It was a big day for preschool aged students in our Playschool 2 class this morning. In an effort to get the students to dream about their future, they had the opportunity to interact with professionals in two very different fields.

Two Penn School Resource Officers (SRO’s) brought their police vehicles to Playschool 2. The students had the opportunity to meet the officers and they also got to climb into the drivers seat! Some students honked the horn while others were able to talk on the radio.

Students Learn How to Roll and Cut Sugar Cookies

Next, Serena from Ciao’s Restaurant and Bakery stopped by to show the students how to make Sugar Cookies! Each child had the opportunity to roll out dough, use a cookie cutter, then decorate with sprinkles with colors of their choice.

We’d like to thank School Resource Officers Mr. Wilkey and Mrs. Gresso as well as Serena from Ciao’s Bakery for their time. Take a look at the photo gallery below for more pictures.

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!

 

On Sunday, September 8, the Michiana community joined Penn and P-H-M in giving Olympic Gold Medalist Sarah Hildebrandt a Heroine’s Welcome!

Before Sarah’s “Welcome Home” kicked off, the local media got some one-on-one time with Sarah, her parents, and Penn Head Wrestling Coach Brad Harper during a news conference. Coach Harper was Sarah’s wrestling coach when she was at Penn; he became her personal coach and coached her at the Tokyo Olympics wear she won Bronze. Coach Harper planned this special homecoming for Sarah. Click to see the full photo gallery below.

The parade left from Penn High School and went down McKinley approximately two miles and ended at Zolman’s Tire.

Thank you to all the parade participants who volunteered their time on a Sunday afternoon: Mishawaka and Penn Twp. Fire Departments, St. Joseph County Police, the Marching Kingsmen, Penn Girls and Boys Wrestling Teams, Penn Cheerleaders, Penn Youth Wrestling Club, Rocket Football cheerleaders, and Dr. and Mrs. Thacker. Along with Sarah with her mom Nancy and dad Chris, Sarah’s extended family were also in the parade. Sarah and her parents were in a golden yellow convertible Mustang driven by St. Joseph County Sheriff Bill Redman. Thank you to Zolman’s Tire for supplying some trucks.

After the parade was over, hundreds gathered at Urban Swirl in Granger for an Olympic Celebration emceed by Mark McGill. A representative from Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood’s office read a proclamation declaring September 8th as Sarah Hildebrandt Day! U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym read the historical entry on Sarah’s Olympic achievement that he will be submitting to the official U.S. Congressional Record.

Sarah was able to see and catch up with the coach who gave her first break, then Discovery Middle School Wrestling Coach Raoul Donati.

Sarah threw out free T-shirts featuring her smiley face tattoo on the front and her viral X tweet on the back.

Grateful for all the love and support that her hometown gave her, Sarah graciously took hundreds of pictures with all of her adoring fans. She also signed hundreds of autographs on posters, shirts, singlets, wrestling shoes and even foreheads! 

Check it all out in the photo gallery below.

Penn held class meetings to welcome students to a new year of learning.

A Photo Gallery of the Class of 2025 meeting is posted below.

Penn High School’s “Golden Girl” is coming home! On Sunday, September 8th the community will have a celebratory parade for the Female Wrestler Olympic Gold Medalist.

The parade starts at 3:00 at the intersection of Bittersweet and McKinley Highway. The parade will proceed West down McKinley Highway and will end at Zolman’s Tire (2014 E McKinley Ave., Mishawaka).

There will be an Olympic Celebration 4:30 p.m. at Urban Swirl (Heritage Square, Granger). Congressman Rudy Yakym will present Sarah with a special gift; and Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood’s office will present a proclamation. Mark McGill will emcee the event.

There will be free posters, available on a first come, first serve basis. T-shirts will also be available for sale.

Sarah Hildebrandt earned a Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in Women’s Wrestling (50kg). Hildebrandt was one of two American women to win a Gold Medal in Wrestling at the 2024 Olympics. She is also just the fourth woman to win Gold in Team USA Wrestling history.

Hildebrandt earned a Bronze Medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She is also a two-time national collegiate champion. A 2011 graduate of Penn High School, Hildebrandt became the first female to qualify for the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Wrestling Semi-State competition and led Penn High School to the IHSAA Team Championship. Her personal coach is Penn Boys Wrestling Head Coach Brad Harper.

Click here for Sarah’s full list of accomplishments from her early years at Discovery Middle School. 

Penn High School’s annual Open House will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. The purpose of the Open House is to help you become familiar with the academic standards and assessments for each of the courses that your student is taking this year. The schedule for the evening begins with you attending your student’s first-period Gold Day.

 Please have your student fill out the schedule form LINKED HERE and bring it with you. 
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