PTS News
Portage Township Schools | An Indiana "B" School District!
February 24, 2021
We are in the middle of our Quarter 4 Planning Form. This is how all PTS families will indicate their preference for virtual or in-person learning for the fourth quarter, which runs March 15 through the end of the school year. All families must submit a new form by Friday, February 26. We will be sending reminders throughout the week.
You must have activated your ParentSquare account in order to complete the Quarter 4 Planning Form. We will be using ParentSquare for a variety of tasks in the future as well, so it is imperative that you activate your account as soon as possible. You can do so by following these steps:
1. Visit https://www.parentsquare.com/signin
2. Enter your email address in the "Sign Up/Create Password" box (You MUST use the email address that we have on file for you in PowerSchool.)
3. You will receive an email from ParentSquare with a link to activate your account.
If you have having difficulties activating your account or accessing your child's form, please email ptscommunications@portage.k12.in.us.
PTS MARCH CALENDAR
THE PORTAGE HIGH SCHOOL THESPIANS PRESENT: YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN
Portage High School’s annual spring musical is approaching. Based on Charles Schulz’s comic strip, the musical will be “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown!” With charm, wit and heart, the musical aims to explore life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends in the Peanuts gang.
Being mindful of COVID-19 restrictions, the Thespians are offering a virtual pre-recorded version of the musical for the community. However, they are hoping they will be able to have an in person audience.
PHS Theater Director Mahaffa Thompson said. “The spring musical will be hosted on April 23 and April 24, but if we have to go completely virtual then the musical will be available the following week kicking off with April 25 and going until May 1,” PHS Theater Director Mahaffa Thompson said. “I just hope we can give our students a taste of normalcy by having an audience in the house.”
With the cast being shortened to six people, limitation was the biggest inspiration for the musical.
“I normally love to do giant productions with as many people onstage as possible. However, COVID-19 makes everything different,” Thompson said. “A small cast means we have the best of the best while the production value will be high with many students working backstage as techies or designers.”
Both in person and virtual tickets can be purchased online now. In person tickets are on sale for $6 for students (18 and under) and seniors (65+) and $10 for adults at portagethespians.ludus.com. Virtual tickets are on sale for $6 per device at portagethespians@anywhereseat.com.
Story by KwaTashea Marfo, PHS senior & PTS Public Relations Intern
CURRICULAR FEES FOR STUDENTS
You can pay your child's fees in one of the following ways:
Online
Our E-Funds online payment portal is available for you to make a payment with a debit or credit card. Click here to make a payment via the E-Funds payment portal.
Phone
Payments to your child's Curricular Fees may be made over the phone by calling the PTS Administration Building. You can reach the administration building at (219)762-6511.
U.S. Mail
You are welcome to mail a payment to your child's school or to our administration office at the address below. Checks should be made out to Portage Township Schools. Please indicate payment for curricular fees and your child's name on the memo line.
Portage Township Schools Administration Building
6240 U.S. Highway 6
Portage, IN 46368
Textbook Assistance
Families who receive Textbook Assistance will see the assistance applied later this school year. Until we receive the funds to apply to your account, you will continue to see a balance. We will notify families when Textbook Assistance funds have been applied. If you are interested in applying for Textbook Assistance, you will need to submit an application for Free/Reduced Meals. You can do this by creating an account on our Titan portal. Click here to create an account. Once you submit an application, you will be able to track the status of your application.
Questions? Email ptscommunications@portage.k12.in.us.
SENIORS: PHS SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES ARE APPROACHING
ACCESS E-BOOKS AND AUDIO BOOKS WITH SORA
PTS EARNS GRANTS TO MAKE ADDITIONAL HOT SPOTS AVAILABLE TO QUALIFYING FAMILIES
Portage Township Schools has been awarded a grant through T-Mobile to provide qualifying PTS families with hot spots to support student learning.
The grant supports a number of 100 GB hot spots that families can use for their students to complete their assignments or participate in enrichment activities.
These hot spots, which will be allocated to in-person learners, support the district's Kajeet hot spots used by our virtual students.
Interested families may contact their child's school to check qualifications. Students who qualify for a hot spot may keep it through the end of the school and have it re-issued in the fall. Families may receive only one device per household.
Portage Township Schools is eager to provide this service as we continue to support student learning both inside and outside of the classroom.
PTS STUDENTS & STAFF HONOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Fegely students share the impacts of historical and modern-day figures
Central students create portraits of historical figures
Myers students research historical moments in Black history
During Black History Month, our fifth grade students at Myers Elementary studied famous figures in African American History. They began by discussing MLK and his famous speech and importance in Civil Rights, followed by Ruby Bridges and her importance in American education and desegregation. Other figures discussed and researched included Barack Obama, Frederick Douglass, Maya Angelou, George Washington Carver, Oprah Winfrey, Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, and Louis Armstrong.
The students enjoyed learning about all these important figures in African American figures! #PortageProud
PHS social studies students create beautiful works of art
PHS social studies teacher Mr. Hills facilitated an assignment for his students in honor of Black History Month! Students selected an influential individual who had a positive and permanent impact on our society and created a presentation, piece of artwork, poem, song, or video to represent the positive change the person had on society. Check out some of their beautiful creations! #PortageProud
PHS principal teaches students about lesser-known influencers in Black history
The PHS Social Studies Department compiled an autobiographical list of ground-breaking, African-Americans that maybe not everyone has heard of. Principal Mr. Stills shared one of those individual biographies each day of Black History Month during the PHS morning announcements!
PHS INN staff highlights history-makers
Our PHS Indians News Network students highlighted profiles of Black history-makers for Black History Month during their morning announcement broadcast! The students chose an individual, researched them, and filmed and edited their segment.
GOOD NEWS AT PORTAGE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
A day for fun in the snow
PHS Interact members make and deliver Valentines
Congratulations to our State wrestler!
PTS siblings spread kindness for Valentine's Day
Two of our Portage Township Schools students were spreading Valentine's Day cheer to the members of the Bonner Senior Center!
Ethan Collins, a fifth grade students at Jones Elementary, and his brother, Evan, a freshman at Portage High School, passed out valentines to the Bonner members in a drive-thru manner during our Presidents Day break. We are so proud of the Collins family for reaching out to the community to spread kindness and joy on their day off of school!
Kyle kindergarteners experiment with STEM activities
Fegely Middle School names Boilermakers of the Week
Thank you to our PTS Maintenance Team!
PHS construction class receives donation from U.S. Steel
Our construction program at PHS received a generous donation from U.S. Steel!
PHS construction teacher Mr. Kerr partnered with U.S. Steel to purchase supplies needed for his Introduction to Construction class. U.S. Steel Gary Works staff members Shakeia, Milcah, and Terry delivered a generous donation of safety glasses, gloves, hammers, tape measurers, speed squares, ear plugs, and safety glass cleaner.
Thank you U.S. Steel Gary Works for your generosity and helping our construction students have the supplies they need!
Crisman students learn about space exploration via NASA rover
Vocational students gaining valuable experience in the classroom
Portage Township Schools
Email: ptscommunications@portage.k12.in.us
Website: http://www.portage.k12.in.us
Location: 6240 U.S. 6, Portage, IN, USA
Phone: (219)762-6511
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/portagetownshipschools
Twitter: @portage_schools