For Thursday, October 9
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
Join us this Friday before the game for our version of ESPN’s GameDay!
This Friday, it’s our traditional match-up with our friends and competitor Portage Northern at McCamley-Knight Field. There will be so much energy for our kids and community – and we are adding to it with a live broadcast from Friday Football Tailgate.
Watch for us on the big screen
Catch interviews with your favorite players & coaches
Show your spirit in the fan zone
Wear your gear, wave your signs, and have fun!
It all kicks off at 4 pm with the Tailgate Party, and the show goes LIVE at 5 pm. And kick-off is at 7 pm Be early. And be LOUD.
First, click on this link to see a map of where the festivities will be happening! And here are all the details:
WHEN & WHERE
Tailgate begins at 4 pm – as well as food and treats from three of our local friends and food trucks!
The live show airs from 5 to 6 pm
McCamley-Knight Field, Portage Central High School
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Attend the Tailgate
The event is open to the public. Fans are encouraged to bring signs, school spirit, and energy to be part of the live show experience.
Book a Video Board Message
Share a personalized 30-second message on our 17' x 10' video board during the tailgate and again before the show.
Sample Book the Board post:
Hey, Portage Central families, friends, and fans! We’re bringing our giant 17' x 10' Jumbotron to McCamley-Knight Field this Friday — and YOU can Book the Board with your own custom message during the tailgate!
Pricing
– $75 Personal Message (e.g. Good luck, Happy Birthday, Go Mustangs!)
– $100 Non-Profit Message (school clubs, community orgs, etc.)
– $125 Corporate Message (local businesses, sponsor shoutouts)
Your message will appear 2–3 times for :30 seconds between 3:30 pm and 5 pm, just before our Friday Football Tailgate show goes live!
Perfect for recognizing athletes, band members, coaches — or getting your business in front of the crowd!
We design it for you and send you a digital version to share or print!
Click below to get started: https://www.fridayfootballtailgate.com/book-your-video-message
Some other reminders about this big game
Gates open at 5 pm
The admission fee is $7 cash or $8 credit card for adults, and elementary/senior tickets are $5 cash or $6 credit card. Credit card payments all go through GoFan.
If you choose to pay cash, bring exact change; you will get through the gate faster.
No backpacks are allowed in the stadium – and leave footballs at home too!
Mustangs, we are glad you have friends from PN – but please stay on our side of the field. Sometimes emotions get the best of people at this game.
As you can see from the map above, the lower McCamley-Knight parking lot will be closed off for the fun Game Day and food trucks event!
And most importantly, have a classy and great time!
More from the Activities Office…
Reminder to all 9th graders: Don’t forget there is a Link Crew meeting on Wednesday, October 15 during 3rd hour. You should have heard about this from your Link Crew Leaders. Please wait for the announcements before heading to your locations. We can’t wait to see you there!!!
Please join us as PC’s Theatre Department presents “Alice by Heart”!
Alice by Heart opens on Friday, October 24, 2025 at 7:30 pm Additional shows are Saturday, October 25th, October 31st and November 1st at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Sunday, October 26th and November 2nd at 2 pm Tickets are $18.00 for adults and $16.00 for students. Here is the link to purchase tickets: PCHS Box Office Link. There is also a student performance on Thursday, October 30th at 7 pm Students must have a current ID and $5.00 to enter. We only take cash for that performance.
Synopsis: In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer’s teen life is turned upside down, and she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.
PC Activities Craft Show: Saturday, November 1 from 9 am - 3 pm
The PCHS Activities Craft Show will be held on this day. Get your Holiday shopping done early!!! Also, all money raised through the sale of booths at the Craft Show goes to support our students and their Activities!!!
Looking for Money for College?
For your convenience, we have several virtual Financial Aid Nights offered on Tuesdays during October, November and December. Here is a link with more information: Virtual FAFSA Nights. We also have several scholarships listed on the Senior GLIC Scholarships Page.
Might you be able to donate some personal-hygiene, other needed items for our kids?
We are reaching out to ask for your support for our Backpack Buddies Program, which provides weekend meals to students facing food insecurity. In addition to meals, we would like to extend our support by offering hygiene products and clothing to students in need. To make this possible, we are seeking donations of the following items:
Hygiene products (toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, etc.).
Hair products (shampoo and conditioner) for a wide range of hair types and textures.
New or gently used clothing and jackets (all sizes teens).
New socks and undergarments (T-Shirts).
Financial contributions to purchase the above items.
Your generosity will make a direct impact on students in our community, ensuring they have the essentials they need to thrive.
If you are able to contribute, please drop off donations to the Portage Central High School Concierge Desk, at our Main Entrance. For any questions feel free to contact Jason Badders at bbaker@portageps.org
Thank you for your continued support and kindness,
The Backpack Buddies Team
Are you a student-athlete dreaming of playing your sport at the NCAA level?
Invest in your future and spend an hour on Sunday, Nov. 3, from 6 to 7 pm Eastern time, understanding the requirements and how to prepare for NCAA certification. Virtually join NCAA Eligibility Center staff, who will walk you through what you need to do to compete at the NCAA Division I, II or III level. NCAA Staff will be answering questions live during the presentation, so come prepared to learn how to take your game to the next level! Click here to register:
PC Marching Band achieves high marks at first competition
Congratulations to the PC Marching Band on the results of their first competition, which was held at Stevensville Lakeshore HS. The band earned First Place in Class A, and earned the captions for Best Music, Best Marching, Best Percussion, and Best Color Guard and got an overall score of 93 points!! As always, we are proud of the tradition of excellence that continues with the marching band program each year.
The band's next competition is on Saturday at the Vicksburg Invitational at 8:00 pm -- the band hopes to see you there!
Just a few reminders about…
Pick up and drop off at PC
Before and after school are busy times on our campus as we move more than 2000 students through our doors here and at the middle school -- many of them traveling in individual cars. It is interesting: between when we built the new PC in 2011 and just before the pandemic, bus use by our students decreased by 50 percent – and the percentage decreased further as we maintained distances as we responded to Covid. So we have far more cars on campus than we ever imagined.
We know that it can be frustrating at times, and so we ask for an extra measure of patience. We would also ask that everyone keep these tips in mind.
Slowing down can help keep everyone safe. The speed limit in a parking lot is 15 miles an hour.
While waiting in the designated loops, please close the gap between you and the car in front of you.
And please, only drop off and pick up students in the designated loops, not in the roads or drives. Picking up kids in the drive off Westnedge in particular can push other cars out into the city streets, slowing down everyone and everything.
It may be tempting to help keep things moving by rolling through our stop signs, but unless someone is directing traffic and indicates for you to proceed, please come to a stop and look for oncoming traffic before continuing.
Remember that we work with awesome kids – and as a friend of mine says, they are not well practiced in the art of driving. Heavens… I think about what I put my first car through (an intensely ugly, brown 1978 Ford Granada), and I know I can never be judgmental toward a high-school driver. So please give care and grace.
Also, later in the day, when picking up athletes or students in activities, it isn’t as crowded, but it is just as important for everyone to keep their speed appropriate for a parking lot rather than a cartoon frog.
Want to earn some community-service hours by helping with CMS volleyball?
My name is Payton Fleming, and I am the Athletic Director at Portage Central Middle School. I am currently looking for volunteers to help run our middle school volleyball tournament.
When: Sat Oct 11th and Sat Oct 18th: Time 8:30 am- 4:00 pm
Where: Portage Central Stable
Jobs Needed:
(8 people) Game Table- Run scoreboard and Scorekeeper (No prior knowledge needed)
(2 people) Concessions- Help run Concession
(2 people) Gate- Help collect money at the gate.
(1 Person) T-shirt Sales- Help sell T-shirts
If you are interested please fill out this Google Form: Volunteer Form Volleyball
One last reminder…
School-picture retakes this Monday
This is just a friendly reminder that picture retake day will take place on the morning of Monday, October 13th – that is this upcoming Monday! If your student would like their photo retaken, or taken for the first time, then please let them know to expect that opportunity on this day. PA announcements will call students down by grade level and last name. If your student has an off-campus class or is absent during part of this morning, please let them know to report to the auditorium lobby before leaving or as soon as they arrive. A proof of your student's photo will be shared with you via email within the following weeks. You should have received the proof for your student's first photo already, if it was taken. If you haven't, or if you have any other questions, contact Strawbridge at 1-866-624-6229 or customerservice@strawbridge.net.
Thanks for being thoughtful about keeping pepper spray out of the school building
Over the years we have talked with a few of our students who have carried pepper spray on their keychains for protection. While we understand the value of self-defense sprays, these are included in the weapons-free school zone rules and are, therefore, prohibited at school. It is also important to know that being in possession of pepper spray in school or at a school event could result in disciplinary action up to expulsion. Students who need to carry pepper spray may leave it in their vehicle or can bring it to the Main Office immediately upon arrival at school to be picked up after school. Thanks for this!
In a lot of thanks, as always,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…