For Thursday, August 27
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
Keeping you in the loop with our on-going effort at student internet monitoring
For years, the good folks in our district’s technology department have had systems in place to try to prevent students from accessing inappropriate content online using their Portage Public Schools accounts. Last year, we started to try out an additional component of our online safety support for students. Working with Lightspeed Systems, an educational software company out of Austin, Texas, building principals like me receive an email whenever the system detects something of possible concern written or searched for by students while using their portageps.org account, whether that occurs during the school day or outside of school hours.
As you might imagine, last year I received a few emails from the system so far, and each of them has been pleasant. One was a writing assignment by one of our students for her ceramics class, and in the piece she misspelled “kiln” and instead spelled “kill” — which is why the report was generated. In another, a student was quoting lines from the 2013 animated movie “Epic” in a paper he was writing. In a third one of our student journalists was brainstorming story ideas and one was “school shootings.” You get it: these words create understandable anxiety, and our kids are going about their work, as they should: thoughtfully and responsibly.
Of course, these examples might not always be the case. And whether the situation is pleasant or worrying, we will do as we always have done: work to communicate well with families so we can support each of our kids whenever it is needed. So with that in mind, as I receive these alerts in the future, I will work with families to decide what we need to do next.
I think I have shared with you before that I don’t subscribe to the idea that kids are worse today than when we were kids. (Truly I think they are better. Or at least better than I was in high school. 😃 ) But electronic communication — whether that is social media or what a student writes in a Google Doc — has changed the high-school experience. And it will likely change again, as Artificial Intelligence becomes more a part of our lives. I know I’m not smart enough to answer all the unsettled questions in those areas. But I do know our kids. They are incredible: bright, caring and hard-working. And on occasion they make mistakes, like we did at their age. And I know when we talk openly, and honestly, we can figure out pretty much anything.
Thanks for your patience as we continue working with this new product. And as always if you have any questions or thoughts, reach out anytime.
Thank you for coming to Freshmen Orientation, New Student Orientation and Open House!
Our 375+ freshmen were awesome at Orientation on Monday! They were engaged and excited and respectful as they worked with 84 committed Link Leaders who gave so much of their time to help make the transition to high school friendlier and easier. Student leadership has always been a key to our health and success at PC.
We shared a number of resources, but in case you missed anything, take a look:
Just a quick reminder…
Did you miss Freshman or New Student Orientation?
If your 9th grader or new-to-PPS student was not able to attend Orientation on Monday, please reach out to Nikki Smith, Activities Director, (nsmith@portageps.org) and she will make sure they make a connection with their Link Crew Leader and have all the information they need. Plus, if you have any questions about the school-issued Chromebooks, take a look right here first. Thanks!
Just a reminder…
Monday, August 31, our first day of school
On our first half-day of school, all students will get information about school policies and upcoming events in their Enrollment Rooms. Students report to these Enrollment Rooms at the start of the school day. Enrollment Room classroom numbers and teachers for each PC student will be posted around the Welcome Center and Main Lobby area. Students who have off-campus class(es) will go to the Commons on August 31 during that off-campus class period(s).
Enrollment Room: 7:40- 8:35
The information distributed in Enrollment Rooms can also be found on the GLIC. Here are the quick links to those pages:
We will share a lot of information with all of our kids on Monday morning
We start every school year with an “Enrollment Room,” a period where we ensure our students have access to the information they need to navigate our wonderful and at-times awkward school home well. Teachers reviewed important information and gave students an opportunity to ask questions. To take a peek at the types of information we share during Enrollment Room, click the GLIC and navigate to the tile labeled “School Policies and Forms.” Within that section, you will find access to the Student Handbook and other school policy information, like our school cell phone and personal electronic device policy, our attendance policies, network expectations, and more. Please open and review the handbook and information and resources for support that are available on the GLIC, and reach out to your assistant principal if you have any questions.
How about one more reminder…
Picture Day is coming on Thursday, September 3
Our photographers will be here on September 3 for school picture day. They will be on-site for most of the school day in order to allow off-campus students the opportunity to have their photos taken--however, if your student is unable to have their photo taken on this day, fear not! Picture retakes will happen on October 12. Students who did not like their photos and would like to have a retake on this day can have their photos taken on retake day as well.
PC Yearbook wants your summer photos for the 2027 yearbook!
Did you travel? Hang out by your pool or on the lake? Volunteer? Condition for sports? Chill with friends and family? Work a summer job? We'd love to see what you did after school got out in June!
Students can click on this Summer Fun Photos link to share their summer photos and stories! Got questions? Email yearbook adviser Ann Alburtus at aalburtus@portageps.org.
Just a reminder…
Off-Campus lunch passes
All students in grades 9 through 12 with parent/guardian permission are eligible to apply for a lunch pass for $2 per month. Lunch passes are an earned privilege for students with good attendance. Students may have no more than 1 unexcused absence and no more than 3 excused absences in the previous month in order to be eligible. A student's lunch pass can be revoked at any time by school administration for academic or disciplinary reasons. Students with unserved detentions will not be eligible to purchase a lunch pass, for example. See the GLIC for more information about the different types of absences and how they impact lunch pass eligibility. Students must reapply for lunch privileges at the beginning of each month (Aug./Sept. and May/June are considered one month).
Mrs. Burghard emailed lunch pass permission slips to parent and guardians last week. Please fill out the form using the email address it was sent to so that it is recognized as a parent/guardian email. We've got some new software this year, so if you did not receive the email -- we can fix it! Please email Mrs. Burghard at kburghard@portageps.org ASAP so that we can get you access to the form if you did not receive it.
Need volunteer hours? West Middle School needs YOU!
Please see the the sign up genius link or QR code below for back to school help that we need and be sure to join the WMS Volunteer Opps Google Classroom with the code: ipf6yhry or email bmoon@portageps.org to get you added. We will be posting many opportunities throughout the year, especially for sports.
SIGN UP GENIUS LINK or QR code for back to school help - Starts Thursday!!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044AAFAA2DA3F94-65264152-west
And from our friends at the PPS district business office…
Voluntary student accident insurance program
During the school year the Portage Board of Education makes available a voluntary student accident insurance program. Since the District has made this insurance available, an increasing number of parents/guardians have been taking advantage of this inexpensive policy. This fact dictates that as a community service, we will continue to offer this voluntary insurance.
The District offers this program because of trends in rising family health and dental insurance costs, increased deductibles, and co-payments. Furthermore, in an attempt to limit the Districts’ rising insurance costs, this program provides an alternative for claims due to accidental injuries that unfortunately occur on our property. This is the case for both during and after school hours.
Plan information and the enrollment forms are available and respond to diverse family insurance needs. Coverage provided can help decrease the burden of unexpected medical and dental expenses, including those left unpaid due to family insurance deductibles and copayments.
As it relates to middle and high school interscholastic athletics, this voluntary insurance plan also provides coverage for all sports except grades 9 through 12 tackle football. In that the District requires athletic insurance, you should consider this policy for the coverage it will provide you and your child.
Take a look right here for the information about the voluntary student accident coverage through First Agency. This insurance can be used for all students whether they participate in athletic sporting events or not. Just use this website: www.1stagency.com and use the search engine to "FIND YOUR SCHOOL.” Or you can call (269) 381-6630 for plan options, payments and coverage information.
In case you missed them…
More instructional videos for how to navigate PC from the awesome folks at PCTV!
How to navigate the lunch line? Easy – hit this link!
And keeping this place clean is important; click here.
Lunch passes and parking passes: The Why, and where the money goes
And here is a new one for this week: How to serve a lunch detention, 2:50
Thanks for watching and learning with us!
Final call!
Deadlines for our community-service awards
Every spring, Portage Central recognizes students who consistently commit their time and energy to community service. You can visit the Community Service page for more information and get a copy of the Service form. Any hours served throughout the school year that you want to count toward the award must be turned in to Mr. Brown in the Study Lab or main office within four weeks of the service date, even if the hours are part of an ongoing activity. Any hours completed over the summer must be turned in by 3:00 pm on Friday, September 11. No summer hours will be accepted after this date. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Brown in the Study Lab (Room 1133) or email rbrown@portageps.org
Grateful for a great start,
Eric
And if you want even more PC news…