PHS NEWSLETTER

Monday, September 2

• No School - Labor Day

Tuesday, September 3

• 7:50 am - 3:20 pm First Day of School for Freshmen (New Students 1:30-2:30 pm)

Wednesday, September 4

• 7:50 am- 3:20 pm First Day of School for ALL Students

Friday, September 6

• Full day of school (NOT an early release)

Monday, September 9

• 6:30 pm Board of Education Meeting

Friday, September 13

• ChalkTalk Practice Test for grades 9-11, NO SCHOOL for grade 12

Monday, September 16 through Saturday, September 21

• Homecoming Week

Monday, September 23

• School Picture Day (If pictures were not taken at Registration or Open House.)

September- 13, 27

October- 4, 11, 18

November- 1, 8, 15, 22

December- 6, 13, 20

January- 10, 17, 31

February- 7, 21, 28

March- 7, 14, 28

April- 4,11, 25

May- 2, 9, 16, 23

June- 5

Chalk Talk will be used once again this year to assess student readiness for ACT testing. On Friday, September 13 students in grades 9, 10, & 11 will participate in Practice ChalkTalk testing.

Students in grade 12 will not have school.

Please click on the graphic for an explanation of Standards-Based Grading.

Please click on the graphic for an explanation of Infinite Campus Grade Calculations in Standards-Based Grading.

In today's classrooms, Chromebooks are like pencils, notebooks, or folders. They are necessary learning tools. Students should charge their Chromebooks at home each night and bring them to school daily. Students who habitually forget their chromebooks, do not charge them, or cause damage to them will receive administrative intervention. Thank you for helping your student remember to bring their charged Chromebook every day!

If you purchased a chromebook cover or would like to purchase a chromebook cover, please have your student pick one up from the library.

You can purchase Parking Passes, Yearbooks, and Chromebook Cases under "Optional Fees" in Infinite Campus with a debit or credit card. Cash or checks can be used to pay in person.

Course Fees will be assessed 2 weeks into each term to allow for schedule changes.

Students who didn't have their pictures taken in July or August by Galley Studios can have their photo taken the morning of Monday, September 23. The form can be found here-

Galley Studios Picture Form.

Photo make-up day is the morning of Monday, October 28.

We need all students to have their pictures taken so they receive a photo ID.

The prices are as follows:

Grades 9-12

Lunch- $3.75, Reduced Lunch $.40

Breakfast- $2.00, Reduced Breakfast $.30

Carton of Milk $.50

Grades K-8

Lunch- Free

Breakfast- Free

Carton of Milk $.50

Please visit the PCSD Food Services Webpage for additional information.

Click the image below for the Free and Reduced Lunch Application.

The Market will reopen Tuesday, September 3.

Hours:

School Days

Monday/Tuesday/Thursday 2:30-4:00 pm

Friday 12:30-2:00 pm

The Market, located in the PHS Commons, is a no cost grocery store for PCSD students and families that provides a variety of fresh, frozen and shelf stable foods. We also have personal hygiene and household items available. There are no qualifiers for this program and we encourage all of our students and families to use it.

Students must present their ID to the door attendant with the

current Off-Campus sticker.

To Drive Off-Campus:

• The student and their guardians must sign a drive-off-campus waiver and submit it to the office.

• An off-campus sticker will be placed on the student’s ID card by the office.

• Privileges will start Monday, September 9.

Freshman & Sophomore Year

• Freshmen & Sophomores are not allowed off-campus for lunch.

Junior Year

Second Trimester
Juniors may earn the privilege of driving off-campus or riding as a passenger in a vehicle at the start of the second trimester of their Junior year, provided they meet the following criteria during the first trimester of their Junior year:

• Not failed more than one course.

• Not excessed five days of unexcused absences.

Third Trimester
Juniors may earn or lose the privilege of riding as a passenger in a vehicle or driving off-campus at the start of the third trimester of their Junior year, provided they meet the following criteria during the second trimester of their Junior year:

• Not failed more than one course.

• Not excessed five days of unexcused absences.

Senior Year

Seniors may earn or lose the privilege of riding as a passenger in a vehicle or driving off-campus based on their academic and attendance records from the prior trimester. To maintain this privilege, seniors must:

• Not more than one failed course during the preceding trimester.

• Have zero truancies, with unexcused absences not exceeding ten days during the prior trimester.

*The administration may revoke open campus privileges based on student conduct.

These guidelines are an updated version of those located in the 2024-25 Student Handbook based upon new guidance from both the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Pediatrics for the school setting.

These guidelines shall be followed for any school day or school sponsored events.

Your child should stay home from school in the following situations:

• Fever: 100.4 degrees F or greater; may return after 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medication.
• Vomiting: one or more episodes; may return after 24 hours from last episode.
• Diarrhea*: one or more episodes of liquid stool; may return after 24 hours from last episode.
• Rash: open and draining or if a fever is also present; may return after 24 hours fever free or on treatment for 24 hours.
• Live head lice: those with live head lice will have parents notified but the child may remain at school through the end of the school day. Families must treat the headlice before the child may return to school. Upon return after treatment, a head check will be completed, and student proceeds to class. (Revised January 2023.)
• Contagious diseases:
• Cold sores: may return after 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medication.
• Fifth’s disease: may return after 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medication.
• Hand, Foot and Mouth disease: may return after 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medication.
• Impetigo: may return after 24 hours on antibiotics and lesions covered until dry and crusted.
• Pink eye: may return after 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medication and able to keep hands away from eyes.
• Ringworm: may return when treatment started, or lesions covered completely and able to keep hands away from sites.
• Athletes in direct contact sports may return after 72 hours on treatment or lesions covered completely.
• Strep throat or Scarlet fever: may return after 12 hours on antibiotics and after 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medication.
• Scabies: may return when treatment is complete.
• Respiratory illness:
• RSV, Influenza, COVID-19: may return after 24 hours fever free without the use of fever reducing medication and overall symptom improvement.
• COVID-19: mask for 5 days following symptom improvement, physical distancing, improve air circulation, hygiene.
• Vaccine Preventable Diseases (Chickenpox, Measles, Mumps, Pertussis, etc.): may return per Local Health Department guidance for a school setting.
• Other illnesses not listed: speak with the school nurse for exclusion from and return to school guidance.

*If diarrhea is related to a diagnosed contagious condition such as that related to a foodborne illness, exclusion from and return to school criteria may be longer and per Local Health Department guidance for a school setting.

Public Health Orders may override these Student Health Exclusion Guidelines in some instances. The school nurse will advise you should a situation arise.

Strong scents or odors that permeate the room/space should be avoided and may be addressed as a concern arises. (See medication section about essential oils.)

Linked is the timeline provided by the counseling office ~ Senior Year Timeline.

Jostens will meet with the Senior Class during WIN time on Tuesday, October 1 about ordering caps and gowns. If you miss the meeting, there will be information packets in the office.

The 2025 Graduation Ceremony is Friday, May 30, 2025 at 7:30 pm.

It's not too early to start thinking about senior photos! Additional photo information will be sent to families at a later date but please keep in mind, all yearbook photos need to be taken in a vertical format.

Left to Right: Sawyer S. (Secretary), Addison S. (Vice President), Blake B. (President), Katherine H. (Parliamentarian), Roselyn C. (Treasurer), Josie R. (Student Advisor), Kasen H. (Reporter), Aden D. (Sentinel)

Congratulations to Josie Roberts, who was the State Winner in the Creed Speaking LDE. Josie will be competing at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN on Wednesday, October 23. If you, an executive board, or community organization would be interested in helping Josie prepare for Nationals, please reach out to Brenna Babcock, HS FFA Advisor, via email at babcockb@portage.k12.wi.us.

portageathletics.com

The Portage Athletic Department is thrilled to once again offer free admission to all 2024-25 home sporting events for high school students. This exciting announcement comes as part of the department's ongoing efforts to make their events accessible and inclusive for the entire community. In addition to the free entry for high schoolers, the department has also decided to extend free admission to elementary and middle school students who are accompanied by an adult chaperone. This family-friendly policy aims to encourage younger students to get involved and support their school's athletic teams.

However, if an elementary or middle school student attends without an adult, they will be required to either pay the standard $5 ticket price or purchase a $30 "admit one" pass that grants access to any Warriors home event, excluding WIAA tournament games. For adult fans and spectators, the $30 admit one pass is also available, providing a convenient and cost-effective option to attend multiple home games throughout the season. These passes can be purchased at the ticket tables during any home event, or in advance starting on August 5th at the high school. To ensure the ticket office is staffed, the department recommends calling 608-742-8545 ext 1012 to confirm Tara's availability. The Portage Athletic Department is thrilled to welcome the community to cheer on the Warriors and looks forward to an exciting 2024-25 season!

The Portage Community School District may use student photos, interviews, videos and projects for educational and informational purposes. This media may be used in classroom projects, district newsletters, newspaper articles, school websites, District-sponsored social media sites, (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.), and for general media purposes. Please send written notification to the Portage Community School District Gerstenkorn Administration Office, Attention: Communication Department, 305 E Slifer Street, Portage, WI 53901 if you DO NOT want your student’s photo used. * If your student is included in a photo or project as part of a large group or public area gatherings where the student is not clearly identified, that photo or project may be used with or without an opt-out notification on file.

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