For Thursday, January 30
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
For years, the good folks in our district’s technology department have had systems in place to try to prevent students from accessing inappropriate content online using their Portage Public Schools accounts. In January, we started to try out an additional component of our online safety support for students. Working with Lightspeed Systems, an educational software company out of Austin, Texas, building principals like me receive an email whenever the system detects something of possible concern written or searched for while using their portageps.org account, whether that occurs during the school day or outside of school hours.
As you might imagine, I have received a few emails from the system so far, and each of them has been pleasant. One was a writing assignment by one of our students for her ceramics class, and in the piece she misspelled “kiln” and instead spelled “kill” — which is why the report was generated. In another, a student was quoting lines from the 2013 animated movie “Epic” in a paper he was writing. In a third one of our student journalists was brainstorming story ideas and one was “school shootings.” You get it: these words create understandable anxiety, and our kids are going about their work, as they should: thoughtfully and responsibly.
Of course, these examples might not always be the case. And whether the situation is pleasant or worrying, we will do as we always have done: work to communicate well with families so we can support each of our kids whenever it is needed. So with that in mind, as I receive these alerts in the future, I will work with families to decide what we need to do next.
I think I have shared with you before that I don’t subscribe to the idea that kids are worse today than when we were kids. (Truly I think they are better. Or at least better than I was in high school. 😃 ) But electronic communication — whether that is social media or what a student writes in a Google Doc — has changed the high-school experience. And it will likely change again, as Artificial Intelligence becomes more a part of our lives. I know I’m not smart enough to answer all the unsettled questions in those areas. But I do know our kids. They are incredible: bright, caring and hard-working. And on occasion they make mistakes, like we did at their age. And I know when we talk openly, and honestly, we can figure out pretty much anything.
Thanks for your patience as we start working with this new product. And as always if you have any questions or thoughts, reach out anytime.
We are so excited to meet you!
Please join us at the 8th Grade Family Night on February 12!
There are a lot of important decisions that families need to make to prepare their 8th-grade daughters and sons so they are ready to make the jump to high school. This event – coming up on Wednesday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium – starts all of those conversations. Hit this link right here to look at the program for the evening; it is full of information about each of our departments and classes that we offer. We all want all our kids to start high school off well – and this event is a big part of that effort. Thanks for joining us!
Just a reminder, because you don’t want to miss this!
Harry Potter on the PC stage!
Performances are Friday, February 7th and Friday, February 14th at 7:30 pm. Saturday, February 8th and February 15th at 2 pm and 7:30 pm. And, Sunday, February 9th and 16th at 2 pm. There is a student performance on Thursday, February 13th. Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for students. Here is the link to purchase tickets at the PCHS Box Office. Come out and enjoy the magic!!!
Is it that time already?!
Scheduling season for the ‘25-’26 school year starts soon!
Really?! The second semester is barely beginning.
The Answer: Yes!
Among the most important things we do is get all of our students into the right classes and programs for them, so they can do whatever they choose to do after they leave this wonderful and quirky place. That means we give a great deal of attention to the scheduling process, meeting with each student one by one to make sure we have the right, individualized plan for each of them. And so much of this work starts with the Program of Studies. When you have a minute, hit that Program of Studies link, so you and your family are ready for the decisions ahead. Thanks!
From the Activities Office
Code of Conduct meetings
If your child is a student at Portage Central and you have not attended a Code of Conduct meeting with them, we have two meetings coming up on February 3rd: one at 7 a.m. in the Community Room and one at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Portage Central High School. Please try and attend one of those meetings. If that is not possible, contact Nikki Smith, Activities Director, at nsmith@portageps.org to set up a time to meet. Your student only needs to attend one meeting their entire high school career, but it is important that you both attend, so you are aware of the Code of Conduct for activities and athletics. Thanks!!!
Thank you to our local businesses who support us in so many ways!
Kia Seelye is another one of our local businesses who helps us accomplish so much around here. Without them, there is so much we would not be able to provide to our kids, from Toby our counseling dog, to Holiday meals for our families who really could use the additional support.
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!
Congratulations to our HOSA team!
HOSA – Health Occupations Students of America -- is a new club at PCl that aims to foster interest and knowledge in the medical field and build workplace skills through competitions. This weekend, the chapter traveled to East Kentwood High School to participate in the Regional Leadership Conference, their season's first competition! They had an incredible turnout with 18 members making it to States, securing 5 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals. The state finalists are…
Ariana Amaro, Elliot Sanborn, Emma Leasure
Hazel Corpus, Jasmine Nguyen, Katherine Li
Kaitlyn Lam, Melody Longmire, Muhannad Shebrain
Rhea Mouly, Ruth Heacox, Sabrina Kauchak
Samaira Agarwal, Seema Tabbara, Shruthilaya Kumar
Sundos Hejazi, and Viktor Robertson-Wicks
From the district curriculum office…
Human Growth and Development process and opt-out form
The Portage Board of Education has established a health program for our students as provided by Public Act 335. Part of this program offers instruction related to Human Growth and Development (HGD) as designated by Public Act 226. The curriculum is very specific as to content that is taught. Our teachers only teach the topics listed in the approved curriculum using the materials approved by the HGD Advisory Board.
The State laws governing Health Education require parent notification and the option to review the curriculum. Described below is the means provided by the Portage Public Schools to assist parents and/or legal guardians in exercising their parental options under the legislative guidelines.
Here is a summary for what will be covered during the HGD Unit. Instruction relating to Reproductive Health is typically delivered towards the end of the academic quarter. For further information regarding the schedule of HGD instruction, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
Parents and/or legal guardians may make arrangements to review the materials/learning objectives and also request to observe the instruction their child will receive. Parents may use the form in the link above if they wish to have their child excused from any portion of the reproductive health curriculum. If you choose to opt your child out of HGD instruction, the exclusion form should be returned to your child’s building principal within one week of receiving this communication.
It is our intent to assist parents/guardians in every way possible in understanding their child’s education program. Please feel free to contact me or your child’s classroom teacher for any further information.
Last call…
Seniors, do you want money for college?
Are you seeking scholarships for next year? Remember that the Portage Education Foundation (PEF) offers several scholarships for PPS students. There are scholarships taking into account your future plans, your high school activities, your ability to overcome, or your financial need! The deadline if February 14, and learn more and apply online HERE.
Just a reminder from the district…
On crisis communications and student cell phones
Portage Public Schools is always actively looking for ways to best keep our students safe. High school students are often away from their school building for numerous reasons, including for off-campus classes, appointments and lunch.
In the unlikely event of an emergency, PPS would like to communicate with high school students in a timely and effective manner to warn them of a dangerous situation at their high school. For this reason, we are giving parents the opportunity for their students to opt-in to emergency texts to their personal cell phones.
Your student’s cell phone number would be securely stored solely in the District’s emergency alert software that is accessed only by administrators and would qualify as student information protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Students would only be contacted directly using the emergency alert system in the event of a dangerous situation where it is unsafe for them to return to campus. Follow-up messages would provide updates and give the all-clear when appropriate. You will receive the same communication.
We hope we never need to contact your student using this emergency system. But, having the ability to contact students in a timely and efficient manner is another way we can work to keep our school community safe. Thank you for your consideration.
Please complete this form by February 7, to have your student’s number included in the system.
Big Harry Potter fan excited to see the show,
Eric Alburtus
And if you want even more PC news…