Saturday, March 7, 2026   

9:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. 

Penn High School

for P-H-M students K – 5th grade

FREE! There is no cost for this event, but registration is required and limited.

REGISTRATION: Opens January 16 – deadline is Friday, February 13, bit.ly/BooksandBots2026

Sponsored by the P-H-M Education Foundation, Young Authors’ Conference is an opportunity for P-H-M students in Kindergarten – 5th grade to meet and hear from well-known children’s author and speaker Jill Esbaum, participate in a variety of robotic explorations and engage in a dinosaur exploration activity.

Jill Esbaum is the award-winning author of more than 65 children’s books, both fiction and nonfiction. A few recent titles include It’s Corn Picking Time!, Polecat Has a Superpower, and Bird Girl – How Gene Stratton Porter Shares Her Love of Nature with the World. Back in 2012 National Geographic Kids asked Jill to write a book featuring the Angry Birds and dinosaurs titled Angry Birds Playground: Dinosaurs, which gave her Dino Fever. Her dinosaur books since then include If a T. Rex Crashes Your Birthday Party, How to Grow a Dinosaur, and a three-book graphic early reader series, Thunder & Cluck. Jill lives on a family farm near Davenport. 

As part of the morning activities, students will participate in three rotations: one session with author Jill Esbaum, one dinosaur exploration session, and one session where students will enjoy the hands-on exploration of technology with Sphero Bots, Dot and Dosh, Bee Bots, Ozobots and more! Our amazing P-H-M teachers and volunteers will guide students and their parents through the interactive session guiding them on how develop a character and create their own puppet.

At least one parent or guardian must accompany the student(s)!  If more than one child is registering for Books and Bots, the family will stay together so only one adult is needed.  Siblings YOUNGER than kindergarten may not accompany adults. This experience is for your young author(s) and the parent/guardian.

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

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, please contact Candace Cussen at ccussen@phm.k12.in.us.

The holiday spirit was in full swing at Meadow’s Edge Elementary School as 4th and 5th grade students took the stage for this year’s winter concert, “Rockin’ at the North Pole.”

Performing to a packed gym, students sang and danced their way through a lineup of festive favorites that celebrated the joy of the season. Families, classmates, and staff joined in on the fun, smiling, clapping, and even singing along to the holiday tunes. 

There were two performances of this year’s event, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

Thank you to our teachers, staff, and volunteers for helping create such a joyful and memorable celebration of music and holiday cheer!

Click here to view the full photo gallery from the performance.

At Meadow’s Edge Elementary School, first grade teacher Mrs. Amy Mero is spreading warmth in more ways than one.

Since her first year of teaching in 2018, Mrs. Mero has made it her annual tradition to hand-knit a winter hat for every single one of her students. Each year, she carefully selects yarn colors and patterns to create one-of-a-kind hats, a personal gift that her students can treasure and wear during the cold winter months.

It’s no small task. Knitting enough hats for an entire class takes nearly the whole year, with most of the work happening during her summer break. But for Mrs. Mero, it’s a labor of love and a way to make each student feel special and cared for.

Her handmade hats have become a beloved tradition at Meadow’s Edge, a small gesture that leaves a lasting impression.

Thank you, Mrs. Mero, for sharing your creativity and kindness with your students, and for showing what #PHMExcellence looks like in action! 

The Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation (PHMEF) continues its mission of supporting excellence in education by awarding $73,715.48 in classroom innovation grants for the 2025-2026 school year, marking one of the largest funding years in foundation history! And Meadow’s Edge was fortunate to receive $1,004.34 in grant dollars!

Each year, PHMEF’s Annual Grant Cycle provides teachers across the district with opportunities to bring creative, hands-on learning projects to life, projects that go beyond traditional classroom resources. The grants are made possible through the generosity of community donors, local businesses, and district supporters.

During the first couple of weeks of December, PHMEF Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom surprised grant recipients. Click here to see the full photo gallery.

Meadow’s Edge was awarded three EZ grants (under $750). The descriptions are listed below:

1. Enrichment Time Novel Studies
Amy Mero, Lauren McCarthy, Kate Cox • $309.35
Chapter books for 1st grade classrooms

2. Soft Start Bins
Anne Goralczyk • $340.00
Daily Activity Bins for 4th Grade Classroom

3. Amplifying Student Voices: Qball for 4th Grade Engagement & Inclusion
Danielle Davidson • $354.99
Throwable Wireless Microphone Ball to Enhance Student Participation

“On behalf of the entire PHM Education Foundation Board I want you to know how deeply we believe in our teachers and staff,” said PHMEF Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom. “Your dedication, and passion for making a positive impact are what make our schools truly exceptional. We are committed to funding your innovative ideas because you are the heart of excellence in PHM, and we are proud to support the remarkable work you do every day.”

For more on the P-H-M Education Foundation’s 2025-26 grant awards, click here.

Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Heather Short sent the message below the morning of Tuesday, December 9, 2025.

Dear Meadow’s Edge Families and Staff,

I am pleased to share that the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees approved Mrs. Lindsay Helman-Cass as the next Principal of Meadow’s Edge Elementary School, effective January 5, 2026.

Lindsay comes to Meadow’s Edge with a strong background in elementary education and a deeply student-centered approach. She spent 10 years in Penn-Harris-Madison as an elementary teacher at Walt Disney and Mary Frank Elementary Schools and served in various leadership roles. Building on her years of instruction and student learning, she continued her professional growth by moving into school administration and has most recently served as an Assistant Principal with South Bend Schools at Lincoln Elementary.

In her current role, Lindsay helped develop student-focused systems that support academic growth and positive behavior making an impact on student behavior. 

Lindsay has also partnered with teachers through coaching, instructional feedback, and clear communication aimed at supporting professional growth. Additionally, she has prioritized strong family engagement by creating accessible resources and consistent communication tools that highlight student success and strengthen the home-to-school connection.

As we prepare for this transition, we extend our thanks to Mr. Gary Gardner for his dedicated leadership and service to the Meadow’s Edge community over the past seven years. His work has supported student achievement and collaboration schoolwide, and we know he will continue to do great work as the new Principal of Prairie Vista Elementary.

We are excited to welcome back Lindsay Helman-Cass to P-H-M and her new home at Meadow’s Edge. Her strong instructional background, student-centered mindset, and demonstrated success in supporting whole-school growth make her an excellent fit for this community. We look forward to the many ways she will support and inspire your students, teachers and staff, and families.

Sincerely,
Dr. Heather Short

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the fifth graders at Meadow’s Edge Elementary celebrated their completion of the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, the local version run by the St. Joseph County Police Department. Since the program was implemented locally in 1996, thousands of 5th and 6th grade students have graduated, learning skills to resist the pressures of using drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.

The program goes beyond simply identifying harmful substances: it teaches decision-making skills, how to say “no,” how to resist peer pressure, and helps build self‐esteem.

During the ceremony today, students sang a D.A.R.E. song and received a certificate commerating their completion of the program. One student from each of the three 5th-grade classrooms was also chosen as an essay winner, received a D.A.R.E. swag bag, and then read their personal essay aloud to the audience, showcasing their reflections on making smart, safe choices and resisting peer pressure.

Congratulations to the entire 5th grade class of Meadow’s Edge! #PHMExcellence

Click here to view the full photo gallery from the ceremony.

The Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees voted unanimously this morning to appoint Mrs. Jennifer (Jen) Smoker to fill the Penn Township Seat #1 vacancy created by the resignation of Matthew Chaffee in early October. 

A long-time resident and active community volunteer, Mrs. Smoker is a dedicated P-H-M parent of four children attending district schools. Her service and advocacy for students and staff have been felt across the district and throughout the greater community.

Mrs. Smoker currently serves on the P-H-M Education Foundation (PHMEF) Board of Directors, where she has chaired the Grants Committee since 2019. In that role, she helps oversee the process of awarding teacher and school grants that enhance learning, spark innovation, and promote excellence in all 15 P-H-M schools. She also supports PHMEF’s fundraising events and community partnerships that benefit students across the district.

Beyond her PHMEF service, Mrs. Smoker is deeply involved in several community organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for Granger Community Church, where she helps guide strategic planning and budget oversight; chairs the Grissom Middle School PTO Scholarship Committee, which awards scholarships to Penn High School seniors; and previously served as Board Secretary for Jr. Irish Soccer Club and Development Chair for Girls on the Run Michiana. Through these roles, she has combined her love of youth development, leadership, and service—supporting programs that build character, confidence, and connection.

Professionally, Mrs. Smoker brings two decades of business leadership and creative experience. A graduate of Miami University’s Farmer School of Business, she began her career as an Account Executive for major advertising firms in Detroit and Chicago, managing national brands such as Lincoln/Mercury and Quaker Oats. In 2003, she founded and operated CardCare.com, an online greeting card company she successfully led for 20 years.

“Mrs. Smoker’s commitment to servant leadership and her deep connection to our schools make her an outstanding addition to the Board,” said Board President Christopher Riley. “She has demonstrated her heart for P-H-M through years of volunteerism and community involvement and will bring a strong parent perspective to the table.”

Superintendent Dr. Heather Short added, “Jen’s energy, insight, and collaborative leadership reflect the very best of P-H-M’s Triangle of Success—students, teachers, and parents working together. Her service to our schools and community exemplifies P-H-M Excellence.”

Arrangements will be made with the P-H-M Board Attorney for Mrs. Smoker to take her Oath of Office. She will serve through the remainder of the current term, which expires in 2026. She may choose to run for election to the ensuing four-year term in the November 2026 general election.

Mrs. Smoker was chosen from five applicants. The other four candidates were John “Todd” Douthit, Brandon M. Kastner, William “Matt” Ludwig, and Ryan C. Woodruff (click here for their resumes). Public interviews of these applicants took place during a special board meeting held Tuesday, October 28th. President Riley said the decision to fill the vacancy was a difficult one, as all five candidates would have been excellent choices.

Click here for the process the Board of School Trustees followed for filling the vacancies.

U.S. News and World Report released its “Best Schools” rankings for K-8 public schools by state and Meadow’s Edge is #370 out of Indiana’s 989 public elementary schools!

Data is based on the 2021–2022, 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 school years.

All of P-H-M’s elementary schools are ranked among Indiana’s “Best Elementary Schools”:

• Northpoint #1  
• Prairie Vista #2 
• Horizon #37
• Mary Frank #39
• Bittersweet #94
• Elm Road #172
• Moran #175
• Elsie Rogers #297
• Madison #273
• Meadow’s Edge #370
• Walt Disney #385

Two of P-H-M’s middle schools were also recognized:

• Discovery #3
• Schmucker #53

Indiana’s 395 Indiana public high schools were also ranked, and Penn ranked #26.

The U.S. News & World Report analyzed 103,391 pre-K, elementary and middle schools nationwide for their rankings. The rankings use the same methodology for all included grade levels. For each state, schools were assessed on their shares of students who were proficient or above proficient in their mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments. Half of the formula assessed the scores themselves and the other half incorporated the test results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. In other words, the top-ranked schools are all high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students. Click here for more information on the methodology.

The highest ranked U.S. public schools in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best High Schools rankings are those whose students demonstrated outstanding outcomes above expectations in math, reading and science state assessments, earned qualifying scores on an array of college-level exams, and graduated in high proportions. They reviewed data on 17,901 public high schools. Click here for more background information on their ranking system.

October is National Principals Month! To celebrate, we’re sharing short Q&As with each of our principals—giving you a glimpse into their leadership style, favorite parts of school life, and what drives their #PHMExcellence every day.

If you could swap places with a student for one day, what class or activity would you be most excited to participate in — and why?

Art Smart. I enjoy art and being creative.

What’s your go-to morning routine (or must-have snack/coffee order) that helps you tackle the day?

I am a fan of caramel flavored coffee but I try to limit it to one a week.

What were you like as a middle or high school student — and what’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

I was pretty well-rounded. I enjoyed time with friends, played a few sports recreationally, and worked hard in school. I was very active in Student Council as a middle and high school student. One piece of advice I would give myself is that it is important to learn how to schedule “me time” and prioritize where you spend your time.

If your job as a principal had a theme song, what song would be your walk up song–the one playing when you walked into school each day?

Don’t Stop Believing! I believe there is great potential in all students and staff to learn, grow, and excel.

What was your favorite school lunch or snack when you were a student? What is your favorite school lunch now as a principal?

My favorite school lunch as a student was pizza and breadsticks. I remember pooling money together with my tablemates and buying a huge tray full of breadsticks for lunches in middle school. Now, I’m just excited to eat lunch if I get a chance during the day. I rarely eat school lunch.

What’s one fun fact about you that most students or staff don’t know?

I have an identical twin brother. I also have twins myself and they were born on my birthday.

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies outside of school that might surprise people?

I was a member of the Penn Chamber Choir during my senior year of high school.

What’s one thing on your bucket list you still hope to do one day?

I would like to travel to Italy with my wife.

What’s your favorite school tradition or event?

Back to School Open House. I always look forward to seeing our students and families when they return to the building in August at the start of the school year.

If you could describe your school in one word, what would it be?

Family.