For Thursday, March 12
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
Did you know that the U.S. government minted its final penny last November?
That's because it cost 3.69 cents to make a single penny! We’re wondering if you might get rid of all those annoying pennies by giving them to kids who need some extra help? Put your pennies to their best use and drop them to us! They are going into the jars on the table outside the Main Office to vote for your favorite Ted Lasso character look-alike. All money collected will help grow our Mustangs Care fund.
As a reminder, Mustangs Care is a new fund to support our kids in need with a little extra help so they can stay on track with their education. And our first fundraiser for this will be our biennial Teacher Talent[less] Show coming up right before Spring Break, on Wednesday, March 25 at 7 pm This event is a ton of fun, and two springs ago we packed the Auditorium and raised over $5000 to get our new counseling dog, Toby. This time all our proceeds will go to Mustangs Care, so we can help our kids years into the future. Click here for more details – and thanks for considering this!
And speaking of the March 25 Teacher Talent[less] Show…
PC staff will be showcasing their for-real creative arts, crafts, and baking talents for our first-ever Mustangs Care Raffle at the Teacher Talent[less] Show. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 with drawings to take place for a crocheted animal, a wood-turned bowl and pen, embroidered PC wear, framed artwork, a custom t-shirt quilt, frosted sugar cookies, and more! So bring your dollars, Mustangs, and buy your tickets to win something that showcases our teachers’ talents outside the classroom and that helps Mustangs Do Good.
Juniors taking the SAT, do you need a calculator?
If you'd like to borrow a school-issued calculator for the SAT on April 8th, please fill out the linked form by 3 pm on Friday, April 3rd. A calculator will be delivered to your testing room on test day for you. Thanks!
Thank you for being such a help to our PTO -- and to us!
You donated more than $400 last month to go toward dinner for colleagues at our parent-teacher conferences. We are so grateful; you made very tired teachers so much happier.
Tickets are limited…
“A Night in the Emerald City” Prom information that you don’t want to miss!
The Night in the Emerald City Prom 2026 will take place on Saturday, April 25 from 8:30 pm to 11 pm at the WMU Fetzer Center.
Tickets will go on sale at the Welcome Center for SENIORS ONLY starting Monday, March 16. Tickets are $35.00 each. Remember, if you purchase a ticket online, you must pick up your actual ticket from the Welcome Center prior to prom, or you will not be allowed to enter.
Tickets will go on sale for Juniors and Seniors starting Monday, April 6, and all ticket sales will end Thursday, April 23 at 3 pm No tickets will be sold past this date or at the door.
All school fines and fees must be paid before purchasing a ticket.
We highly recommend you purchase a ticket as soon as possible as we have sold out in the past.
For any questions, contact Nikki Smith, Activities Director, at nsmith@portageps.org. Get ready to head down to the Oz Dust Ballroom and defy gravity!
So important for our kids and what they choose to do next…
Spring Testing is almost here!
Soon after we get back from Spring Break it will be time for spring SAT/PSAT/WinWork/M-STEP testing. Remember that these tests are required by the State of Michigan and are also a Portage Public Schools graduation requirement. Here is a quick summary of the schedule on those testing days:
Students with extended-time testing accommodations will obviously be done later than the schedule listed above.
9th and 10th graders will have a Seminar period in their testing rooms after their test while the Juniors are finishing up. They will have access to their Chromebooks, but will not be able to access any books or other materials during this post-test Seminar period.
All students will have class in the afternoon of both days.
A shout-out to our incredibly talented business-minded students…
PC DECA state results
This past weekend, 87 PC students represented our school at the DECA State Career Development Conference in Detroit. The PC DECA Advisors, Mrs. Mayfield and Ms. Wilcoxson, are so proud of ALL our students who presented their ideas and projects at the state level against over 5,000 students from schools across Michigan. If your student competed this weekend, please congratulate them on their efforts and take a look at our team picture.
Our DECA students either a) wrote papers and prepared a presentation, or b) completed two role plays (business scenarios) and took an assessment. Because of that, they are all winners in our book! PC earned a total of five test medals, 12 role play medals, 11 State Finalists (top 10 in the State), and 20 International Career Development Conference Qualifiers (representing PC at the International Level). A full summary of our students’ accomplishments can be found here. The PC DECA advisors would like to thank the supportive administration, teachers, and parents of these students. We couldn’t do it without you!
Yearbook applications for the 2027 Yearbook Staff are due before spring break!
Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors: Are you hoping to be a part of the 2027 Yearbook crew? If so, be sure to complete the 26/27 Yearbook Staff Application and email it to Mrs. Alburtus at aalburtus@portageps.org before spring break. The application is also available on the GLIC, or you can scan the QR code on the bulletin boards around school to get your copy. Got questions? Reach out to Mrs. Alburtus.
A deadline that is important for a lot of our students…
Are you interested in earning the Community Service Award?
The deadline for the 2025-2026 Community Service Award is approaching. All service hours worked before spring break must be submitted by March 26 to count toward the 2025-26 school year awards. Hours worked over spring break must be turned in by April 10. Remember: 50 hours earns you the yearly award, the 200 hours earns you the four-year award for seniors.
All community-service sheets should be turned in to Coach Brown in the Study Lab – except for the week of March 23, when he needs to be away from school. During that week, please bring your sheets to the Main Office for Mr. Alburtus. Thanks for this!
Just a reminder…
Class of 2026 Senior Yard Signs – On Sale
Celebrate your senior with a yard sign! Pre-orders are open via this LINK, through March 23rd.
NEW this year - customized sign option (with name) as well as the standard senior sign option
We will have a limited number of signs available for purchase at pickup, while supplies last. Please bring exact cash or a check payable to "PCHS PTO" to any of the pickup dates in April/May.
Pickup Dates:
Thursday, April 23rd, during lunch
Friday, April 24th, before school (7:15 am - 7:40 am) and during lunch
Thursday, April 30th, during lunch
Friday, May 1st, before school (7:15 am - 7:40 am) and during lunch
Follow this LINK for additional information and to place your order. Questions? Email: pchsptotreasurer@gmail.com
Proud and grateful for our kids and their leadership,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…