How do you take away younger students’ worries? With a worry monster of course!

Ms. Jenni McCarthy has been reading Rosie Greening’s book “The Very Hungry Worry Monsters” to her kindergarten class. The book is full of fun illustrations featuring friendly monsters that eat worries and make them disappear!

Ms. McCarthy had all her students create their very own unique worry monster out of paper cutouts, and then she secretly worked with Penn Fashion/Textiles Teacher Mrs. Amy Rice to have her Penn students to create stuffed animals out of the kindergarteners’ designs. The result? Each kindergartner got his or her very own personal worry monster!

Ms. Rice brought her high school students over to Bittersweet this afternoon to take part in the elaborate surprise party that Ms. McCarthy planned for her students. 

See for yourself …

Ms. McCarthy also had a parent helping her with all the planning; Mrs. Chrissy Harper also read the story again to the class while the kindergarten and high school students paired up to take group shots in front of an especially designed worry monster backdrop.

It was a very rewarding project for everyone involved! Check out the full photo gallery below …

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 14 & Sunday, March 15 for the FIRST Robotics St. Joseph District Event. Penn High School is once again hosting more than 40 high school FRC robotics teams from Indiana and Michigan who will battle it out for the title. Join more than 5,000 students, coaches, mentors, parents and fans during this one-of-a-kind two-day FREE event!

Saturday, March 14 

10 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Next Gen (K-8): 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sunday, March 15 

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Click to watch the video below to check out all the upcoming excitement, then come out to cheer on Penn Robotics Team 135!

Make sure to also bring your young Robotics fans to “Next Gen,” an area for students ages K-8, who can get hands-on engaging fun with some of Team 135’s other robots. Next Gen will be open Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This event is also FREE ADMISSION!

Bittersweet  Elementary School

Wednesday, February 26th

6:00 p.m.

Schmucker Middle School Principal Lavon Dean-Null invites 5^th grade parents and students to attend an informational session about Schmucker Middle School.

Principal Dean-Null will visit our school to share the many opportunities available to students Schmucker and discuss the transition into middle school. 

If you are not able to make the date Principal Dean-Null will be at your school, families are welcome to attend any of the sessions being held at one of the feeder elementary schools. All events will be held at 6:00 p.m.: 

• Wednesday, February 19: Walt Disney 
• Thursday, February 20: Prairie Vista 
• Tuesday, February 25: Elsie Rogers
• Thursday, February 27: Moran

Monday., April 27 (Rain Date is Wed., April 29)

3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

behind Elm Road Elementary School 

59400 Elm Road, Mishawaka
 

“Running is Elementary” is gearing up for another great year! This is the 12th year for the one mile, non-competitive run which will feature the participation of almost 700 fourth and fifth grade students from all 11 P-H-M elementary schools. This event is FREE to students and takes place on the Penn cross-country course located behind Elm Road Elementary School.

Each school year fourth and fifth graders are encouraged to join the running club at each of P-H-M’s elementary schools. The kids go through this six-week club trained by designated coaches at each school. The end of the six weeks is then celebrated by participating in the Running is Elementary run.

Click to download the RIE forms to sign your student(s) to participate. 

Mary Frank physical education teacher and P-H-M’s 2009 Teacher of the Year Cindy Batalis began this event in 2008. Running has always been a true passion for Batalis and she shares that passion with students by organizing this yearly event.

The event is hosted by the P-H-M Education Foundation and Corporations for Education.

The 100th Day of School for the 2019-2020 School Year was Monday, February 3. Our students always enjoy celebrating the day by dressing up like they’re 100-years-old. Activities centering around the number 100 are also very popular.

Regardless of the exercise, all of our students, in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade, are 100 days wiser! Take a look at the photo gallery below …

Mark your 2020 calendars for P-H-M’s Young Authors’ Conference:

Saturday, March 7, 2020

8:45 – 11:30 a.m.

Schmucker Middle School

P-H-M Elementary students, grades K-5

Registration Fee: $5 per child

Online registration opens Friday, Jan. 24 on phm.revtrak.net. The deadline for registration will be Friday, February 21, 2020.

The Young Authors’ Conference is for P-H-M students in grades K-5. The event, sponsored by Corporations for Education, a division of the P-H-M Education Foundation, provides an opportunity for students and their parents to meet and hear from a well-known children’s authors. Click here to view the photo gallery of last year’s event.

This year students and their parents will meet and hear from well-known children’s author, teacher, and speaker, Lola Schaefer. Mrs. Schaefer has written over 280 books and will share her experiences as a writer and illustrator during her engaging, grade-level presentations.

Participants and parents will also enjoy an interactive music and movement experience with “Mr. Dan, the Music Man.”  As part of the morning activities, students will share their own writing piece in small, adult-led group sessions with students from other P-H-M elementary schools. While students are meeting with their peers, parents will join Penn High School teacher and writing expert, Mary Nicolini, as she explores how writing can be a method for remembering and preserving events using real-life stories, drawings, and photographs.

Elementary student attendees will also work in small adult-led breakout sessions sharing their own writing pieces with other P-H-M students.

REGISTRATION: Online registration will be available at phm.revtrak.net. If you don’t have a P-H-M Revtrak account, you will need to create one. There is a fee for using this service. If you prefer to register via paper, please fill out the front of the blue envelope that will be attached to the hard copy of the flyer that will come home with your student Jan. 24 or after. Fill out the blue envelope completely, insert your payment, and return it to your child’s school. Checks should be made payable to: Young Authors’ Conference. The deadline for registration will be Friday, February 21, 2020!

CONFIRMATION: Participating students will receive additional information prior to the conference through their home school at the beginning of March.

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, please contact Amy Fadorsen at afadorsen@phm.k12.in.us.

Registration for kindergarten students for next year, the 2020-2021 school year, will begin on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

Children who live within the P-H-M district and who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2020 are eligible to register. A parent or guardian must appear in person to register their child. 

Bittersweet is one of Penn-Harris-Madison’s 11 elementary schools, each offering full-day kindergarten.

Use this interactive Google based District Map and the P-H-M Street Guide to verify which elementary school serves your neighborhood. 

Click here for more details about kindergarten registration.

The first day for students (grades 1-12) of the 2020-2021 school year is Wednesday, August 19, 2020 and the last day for students is Wednesday, June 2, 2021.

Other important dates include:

• Thursday, August 20, 2020: First Day of Kindergarten
• September 7, 2020: Recess Day – Labor Day
• October 23 & 26, 2020: Fall Recess Days
• November 3, 2020: Recess Day – General Election
• November 25-27, 2020: Thanksgiving Recess Days
• December 21-Jan. 1, 2021: Winter Break
• January 18, 2021: Recess Day – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• February 15, 2021: Recess Day – Presidents’ Day
• April 2, 2021: Recess Day
• April 5-9, 2021: Spring Break
• May 31, 2021: Recess Day – Memorial Day

Click here for a one-page pdf copy of the 2020-2021 school year calendar.

For the 2019-2020 school year and activity calendar, please click here.

The last day of school for the 2024-2025 school year is Thursday, June 5, 2025. But your child’s education does not have to end, and should not. Research shows students may lose two or more months’ worth of reading achievement, a month or more of spelling learning skills and about 2 months’ worth of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills during their summer break.

That’s why P-H-M offers a wide variety of activities over the summer from District enrichment camps to Penn athletic camps, as well as opportunities for students to improve their academic skills in Summer School. The enrichment academies are offered through P-H-M’s Learning Division and are FREE! We believe that children’s summer break can be fun while also giving students the academic boost they need.

Listed below are some of the activities available to P-H-M students and children in the greater community this summer. Parents are responsible for transportation unless otherwise noted. Not all camps are open to students who do not attend P-H-M schools, so please read the qualifications for each camp carefully. Click here for a listing of non-PHM community organizations that also offer summer camps activities.

Please Note: Camp Availability Subject to Change

Enrichment Academies

• Visual Arts Academy (July 14 – 18, July 21 – 25, or July 28 – Aug 1, 2025)
  In this award-winning one-week academy, current P-H-M Kindergarten – 5th grade students learn art history, art production and writing through a unique integration program. The program is based at Schmucker Middle School and in collaboration with the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art. Families may select the week that is most convenient for all of their children to attend, regardless of their grade. The program is FREE of charge.  Camp is full, Registration is closed – Thank you for registering!
   
• Junior STEM Academy
  In this one-week academy, current P-H-M Kindergarten – 5th graders will discover how math and science are applied in the real world. Each week is reserved for specific grades and will be held at Schmucker Middle School. The program is FREE of charge. Click here to register.
  •  Kindergarten and 1st grade attend the week of July 28 – Aug 1 (Camp is full, Registration is closed)
  • 2nd and 3rd grade attend the week of July 21 – 25 (Camp is full, Registration is closed)
  • 4th and 5th grade attend the week of July 14 – 18 
     
• Junior Foreign Language Academy (July 14 – 18) (Camp is full, Registration is closed)
  This academy integrates the Spanish language, social studies, culture, visual arts and music into an intensive and enriching learning experience.  The one-week camp is held at Schmucker Middle School and is open to current P-H-M 3rd, 4th or 5th grade students. The program is FREE of charge. Click here to register.
   
• Learn a Foreign Language Academy (June 16 – 27)
  This two-week academy is open to current P-H-M 6th and 7th graders.  The course will be taught by Penn High School Language teachers who will teach the students how to read, write, and speak in German. The program is FREE of charge. Click here to register.

Penn Summer Camps 

• Kingsmen Athletic Camps: Penn coaches and members of the P-H-M faculty offer a wide variety of sports camps from cheerleading to wrestling. The camps are open to current students in grades K-8 (most are open to all children in the community). There is a cost for these camps. Click here to see the full listing on Penn’s website. 
    
• Penn Robotics Summer Camp: June 10-13, 2025 & June 16-20: Cost varies per session
  There are two sessions. The Sessions and times are broken down by grade levels. Depending on their age and experience level. Students will get to work with Legos, 3D modeling, coding, along with getting hands-on experience with fabrication, prototyping and building an actual robot with VEX IQ! All camps are facilitated by Penn Robotics instructors and Penn’s Robotics Teams 135 & 328. There is a cost for these camps. Click here to do online registration through the Penn Robotics website.
   
• PNN Media Summer Camp (June 16 – 19) $50 per camper, cost includes T-Shirt and Reporters Notebook:
  Campers will learn how to gather news and create a live broadcast. A focus will be given on learning how to write, shoot, edit and produce news stories. We will focus on learning how to tell impactful stories.
  • Click here to register.
    
  • Click here for complete camp information
     
• Penn Speech & Debate Camp (June 23 – 28) $50 per camper, cost includes T-Shirt
  For students who are in current grades 5-8. Students will learn public speaking etiquette, how to define key terms in the resolution, basic format for debate, effective strategies for creating an argument and pointing out flawed logic. Debaters argue either for or against the resolution and must be prepared to speak on both sides. Students will learn strategies for effective cross-examination and questioning. The camp concludes on June 28th with Tournament Day! 
  • Click here to register.
  • Click here for complete camp information
    

Opportunities through P-H-M Community Education – Click for Full Brochure

Community Education classes are open to any student in the community; the child does not need to be a P-H-M student or live within the District to be eligible.

Learn to Swim Classes: (Penn High School, Session I: June 16-27, 2025; Session II: July 7-18, 2025; Session III: July 21-August 1, 2025)
All three sessions are 10 classes at the Penn High School pool.  Classes are 30 minutes each and take place both in the morning and afternoon with 8 different class times to pick from. Children must be at least 4-years-old and potty trained. The cost is $50 per child, per two-week session. Click for more details.

Camp Invention (Northpoint Elementary School – June 23-27, 2025)
A one-week  STEM enrichment program for students entering Grades K – 6 who want to put their hands and minds to building solutions. Camp will be held Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. It will be based at Northpoint Elementary School. The cost is about $280 depending on when you register. Click here to register and pay online through the Camp Invention website.

Super Kids Camp (June 23-27, 2025: Horizon; July 14-18, 2025: Northpoint; July 21-25, 2025 Bittersweet)
Students entering Grades 1- 6 will experience an engaging rotation of science, music, art and fitness activities in this half-day camp. Camp hours are 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at three locations. The cost is $50 per child per camp. Click for more details.

Youth Theater Camp at Elsie Rogers Elementary(Session I: June 16-20, 2025; Session II: July 21-25, 2025)
A one-week creative and expressive experience for students entering Grades 5 – 8. Pick one of these weeks for your child to attend. The half-day camp is offered 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The cost is $90 and includes a t-shirt. Click for more details.

Summer Kids Club (June 9th – August 15th)

Full-day childcare will be offered for  current P-H-M students in grades K-5. Children will enjoy a variety of educational and recreational activities, crafts and field trips. Click for more details and online registration.

Summer School Information 

P-H-M will conduct two Summer School sessions prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Current P-H-M students who need the academic boost from summer instruction will receive invitations to attend. Penn High School students are able to take high school classes for credit in either summer session. Some students will work online to complete coursework and make up credits.

For elementary, middle and high school students, Summer School will be offered. Times vary depending on the program, please refer to the programs below.  

ELEMENTARY Summer School (Grades K-4, June 12 – July 2)

• Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Meadow’s Edge and Moran Elementary School, breakfast & lunch provided, P-H-M Transportation available to students that live within PHM boundaries

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER SCHOOL (Grades 5 – 7, June 12– July 2)

• Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Schmucker Middle School, snack provided, P-H-M Transportation available to students that live within PHM boundaries

YOUNG ADULT & LIFE SKILLS (Grades 6 – 12, June 12– July 2)

• Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Schmucker Middle School, snack provided, P-H-M Transportation available to students that live within PHM boundaries

PENN HIGH SUMMER SCHOOL, Session 1 (June 12 – July 2)
PENN HIGH SUMMER SCHOOL, Session 2 (July 14 – August 1)

• Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Schmucker Middle School, P-H-M Transportation available to students that live within PHM boundaries

P-H-M students entering grades 9-12 must register with their school counselor to take high school summer school classes. Click here for more information on Penn’s website.