Hybrid Return
Starting 1.19.2021
Dear Penn Families,
You should have received Dr. Thacker’s email to parents sent earlier this afternoon. If not, CLICK HERE to read it. Based on P-H-M Administration’s discussions this week with the St. Joseph County Department of Health, I am happy to report that the Health Department supports our middle and high school students returning to the hybrid model on Tuesday, Jan. 19. We are excited to welcome students back into the building. We know that our students receive the most ideal instruction through face-to-face learning.
All secondary students will continue to be virtual on Mondays. If a student chooses hybrid instruction, students with the last names A-L will attend in person on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students with the last names M-Z will attend in person on Thursday and Friday.
Please take note of the four important items listed below, complete the questionnaire, and please take the time to review this information with your Penn student(s).
In-person learning will begin on Tuesday, January 19. Tuesday will be a Gold day with classes beginning at 8:55. Transportation will also start back up on this date. January 19 is the first day of the 2nd semester.
We are eliminating White Mondays from our hybrid schedule based on student, parent and teacher feedback. All students will continue to meet virtually on Mondays but it will either be a Gold or Black day according to our 2nd semester calendar. Please CLICK HERE for the 2nd semester Gold/Black calendar. Classes on Monday will also start at 8:55.
Please CLICK HERE to complete a questionnaire to choose the method of instruction you would like for the 2nd semester for your Penn student. If you have more than one student at Penn, please fill out a form for each student.
Please note this calendar change: On February 2-5, all grade 9, 10 and 12 students will participate in asynchronous learning and complete assignments virtually. The reason why is that we will be administering the state mandated ISTEP assessment on these dates to grade 11 students. ISTEP is the graduation qualifying exam that is required for graduation and juniors missed this assessment last spring due to the COVID shutdown. Grade 11 students are required by the IDOE to take this assessment. It is essential for us to provide the most optimal testing environment for these students while maintaining small class sizes to ensure physical distancing is achieved. We will need to use the entire building to accommodate these goals. Specific information about the testing schedule will be communicated separately to junior students and their families.
Thank you for your continued flexibility and patience; we’ve all come to realize the flux and impact COVID has on our daily lives.
Please remind your students that teachers are available daily for office hours from 8:05 - 8:35 to any and all students who need assistance. Penn faculty is ready to support students when we return to our hybrid schedule on the 19th. Please don’t hesitate to contact teachers with questions or concerns.
Finally, please remember to respond to the questionnaire by this coming Monday, January 11, 2021.
Go Penn!
Sincerely,
Sean Galiher
Second Semester Parent Questionnaire
2nd Semester Black and Gold Calendar
Sean Galiher, Principal
Email: srgaliher@phm.k12.in.us
Website: https://penn.phmschools.org/
Phone: 574-258-9503
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennHighSchool/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @SeanGaliher