For Thursday, April 4
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
We just met with seniors on Wednesday…
… and here is what we shared with them so they can take care of all their loose ends
There are so many loose ends to tie up before graduation, having to do with transcripts and email accounts and a whole bunch of other things. And if seniors get them done before graduation, they are easy. But if one were to wait until after graduation, it could be impossible.
So we walked all our seniors on Wednesday through this presentation, and they also had time to get this all done that morning too. So my hope and prayer is that they all got all the pieces completed. But as an anxious old dad, can I ask you a favor? Can you ask them if they have all these loose ends done? If they do, awesome! If they don’t, they can accomplish it all by following along on the presentation. If you need a hand with anything, reach out to me anytime – soon. Thanks!
One of the things we talked about Wednesday morning, so just a reminder…
SENIORS! Please request your final transcript in Parchment ASAP
Be sure and select the option to ‘Hold for Grades.’ If you will be attending a school that is on your Common Application, please request the transcript to the Common App, and NOT the college directly. Colleges will require a final transcript that shows your graduation date, and sometimes schools will put your account on hold until they get your transcript. Once grades are finalized in mid-June, your final transcript will be sent to the requested college. So get this done now to avoid issues later.
Attention, seniors!
Are you interested in speaking or performing a musical selection at graduation?
Please see Sra. Reidel in room 1105 to sign up. Auditions will take place the last week of April and the first week of May. Specific dates for auditions are still being finalized.
Save the date!
Underclassmen Achievement Awards Assemblies will be taking place on Friday, May 3 during the school day
…and you are invited to attend in person or via livestream! Freshmen, sophomore, and junior award recipients are invited to their grade-level assembly and will have an opportunity to mingle with family and friends for photos in Centennial Park for a short time following their assembly. Stay tuned to Mustang Minutes for the awards program and a specific assembly schedule in the weeks ahead.
Tickets are officially on sale for A Night in the Clouds
The Junior & Senior prom will take place on Saturday, April 27 from 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. at the Western Michigan University Fetzer Center. Come fly with us as we enjoy a night of dancing, caricatures, bracelet making, and so much more!
Students can purchase their ticket at the Welcome Center or online at pchsboxoffice.ludus.com.
If you purchase online, your student needs to stop by the Welcome Center with their student ID to obtain their physical ticket.
Tickets are $30 until April 15, $35 until April 26, and $40 at the door. Tickets are cash only at the Welcome Center.
Students can bring a guest to prom but will need to fill out a guest dance form, which they can pick up at the Welcome Center. Northern & Community students do not need a guest form to attend prom but MUST bring their student ID with them.
So fly me to the moon and get ready for a beautiful evening!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarah Smith-Moore at sesmith@portageps.org
Some important reminders if you want a yearbook!
Future You will thank you for getting a yearbook now, if you have already done so. Plus there is an additional book just for seniors!
As spring comes in, so does severe weather
Our first responsibility is to make sure kids are safe and feel safe – and that includes responding thoughtfully to bad weather. We work closely with our Portage Police Department and Portage Public Schools colleagues to keep watch when severe weather threatens. All our kids are well practiced at our tornado drills, with how they are to respond and where they are to go. If we were to be directed by local authorities to shelter in place, we would go quickly to our appropriate positions and stay there until authorities confirm that the coast was clear. As always, if you have any questions or thoughts, throw them my way!
Thinking about next year and course requests
The PPS Counseling Team has completed the course registration for the 2024-2025 school year. Please take a look in your child's schedule tab in Skyward Family Access. In this schedule tab, you will see what has been entered for course requests and alternatives for the 2024-2025 school year. If you would like to make any changes to your child's requests or alternatives, please use this link.
This year we are taking schedule requests for the 2024-2025 school year through a paper form that can be found in the Central High, Central Middle and West Middle Counseling Offices.
The schedule request period will be open until Friday, April 12 at 3:30 p.m. Using this approved form, you are allowed to request two scheduling considerations. Those considerations may include a request for a specific hour or for a specific teacher. Please understand that we cannot guarantee that we can carry out your requests. But, as always, we will do our best.
One last reminder…
SAT and PSAT testing is next week
Here’s the schedule again:
Student Schedule | ||
Wednesday, April 10th | Thursday, April 11th | |
9th grade | PSAT for all 9th grade 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Students who need to use the morning bus for transportation will need to stay in the Commons prior to testing. Lunch available PPS Buses provide transportation home at Noon ONLY. | No school during morning testing. Students will work from home on an assignment for their 4th hour to be turned in between 7:40 AM and Midnight. |
10th grade | No school during morning testing. Students will work from home on an assignment for their 3rd hour to be turned in between 7:40 AM and Midnight. | PSAT for all 10th grade 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Students who need to use the morning bus for transportation will need to stay in the Commons prior to testing. Lunch Available Regular PPS Buses provide transportation home at 2:40 ONLY. |
11th grade | SAT with Essay for all 11th grade 7:40 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Lunch available PPS Buses provide transportation home at Noon ONLY. | ACT WorkKeys for all 11th grade 7:40 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Lunch Available Regular PPS Buses provide transportation home at 2:40 ONLY. |
12th grade | No school during morning testing. Students will work from home on an assignment for their 3rd hour to be turned in between 7:40 AM and Midnight. | No school during morning testing. Students will work from home on an assignment for their 4th hour to be turned in between 7:40 AM and Midnight. |
Please note that students with extended time due to accommodations that have been documented and approved by College Board may start earlier than 8:30 and/or run later than 11:30. We will be reaching out to all students with their specific times /dates.
We are asking students not to share private information in the SAT/PSAT testing app or sign up for the College Board’s Connections services on testing days. We recommend that you check out the benefits and privacy issues associated with this service and make a decision as a family whether to share additional information with the College Board. Students have access through the Blue Book app on their Chromebooks and through their College Board accounts.
On the “Work from Home” days is it critical that students turn in the work electronically on the day assigned in order to be marked present. This is a state rule that we don’t have any wiggle room on. If a students is not able to turn the work in by midnight on the day assigned they will be marked absent (which can be excused by a parent or guardian, but does count against credit in the course and towards the student’s lunch pass). If a student needs to be at school for internet access or other reasons, we can absolutely provide a supervised location for them. Please contact your student’s Assistant Principal to make arrangements.
Graduation is coming…
… and here is only the most recent sign of that!
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…