For Thursday, October 3
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
…. 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!
Please join us for dinner and Homecoming tomorrow!
This Friday, October 4 the traditional Homecoming parade starts just a little south of Central Middle at 5:45 p.m., and community members and families line Westnedge Avenue all the way to McCamley-Knight Field before joining us for the game. Plus, join us for dinner – with food trucks owned by PC friends:
Plus the graduating class of 1999 will be holding their 25th-year reunion in Centennial Park.
And, join us for our homecoming parade on October 4th at 6 p.m., leading up to kickoff at 7 p.m.! Come out to see the marching band, homecoming court, floats and more! We hope to see everyone there!
Important change: This year, the parade will start from Marigold Avenue instead of South Westnedge Park. This change will help us create a more efficient and spirited event.
Don’t forget this too!
Picture retakes coming on
Picture retake day will take place on the morning of Monday, October 14th. If your student would like their photo retaken, or taken for the first time, then please let them know to expect that opportunity on this day. PA announcements will call students down by grade level and last name. If your student has an off-campus class or is absent during part of this morning, please let them know to report to the auditorium lobby before leaving or as soon as they arrive. A password to review the proof of your student's photo will be shared with you via email within the following weeks. You should have received the proof for your student's first photo already. If you haven't, or if you have other questions, contact Strawbridge at 1-866-624-6229 or customerservice@strawbridge.net.
Final reminders, before the PSAT…
October PSAT/NMSQT testing information - Late start on Wednesday, October 9
On October 9th, 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 5 pm 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. Opting in connects how well your student 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/
2025 Yearbook Senior Portrait information
December 2 - 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 Strawbridge on School Picture Day in September, they can have a portrait taken here at PC for free on School Picture Retake Day on Monday, Oct. 14. Encourage your senior to dress up and get his/her photo taken on that 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 Strawbridge as well.
Senior Portrait Requirements:
- Digital submission only
- Vertical orientation; head and torso photos work best.
- Full color
- File naming convention: Last name, First name.jpg
- Background: Seniors can choose any background or style for the yearbook.
- Hats and head coverings are acceptable, though they cannot cover or create shadows over your eyes or face; your face and eyes must be clearly visible
- No props of any kind, including pets, flags, flowers in hand, musical instruments, etc.
- No hand gestures or promotion of drugs, alcohol, or profanity
How To Submit Your Photo
Portraits must be submitted electronically, either by the photographer or by the senior/family. Go to
www.hjeshare.com and use 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. 21
A Senior Memory Ad is a wonderful way to celebrate your Class of 2025 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 21. 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 - $300
~Half-page color ad - $180
~Quarter-page color ad - $125
~Eighth-page color ad - $75
Parents: Order Your Senior's 2025 Yearbook and a Class of 2025 Senior Book
Ordering a 2025 Roundup yearbook and a Class of 2025 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. Oct. 4 is the last day to purchase at the lowest price of $70, and then the price is $80 through January 1, 2025. After that, the price increases to $85 until all available copies sell or until final orders have been taken in March.
The Class of 2025 Senior Book is a separate 24-page softcover supplemental yearbook available for $15. 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 Saara Ashfee at PCYearbook@portageps.org.
The Corral is Online!
The PC School Store’s apparel is now available for purchase online. Please visit the following link to purchase using your credit or debit card: https://pcschoolstore.ludus.com. Pick-up can be arranged during lunch by your PCHS student or during school hours at the Welcome Center. If you have questions, reach out to Irene Mayfield (imayfield@portageps.org).
Thank you so much, already for all your support!
Last week in Mustang Minutes we mentioned that the owners of the food trucks at Homecoming will be donating some of their profits for us to purchase our new counseling dog – Toby! (As you might remember, Phoebe is heading to retirement, and last spring students and colleagues raised over $5000 toward buying our new counseling dog.) Last week we were $3,000 shy of what we need, and in only one week PC families and friends gave $1,000 – and we are all so grateful!
We still have $2000 more to raise to pay for Toby in full. If you think you might be able to help, even with a small donation, we would be so thankful. Just hit this link – and thank you in advance so much!
Excited for Homecoming and Toby,
Eric Alburtus