For Thursday, May 22
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
If you need a Chromebook this week, remember to bring yours!
On Thursday, May 22 and Friday, May 23, the Welcome Center and Library loaner Chromebooks will be unavailable for checkout. Please ensure you bring your assigned, charged Chromebooks on Thursday and Friday this week! Thank you!
Just a reminder for Seniors and your families, this is your…
The Mustang RideOut and Graduation are next week!
Take a look at these slides from our Senior Meeting to make decisions on where you want to sit and graduation, as well as other pieces of useful information – like all the dates and times to make sure you are right where you need to be.
And you can also take a look at our Mustang RideOut program right here. Too, please share these links and information with anyone who you think would benefit!
While we are talking about May 29…
KAMSC Exams for 9th, 10th and 11th grade students are scheduled for May 29
On that same day, the Portage Central High School bell schedule will be adjusted so that all staff members participating in the morning senior awards ceremonies will be able to meet with their 1st and 2nd-hour classes in the afternoon to review for their final exams that will occur the next morning. We recognize that this adjustment may cause conflicts for KAMSC students and that they may need to miss some or all of their PC classes on May 29. This week, all KAMSC students will receive this letter. Please read through this letter with your student so that you can make the best decision that will allow them to be where they need to be. Absent students can pick up their letter in the main office. To avoid unexcused absences, signed letters must be returned to the main office by May 27.
Adjusted Bell Schedule on May 29
3rd: 7:40-8:30
4th: 8:35-9:25
6th: 9:30-10:20
7th: 10:25-11:17
5th: 11:22-12:47 (normal lunches and class time)
1st: 12:52-1:43
2nd: 1:48-2:40
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!
Portage Central Theatre shines at 2025 Sutton Foster Awards
The Portage Central High School Theatre program capped off an incredible 2024–2025 season with a dazzling night of recognition at the annual Sutton Foster Awards, held Sunday, May 18, at the Wharton Center on Michigan State University’s campus.
Out of more than 150 students from 73 high schools across Michigan, two Portage Central students, Carly Koch (12) and Brady White (11), were selected through a live adjudication process to represent the school at this prestigious statewide celebration of high school musical theatre.
In addition to the student honors, the Portage Central production of “Hadestown” received Best Direction (Teacher, Ashley Bowen), Best Music (entire cast), and Best Lighting Design (Teacher, Jason Frink), further highlighting the program’s creative excellence and collaborative strength.
The Sutton Foster Awards serve as Michigan’s premier high school musical theatre recognition program. Designed to showcase student achievement and strengthen theatre programs across the state, the annual Awards Showcase is the capstone of a year-long educational initiative. At the conclusion of the evening, two standout performers are chosen to represent Michigan at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (The Jimmy Awards®) in New York City this summer.
Just a reminder…
Looking at exam week at the end of the school year
Due to religious days of observance, our exam schedule is different this year. 1st and 2nd hour exams will be Friday, May 30. No exams will be given on Monday, June 2 and Tuesday, June 3. And then exams resume:
Wednesday, June 4: 3rd and 4th hour exams
Thursday, June 5: 5th and 6th hour exams
Friday, June 6: 7th hour exams and then our make-up exam session
Just another reminder, because we don’t want any folks to lose their stuff…
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!
Prom…
If you attended Prom, here is a link to some fun pictures. If you have any questions, please reach out to Nikki Smith, Activities Director, at nsmith@portageps.org. Fun was definitely had by all!!!
Just a reminder…
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.
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 Camp Ability!
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…
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 
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.
Really sad to see our seniors sign out this week – and really happy for them,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…