For Thursday, May 9
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
Supporting each other and our community after the storm
Our colleagues and community partners are incredible, supporting one another in a myriad of ways after the storm. Thank you for all you are doing for one another: checking in, offering up your homes, cutting up downed trees and limbs, cleaning up debris, and keeping our colleagues, students, and families in your thoughts and prayers. Our partners at Gryphon Place and the Portage Community Center shared the following response to the question: how can I further help and support those in need?
Contact Lori Richards, Community Manager at Pavilion Estates, to learn more about the community clean-up in their neighborhood on Saturday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m. Lori’s number is 269-344-6186 and her email address is LoRichards@yescommunities.com. Toilet paper continues to be an urgent need in their community, and you can see the list of other items of need at Pavilion Estates here.
Donate items (food, clothing and personal care donations only, please) at the Portage Community Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. See here for reminders about appropriate (and inappropriate) donations. The PCC says that personal care items are of urgent need right now, and they are prepared to handle “a flood of donations” from our generous community.
The Salvation Army established an emergency shelter at the First Assembly of God on Oakland Drive. Dial 2-1-1 to be connected directly to resources and services.
Sign up for the Michigan Volunteer Registry, a site that mobilizes volunteers in times of crisis.
If you are interested in donating to the community disaster response efforts, check out the Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s Urgent Relief Fund or the South Central Michigan United Way’s Disaster Relief Fund.
A number of you have already reached out about how you were helping various families; please keep us in the loop if you think we can help with anything at all. Like always, we are so grateful for how we support one another during the good times and especially during the difficult times.
As for PC and other school buildings, we have been remarkably blessed
The Portage Central campus lost power but had no real damage; the tornado skirted just north of us. (I spent much of yesterday morning picking up the pieces of homes and businesses that the tornado dropped all around PC. That still has me shook.) Power was restored last night. Too, while the PC campus had internet connection throughout the past two days, most of the district did not. We have also been working closely with the city of Portage, so we can understand progress on clearing roads in our neighborhoods throughout our community. Sections of Centre Avenue and Westnedge Avenue (along with other neighborhood roads) remain closed Thursday morning. The work crews have been amazing, and they hope to have internet and phone service back online for the district later today.
A state championship for the PC Forensics team!
The PC Forensics team completed its two-day state tournament at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek on Saturday, and for the 4th year in a row, PC won the Class A state championship! Every one of PC's 32 entries was in the semifinal round (top 12) and 26 were state finalists. We are so proud of our kids and coaches and the incredible program that they have built, together.
Just a reminder…
Yearbook Distribution Day is Friday, May 17
The yearbook staff sold over 900 books this year, and books are scheduled to be passed out during 7th hour on this day. Only students who have purchased a book will be able to leave class when their grade level is called. Please note: There will be no early distribution of books before 7th hour on May 17. In addition, only the student whose name is on the receipt may pick up the book. If a student is not going to be at school on this day, they can go to Room 2120 on Monday, May 20 to get their book. Got questions? Reach out to yearbook staff adviser Ann Alburtus at aaburtus@portageps.org.
How about one more reminder?
Want to get community-service hours over the summer?
Cool! Let’s do them here at PC!
We have been blessed to have a lot of kids help out here over the summer for the past 20+ years, doing a wide variety of things, from watering trees to cleaning to creating cool projects that welcome our students back in August. If you are ever interested, drop me an email anytime – ealburtus@portageps.org – and we can get some fun work done together. Thanks for considering it!
Thank you for being a part of our Underclassmen Achievement Awards last Thursday!
We had a great time celebrating the incredible work our kids have done this year. Family and friends, thank you for attending or for watching online. If you did not have a chance to watch, it’s not too late! Hit this link so you can watch it through our YouTube channel, and feel free to share with other folks who care about our kids. Too, you can take a look at the program right here to see all of the kids we recognized for their work and contributions here this year. Plus we had a wonderful time in fellowship out in Centennial Park after each awards presentation.
Thanks for helping us go over 10,000 views!
During the pandemic we switched over to publishing our Achievement Awards programs and other programs online, so that you can see them on your phone or electronic device and to share those programs with friends and family. And last week we crested the 10,000-views mark! Thank you for engaging with us and with the incredible work our kids do here everyday!
Just a reminder…
Senior Signs are available for pick up before school and during lunches
There are extras available on a first come first serve basis for $15 each (exact cash or check made out to the PCHS PTO only). Please contact Julia Warner at juliapwarner@gmail.com with any questions.
The PCHS PTO is looking for more parent involvement
Join us on Monday, May 13th at 5:30 in the staff kitchen (in the main office). Meetings are minimal, and the rewards are big! Also if you are interested in being on the executive board or chairing an activity (Fall Formal, Staff Appreciation, Conference Dinners, etc) we invite you to join us as well or reach out to Julia Warner at juliapwarner@gmail.com.
The PTO would like to send a hearty THANK YOU…
… to PCHS families for all of your contributions this school year. We truly couldn't do it without your support!
Make sure you clean out your lockers before summer
By Friday morning, June 7 at 10:15, all students must have everything taken out of the lockers. And I mean truly: everything must be taken home or thrown out. Because starting at 10:30 this morning, a group of wonderful students and I will be cleaning out lockers. We will send additional reminders in future issues of Mustang Minutes, and thanks in advance for helping to remind all our kids about this!
Seniors, are you ready to hand in your Chromebook?
Seniors, when you no longer need your Chromebook, you can stop into the Main Office and ask to see Mr. Marusek. You will need to meet with Mr. Marusek so he can inspect the device for damage and assess fines if warranted. Do not ask to leave the device and charger with staff.
Many of the returned devices will be passed on to the middle schools so be sure you have removed all stickers and decals from the chromebook along with any glue residue. Products like Goo Gone work well to complete this task. If the device is returned with stickers, decals or a sticky residue, there will be a $20 fine assessed. Also don't forget the power supply. If that is missing, it will cost you $10.
From the Activities Office…
Just a reminder on upcoming events and dates for the arts
CHS Orchestra Concert: Thursday, May 16th at 7 pm is the final Orchestra concert of the year and on Tuesday, May 21st is the final CHS Choir Concert of the year. And, this will be it for our 2024 seniors, so come out and support them as they finish up high school.
CHS Visual Arts Reception: From Monday, May 20th through Wednesday, May 22nd, our Visual Arts students will have their work on display in the PCHS Auditorium Lobby. On Wednesday, May 22nd, there will be a reception at 6 pm.
Just a reminder: Save the dates for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year!
Monday, August 19, 2024 is Freshman Orientation
Freshman Orientation goes from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, August 19th. It will be held in the Portage Central High School Gymnasium. Incoming 9th graders should be here by 7:45 a.m. and wait outside the gymnasium doors until they are welcomed in by our Link Crew Leaders. We can’t wait to meet you all and are excited to welcome you to the PCHS family! If you have any questions about Orientation, please contact Nikki Smith, Activities Director, at nsmith@portageps.org or 269-323-5265. More information will be coming your way later this year.
And on Monday, August 19th, there is a Code of Conduct Meeting at 11:30 am in the Auditorium. If your child is a 9th grader and plans to participate in Athletics or Activities such as Archery, Debate, DECA, E-Sports, the Fall Play, Forensics, Marching Band, and the Spring Musical, please attend this meeting. It is the only Code of Conduct meeting you and your child will have to attend for their entire high school career.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 is the PCHS Open House
The Portage Central High School Open House will be held on Wednesday, August 21st from 6:30 p.m. 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. There will also be an open Meet and Greet to get to know your students’ teachers, students can find their lockers and classes, you can purchase Lunch/Parking/Athletic passes, and visit the school store. This is a great opportunity to get to know Portage Central High School before school actually starts
Featured Summer Sports Camp of the week - Sign up today!
In each week’s Mustang Minutes we will be featuring one of our sports camps that are being held this summer. These camps are a great opportunity for our students to stay engaged with our programs through the summer months. To sign up and for more information, visit: www.portageps.org/page/community-enrichment
#OnwardPortage
Back by popular demand and a Graduation gift idea…
Buy a brick for McCamley-Knight or Mustang Field, or a tile for the new pool!
So many families and community members purchased bricks at the new McCamley-Knight and Mustang Fields and tiles at the new pool — to leave their mark in these spaces where so many great kids, parents, families, and community members celebrated and where so many more will celebrate decades into the future.
This sale continues until Graduation Day this spring. So if you are considering a brick at the new McCamley-Knight or Mustang Field, click here. If you would like a tile at the new pool, click here. Thank you — again and again — for all that you have done.
Almost able to smell Graduation,
Eric Alburtus