For Thursday, January 8
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
Do you have an 8th grader? Or know someone who does?
8th Grade Family Night coming Tuesday, February 24 at 6:30 pm in our Auditorium
It might seem like next August and the start of high school are a long way off, but it will be here sooner than we realize. Plus, there are a lot of important decisions that families need to make to prepare their 8th-grade kids so they are ready to make the jump to high school. This event starts all of those conversations. More information will go out in Mustang Minutes about this and other events in the weeks ahead. For now, we would ask that you get this date and time on your calendar so you will be ready! Thanks for that -- and we can't wait to meet you!
A district-wide opioid education event coming this March
This past year, the city of Portage granted Portage Public Schools funding from the Michigan Opioid Settlement to offer services to our PPS students and local community in the 2025-2026 school year. Thanks to this financial support and the organizational efforts of some incredible PC educators, we are pleased to announce the details of a district-wide opioid education event coming soon to our community.
Becky Savage, author of #OneChoice and co-founder of the 525 Foundation, a nurse educator, and National speaker who educates teens, parents, first responders, and school officials on the dangers of prescription drug misuse will be coming to PPS on March 9-11.
She will be speaking to all 8th graders, 11th and 12th graders. Her mission is to "prevent loss through education and awareness.” As a mom who lost two of her boys to opioids, this topic is near and dear to her heart. She educates students about the impact one choice can make on your life, discusses refusal skills, pill identification, and more.
We would also like to invite you to hear Becky speak on the evening of March 11. This event is free and open to the community. The conversation will be centered on the dangers of alcohol and prescription drug misuse and abuse.
We understand the sensitivity of these topics and will have support in place during and after all of our school events for anyone who wants to talk, needs support, or just wants more information.
We hope you can attend the evening event at Portage Central High School Auditorium. More information to come on these upcoming events.
Just a reminder…
Exam week will be here next week!
And we need everyone’s help so that all our kids feel prepared – both academically, and with good breakfasts so they are ready to do their best! Hit this link to take a look at the exam schedule and to see how buses will run that week too. And as our kids prepare for those exams…
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. Cocoa & Cram Tutoring
Next week lunches will still be available on exam days
The Mustang Café will be open for breakfasts daily (at the normal time) and for grab and go lunches Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during exam week. Lunch will be at no charge and we will have some a’la carte items available too!
Thanks for your help!
Exam week attendance
Just like any other school day, students are expected to be in attendance for their scheduled classes each exam day. And, to support a quiet, distraction-free testing environment in our classes, students should either be present during an entire exam period, or, they must have an excused absence for the entire period if the absence cannot be avoided. To minimize distractions, early dismissals to leave the building are not processed or delivered while exams are in progress. If a student has an appointment during part of an exam period that can’t be changed, or if they end up missing an exam period due to illness or because of an appointment, they should plan to make up the missed exam during the makeup exam session on Friday, January 16th. In classes without exams, like seminar, we ask that any absences be excused in advance of the exam period, for the same reason of keeping our classrooms and halls optimal for test administration. Reach out to your teachers if you miss an exam for any reason, and thanks for your help!
Families of 8th, 9th, and 10th graders - save the date!
Learn more about the International Baccalaureate program at The IB Family Informational Night on Tuesday, January 20th
We are fortunate to have been an International Baccalaureate school for over 25 years now. This program focuses on critical thinking, research skills and service as a part of the learning process. We consistently hear back from our alumni that our IB Program provides outstanding preparation for college. Most colleges and universities also award credit and/or advanced placement based on how well a student does on their exams. We value the program, not just because it helps our kids get into the schools that they want, but it helps them be successful once they are there. If you have an 8th, 9th, or 10th grade student and are interested in finding out more, please join us at our IB Parent Informational Night, Tuesday, January 20th at 7 pm in the PC Community Room.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Just a reminder from the Activities Office…
Winter Homecoming
Winter Homecoming will be the week of January 26-30, 2026. The Homecoming Dance will be on Saturday, January 31st from 8-11 pm here at Portage Central in the Commons. More information will be forthcoming.
Prom date and location
I just wanted to let all families and students know that Prom 2026 will be Saturday, April 25th, from 8:30-11 pm at the Fetzer Center. It is for Juniors and Seniors. More information will be forthcoming in the months ahead, but I wanted to be sure that folks had that date and location on their calendars. Thanks!
Help us remind our students…
Go to enrollment room at the start of the day on Tuesday, January 20
On the first day of each semester, students go directly to an "enrollment room" at the start of the school day. Important announcements are shared, policies are reviewed, and students will receive a printed copy of their second semester schedule. For more information about what we share in enrollment room, check out this page of the GLIC.
Thank you for helping us recover outstanding materials
In enrollment rooms on Monday, students with outstanding textbooks will receive a notification and we will be working with them to get those materials returned. If you see any books laying around – in a car, under a bed, or elsewhere – ask whether that book needs to be returned to school. In the coming weeks, we will notify families if we are unsuccessful in recovering outstanding materials from students. Thanks for your help!
Seniors, do you want money for college?
Are you seeking scholarships for next year? Remember that the Portage Education Foundation (PEF) offers several scholarships for PPS students. There are scholarships taking into account your future plans, your high school activities, your ability to overcome, or your financial need! Learn more and apply online HERE.
PEF Scholarship applications and any supporting documents are due by February 14, so don't wait! Instructions are specific to each scholarship, so be sure to read carefully and complete them thoroughly.
And our thanks also goes out to Metro Toyota!
Metro Toyota is a new sponsor this year, and we are so grateful that they joined us – because they brought us over the top: we as a whole community just raised enough for our next counseling dog. We had Phoebe from 2020 until last spring, and now we are fortunate to have our current counseling dog, Toby. And now we know that whenever Toby needs to retire, we will have what we need to provide our kids support with another awesome counseling dog.
Thank you so much for your support and good wishes as we reached this goal!
Well rested after spending a lot of time with family,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…