For Thursday, December 19
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
Always grateful for observant students, staff and families…
Our response to a reported vehicle break-in this morning
This morning, our team called in the support of the Portage Police following a report from a PC dad and observant colleagues of a possible vehicle break-in in our parking lot. Thanks to the prompt report, the staff and police response was also swift, limiting the opportunity for more theft and damage. At this time we believe that few vehicles were impacted: one vehicle’s car was hit by a baseball bat, and three other unlocked cars were rifled through and items stolen. The Portage Police are continuing to work on this case.
We cannot say “thank you!” enough to the PC dad, Greg Nawrocki, who called the Main Office when he saw suspicious individuals, and to counselor Karen Kreis who was out walking Toby and heard suspicious sounds. The four students whose cars were affected were incredible: they were appropriately upset, they had tremendous support from family and friends, and they handled all of this with far more grace than I was capable of when I was in high school.
We are also so grateful for our kids and colleagues; they handled this disruption with thoughtfulness and care. We appreciate the families who reached out to us to check in on our student and staff welfare after hearing reports of police nearby. And, thanks go out as always to our Portage Police, who serve and support our school, students and families in the most professional and compassionate of ways.
As one of the parents of the incredible kids mentioned to me, this experience is a healthy reminder for us as families to visit with our kids and talk with them of the importance of keeping valuable items locked up and out of sight. And as emotional as this morning was, it was a reminder of the strength of our community. When things are hard, we pull together and support all our kids. That is what we are all called to do – and we at Portage Central are so grateful.
Want money for college? Of course!
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened on December 1st. Go to studentaid.gov and click "Create Account" in the upper right-hand corner. Determine if or which parent is considered a Contributor for the FAFSA. You will need the following information to create the ID: full name and social security number as they appear on social security card (if applicable), date of birth, valid email address and phone number, immediate access to your email account, and your residential address.
Please note: If you have a sibling who attended college before you, your parent or guardian may already have an FSA ID.
A reminder about money, money, money…
Holiday break is a great time to look for scholarships!
Seniors, don't forget to check out all the scholarship information on our scholarship website; hit this link to take a look!
In particular, the PEF (Portage Education Foundation) scholarships on this site are available only to PPS seniors; go to this site for more information or scan the QR code in the Counseling Office. The deadline to apply for the PEF scholarships is Feb. 15.
Last call for seniors!
Yearbook Senior Memory Ads
Just a reminder that if you’d like to purchase a Senior Memory Ad for your Class of 2025 Graduate, all ad designs are due by midnight on December 21, 2024. Purchasing and designing your Senior Memory Ad is easy! Just visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and use code 3604. Scroll down and click Start Your Ad.
If you have any questions, reach out to adviser Ann Alburtus at aalburtus@portageps.org.
Holiday shopping at the PC Corral
Purchase your PC essentials at your favorite school store on Friday, December 20th from 3 - 5 p.m. Don't forget, we are always open at https://pcschoolstore.ludus.com/. Contact Irene Mayfield (imayfield@portageps.org) with questions.
Just a reminder…
First-semester final exams are coming soon
Exams take place Monday through Thursday, January 13th-16th. And to help our kids prepare for those exams…
Link Crew Cocoa and Cram on Saturday, January 11 in the Commons
This will be held in the Commons at Portage Central from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is open for any student that needs assistance preparing for exams, 9th through 12th. There will be coffee, hot cocoa and donuts. Tutors will be available to work with students. Students do not need to schedule a time to come; they just drop in with their materials, and we will find someone to work with them. Also, if students want to work with a group of peers on preparing for exams, they can work here quietly together. Please encourage your students to attend or to sign up to tutor other students during this time. They will receive service hours and also truly help others. Tutors for 2024-2025
Last call!
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!
They help us accomplish tasks as varied as our kids planting new flowers around campus, to making sure that we could purchase a new counseling dog, Toby, to support our families during the Holidays in particular.
So over the next few weeks we will continue to publicly thank these businesses here in Mustang Minutes and elsewhere on campus. And if there is any way she can show your thanks as well, we would appreciate it!
Final thoughts for this year…
Please have a wonderful, safe, family- and friend-filled Holiday break. Thank you. So, so much, for all that you do for your own kids and for all our community’s kids.
And Merry Christmas to you all.
Deeply grateful to be a member of our community, for a good and long time now,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…