PHS NEWSLETTER
April 2024
Portage High School Community,
It is hard to believe that we are in the final phase of the 2023-2024 school year as we enter the fourth quarter. Please encourage your student to focus on their academic goals so they are able to finish the year strong. A great way to support their goals is by monitoring your student's grades and attendance in Infinite Campus. As always, thank you for your continued support, and if you have any questions about academic progress, please contact our teachers, guidance department, or administration. We are here to help.
On April 16th, our 9th and 10th-grade students will take the Pre-ACT Secure and FORWARD Exam. The PreACT Secure is a summative assessment aligned with the ACT and the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards. The PreACT Secure measures what students have learned in the areas of English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science. To ensure an appropriate testing environment for the assessment, April 16th will be a 9th and 10th-grade-only day, meaning there will be no school for 11th and 12th-grade students.
Test Preparation
Students should get a good night's sleep
Eat something substantial before the test
Encourage students to do their best
The Little Mermaid
Portage High School is proud to perform the musical The Little Mermaid on April 4-6 at 7:00 p.m. and April 7 at 2:00 p.m. The Little Mermaid takes you under the sea and tells the story of Ariel, a mermaid who longs to explore the human world and falls in love with Prince Eric. Determined to be with him, Ariel makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to become human. With the help of her friends, Ariel faces challenges and discovers the true meaning of love and self-discovery. The Little Mermaid is a tale of bravery, friendship, and the beauty of following your heart. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the High School Office. We hope you can join us for this fantastic production.
We have many co-curricular activities happening throughout the Spring. I encourage all families and community members to join us. Check our Portage High School Calendar for events, dates, and times.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Garrigan
Dates to Remember
Tuesday, April 2
- Senior Meeting with Jostens (Caps and Gowns Distributed)
Thursday, April 4 through Sunday, April 7
- The Little Mermaid Musical
Thursday, April 4
- Quarter 3 Ends
Friday, April 5
- No School/Staff Inservice
Sunday, April 7 through Tuesday, April 9
- FBLA State in Green Bay
Monday, April 8
- 6:30 pm Board of Education Meeting
Tuesday, April 9 through Wednesday, April 10
- Skills USA
Sunday, April 14 through Tuesday, April 16
- HOSA State
Tuesday, April 16
- ACT Secure/Forward Exam for Grades 9 & 10, no school for Grades 11 & 12
Saturday, April 27
- State Solo Ensemble at UW Whitewater
Saturday, May 4
- 8:00 pm Prom
April Early Release Dates: 4/12, 4/19, 4/26
Academic Students of the Week
PreACT Secure & Forward Testing for Grades 9 & 10 Tuesday, April 16
All Portage students in grades 9 and 10 will be participating in the state mandated Pre-ACT Secure Assessment on April 12 at Portage High School. Students in grade 10 will also take the Forward Exam. Please click below for more details.
There is NO SCHOOL for students in grades 11 & 12.
2023-2024 Virtual School Enrollment News
We are glad to offer a virtual option for our students again next year thanks to a continued partnership with Kiel’s Between The Lakes Virtual Academy (K-8) and Kiel’s eSchool (9-12). Families interested in enrolling their students virtually for the upcoming school year will need to complete the linked application (1 application for each student). All applications are due back to the school by Monday, May 6. Once received, families will be contacted for an interview to be completed before June 14 so the family can complete online registration. The agreement attached to the application will be reviewed at this time in case there are any questions you have about participating in this virtual option.
Between The Lakes Virtual Academy (k-8)
NHS Induction
Congratulations to the thirty new National Honor Society members were inducted during the induction ceremony on Tuesday, March 26! The thirty new inductees are pictured above. Below are all current PHS NHS members both old and new.
Senior Class Information
Senior students and families should watch for emails and announcements throughout the school year leading up to graduation.
Senior Meeting/Caps and Gowns
There will be a class meeting and Jostens will be at the High School Tuesday, April 2 during WIN Time (9:26-10:02) to distribute caps and gowns. Kiel students and early graduates are welcome to attend the meeting. If you are unable to attend, caps and gowns can be picked up in the office after April 2. The slides from the meeting with end of the year information will be linked on the Student Announcements webpage after the meeting.
Graduation Ceremony Participation Attendance Requirement
According to the Student Handbook, participation in the graduation ceremony and class trip shall be reserved for those senior students who have attended school at least 90% of the school days/class periods in the second semester of their senior year.
Graduation Cap Decorations
Students are able to appropriately decorate the tops of their caps allowing for individual expression. Additional embellishments such as personal gown stoles, medals, pins, and similar items are not permitted.
The 2024 Graduation Ceremony is Friday, June 7 at 7:30 pm.
German National Honor Society
A special surprise induction ceremony of our newest senior classmate and friend from Germany, Emma Peters, by her classmates and current senior members of Delta Epsilon Phi, along with Mrs. Garrigan, Mr. Sween, and her host family. Emma read from her application essay about how she came to us from Bramstedt in Lower Saxony, Germany. All students renewed their promise to the German National Honor Society by reciting the official oath of Delta Epsilon Phi with the symbol of the candle flame as a light of commitment to international understanding. The other senior members present were co-presidents Alyssa Andersen, Mekah Erdmann, and Lillianna Jones, along with Josie Harvey, Anton Kilde, and Griffin Garrigan. (Not able to attend Thea Laffin)
From the District Nurse
Food Inclusion
Throughout our schools there are people with food related conditions. These conditions may range from food intolerances to chronic diseases (diabetes, celiac disease, etc.), and the reactions vary as well, from indigestion to diabetes crisis to anaphylaxis. That is why it is so vital to the safety of our students that we practice careful consideration and planning regarding food in the classroom.
The students in a classroom are social creatures and as such any sort of inclusion, exclusion, participation, and/or ostracization, whether intentional or not, may directly impact how the students view themselves in relation to their peers.
“Why am I not allowed to eat this treat my friend brought in for his birthday? Now everyone is eating a cupcake and I am just sitting here…”
“Can I have this snack? What’s my blood sugar? How many carbs is in this? It will be fine…”
“Why does he get a special snack? I would like that better than what I have…”
We need to be inclusive with the foods brought into the classroom. We need to consider the needs of every student and tailor the plan to meet all their needs without exclusion or exceptions.
The students can all participate in special snacks and food parties as equals with proper planning and collaboration. Based on the student needs in the classroom, families should be notified that purchased treats to share need to come with nutritional labels and that homemade treats require a list of ingredients and how many treats the list made.
Any class food components (parties, treats, etc.) should be appropriate for all students and the best way to achieve this goal would be to collaborate with families, food services and/or the school nurse. These resource people have knowledge about the students’ food restrictions/accommodations and can help with the planning process to ensure all students can fully participate.
Athletics
Athletics Website
Link to formal invitation:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sE1ZkN-zcfdojBij0lVs8pvYUUSKQusBwAQ08h9p2bc/edit?usp=sharing
Portage High School
Website: https://www.portage.k12.wi.us/schools/high/
Location: 301 East Collins Street, Portage, WI, USA
Phone: 608-742-8545
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PortageCSD
Twitter: @PortageCSD