For Thursday, April 24
Hit the GLIC!
The Grade-Level Information Center has information that is relevant for each class.
An index and archive for this year’s weekly Mustang Minutes
Our Daily Announcements to our students
The Office Will Be Closed tomorrow, Friday, April 25
This is a professional development day for teachers, as well as for all office staff. Please note that there is no school for students tomorrow, and the office will be closed.
The PTO will once again be celebrating the AMAZING staff with a variety of treats.
Take a look at food items needed Staff Appreciation Sign Up Genius. Or, consider an electronic monetary donation, 100% of your donation will be used for Staff Appreciation week - it's easy to donate, hit this LINK. All food donations can be dropped off at the Welcome Center on either Thursday, May 1st or Friday, May 2nd. Make sure to label the items "PTO".
This is our last appreciation event for the school year! The PTO is grateful for your contributions, we truly couldn't do it without your support.
Did you know that the Portage Central PTO is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization?
A tax deductible contribution can be mailed with a check payable to: PCHS PTO -- 8135 S. Westnedge, Portage, MI 49002 or visit: https://pto-general-fund-donation.cheddarup.com to make on online contribution (transaction fees apply).
Does your employer offer a matching gifts program for charitable donations? If so, please consider maximizing your contribution to the PTO. For questions about the PTO’s tax-exempt status and all donation related questions, please contact our treasurer at pchsptotreasurer@gmail.com.
Last call! It’s not too late!
We would so appreciate feedback from our families
This is the final week when we can get your feedback on what is working well – and most importantly, what is not – through this district survey. Like we always talk about, we are not a perfect place, and we are not a perfect people – and we care deeply about our kids and our community and the work we do, Together. We would be so grateful if you could take 10-15 minutes to share your thoughts at this link: Portage Public Schools – Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey
And even after this survey window closes, we always want your feedback – and always will. Give me a call or drop me an email anytime.
Final events in our library's, Future Me career fair series
Our library is holding two culminating events for the Future Me series and are looking for help with one of them. On Friday, May 2nd we have Future Me: a Resume to Interview Lab - students can drop in to the library throughout the day to get help on their resume, how to fill out a job application, and get tips for a job interview.
On Wednesday, May 7 we are hoping to hold Future Me: Your Summer Starts Here, a hiring fair for teens looking for summer work.
If you know anyone hiring teens for the summer, would you please reach out to Sara Brown (sbrown@portageps.org) or share Sara's email with them? Our goal for this final event is to allow students to drop in during 5th hour to talk with folks who are hiring and pick up a job application right there, but the event is dependent on our success finding companies looking to hire and we could really use your help. Thanks!
Just a reminder for Seniors and your families, this is your…
Step by step to graduation!
Ready or not, graduation is right around the corner, so make sure you are ready for all of it by reading through the Step by Step to Graduation; just hit this link! You will see all the dates and times to make sure you are right where you need to be.
IB and AP tests begin this week and will run through May
We allow parents/guardians to choose whether to excuse students from the rest of their classes on days that they have either an IB or AP test. These absences will not count against their lunch pass or against class credit. Students must be off campus and will not be under school supervision if the absence is excused.
There are arguments to be made both for and against excusing students from these classes: These are intense tests and students may be worn out. Students may also have another IB or AP test the following day that they need to study for. On the flip-side, students are responsible for any material that they miss, and part of what they might miss could be review sessions with the teacher and their classmates for any upcoming IB or AP test. Our best advice is to sit down with your student and determine which days you choose to excuse and which you don’t based both on the testing schedule and the class schedule. Parents and Guardians can notify the Attendance Office in the normal way -- just make sure to indicate that the absence is due to an IB or AP test on that same day. (We will take care of their attendance while they are in the testing room.)
Make sure you clean out your lockers before summer
By Friday morning, June 6 at 10:15, all students must have everything taken out of the lockers. And I mean truly: everything must be taken home or thrown out. Because starting at 10:30 that morning, a group of wonderful students and I will be cleaning out lockers. We will send additional reminders in future issues of Mustang Minutes, and thanks in advance for helping to remind all our kids about this!
Don’t forget!
Underclassmen Achievement Awards are next Thursday, May 1 during the school day…
…and you are invited to attend in person or via livestre
Thursday, May 1 at 8:00 AM: Junior Awards Ceremony and Celebration
Thursday, May 1 at 10:00 AM: Freshman Awards Ceremony and Celebration
Thursday, May 1 at 1:15 PM: Sophomore Awards Ceremony and Celebration
Featured Summer Sports Camp of the week: Registration opens May 5!
Hey there, Mustang Families! Each summer, our amazing athletic programs host summer camp opportunities for our student-athletes to continue to develop and improve. Click right here to see all our summer camp options. And this week we are featuring Portage Swim and Dive camps!
And if you want to sign up, it’s easy!
Beginning May 5, 2025, families can register
Or go directly to the PPS GoFan Page
Grateful,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…