If your student will be riding a different bus, or having a friend ride their bus, parents/guardians now need to submit a form to make that request NO LATER than 10:00am on the day of the change.

This form must be completed by the parents/guardians ONLY. A Dean of Students may call to verify the validity of the request.

Please click here to fill out the form for a Bus Note for your student.

Penn High School Principal Dr. Sean Galiher, along with assistant principals, director of athletics and students showed off and explained how Penn is “Building Bright Futures.”

At the Penn-Harris-Board of School Trustees meeting held Monday, Feb. 10 at Penn, the high school demonstrated how they are putting this year’s theme into action in everything they do.

From highlights from the Homecoming parade in the fall to reports on Penn’s amazing 98% graduation rate and everything in between. Other reports included:

• Building & Trades program (now in its 56th year!)
• Engineering Design & Development program (competed against and beat college students in the TECH 120 class at Purdue) 
• Class of 2025 students on track for an Honors Diploma
• AP Enrollment & Success
• SAT Performance
• Attendance
• Athletic & Academic Teams update
• Teacher Professional Development update
• … and so much more!

Click here to view Principal Dr. Galiher’s full presentation.

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Congratulations to Mr. Curt Rallo, Penn High School Journalism teacher, Penn Sports Information Director, and member of the P-H-M District Communications Team for being named to the Class of 2025 Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame.

Mr. Rallo is a graduate of Penn High School earning his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University-South Bend and a master’s degree from Bethel University.

Mr. Rallo is a working journalist in the truest sense of the word. His experience includes working for the South Bend Tribune for 38 years, covering local high school sports, Big Ten Men’s Basketball and Football, the University of Notre Dame, as well as spot coverage of the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. Just some of the notable pro athletes he’s covered include: Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Skylar Diggins, Pat Connaughton, and Michael Jordan (basketball and baseball). While covering college and professional sports, Mr. Rallo reported on the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Maui Invitational, NCAA men’s basketball Final Fours (I.U. and Michigan State) and women’s basketball Final Fours (Notre Dame 6x), covering MLB, NFL and NBA playoffs.

For his work covering Indiana high school sports, Mr. Rallo was recognized by the IHSAA with the Distinguished Media Service Award  in 1996.

Mr. Rallo brought his broad depth of experience in sports reporting back to Penn High School when he began teaching in 2001 while still working at the Tribune. He’s now been with P-H-M for 24 years teaching Sports Journalism and serving as the Sports ID for the Kingsmen Athletic Department. He’s also been known to call some Kingsmen games/matches. Mr. Rallo oversees a team of student writers, photographers, videographers, graphic artists, etc. serving as Penn’s own independent sports media outlet. Mr. Rallo and his students impressively cover all of Penn’s teams giving his students real hands-on experiences of doing everything from live play by play on the Pennant YouTube Channel, feature stories on the Pennant website, and in depth conversations with student-athletes and coaches on the Pennant Podcast. Mr. Rallo and the student sports journalists also manage Pennant Facebook, Instagram, and X. Mr. Rallo teaches his students the importance of deadlines and in this age of social media covering sporting events in real time. The volume, but more importantly the quality, of content Mr. Rallo covers with his dedicated team of students makes him beyond worthy of this recognition. His students are very fortunate to learn from a true and talented professional.

It’s hard to believe with all that he does at Penn High School, but Mr. Rallo still does freelance work covering Notre Dame football and basketball for the Associated Press.

Mr. Rallo will be inducted at the annual awards banquet to be held in early April in Greenwood. Click for more details on the other inductees on the Stateline Sports Network website.

Penn High School’s Snowball Winter Dance, “An Evening in the Garden”, is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 16, from 7:30-11 p.m.

Entry is through Door B ONLY.

Tickets go on sale on Sunday, Jan. 26, at noon and will be available until 7:30 p.m. on the day of the dance (or until the event is sold out).

Click here to purchase tickets starting at noon on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.

Snowball Information

• Professional Photographs will be available from Valentinos at the dance from 7:30pm to 10:00pm and are available for singles, couples, and friend groups. Pre-purchase photographs by using this link: https://v2.myproimages.com/valentinos/41543/search

• Unlimited Drinks from American Espresso (Lattes, Frappes, Italian Sodas, etc.), Bottled Water, Desserts/Snacks, and photo booth fun, are all part of ticket price.

• Students Choose the Music again this year. A special link to a Google Form will be included in the ticket confirmation e-mail. Music Requests can be made until Thursday, Feb. 13, at 11:59 p.m.

• In the confirmation e-mail, it will include the following instructions about policies, door entry, etc.

• This is a school event and students are expected to follow the same code of conduct as during the school day. Security and administration will be onsite for the event, which includes security patrolling the parking lot areas.

• No ticket sales at the door on the evening of the dance. Ticket Sales are online only and limited tickets are available.

• You (and your guest) must have your ticket & school ID to enter. Entry will be through Door B and check-in will be in CPA Foyer.

• Guests from other schools are welcome to attend with you, but they must be 20 years old or younger, not in middle school and they must have their ID or state issued license to enter.

• Once you leave the dance re-admittance will not be permitted.

• Your ticket includes dancing, unlimited smoothies, coffees, lattes, Italian sodas, etc., bottled water, assorted desserts, and photo booth fun.

• Don’t forget to get your formal photos taken at Valentino’s 7:30pm-10pm. Pre-purchase with this link: https://v2.myproimages.com/valentinos/41543/search *No refunds on no shows at the dance, so please be sure to get your photo taken.

• You and your peers chose the music (school appropriate)! No requests are taken the night of the dance. The link for requesting music will come with your ticket confirmation.

• Students may bring a small purse or clear bag, but these bags must be checked in the coat-check and will not be permitted in the main arena. 

• Shoes can be worn and there will also be a coat check (We are not responsible for lost/stolen items, so don’t leave valuables in the coat check).

• Dress to impress, but formal attire is not required.

• Come see the Arena + Balconies bloom at an Evening in the Garden (Un Soirée au Jardin). This will be an unforgettable evening with memories to cherish for a lifetime. We hope you enjoy the night!

• Volunteer opportunities will be available. Please watch for more details to come with a Sign-Up Genius Link to be shared from Penn.

• For any questions, please contact pennhspto@gmail.com

• We are looking forward to a great evening!

Monday, January 13, 2025 the P-H-M Board of School Trustees approved a $10,000 donation by newly elected P-H-M Board of School Trustee Gary Fox to the P-H-M Education’s Naming Rights Campaign to name Penn High School’s new fieldhouse. The contribution will name the building currently under construction the Dr. Jerry and Donna Thacker Fieldhouse (click here for more details on the fieldhouse; and click here for pictures from the May 2024 groundbreaking.).

The fieldhouse investment for our students will NOT raise taxes for the residents of Penn, Harris, and Madison Townships. The Administration and Board are committed to fiscal responsibility and the district is in excellent financial health. Also on January 13^th , P-H-M held its Board of Finance meeting where P-H-M Executive Director of Business Services Dr. Thomas Keeley presented the Board with the district’s financial report (click here to see the Board of Finance presentation). P-H-M has one of the lowest tax rates in St. Joseph County of $0.9275 for three straight years.

Dr. Thacker began his teaching career at Penn-Harris-Madison at Madison Elementary School. He received his doctorate from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan; a master’s in elementary education from Indiana University South Bend; and a bachelor of science in elementary education from Bethel College. He returned to P-H-M in July 2006 as Superintendent. Under Dr. Thacker’s leadership, P-H-M has become one of Indiana’s most premier school districts with the schools, students, teachers, and staff achieving countless recognitions, at the state, national and international level.

P-H-M is among Indiana’s top performing public school corporations. With the release of the Spring 2024 ILEARN results, P-H-M is in the Top 4% of Indiana’s public school districts. Out of public schools that passed both ELA and Math: Prairie Vista Elementary School is #3 and Discovery Middle School is #2. Penn High School has a 98% graduation rate. Click here for a listing of P-H-M’s most recent Points of Excellence.

Dr. Thacker is a well-respected educator; some of his many professional recognitions include:

• 2017 IAPSS Indiana Outstanding Educator Award
• 2015 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year – Indiana University South Bend
• 2014 Sagamore of the Wabash, Issued by Indiana Governor Mike Pence
• 2013 IAPSS Indiana Outstanding Educator Award
• 2012 AASA Indiana Superintendent of the Year
• 2012 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year – Indiana University South Bend, School of Education
• 2012 Alumnus of the Year – Bethel College
• 2012 Indiana Senate Resolution, Congratulating Indiana Superintendent of the Year
• 2012 Indiana House of Representatives Resolution, Congratulating Indiana Superintendent of the Year

Donna Thacker is a former educator herself, a retired public school music teacher. Mrs. Thacker has been a staple in the community and a longtime volunteer and supporter of the P-H-M Education Foundation in such events as the Silver Mile and Running is Elementary.

Both Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have generously supported the Foundation with their time, leadership, service and financial contributions over the years. Since 2021, the Thackers have donated $232,500, including also contributing to PHMEF’s Naming Rights Campaign:

1. Chris Geesman Kingsmen Athletic Center (formerly the Kingsmen Athletic Center), $25,000 donated in December 2021 ($5,000 per year over five years, for an overall period of 12 years)
2. Al Rhodes Kingsmen Court, $10,000 donated in October 2023 
3. Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium (formerly the  P-H-M DVT & Planetarium), $10,000 donated in January 2024
4. Yeoman Family Plaza, $10,000 donated in March 2024 
5. Greg Dikos Field, $10,000 donated in August 2024 

The naming of the Dr. Jerry and Donna Thacker Fieldhouse is a fitting tribute to their unwavering commitment to Penn-Harris Madison and its students.

Gary Fox and his wife Tammy are longtime donors of the P-H-M Education Foundation most recently supporting the Fun Zone at Penn’s 2024 Homecoming and the Short Circuits program for all P-H-M 3rd graders at all 11 elementary schools. Gary served on the P-H-M Board of School Trustees for 19 years from 2001-2020 before stepping down. He was re-elected to Harris Township, Seat 4 in the November 2024 election. Gary was sworn in at the Monday, January 13^th Board Meeting (click here to read this story).

Per PHMEF’s Naming Rights fundraising initiative, 80 percent of the donation will go into the Foundation’s endowment, which will in turn provide alternative and additional funding for various co-curricular and extracurricular programs. The remaining 20 percent directly funds professional development initiatives for P-H-M teachers. Continuing the education and training of teachers is a major priority for P-H-M School District.

The mission of the Education Foundation is to develop alternative sources of income to support education initiatives in the School Corporation by strengthening partnerships between the community and the District. PHMEF supports education through awarding innovative teaching grants and other corporation-wide initiatives.

Penn Gold/Black Calendar

Sponsor: Bailey Mott – bmott@phm.k12.in.us  

The Works of Faith Club seeks to unite all Christian believers under one common purpose: To serve the community by using what we learn from meetings and Bible studies.

The purpose of the Club is to learn more about Jesus Christ and to study the Bible, and then to go out into the community and serve. Serving includes working with churches and their groups and soup kitchens and other organizations.

There will be club dues of $5 for the 2024-2025 school year.

The club meets in Room 219 every Gold Monday at 7:40 a.m.

Contact club student leader Brady Shively bshively621@phm.k12.in.us for information about the club.

The P-H-M Education Foundation is proud to support teachers and students by funding innovative classroom grants that enrich learning experiences beyond the school district’s budget. From small purchases under $100 to larger projects exceeding $1,000, every grant enhances classrooms in meaningful ways. Click here to read about Education Foundation Grants and to see the full list of winners, or read the recap below.

Total Grants Awarded: $59,999.96 (Total 2024-2025 Grant Budget – $60,000)

● Total EZ Grants Requested – $24,533.26
● Total EZ Grants Approved – $10,369.23
● Total Traditional Grants Requested – $87,874.09
● Total Traditional Grants Approved – $49,630.73

EZ form grant requests for $750 or less:

1. Remediation Phonics
○ Meadow’s Edge Elementary
○ Ufli & Secret Stories Curriculum for 2nd grade
○ Awarded $260.00

2. “One Choice” Book Study
○ Schmucker Middle School
○ Purchase 60 copies of the the Jack & Nick Savage story “One Choice” books
○ Awarded $600.00

3. Elsie Press back in commission
○ Elsie Rogers Elementary
○ Funding for the Elsie Press Newspaper
○ Awarded $165.00

4. Third Grade Writing Portfolios
○ Meadow’s Edge Elementary
○ Publishing and resource materials for writing
○ Awarded $479.58

5. Infant CPR Training Kits
○ Discovery Middle School
○ Infant CPR Training kits from the American Red Cross
○ Awarded $685.62

6. Star Buddies, Coffee Shop for All
○ Discovery Middle School
○ Materials and supplies for coffee shop for teachers run by exceptional education students
○ Awarded $300.00

7. Film Photography Processing
○ Penn High School
○ Materials and tools for the film classes and darkroom
○ Awarded $320.00

8. Let your Learning GLOW
○ Elm Road Elementary
○ Black lights and materials for ILearn review in 4th grade classrooms
○ Awarded $661.51

9. Middle School Clay Assistant
○ Grissom Middle School
○ Slab roller for clay materials
○ Awarded $666.62

10. Ricochet Stools for Fidgety Students
○ Discovery Middle School
○ Stools designed for students to rock/tip safely
○ Awarded $638.20

11. Wiggle Seats for Classroom/Small Group Table
○ Prairie Vista Elementary
○ Wiggle seats/flexible seating for students
○ Awarded $509.94

12. Enhance Comprehension through updated Classroom Libraries
○ Elm Road Elementary
○ New books that encourage the comprehension process
○ Awarded $544.71

13. The One and Only Bob Literature Story
○ Prairie Vista Elementary
○ 25 copies of The One and Only Bob” books
○ Awarded $250.10

14. North Point Drama Club “The Dazzles”
○ Northpoint Elementary
○ Creation of a Drama Club including “The Big Band” Musical
○ Awarded $583.00

15. Scintillating Science
○ Discovery Middle School
○ Tabletop ice maker for the Science classes
○ Awarded $371.49

16. Photography Club: Explore to Fine Art Photography
○ Penn High School
○ SD memory cards for cameras
○ Awarded $107.88

17. Microscope for all learners
○ Penn High School
○ Digital microscope that can connect to a computer
○ Awarded $479.00

18. “Wonder” Novel Study
○ Bittersweet Elementary
○ Purchase of 30 copies of the novel “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio
○ Awarded $377.70

19. Coding with Beebots for Kindergarten
○ Northpoint Elementary
○ STEM based coding robots for all kindergarten classes to share
○ Awarded $676.00

20. Door M Picnic Table Part Deaux
○ Penn High School
○ Picnic table for outdoor space for teachers’ and students’ use
○ Awarded $750.00

21. Preschool Playground Revamp
○ Penn High School
○ Refurbish and install new equipment and play areas outside of Door K including a sandbox in partnership with Penn Construction for the Penn Preschool
○ Awarded $419.38

22. Discovery Band Tuners
○ Discovery Middle School
○ Devices that clip to music stands helping students tune their instruments
○ Awarded $523.50

Full Funding:

1. Learning by Induction
○ Penn High School – John Gensic, John Fitch, Rachael Meyers, Brian May, Steven Sanders, Toni Boger-May
○ 10-12 grade Sciences & Culinary Arts students
○ Awarded $1,347.74
○ A unique collaboration between STEM and FACs classes at Penn obtaining equipment to modernize space in the culinary classes to include more user-friendly and energy efficient induction cooking materials. Science students will use previously funded thermal cameras and partner with culinary students to help them see a direct connection between science, technology and the application in everyday lives in the kitchen.

2. Drumming Up Creativity
○ Elm Road Elementary – Cynthia Berryman
○ All kindergarten through 5th grade students through Music class
○ Awarded $1,655.84
○ 12 new “tubano” drums that will promote bilateral coordination and facilitate complex rhythms using two hands. Students will become composers and create their own music with partners and will perform within the school community.

3. Schmucker Speech Room Upgrade
○ Schmucker Middle School – Jenna Pacheco
○ All middle school students receiving Speech Therapy
○ Awarded $2,626.00
○ Upgrades in interactive technology through a video smart board that allows for effective and interactive therapy sessions benefiting students with communication difficulties under the guidance of speech therapy.

4. Mary Frank and Northpoint Tech Upgrades Phase 2
○ Mary Frank Elementary & Northpoint Elementary – Jason Poff
○ All K-5th grade students
○ Awarded $5,036.98
○ Expansion of sounds and lighting equipment to enhance Fine Arts performances. These upgrades will help students become more effective communicators through performance experience and more technical lighting and sound engineers.

5. You Can’t Swipe This Screen – Screen Printing Basics
○ Penn High School – Alex Dunfee
○ Digital Design students in grades 9-12
○ Awarded $3,373.58
○ Provides students the opportunity to learn the screen printing process in class (one of the most common ways to print on fabric.) Students will design and make their own ink-based screen printed shirts and have the opportunity to collaborate and produce products with other student organizations within Penn High School.

6. Feeding You Mind One Book at a Time & Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine
○ Horizon Elementary – Sue Robers & Emily Cornett
○ Elsie Rogers Elementary – Hollie Truckowski
○ All K-5th grade students
○ Awarded up to $7,169.00 per vending machine; $14,338 total (schools to negotiate and work together on pricing/vending machine design)
○ Funds to purchase a book vending machine as part of an incentive program allowing students to earn tokens to then use to purchase a book with the help of staff from the vending machine. Students will have the opportunity to keep the book encouraging the promotion of literacy as a reward with increased student engagement. Vending machines will have the PHMEF logo branding and will be displayed prominently within each school (library or school lobby.)

7. Grissom’s Embouchure Project
○ Grissom Middle School – Camille Roper
○ Band students in grades 6-8
○ Awarded $1,757.50
○ Purchase of embouchure (mouth shape) and ear training skill building tools for the band program allowing students to correctly and quickly improve their progress in learning music. Students will build fundamental skills in embouchure development, tone production and audiation skills.

8. Integrating Children’s Books into Physical Education
○ Walt Disney Elementary – Stephen Gouorko
○ All K-5th grade students
○ Awarded $300.50
○ Unique collaboration with classroom teachers and librarians to implement an interdisciplinary learning program that promotes literacy and physical activity in students. Students will use books to research new ways to eat healthy and make better choices while playing games and participating in physical activities based on the books.

9. The Prairie at Prairie Vista
○ Prairie Vista Elementary – Dr. Keely Twibell
○ All K-5th grade students, other PHM schools and the greater PHM Community
○ Awarded $10,250.00
○ In collaboration with community volunteers, the school community and PTO organization, Prairie Vista will restore and utilize the natural prairie area on school property. The grant will create learning opportunities for all PHM students allowing them to engage directly with the natural world. Teachers can bring classes out to the natural environment to create a dynamic learning environment. Students and community members will be encouraged to take an active role in prairie conservation efforts, clean-up activities, seasonal maintenance and seeding initiatives and will be an area that other schools can visit to pursue research projects and advanced study. Restoration efforts include but aren’t limited to Wildlife identification and trail marker signs, observation station stumps, a natural obstacle course, raised garden beds, bird and bat houses, microscopes, binoculars, magnifying glasses and field guides to enhance the learning experiences.

10. Tinker and Thrive – 3D Printing for Focused Students
○ Penn High School and all 11 Elementary Schools – Kyle Marsh
○ K-5th grade students and 9-12 grade Penn students
○ Awarded $4,936.56
○ Purchase and installation of 3D printers in all elementary students with a designated teacher lead. Students who use fidget toys as a tool for focus and accommodation in the classroom, will have the ability to design and create their own fidget toys using 3D printing technology, empowering them with the ability to customize tools that best supports their unique needs for attention and engagement.

11. Write On!
○ Walt Disney Elementary – Katie Carroll
○ All K-5th grade students
○ Awarded $1,884.03
○ Organization and expansion of the student Engagement Lab where students and teachers use props and visuals to illustrate/bring to life student’s written work. It will provide an opportunity for cohesive and engaging writing experience for students as they grow in Math, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. Materials will also be incorporated into school community events like the Math and Literacy Night and Culture Night at Walt Disney Elementary.

Partial Funding

1. Power Hour: Fitness & Focus for a Strong Future
○ Discovery Middle School – Terry Arter, John Hedrick, Kevin McMilen & Autumn Stout
○ All 6th-8th grade students
○ Requested $5,000.00
○ Awarded $1,795.00
○ Funds to purchase new workout equipment to start a workout club before school, enhance exercise during PE and offer opportunities for athletes before and after school. The current equipment is unsafe and damaged. These funds will be used to begin replacement of old equipment. Funds are in collaboration with the Discovery PTO and Dr. Aaron Leniski & Mrs. Elizabeth Cunha’s existing budgets.

2. Foreign Language Academy
○ Horizon Elementary – Ally Schmidt
○ All K-5th grade students
○ Requested $1,049.00
○ Awarded $329.00
○ Purchase of a Spanish Language Curriculum, Calico Spanish, which is designed for kindergarten through fifth grade students. Students will be taught in six 1-hour sessions as a part of an afterschool club. There is the possibility to expand into other languages in the future. Grant is in partnership with Horizon Staff funded through the Horizon PTO and in collaboration with Penn High School Mentors as suggested volunteers for the program.

Students took ILEARN in the Spring. The students’ results are more than just a reflection on how well they know and retained what they learned in a particular subject area. Teachers work very hard to help their students review and retain the knowledge, and when necessary interventionist educators use RtI (Response to Intervention) tools.

The Fall 2024 P-H-M Teacher Impact Awards are given to educators who had the most significant individual student growth with Spring 2024 ILEARN (grades 3-8 and high school Biology), AP Testing at Penn, and highest RtI growth. 

Principal Dr. Sean Galiher and P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker took Mrs. Dawn Boulac off guard when they walked into her classroom when she was in the middle of an AP Statistics lesson. Mrs. Boulac earned an Impact Award by increasing qualifying scores on the AP Statistics Exam in May 2024; an impressive 103 students met that benchmark! In addition, Penn AP Statistics students outperformed their peers at that state and global level in both mean scores and percentage passing. Dr. Galiher also presented Mrs. Boulac with a door magnet that honors her as an Impact Award winner. Click to see the full photo gallery below.

Three other awards were given out on Thursday, December 12:

• Grace Blanchard, 6th grade, ELA/Reading, Discovery Middle School – Highest ELA/Reading growth in 6th grade when measured from mean fall ILEARN to ILEARN Checkpoints Achievement.
• LA (Kriss) High, 8th grade Math, Schmucker Middle School – Highest growth for 8th grade math, as measured from Spring ILEARN to Fall ILEARN Checkpoints. 
• Hollie Truckowski, Reading Specialist, Elsie Rogers Elementary School – Highest growth for all students in reading specialist interventions programming. Mrs. Truckowski’s students made well above average growth in two important measures of early literacy, oral reading fluency and NWF, a standardized measure of decoding ability. Mrs. Truckowski works with students who are academically at-risk in reading, and her work puts these students on an important pathway for growth. 

With the help of the building principals, Dr. Thacker surprised the teachers with the Impact Awards. He was accompanied by other members of P-H-M Administration Dr. Heather Short, Asst. Superintendent; Director of Professional Development Dr. Lavon Dean-Null; and Ryan Towner, Director of Literacy. P-H-M Education Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom was also on hand; PHMEF covered the cost for the beautiful awards which teachers can proudly display in their classrooms.

While all P-H-M teachers make an impact with their students, dedicated to helping them achieve personal academic success, the Impact Award shines the spotlight on educators who have helped their students achieve individual academic growth on their formative assessments over time. The first-ever Impact Awards were handed out in September 2023 and recognized the teachers with the most significant overall student growth during the 2022-2023 school year.

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