Commencement 2024 Parking & Other Patron Information
Commencement is Monday, June 3 at at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. The ceremony begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 for attendees.
For those wishing to watch the livestream, click here.
Students are to enter Gate 10. Doors open at 4:30. Seniors arriving after 5:00 will not be in alphabetical order and may be required to be seated at the end of the line or may even be excluded from Commencement. Click here for more student related information.
Please refer to the map below for parking locations.
Clear bags are preferred, but not required. Notre Dame reserves the right to search purses/bags. Backpacks, totes, and duffel bags are not allowed. Please see ND’s list of prohibited items include (or click here):
- Alcohol
- Animals (Service Dogs are permitted)
- Artificial noisemakers (including whistles)
- Cameras with lenses longer than six (6) inches
- Cans or glass bottles (including aerosols)
- Drones or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
- Fireworks or explosives
- Food or beverage (except unopened plastic water bottles). Food is allowed as a medical necessity with proof.
- GoPro or selfie sticks
- Halloween-style masks
- Laser or pen pointers
- Signs, banners, and balloons
- Stadium chairs or seat backs (unless medical reason with documentation)
- Strollers
- Throwing of any object at any time (including footballs)
- Water vessels of any kind, including water bottles
- Use of tobacco products and e-cigarettes
- Use or possession of marijuana, and other illegal drugs
- Weapons/Firearms. WEAPONS OF ANY KIND ARE PROHIBITED ON CAMPUS
- Any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate
It’s also highly recommended that families make prior arrangements as to where to meet their seniors after the graduation ceremonies have ended. Please do not interrupt the procession as the graduates exit the Joyce Center. The graduates will be released to meet with family and friends after re-entering the field house.
We wish everyone a wonderful Commencement evening!
Pete Riordan News Conference as Penn New Head FB Coach
A few hours after being introduced to his team as the Kingsmen’s new Head Football Coach, Pete Riordan was introduced to the South Bend sports media in his first news conference. News outlets in attendance were WHME-TV, WSBT, WNDU, ABC 57, and the South Bend Tribune. Students from PNN (Penn News Network) and The Pennant were also present and participated. Click here to see the full news conference. Click here to see a full photo gallery below.
Here are some highlights of the news conference. Penn High School Athletic Director Jeff Hart introduced Coach Pete, who made a few short remarks before opening up the discussion with reporter questions.
Also taking reporter questions were retiring Coach Cory Yeoman and Hall of Famer Chris Geesman.
Returning Penn players Vinny Freeman and Kellen Watson also spoke to how excited they are to have Coach Pete take over. In the clip below Freeman talks about the sense of family that Coach Pete invoked at this morning’s team meeting.
Watson is also on the Penn Track & Field Team; as a member of the 4×100 team, Watson was one of the players that broke the school record. Watson was last year’s backup quarterback!
Click here to see the full news conference.
“An Interview To Remember” Penn Student Interviews Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963
In the book “Penn High School Remembered”, which was published by the South Bend Tribune, there is a photo and a story recounting the time that Penn student Dini Cox interviewed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963.
“An Interview To Remember
Lloydine “Dini” Cox. a 1965 Penn High graduate, got the interview of a lifetime when she went to the Town Tower Motel in South Bend to talk to Dr. Martin Luther King on October 18, 1963.
Dini was a reporter for Penn Points, the school newspaper. Bill Gould, a photographer for the school paper, captured this great photo.
The two of them also finagled an interview with John Johnson, the editor of Ebony Magazine, that same year. Dini pretended to be a reporter for The South Bend Tribune and was then allowed to talk to Dr. King. After telling Dr. King that Penn High School had only one black student, he encouraged our community to integrate our schools with a “new” method called desegregation – something we had never heard of at the time.
But within l0-15 years later, the South Bend Community School Corporation began their busing program to bring diversity to all the schools. That was one
of Dr. King’s major points to achieving racial balance for the next generation.
After graduation from PHS, Dini attended Defiance (Ohio) College, where she planned to study journalism, to ultimately become a foreign correspondent. She was told at that time by many professors, that women were not going to be hired to cover war zones, no matter how qualified they were. She then changed her major to Speech & Hearing Therapy and attended Purdue Campus in Fort Wayne, and also IUSB.
Dini returned to the South Bend area in 1978, after having a plant and garden business in Muncie, Ind. She married Thomas Miller from South ,Bend and is now enjoying a bit of an early retirement, with time to enjoy all the important things in life, like her three daughters and three grandchildren. Dini’s eldest daughter, Jessica Miller (Barnhart), was also a writer for the Penn Points newspaper (which changed its name to The Pennant), from 1989-1991.”
“Penn High School Remembered” recounds the history of Penn High School from 1958-2008 in honor of the school’s 50th anniversary.
2023 Penn Showcase set for Monday, Dec. 4
The Showcase will be held from 6–8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4 (“Snow Day” will be Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6–8 p.m.)
This year the IDOE honored Penn High with the Excellence in College Readiness Award for being #1 in the state with the most students earning ICC (Indiana College Core) or AGS (Associate of General Studies) certificates earned! Click here to read more about Penn’s Points of Excellence.
Penn High School’s exceptional learning opportunities and programs will be on display for prospective and current students at the 2023 Penn High School Showcase.
Incoming Freshman click here for additional details.
Sophomore Scheduling information click here.
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 all the college and career readiness opportunities Penn offers through its eight Academies.
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 p.m. to hear a presentation from administrators and 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 p.m. to hear a presentation from administrators and 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.
Penn Administrators and Freshmen Counselors will give presentations about Penn, both what to expect, support structures, and information about four-year planning. Last names A-L will attend the presentation at 6 p.m., while last names M-Z will have this opportunity at 7 p.m. Counselors will also be on hand to answer questions and meet with students and families.
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!”
Incoming Freshman click here for additional details.
Sophomore Scheduling information click here.
Return of the Backyard Brawl
On Friday, August 25th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., the “Backyard Brawl” rivalry between Mishawaka and Penn High School was renewed at Everwise Freed Field at Penn High School. The last time the two teams met up was Oct. 18, 2019.
The rematch lived up to all the pre-game anticipation and excitement, and ended with a Kingsmen victory of 28-7 over the Cavemen. The magic of “Friday Night Lights” & the “Return of the Backyard Brawl” was captured in this video. Take a look …
Pictures from the Community Tailgate can be found in this Facebook album, click here.
Varsity Football vs Mishawaka Game Day Information
On Friday, August 25th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., the “Backyard Brawl” rivalry between Mishawaka and Penn High School will be renewed at Everwise Freed Field at Penn High School.
Click here for everything you need to know before heading to the big game!
2023 Community Tailgate:
- Before the game starts, everyone is invited to the Community Tailgate!
- Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
- Cost $6
- Includes Hot Dog, Brat or Burger, Chips, Cookie & Drink
Ticket Information:
- Presale tickets are $6
- Presale tickets can be purchased online here
- Tickets at the gate are $7
- Tickets may be purchased in the Athletic Office until noon on Friday, August 25th
- Pre K and younger are FREE
- Children in grades 8 and younger MUST be accompanied by an adult
- No Reentry!
Show your support by purchasing a limited edition shirt for the game. Orders can be placed at: gottogettees@gmail.com for $15 each (and picked up at Penn the next day) or shirts can be purchased at the Penn Bookstore.
This is the first meeting since 2019, watch the video below to see some photos from 2017, 2018 and 2019!
#KingsmenNation 2020-2021
2020-2021
Gardening Club
Sponsor: Lee Morris.
The purpose of this club is to bring a community together through gardening.
Seniors for Seniors
Advisor: Jodi Adkins.
The purpose of Seniors for Seniors is to give high school seniors an opportunity to give back to the senior citizens in our community through drives, donations, and letters. We plan on finding places that allow us to donate/give letters and flowers to help brighten senior citizens' lives.
Club dues are $10.