During a normal school year, Penn High School students enrolled in Childhood Development classes would be offering two unique programs for preschoolers in our community, Playschool and Toddler Time.

However due to COVID suspending these programs for the time being, Penn Child Development teachers Mrs. Kylee Wetzel and Ms. Rachael Meyers have created lessons that children can do in their own homes. 

The Penn High School Early Childhood Education Classes are offering free eLearning lessons to children in the P-H-M community within the age ranges of 1-10 years old.

Children can participate at home with a caregiver, or during the school day via Google Meet with the Penn student facilitating the lesson.

Please fill out the Enrollment Form by Friday, Jan. 15 in order to participate.

Please contact Kylee Wetzel at kwetzel@phm.k12.in.us for any further information.

The Indiana State Department of Health last updated the COVID-19 School Attendance Quick Reference Guide for parents and schools on December 4, 2020.

PLEASE NOTE: For families who are not able to isolate from everyone else at home, the start date of quarantine is determined by last date of exposure to a positive or untested person; this may be after the ill person completes their 10 days of isolation.

Click the image below to download and print.

This resource is also provided in the District Overview Return to Learn Fall 2020 document, under “Important Links at the end of the document. 

Each month our teachers recognize one student in their class that exemplifies the Lifeline that we are focusing on for that month.  During the month of October,  we focused on the lifeline of Organization. Organization can best be defined as the ability to organize your resources to best accomplish whatever task you are asked to complete. These students, according to their classroom teachers, best exemplify this lifeline. Join us in congratulating these students. 

October Students of the Month-Organization

Kindergarten 

• Schieman –Kori Rogers
• McCambridge–Madison Szerszen 
• VanDuyn–Harrison Smith
• Curry—Izabela Stackowicz 

First Grade

• Ayva VanOverberghe-Hartline
• Greysen McCavitt-Hapke
• Abby Kuelbs-Hollinger
• Mathias Mendoza-Dussel

Second Grade

• Krueger- Mariesa Nicely
• Rice- Connor Post
• Dansky -Mallory Folley
• Roberts-Calder Demitruk
• Moore- Brayden Werner

Third Grade

• Ada Zeidenberg-Parkhill-Pressler
• AJ Balthes-Messer
• Shania Lee-Marks
• Taggart Hurst-Cussen
• Thomas Eubank-Martens/Zache

Fourth Grade

• Emma Farrar-Pond
• Briones – Higgins Haq
• Budd – Lily Wozniak
• Lira – Lena Carlson
• Rehlander – Cruser Forsgren

Fifth Grade

• Ariana Ealdama-Osbeck
• Molly Breden-Nowak
• Liam Fouts-Shenk
• Danika Olesen-Coletti

Each month our teachers recognize one student in their class that exemplifies the Lifeline that we are focusing on for that month.  In September,  we focused on the lifeline of Flexibility. Flexibility can best be defined as the ability to change willingly and go along with those changes without too much disruption. 

These students, according to their teachers, best exemplify this ability. Join us in celebrating their students: 

Kindergarten

• Oliver Wood-Schieman
• Andrew Hoffman-McCambridge
• Maddox Redd-Curry
• Sawyer Leis-VanDuyn

First Grade

• Leana Konstantinidi-Hartline
• Everett McCambridge-Hollinger
• Sophia Werner-Hapke
• Gracelynn Mueller-Dussel

Second Grade

• Barrett Daly-Dansky
• Mason Kuczmanski-Rice
• Amelia Jelinski-Roberts
• Kylie Dilts-Krueger
• Ben Stefaniak-Moore

Third Grade

• Avery Wagner-Cussen
• Elliana Rodriguez-Zache/Martens
• Drago Vaughn-Pressler
• Elizabeth Singleton -Messer
• Hudson Stopczynski-Marks

Fourth Grade

• Landon Uselton-Pond
• Chloe Wright-Budd
• Evan Felix-Rehlander
• Jack Richmond -Lira
• Kyleigh Herring-Briones

Fifth Grade

• Tammie Payne-Shenk
• Marco Mendoza-Coletti
• Macy Maslowski-Nowak
• Taylor Demitruk-Osbeck

Horizon Families,

We have arrived! It feels so good to have the kids back in our building! We look forward to welcoming our 4/5 students back on Monday. In this newsletter, you will find some updates, new information, and upcoming events to mark on your calendars. If you haven’t completed your back-to-school forms, please do so at Skyward under “Forms.” There you will find consent to photograph, emergency card update, etc. These are important and need to be completed by all of our families.

Enjoy your weekend, and we look forward to a Fabulous Fall!

Warmest Regards,

Amy Fadorsen, Principal

Monday, August 31 the P-H-M Board of School Trustees unanimously approved a “Return to Learn” plan to bring students back to the classroom in phases, for those families who want to return to in-person learning, starting in two weeks:

• Mon., Sept. 14, In-Person Learning for Elementary grades, PreK – grade 3
• Mon., Sept. 21, In-Person Learning for Elementary grades 4 & 5 
• Mon., Sept. 21, Hybrid model, a blend of In-Person and Virtual, for Middle and High School students (grades 6-12) 
• Parents at all grade levels will still have the choice to keep their students 100% Virtual if they so choose.

Parents are asked to complete the “Intent to Return Questionnaire” by this Friday, September 11. If you have students at other P-H-M schools, please complete a form for each student at each school. Please reference the emails from those principals shared Wed., Sept. 9 or the school’s website. If you have any questions, please call the school.

Click here to read the Principal’s newsletter that contains the following information:

• Detailed description of the 100% Virtual plan
• “Intent to Return Questionnaire” due Friday, September 11

• Transportation needs & a link to infoFinder to look up your child’s bus stop information if they will be riding the bus

• Before/after school childcare – Kids Club Registration

• “Return to Learn” District Overview for Parents

• Videos highlighting P-H-M’s COVID safety procedures and protocols:

  • Transportation cleaning & safety protocols

  • Cafeteria COVID safety precautions

  • Custodial COVID cleaning protocols 

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

August 4, 2020

Dear P-H-M Families:

Thank you for your suggestions, concerns, and support offered after my July 30, 2020 communication regarding all students starting school in virtual learning. As you may remember, the St. Joseph County Department of Health medical professionals recommend a virtual start for all county school districts. Your correspondence and communication led to an amended recommendation. Please accept my deepest gratitude for your commitment to the students of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation.  

Last night, the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees held a special meeting to discuss and vote on students returning in the fall. The Board approved a plan to begin the school year virtually for the first four weeks of the 2020-2021 school year. P-H-M students will attend school virtually from August 19-September 11. (Please click here to view a recording of the August 3, 2020 meeting and click here for the Virtual Learning Presentation.)

While we want our students to return to in-person instruction as soon as possible, safety is our highest priority for our students, faculty, and staff. We will assess the data daily and the metrics that are provided by the St. Joseph County Department of Health will guide a safe return to in-person learning. We will notify parents no less than 10 business days prior to advancing from virtual learning to in-person learning. Students who have selected the option of virtual learning only will continue in the virtual learning format.

Additional information regarding the virtual learning process, pickup of student materials, schedules, and other pertinent information will be shared by principals soon. Questions regarding the start of the year can be directed to your building principal or by emailing returntolearn@phm.k12.in.us

Thank you for your continued support and partnership!

Stay healthy and safe,

Dr. Jerry Thacker
Superintendent of Schools

The communication below was emailed to staff and parents today:

July 30, 2020

Dear P-H-M Families, 

We have been communicating regularly with medical professionals at the St. Joseph County Department of Health (SJCDH) and receiving guidance regarding the status of coronavirus activity and community transmission in making decisions regarding the safest model for curriculum delivery. The current thresholds for consideration by SJCDH strongly recommend that St. Joseph County Schools open in a virtual learning environment.

They also provided guidance on extracurricular and co-curricular activities. Those programs are being monitored and are under review.

The administration will recommend to the P-H-M Board of School Trustees at a School Board meeting on August 3, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. that all students participate in a virtual learning environment from the first day of school, August 19 through October 22. During the established virtual learning period, we will continue to collaborate with the SJCDH regarding further discussions and recommendations.

Prior to October 22, and the decision to return students to in-person instruction, we will ask parents which option they will be choosing by providing a parent survey. Parents will not be bound by their previous choice.

When we return, we will continue to offer two options: in-person or virtual instruction. 

• On October 27 (or when the SJCDH deems it appropriate) students who are enrolled in the in-person program will return to school.
• On October 27 students who are enrolled in the virtual learning program will continue with virtual learning.

Established metrics, provided by the SJCDH, will determine when it is safe to return to in-person learning. Families will be given a two week notice of any changes to return to in-person learning.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. 

Please stay safe and healthy!

Dr. Jerry Thacker
Superintendent