Today is Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day!
Our team of 10 workers, including plumbing/HVAC, electrical, grounds, general maintenance and tradesmen, work to keep our 18 facilities running smoothly. Did you know this team of 10 manages about 400 acres of property, including 1.75 million square feet of buildings?
Join us in sharing a huge THANK YOU!
🧡🐾🤎 Introducing our newest pup at Portage Public Schools! Fletcher is a new comfort dog at Portage Northern High School. He is a 2-year-old Golden Retriever/Labrador mix who joined from Interquest CARES.
Does he look familiar? He's a littermate to Diego from Moorsbridge Elementary and a sibling to Orville from Lake Center Elementary.
His handlers at Mr. Dunham and Mrs. Hinga. Welcome to the PACK at PN! 🧡🐾🤎
👷♀️👮♂️🧑⚕️👩🎓 From trades, public safety, tattoo artistry, healthcare and cosmetology, a variety of careers were on display at the annual Portage Northern High School Career Fair. 👩💼👩🎨🧑⚖️👩🔬
Leah is one of two interns from Western Michigan University helping in our school kitchens this month. She's enrolled in the WMU Nutrition and Dietetic Program and is gaining real-world experience in a busy kitchen alongside our staff.
To read more about this internship partnership with WMU, visit portageps.org/news.
Students in Portage Community High's Personal Finance/Consumer Math class welcomed KVCC Admissions today to help seniors apply for community college and learn about all of the opportunities available to them after graduation.
Thanks to Ms. Kirschman for sharing this photo!
Do you have a Kindergartener ready to start school this fall? Don’t wait to enroll at Portage Public Schools! You can get started TODAY with simply your proof of residency. Visit portageps.org/enrollment/kindergarten to learn more.
Enrolling early helps our schools plan for hiring teachers, estimating class sizes and more!
Families of PPS 5th graders are invited to learn more about the Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center Wednesday, March 5, from 6-7 p.m. at 600 Vine St. in Kalamazoo.
Please RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoOT2YlP_3FzDs08GOCeqTBhS8LsTgpQ2K9CDGGcDCCMX-Vg/viewform
Congratulations to the Portage North Middle School Wrestling Team for an incredible season! They are back-to-back champions at Battle of Portage. 💪
Thank you to Coach Derhammer for sharing this great team photo!
Do you live outside of PPS but hope to attend our schools? The Schools of Choice window for those in Kalamazoo County and neighboring counties is open March 1 through April 1. Apply today at portageps.org/enrollment.
The Living Wax Museum was a chance for Amberly Elementary students to dress up and share the biographies of influential Black people throughout history.
Chosen figures included Kamala Harris, LeBron James, Martin Luther King Jr., Misty Copeland, Josephine Baker, Muhammad Ali, Mae Jemison and more. Way to go, Tigers!
Help us share some love to the Unified Sports Club at Portage Central High School. The club hosted another great basketball game! The Unified Club is an opportunity for students of all abilities to play sports together. Way to go, Mustangs!! 💙💛💙💛
As February comes to an end, thank you for following along as we highlighted our CTE students!
👷♀️🛠👷For our final profile, we are highlighting Gavynn and AJ, two students enrolled in the Construction Trades program.
"I've always been really into construction, "AJ said. "My father's a construction worker, and when I was younger I was building tree forts in my backyard."
To read more of their story -- and to see the other student profiles -- visit portageps.org/news.
😁 Smile... it's time for Mid-Winter Break! 😁
There is no school Friday, Feb. 28, and Monday, March 3. We will see you back at school Tuesday!
If you couldn't make it to yesterday's focus groups, there is still time to participate in the superintendent search survey online at portageps.org. You will find the link at the top of the home page. The survey is open until midnight on Sunday, March 2nd.
In honor of Black History Month, Woodland Elementary students attended a Career Fair Thursday featuring local people working in a variety of careers including chef, teacher, dancer, music composer, police officer and school superintendent.
A show of Black Excellence at Portage Northern High School Thursday included a skit on the vast impact of Black History in America, dancing, music and more for their annual Black History Month assembly. Amazing job, Huskies!
Superintendent Bielang was honored Wednesday by the Portage Rotary Club for his contributions to the community organization. Thank you, Superintendent Bielang!
Feedback from the PPS community is guiding the search for our new superintendent. At focus groups Wednesday, Mr. Andy Ingall from the Michigan Leadership Institute heard from principals, administrators, teachers, secretaries, District staff and parents about what they hope to see in our next District leader.
Don't forget, there's one more opportunity to share your thoughts in a focus group! Join us tonight for the Community Focus Group, 6 p.m. at the PPS Administration Building, 8107 Mustang Drive. If you can't make it, please complete the survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/79LXWWB
Students in Ms. Camp's class at North Middle School got an up-close look at the work of a storm chaser Wednesday. ⛈🌪
Caleb from the Michigan Storm Chasers visited the class to discuss what natural disasters happen in Michigan, show off his storm chasing vehicle and do a tornado science experiment with the students.
Thanks to Michigan Storm Chasers for helping bring learning to life for our students! ⛈🌪
Cool Careers: CJ has sights set on hair in Hollywood after cosmetology program
The high school junior is preparing for their future in KRESA's Cosmetology and Barbering program. To hear more of CJ's story, visit portageps.org/news.
