Penn Showcase for prospective and current students scheduled for Dec. 7-8

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Penn High School, one of Indiana’s premiere centers of learning, will feature its educational opportunities for incoming and current students during the Penn Showcase, being held Monday, Dec. 7 and Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Named a Four-Star School by the state of Indiana, Penn High School is a heralded 90-25-90 school, surpassing the benchmarks of excellence by having a graduation rate of more than 90 percent, having more than 25 percent of students taking Advanced Placement classes, and having more than 90 percent of students passing ISTEP. One of the many reasons why Penn High School Principal Steve Hope was recently named the 2015 Indiana Principal of the Year.

Current P-H-M students and families, along with those who live within P-H-M boundaries but maybe attending other nearby schools, are invited to attend. This is an opportunity for community members, students and families to learn more about all the amazing programs Penn High School has to offer.

All visitors should enter Penn High School at Door C on Dec. 7, and Dec. 8.

Here is a schedule of the nights’ events:

• Welcome and orientation for current eighth-graders will be held in the Center for Performing Arts starting at 6:30 p.m.
• Welcome and diploma track overview for current students is scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. in the Studio Theater.
• Honors/ACP/AP/Dual Credit Class Presentations will be from 7:10 to 7:35 p.m. in LGI-A.
• Early College presentations are scheduled from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Performing Arts.

At the conclusion of the Welcome sessions, students may visit the cafeteria, where teachers representing the Academies and elective classes will be available to answer questions and provide information. Representatives of Penn Exceptional Education Academy will also be available to answer questions.

Elective areas to tour and meet teachers include:

•             Visual Arts
•             Business
•             Family and Consumer Science
•             World Language
•             Performing Arts
•             Health & Wellness
•             Technology  
   

There will also be a Prospective Families Panel in the library where interested parties can hear from Penn parents and teachers.

The Elkhart Area Career Center will also have staffers available to provide information in the Commons area.

Representatives of Penn’s Counseling Center will also be available to provide support in the course selection process.

According to Penn High School Fine Arts Academy leader Glenn Northern, the purpose of the Showcase is two-fold.

“One purpose is to best illustrate for our eighth-grade families exactly what is available for them at Penn High School,” Northern said. “We want to help them understand their options for required courses, elective courses, as well as the large variety of clubs and activities that Penn High School has to offer.”

“We are also offering our current Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors information that will help them to navigate the best course for themselves as they move through Penn High School,” Northern said. “This includes information on elective courses, the Elkhart Area Career Center and our own Achievement Academies.”

With a graduation rate of more than 97 percent, Penn High School offers exceptional opportunities for college and career readiness through its academies – STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Health and Human Services, Management and Business, Fine Arts and Communications, Early College, and Freshman Academy.

Penn stresses the Penn-Harris-Madison Triangle of Success – rigor, relationships, and relevance – while also being dedicated to a technology-rich learning environment. Each Penn student is issued a personal Chromebook.

Persons with follow-up questions or persons who want more information about Penn High School can email Mr. Hope at shope@phm.k12.in.us.