PHS NEWSLETTER
December 2023 🎄
The Principal's Letter
Happy December.
As we move on to the second half of the first semester, thank you for supporting your child’s academic and social-emotional learning. The end of the first semester comes very quickly after winter break. Please continue reinforcing academic expectations and utilizing Infinite Campus resources to foster consistency in academic growth. The PHS Staff is always available to help. Communication between home and school provides a support system that allows children to thrive and succeed in school.
Inclement Weather.
In the event of inclement weather, the Portage Community School District may have a virtual day or, in unpredictable weather situations, may delay or cancel school.
- Virtual/Remote Learning Days
- The determination will be made the day before to allow schools and families time to prepare.
- Cancellations/”Snow Days”
- Determination will be made on the day of the event. Cancelled days are true “snow days”; there is no expectation of work.
Everyone at Portage High School would like to wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and safe winter break.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Garrigan
Family School Climate Survey
The annual Family School Climate is available from November through December. By collecting survey information, PHS can identify strengths and areas for improvement to enhance the overall educational experience for students and families. This feedback can be used to make informed decisions and implement changes that better meet the needs and expectations of our school community. It also fosters solid partnerships and collaboration between home and school and positively impacts student success. Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey; your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Standards-Based Grading Information and Resources
We are in our second year of implementation of standards-based grading at our high school. It is designed to provide a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of your child's academic progress. Unlike traditional grading systems, which often rely on a cumulative average of various assignments and tests, standards-based grading focuses on specific learning objectives or standards within each subject.
This approach offers a more detailed insight into your child's strengths and areas needing improvement by evaluating their mastery of individual skills and knowledge. Rather than receiving a single letter grade, students are assessed based on their proficiency in meeting the established standards for each subject.
As we fully adopt this method for the 2024-2025 school year, our goal is to provide you with a clearer understanding of your child's academic strengths and areas that may require additional attention. It offers a more precise and informative way to track your child's progress throughout high school. Further information and resources are linked below.
An Introduction to Standards-Based Grading Video2023 -2024 Standards-Based Grading.pdf
Dates to Remember
Friday, December 1 - Sunday, December 3
- Fall Play - Clue Friday & Saturday 7:00 pm/ Sunday 1:30 pm
Thursday, December 7
- Holiday Band Concert 7:00 pm
Friday, December 8
- German and Spanish students visit the Christkindlmarket in Chicago
Friday, December 8 & Saturday, December 9
- Music Boosters Fruit Pick Up 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm/8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Monday, December 11
- 6:30 pm Board of Education Meeting
Tuesday, December 12
- ChalkTalk Assessment Day for grades 9-11, Late start for 12th grade at 10:50 am
Thursday, December 14
- Holiday Choir Concert 7:00 pm
Friday, December 15
- Kiel Virtual School Applications are Due
Friday, December 22 - Tuesday January 2
- No School - Winter Break
Wednesday, January 3
- School Resumes
December Early Release Dates: 12/1, 12/8, 12/15
Academic Students of the Week
ChalkTalk Assessment
On Tuesday, December 12, students in grades 9 - 11 will take a ChalkTalk assessment starting at 7:50 am. Students in grade 12 need to arrive at 10:50 am. Please see the modified schedule.
Kiel Virtual School Applications
Enrollment for Kiel Virtual School is now open for 2nd semester. To apply, families must return the application to the PHS Counseling office by Friday, December 15.
Interviews will take place later with the student and parent to determine if Kiel is a good fit.
PHS Play ~ CLUE
Show Times:
Friday, December 1 @ 7:00 pm (HS student tickets are just $10 on opening night!)*
Saturday, December 2 @ 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 3 @ 1:30 pm
Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased at the door.
*The HS student discount is only for the show on the 1st not either of the other two days.*
Senior Class Information
Senior students and families should watch for emails and announcements throughout the school year leading up to graduation. Please click here for the Senior Year Timeline.
~ A Google Form was emailed to seniors for them to submit how they would like their name to appear on their diploma. If they don't submit the form, their name will appear the same way it is listed in Infinite Campus. Please remind your student to complete the form by Friday, December 15!
~The deadline to submit senior photos is Friday, December 1. Please click here for details ~ 2024 Senior Picture Information.
~PHS Local Scholarship information will be coming out after Christmas break.
Junior Class Information
The month of December is the last opportunity to schedule an Academic and Career Planning (ACP) Conference for all juniors and parents. Counselors will meet with you to discuss post-secondary plans and goals, Aspire and Forward test results, progress toward graduation, and senior year course selection.
Contact your counselor to schedule your ACP meeting:
- Tim Belleau (A-K) belleaut@portage.k12.wi.us
- Stephanie Kohl (L-Z) kohls@portage.k12.wi.us
Music Boosters Fruit Pick Up
Fruit from the annual Music Boosters fruit sale can be picked up at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Building #8 Friday, December 8 from noon - 6:00 pm & Saturday, December 9 from 8:00 am - noon.
All proceeds go to help the music programs in Portage and help sponsor our scholarship and student camps!
FFA Hygiene Supplies Drive
FFA will be hosting a personal hygiene supplies drive December 4-15 will all supplies being donated to The Market. This is a homeroom competition so the homeroom who collects the most hygiene products (at both the high school and the middle school) by the end of our drive will have a donut party on Monday, December 18.
International Holiday Folk Fair
German Club and Spanish Club members attended the 80th celebration of the International Holiday Folk Fair in West Allis on Saturday, Nov 18, 2023. This event celebrates the cultural heritage of the people living in southeastern Wisconsin from nearly 60 different ethnic groups! We explored the ways music, food, dance, and art weave together a message of welcome, and our students are thriving in their growth of diversity, tolerance, global awareness, and cultural competency! We love this trip and look forward to it every year!
Please click below to see what Portage FFA has been up to!
From the School Nurse
Skin Care
The skin is the largest organ that we have. It is our defense from the outside world, but its care is often neglected. Skin health can be achieved with simple additions to our everyday routines.
Hydrate! The first step in skin care is drinking enough water. Approximate recommendations for healthy hydration in children are four to six 8 oz. glasses and eight to twelve glasses for adults. Our skin gets its best hydration from inside the body. If your skin is overly dry it can crack/chap/peel, creating open areas where bacteria can get past your skin’s outside defenses.
Moisturize! Applying a topical moisturizer can help your skin contain the hydration from inside your body and help improve moisture on the outer layer as well. Applying lotion after a shower, for example, helps your skin hold the moisture from the shower. Remember outside moisturizing like lotion only works if you exfoliate occasionally. You cannot moisturize through dead skin cells.
Protection! Protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. This can be done with clothing, wide brim hats, umbrellas, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least 30 SPF (sun protection factor).
Lastly, know when to see a professional. If you have a family history of skin cancer/concerns you should probably see a dermatologist regularly, but it is also important for anyone to see a dermatologist for other issues related to skin: chronic rashes, irregular or fast-growing moles, skin infections, extreme skin dryness, etc. Hydrating, moisturizing, and protecting your skin are basic steps that anyone can accomplish to promote healthy skin. Healthy skin in turn helps to protect us from our environment.
Athletics
Athletics Website
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