Our first Kindergarten Kickoff, held on Friday, August 21, 2026, had a terrific turnout and tremendous community response.

The event was so touching it even garnered the attention of national network news!

A brief feature about our inaugural event was featured on NBC Nightly News on Saturday, September 5 at the end of the newscast as part of “There’s Good News Tonight” segment. Our portion was one of three stories highlighted as good news from across the country.

Click the link below watch our story …

Meadow’s Edge Elementary remains focused on strengthening literacy skills and helping every student become a confident and capable reader following the release of the 2026 IREAD results.

In 2026, 86% of Meadow’s Edge students passed IREAD, compared with Indiana’s statewide passing rate of 88.7%. The school’s 2025 passing rate was 89%.

The results provide Meadow’s Edge educators with important student data that will help guide instruction, identify areas for growth, and provide targeted support to students.

Across Penn-Harris-Madison, 94.7% of students passed IREAD in 2026, 6 percentage points higher than the statewide passing rate of 88.7%.

“We are proud of these results, but our work does not stop here,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “We will continue to use student data to identify opportunities for growth, strengthen instruction, and make sure every child has the opportunity to become a confident and capable reader.”

P-H-M continues to prioritize research-based literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading, providing educators with professional learning, instructional resources, and opportunities to collaborate around student data and effective instructional practices.

An important part of that work begins before third grade. All P-H-M second grade students participate in IREAD, giving educators and families an early indicator of whether a student is on track to read proficiently by the end of third grade. In 2026, an impressive 72.1% of P-H-M second graders passed IREAD a year early.

At Meadow’s Edge and across P-H-M, educators will continue using student data to strengthen instruction, provide individualized support, and build the foundational literacy skills students need for future academic success.

By the Numbers

• 86% — Meadow’s Edge 2026 IREAD pass rate
• 88.7% — Indiana statewide pass rate
• 94.7% — P-H-M corporation-wide pass rate
• 6 percentage points — P-H-M performance above the state average
• 72.1% — P-H-M second graders passing IREAD

Before the Penn football team kicked off their football season under the Friday Night Lights, another type of kickoff happened under the lights that brought both tears and cheers! Click here to see a full photo gallery.

On Friday, August 21, 2026 we held our first-ever Kindergarten Kickoff. It was a sight to behold and warmed our hearts–approximately 175 kindergartners and 100 seniors walking towards each other on the football field meeting at the 50 yard line. The goal was for the Class of 2027 students to welcome into the P-H-M Family the Class of 2039 students giving them gold and black pom-poms. To say the Future Kingsmen were excited was an understatement; and the seniors were pretty pumped to welcome them into the P-H-M Family. 

Click to watch the video below …

This new tradition will be added moving forward as part of the festivities of Penn High School’s Home Opener boy’s tackle football game and the Community Tailgate, which has been a longstanding tradition.

MISHAWAKA, IN —With the Indiana Department of Education’s release Tuesday, August 11 of 2026 IREAD-3 results, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Heather Short is proud to share that 94.7% of P-H-M students passed IREAD.

P-H-M’s corporation-wide pass rate increased over last school year (2025-2026) and is 6 percentage points higher than this year’s statewide overall passing rate of 88.7%.

Five P-H-M elementary schools achieved an outstanding 95% or higher passing rate, including one Title I school.

• Prairie Vista Elementary: 98.8% pass rate
• Horizon Elementary: 97.7% pass rate
• Northpoint Elementary: 96.9% pass rate
• Elsie Rogers Elementary: 96.4% pass rate (Title I school)
• Bittersweet Elementary: 95.9% pass rate

Statewide, results show that 88.7% of Indiana’s third grade students demonstrated proficient reading skills on the IREAD assessment. This is an improvement of nearly 1.5 percentage points over results for the 2024-2025 school year, the second-largest single-year increase since the assessment began (click here for more information on state results in today’s IDOE news release).

Five other P-H-M elementary schools had pass rates above the State average, with four of those scoring 90% or higher, including three of P-H-M’s Title I schools: 

• Moran Elementary: 94.8% pass rate (Title I school)
• Walt Disney: 94.4% pass rate (Title I school)
• Elm Road Elementary: 93.1% pass rate (Title I school)
• Madison Elementary: 90.5% pass rate
• Mary Frank: 88.9% pass rate

“These results are a reflection of the incredible dedication of our teachers, the hard work of our students, and the partnership of our families,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “I am especially proud of the growth we are seeing across our schools, including our Title I schools that have achieved a 90% or higher passing rate. These accomplishments demonstrate what is possible when we maintain high expectations and provide students with the support they need.”

P-H-M continues to prioritize research-based literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading, providing educators with professional learning, instructional resources, and opportunities to collaborate around student data and effective instructional practices.

The 2026 IREAD-3 results reflect the district’s ongoing commitment to building on a culture of academic excellence and ensuring every student develops the foundational literacy skills necessary for continued academic growth.

“We are proud of these results, but our work does not stop here,” Dr. Short added. “We will continue to use student data to identify opportunities for growth, strengthen instruction, and make sure every child has the opportunity to become a confident and capable reader.”

By the Numbers

• 94.7% — P-H-M corporation-wide IREAD-3 passing rate
• 6 percentage points — P-H-M performance above the state passing rate
• 5 schools — Achieved a 95% or higher passing rate
• 1 Title I school — Achieved a 95% or higher passing rate
• 3 schools — Increased their passing rates by 6–8 percentage points compared to 2025
• Year-over-year growth — P-H-M’s overall passing percentage has continued to increase since 2024

All second grade students participate in the IREAD assessment – a tactic that has already proven successful at providing educators and families an early indicator of whether a student is on-track to read by the end of third grade. 

P-H-M’s second grade results were an impressive 72.1% of students passing in 2026.

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

Click here to register your kindergartner to participate.

Show your Penn Pride by ordering your student an official Future Kingsmen t-shirt by clicking this link.

Event Details:

• Gates open at 5:30 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. 
• Kindergarten and younger siblings are FREE and do NOT need a ticket!
  Purchase older student and adult tickets online for $7.00 ($8.00 at the gate) by clicking here.
  
• Community Tailgate is 5:30-7:00 p.m. You can feed each member of your family for just $6.00! 
• 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.

Info for Penn Seniors Class of 2027

Seniors, click here to sign up.

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

• Gates open at 5:30 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. 
• Make sure you purchase your football ticket online for $7.00 ($8.00 at the gate).
• Community Tailgate is 5:30-7:00 p.m. Hang out with your friends & eat for just $6.00! 
• Check in for Kindergarten Kickoff at the PHM Education Foundation Table by 6:00 p.m.
• Enjoy the festivities with your friends
• Have your friends ready to take pictures of you participating in the first-ever Kindergarten Kickoff!

Penn High School Boys Basketball is offering Futures Leagues for Boys in Grades 1-through-8.

There are four leagues – Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, Grades 5-6, Grades 7-8.

Times/complete information are in the PDFs below.

The Leagues are on Sundays from Sept. 20-Oct. 18.

Register for Grades 1-2 League

Register for Grades 3-4 League

Register for Grades 5-6 League

Register for Grades 7-8 League

Boys Basketball 2026 Fall 1st-4th Basketball League

Boys Basketball 2026 5th-8th Fall League Info

We’re proud to share that fourth grade Meadow’s Elementary teacher Josie Engdahl was just named among the Top 25 candidates for 2027 Indiana Teacher of the Year. The Indiana Department of Education shared the news on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Superintendent Dr. Heather Short along with Meadow’s Edge Principal Lindsay Helman-Cass and Assistant to the Principal Emily Breeden surprised Miss Engdahl with the good news this morning while she was coaching during Penn High School’s volleyball practice. Engdahl is a Kingsmen Girls Volleyball Assistant Coach and Head JV Volleyball coach. Assistant Athletic Director Bridget Williams and Head Varsity Coach Kaitlyn Hickey Ross had all the volleyball players ready for the surprise.

Miss Engdahl was chosen as Penn-Harris-Madison’s 2026 Elementary Teacher of the Year back in May. Winners of P-H-M’s 2026 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year go on to apply for Indiana’s 2027 Teacher of the Year selection process.

Now in her sixth year of teaching, including three years at P-H-M, Miss Engdahl is an educator whose instruction prioritizes student engagement through both rigor and creativity. Her classroom reflects a belief that students learn best when they see purpose in their work and have opportunities to actively construct understanding. 

Engdahl is a proud P-H-M graduate, having attended Prairie Vista Elementary School, Schmucker Middle School, and Penn High School, where she was a member of the Class of 2016.

After earning her degree from Ball State University, Engdahl began her teaching career at Anderson Intermediate School in Anderson, Indiana, where she taught from 2020 to 2023 before returning to P-H-M.

Click here to learn more about Miss Engdahl.

Meadow’s Edge Families were notified this afternoon that Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation will be implementing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for meals served on the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2026-2027 school year at Meadow’s Edge Elementary School.  

All students enrolled at Meadow’s Edge Elementary are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at NO CHARGE each school day of the 2026-2027 school year. No further action is required by families. Students will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application. Please note that CEP approval is strictly determined by federal eligibility thresholds and Meadow’s Edge meets the eligibility threshold for the 2026–2027 school year based on the percentage of direct certified students.

Families with questions can contact the Food Service Department at 574-254-2814 or email Mindy Jaroch at mjaroch@phm.k12.in.us.

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