
Join us in welcoming two new staff members to the PPS team!


Reminder: Friday, Sept. 29, is a half day for all students. We are one month into the new school year, and it's a great time to take a break!


We are so excited for our yearlong New to PPS Academy which begins TONIGHT! Staff who are new to our team will come together to learn more about PPS and our commitment to students.


Join us in welcoming two new staff members to the PPS team!


Did you know that the lessons our students learn in the classroom undergo an in-depth Curriculum Review Cycle every approximately five years?
Teams of teachers, librarians, principals and curriculum department leaders began the review cycle on the District's K-12 social studies curriculum this week. The first phase of the process is Planning & Research, which will include a survey of our PPS community to gather feedback.
To learn more about our curriculum and the review cycle, please visit portageps.org/o/pps/page/curriculum.



A tour of our ELA Curriculum highlighting the voices and stories of Hispanic Americans continues this week with "Refugee." This is a novel that tells the stories of three children all fleeing the horrors of war and unrest, including one boy from Nazi Germany in the 1930s and another from Syria in 2015.
To learn more about our ELA Curriculum, visit portageps.org/o/pps/page/curriculum.


Join us in welcoming two new staff members to the PPS team!


We have more than 120 new staff members this fall at PPS! From new bus drivers, teachers, psychologists, paraprofessionals, food service workers and more, the PPS team has grown.
A special thank you to the Human Resources Department for their hard work over the summer hiring and onboarding our newest PPS team members!
Over the next couple of weeks, stay tuned for posts introducing some of those new staff.


The complete 2023-24 School Year Calendar is approved. Click here to view: www.portageps.org/o/pps/page/school-year-calendar


The Turtle Trot was a success at Lake Center Elementary! Students walked and ran, families cheered and even Orville put in his laps!







REMINDER: The Board of Education will meet Monday, Sept. 25, for both a Policy Governance Retreat and a Regular Business Meeting.
The retreat will be held at 4 p.m. in Conference Room #1 of the Admin Building, 8107 Mustang Drive. The regular business meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Room #1136 of Central High School, 8135 S. Westnedge.
To view the agenda, visit portageps.org/o/pps/page/board-meeting-agendas.


We're hiring! If you have a love for students and want to be part of crafting their future, come join our team. To learn more, visit portageps.org.


When Picture Day happens to be Constitution Day at our middle schools, our social studies teachers commit!
Thanks to Mr. Moon from West Middle and Ms. Trotter from North Middle for sharing their photos.



It was Puppy Picture Day at PPS!
Here are four of our eight student comfort dogs here at PPS, who sat like the good puppers they are for Picture Day!
To learn more about our comfort dogs, visit our Student Health & Wellbeing page at portageps.org.


It is Hispanic Heritage Month, an opportunity for students to focus on the voices, experiences, and legacies of Hispanic Americans.
The PPS ELA Curriculum brings Hispanic voices through stories during the school year. Check back in through October 15 for highlights of some of the books students are reading and visit our Curriculum page at portageps.org/o/pps/page/curriculum to learn more.
First up is "Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos," a book from the 1st Grade unit titled Inspiring Artists and Musicians. This book chronicles the life of one of the world's most influential painters.


Teachers learn too!
6th grade teachers are gathered today to learn more about project-based learning from the Van Andel Institute, a nonprofit research and science education organization.




Curious Kids Preschool is currently enrolling 3 and 4 year olds for full and half-day school. Call 269-323-6780 or visit portageps.org/o/pps/page/early-childhood-programs to learn more.


Today is the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Each year, from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of the American Latino community.
The national observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.


Congratulations to Collin Nuismer, a former ELA teacher at Central Middle, for winning a Star Teacher Award.
Now working as the ELA Instructional Coach, he was nominated for the award by a 7th grade student and gifted school supplies from Kalamazoo Orthodontics.
Thank you Collin for your hard work and dedication to our students! 👏


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