For Thursday, August 28
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
Keeping you in the loop with our on-going effort at student internet monitoring
For years, the good folks in our district’s technology department have had systems in place to try to prevent students from accessing inappropriate content online using their Portage Public Schools accounts. Last January, we started to try out an additional component of our online safety support for students. Working with Lightspeed Systems, an educational software company out of Austin, Texas, building principals like me receive an email whenever the system detects something of possible concern written or searched for by students while using their portageps.org account, whether that occurs during the school day or outside of school hours.
As you might imagine, last year I received a few emails from the system so far, and each of them has been pleasant. One was a writing assignment by one of our students for her ceramics class, and in the piece she misspelled “kiln” and instead spelled “kill” — which is why the report was generated. In another, a student was quoting lines from the 2013 animated movie “Epic” in a paper he was writing. In a third one of our student journalists was brainstorming story ideas and one was “school shootings.” You get it: these words create understandable anxiety, and our kids are going about their work, as they should: thoughtfully and responsibly.
Of course, these examples might not always be the case. And whether the situation is pleasant or worrying, we will do as we always have done: work to communicate well with families so we can support each of our kids whenever it is needed. So with that in mind, as I receive these alerts in the future, I will work with families to decide what we need to do next.
I think I have shared with you before that I don’t subscribe to the idea that kids are worse today than when we were kids. (Truly I think they are better. Or at least better than I was in high school. 😃 ) But electronic communication — whether that is social media or what a student writes in a Google Doc — has changed the high-school experience. And it will likely change again, as Artificial Intelligence becomes more a part of our lives. I know I’m not smart enough to answer all the unsettled questions in those areas. But I do know our kids. They are incredible: bright, caring and hard-working. And on occasion they make mistakes, like we did at their age. And I know when we talk openly, and honestly, we can figure out pretty much anything.
Thanks for your patience as we continue working with this new product. And as always if you have any questions or thoughts, reach out anytime.
Are you an afternoon CTE student? Do you want lunch from our food service?
Then hit this link! Input your lunch order by 9 a.m. each morning so that the lunches are ready to be picked up. Thanks!
PC Yearbook wants your summer photos for the 2026 yearbook!
Did you travel? Hang out by your pool or on the lake? Volunteer? Condition for sports? Chill with friends and family? Work a summer job? We'd love to see what you did after school got out in June! Students can click on this Summer Fun Photos link to share their summer photos and stories! (Students must be logged into their Portageps accounts to upload content to this form.) Got questions? Email yearbook adviser Ann Alburtus at aalburtus@portageps.org.
Just a reminder…
Come See What The PTO Is All About!!
Mark your calendar for the first meeting of the school year - Monday, September 8 at 5:30 PM (PCHS, main office – staff kitchen)
All are welcome! This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and hear updates on school happenings.
Meetings are held during the school year on the 2nd Monday of the month at 5:30 PM (location: staff kitchen in the main office). We are typically done in under an hour!
The PTO is a laid-back, fun group
The PTO would love your input on events and organizing staff appreciation activities, semi-formal dance, conference dinners, etc.
Flexible Involvement - help as little or as much as you are able
We are looking for volunteers willing to assist with staff appreciation events for the school year. Interested? Email pchsptopresident@gmail.com for more information
Not able to volunteer? Donate here: https://shorturl.at/UD88y Supporting the PTO helps fund amazing events, classroom supplies, teacher appreciation, and more. If your schedule is packed but your heart is all in, consider a quick and easy donation instead. Every dollar makes a difference.
Keep in the loop through our Portage Central High School PTO Facebook page!
Just a reminder…
Off-Campus lunch passes
All students in grades 9 through 12 with parent/guardian permission are eligible to apply for a lunch pass for $2 per month. Lunch passes are an earned privilege for students with good attendance. Students may have no more than 1 unexcused absence and no more than 3 excused absences in the previous month in order to be eligible. A student's lunch pass can be revoked at any time by school administration for academic or disciplinary reasons. Students with unserved detentions will not be eligible to purchase a lunch pass, for example.
Planning a family vacation? See the GLIC for more information about the different types of absences and how they impact lunch pass eligibility. Students must reapply for lunch privileges at the beginning of each month (Aug./Sept. and May/June are considered one month). The electronic permission form was emailed to parent and guardian email addresses listed in Skyward on Aug. 18 and 19. Direct any questions to your assistant principal. Thanks!
Want to park at PC? Great!
Don’t forget to stop at the Welcome Center to buy your parking pass!
Please fill out the parking registration form found on the GLIC; hit this link to get all the information you need. After you have completed the online form, bring your driver's license and vehicle registration to the Welcome Center to purchase a parking permit for $20. Every car in the parking lot MUST have a permit for this academic year. (As an important aside, the funds raised from permit sales go toward paying for our Mustang RideOut and graduation each year.)
Too, all students who purchase a 2025-26 parking pass by Friday, Sept. 12 will receive a FREE PC sticker!
And from our friends at the PPS district business office…
Voluntary student accident insurance program
During the school year the Portage Board of Education makes available a voluntary student accident insurance program. Since the District has made this insurance available, an increasing number of parents/guardians have been taking advantage of this inexpensive policy. This fact dictates that as a community service, we will continue to offer this voluntary insurance.
The District offers this program because of trends in rising family health and dental insurance costs, increased deductibles, and co-payments. Furthermore, in an attempt to limit the Districts’ rising insurance costs, this program provides an alternative for claims due to accidental injuries that unfortunately occur on our property. This is the case for both during and after school hours.
Plan information and the enrollment forms are available and respond to diverse family insurance needs. Coverage provided can help decrease the burden of unexpected medical and dental expenses, including those left unpaid due to family insurance deductibles and copayments.
As it relates to middle and high school interscholastic athletics, this voluntary insurance plan also provides coverage for all sports except grades 9 through 12 tackle football. In that the District requires athletic insurance, you should consider this policy for the coverage it will provide you and your child.
Take a look right here for the information about the voluntary student accident coverage through First Agency. This insurance can be used for all students whether they participate in athletic sporting events or not. Just use this website: www.1stagency.com and use the search engine to "FIND YOUR SCHOOL.” Or you can call (269) 381-6630 for plan options, payments and coverage information.
We shared a lot of information with all of our kids on Monday morning
We start every school year with an “Enrollment Room,” a period where we ensure our students have access to the information they need to navigate our wonderful and at-times awkward school home well. Teachers reviewed important information and gave students an opportunity to ask questions. To take a peek at the types of information we share during Enrollment Room, click the GLIC and navigate to the tile labeled “School Policies and Forms.” Within that section, you will find access to the Student Handbook and other school policy information, like our school cell phone and personal electronic device policy, our attendance policies, network expectations, and more. Please open and review the handbook and information and resources for support that are available on the GLIC, and reach out to your assistant principal if you have any questions.
Freshman families…
Please review the presentation delivered by our assistant principals to your freshmen this week
This week, in your freshman’s science class, our assistant principals visited and shared some of the specific details that make high school different than middle school. Ms. Salisbury and Mrs. Kaylor focused, too, on the differences in expectations that exist between the spheres in which we spend our time (at home, at school, at school activities, with friends, and at work). Most importantly, they emphasized the values and expectations that we as Mustangs commit to at Portage Central High School. It is important to all of us that our school is a community in which students are safe, have a sense of belonging, and care for one another. Click here to see the content of that presentation.
And we also met with senior, juniors and sophomores in class meetings
Wow – it was great to meet with classes today. They were awesome: they had energy, they were respectful and happy, and they were ready to get moving into this school year. Every year they give me far more than I can ever give in return – and I am so grateful.
Take a look to see what we talked about.
Tutoring opportunities
Now that the school year has started, we wanted to share with you our tutoring opportunities. If you are interested in being a tutor and earning service hours for that work, please fill out this form Tutors for the 2025/2026 School Year. If you are in need of a tutor to help you with a difficult class, we will have more information in next week’s Mustang Minutes. Once you fill out either one of these forms, Mrs. Imus, the Activities Assistant, will reach out to you with all the information you will need.
More instructional videos for how to navigate PC from the awesome folks at PCTV!
How to navigate the lunch line? Easy – hit this link!
And keeping this place clean is important; click here.
Lunch passes and parking passes: The Why, and where the money goes
And here is a new one for this week: How to serve a lunch detention, 2:50
Thanks for watching and learning with us!
PCMS Volleyball Volunteers Needed!
What: Portage Central Middle School needs student volunteers to run the score clock at home volleyball games. No experience needed. Free concessions for volunteers!
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30–5:30/6:00 p.m.
Where: Portage Central Middle School gym
Help needed on these dates:
9/2, 9/4, 9/9, 9/11, 9/16, 9/18, 9/23, 9/25, 9/30, 10/2, 10/7, 10/9
If you are interested please email Pfleming@portageps.org or use the Google Form linked Google Form Link.
Final call!
Our community-service awards
Every spring, Portage Central recognizes students who consistently commit their time and energy to community service. You can visit the Community Service page for more information and get a copy of the Service form. Any hours served throughout the school year that you want to count toward the award must be turned in to Mr. Brown in the Study Lab or main office within four weeks of the service date, even if the hours are part of an ongoing activity. Any hours completed over the summer must be turned in by Friday, September 12. No summer hours will be accepted after this date. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Brown in the Study Lab (Room 1133) or email rbrown@portageps.org
Grateful for a great first week,
Eric
And if you want even more PC news…