Elisabeth Casetti, a Senior at Penn High School, has been named an Indiana Academic Regional All-Star by the Indiana Association of School Principals.

Penn High School Principal Sean Galiher announced the honor for Casetti, who was selected by the IASP on the basis of standardized test scores, extra-curricular activities, leadership and community service.

Casetti, the daughter of Alfredo and Jennifer Casetti, will be attending Purdue University next year to study Engineering. She hopes to specialize in Industrial Engineering or Theater Engineering, with a goal of working at Disney.

A student in Penn’s STEM Academy, Casetti has participated in TEAMS (Tests of Engineering, Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science), NHS, Key Club, IML (Indiana Math League) and Kingsmen Court. Her leadership positions include Executive Freshman Mentor and Tennis Captain.

Due to the Governor's "Shelter in Place" Executive Order that went into effect Tuesday, March 24, P-H-M school buildings are now closed.

Principals and the Building Secretary/Treasurers will now be working remotely from home during normal school hours through at least Tuesday, April 7. These staff members are still working, so please contact them via email should you have any questions or concerns:

ADMINISTRATION:

Principal Sean Galiher: srgaliher@phm.k12.in.us

Associate Principal Randy Williams: rewilliams@phm.k12.in.us

Assistant Principal Rachel Fry: rfry@phm.k12.in.us

Assistant Principal Josiah Parker: jparker@phm.k12.in.us

Assistant Principal Derrick White: dwhite2@phm.k12.in.us

Assistant Principal Beth Zachary: bzachary@phm.k12.in.us

MAIN OFFICE

Brenda Chaffee – bchaffee@phm.k12.in.us

Laura Chrisman – lchrisman@phm.k12.in.us

Jenna Tomaszewski – jtomaszewski@phm.k12.in.us

BOOKSTORE (FEES QUESTIONS)

Stacey Rach – srach@phm.k12.in.us

Marcia Abrams – mabrams@phm.k12.in.us

COUNSELING CENTER

Director of Counseling John Westra – jwestra@phm.k12.in.us

FRESHMEN COUNSELORS

Emily Lehman – elehman@phm.k12.in.us​

Marni Cronk – mcronk@phm.k12.in.us​

GRADES 10-12 COUNSELORS

Lynn Stratford – Counselor: A-Con, lstratford@phm.k12.in.us​

Sandy Hunter – Counselor: Coo – Hal, shunter@phm.k12.in.us​

Shane Varga  – Counselor: Ham – Lan, svarga@phm.k12.in.us​

Amanda Bates  – Counselor: Lao – Ow, abates@phm.k12.in.us​

Madeline Watkins – Counselor: Pa-Sk, mwatkins@phm.k12.in.us​

Janiece Fitzgerald – Counselor: Sl – Z, jfitzgerald@phm.k12.in.us​

Megan Bidigare (Social Emotional Learning), mbidigare@phm.k12.in.us​

Wendy Hayes – Enrollment Secretary, whayes@phm.k12.in.us​

Laura Zahner – Registrar (Transcripts), lzahner@phm.k12.in.us​

ATHLETICS:

Athletic Director Jeff Hart: jhart@phm.k12.in.us​

Assistant Athletic Director Bridget Williams: bewilliams@phm.k12.in.us​

Assistant Athletic Director Marie Doan: mdoan@phm.k12.in.us​

Teachers have been working remotely from home since we began extended eLearning. They of course are also reachable by email.

Penn High School’s Advanced Jazz Ensemble qualified for the Indiana State Jazz Finals. The District Jazz Contest was held on Saturday, March 7.

“The past two years have been a period of tremendous growth for the Advanced Jazz Ensemble,” Penn High School music instructor Aaron Griesser said. “The group has now qualified for Indiana State Jazz Finals for two years in a row.

“I am extremely proud of all the hard work the students have put into the program,” Griesser said. “Our repertoire for ISSMA this year includes Roll 'Em by Mary Lou Williams, That Old Black Magic by Billy May, and Black Orpheus by Luiz Bonfa.”

The Indiana State Jazz Finals, scheduled to be held at North Central High School in Indianapolis, have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 National Emergency.

PENN ADVANCED JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Alto Saxophone – Jonathan Forbes

Alto Saxophone – Julia Heidinger

Tenor Saxophone – Caleb Vrydaghs

Tenor Saxophone – Collin Waterbury

Baritone Saxophone – Nathaniel Clay

Trombone – Brad Ziegelmaier

Trombone – Pete Sullivan

Trombone – Quin Bast

Trombone – Becca Mattson

Trumpet – Michael Forry

Trumpet – D.J. Pennix

Trumpet – Caden Miller

Trumpet – Derek Reinhardt

Trumpet – Frank Bell

Guitar – Monica Hunt

Guitar – J.R. Roach

Piano – Phillip Matous

Bass – Peter Campeau

Drums & Percussion – Brian Oke

Drums & Percussion – Blain Wandling

Vibraphone – Ben Reed

Vocals – Madison Jackson

The Penn Counseling Center is seeking students in Grades 9, 10, & 11 to serve as Freshmen Mentors for the 2020-2021 school year.

The Counseling Center is looking for students who consider themselves to be a good role model and would like to take on a leadership role. Mentors help the incoming freshmen feel comfortable and accepted as they transition to high school. You will go through a training day, so you are prepared to welcome the freshmen and facilitate lessons on various topics. Students must be in good standing in regards to attendance, grades (no D's/F's), and discipline. 

Applications are due Monday, March 23. We do not accept late applications.

Click here for the application form.

The message below was sent out to all P-H-M staff and families the afternoon of March 12, 2020.

Dear P-H-M Families and Staff,

Based on Governor Eric Holcomb’s announcement released at 4:28 p.m. today, all P-H-M students will not report to school tomorrow Friday, March 13 and Monday, March 16, 2020. These days will be recess days (no eLearning will be conducted on these two days). Students and families should be prepared to begin extended eLearning beginning on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

All P-H-M staff are to report to their normal work location at normal times on Friday, March 13 and Monday, March 16 to help prepare the district for extended eLearning days.

More details to come for respective staff groups and families. Please be patient with us as we work through these details.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Thacker​
Superintendent of Schools

Penn High School qualified eight students for the Indiana Speech State Championships on Saturday, March 14, 2020. The event is scheduled to be held at Fishers High School.

Representing Coach Jeremy Starkweather’s Speech Team are:

• Manaal Buchh in prose
• Adalia Qazi in Radio Broadcasting
• Charles Johnson in International Extemporaneous speaking
• Brock Trump and Lyvia Li in United States Extemporaneous speaking
• Kemal Perdana in Informative
• Abhinav Kotaru and Nathan Hurbough in Discussion.

Penn High School Sports Journalism student Brayden McMillen took photos at the Penn Boys Basketball Game vs. Merrillville on Friday, Feb. 27, 2020. 

McMillen’s Photo Gallery is posted below.

Penn High School student Evan Rosswurm placed first in CAD 3-D Engineering at the Indiana Technology Student Association competition at Purdue University.

Also placing for Penn:

Anthony Vacarro – 3rd Technology Problem Solving, 3rd On Demand Video

Elliot Jang and Daniel Shin- 3rd Debating Technology Issues

Carl Xu, Zichu Wang, Derick Shi – 3rd Engineering Design

David Wang and Joey Meier- 5th place Technology Problem Solving

Anna Huber, Anna VanAvermaete, and Joey Meier – 4th Coding

Aaron Jackson – 2nd Debating Technology Issues, 3rd Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 3rd On Demand Video 

Vivek Patel – 2nd Debating Technology Issues, 3rd Technology Problem Solving, 3rd Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 3rd Prepared Presentation, 3rd On Demand Video

Penn High School placed first overall in Academic Super Bowl Competition at Warsaw on Monday, March 9, 2020.

Penn teams placed first in Math and Social Studies.

Placing second in the competition were the Science, Fine Arts and Interdisciplinary teams.
 

Penn High’s Boys Basketball team battled Warsaw in the Class 4-A Elkhart Sectional on Friday, March 6, 2020. The Kingsmen suffered a 58-54 overtime loss.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.