Penn Building and Trades students had something to celebrate this Thanksgiving … completion of Phase I of their house!

For the last 49 years, Penn High School has offered students hands-on experience through the Building and Trades class.

The year-long course is offered to juniors and seniors and gives students the unique experience to build a house from the ground up. This year’s class has 17 students; and four seniors are in their second year in the course.

Students are responsible for supplying their own tools and tool belts, but the Penn High School Building Trades Corporation provides all other supplies and materials. Although students handle most aspects of the building process on their own, an outside contractor completes the drywall job. The heating, plumbing and electrical jobs are also handled by contractors, but students work alongside them to help and learn those skills.

Students work on site, Monday – Friday for about 2-3 hours at a time. Instructor Les Crooks has set three milestones for the students to meet in order to complete the house by the end of the school year:
 

• Phase I: foundation, walls, trusses/roofing, windows, doors and shingling; completed by Thanksgiving.
• Phase II: sheet rock/dry wall, heating, electrical, plumbing and flooring; goal for completion is February.
• Phase III: trim, siding, landscaping, painting and general finish work; goal for completion is June.
   

Watch the video below to see all the work the students have completed thus far during Phase I …
 

The Building and Trades course helps students become career ready, gaining valuable experience in the construction field. Many students have pursued careers in construction after graduation, and some have gone on to major in construction management in college. 

There’s quite a demand for the student house; some houses have actually sold at the blueprint stage.

Be sure to check back for video updates on Phases II (in February) and III (in June).

The Penn High School Football Team practiced at the University of Notre Dame indoor football facility, the Loftus Center, in preparation for the State Championship Game on Saturday, Nov. 25, at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. 

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

Goalie Mackenzie Wood wore Penn High School's Gold and Black colors in leading the Kingsmen Girls Soccer Team to State and National Championships this Fall.

Now, Wood will wear the Red, White and Blue colors of the USA.

Wood is one of 24 players called up to the United States Under-18 Women's National Team. The U.S. Team will have a training camp at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif, from Nov. 26 to Dec. 3.

"It means a great deal to me to represent Penn High School in the U18 WNT Soccer Training Camp," Wood said. "To be called up to the WNT is an honor and has always been a goal of mine as I strive to make the roster on a regular basis. Penn High School has prepared me personally and athletically and I feel ready for the challenge."

Wood, a USA Today First-Team All-American led the state with her 0.213 goals against average and had 20 shutouts this season. She is a Northwestern University commit, and has been invited to play in the Girls Soccer All-American Game in Orlando, Fla., in December.

Wood made two amazing saves in the 2-0 victory against Guerin Catholic in the State Championship Game. She said she appreciates her development through Penn Soccer.

"Penn soccer has allowed me to make life-long friendships and learn how to be a leader," Wood said. "As a goalkeeper, I need to be able to communicate and organize my defense. Being the captain of the Penn Girls soccer team has helped me improve my communication and leadership skills I will need for college soccer."

Penn Head Coach Jeff Hart believes Wood will be a difference-maker for the U.S. Team and Northwestern.

“‘Z’ is another top-end athlete that has all the tools the great goalies have – leadership, presence, great hands and movement (feel) for the position, outstanding foot skills, quickness and a fearless attitude,” Hart said.

Audiences got a surprise treat Tuesday night (Nov. 21, 2017) when Penn Principal Sean Galiher walked out on stage to perform with the Orchestra. But what made his performance so memorable is that he didn’t play the violin, flute or clarinet … no, he played the typewriter!!!

The musical piece is called “The Typewriter” written by Leroy Anderson. The typewriter is the focal point of the selection with the key strikes, carriage returns and bell ringing happening in time with the rhythm of the musical score. It took a lot of practice to get the timing just right. Principal Galiher rehearsed with Orchestra Director Anne Tschetter and her class five times, and he also practiced a lot at home using YouTube videos. It was definitely worth all the work … Penn parents and patrons thoroughly enjoyed this one-of-a-kind performance! 

While Principal Galiher never had formal musical training, this experience has encouraged him to pursue his dream of learning to play the guitar. 

Penn High School's Girls Swim Team earned its 100th consecutive victory with a 129-57 victory against Elkhart Central on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

The Penn Boys Team beat Elkhart Central 123-63.

After fighting a close game through three quarters, the Penn Girls Basketball Team took control in the fourth quarter to outscore Warsaw 22-15 and claim a 51-43 victory against the Tigers on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Senior point guard Sara Doi led Penn with 19 points. Freshman Jordyn Smith scored 11 points.

Penn High’s Kingsmen dethroned the IHSAA Football Class 6-A defending State Champion with full force, defeating Carmel, 34-7, on the Greyhounds own field on Friday, Nov. 17. Click here to see the photo gallery from Friday night’s big win.

Coach Cory Yeoman’s Kingsmen advance to the Class 6-A State Championship Game. Penn (12-1) plays Indianapolis Ben Davis (13-0) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25, at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.

A 72-yard punt by Penn’s Max Chaffee and then a shanked one-yard punt by Carmel flipped the field in the second quarter, and the Kingsmen took advantage. Ryan Whiteman scored on a five-yard run and the Kingsmen grabbed a 7-0 lead.

Jackson Weston picked off a pass with :34 left in the second quarter, and the Kingsmen struck for a 14-0 lead. Ryan Lynch connected with senior Zach Usenick for 14 yards for a Kingsmen TD.

Lynch blasted through the Carmel defense for a 23-yard TD run midway through the third quarter as the Kingsmen surged to a 21-0 lead.

Caden Paquette then stunned the Greyhounds when he intercepted a pass and zoomed 94 yards for a Pick-6, giving Penn a 27-0 lead.

George Ohlson’s 13-yard TD strike from Lynch finished the Kingsmen scoring.

Drew Schneider contributed two interceptions in the Kingsmen victory.

The Penn High School Football Team beat Carmel, 34-7, in the North Semi-state Game on Friday, Nov. 17, to earn a spot in the IHSAA Class 6-A State Championship Game.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

By GARRETT WENZEL

The Penn Kingsmen football team traveled to face the Bulldogs of Crown Point on a frigid night for the IHSAA Football Class 6-A Regional Title on Friday, Nov. 10.

Penn pounced on Crown Point from the start and left the Bulldogs in the cold, earning a 33-3 victory.

The Kingsmen started off hot.

Senior Hunter Whitlow got the Kingsmen on the board with a 1-yard TD run to put the Kingsmen up 7-0.

On the next drive, Ryan Lynch passed to George Ohlson for the Kingsmen TD to put the Kingsmen up 14-0.

Penn expanded its lead to 20-3 when Ryan Lynch flipped a pass to Ryan Whiteman, who sprinted for 64 yards to the end zone.

Senior Zach Usenick then hauled in a pair of TD passes from Lynch to finish off the 33-3 victory.

The Kingsmen have now won 11 in a row and move to 11-1.

Freshman Jordyn Smith scored 27 points to lead the Penn Kingsmen to a 70-28 victory against Bremen on Thursday, Nov. 16.

Sara Doi scored 10 points, Reganne Pate scored 8 points, and Trinity Clinton scored 7 points.