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.

Turkey Legs Fundraiser underway

Penn High School’s annual Turkey Legs contest is underway as various teachers and staff members raise funds to benefit Riley Children’s Hospital.

Teachers wear shorts and/or dress up in costumes in the days leading up to Thanksgiving Break, and collect money in school from students and staff.

This year’s articipating teachers/staff members include:

  • Kyle Berres
  • Bennett Blazo
  • Endesha Bonner
  • Matt Cates
  • Vince DeDario
  • Sarah Dwigins
  • Annie Eutsey
  • Derrick Fairbotham
  • John Gensic
  • Jose Gutierrez
  • Fran Haughee
  • Sarah Hendricks
  • Delicia Huckleberry
  • Sandy Hunter
  • Ben Kase
  • Daire Lafleur
  • Bailey Mott
  • Glenn Northern
  • Matthew Rollins
  • Ally Starkweather
  • Jeremy Starkweather
  • Kaylie VanGalder
  • Hillary Huan Wang
  • Angela Yarrell

Students are encouraged to donate any spare change they may have when they see their favorite participating teacher in the hallway during passing period or in class.

P-H-M schools have a long standing tradition of holding various fundraising activities for Riley (click to learn more about the Bike-a-Thon fundraiser Madison Elementary held in October). At Penn, the annual Dodgeball Tournament has benefited Riley; and in 2018, Penn’s Dance Marathon for Riley raised more than $25,000!

Kaleidoscope Concerts set for Wednesday, Nov. 16, and Thursday, Nov. 17

Penn High School & PHM Middle School students will perform at the Kaleidoscope I Concert (Wed., Nov. 16, 2022) & Kaleidoscope II Concert (Thurs., Nov. 17, 2022).

Kaleidoscope I is sold out.

Tickets for Kaleidoscope II: https://www.ticketracker.com/SelectSection.aspx?eventId=158479

Wednesday’s concert:

  • Combined PHM 8th Grade Band from Grissom, Schmucker and Discovery
  • Symphonic Winds
  • Advanced Jazz Ensemble
  • Marching Kingsmen

Thursday’s concert:

  • Intermediate Jazz
  • Advanced Jazz
  • Intermediate Freshman Band
  • Advanced Freshman Band
  • Concert Band
  • Symphonic Band
  • Symphonic Winds

2022 Fall National Signing Day Includes Commits to Notre Dame & Purdue

Every year, approximately 40-50 Penn High School student-athletes go on to compete in athletics at the collegiate level. A majority of these students receive at least some scholarship money that helps open doors to attend a post secondary school that they otherwise might not be able to attend.

There are four national signing days throughout the year in order to accommodate the seasonality of sports. The first signing day of 2022-23 is on Wednesday, November 9th, 2022.

This week 11 Penn student-athletes will “sign on the dotted line,” thus committing them to their school of choice.

Headlining this group is Basketball Player Markus Burton and Cross Country & Track Athlete Julia Economou.

On why Markus Burton chose Notre Dame, he said “I feel like being home at Notre Dame is great because I have the whole 574 supporting me … Coach [Al] Rhodes was a part of my growth throughout the years I was at Penn and I thank him a lot.”

Julia Economou is another Penn standout who, although she excelled at Basketball, will be running at Purdue. 

Economou said she chose Purdue because of the program and the team community. “On my visit, the girls that would become my future teammates made me feel like a part of the team, and I loved the enthusiasm and dedication they showed to the sport and the team,” Economou said. “Additionally, Coach Oliver and the rest of the Coaching staff amazed me in both their coaching methods and the way they cared about the athletes wellness and success in and outside of the sport.” 

Julia and Markus will be joined at the signing table by 9 other Penn Seniors. Of the 11 who will be signing, 7 will be competing at Division 1 schools. 

  1. Markus Burton, Boys Basketball (Notre Dame)
  2. Julia Economou, Girls XC & T&F (Purdue University)
  3. Macy Hatkevich, Volleyball  (Toledo)
  4. Ian Hernandez, Baseball (Marietta College)
  5. Kiley Hinton, Softball (Austin Peay)
  6. Mackenzie Konanz, Girls Wrestling (Aurora University)
  7. Payton Ladson, Girls Soccer (Holy Cross)
  8. Adam Lehmann, Baseball (Western Michigan)
  9. Zoe Montgomery, Girls Lacrosse (Manhattan College)
  10. Emin Penic, Soccer (Holy Cross)
  11. Brayden Schoetzow, Baseball (Wright State)

 

For complete biographies of all 11 student-athletes click on the image below!

program

PHM Schools Polling Locations on Nov. 8

Election Day

Penn Spell Bowl Team qualifies for state

The Penn High School Spell Bowl Team qualified for the Spell Bowl State Championships.

The 38th Annual Indiana Academic Spell Bowl State Finals will be on Saturday, Nov. 12,  in the Loeb Playhouse on the Purdue University West Lafayette Campus. The event is sponsored by the Indiana Association of School Principals.

Penn is coached by Angela Yarrell. The Spell Bowl Program owns 17 State Championships.

Penn qualified by competing at a regional competition at Goshen.

Penn Perfect scorers (9 out of 9 words): Sreeja Bhattacharjee, Ishita Masetty, Ashley Oh, Felix Zhang.

Near perfect scorers (8 out of 9 words): Sarah Ahmed, Riley Springman, Samantha Tipton.

Participants: Sarah Ahmed, Tasneem Ahmed, Areej Arif, Sreeja Bhattacharjee, Ishita Masetty, Ashley Oh, Riley Springman, Robin Sullivan, Samantha Tipton, Felix Zhang.

New Short Circuits Sphero program partners Penn Robotics & 3rd grade students

What would make more than 200 elementary students and dozens of Penn High School students show up at school on a Saturday? It would have to be something pretty cool, and there’s no doubt that P-H-M’s new  “Short Circuits” Sphero is cool! Click here to see the full photo gallery on the P-H-M District website.

Teams of third graders from all 11 P-H-M elementary schools and their Penn Robotics Team 135 coaches/mentors were excited to show off what they had learned about coding, programming, and robotics to their parents, grandparents and family members. 

The idea for Short Circuits came about from a discussion between longtime, now retired, Penn Robotics Team 135 Coach Jim Langfeldt and P-H-M Education Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom.

Jim Langfeldt Robotics Camp Summer 2018
Jim Langfeldt with a student during Penn Robotics Camp

Current Team 135 Teacher Coach Kyle Marsh worked with Michael Niemier — a Professor in Computer Science and Engineering at Notre Dame — under the umbrella of his National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) grant, which funded Mr. Marsh’s summer work to write the Short Circuits coding program. Co-developer and former P-H-M teacher Jim Langfeldt has also participated in Niemier’s RET program.

During the 4-week after school practices, the Penn students have coached and mentored 3rd grade teams at all 11 elementary schools; one or two teachers at each elementary school are also involved helping to oversee the students.

During Saturday’s celebration, the 3rd grade students will demonstrate for their parents and family members what they’ve learned, including programming the Sphero robots to maneuver through the Penn Robotics student built obstacle course.

Short Circuits is sponsored by P-H-M Education Foundation. Former longtime PHM Board Member Gary Fox, and his wife Tamera, generously committed to a $20,000 donation over four years to sponsor the program. $30,000 was raised at the PHMEF 25th Anniversary Gala to pay for Sphero kits for all the elementary schools. 

Oct. 29, 2022 Sphero
Supt. Dr. Jerry Thacker, PHM School Board Pres. Chris Riley, PHMEF Exec. Dir. Jennifer Turnblom, Fmr. School Board Pres. Gary Fox, & his wife Tamera Fox

Football Sectionals, Band Semi-State & Cross Country State Information

It’s a BIG Weekend for Penn competition across the state of Indiana. Here’s all the information you need to follow the action!

Penn Football vs Fort Wayne Carroll

Penn Girls and Boys Cross Country

Penn High School Marching Kingsmen