For Thursday, January 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
We so would appreciate your feedback as we look for a new colleague
I have served in this role for far longer than I had ever planned for a handful of reasons – and among the biggest is that I work with the best teammates any person ever could. Have you met Tama Salisbury and Aja Kaylor and Nikki Smith? Amazing humans: super smart and hard working, great teachers, thoughtful professionals and moms – which makes them ten-times more thoughtful. When I look at the future for PC, I have no worries, as long as they are here to guide our kids and colleagues.
And we are losing Jim Schafer as our athletic director as he re-retires. He has invested in our kids and community since the early 1980s, helping to build a culture of intense effort and committed relationships. I am beyond grateful to have him as a colleague and as a friend.
So starting now we are looking for a new teammate, to help us continue to grow our kids and our culture. And we would be so grateful for your thoughts on what we should look for in a new colleague. Hit this link – Family Feedback: PC Athletics – anytime between now and February 2, and we will work hard, Together, to do what is best for all our kids.
Families of 8th, 9th, and 10th graders - save the new, new date!
Moving the IB Family Informational Night to Thursday, January 29nd at 7 pm
First, we hope you had safe and happy snow days!
At the same time, we recognize that all families are busy, so changing a date can create complications – especially when we do it twice. Thanks for your patience as we move our IB Night to Thursday, January 29 at 7 pm in the PC Community Room.
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, Thursday, January 29 at 7 pm in the PC Community Room.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Just a reminder…
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!
Too, have you had a chance to respond to the curriculum-audit survey?
As you might have read, we as a district have engaged with an outside organization to complete a full audit of our curriculum and other aspects of our work together. You should have received an email from the district already, but if not, click below to share your thoughts.
Parent English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PortageParentEnglish
Parent Spanish: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/PortageParentSpanish
Thanks for considering it!
PTO reminder regarding the Grad Bash account
The PCHS PTO has maintained a loan account for many years to assist with large venue deposits for Grad Bash; however, it is important to note that the PTO is not responsible for planning the Grad Bash event itself.
Since Grad Bash has not been planned for the past two years, the PTO board is providing a second notice reminder that this account will be "sunsetted." Instead, a designated dollar amount will be set aside to support each graduating class over a number of years.
If we do not receive any feedback or inquiries by February 2027, we will begin allocating these funds to benefit upcoming senior classes. If you have any questions, please reach out directly to pchsptopresident@gmail.com
Please join us!
Join us for our winter production, Newsies!
Shows are on Friday, February 6 & 13 and Saturday, February 7 and 14 @ 7:30 pm; Matinees are on Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 8 & 15 @ 2 pm Tickets go on sale this Monday, January 19th @ pchsboxoffice.ludus.com.
And, parents of children in grades K-8th grade…
There is a Newsies Backstage Experience on Saturday, February 7th from 1 - 5 pm The cost is $60. To register go to www.pctheatrearts.org.
And a reminder…
Winter Homecoming is right around the corner
Winter Homecoming is the week of January 26th through January 30th. The Winter Homecoming Dance will be on Saturday, January 31st, from 8 pm to 11 pm. Tickets are $10 each. It is a semi-formal, and the theme is Winter Candyland. Please connect with Mrs. Darrah at The Welcome Center as soon as possible if you are bringing a guest.
The dress up days are:
Monday: Groutfit Monday
Tuesday: Holidays
Wednesday: Mathlete vs. Athlete
Thursday: Blizzard Day
Friday: PC Spirit Day
The Winter Court will be presented at half-time of the Friday, January 30th Basketball Game.
Please reach out to Nikki Smith, the Activities Director, at nsmith@portageps.org if you have any questions.
Yearbook Club Photo Day is Monday, February 9!
Students, mark your calendars for this important event! If you are part of a PC club or activity (i.e. Fiber Arts Club, PCTV, IB Diploma candidate, KAMSC student, Link Crew Leader, etc.), get ready to be called down to the auditorium lobby sometime on February 9 to get your group photo taken for the 2026 yearbook. Got questions? Reach out to yearbook adviser Ann Alburtus at aalburtus@portageps.org.
IB Extended Essay Presentations
Please join us on Sunday, February 22nd at 3 pm as our IB Diploma students present their Extended Essay research projects. Guests will have the opportunity to select which sessions they would like to attend as our students give mini “TED Talks” on the research that they have been carrying out for the past year. This is always a fun event with lots of interesting discussions. (And snacks! Our Foods and Nutrition classes always make a wonderful spread of food to enjoy between sessions!) We are so proud of our students and hope you will join us!
Reminders from Mrs. Thrash in the Attendance Office as we start a new semester…
Medically-waived absences
I've been getting lots of questions from families regarding why, if they call in for attendance for a doctor appointment, dentist appointment, or illness, they are not a medically-waived absence. Whenever you, a parent or guardian, calls in to report your child's absence, it is always considered excused. However, if we receive documentation of the student's illness/appointment from a certified healthcare provider, we are able to change the excused absence to a medically-waived, non-totaling absence. We can accept almost any kind of official documentation from the healthcare provider: an appointment card, a note from the office, a screenshot of the appointment reminder from the healthcare office. Email me at jthrash@portageps.org or your student can turn in a paper copy to the attendance office.
And a quick reminder, too, about early dismissals
Any student who needs to leave school early must have an early dismissal pass that they hand to our staff on the way out of the building to leave school. In order to get that pass, a family member must contact Attendance Secretary Jody Thrash in advance of the dismissal at (269) 323-5259 or jthrash@portageps.org.
If you have more questions about our attendance and tardy policies, hit the GLIC or ask our Attendance Secretary Jody Thrash (jthrash@portageps.org)
Thankful for our friends in law enforcement
As I shared with a friend of mine, it’s really nice being old. Sure, there are some less-awesome aspects, but the pros certainly outweigh the cons – like the years I have been blessed to work with law enforcement officers in our area. For example, local DEA officers shared information about the worries surrounding fentanyl use and abuse; click right here if you would like to read and to learn more.
Our next Count Day for the district is coming up on Wednesday, Feb. 11
This day is important because it determines our school's funding. We want every student to be counted! Having all of our students here on that day ensures that PC receives the needed state funding so that we all can do our important work, together. With that in mind, we ask that you please avoid scheduling any non-critical, out-of-school appointments for your student on Wednesday, February 11. In addition, please encourage students who drive to school to arrive on time that day. Thank you for your help with this!
Interested in food science?
Might you be interested in the 2026 Explore Ag STEAM Academy, hosted by the George Washington Carver Food Research Institute (GWCFRI)? It is being held at the KRESA Career Connect Campus this summer!
From June 15th to June 26th, rising 10th–12th graders will take a two-week dive into the world of food science, nutrition, agriculture, and more. Students will discover how "food is medicine" as they work alongside industry experts to gain real-world knowledge in nutrition and science.
When: June 15 – June 26, 2026
Where: KRESA Career Connect Campus
Who: Rising 10th - 12th graders
Deadline to Apply: February 28th
Learn more and apply here: https://gwcfri.org/2026-ag-steam-academy/
And our thanks also goes out to Jac’s!
Have you ever been to Jac’s here in Portage on a Friday night after a game? It’s packed with Us, kids and families enjoying time with each other while having great food in a wonderful atmosphere. (Colleagues here have also been having wonderful Christmas parties and other gatherings here for years!) We are so grateful for their presence in our community and for their continued support.
Excited about the second half of the school year (though shocked that half of the year is already behind us,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…