For Thursday, August 31
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
Thank you for attending our McCamley-Knight dedication last Friday!
Portage Central: Where only your best is good enough.
~ Nonie Knight, quoting her husband at our dedication celebration Friday night
But if you were not able to attend the celebration, it was truly wonderful. So many retired colleagues and friends and former players and members of the Knight family were there. (Stop me sometime so I can tell you about Bob’s brother.)
But without question, the best part of the evening was what Nonie had to say – and that the awesome kids of PCTV and Ashley Bowen were able to capture. Hit this link to watch. We had struggles with feedback, and I apologize for that. But Nonie’s words and emotions still beamed through.
As an aside, Nonie would disagree that her words were the best part of the night. Instead, she would say the fact that Mick’s boys played well and won the game was the best part. Yup… that’s Nonie.
Want to get involved with the PTO? There are a few ways to help!
- Join us at our meetings the 2nd Monday of the month at 5:30 pm in the staff kitchen
- Follow our Facebook Page (Portage Central High School PTO)
- Donate items for our next teacher appreciation event. Click this link to sign up!
Thanks for your help and support!
We shared a lot of information with all our kids on Monday morning
We start every year making sure all our students have the information they need to navigate our wonderful and at-times awkward home well. Click the GLIC to find and read through the information we shared with students during Enrollment Room on the first day of school. And, click this link to see our Welcome Back video to get a bit of sense of how excited we are that they are here.
Mustangs Unite Against Hate
Next week, on Thursday, September 7, we are excited to host the No Hate Tour, sponsored by ASA and the United States Marines. Students will attend the outdoor assembly with their 5th hour class. Accuweather is predicting a warm, sunny day on the 7th. Sunscreen and water bottles are recommended for the 30-45 minute assembly.
Got questions about Covid?
Even as I typed that question above, I shuddered… preferring not to even think of those times. But the reality is, we continue to have kids who catch it. When that happens, we recommend that the student do what all of us should do when we get sick: stay home, get rest and feel better. Please keep in mind that if a student does test positive, snap a picture of the positive test, and email that to Jody Thrash in the Attendance Office for a medically waived absence. Too, we as a school continue to be responsible to inform the county health department about folks who are sick with Covid each week. Do you have any questions about the state’s Covid response these days? Just hit this link!
More reminders about lunches? I know I need them…
Meals are free this year, and we still need your help
Although school meals are free to all students this year, meal benefit applications are still important to our district. Benefit applications can lead to additional state and federal funding for school services and supplies like academic intervention staff, counselors, social workers, school nurses, technology, and professional learning. If you qualified for free or reduced lunch based on income last year, or if you think you may qualify this year, please consider filling out the confidential application; it only takes a few minutes to complete. Families are encouraged to apply online at https://portage.familyportal.cloud/benefits/onlyapplying
Wondering about what constitutes a free meal? See the graphics from our food service team.
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 at the Welcome Center. The electronic permission form was emailed directly to the parent and guardian email addresses listed in Skyward earlier this week. Questions? Direct them to your assistant principal, and thanks!
Freshman families…
Please review the presentation delivered by our assistant principals to your freshmen this week
This week, in your freshman’s science class, our assistant principals visited and shared some of the specific details that make high school different than middle school. Mrs. Salisbury and Mrs. Kaylor focused, too, on the differences in expectations that exist between the spheres in which we spend our time (at home, at school, at school activities, with friends, and at work). Most importantly, they emphasized the values and expectations that we as Mustangs commit to at Portage Central High School. It is important to all of us that our school is a community in which students are safe and have a sense of belonging. Click here to see the content of that presentation.
Just one last reminder…
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 that you want to count toward the award must be turned in to Mr. Brown in the Study Lab 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 September 12. More information can be found on our website or by having a conversation with Mr. Brown in the Study Lab.
Grateful for a great first week,
Eric
And if you want even more PC news…