Portage Northern High School • Jim French, Principal • portageps.org/schools/high/nhs • 269.323.5400 • May/June 2014
EXAM SCHEDULE: SENIORS
May 19th, 20th, 21st during regular class periods.
If seniors do not clean out their lockers, ALL PAPERS AND PERSONAL ITEMS left in lockers will be discarded.
All BOOK CHARGES or other fees owed by your student must be taken care of by noon, Thursday May 22 or your
students diploma will not be available at Miller Aud. (If total is $75+ it must be paid with a money order or cash)
EXAM SCHEDULE: UNDERCLASSMAN (GRADES 9, 10, 11)
Tuesday June 3rd
Review Day and Locker Cleanout (All items left in lockers AFTER June 9 th will be discarded.)
Wednesday June 4
7:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
1st Period
9:55 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.
2nd Period
Specific Neighborhood buses leave @ 12:15 (Maps available at school office)
Study Hall is available in the afternoon in the cafeteria & regular buses will leave at the usual times.
Thursday June 5
7:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
3rd Period
9:55 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.
4th Period
Specific Neighborhood buses leave @ 12:15 (Maps available at school office)
Study Hall is available in the afternoon in the cafeteria & regular buses will leave at the usual times.
Friday June 6
7:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
5th Period
9:55 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.
6th Period
REGULARLY SCHEDULED buses leave at 12:30
Monday June 9
7:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
7th Period
9:55 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.
Make Up Exam Time
Specific Neighborhood buses leave @ 12:15 (Maps available at school office)
SPECIAL NOTES
 Breakfast will be served each morning.
 Lunch will be serving pizza & sandwiches to-go 11:55-12:30, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday only.
 Seminar classes do NOT meet.
 Students must take their final exams in order to pass their class.
 During Exam sessions – no deliveries will be made.
 If your student must leave a session early, this MUST be arranged with their Grade Office PRIOR to 7:50am.
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SENIOR SIGN OUT PROCEDURE
Beginning Friday, May 16th, AFTER 2:50pm, Seniors may stop in the First Floor Office and pick up their Senior
Sign Out form. The forms will NOT be available any sooner.
On Monday, May 19th, they will follow their REGULAR class schedule and while in EACH class, the senior will:
1.
2.
3.
Take their exam.
Turn in all required books, materials, etc… to their teacher.
Have the teacher sign their Senior Sign Out form. This signature states that the senior is totally done with
that CLASS and is not to return.
Repeat these steps in EACH class until the senior has all the necessary signatures.
Once the senior obtains ALL the necessary signatures, they take their Senior Sign Out form to the First Floor
Office. If everything is in order, Mr. Huber will sign the senior’s forms and then the senior is no longer a ‘senior’.
They are ready for THURSDAY, MAY 22nd, 6:00 p.m., GRADUATION CEREMONIES.
Notes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
There may be some outstanding fees/fines that the senior needs to take care of before Graduation Day.
This procedure can take up to 3 days to complete. The senior MUST continue to attend each class until they
have obtained that teacher’s signature.
If a senior has ANY Off-Campus classes (or on-line classes), they should have received an OFF-CAMPUS SIGN
OUT form. They can go to the Counseling Office if they need one.
SENIORS: BE SURE TO CLEAN OUT YOUR LOCKER(S) (Gym, Team, Music)
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Our high achieving students will be honored on Thursday May 8 in our
auditorium. Seniors ceremony begins at 6:30pm. Our underclassmen
are honored, each class with their own ceremony, during the day.
Qualifying students will receive invitations in the mail. Ceremony
times are as follows: 11th grade 8:50am, 10th grade 10:40am, 9th
grade 1:10 pm.
YEARBOOK PARTY FOR SENIORS
Come to this special event after school on Monday, May 19th from 3:00-4:00.
This signing party in the Lower Commons will help you remember all of your
wonderful friends and memories you made here at Portage Northern. Pick up
your memory books at this fun event that is just for you!
Underclassmen yearbooks will be available for pick up on May 20-23rd, during both lunches. Pens will be provided
for signing.
SPORTS PHYSICALS FOR 2014-15
The date for physicals for the 2014-15 school year will be Monday June 2 here at Portage Northern (there will be
directional signs posted at the main entrance). Physicals will start at 6:00pm and continue until 7:00pm or until each
registered athlete has been seen. In order to be seen by the doctors, an athlete must have a physical form that has
been signed by a parent. If they do not have a parent signature, the doctors will not see them. Physical forms are
available in the athletic office or online at the NHS athletic page. The cost will for a physical will be $30.
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BUS SCHEDULE (FOR
9TH, 10TH, & 11TH GRADES ONLY)
LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL- Exam Days are Half Days
Wed-Thurs June 4-5: School is done at 11:55am, Neighborhood Buses depart at 12:15
Friday June 6:
School is done at 11:55am, Regular Buses depart at 12:30
Monday June 9:
School is done at 11:55am, Neighborhood Buses depart at 12:15
Shuttle Bus & Vans between Northern and Central
Wed-Thurs June 4-5: Bus Shuttle @ 7:30
Van Shuttle @ 9:40
Bus Shuttle @ 12:00
Friday June 6:
Still to be determined
Monday June 9:
Bus Shuttle @ 7:30
Van Shuttle @ 9:40
Bus Shuttle @ 12:00
EFE/EFA, KAMSC & etc. shuttle buses will go as scheduled until students
notify the drivers that they will no longer need the service.
CLASS OF 2014 GRADUATION DVD
Enjoy fantastic coverage from graduation and Grad Bash. This DVD also includes a terrific musical photo montage
that was built using photographs submitted by graduates and their families. Order your very own DVD copy for a
lifetime of memories. Cost is $25; order at the online store at www.absolutevideo.com.
FROM PPS FOOD SERVICES
SENIORS: Just a reminder, in order to graduate all outstanding food service money owed needs to be paid before
you leave on May 19th.
EXAM LUNCHES: The Huskie Café will be open for grab and go lunches during exams Wednesday, June 4 th through
Friday, June 6th. You will be able to use the money on your food service account or cash to purchase lunch.
END OF YEAR LUNCH CHARGES: Reminder, starting on Monday, May 19th through the end of the school year, students will not be permitted to charge any meals or food items into the negative on their food service accounts.
Please make sure to remember to have a positive balance on your account so you can continue to purchase your
meals and a la carte items. All outstanding negative balances owed on food service accounts need to be paid by
the last day of school.
This summer Portage Public Schools will be sponsoring FREE lunch for any child age 18 and under at the following
locations: Milham Meadows Apartments and Colonial Acres Village. Sack lunches will be served Monday – Friday
(weather permitting) from 12:15 – 1:00 pm!
No ID is required, so come on out and Meet Up and Eat Up with
your friends!
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FROM THE COUNSELING OFFICE
2014-2015 Schedules:
Counselors visited all English classes, providing students with a list of requests they had made in February. The
purpose of this visit was to check for schedule completion (totaling 7 credits) and accuracy (correct classes).
Because we are taking extra precautionary efforts to make sure this is the most accurate schedule possible, it is
not known when students will be receiving their final schedule. Whether it is at the end of the school year or
over the summer, schedule changes will be very limited! This includes seminars. We must treat seminars as a
regular elective class. Classroom space and teachers are limited no matter what class is in question.
Therefore, please note: the only schedule changes that will be permitted are those in which level changes are
required (i.e. class failure or poor class performance) or a student is missing an hour due to a dropped class or
schedule conflict. In order to maintain the integrity of the scheduling process, no other schedule changes will
be allowed. This includes teacher, lunch, or seminar requests. We appreciate your cooperation with this
matter.
ACT Plan:
Counselors reviewed all ACT Plan test results with all freshmen and sophomores after Spring Break in April.
They discussed test interpretation and explained the career interest inventory. The goal was to help all
students understand their scores (strengths and weaknesses) to prepare and plan for the junior year ACT.
College Planning:
Before Spring Break, counselors visited all English 11 classes to discuss college planning for all juniors. A
detailed presentation was given and students received a parent newsletter to summarize the presentation. A
copy of the power point is on our PNHS website. Some highlights are: researching college options, arranging
college tours/visits, taking and re-taking college entrance exams (ACT/SAT), funding tuition, the college
application process and timeline and resources/tools to help guide them in these steps. To follow up with the
group presentations, counselors will meet with students individually during the month of May. Counselors are
committed to providing the best opportunity for open discussion, planning and research for all juniors as they
begin the college exploration process.
OFFICE HOURS:
The Counseling Office will remain open until the middle of June. Hours will be 8:00 to 3:00 pm. We will be
closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 pm. The Department Chairperson will be available until the end of June.
Scholarships
All students are encouraged to check out scholarship info in the counseling office. For any scholarship
questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Beverly at 323-5464.
ACT and SAT National Test Dates and Info
All test dates, info and registration occur online through each test’s website.
For ACT testing info, go to www.actstudent.org.
For SAT testing info, go to www.collegeboard.com.
Audits
Counselors will individually “audit” each student upon completion of the second semester. That means we will
review each student’s transcript and credits earned. If the student has failed a required class, the counselor will
adjust the schedule for next year accordingly. If the student is behind in credits necessary for graduation, the
counselor will notify the parent and student via phone and a letter home. The letter mailed home will outline
credit recovery options available for students. This information will be time sensitive as enrollment in summer
online classes for credit recovery will be limited and classes will begin the first week in June. Contact your
student’s counselor if you have questions.
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SENIOR NEWS / GRADUATION NEWS
MRS. CINDY FIGUEROA is the Senior class advisor; you can reach her at 323-5424 or cfigueroa@portageps.org.
Be sure to check your “senior calendar” that was mailed out in April. If you do not have a calendar, pick up one
in your grade office.
Prepare for graduation. Make sure all your credits and grades are up to date and correct. Make sure that all
your PE waivers are turned in, if applicable. If you do not have waivers turned in, you will not graduate!
Contact your counselor if you have concerns.
Sign up for Grad Bash at the registration tables during lunch.
Be sure to have your cap & gown ordered and paid for before graduation! All cap & gown info is located in
your grade office (Mrs. Barker).
Important Dates for Seniors
May 6: Jostens will be here for cap & gown delivery. Be sure to bring your cap & gown to graduation. If you
forget one or lose one, the prices are: $48 (cap & gown) and $12 (stole).
May 6: Senior Academic Awards meeting in auditorium: 4th hour
May 8: Senior Academic Awards: 6:30 pm PN Auditorium
May 13: Senior class meeting in auditorium: 3rd hour
May 15: Senior Breakfast: 7-8 a.m. in cafeteria. Senior envelopes (with graduation tickets, class pictures,
senior notes, etc…) handed out
May 19: Senior exams begin
May 22: GRADUATION at 7:00 p.m. at Miller Auditorium @ WMU!!!
Extra Tickets for Graduation
Each student will receive approximately 8 tickets to graduation. Students are asked to turn in their extra tickets
to the counseling office immediately. We will hold the extra tickets here in the counseling office and will
disperse them to students who need additional tickets.
Final Transcripts for Seniors
It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that his/her final transcript is sent to the college s/he plans to
attend in the fall. To request a final transcript, students need to log on to their parchment account at
www.parchment.com. Request that a final transcript be sent electronically to the school of choice. All
transcript requests MUST occur through the Parchment site.
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PN ART PRIZE 2014
As voted on by their peers and staff members, here are
your winners:
Dillon Johnson, 1st place
Delaney Beals, 2nd place
Stephanie Truitt, 4th place
Maggie Mianecke, 3rd Place
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PORTAGE NORTHERN PARENTS
Keeping you Connected with Information Parents Need to
Know!
PNP Meeting
May 14th will be our last Portage Northern Parents meeting of this school year. We hope you can join us at
11:30am. Our meetings are held in Community Room A, near the main entrance. Check in at the PNHS Main
Office for a Visitor Badge and directions. We make every attempt to adjourn by 1:00 p.m.
Academic Awards
Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to work Academic Awards and/or bake cookies. If you would like to help
and have not already signed up, volunteers are still needed! We need parents to help direct students during both
programs, as well as 20 families to donate 2 dozen homemade-style, nut free cookies. To sign up, please contact
Diana Smith at DLSappraiser@aol.com.
Grad Bash Tickets
Grad Bash ticket sales and bus sign-ups are May 6TH – 9TH during the lunch hour. Cost is $50. Checks (payable to
PN Grad Bash) and Waiver Forms must be turned in at this time in order to sign up for the bus. Please see
Counseling if you need a scholarship. Late registrations can be done through Mrs. Barker in the 12 th grade office.
Grad Bash Volunteers: SENIOR PARENTS
The big event is almost here, but it‘s not too late to be a part of your student’s last hurrah as a Portage Northern
Senior! Contact Sheila Labian slabian4ceo@aol.com or Melissa Shufelt mjshufelt@gmail.com if you would like to
help with student ticket sales in May, bus check-in after graduation, and/or chaperoning GRAD BASH on May 22nd.
Come watch our seniors have a fantastic time celebrating with their classmates! Believe it or not, your senior will
not even notice you are there.
Grad Bash Volunteers: UNDERCLASSMEN PARENTS
Graduation night is exciting, busy, and a little nerve wracking for senior parents. If you can help with bus check-in
at Miller Auditorium after graduation, it would be greatly appreciated! Contact Sheila or Melissa for details and to
sign up.
Graduation Video
The official 2014 Graduation Video will include a photo montage of pictures submitted by seniors, video footage
from the graduation ceremony and Grad Bash. All these unforgettable memories on a DVD for just $25! Look for
order forms in the senior mailing or order online at http://www.absolutevideo.com/orders/products/PortageNorthern-High-School-Graduation-2014.html
May 2nd is the deadline for turning in photos taken throughout your high school years for the video shown during
your 2014 Graduation Ceremony. Make sure you and your family will see your face up on that big screen at Miller
Auditorium. Submit up to five group photos from high school for the video. Group shots preferred! Email photos
or questions to: PNHSseniorpics@gmail.com. Please send in jpeg format with the highest quality format possible.
Senior Parent Donations
Donations of all sizes are needed and appreciated! These cash donations help keep Grad Bash affordable for all
seniors. You may make your tax-deductible check payable to Portage Northern Parents/Grad Bash and mail it to
PNHS 1000 Idaho, Portage MI 49024, ATTN: Grad Bash.
Our final Grad Bash meeting is May 14th at 6:30 PM in Community Room A.
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VOLUNTARY STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE PROGRAM
During this school year the Portage Board of Education made available a voluntary student accident insurance program. Since the District has made this insurance available, an increasing number of parents/guardians have been
taking advantage of this inexpensive policy. This fact dictates that as a community service, we will continue to offer
this voluntary insurance.
The District offers this program because of trends in rising family health and dental insurance costs, increased deductibles, and co-payments. Furthermore, in an attempt to limit the Districts' rising insurance costs, this program
provides an alternative for claims due to accidental injuries that unfortunately occur on our property. This is the
case for both during and after school hours.
Plan information and the enrollment forms will be posted on the District’s website this summer and has been designed to respond to diverse family insurance needs. Coverage provided can help decrease the burden of unexpected medical and dental expenses, including those left unpaid due to family insurance deductibles and copayments.
As it relates to middle and high school interscholastic athletics, this voluntary insurance plan also provides coverage
for all sports except grades 9 through 12 tackle football. In that the District requires athletic insurance, you should
consider this policy for the coverage it will provide you and your child. A separate policy for high school interscholastic football is also made available before practice begins in August.
Please watch the District’s website this summer for this information.
NON-DISCLOSURE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PERSONAL INFORMATION TO
MILITARY RECRUITERS (Section 9528 Request)
I, ________________________________, hereby exercise my federal right, granted to me by the Congress of the
United States under Section 9528 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No
Child Left Behind Act of 2001, (and any other state, federal, or local law or any school policy), and hereby request
that the name, address, and telephone listing of:
_________________________________________________ (name of student), a current student at Portage
Northern High School, not be released to military recruiters without prior parental consent. I do, however, consent,
to the disclosure of such information to institutions of higher education other than military schools.
Signed by: ___ Student ___ Parent (Check One)
___________________________________________/__________ Signature/Date
______________________________________________________ Print Name
______________________________________________________ Address
_______________________________________________________ City/State/Zip
This certificate can be signed by either student or a parent. A student does not need parental consent to submit
this certificate. Any secondary school student, regardless of age, can sign this certificate and is authorized by law
to submit this request. Parents can also sign this certificate for any secondary student.
When completed, submit this form to: Portage Northern High School, 1000 Idaho, Portage MI 49024.
Only one request is needed and is good throughout all of high school.
It is a violation of federal law to disregard this request and release the name, address, or telephone number of this
student to any military recruiter without prior written parental or student consent. Reference - Section 9528(a)(2)
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
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May-June 2014
SUN
27
MON
28
TUE
29
WED
30
THU
1
Forensics
Evening of
Champions
630pm
Auditorium
4
5
6
ELECTION!
12
7
SAT
3
Matt Thrasher
Memorial
Lacrosse
Challenge
Games start at
12, McCamley
8
9
10
Academic Awards
11th: 850am
10th: 1040am
9th: 110pm
12th: 630pm
Cabaret 7:30pm Cabaret 7:30pm
13
14
15
Senior Graduation PNP Mtg 1130am Senior Breakfast
Meeting 9:35am
7am, Commons
Grad Bash
Meeting 7pm
Cabaret 2pm
2
Half Day!
Talent Show
6pm
Auditorium
Cap and Gown
Distribution
10am-1pm
11
Mothers Day
FRI
16
17
Forensics
Forensics
Mackinac Tournie Mackinac Tournie
Orchestra Concert Band Concert
7pm
7pm
Auditorium
Auditorium
18
19
Forensics
Mackinac Tournie
20
21
Senior Exams (during regular class periods)
Senior Yearbook
Party 3-4pm
Lower Commons
22
23
No School
24
Graduation
7pm
Miller Auditorium
Grad Bash
Immediately
following
Sports Physicals
6-7pm
25
26
No School Memorial Day
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
Final Exams
1st 7:45-9:45
2nd 9:55-11:55
5
Final Exams
3rd 7:45-9:45
4th 9:55-11:55
6
Final Exams
5th 7:45-9:45
6th 9:55-11:55
7
8
9
Final Exams
7th 7:45-9:45
Makeup exams
9:55-11:55
10
11
12
13
14
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Portage Public Schools
Portage Northern High School
1000 Idaho
Portage MI 49024
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
KALAMAZOO, MI
PERMIT NO. 36
SUMMER OFFICE INFORMATION
June 16-August 2:
Monday-Thursday 8am-noon and 12:30-3:00pm (closed Fridays)
Note the office will be closed June 30—July 4.
Regular hours resume August 4: Monday-Friday 7am-noon, 12:30-3:30pm
Would you like to read the daily announcements, right in your email inbox? And how about the Huskie Tracks?
Want to be the first to know when it’s ready? If you are a parent that likes to stay in the loop, please visit our
webpage and scroll to the bottom and fill out the form.
www.portageps.org/schools/high/nhs
Are you on Facebook? Did you know we have our own Page where you can get updates,
news etc., right in your news feed? Search facebook.com/pnhsnews and “like” us!
And how about Twitter? You can follow us @PortageNorthern.
Huskie Tracks - May/June 2014 - Page 10