
Woodland Wildcats are celebrating March is Reading Month with special visitors from the Portage Northern High Student Senate. The high schoolers spent time this week sharing stories to numerous classrooms to promote the love of reading to their younger peers.


Portage Northern High is one of multiple schools across PPS who are joining their students and their families in celebrating Ramadan, the month-long Islamic holiday.
Muslims celebrate the holiday by fasting, praying, reflecting on community and by breaking their daily fast with a family meal. Islam is the world's largest religion and follows the teachings of Muhammad.






Happy Wednesday from Ms. Mazie. Enjoy your day!


Students in Forensics Science at Portage Central High worked alongside officers from the Michigan DNR to learn more about evidence collection. The students gathered samples of blood, tissue and hair from a deer carcass provided by the DNR as part of their classwork this week.








The Board of Education will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 11, for a regular business meeting at Portage Central High School.
For more information, visit https://www.portageps.org/page/board-of-education


Portage North Middle School is on the search for Nemo beginning this week. Grab your tickets for "Finding Nemo Jr." today at pndrama.ludus.com/index.php
Photo credit: Becky Klose/Klose2uPhotography




Rose Ponce is another amazing substitute teacher working in classrooms at Portage Public Schools. She is a full-time substitute at Moorsbridge Elementary.
"I was blessed to have just wonderful teachers throughout my whole life which probably led me to wanting to be a teacher," she said. "I saw patience and kindness, people that wanted to be there and really helped me grow as a child."
Read more at www.portageps.org/article/1493544


March is Social Work Month! Take time this month to celebrate all the social workers throughout our District and the important role they play in helping our students thrive!


March is Reading Month! Librarians from our elementary schools put together this year's "Read! Rebound! Win!! March Book Madness."
Students from each school will read the same titles and vote on their favorites, eventually naming the champion book for their school. What are you doing to celebrate reading this month?


Last week, Portage Northern celebrated recipients of this year's Houston Award, which recognizes PN Seniors for their efforts in overcoming adversity. Read more about the award here: https://www.portageps.org/o/nhs/article/1490960


Last week, elementary students received new shoes through the First Day Shoe Fund, an amazing community partner that provides brand new shoes to elementary students to help them succeed in school.
Thank you!!

Northern High School celebrated Black History Month with their annual assembly. This year, the students selected the theme "Royalty."
The event featured a spoken word piece performed to a backdrop of traditional African djembe drums, a hip hop dance choreographed and taught by a member of WMU's 269 Crew and NHS alum, and a very special guest speaker who is royalty herself: former Miss Michigan Octavia Reese.
Octavia is a world-class cellist, young adult novelist, blogger, and podcast host that currently works in digital collaboration at Astra Zeneca.





Music is for everyone! March is Music in Schools Month, and from scarf dances and choir practice to band rehearsal for a competition, our student musicians are excelling at making music in all forms.









PPS is offering Schools of Choice applications for students living in Kalamazoo County or within any intermediate school district (ISD) that borders KRESA.
The application window is open March 1 through April 1, 2024. Apply online at portageps.org/schoolsofchoice.


The Amberly Elementary Dance Club is busy this week preparing for their upcoming dance recital.
The group of more than 50 students will perform a trio of contemporary, jazz and hip hop dances at their April 19 recital, where they will partner with the WMU Elite Dance Team.
The co-ed student club was started last year and is open to 3rd-5th grade students. Great job, Amberly Tigers!!










Attention families, do you wish for your student(s) to attend a different PPS school than your boundary-assigned building? Friday, March 1, is the last day of the In-District Student Transfer Program.
These transfers are for families with extraordinary circumstances and/or hardships that prevent the ability to attend their assigned school.
Visit portageps.org/o/pps/page/student-transfer-programs to learn more and apply.

Did you know that PPS enjoys the companionship of nine specially-trained comfort dogs? Watch the video at the link below to learn about how Central Elementary's Mazie, much like her puppy peers, helps our students and staff. And, check out photos of all the dogs at portageps.org/page/student-health-and-wellbeing
https://youtu.be/kSdp0pwGod8?feature=shared


The freedom to move is the new name of the game in elementary education. Flexible seating options are coming to the new elementary schools. Read more here: https://www.portageps.org/article/1479488


The Board of Education will meet TONIGHT at 6:30 p.m. Can't make it in person? Stream the meeting live on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgP_TKfLi3ltZxWLmtZS52g

The Board of Education will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26, for a regular business meeting at Portage Central High School.
For more information, visit https://www.portageps.org/page/board-of-education
