For Thursday, May 8
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
Congratulations to our five-time, state-champion Forensics team!
Forensics – competitive speech and performance – has long been an important part of our community. And for the fifth year in a row our kids came home with a class A state championship! More news next week about this incredible team of students and colleagues.
Last week we learned from families of an error on the graduation announcements ordered from Jostens. The announcements incorrectly stated that graduation starts at 7 p..m. on Friday May 30; however, our graduation ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 30. We are deeply sorry for the error and inconvenience. If you haven’t yet sent your announcements, Jostens has shared this printable correction card to include in the announcement envelope.
Thank you, yearbook staff, for…
Prom pictures!
Two of our Roundup yearbook staff members gave their Saturday evening to take pictures of their classmates Saturday night, to keep the good memories going. Mrs. Bonnie Moss also shared a few photos she took.Help yourself to any pictures you like by hitting this link:
Prom photos - courtesy of our PC Roundup yearbook staff
And Underclassmen Awards Photos!
The yearbook staff also took a few photos after the May 1 Underclassmen Awards ceremonies. Feel free to access and use any of the photos they are sharing by clicking on this link: Photos of May 1, 2025 Underclassmen Awards Receptions
Just a reminder…
Yearbook Distribution Day is Friday, May 16
The yearbook staff sold over 925 books this year, and books are scheduled to be passed out during seventh hour on this day. If a student is not going to be at school on May 16, the student may pick their book up from their first-hour teacher on Monday, May 19. The yearbook staff will deliver unclaimed books to first-hour teachers before Monday, May 19. There will be no early distribution of books before seventh hour on May 16. Got questions? Reach out to Ann Alburtus at aaburtus@portageps.org.
Last reminder…
Last Senior Meeting is on Wednesday, May 14 during 3rd hour in the Auditorium
We will touch on some of the important reminders that we have discussed before – but the focus will be on the Mustang RideOut and Graduation. These slides will help focus our conversation. Got questions? Let me know as soon as you can, so you have everything you need for our last days together!
Attention, 8th-grade girls interested in playing girls basketball next year!
Join us for an informational meeting on Thursday, May 15, at 3:20 PM in room 1133 at Portage Central High School. We will discuss the summer schedule and details of the upcoming season. Please fill out this Google Form if you plan to play. You can also check our basketball website for the calendar. If you have questions or can't attend, email Coach Brown at rbrown@portageps.org.
TikTok and Chromebooks
Does an old man like me need another reason for me to dislike social media? 🙂 Well, I have one anyway. A new trend is encouraging students to short out Chromebooks by inserting pencil lead or paper clips into the USB ports. This is a fire hazard, so it can be dangerous, and it fits the definition of malicious destruction of school property, which is unpleasant.. Attempting to short the device can lead to a bunch of problems: destroying the motherboard, which costs $150, the daughterboard, which costs $5, and the battery, for a cost of $60.
How about one more reminder?
Want to get community-service hours over the summer?
Cool! Let’s do them here at PC!
We have been blessed to have a lot of kids help out here over the summer for the past 20+ years, doing a wide variety of things, from watering trees to cleaning to creating cool projects that welcome our students back in August. If you are ever interested, drop me an email anytime – ealburtus@portageps.org – and we can get some fun work done together. Thanks for considering it!
The PTO would like to send a hearty THANK YOU…
… to PCHS families for all of your contributions this school year. We truly couldn't do it without your support!
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 this 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!
Seniors, are you ready to hand in your Chromebook?
Seniors, when you no longer need your Chromebook, you can stop into the Main Office and ask to see Mr. Marusek. You will need to meet with Mr. Marusek so he can inspect the device for damage and assess fines if warranted. Do not ask to leave the device and charger with staff.
Many of the returned devices will be passed on to the middle schools so be sure you have removed all stickers and decals from the chromebook along with any glue residue. Products like Goo Gone work well to complete this task. If the device is returned with stickers, decals or a sticky residue, there will be a $20 fine assessed. Also don't forget the power supply. If that is missing, it will cost you $10.
As we plan for Graduation…
Graduation and security
Graduation is an incredible experience. Our daughters and sons have worked countless hours over the past years to build their own success and the success of others. Moms and dads, colleagues and community members, friends and families have supported all our graduates so they could have the strength and commitment to arrive at Graduation Day on Friday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wings Event Center. The folks at Wings are great hosts, and the place is huge so you can invite anyone you like! We are so grateful.
We are committed to making Graduation a special celebration. We are also committed to doing everything we can to ensure safety. When you arrive, you will notice that the Wings staff will be using metal detectors at the two entrances through which we will all enter: the main entrance for all guests, and the back entrance for our graduates. The Wings staff are well trained to help guests move through the process as thoughtfully and briskly as is appropriate. As you prepare to attend, we ask that you bring only necessary items, which include cell phones and cameras. We ask that the following items remain at home or in your car:
oversized bags or purses
selfie sticks, iPads, and laptops
laser-light pointers, noise makers (like air horns), and large signs
food or beverages, including any cans or bottles, and coolers
any type of weapon
illegal drugs or substances
Too, we would so appreciate it if you could share this information with any of your friends and family who are attending as well. Thanks!
From the Activities Office…
Just a reminder on upcoming events and dates for the arts
CHS Orchestra Concert: Thursday, May 15th at 7 p.m. is the final Orchestra concert of the year and on Tuesday, May 20th at 7 p.m. is the final CHS Choir Concert of the year. Both events will be held in the Auditorium. And, this will be it for our 2025 seniors, so come out and support them as they finish up high school.
Save these tentative dates for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year!
Monday, August 18, 2025 is Freshman Orientation
Freshman Orientation goes from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, August 18th. It will be held in the Portage Central High School Gymnasium. Incoming 9th graders should be here by 7:45 a.m. and wait outside the gymnasium doors until they are welcomed in by our Link Crew Leaders. We can’t wait to meet you all and are excited to welcome you to the PCHS family! If you have any questions about Orientation, please contact Nikki Smith, Activities Director, at nsmith@portageps.org or 269-323-5265. More information will be coming your way later this year.
And on Monday, August 18th, there is a Code of Conduct Meeting at 11:30 a.m. in the Auditorium. If your child is a 9th grader and plans to participate in Athletics or Activities such as Archery, Debate, DECA, E-Sports, the Fall Play, Forensics, HOSA, Marching Band, Model UN, and the Spring Musical, please attend this meeting. It is the only Code of Conduct meeting you and your child will have to attend for their entire high school career.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 is the PC Open House
The Portage Central High School Open House will be held on Wednesday, August 20th from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be an Activities Fair in Centennial Park, weather permitting (otherwise it will be held in the Commons), so students can get club information before school starts. There will also be an open Meet and Greet to get to know your students’ teachers, students can find their lockers and classes, you can purchase Lunch/Parking/Athletic passes, and visit the school store. This is a great opportunity to get to know Portage Central High School before school actually starts.
Featured Summer Sports Camp of the week: Registration opened 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 our summer Speed and Agility Camp!
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
Back by popular demand and a Graduation gift idea…
Buy a brick for McCamley-Knight or Mustang Field, or a tile for the new pool!
So many families and community members purchased bricks at the new McCamley-Knight and Mustang Fields and tiles at the new pool — to leave their mark in these spaces where so many great kids, parents, families, and community members celebrated and where so many more will celebrate decades into the future.
This sale continues until Graduation Day this spring. So if you are considering a brick at the new McCamley-Knight or Mustang Field, click here. If you would like a tile at the new pool, click here. Thank you — again and again — for all that you have done.
Almost able to smell Graduation,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…