For Thursday, December 4
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
Get ready to GLOW at the Winter Formal Dance!
This Saturday, December 6th, 8 - 11 pm
An event not to miss with electrifying music and neon vibes! DJ Bobby will be lighting up the dance floor. Students can purchase tickets on Friday, during lunch, or at the door, $10 cash only.
The PTO has a critical need for volunteers to help make this night amazing. We could use help with setup on Saturday afternoon, and during the dance (chaperone, refreshment table). Hit this link for specific information to VOLUNTEER. Donations of snacks and water are also needed: DONATIONS. Thank you for your support!
Might you be away from school for a few days?
If so, make sure to fill out a Pre-arranged Absence form to keep communication open
Students can pick up a Pre-arranged absence Form from Jody Thrash in our Attendance Office. The form helps students communicate with teachers and also helps students identify what school work is due before the absences and what school work is due upon return. If tests or quizzes are missed during the period of the absence, the student should schedule makeups at the earliest convenience of the classroom teacher.
Give the gift of blood on Dec. 19!
The PC Blood Drive Committee is hosting their Winter Drive on December 19th, Friday! Students, families, friends, you are all encouraged to sign up for this cause. One donation saves three lives, and with winter break rolling by, traumas and accidents occur more frequently. To get in the winter spirit, hot cocoa and donuts will be provided! Donors will also receive an awesome t-shirt to add to your wardrobe!
Those who are 16 or below must have their parents fill out the parent consent form and bring it with them to their scheduled appointment. The form can be found here. No consent form is necessary for 17 year olds or older. Be sure to also review the height and weight chart
to determine whether or not you are able to donate.
To register, Sign Up Here!
Visitors, be sure to check in at the Welcome Center with Mrs. Darrah before heading over to the Auditorium Lobby for your blood donation.
Our annual toy drive begins again!
As the holiday season approaches us, we are excited to announce that our school will be hosting an Angel Tree/Bronson Holiday Toy Drive! This tradition allows us to bring some joy to children who are less fortunate, or dealing with challenging times in the hospital.
We encourage you to join us in spreading kindness this season by donating new, unopened toys which relate to the gender and age group students were given in their 3rd hour class. Students are urged to bring these toys to their 3rd hour class by Monday, December 8th. Every contribution, big or small, makes a huge difference!
Food donations needed too during the Holidays
The PC Classroom Food Drive, in collaboration with Kalamazoo Central, will start next week, December 8th through December 12th! The drive will kick off at the upcoming PC vs. KC Basketball game this Friday, December 5th (a raffle will be included!). We hope that you all donate perishable goods (i.e. canned meats, rice, cereal, jelly, peanut butter, etc.), food scarcity is an important topic to address, especially in the winter season. All donations will go toward the various food banks of Kalamazoo: Loaves and Fishes, Twelve Baskets, and Portage Community Outreach Center.
Are you looking for a stocking stuffer for your PC student?
Vinnie's library cafe features a variety of drinks that our students enjoy; coffee (hot and cold), hot chocolate, tea, Italian soda, hot cider, and specialty/seasonal drinks. Many of our students frequent Vinnie's and and can save money with a punch card. Punch cards cost $16 and are good for $20 worth of drinks. Once purchased, we hold on to the card for our students and they simply give us their name. We punch their card and provide their drink. We are open during the school day from 7:15 am-10:25 am. If you are interested in purchasing a punch card for a student, please contact Sara Brown (sbrown@portageps.org) or Julie Griesbach (jgriesbach@portageps.org) via email or phone (269-323-5286). We can take cash or check (made out to Portage Public Schools). Payment can be delivered to the school office in an envelope clearly labeled with "Library" so it can be placed in our mailbox. If you would like confirmation that we have received your payment, please include a name and email on the envelope.
Yearbook Senior Memory Ads
Just a reminder that if you’d like to purchase a Senior Memory Ad for your Class of 2026 Graduate, all ad designs are due by midnight on December 21, 2025. Purchasing and designing your Senior Memory Ad is easy! Just visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and use code 3604. Scroll down and click Start Your Ad.
And don’t forget to order a yearbook! It makes for a great gift during the Holidays!
If you have any questions, reach out to adviser Ann Alburtus at aalburtus@portageps.org.
Holiday break is a great time to look for scholarships!
Seniors, don't forget to check out all the scholarship information on our scholarship website; hit this link to take a look!
In particular, the PEF (Portage Education Foundation) scholarships on this site are available only to PPS seniors; go to this site for more information or scan the QR code in the Counseling Office. The deadline to apply for the PEF scholarships is Feb. 14.
Progress Reports
Progress reports were mailed home this week to students who are earning a C- or lower in any class. The last day of the first semester is Friday, January 16. Please reach out to teachers if you have questions or concerns and be sure to check Skyward for updated grade information.
Ski Club and Discount Card registration
The snow is flying and ski resorts should be opening early this year. December 10 is the last day to purchase your punch card for discounts at Timber Ridge and/or Bittersweet. Please go to the PCHS website and scroll to the news section. You will then click the link for ski club. Please sign up as soon as possible and make payment via revtrak immediately to avoid missing out. If you have any questions please contacts Mrs. Brown, sbrown@portageps.org.
And to get on your calendar…
Link Crew Cocoa and Cram on Saturday, January 10 in the Commons
This will be held in the Commons at Portage Central from 9 am to 1 pm and is open for any student that needs assistance preparing for exams, 9th through 12th. There will be coffee, hot cocoa and donuts. Tutors will be available to work with students. Students do not need to schedule a time to come; they just drop in with their materials, and we will find someone to work with them. Also, if students want to work with a group of peers on preparing for exams, they can work here quietly together. Please encourage your students to attend or to sign up to tutor other students during this time. They will receive service hours and also truly help others. Tutors for the 25-26 School Year
We hope to see you at the…
PC Bands Collage Concert
This concert will be held on Wednesday, December 10th, at 7 pm. You can purchase tickets for $5 at this link: PCHS Box Office
Parking on the south side of the building for evening events
As we are moving into the winter season, we wanted to make you aware of the parking situation. Since the Auditorium and the Gymnasium are on the south side of our building, we are asking all patrons to park in the Stable Parking Lot and the Natatorium Parking Lot for concerts, shows and athletic games. Only those doors will be unlocked, only those parking lot lights will be on, and only those lots will be plowed. By parking there, you will be much closer to all events. If you have any questions, please reach out to Nikki Smith in the Activities Office.
Great Holiday Gifts!
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!
Thank you all for your support of Toby and our kids!
And our thanks also goes out to Data Guardian!
The White Family and Data Guardian have also been incredible supporters of our community and Portage Central for nearly 20 years now – and we continue to be so thankful.
The White Family has also supported us in having counseling dogs here for many years now – as well as years in the future. This summer we already started working on raising funds for our next counseling dog. Our goal: to raise $10,000 -$12,000 to pay for the next counseling dog, long after I am gone. If you would like to help, you can hit this link anytime, and we would be so, so grateful – as will our kids years into the future.
Celebrating St. Nicholaus Tag this Saturday, which would have made my German mom and Oma very happy,
Eric Alburtus