For Thursday, October 5
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
Don’t forget!
Please support the Family Drive at the PC vs. PN football game on October 6th!
The Ginsburg Society, a student organization that provides free period products for students, will be partnering with the Portage Community Center to host a Family Drive on Friday, October 6th at the Portage Central v.s. Portage Northern Football Game at McCamley-Knight Field. The following donations would be so appreciated:
Tampons and pads,
Diapers (preferably sizes 5 and up)
Detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, and baby wipes
Monetary donations will also be appreciated. All period products donated will be used in the PC bathrooms, and all other products will be donated to the Portage Community Center.
Some date changes to the Senior Guide
Now that we have a complete calendar for the school year, we realize some of our best guesses that we put in the Senior Guide back in summer were wrong. Sorry about that. So here is a revised Senior Guide, and we have posted it to the GLIC as well. Sorry about that – and thanks as always for your patience with us and our imperfect place.
Get your tickets next week for Little Women
Join us as we kick off another exciting season of Portage Central Theatre with a heartwarming journey through the trials and triumphs of the March family in the musical version of Little Women. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, the show follows the four March sisters – Jo (Carly Koch, 11), Meg (Sanaa Olivacce-Shabazz, 12), Beth (Natalia Carreno, 12), and Amy (Ally Lothschutz, 11) -- as they navigate the challenges of adolescence and the enduring bonds of sisterhood.
Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel has captivated readers for generations, and now, Portage Central’s talented cast, crew, and creative team are bringing this cherished story to the stage like never before. With its enduring themes of family, friendship, and resilience, Little Women remains as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1868.
Little Women features 11 high school actors and over 20 student designers and technicians led by directors Ashley Bowen and Liz Honeysett, supported by the professional design team at Portage Central High School. Tickets will go on sale October 9 to the public and are available via our website, www.pctheatrearts.org
We met with all seniors Wednesday…
…. And shared a lot of nuts-and–bolts information about graduation and some of the important steps along the way, like transcripts and college applications and more. Take a look right here to see the Slides we used for the conversation. Got any questions? Let me know anytime!
Don’t forget this too!
Picture retakes coming on Monday, October 9
If our kids were not able to get their pictures taken at the start of the year, 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
Final reminders, before the PSAT…
October PSAT/NMSQT testing information - Late start on Wednesday, October 11
On October 11th, PC will be administering the PSAT, which is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (thus the really long abbreviation). Juniors will test in the morning and other students will have a late start that day. Regular classes will start at 11:35 that day and run through all classes with shortened periods. Bus transportation times will be normal, so 9th, 10th, and 12th graders who rely on district transportation will be able to use the area in the Commons as a study hall for the morning. Other students may arrive between 11:00 and 11:30. Lunch will be served at 11:00 for all students here at that time. Here is the schedule for the day:
Testing - 7:40 to 11:00
Lunch - 11:00 to 11:30
1st hour | 11:35 AM | 11:58 AM | 0:23 |
2nd hour | 12:03 PM | 12:25 PM | 0:22 |
3rd hour | 12:30 PM | 12:52 PM | 0:22 |
4th hour | 12:57 PM | 1:19 PM | 0:22 |
5th hour | 1:24 PM | 1:46 PM | 0:22 |
6th hour | 1:51 PM | 2:13 PM | 0:22 |
7th hour | 2:18 PM | 2:40 PM | 0:22 |
Juniors who need to borrow a calculator for the PSAT
There is an online calculator in the new PSAT/SAT however our Math teachers believe that our students will be more comfortable using the same calculators that they use in class, so we are going to continue to offer loaners to Juniors who need them. Math teachers already have the link to sign up, but in case you need it, here it is: linked form Forms need to be submitted by 3pm on October 6th. Calculators will be delivered to testing rooms on test day. Thanks!
College Board Student Search and BigFuture Services
College Board has traditionally offered a service called Student Search Service where they shared information about students with outside organizations. There are advantages to students from that service and also significant privacy concerns so they have created a new system which addresses many of those issues. The new service is called BigFuture. Through BigFuture students can still opt in to the traditional Student Search Service. We will be directing students not to opt in to these services at school. We encourage you as a family to look into these services and make a decision about whether your student should sign up - which connects how well they did on their PSAT and SAT to other information that they input into the College Board system. More information and directions on how to opt in through your student’s College Board account can be found here: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
2024 Yearbook Senior Portrait information
December 1 - Senior portrait submission for the yearbook is due. If your son or daughter is not having his or her photo taken by a self-selected photographer and did not already have their school picture taken this fall by LifeTouch on School Picture Day in September, they can have a portrait taken here at PC on Geskus’ School Picture Retake Day this Monday, October 9. Encourage your senior to dress up and get his/her photo taken on Monday so that they can be included in the senior portraits section of the yearbook. Getting their school picture taken is free -- but you are welcome to order copies from LifeTouch as well.
Senior Portrait Requirements:
Minimum size: 640x800 pixels or 2” x 3” (proof size), vertical format, in color
Digital file: .jpg or .jpeg, 300 dpi minimum
File name: LastName,FirstName.jpg (please make sure to follow this format - we are not always able to identify all students in photos)
BACKGROUND: Seniors can choose ANY background or style for the yearbook. Please be cautious when choosing outdoor photos. You don’t want to appear really small or large, next to someone who has a shoulder/headshot.
No hats or props or animals of any kind
No hand gestures
How to submit a Senior Photo for the 2024 Yearbook
Senior portraits must be submitted electronically, either by the photographer or by the senior/family. Please submit only one senior portrait for the yearbook. Go to www.hjeshare.com. Use our school code 3604. Select “Upload Your Portrait” and proceed through the steps.
Parents of seniors: Design and purchase a Yearbook Senior Memory Ad by Dec. 22
A Senior Memory Ad is a wonderful way to celebrate your Class of 2024 graduate. It’s easy to design and order your ad. You can do it on your phone or computer! All ads must be purchased and designed by December 22. Just go to www.yearbookordercenter.com, use school code 3604, and click on “Start Your Ad.” Prices for senior memory ads are as follows:
~Full-page color ad - $250
~Half-page color ad - $180
~Quarter-page color ad - $125
~Eighth-page color ad - $75
Parents: Order Your Senior's 2024 Yearbook and a Class of 2024 Senior Book
Ordering a 2024 Roundup yearbook and a Class of 2024 Senior Book online is easy! Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and use school code 3604. Our main Roundup yearbook is a 232-page full-color publication with a 24-page spring supplement included. The price is $75 through January 1, 2024. After that, the price increases to $80 until final orders have been taken in the spring.
The Class of 2024 Senior Book is a separate 24-page softcover supplemental yearbook available for $12. This can be purchased on the same website as the main yearbook. This book will feature all things seniors as well as moments from the spring that we are unable to include in the main book -- from prom and our RideOut senior awards ceremony, to the Senior Breakfast and Graduation. Got questions? Email Roundup Yearbook Business Manager Anna Underwood at PCYearbook@portageps.org.
Proud to be a PC dad and principal,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…