For Tuesday, August 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
City road construction still going on at Westnedge near PC
The construction folks from the city of Portage poured some additional concrete on Saturday, with the hope of wrapping up the road construction – and all of the cones – going on at Westnedge here at PC as soon as possible. But we all recognize that construction often takes longer than we hope. So please keep these things in mind:
Leave home early to get to school safely. We love our kids, and high-school students often drive like… high-school students. I know I did. So please, students, give yourself an additional 15-20 minutes of driving time, so as you work through traffic, you can take things nice and calmly.
Talk with your kids about driving slowly and safely. Families, please encourage your kids to leave home early, whether it is for the first days of school, for practice and events, and for this Thursday’s celebration for the McCamley-Knight Field and our football game.
Be patient with our wonderful bus drivers. Navigating through the traffic cones is hard with my truck; it’s a lot tougher with a bus. So our drivers will be driving very cautiously and thus more slowly, so thanks for your patience.
We will keep you in the loop, as we know more about construction in the days ahead. Thanks for your help!
Please come and join us – but one hour later than we had originally planned on
The celebration for sure will go on at 7:45, and if the temperature is under the state rules, the game will kick off at 8. We will have a great time together, and we will celebrate what Coach Knight and his colleagues and students and players accomplished here for over 50 years. It will be great to see you!
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, August 21, 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. And, take a look at this link to see what we talked about. Thanks!
We are excited for our first day of school!
On the first day of each school year (and typically on the first day of the second semester, too), students go directly to an "enrollment room" at the start of the school day, before they head to their first period class. In Enrollment Rooms, teachers share important announcements, policies, and forms students will need to start the school year. When you arrive on Monday, August 28, go directly to the Welcome Center to find your assigned Enrollment Room number and teacher. These will be posted alongside your name at the Welcome Center and at the ends of each academic hallway so that you will know where to go! And, look for those Link Crew Leaders whom you met at Freshman Orientation–they will be here to help you if you get lost!
After Enrollment Room, students will follow a shortened version of their typical schedule (see below). Off-campus classes do not meet on August 28. Students with an off-campus class(es) will go to the Commons on August 28 during that class period(s) for more important information, including departure/arrival times and transportation.
Enrollment Room: 7:40- 8:35
1st hour 8:40- 8:55
2nd hour 9:00-9:15
3rd hour 9:20-9:35
4th hour 9:40-9:55
5th hour 10:00-10:15
6th hour 10:20 -10:35
7th hour 10:40 -10:55
Don’t forget!
Please come to our Open House!
Get to know teachers! Meet your assistant principals! Walk your schedule and find your locker! Join some clubs! Eat ice cream! You can do all of this tomorrow – Wednesday, August 23rd from 6:30 pm to 8 p.m. There will be an Activities Fair in Centennial Park, weather permitting (otherwise it will be held in the Commons), so students can get club information before school starts.
Speaking of driving safely…
Are you planning on driving to PC this year?
If so, make sure that you take a few minutes to register your car with the Welcome Center. Use the following link to fill out your car's information and then stop by the Welcome Center starting at Open House (August 23 from 6:30-8:00) to pay, get your parking sticker, and – new this year! – grab a FREE PC Sticker!
Off-Campus lunch passes
All students in grades 9 through 12 with parent permission are eligible to apply for a lunch pass for $2 per month. Eligibility for this pass is tied to attendance and is run monthly. Each month, provided a student has no more than 1 unexcused absence and no more than 3 excused absences in the previous month, they will remain eligible for the lunch pass. Planning a family vacation? See the GLIC for more information about the different types of absences and how they impact lunch pass eligibility. Students may reapply for lunch privileges at the end of each month. The electronic permission form will be emailed to the parent and guardian email addresses listed in Skyward in the coming days. Direct any questions to your assistant principal. Thanks!
Have you met Phoebe?
Phoebe is one of our colleagues for a few years now, and she works to support the emotional needs of students in distress. This can be in a one-on-one or group setting. Phoebe works in the counseling office and in individual classrooms upon teacher request. She is here to support all PC employees and students. Do you have questions? Feel free to call your counselor.
Be on the lookout for…
New Medical Authorization process and forms from our district office
This week, you will be receiving an email communication from our district office regarding a new process for medical authorization for students to possess and consume prescription and over-the-counter medicine while at school. This district message will be sent to the email address you have on file in Skyward. Stay tuned and reach out to the Main Office with any questions.
Review the Code of Conduct presentation… anytime on the GLIC
If you missed the Code of Conduct meeting at Freshman Orientation on Aug 21, the entire slide deck can be found on the Portage Central Grade Level Information Center by following this link.
Getting excited about Monday,
Eric
And if you want even more PC news…