For Thursday, May 15
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
Last call!
Yearbook Distribution Day is this Friday, May 17!
The yearbook staff sold over 925 books this year, and books are scheduled to be passed out during 7th hour on this day. Only students who have purchased a book will be able to leave class when their grade level is called. Please note: There will be no early distribution of books before 7th hour on May 17. In addition, only the student whose name is on the receipt may pick up the book. If a student is not going to be at school on this day, then their book will be delivered to their first-hour teacher for pickup on Monday, May 19. Got questions? Reach out to yearbook staff adviser Ann Alburtus at aaburtus@portageps.org.
Congratulations to our five-time, state-champion Forensics team!
Portage Central Forensics competed May 2-3 at the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association’s State Final Tournament at Saginaw Valley State University, and, for the 5th year in a row, walked away as the Class A State Champions! The tournament was a wonderful example of what PC Forensics can do! All 31 of Portage Central’s entries were in the semi final rounds, and 28 of the 31 broke to the final rounds. 7 of those 28 are 2025 state champions! Way to go Tyler and his incredible team of students and staff (Irene Mayfield, Alec Olweean, Wendy Wheeler, James Ketelaar, Bryce Maurer, and Nick Wheeler)!!!
What we talked about at our Senior Meeting yesterday
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!
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.
Do you like flowers? Cool – we need your help and your plants!
Gardening Parents: it is that time of the year that you are cleaning out your gardens, dividing perennials and getting rid of those bushes that someone else thought would look nice in that corner, or just re landscaping areas.
Portage Central High School is embarking on the creation of a Pollinator Garden where the Community Garden was. This garden will feature an insect house, water, benches, pathway, flowers galore and a few bushes and a tree.
If you happen to be cleaning out flower beds and have excess, please think of our garden and feel free to contribute. If you have questions, please call 269-251-5233, Karen Wagner. You can drop off on Fridays at the school. Any perennial, flowering bush, bench, or self-seeding annuals will be very much appreciated. Our goal is to make a beautiful pollinator habitat, community space to relax and unwind. The bees, butterflies, birds and humans are very thankful for the generous parents and grandparents they have.
Taking home medications for the summer, and other news from our school nurse
Hello, my name is Cara and I am the Registered Nurse at Lake Center Elementary, Central Elementary, Central Middle, and Central High. With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, I wanted to send out a reminder that all medications kept at the school, prescription and non-prescription, will need to be picked up at the end of the year by a parent or guardian. Any medication remaining after the last day of school will be properly disposed of. If you need more time or want to set a time to pick up your child’s medication, please reach out to me at claforest@portageps.org.
As a reminder for next fall, all medication administered at school requires a medication consent form signed by a physician no earlier than July 1 of that school year. Medications will not be accepted without a completed medication consent form. If your child has allergies, asthma, or seizures, an Emergency Action Plan is also required. Updated medication consent forms and other medical forms are available on the Portage Public Schools website. PLEASE NOTE: All medication consent forms, emergency actions plans, and medical management forms are due August 18th, 2025 which is one week before the start of the school year.
Thank you all for trusting me to care for your child/children throughout the school year. I hope you all have a safe and fun filled summer. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
~ Cara Laforest – 269.323.5667
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 over the past 20+ years, doing a wide variety of things, from watering trees to cleaning to creating cool projects to 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!
Students, don’t forget to clean out your lockers by Friday, June 6 at 10 a.m.
We wash out all the lockers over the summer. Anything left in lockers after that Friday morning at 10 a.m. will either be thrown away or donated to a local charity. So please take everything with you for the summer. Thanks!
Just a reminder, as we plan for Graduation…
Graduation and security
Graduation is an incredible experience. Our kids 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!
Back by popular demand…
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 McCaml
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.
With respect and appreciation, as always,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…