For Thursday, May 16
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
Pitch in for Portage
Portage Central and Portage Northern baseball teams are hosting a community fundraiser at the upcoming baseball games on Monday, May 20th. First pitch at 4 p.m.! This will include varsity games at Portage Central High School and junior varsity games at Portage Northern High School.
The goal is to raise money (cash and online donations) for the Portage community affected by the storm, with proceeds going to the Kalamazoo Community Urgent Relief Fund and Portage Community Center.
Last call!
Yearbook Distribution Day is this Friday
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.
Just a reminder for Seniors and your families, this is your…
Step by step to the Mustang RideOut and Graduation!
Ready or not, graduation is right around the corner, so make sure you are ready for all of it by reading through the Step by Step to Graduation; just hit this link! You will see all the dates and times to make sure you are right where you need to be.
Plus, hit this link for the Senior Meeting we had on Tuesday; there are a bunch more details to make sure you have all you need to enjoy the Mustang RideOut and graduation with your student and family. And you can also take a look at our Mustang RideOut program right here. Too, please share these links and information with anyone who you think would benefit!
Taking home medications for the summer, and other news from our school nurse
Hello, my name is Cara and I am the Registered Nurse at Central Middle, Central Elementary, Lake Center and Central High. With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, I wanted to send out a reminder that all medications kept at the school, prescription and non-prescription, will need to be picked up at the end of the year by a parent or guardian. Any medication remaining after the last day of school will be properly disposed of. If you need more time or want to set a time to pick up your child’s medication, please reach out to me at 269.323.5667
As a reminder for next fall, all medication administered at school requires a medication consent form signed by a physician no earlier than July 1 of that school year. If your child has allergies, asthma, or seizures, an Emergency Action Plan is also required. Updated medication consent forms and other medical forms will be available on the Portage Public Schools district site by July 1.
Thank you all for trusting me to care for your child/children throughout the school year. I hope you all have a safe and fun filled summer. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
~ Cara Laforest – 269.323.5667
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 over the past 20+ years, doing a wide variety of things, from watering trees to cleaning to creating cool projects to 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!
Students, don’t forget to clean out your lockers by Friday, June 7 at 10 a.m.
We wash out all the lockers over the summer. Anything left in lockers after that Friday morning at 10 a.m. will either be thrown away or donated to a local charity. So please take everything with you for the summer. Thanks!
The PTO at Portage Central Elementary needs your help this Friday
has a fun volunteer opportunity for you. Our Family Fun Night is this Friday, May 17th from 5-7 p.m. We need help with the check in desk, supervising inflatables, etc. We will provide drinks and snacks for volunteers. Please see the Sign Up Genius below and sign up if you're able to help.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4BA8AB2BABFD0-49541789-celfamily#/
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Portagecentralcomets@gmail.com
~ Cassandra Mickel
A reminder from the Counseling Office…
Seniors, here are a few things to take care of before Graduation
Congratulations! You’re almost to the finish line and on your way to life’s next adventure.
Here are some things that you need to do as you finish out your senior year. If you have already taken care of them, thank you!
Have you filled out the Senior Survey? If not, please see Mrs. Drews in the Counseling Office. It is important that you fill this out so that we can ensure that your transcript is headed to the right place.
Please request your final transcript in Parchment and select “Hold for Grades.” If you have already made your request, please don’t make a second request, we will get them processed as soon as final grades have been posted. IMPORTANT - Due to a technical error with Parchment we are asking that seniors make their year end transcript request directly to the college they will be attending, and not to the Common App.
While you’re in Parchment, check your email address. If you are using your school account, switch to a personal one. Helpful hint: write down your username and password for Parchment and College Board so that you have them for future use. You will more than likely need to access this information in the future (i.e. education verification for a job, continuing education, etc.).
Your Google Drive and Gmail accounts will be shut down shortly after graduation. Make sure to save any important documents or emails that you may need in the future. Have questions on what you can and can’t save, check out this link: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6386856
Please make every effort to get these done by May 24. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Gutshall at ngutshall@portageps.org. Thank you for taking care of these important steps.
Good luck from the PCHS Counseling Office Team,
Mrs. Jepson, Mr. Tarnutzer, Mrs. Kreis, Mrs. Schippers, Mrs. Drews, Mrs. Gutshall and Phoebe
We just had our Post-Secondary Planning Presentations for all juniors
The counselors were in all of the PCHS junior English classes. These presentations are posted on the Junior GLIC; hit this link to take a look!. Additionally, the presentation has been sent to the Class of 2025 students and parents via Skyward.
Just a reminder, as we plan for Graduation…
Graduation and security
Graduation is an incredible experience. Our kids have worked countless hours over the past years to build their own success and the success of others. Moms and dads, colleagues and community members, friends and families have supported all our graduates so they could have the strength and commitment to arrive at Graduation Day on Friday, May 31 at 7 p.m. at the Wings Event Center. The folks at Wings are great hosts, and the place is huge so you can invite anyone you like! We are so grateful.
We are committed to making Graduation a special celebration. We are also committed to doing everything we can to ensure safety. When you arrive, you will notice that the Wings staff will be using metal detectors at the two entrances through which we will all enter: the main entrance for all guests, and the back entrance for our graduates. The Wings staff are well trained to help guests move through the process as thoughtfully and briskly as is appropriate. As you prepare to attend, we ask that you bring only necessary items, which include cell phones and cameras. We ask that the following items remain at home or in your car:
oversized bags or purses
selfie sticks, iPads, and laptops
laser-light pointers, noise makers (like air horns), and large signs
food or beverages, including any cans or bottles, and coolers
any type of weapon
illegal drugs or substances
Too, we would so appreciate it if you could share this information with any of your friends and family who are attending as well. Thanks!
Back by popular demand…
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.
With respect and appreciation, as always,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…