This morning, fifth grade students from Meadow’s Edge Elementary experienced a hands-on history lesson during their visit to The History Museum’s “Cabin Days” program in South Bend.

The 90-minute outdoor experience immersed students in pioneer-era life, where they interacted with costumed interpreters demonstrating traditional trades and crafts. Students learned about fur trapping and trading, watched blacksmithing in action, and saw how everyday items like candles and clothing were made through beeswax candle dipping, weaving, and knitting.

In addition to these demonstrations, students toured the historic Navarre Cabin, one of the oldest surviving structures in the region. Museum guides also shared insights into the lives and contributions of Native Americans and early African American settlers who helped shape the area’s history.

The trip brought classroom lessons to life, giving Meadow’s Edge students a chance to see, touch, and experience the past in ways that connect directly to their studies in Indiana and U.S. history. It was a memorable morning of learning beyond the classroom walls!

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P-H-M hosted a districtwide drug awareness parent and community meeting on Tuesday October, 21, 2025 to help educate P-H-M families and the greater community about the current drug trends attracting teenagers. This valuable information is something all adults should be aware of, click the image above to watch the recorded video of the presentation. It will only be available until end of business day Thursday, Nov. 20th.

The session was led by Tall Cop Says Stop™ contracted educator, Melissa Moore, CPS. Tall Cop Says Stop™ was created by Officer Jermaine Galloway, an Idaho law enforcement officer since 1997. Galloway is regarded as one of America’s top experts in various drug and alcohol trends and specializes in underage drinking and drug enforcement. For more than 15 years, he has trained school administrators and safety personnel in spotting the dangers that threaten teens and the community. Melissa Moore, a 24-year public health experienced professional, who works to advance the mission of Tall Cop Says Stop™ in helping educate parents/guardians and students about the latest deadly effects of so-called recreational drug use.

Click here to access Melissa Moore’s resources referenced in her presentation.

Questions can be directed to the presenter at m3consultingllcwi@gmail.com.

Moore also presented a student focused presentation to Penn students (grades 9-12) during the school day on October 21st and 22nd.

Students at Meadow’s Edge Elementary have been learning about the fascinating life cycle of butterflies, and their classroom project recently reached an exciting milestone.

Over the past few weeks, classes have observed each stage of metamorphosis up close — from caterpillars munching on leaves to chrysalises forming and finally, butterflies preparing to emerge.

This week, the much-anticipated moment arrived for Mrs. Davidson’s class. Her students gathered outside to release two butterflies they had nurtured. Both butterflies right away fluttered into the air and on to the meadow. One even landed on nearby branches, giving students a chance to admire their delicate wings.

This hands-on science project brought classroom lessons to life and gave students a deeper appreciation for the wonders of nature.

At Meadow’s Edge Elementary a creative new initiative is bringing students together while building vital communication and social skills. General education students are partnering with their peers in Exceptional Education classrooms to support the development of pragmatic language — the everyday communication skills we use to interact with others.

The project centers around a student-run snack cart known as the “Woot Woot Wagon”. It is filled with free beverages and snacks for teachers. Exceptional Education students, including those who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, practice real-world language skills as they deliver the cart to staff. They work on making requests, greeting others, taking turns in conversation, and using polite responses like “thank you” and “you’re welcome.” 

By pairing with general education students as peer models and communicators, the program fosters natural social interactions in a supportive environment. The goal is to create a meaningful inclusion experience — one that benefits Exceptional Education students by building confidence and communication skills, while also offering their peers an opportunity to engage in empathy, leadership, and collaboration.

Through this hands-on, student-centered approach, classrooms are not only learning about language — they’re living it. And with the wagon making its rounds once a month, those opportunities for growth and connection will continue all year long.

Students at Meadow’s Edge Elementary are building skills and confidence through Art Smart, a yearlong program that links hands-on projects to the work of master artists.

Each grade completes four Art Smart projects throughout the school year. Teachers introduce a featured artist for inspiration, then guide students through age-appropriate techniques and media. This week, third-graders at Meadow’s Edge focused on line, pattern and color while creating bold “stick person” line art. 

Over the course of the year, students explore watercolor and tempera painting, create clay stamps, and build wire-and-muslin sculptures. Classes also work with oil pastels, chisel-tip markers, watercolor pencils, tissue paper, yarn, diffuser paper and chalk.

Artists studied in the program include Katsushika Hokusai, Piet Mondrian, Alma Thomas, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Keith Haring, Sol LeWitt, Shibata Zeshin, Bridget Riley, Eric Carle, Rene Magritte, Edvard Munch, Grant Wood and Yayoi Kusama.

Teachers have embraced the program, and parent volunteers regularly assist in classrooms. The school’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) provides all materials and supplies. School leaders said they are grateful for such a supportive community that helps make arts learning accessible and exciting for every student.

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. 

Meadow’s Edge is entering the new school year on a high note—89% of our third graders passed IREAD in 2025, up from 75.3% in 2024. This remarkable double-digit gain of 13.7 points is one of the largest in the district. Our Hawks truly lived our S.O.A.R. values: Safe, Organized, Accountable, and Respectful.

“Our students put into practice the literacy foundations taught by P-H-M’s dedicated teachers, and their families reinforced that learning at home. I also thank our principals, administrators, and support staff who worked tirelessly to provide the best and safest learning environments so our students could excel.” — Superintendent Dr. Heather Short

Across the district, 93.7% of P-H-M third graders passed IREAD in 2025, improving by 6.9 points over last year. That’s the highest gain in P-H-M history and well above the state’s 87.3% average.

Click here for more information on P-H-M’s overall 2025 IREAD district success.

We’re ready to keep soaring higher in 2025–26!

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.

At Monday night’s P-H-M Board of School Trustees meeting Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, presented three current P-H-M administrators for promotion. This was Dr. Short’s first school board meeting as superintendent since she started in the role on July 1. The following administrative changes were approved at the meeting:

Randy Williams was approved as the new Director of Academic and Student Support. Williams previously served in several administrative roles within PHM since 2008, including Principal of Madison and Walt Disney Elementary Schools, Dean of Students at Penn and Associate Principal of Penn. In 2018 he was honored as a member of the “Forty under 40” class. In 2023 He became the Director of Secondary Education and Student Services for the Middlebury Community School system. Williams now returns to Penn-Harris-Madison with a wealth of new professional experiences and an enhanced skill set.

Maddie Schmidt was approved for the Assistant Principal position at Grissom Middle School. Schmidt is a former Kingsmen and a graduate of Judson University. She has a master’s degree in Educational and Business Administration from Bethel University. Schmidt began her career teaching language arts at Schmucker Middle School. During her time there, she also served as an Instructional Leader. She is an active member of PHM’s Excellence in Leadership initiative and has held multiple teacher leadership roles at SMS. Most recently, she served as a Dean at Schmucker. 

Beth Stroven was approved for the Assistant Principal position at Schmucker Middle School. This past year, Stroven served as a math teacher at Grissom Middle School and is a member of PHM’s Excellence in Leadership initiative. Prior to joining P-H-M, she was a teacher in Elkhart Community Schools, where she was recognized as the 2019 District Elementary Teacher of the Year and received the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Grant where she earned a master’s degree in Educational and Business Administration from Indiana State University. She later served as the principal of Mary Daly Elementary School.