For Thursday, September 7
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 juniors are awesome – and so is 2006 grad, Nick Lobel!
As we met with classes on Thursday, a PC mom and retired colleague, Mary Scott, reached out to let us know that back in February PC alum Nick Lobel won a Grammy Award as a member of performer Harry Styles’s engineering team. She sent me a picture too of Nick at the Grammys celebration. So I asked our juniors if they could share their congratulations with them – and wow, did they! Hit this link to see!
I sent the video back to Mary, who sent it on to her son, who sent it to Nick, who responded right away with his thanks, shown below. Thursday morning was one more reminder – after thousands and thousands of others – how blessed I am to work with such awesome kids, for a good and long time now.
Homecoming is next week, so we encourage all students to participate in the festivities!
Here is a reminder of the days:
Monday, September 11th: USA Day
Tuesday, September 12th: Barbie & Ken Day (think pink)
Wednesday, September 13th: Class color day (9th: red; 10th: purple; 11th: blue; 12th: green)
Thursday, September 14th: Adam Sandler Day (think baggy clothes; sideways ball cap)
Friday, September 15th: PC Spirit Day
Homecoming Parade: The parade starts at 6 pm from S. Westnedge Park, so we encourage you to line up along the way and wave to all the participants; perhaps even get candy :)
The football game is at 7 pm, so come out and cheer on our Mustangs!
And, right after the football game, typically around 9 pm or so there is the Homecoming Dance in the Commons (cafeteria). The dance goes until 11 pm and is dress casual.
Please bring your student ID and $5.00.
If you are bringing a guest, you must get a guest pass form from the Welcome Center desk no later than Wednesday, September 13th.
And parents, please be on time when picking up your student. It would be greatly appreciated.
GO MUSTANGS!!!
Mark your calendars…
The 2nd Annual PC Marching Invitational (PCMI) is coming on Saturday, Sept. 23rd!
Portage Central Bands is excited to host our 2nd Annual Scholastic Marching Band Invitational on Saturday, September 23rd at McCamley-Knight Field. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and senior citizens, and children five and under are admitted for free. Bring the whole family, enjoy as many bands as you’d like, and you’ll be supporting your Portage Central Band program with every ticket you purchase and every item you grab at the concessions stand!
More information about the PCMI - General Info can be found on the PC Bands Website. You can also view the 2023 Schedule of Performing Bands and see our event site map.
We would LOVE to see you check out this event and watch local bands perform in competition. Our very own Portage Central Marching Band will perform at 8:45pm. We hope to see all of you on Saturday, September 23rd!!
It's time to pre-order your yearbook!
Order your 2024 Roundup Yearbook today for $65, the lowest price of the year! Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and use school code 3604. Yearbooks increase to $75 a copy on October 4. Got questions? Reach out to Business Manager Anna Underwood at PCYearbook@portageps.org.
Tensions on social media away from school
There is not a lot of difference between high school kids today and when I was a high schooler. (In fact, I think kids are better today then they were then… or at least better than I was.) But a big difference between today and then is, back then, we had breaks from each other. In the evenings at home, or on the weekend, we did not have to interact, giving us breathing space to have a chance to calm down.
That’s not true for kids today.
With social media and instant messaging, sharp words and unsettling pictures can be shared instantaneously in the heat of the moment, increasing tensions and making great kids feel vulnerable. With that in mind…
Talk with your kids often. Check in on how relationships are going. Ask them if they receive messages that unsettle them. Good parenting has always needed good communication.
Let us know how we can help. If a message is threatening, please reach out to the police department; they are there to help. Or reach out to me or another colleague here you trust. The more we can work with kids when the problems are small, the better chance we can help them navigate the tensions – and help them learn from them.
What we talked about in our class meetings last week
At the start of each year we sit and visit with each class to connect and to remind them of a few important aspects of this wonderful and imperfect place. Click on the links below if you would like to see what we talked through so you can continue the conversations as a family.
As always, we are grateful for your feedback
For many years now we have been surveying students, colleagues and families about what is going well at PC and what we need to continue to work on. This feedback has shaped our decisions and work in deeply important ways – and we are thankful. Recently we compiled survey results from parents and students over the past several years, to see where we are after all that we have worked through as a community.
Here is the compilation of feedback from families
And here is the compilation of student perspectives
Like we always talk about here, Portage Central is a deeply human and imperfect place, and we continue to work to be the healthiest place possible for our students to learn and to grow. Thanks for the feedback you have given in years past, and as you have any thoughts and ideas in the days, weeks and months ahead, I would be really thankful if you shared them with me – anytime.
Picture retakes coming on Monday, October 9
If our kids were not able to get their pictures taken last Thursday, they have one more chance! Too, if a student did not like their picture and would like to have a retake, they can do that on October 9 as well. Not sure if you like your picture? Use the website and code below to take a look!
The website: https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/#/
The Picture Day ID: EVTH8CWJK
From Athletic Director Joe Wallace…
PC athletes, are you thinking about playing at the college level?
We get questions regarding what it takes to be eligible to play sports in college. While this path is certainly not for everyone, it's essential that families understand the requirements for eligibility if this is a goal a student-athlete hopes to attain. Luckily, the NCAA Eligibility Center has made it easy for families to have all the information they need to ensure they are on the right path.
Please visit the following website: https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/ and create an account.
Just a reminder…
Be sure to move your car out of the West Student Parking lot after 3:30 p.m. on specific days
Our Portage Central Marching Band uses the surface of the West Student Parking Lot on all Monday and Wednesday evenings for their rehearsal, in addition to the evenings of any home football games. On those nights, we ask for all vehicles to be moved from the lot by 3:30 p.m. Any student involved in after-school activities and practices should park in the East Student Parking Lot. If a vehicle is left in the West Student Parking Lot, it will be towed and the owner will be responsible for the cost. Thank you for your help and support of the Portage Central Marching Band!
Happy we are together,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…