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 “The Backyard Brawl” against Mishawaka on Friday, August 29th, 2025. Click here for game ticket info.

Gates open at 5:00 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.

Friday night marks the 67th meeting between Penn and Mishawaka. Penn leads the all-time series 49-16-1. 

Penn-Harris-Madison invites students, families, alumni, and community members to celebrate Homecoming 2025 on Friday, September 26, 2025 courtesy of the PHM Education Foundation.

The annual celebration includes the Homecoming Parade on Bittersweet Road in front of Penn High School, showcasing student groups, athletic teams, school clubs, and community organizations, followed by the Penn Kingsmen football game against South Bend Adams at Everwise Freed Field.

This is an event for the ENTIRE community and will have activities for people of all ages. Mark your calendars and plan to join in the fun! More details will be shared closer to the date.

Kindergarten and first-grade students at Prairie Vista Elementary marked a major milestone—the 100th day of school—with a day full of fun and learning! To celebrate, students were invited to dress as “100-year-olds,” complete with canes, glasses, and even gray hair, bringing an extra dose of charm and creativity to the festivities.

Beyond the entertaining costumes, the day was packed with educational activities centered around the number 100. Students practiced counting by tens and participated in hands-on exercises around the theme of “100”.

The celebration was a wonderful way to reflect on their achievements while making learning exciting and memorable.

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Due to the absence of local, state, or national elections on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, all P-H-M schools will be in session on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.  P-H-M will no longer have a Recess Day on this date.

As a result, the last day of school for students will now be Thursday, June 5, 2025. This is one day earlier than previously scheduled. P-H-M Teachers Association worked collaboratively with the District Administration to make these calendar changes.

Indiana law requires schools to be in session for 180 days each year. If necessary, P-H-M can utilize up to three weather-related eLearning days, as permitted under Indiana law (HB-1093). If additional makeup days are needed, they will be added to the end of the school year, following the new last student day, Thursday, June 5, 2025. Currently, no eLearning days have been called.

Prairie Vista Elementary is set to bring nature-based learning to life, thanks to a $10,250.00 grant awarded by the PHM Education Foundation (PHMEF). Jennifer Turnblom, Executive Director of PHMEF, visited the school to present the check to Principal Keely Twibell.

The grant will support a project to restore and utilize the natural prairie area on the school’s property, creating unique learning opportunities for Prairie Vista students and the broader PHM community. In collaboration with community volunteers, the PTO, and school staff, the revitalized prairie will serve as a dynamic outdoor classroom. Teachers will have a space to conduct lessons in a natural environment, engaging students directly with the world around them.

The restoration plan includes the addition of wildlife identification and trail marker signs, observation station stumps, a natural obstacle course, raised garden beds, bird and bat houses, and more. Tools like microscopes, binoculars, magnifying glasses, and field guides will further enhance hands-on learning experiences. The prairie will also host conservation activities such as seasonal clean-up, maintenance, and seeding initiatives.

This project aims to inspire conservation efforts among students and community members while offering an innovative space for research and advanced study. Once complete, the prairie will be a resource for all PHM schools, providing an opportunity for collaborative learning across the district.

Congratulations to Prairie Vista Elementary and Principal Keely Twibell for this exciting initiative, and thank you to PHMEF for supporting the school’s vision for immersive, nature-based education!

Thank you to EVERYONE who came to the 2024 Homecoming Parade and Football game. It was a terrific time not only for the Penn students, but also for the entire community.

The Parade, Expo, Fun Zone, Food Trucks and Fireworks were all bigger and better than ever.

After the game was over, the fans in attendance were treated to a fireworks show set to music!

There are three photo galleries below, one of the parade floats and participants, one of the parade spectators and one of the fun zone and expo. Take a look and we’ll see you in 2025!

Parade Floats

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Parade Spectators

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Fun Zone & Expo

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The “Running is Elementary” program wrapped up its 2024 season with the main race at Elm Road Elementary School yesterday. The event saw enthusiastic participation from 4th and 5th grade students, both boys and girls, who competed in a 1-mile course that tested their endurance and speed.

The annual program, aimed at promoting fitness and healthy lifestyles among elementary school students, brought together participants from various schools in the area. 

Parents and teachers cheered from the sidelines as students dashed toward the finish line, each striving to put forth their best effort. The event not only highlighted the physical capabilities of the students but also emphasized the importance of physical education in the school curriculum.

The “Running is Elementary” program has been a key event in the community’s calendar for the last 15 years, fostering a sense of unity and encouraging children to adopt active lifestyles. Special thanks to the P-H-M Education Foundation for making it possible! 

4th Grade Girls

• Praire Vista 6:24
• Horizon 7:14
• Elm Road 7:15

4th Grade Boys

• Northpoint 6:08
• Meadow’s Edge 6:22
• Northpoint 6:50

5th Grade Girls

• Bittersweet 6:42
• Horizon 6:59
• Meadow’s Edge 7:03

5th Grade Boys

• Prairie Vista 6:07
• Mary Frank 6:11
• Horizon 6:12

We are thrilled to announce that the P-H-M Education Foundation is providing funding for the 15th annual Running is Elementary program!

SAVE THE DATE!  The date is May 6 (Rain Date May 8).

All P-H-M 4th & 5th grade students are invited to participate.  Students will practice at their home schools with the culminating run at Elm Road Elementary School.

More details will follow so be on the lookout for communication regarding signups. 

Take a look at the video below to see how fun and exciting it is!