We have an update on of our former Bobcat students … Alex Deranek.

For those of you who were students and families at Bittersweet last year, you may remember that the school community came together in a “Bittersweet Strong” campaign to support outgoing 5^th grader Alex Deranek. In March 2018, Alex was diagnosed with Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease, along with another of serious kidney problems. The result is that his small kidneys barely function, around 20%.

Alex was supposed to undergo a kidney transplant, donated by his father at Riley Children’s Hospital (Indianapolis) over the summer. Unfortunately, that did not happen; the hope is that Alex will eventually receive a transplant. Alex’s illness caused him to miss P-H-M’s official First Day Back to School on Wed., August 21^st. 

But now that Alex is receiving dialysis at home, he was finally able to return to school to be with all of his friends! Today (Thurs., September 5) Alex has officially become a middle schooler attending Schmucker Middle School (click to see the full photo gallery below)! His 6th grade classmates, who attended Bittersweet last year with him, helped welcomed Alex back to school today by wearing their “Bittersweet Strong” t-shirts!

Today was another shining example of how Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is a family! We pull together as a community to support one another!

To download high resolution jpg files from the photo gallery below, just simply click the “DOWNLOAD” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the photo while viewing it in the Photo Gallery function. We are happy to provide this service to you, free of charge!

Sign-up for the Kingsmen Junior Boys Basketball League on Tuesday, September 10^th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., at Penn High School, enter Door D.

All games will be played on Sundays in the Penn Fitness Center, enter Door G.

 Grades 3 & 4 Games Times: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Grades 5 & 6 Games Times: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

*Game times subject to change due to league size

Before each game, all players will learn a Team Concept. The 15 minute Team Concept will be led by Penn Varsity Assistant Coach Julius Smith. Team coaches will consist of approved volunteer parents and members of the community. Each team coach will assist with the team concept lesson before each game. The league will start on September 22nd with the last games being played on November 3rd.

The cost of the league will be $75 for every player, along with the additional cost of the Kingsmen reversible jersey. All players must purchase a Penn Jersey. We will have info to order your sons Jersey at the time of registration.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Assistant Boys Varsity Coach Julius Smith at ?subject=Kingsmen%20Junior%20Boys%20Basketball%20League" data-cke-saved-href="mailto:?subject=Kingsmen%20Junior%20Boys%20Basketball%20League">.

Wednesday, August 22 was the First Day of School for grades 1-12.

As could be expected, there was a lot of excitement and smiling faces as students were welcomed back to class by teachers, principals, administrators and staff. We all love our students and are so happy to have them back. Here’s to another #PHMExcellence school year! Get a snapshot of the First Day of School in P-H-M in the video below. Our Bobcats are about 1:10 into the video …

P-H-M’s annual Community Tailgate to kick off the start of the Penn Football Season will once again be held at the TCU Freed Field, South End Concession Stand Plaza.

The Tailgate is hosted by Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and the Penn Boosters Club for all P-H-M families and patrons to enjoy.

So come out early to the football game, grab a hot dog and catch up with old friends! Then stick around to cheer on the Kingsmen as they take on LaPorte in the season Home Opener!

Friday, August 30
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
TCU Freed Field, South End Concession Stand Plaza

Tickets $4.00 (payable at the event) includes:

• Bratwurst or hot dog

• Potato Chips

• Cookie

• Drink

On Saturday, July 20th the P-H-M DVT and Planetarium (housed right here at Bittersweet) hosted “Imagine & Explore: 50th Anniversary, Apollo 11 Moon Landing.”

It was a truly unique experience for families and people of all ages. Upon arrival, visitors were greeted by telescopes set up so that patrons could view the sun using special filters to ensure eye safety.

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Inside visitors saw the brand new planetarium show “Imagine the Moon” and they also had a chance to view P-H-M Air & Space Museum, which has artifacts on loan from NASA, Johnson Space Center, and the Smithsonian, including artifacts that have been on the Moon!

The cafeteria and gym had hands-on STEM activities for everybody. Everything from liquid nitrogen demonstrations to 3D printing. 

The Digital Video Theater (DVT) & Planetarium is an outstanding educational resource to P-H-M schools and the greater St. Joseph County community, supporting learning across the curriculum and at all grade levels. The facility hosts nearly 50 informative and entertaining public shows each year, with topics ranging from Astronomy to Rock & Roll. These shows are offered at a nominal cost and are also open to members of the general public.

To see the full photo gallery on the District website, please click here.

Sign-up for the Penn Girls Basketball Leagues will be from noon-to-2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25.

The Junior League is for grades 3-6, and the Senior League is for grades 7-8.

Both the Junior League and Senior League start on Sunday, Sept. 8. The Junior League ends on Sunday, Nov. 10, and the Senior League ends on Sunday, Nov. 17.

• Click here for information on the Junior League.
• Click here for information on the Senior League.

Students in grades 3 – 8 participated in the ILEARN assessments earlier this spring. Since ILEARN is a new test, the results with proficiency levels and final scores will not be available for schools until August 15. 

In accordance with Indiana Code 20-32-5.1-12(d), parents and schools have an opportunity to request a rescore for any open-ended item(s) to which students responded on the ILEARN assessment.

Requesting a rescore is optional and is not a requirement for scoring your student’s test.

The P-H-M ILEARN Rescore Request window will be open from Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 26. Parents or guardians who wish to view students’ response images and scoring rubrics must complete P-H-M’s online form to schedule an appointment at the Educational Services Center for the window of dates listed above. Please click here if you wish to make an appointment. The State is not providing a separate online portal this year for parents to access this information.

If you wish to make an appointment, please note during the appointment, the parent or guardian will ONLY be able to view the following: 

• an image of your student’s response to each open-ended item
• a sample of student responses for each score point
• the scoring rubric to help decide whether to request a rescore for that item

Important Information about the rescore process:

• The rescore request, if desired, will be submitted by P-H-M on behalf of the parent or guardian
• Requesting a rescore may result in an increased or decreased score
• A rescore request cannot be reversed
• A rescore request can only be submitted once

Again, requesting a rescore is optional and is not a requirement for scoring your student’s test.

Parents/Guardians who wish to view students’ ILEARN response images and scoring rubrics, must click here to make an appointment for Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 26.

The Bobcat family came together for one of its own at the close of this school year.

Fifth grader Alex Deranek was diagnosed with Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease, Cystic Dysplasia, Grade 3 Hydronephrosis, Hyperphosphatemia, Metabolic Acidosis, Polyuria & Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in March of 2018. With his small kidneys barely functioning at around 20%, Alex is scheduled to undergo a kidney transplant over the summer at Riley Children’s Hospital (Indianapolis). Alex’s father is expected to donate one of his kidneys for the transplant. The surgery will have the Deranek family (Mom, Dad, Alex and younger brother) effectively living in Indianapolis for the summer.

To help the family offset their expenses; Alex’s fifth grade teacher Mrs. Michelle Leniski organized a school fundraiser selling T-shirts in Alex’s honor. The “Bittersweet Strong” shirts were designed by a group of teachers. Elephants are Alex’s favorite animal, AD are Alex’s initials, and the Bobcat paw—of course represents the Bittersweet Family—is in the location of where an elephant kidney would be.

Today (Wed., June 5) on the last day of school, the Deranek family came in for a schoolwide assembly so that the Bittersweet community could send them off with well wishes, love and support (many students, teachers and staff were wearing their “Bittersweet Strong” T-shirts). P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker even stopped by to lend his support to Alex and his family.
Mrs. Leniski also gave Alex a “Sunshine Box” full of “Get Well Soon” gifts that staff donated. The box was filled with things that the Deranek family could do and use while recovering at Riley.

Today was a shining example of how we as a school community can pull together to support one another!

The Food Service Department of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is participating in the Summer Food Service Program for Summer 2019.

FREE MEALS will be available to children 18 years of age and under, or persons more than 18 who are determined by a state or local public education agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who participate in a public or non-profit private school program established for the mentally or physically disabled. 

The program will operate Monday through Friday. All sites will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2018.

Please click here for more information and a complete list of sites and dates.

Kids Club 2019 Summer Program registration opens soon! Click here for more information and registration.

Full-day childcare is offered at two locations (Prairie Vista and Walt Disney Elementary schools) for current P-H-M students in grades K-5. Children will enjoy a variety of educational and recreational activities, crafts and field trips.

Cost is $125 a week, for five days a week. All children not currently enrolled in Kids Club are required to pay a $25 registration fee along with a non-refundable $100 activity fee deposit.

Click to download a copy of the registration form.

Locations:    Prairie Vista Elementary School
                       Walt Disney Elementary School

Dates:          June 6 – August 20, 2019
                       (closed July 4)

Times:          6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Questions: If you have questions about Kids Club Summer Session,
                       please call Binti Shah at (574) 258 – 9514 or
                       Ashley Stoffl at (574) 258 – 9587