been named Lilly Endowment Community Scholars.

The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County announced today the names of four students who have been offered the 2023 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for St. Joseph County. The two Penn students are Zichu Wang and Allison Yu. The other two students who have been offered the scholarship are Jennifer Leon of Washington High School and Cooper VanDriessche of Riley High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are chosen based on community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. Click to read the release on the Community Foundation’s website.

Zichu Wang and Allison Yu are both seniors. Both attended Northpoint Elementary School and Discovery Middle School. In October, both Wang and Yu were also awarded National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist Designation, one of the largest groups ever to achieve the coveted academic status at Penn. Last December as juniors, Wang and Yu were named Rising Stars of Indiana by the Indiana Association of School Principals’ Department of Student Programs. As far as extracurricular and co-circular activities,  Wang plays on the Tennis Team and Yu is on the Model UN Team and is a Freshman Mentor.

Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects scholars with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI).

Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-1999 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling in excess of $486 million. More than 5,000 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception. 

In St. Joseph County since the Community Foundation began administering the Lilly Scholarship in 1998, 33 Penn Scholars have been named accounting for 25% of the total number of Scholars! Last year Penn had four Penn seniors named Lilly Scholars (click to read that story).

Upon learning that once again Penn High School students were selected as Lilly Scholars, Principal Sean Galiher said “We are extremely proud of Zichu and Allison for their academic dedication and scholastic achievements of being named recipients of this prestigious Indiana scholarship. When our students receive recognition of this kind, it is affirmation that Penn High School is delivering on our commitment to provide academic excellence, a wide range of choices for college and career pathways, and opportunities for a variety of student activities that facilitate community involvement and service.”

Awards in St. Joseph County are based on academic excellence, leadership, community service, written essays, personal recommendations, under-representation, and whether the student is the first generation of her/his family to attend college. The Community Foundation received 90 applications from 11 schools, and submitted final nominees to the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, ICI, for the selection of scholarship recipients.

The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

More about the Lilly Endowment

Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company to establish the Lilly Endowment. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.

Since 1997, Independent Colleges of Indiana has administered the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program statewide with funding provided by Lilly Endowment. Founded in 1948, ICI serves as the collective voice for the state’s 29 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates.

Bookstore offers online sales items

On-line shopping is available to purchase Kingsmen spirit gear through the Penn High School Bookstore.

Visit the url https://shop.game-one.com/indiana/mishawaka/penn-kingsmen to make purchases.

Shop code: kingsmen

A Photo Gallery of select items is below.

Sound of the Season Choir Concert scheduled for Dec. 8-10

Sounds of the Season: Wintertide Awakes”, will be presented Dec. 8-10 at the Penn High School Center for the Performing Arts.

The performances on Thursday, Dec. 8, and Friday, Dec. 9, are set to start at 7:30 p.m.

The performance on Saturday, Dec. 10, is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.

Click the link for details and tickets: https://www.facebook.com/events/447961020864441/447961037531106/

Debate takes 1st Place, Coach Starkweather Named Diamond Coach

Penn’s Debate Team placed first in an Indiana Speech & Debate Association Tournament held Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Penn High School.

Penn beat out Chesteron, Munster and Crown Point.

Debate results

Debate Coach Mr. Jeremy Starkweather was named National Speech & Debate Association Diamond Coach on November 30. First Diamond Coaches receive the degree of merit for coaching a minimum of five years, and earned 15,000 points. Each point represents dedicated coaching and hours of practice, revision, and growth for students.

Penn results: 

  • Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate: 5th Place Rishita Maheshwaram
  • Novice Public Forum Debate: 1st Matt Voor and Max Scheidler
  • Novice Student Congress: 6th Place Avison Collier, 5th Place Landon Graves, 4th Place Autumn Weimer, 3rd Place Jason Mbianda, 1st Place Ishita Masetty
  • Varsity Lincoln Douglas: 8th Place Olivia Bulger, 7th Place Sarah Rooney, 5th Place Alex Wagler, 3rd Akul Bhambhani, 1st Place Chris Chen
  • Varsity Policy Debate: 5th Place Braden Fox and Bray Sappenfield; 1st Place Sarah Ahmed and Lynn Chung
  • Varsity Public Forum: 7th Place Alina Luck and Jaanavi Kaushik; 6th Place Malak Shamkhi and Aasmaa Shamkhi; 4th Place Noah Schafer and Bohdan Kolomeiiets; 2nd Place Noah Shafer and Stanley Liew
  • Varsity Student Congress: 4th Place Janet Yu; 1st Place Tasneem Ahmed
  • World Schools Debate: 5th Place Luke Drzewiecki, Yiheng Lu, Ben Edwards, Logan Chodzinski, and Keegan Fall; 3rd Place Max LaFleur, Jacob Kyle, Mira Yaradi, Ishita Awasthi, and Benjamin Galiher

CONGRATULATIONS to Penn Debate & Coach Starkweather!

Diamond Coach

Penn’s Jacob Retek named to All-State Jazz Ensemble

Jacob Retek, a senior band member at Penn High School, has been selected for the Indiana All-State Jazz Ensemble in the Alto Saxophone 1 spot. This ensemble will perform at the Indiana Music Education Association State Conference in Fort Wayne held January 12-13, 2023.

As the top Alto Saxophonist in the state, Retek has also been selected to perform as a member of the All-State Jazz Combo.

The All-State Jazz Ensemble will be under the direction of Alan Baylock, one of the most sought-after jazz composers and educators in the country and also the director of the multi-Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas.

Penn Showcase set for Monday, Dec. 5

The Showcase will be held from 6–8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5 (”Snow Day” will be Tuesday, Dec. 6, 6–8 p.m.)

Penn High School’s exceptional learning opportunities and programs will be on display for prospective and current students at the 2022 Penn High School Showcase.

Penn is an ‘A’-rated school and has also been named a Four-Star School by the Indiana Department of Education (the top honor possible). It is offers a full STEM-certified program and has earned distinction as a Project Lead the Way school. The Early College program offers the opportunity for students to graduate with a college association’s degree, and many dual-credit (college) classes are available. Click here to read more about Penn’s Points of Excellence.

The Showcase allows incoming Freshmen (current Eighth Graders) and prospective move-ins, along with their families, to have the opportunity to tour Penn, meet with staff and students, and hear about the opportunities that are available to students.

All prospective Penn students and current Penn 9-11 graders and their families are welcome to join us to learn about classes and clubs they can look forward as Penn students.

Student Last Names A-L (it is suggested you enter through Doors B, C, or D)

  • Begin in the CPA at 6:00 p.m. to hear a presentation from counselors.
  • After the presentation, families can tour the building, visit open classrooms, talk to staff & students.

Student Last Names M-Z (it is suggested you enter through Doors A, M, or L)

  • Begin by touring the building, visiting open classrooms, talking to staff & students.
  • Report to the CPA at 7:00 p.m. to hear a presentation from counselors.

Penn High School is filled with so many opportunities that the choices can be overwhelming. This is a great time to speak to teachers and current students about course options. Some classes will be available to see live in action!

Besides the Live Classrooms, students and parents are encouraged to visit the Academy booths, which will be set up around the building, to gain information into the Academy structure at Penn High School. Teachers representing both Academy and elective classes will be available to answer questions and provide information. We will also have representatives of the Early College Academy, Exceptional Education and the Elkhart Area Career Center. We will also have tables with club representatives set up in the Sunshine Hallway. Stop by to see the many club and extracurricular activities available to Penn students.

Your involvement in your child’s education is vital to making their high school experience a positive one. We value your participation in decisions related to planning your child’s class schedule. A collaborative effort between parents, students, teachers and counselors is essential and represents P-H-M’s “Triangle of Success!”

Additional information: https://penn.phmschools.org/incoming-freshmen

Early College Academy celebrates Thanksgiving

Penn High School’s Early College Academy held its annual Thanksgiving meal for ECA students and staff.

In addition to students participating in a traditional Thanksgiving meal, students heard inspiring messages about gratitude and opportunities in the ECA.