Forms Archives - Schmucker Middle School

Home » Forms

This Friday, Aug. 29, 2025: P-H-M Community Tailgate Party

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.

This Friday, Aug. 29, 2025: P-H-M Community Tailgate Party

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

P-H-M Students Excel on Spring 2025 ILEARN

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation (P-H-M) proudly shares the outstanding performance of its students on the Spring 2025 ILEARN assessment, as released by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). P-H-M students once again outperformed the state average by an impressive 20 percentage points in the percentage of students passing both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This achievement places P-H-M in the top 4% of public school corporations across Indiana (see the charts below).

“These results reflect the exceptional work of our teachers, students, and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “We remain deeply committed to ensuring every child reaches their full potential, and this data shows that our efforts are paying off.”

P-H-M has maintained its Top 4% ranking for a second consecutive year, a testament to the district’s commitment to academic excellence and the strategies that drive student success. Out of Indiana public schools that passed both ELA and Math, Northpoint and Prairie Vista Elementary Schools are in the Top 10; and Discovery Middle School is #3 in the state.

A closer analysis of the data shows strong gains across grade levels and student groups. Middle school students, in particular, demonstrated significant improvement in math, based on the state’s 2021 benchmark. P-H-M 8th grade Math performance is up 24% since the benchmark year and now the variance over the state average is 28%.

The district’s Free and Reduced Lunch (F/R) student population, which now exceeds 30%, continues to demonstrate notable progress. Among Indiana’s largest public school districts testing close to 5,000 students, P-H-M ranks #1 in the state for the percentage of F/R students passing both ELA and Math.

“These achievements are not by accident,” added Dr. Short. “They are the result of intentional investments in teacher professional development and the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices. We are fortunate to have educators and staff who are deeply committed to supporting every learner.”

Indiana junior high school students are now required to take the SAT for graduation. The IDOE also released SAT results. Among public high schools in pass percentage, Penn High School moved up from #27 last year, to #15 this year.

Results from the Spring 2025 IREAD assessment are expected to be released in early fall, and P-H-M looks forward to sharing those outcomes as well.

ILEARN Math

	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5	Grade 6	Grade 7	Grade 8
PHM	71%	65%	65%	52%	57%	63%
State	52%	50%	42%	40%	36%	35%
Variance	+19%	+15%	+23%	+12%	+21%	+28%

ILEARN ELA

	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5	Grade 6	Grade 7	Grade 8
PHM	60%	55%	64%	57%	56%	64%
State	41%	42%	41%	41%	38%	43%
Variance	+19%	+13%	+23%	+16%	+18%	+21%

Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker Receives Several Honors Upon Retirement

In March, Superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Dr. Jerry Thacker announced his retirement after 19 years. Under Dr. Thacker’s leadership, P-H-M has achieved extraordinary milestones, including raising the graduation rate from 79% to 98%, ranking in the top 4% of the state academically, and helping students earn more than $200 million in scholarships. He also prioritized school safety, leading P-H-M to be ranked sixth in the nation for school safety initiatives. Click here to read more about P-H-M student success achieved during Dr. Thacker’s tenure.

Dr. Thacker has had a remarkable 53-year career in education working in leadership roles across Indiana and Michigan. As the school year wrapped up and in gratitude for his many contributions to the field of education, Dr. Thacker has received several honors.

These five prestigious awards were conferred upon Dr. Thacker:

May 4, named IAPSS – District II Superintendent of the Year
May 9

Ivy Tech Community College presented him with an Honorary Degree in College and Community Service at their Commencement
May 9, Head Start Consortium gave him the “Making a Difference” award for his loyal dedication, unwavering commitment, and his indispensable support of Head Start’s mission at Head Start’s 60th Anniversary Celebration and Board Meeting
May 21

Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood presented him with a Key to the City and a proclamation declaring May 21st “Dr. Jerry Thacker Day”
May 30

State Senator Linda Rogers presented him with the Circle of Corydon award on behalf of herself and Governor Mike Braun. The award honors Hoosiers who have made remarkable contributions that have bettered Indiana, and who have demonstrated the qualities exemplified by our state’s greatest citizens

Internally, P-H-M school principals, teachers, and students also wanted to thank Dr. Thacker for his years of service and dedication to the district. Several came up with meaningful ways to express their appreciation:

May 1, Penn High School Bands recognized him for his “caring leadership and service” at the Spring Concert
May 16

Grissom Middle School students and staff lined the hallways to applaud him as he walked through the school’s hallways
May 16

Penn High School Building Trades program presented him with a Golden Hammer for recognition of his Outstanding Support and Service
May 22

Bittersweet Elementary School students and staff lined the hallways to applaud him as he walked through the school’s hallways
May 27

Walt Disney Elementary School establishes the “Dr. Jerry Thacker Achievement Award” to recognize students who exemplify persistence, good citizenship, and positive competitiveness
May 30

Schmucker Middle School principal presented him with an Elevation Award for 53 years of service in education to students, teachers, and parents
June 2

Prairie Vista Elementary students performed a “We are your Triangle of Success” presentation and gave him a planter with all the thumbprints of students (grades K-5) and staff to illustrate the impact he’s had on their lives
June 3

Retiring Penn Band Director Glenn Northern, leads the Symphonic Winds section of the Kingsmen Marching Band in the Penn High School Fight song outside Dr. Thacker’s office at the Educational Services Center. Click here to see the video on Facebook.

Before the end of the 2024-2025 school year came to a close, Dr. Thacker shared the video message below with P-H-M students, teachers, and families.

P-H-M Named 2025 Best Community for Music Education

For the 12th consecutive year, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation was named among the 2025’s Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) in the country by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation! P-H-M has received this recognition more than any other school district in Indiana!

This year NAMM has named 935 school districts as the nation's Best Communities for Music Education, and P-H-M is one of them! The award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment to and access to music education.

In P-H-M elementary schools, music class is part of the regular curriculum following state standards. Students are instructed in both vocal and instrument classes. Beginning in 6th grade, P-H-M students at our three middle schools (Discovery, Schmucker and Grissom) have the opportunity to choose choir, orchestra or band as their music elective. Students at Discovery also have the option of choosing Piano Lab. Schools from elementary all the way up to Penn High School also perform musicals.

*Moran Elementary students perform in “Willy Wonka the Musical” (March 2025)*

Penn High School offers the Fine Arts & Communication Academy as part of its unique academy structure. The seven academy design provides Penn students with relevant and meaningful coursework taught in smaller, supportive environments where each student is known well by his teacher and peers. Nearly a third of Penn’s total 3,500 students are enrolled in the Fine Arts Academy with the majority being involved with music programs, either Choir, Orchestra, Band or another music program.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, P-H-M answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas. Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music.

middle school band students — *Schmucker Middle School Band students (November 2024)*

In a series of landmark studies by scientists and researchers at Northwestern University a link was found between students in community music programs and life-long academic success, including higher high school graduation rates and college attendance. In another study from the University, it was discovered that the benefits of early exposure to music education improves how the brain processes and assimilates sounds, a trait that lasts well into adulthood. Beyond the Northwestern research, other studies have indicated that music education lays the foundation for individual excellence in group settings, creative problem solving and flexibility in work situations, as well learning how to give and receive constructive criticism to excel.

Schmucker Honors Military Families

We support our troops

At Schmucker Middle School, we are committed to supporting our military service members and their families. We recognize and honor the unique needs of military children, and our school community is dedicated to providing care and support. We deeply appreciate the sacrifices made by our military families and strive to ensure that every military child and their family is welcomed with respect, compassion, and understanding.

Every year, 8^th grade students have the opportunity to invite family members, friends, neighbors, and/or community members to he honored at our annual Veterans Day program (click here to see a previous year’s program).

If any of our military or their families has any needs or concerns please contact our liason Mary Goldthrite-DeKever directly. Her email address is: mgoldthrite-dekever@phm.k12.in.us

Celebrating Veterans Day at Schmucker Middle School

American Legion
5414 W. Sample St.
South Bend IN 46619
(574) 234-5073 The nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.
American Red Cross
3220 E. Jefferson Blvd
South Bend, IN 46615
(574) 234-0191 Referrals to community resources. Benefits claims. Emergency communication services. Hero Care phone app: request emergency services, family access to information on their service member in emergency situations, non-emergency behavioral health assistance (financial assistance, free workshops for family members), local resource list, government resource list.
Bright Point
224 W. Jefferson Blvd, Suite 101
South Bend, IN 46617
(260) 423-3546Supportive services for veterans and their families. Helping homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless find and sustain housing.
Habitat for Humanity
402 E. South Street
South Bend, IN 46601
(574) 288-6967   Repair Corps Program, sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation serves military veterans through critical home repairs and home preservation.
Life Treatment Center
1402 S. Michigan St.
South Bend,IN   46613
(574) 233-5433   Coordinating and developing community activities for veterans, and veteran awareness
Marine Corps League
539 Parry St
South Bend, IN 46617
(574) 233-0253Renders assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows and orphans.
Miller’s Vet Center
747 S. Michigan St.
South Bend, IN 46601
(574) 968-5349   Residential center for homeless veterans. Helping vets get into housing and attain jobs.
Soldier & Family Readiness
1901 Kemble Ave.
South Bend, IN 46613
(317) 247-3300 Ext: 88854   The Indiana National Guard’s Soldier and Family Center provides support to soldiers and military families for a full range of situations and problems that may arise in conjunction with military deployments or in the course of the member’s service.
St. Joe Valley Blue Star Mothers
P.O. Box 222
South Bend, IN 46624
(574) 315-5484Service and support for military men and women and military families. Community outreach. Fundraising events. Assistance with financial needs.
Team RWB
(845) 464-0090Mission: to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting to their community through physical and social activity
VA- Compensation & Pension Clinic
1540 Trinity Place
Mishawaka, IN 46545
(574) 272-9000
VA NIHCS HUD/VASH
340 Columbia Place
South Bend, IN 46601   U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – VA Supportive Housing Program. HUD-VASH is a collaborative program that combines housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help veterans who are homeless and their families find and sustain permanent housing.
VA Mishawaka
1540 Trinity Place
Mishawaka,IN   46545
(574) 272-9000 Mission: to honor America’s veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves overall health and well-being. Mental Health Service is committed to providing the appropriate treatment and level of care needed to address the unique mental health needs of former, and active duty military personnel
Vet Center
4727 Miami St, South Bend, IN 46614
(574) 231-8480Offers confidential support for veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a relaxed, non-medical setting. Services include counseling for needs such as depression, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Veterans of Foreign Wars
718 N. Johnson St
South Bend, IN 46628
(574) 232-2787 The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces. Mission: To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans. Vision: Ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.
Veterans Resource Network
1805 Western Ave.
South Bend, IN 46619
(574) 400-5487   Ensures military/veterans and their families/caregivers can link with a wide variety of personalized, local resources, to include nonprofit, government and business connections.
Veteran Service Officer
227 W. Jefferson Blvd.
South Bend, IN46601
(574) 235-9978The County Veterans Service Officer has a compassionate understanding of the problems which confront veterans, widows, widowers, and dependent children. Veterans Service Officers are aware of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in the interests of veterans and their dependents, and they are familiar with the rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Work One
851 Marietta St. Suite 100
South Bend, IN 46601
(574) 229-7590 Employment assistance: veterans must have 180 days of active duty to qualify for services, no dishonorable discharge.

[Show slideshow]

2025 Middle School Music Instrument Selection Night

Every P-H-M 5th grader who will be attending a P-H-M middle school as an incoming 6^th grader in the Fall 2024 has the opportunity to join an instrumental music class, which includes either band or orchestra. “Instrument Selection Night” is when students and families get to make their choice!

Fifth graders at Bittersweet, Elsie Rogers, Walt Disney, Prairie Vista, and Moran Elementary Schools will attend Schmucker Middle School for 6^th – 8^th grades. Some Moran students will attend Grissom. Moran families please click here to view the P-H-M School Boundaries Map as a reference.

Schmucker’s Instrument Selection Nights are Monday, March 3rd and Tuesday, March 4th.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is nationally recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” offering choir, band and orchestra at Schmucker, Discovery and Grissom Middle Schools.

At “Instrument Selection Night,” a music professional will be available to give students advice about which instrument may be best suited for them. They will be allowed to “try out” instruments from various instrument groups. Click here to download, view and print more information on Instrument Selection Night.

In order to join 6th grade band or orchestra, students must select an instrument that they will learn, practice and perform for the school year. Click this link to sign-up for your appointment at your designated school and date.

Penn Winter 2025 Dance Clinic (PreK – 8 gr.)

DATE: Saturday, January 11, 2025

TIMES: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

(PreK & Kindergarten, 10:00-12:00)

*Registration Check-in, 9:45 a.m.

LOCATION: Penn High School Fitness Center (Door G)

COST: $40 (PreK & Kindergarten)

$50 (1st – 8th grades)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Payment due by Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Late registration could result in no t-shirt. Payments should be sent to Penn High School Athletics – c/o Cindi Minegar, 56100 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545

PERFORMANCE: Students will perform Saturday, January 11 at the Penn Boys Basketball Game

JV Game: Pre-K, K, 1, 2

Varsity Game: Grades 3-8

Mr. High wins PHM Impact Award

Students took ILEARN in the Spring. The students' results are more than just a reflection on how well they know and retained what they learned in a particular subject area.

Teachers work very hard to help their students review and retain the knowledge, and when necessary interventionist educators use RtI (Response to Intervention) tools.

The Fall 2024 P-H-M Teacher Impact Awards are given to educators who had the most significant individual student growth with Spring 2024 ILEARN (grades 3-8 and high school Biology), AP Testing at Penn, and highest RtI growth.

Mr. LA (Kriss) High was quite surprised when P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker and Principal Sarah Smith walked into his classroom to let him know he’d won an Impact Award. Mr. High had the highest growth for 8th grade math, as measured from Spring ILEARN to Fall ILEARN Checkpoints. Mr. Krupa and Ms. Irons showed up to applaud his accomplishment. Mr. Krupa was recognized last fall with an Impact award. Click to see the full photo gallery below.

Mr. High

Three other awards were given out on Thursday, December 12:

Grace Blanchard, 6th grade, ELA/Reading, Discovery Middle School – Highest ELA/Reading growth in 6th grade when measured from mean fall ILEARN to ILEARN Checkpoints Achievement.
Dawn Boulac, AP Statistics, Penn High School – Increased enrollment and qualifying scores on the AP Statistics Exam in May 2024 and an impressive 103 students met that benchmark! In addition, Penn AP Statistics students outperformed their peers at that state and global level in both mean scores and percentage passing.
Hollie Truckowski, Reading Specialist, Elsie Rogers Elementary School – Highest growth for all students in reading specialist interventions programming. Mrs. Truckowski’s students made well above average growth in two important measures of early literacy, oral reading fluency and NWF, a standardized measure of decoding ability. Mrs. Truckowski works with students who are academically at-risk in reading, and her work puts these students on an important pathway for growth.

With the help of the building principals, Dr. Thacker surprised the teachers with the Impact Awards. He was accompanied by other members of P-H-M Administration Dr. Heather Short, Asst. Superintendent; Director of Professional Development Dr. Lavon Dean-Null; and Ryan Towner, Director of Literacy. P-H-M Education Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom was also on hand; PHMEF covered the cost for the beautiful awards which teachers can proudly display in their classrooms.

While all P-H-M teachers make an impact with their students, dedicated to helping them achieve personal academic success, the Impact Award shines the spotlight on educators who have helped their students achieve individual academic growth on their formative assessments over time. The first-ever Impact Awards were handed out in September 2023 and recognized the teachers with the most significant overall student growth during the 2022-2023 school year.

Future Schmucker Athletic Information

Athletic schedules for the next year are usually released in early May after the final Big 11 Conference Athletic Directors meeting. If you need to contact a coach of a specific sport, please check out the Coaches Info tab on the Schmucker Website.

2024-2025 Athletic Schedules
(subject to change)

All athletic teams can have a maximum of 15 practices before their first game/meet.
All athletes are required to have a minimum of 8 practices before their first game/meet.

Fall Season
(Typically start the 1st week of Aug and end the 2nd Saturday of Oct.)

Football – Projected start date is Aug 1st for 8th grade. August 5th for 7th grade. Football is permitted to have 3 additional days of conditioning.
Volleyball – Projected start date is Aug 5th. Volleyball is permitted to have 5 additional days of tryouts. If this is needed, the start date could be August 1st.
Cross Country – Projected start date is Aug 12th.
Fall Cheer – Projected tryouts are held in early May. 1st Practice is August 6th.

Winter Season 1
(Typically starts the 1st or 2nd week of October and ends before winter break.)

Boys Basketball – tryouts are held as soon as possible when the basketball gym becomes available. Depends on the volleyball tournament results and when cross country has ended. Projected start date is October 14th. Possibly tryouts Oct 9th.
Boys Basketball – Cheer tryouts are usually held in September.

Winter Season 2

Girls Basketball -tryouts are held as soon as possible when the boys basketball season has ended. Tryouts are held the week before winter break if possible.
Girls Basketball – Cheer tryouts are usually held in December.
Boys/Girls Wrestling begin practices the week before winter break if there’s gym space available. A maximum of 15 practices can be held before the first meet.

Spring Season

Boys and Girls Track – typically begins in mid-March and ends the 2nd Friday of May. Runners not involved in the Prelims and Finals are done after the final meet, which is usually the first week of May.
Teams can have a maximum of 15 practices before the first meet.

Mrs. Fratena wins Impact Award

Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker started handing out the third and final round of district Impact Awards on Wednesday, May 22. The awards were given to teachers who had the most significant individual student growth with DIBLES, ILEARN, and SAT assessments for Spring 2024.

Dr. Thacker, along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, Director of Professional Development and Student Learning Dr. Lavon Dean-Null, visited four schools to surprise five teachers letting them know that they were the latest winners.

SMS Teacher

Here at Schmucker, Mrs. Monicah Fratena was honored for having the two class sections with the highest student growth on ILEARN for 7th grade Language Arts, as well as four out of the top eight sections! Congrats to Mrs. Fratena and her students!

As this school year comes to a close we want to thank all our teachers and students for their commitment to academic excellence this school year. The hard work really paid off!

Thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation for covering the cost of the awards for purchasing the beautiful crystal awards given to the teacher award recipients.