Community Tailgate, Friday August 21, 2026

P-H-M’s Annual Community Tailgate is a long-standing tradition that brings families, students, staff, and community members together to show their Penn pride. The event is held before the Penn Football home opener and is a chance for everyone across the district to connect, celebrate, and support the Kingsmen.

This year’s home opener will be against Valparaiso. Click here for game ticket info.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. Once inside the stadium head down to the white tents in the south end zone at the Yeoman Family Plaza to buy your $6.00 Meal Ticket.

An advertisement for a tailgate event at a high school football game on Friday, August 21st from 6:00 to 9:30pm

Do you have an incoming kindergartner or a Penn senior? 

P-H-M Education Foundation is hosting a special “Kindergarten Kickoff” before this year’s football game!

The Class of 2027 will welcome the future Class of 2039 into the P-H-M family by meeting kindergartners on the 50-yard line of the Kingsmen football field and presenting them with black and gold pom-poms.

Click here for more details and to sign your student up to participate.

Kicking off the Inaugural “Kindergarten Kickoff”

This school year Penn High School will launch a new tradition celebrating the connection between Penn’s incoming Senior Class of 2027 and the Kindergarten Class of 2039.

At Penn’s first home football game on Friday, August 21 after the Community Tailgate (click here for more details on this event) and before the Penn-Valpo game, incoming kindergartners will be welcomed to the P-H-M family during our inaugural Kindergarten Kickoff celebration.

As part of this special event, Penn seniors will meet the kindergartners at the 50-yard line and pass them black and gold pom-poms, symbolizing the beginning of their journey as future Kingsmen and Lady Kingsmen.

This simple but meaningful moment represents the tradition, pride, and community that make Penn High School and P-H-M special. 

Info for Kindergarten Families

Interested in signing your kindergarten student up to participate. Click here to fill out this form to register.
 
 

Three young girls holding pom poms, standing on a street next to a car and a truck.Event Details:

  • 5:30-7:00 p.m., come to the Community Tailgate. You can feed each member of your family for just $6.00! Click here for those event details.
  • Check in for Kindergarten Kickoff at the PHM Education Foundation Table by 6:00 p.m.
  • Pick up your child’s t-shirt (if purchased)
  • Enjoy the festivities and connect with other P-H-M families
  • One adult should stay with their child until they walk onto the field and will remain in the end zone to meet them afterwards
  • Get your cell phones ready to take pictures of your student participating in the Kindergarten Kickoff!

Stay for the game:

After the Community Tailgate and the Kindergarten Kickoff event, families are encouraged to stay and cheer on the Kingsmen as they take on Valparaiso in their home opener.

Kindergarten and younger siblings are FREE and do NOT need a ticket!

Purchase older student and adult tickets online by clicking here.

Info for Penn Seniors Class of 2027

Penn High School student section at football gameIf you would like to participate, please click here to sign up.

Space may be limited, so we encourage you to register early.

5th Graders Attend Annual Camp Eberhart Outdoor Education Trip

Fifth grade students spent Monday and Tuesday, May 11-12, at Camp Eberhart for their annual outdoor education trip.

Four children in helmets posing for a picture at an outdoor activity center.

During the two-day experience, students participated in a variety of activities including rock wall climbing, archery, canoeing, rope swing courses, and more. The trip gave students opportunities to challenge themselves, work together, and build confidence through hands-on activities and outdoor adventures.

Two people posing for a picture on a grassy field, one holding a bow and arrow.

Camp Eberhart, a YMCA camp, offers students experiences focused on teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving in an outdoor setting.

The annual trip is a memorable tradition for fifth graders and provides students with the chance to connect with classmates while learning outside the classroom.

Three people in a wooded area, one person holding a snake wrapped around a stick.
People sitting on a bench in a forested area wearing helmets and holding helmets. A man standing behind them is smiling and
Two children climbing a rock wall at camp.
Person in red helmet climbing rock wall at camp.
Two girls standing at a buffet table in a cafeteria, preparing food.
Man holding a stuffed animal over his head while jumping on a wooden platform.
Girl in grey hoodie smiling at camera.
Girl on a rope swing in a park.
A man and a girl are holding bows in an outdoor setting.
Person climbing a rock wall at an outdoor facility.
Child climbing a rock wall at camp.
Boy in red shirt climbing rock wall at camp.
Children running in a field during a game.
This is a person wearing a helmet and holding a rope while standing in an outdoor area.
Person in red jacket swinging on a rope.
Woman in blue jacket teaching young boy how to tie a rope into a knot.
Two people aiming bows at a target in an outdoor setting.
People climbing a rock wall at a camp.
A young boy wearing a red helmet stands in front of a group of people at camp eberhart.
Young boy in red helmet posing for picture at camp.
Young boy in red shirt holding a bow and arrow, preparing to shoot.
Girl swinging on a rope in a park.
Boy jumping in the air on a trampoline at camp.
A young boy in a wheelchair eating food at a table.

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2026 Running is Elementary Video & Photo Gallery

Race day for the annual Running is Elementary, sponsored by P-H-M’s Education Foundation, was a little windy, but gorgeous: just enough sunshine, just enough warmth, and the raindrops held off until all the races were over.

This year was one of the biggest yet with 700+ students from all 11 P-H-M elementary schools.

The one mile run is held at Penn’s Cross-country course, which is located behind Elm Road Elementary School. 

Fourth and fifth graders are encouraged to sign up for the free running club. Designated coaches at each school then train with the runners for the 6-week club culminating in the one mile race. More than 700 students participated this year!

Two 4th grade boys boys pose for pictures after their race

This picture of two 4th grade runners exemplifies what RIE is all about. 

These two boys were running neck and neck all the way to the finish line vying for first place.

After the race, the Disney boy (dark navy t-shirt) went out of his way to find the Moran runner (pink shirt) so they could take a picture together.

The students being from two different schools had never met before, but in that moment, it didn’t matter.

Running is Elementary not only teaches students about fitness and wellness, it also teaches them sportsmanship, connection and the importance of supporting and celebrating each other!

CONGRATULATIONS to all the students who participated! Click to see the list below of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners only for the four races. The list shows finish times listed by bib number and school. Parents should contact their school coach for their child’s specific time.

What makes this event so special is that students are cheered on by their fellow students, families, teachers, running coaches, principals, PHM School Board members and administrators, principals, and other PHM staff members. A photo gallery sample is below, but click here to visit the full photo gallery in the Education Foundation’s Canto photo portal.

Below are the times for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners:

Race Results:

5th Grade Girls Winners

  1. 06:49.07, Bib # 244, Northpoint
  2. 06:50.53, Bib # 235, Northpoint
  3. 07:05.08, Bib # 187, Mary Frank

School Team Rankings:

  1. Horizon
  2. Mary Frank
  3. Northpoint

5th Grade Boys Winners

  1. 06:14.75, Bib # 597, Northpoint
  2. 06:16.06, Bib # 650, Madison
  3. 06:29.29, Bib # 590, Northpoint

School Team Rankings:

  1. Northpoint
  2. Horizon
  3. Elm Road

4th Grade Girls Winners

  1. 07:06.27, Bib # 62, Horizon
  2. 07:30.09, Bib # 31, Elm Road
  3. 07:31.47, Bib # 75, Mary Frank

School Team Rankings:

  1. Prairie Vista
  2. Northpoint
  3. Bittersweet

4th Grade Boys Winners:

  1. 06:34.34, Bib # 438, Walt Disney
  2. 06:34.73, Bib # 392, Moran
  3. 06:48.85, Bib # 402, Northpoint

School Team Rankings:

  1. Northpoint
  2. Bittersweet
  3. Elm Road

Here’s a breakdown of the shirt colors:

Bittersweet Yellow
Elm Road  Kelly Green
Elsie Rogers Teal
Horizon Orange
Madison Purple
Mary Frank Lime Green
Meadow’s Edge Turquoise
Moran Hot Pink
Northpoint Royal Blue
Prairie Vista Red
Walt Disney Navy Blue

Thank you to Cindy Batalis (physical education teacher at Mary Frank Elementary School) whose own love for running and her desire to pass that love on is the passion and brain child behind Running is Elementary. Thank you to all the PHM teachers, running coaches, school staff, and Penn Cross Country student-athletes who help out every year, along with P-H-M Education Foudation Board members and volunteers.

Thank you PHMEF and all their amazing sponsors that make this event possible for our students:

  • Martin’s donated the post race snacks
  • Royal Excursion donated transportation to auxiliary parking lots
  • Benchmark Family Services helped PHMEF offset costs
  • Culver’s provided gift baskets for a prize drawing
  • Kona Ice and Tom’s Coffee did givebacks 
  • Attorney Katy Wrona was also a sponsor
Post race snack table

Running is Elementary: Tom's Coffee truck Running is Elementary: Kona Ice truck

 

Running is Elementary Parent Information

2026 Running is Elementary will be held Monday, May 4 (Rain Date Wednesday, May 6) at Elm Road Elementary School, 59400 Elm Rd, Mishawaka.

Timeline of Events:

  • 2:50 p.m. – Introductions
  • 3:00 p.m. – 5th gr. Girls Race
  • 3:20 p.m. – 5th gr. Boys Race
  • 3:40 p.m. – 4th gr. Girls Race
  • 4:00 p.m. – 4th gr. Boys Race

Parking Information:

  • Elm Road will be filled first before using Grissom Middle School, 13881 Kern Rd., Mishawaka
  • Family/Spectator parking at the bottom of Elm Road School as space allows. This area will be primarily be for principals, coaches, and volunteers

ALL Runners need to be picked up no later than 4:30 at Elm Road. Runners may leave following completion of their grade’s run by checking out with the coach. 

RAIN DATE: Principals will be notified by Noon on Monday and information will be posted on elementary schools’ website along with P-H-M & Education Foundation website PHMEF.org 

Teacher Job Fair on March 26

We’re Accepting Applications for the
2026-27 School Year

Teacher Job Fair

Thursday, March 26, 2026

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Penn High School Fieldhouse
12641 McKinley Highway, Mishawaka

Teachers Click Here

Click to learn more about P-H-M and why you should join our family.

 

Non-resident Application Window Opens March 2, 2026

Penn-Harris-Madison is pleased to be able to offer enrollment to non-resident students on a limited basis for the 2026-27 school year.

Families living in neighboring school districts interested in having their elementary children attend a P-H-M elementary school can apply for that opportunity.

calendar iconThe window to apply for available non-resident seats will open Monday, March 2, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. and close on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. 

On March 2 at 8:30 a.m., P-H-M will post the schools, grades and number of seats available for the upcoming school year. Families must complete an online application between March 2 – 20.

The NRS application will be posted on www.phmschools.org/non-resident-student-enrollment/ on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.

There is no first-come, first-served advantage. 

 

 

Penn hosts Robotics Tournament March 7-8

📍 Penn High School | 🗓 March 7–8, 2026
🎟 Admission: Free

Penn High School will host a FIRST Indiana Robotics District Competition on Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8, 2026. The competition will take place in the Main Arena and feature more than 40 teams from across Indiana.

Click here to see a photo gallery of last year’s competition.

📅 Event Schedule

Saturday, March 7

  • 10:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

  • All Day – Qualification Matches

  • @7:00 p.m. – Competition concludes

Sunday, March 8

  • 9:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

  • 2:00–5:00 p.m. – Playoff Matches & Awards

🤖 About the Competition

  • Theme: FIRST AGE (Archaeology)

  • Game: REBUILT

  • This event serves as a qualifier for the FIRST Indiana Robotics Championship
    (April 17–19 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds)

  • Top teams may advance to the FIRST Robotics World Championships

👉 Click here for more information on the REBUILT game

🚗 Parking & Entry

  • Parking: Penn High School parking lots: Main, Softball, Soccer; and across the street at Schmucker Middle School

  • Spectator Entrance: Door D (northwest corner of the school)

🍔 Food & Amenities

  • Food trucks available both days

  • Spectator-friendly event for all ages

Come cheer on Indiana’s best student engineers and experience innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving in action!

Kindergarten & Preschool Registration for 2026-27 Opens Jan. 20th

This registration opportunity is for families who

  1. Live within the P-H-M district AND
  2. Have students who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2026.

Registration will take place at the schools during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in most cases. The offices at Elsie Rogers Elementary School and Moran Elementary School will take registrations from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A parent or guardian must appear in person to register their child. 

Click here for more registration forms and more details on P-H-M Kindergarten Registration.

Penn-Harris-Madison also operates two preschool programs: Early Learning Academy (ELA) and Penn PALS. 

ELA registration for the 2026-27 school year also opens Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. Click here to learn more about ELA.

Penn PALS registration for the 2026-27 school year has not opened yet.

If you are a not a P-H-M resident and you are interested in enrolling your kindergartner, please click here for more information on our non-resident lottery.

 

2nd Graders Team Up With Penn High School for Gingerbread Activities

Second graders from Bittersweet Elementary got into the holiday spirit through hands-on gingerbread fun.

Classes visited Penn on two different days, where high school students welcomed them into the kitchen and nearby classrooms for a variety of gingerbread-themed activities. Penn students helped guide the 2nd graders as they rolled out dough, used cookie cutters, and prepared the pieces that would later become gingerbread houses. The groups also worked on seasonal crafts together and enjoyed gingerbread read-alouds.

Today, the baked pieces made their way back to Bittersweet so the students could build and decorate their houses. Families joined the celebration, helping add frosting, candies, and plenty of personal touches to each creation.

Bittersweet’s second graders have been decorating gingerbread houses for nearly three decades, and partnering with Penn adds another meaningful layer to the tradition. The collaboration gives younger students the chance to try new skills while connecting with positive role models from the high school.

It was a joyful week for everyone involved and a great way to celebrate the season together.

Woman and young girl posing together in a classroom setting.
Two people at a table, one building gingerbread houses while the other watches.
Boy in green hoodie posing for picture in classroom.
Two young girls in a kitchen, one holding a rolling pin, both smiling at the camera.
Woman and child standing near table in classroom setting.
Woman in a grey hoodie sitting at a table with a young boy on her lap. They are both smiling and looking towards the camera.
Man wearing camouflage shirt posing with young boy in a classroom setting.
A man and a young girl are decorating gingerbread houses together.
Young boy sitting at a table in a classroom, writing on a whiteboard with a blue marker, surrounded by other children who
Two people posing in front of a classroom desk.
Three people sitting on the floor playing a board game.
Girl holding up a book in front of her face.
Woman in striped shirt posing with young boy holding a gingerbread man at a table.
Woman and two children in a kitchen, making gingerbread cookies.
Man and child in a classroom setting, smiling at the camera.
Two people, a man and a child, sitting at a table covered in candy.
Two young girls in a kitchen, making gingerbread cookies.
Girl in red hoodie standing in front of desk.
Young girl in kitchen, holding dough, making gingerbread.
Little girl in red shirt rolling out dough on countertop.
Woman and child making gingerbread houses at a table.
Two people standing at a table decorated for Christmas, with gingerbread houses in front of them.
An elderly woman is sitting at a table, surrounded by children who are participating in a gingerbread house decorating
Woman and child at a table with gingerbread house in front of them.

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