Portage Northern High School • Jim French, Principal • portageps.org/schools/high/nhs • 269.323.5400 • May/June 2013
EXAM SCHEDULE: SENIORS
May 20th, 21st, 22nd 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 23 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)
THURSDAY, MAY 30TH
Review Day and Locker Cleanout (All items left in lockers AFTER June 5 th will be discarded.)
FRIDAY, MAY 31ST
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.
MONDAY, JUNE 3RD
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.
TUESDAY, JUNE 4TH
7:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
5th Period
9:55 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.
6th 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.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5TH
7:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
9:55 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Regular buses leave @ 11:07
7th Period
Make Up Exam Time
SPECIAL NOTES
 Breakfast will be served each morning.
 Lunch will be serving pizza & sandwiches to-go 11:55-12:30, Friday, Monday and Tuesday 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.
Huskie Tracks - May/June 2013 - Page
SHUTTLE BUS AND VAN between Northern and Central
May 31, June 3 & 4:
BUS shuttle @ 7:30; VAN shuttle @ 9:40, BUS shuttle @ 12
Neighborhood Buses depart @ 12:15
June 5: BUS shuttle @ 7:30, VAN shuttle @ 9:40, BUS shuttle @ 10:40
REGULAR Buses depart @ 11:07 a.m.
Shuttle Buses for EFE/EFA, KAMSC, etc: run as scheduled until students notify the driver that they will no longer
need the service.
SENIOR SIGN OUT PROCEDURE
Beginning Friday, May 17th, 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 20th, 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 23RD, 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)
SUMMER MAIN OFFICE HOURS
Beginning June 17-August 2: Monday-THURSDAY, 8am-noon, 12:30pm-3:30pm (closed Fridays)
Note the office will be closed July 1-5
Regular Hours to resume August 5: Monday-Friday 7am-noon, 12:30pm-3:30pm
ACADEMIC AWARDS
Our seniors are honored on Thursday May 9 in the evening. Our underclassmen are also honored, each class with
their own ceremony, but 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.
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FRESHMAN - ACT ONLINE PREP
Summertime is a great time to study - really! As our Site License from ACT to utilize their ACT Online Prep software
has been extended to our freshmen, they have a wonderful opportunity to do some preparation over the summer.
This web-based software will assist students in preparing for the ACT Test by providing some valuable resources.
Students receive:
 Two full practice tests with complete scoring, using real ACT test questions
 Two practice essays for the ACT Writing Test, with real-time scoring
 Comprehensive content review for each of the ACT's four required tests—English, Math, Reading, and Science
 Diagnostic test and personalized Study Path
 Anywhere, anytime access via the Internet
Our freshman have received a mailing with an ACT Online Prep direction sheet and student login/password
information. We strongly encourage each student to utilize this great service to prepare for the upcoming ACT test.
Note that this tool does not work when utilizing Google Chrome as your web browser but it is supported via Internet
Explorer. Visit the Northern High School website for additional resources for setting up your individual account.
YEARBOOK UPDATE
Yearbooks will be distributed to seniors on Wednesday, May 15th, at the senior breakfast. Students who purchased a
yearbook will pick their yearbook up along with their senior packet and have a chance to sign yearbooks for the
remainder of the time.
Underclassmen will have the opportunity to pick up their yearbooks during both first and second lunch on
Wednesday, May 15th, and Thursday, May 16th. Writing utensils will be provided so students can sign books during
their lunches.
Spring supplements will include activities such as graduation, and therefore will not be finished until after the school
year has finished. If you purchased the $18 supplement, it will be mailed to your home in the summer, if you
purchased the $15 supplement, it will be available for pick-up in the fall at PNHS. Keep your eyes peeled in the fall
for the pick-up date for the spring supplements!
CONGRATULATIONS ACCOUNTING AND BMA STUDENTS
Congratulations to the PN Accounting and BMA students who took 1st place overall out of the county’s business
programs at the annual Davenport Competition Friday, April 26th.
Team Captains: Johnathan Hart, Maddie Page
Fashion Show Participants: Danielle Jennings, Johnathan Hart
Interview: Karianne Alfieri – 2nd place
Word: Noah Aleman – 1st place, Maddie Page – 2nd place, Caitlin Adkins – 3rd
Excel: Karianne Alfieri- 1st place, Ryan Hoover – 2nd place, Ryan Weston – 3rd place
Business Management & Administration: Tyler Cummings – 3rd
PowerPoint: Craig Suhusky – 2nd
Commercial: 2nd place PN
Team Competition: 3rd place PN
Huskie Tracks - May/June 2013 - Page 3
HGD CURRICULUM REVIEW
The Human Growth and Development (HGD) Advisory Committee has reviewed curriculum and materials for grades
7 and 8, Family and Consumer Science class, and High School Freshman Focus/Health class. The committee is
seeking comments and feedback before making a recommendation to the Board of Education.
The District will be holding two Public Hearings on Monday, May 6th at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday, May 15th at 6:00
p.m. in the Administration Building. Materials will be available for preview and members of the committee will be
available to answer questions. Materials will also be available for preview in the Curriculum and Instruction Office at
the Administration Building, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until May 15th. Please contact Nancy Haas, Director of
Curriculum at 323-5060 to preview materials.
Members of the Advisory Committee are also available to take your comments:
Parent Christy DeHaan christinadehaan@yahoo.com
Parent Rita McKenzie ritamckenzie@yahoo.com
Parent Wendy Pennell swpennell5@yahoo.com
Parent and Teacher Anne Schnurstein aschnurstein@portageps.org
Teacher Kelli Palsrok kpalsrok@portageps.org
Pastor Mike Drew pastormikedrew@charter.net
Nancy Haas nhaas@portageps.org
BUS SCHEDULE (FOR
9TH, 10TH, & 11TH GRADES ONLY)
LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL- Exam Days are Half Days
May 31, June 3 & 4 - School is done at 11:55am, Neighborhood Buses depart at 12:15
June 5 – School is done at 10:55am, Regular Buses depart at 11:07 a.m.
Shuttle Bus & Vans between Northern and Central:
May 31, June 3 & 4:
Bus Shuttle @ 7:30
Van Shuttle @ 9:40
Bus Shuttle @ 12
June 5:
Bus Shuttle @ 7:30
Van Shuttle @ 9:40
Bus Shuttle @ 10:40
EFE/EFA, KAMSC & etc. shuttle buses will go as
scheduled until students notify the drivers that they
will no longer need the service.
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FROM THE COUNSELING OFFICE
2013-2014 Schedules
Earlier this month, 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.
Academic Awards Programs will be held on Thursday May 9 in the PN Auditorium; schedule is as follows:
11TH GRADE:
Ceremony begins at 8:50 a.m.
10th GRADE:
Ceremony begins at 10:40 a.m.
9th GRADE:
Ceremony begins at 1:10 p.m.
SENIORS:
Evening program begins at 6:30 p.m.
ACT Plan
Counselors reviewed all ACT Plan test results with all sophomores in late April. They discussed test
interpretation and explained the career interest inventory. The goal was to help all sophomores understand
their scores to prepare and plan for next year’s ACT.
College Planning
Recently, counselors visited all English 11 classes during to discuss college planning for all juniors. A detailed
presentation was given and students received a parent newsletter to summarize the presentation. 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.
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).
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Important Dates for Seniors
May 1: 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 8: Senior Academic Awards meeting in auditorium: 2nd hour.
May 9: Senior Academic Awards: 6:30 pm PN Auditorium
May 15: 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 20: Senior exams begin.
May 23: 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. Students who do not complete the “college survey” or indicate their final choice, will not
have a final transcript sent out. It is imperative that college bound seniors confirm with Mrs. Beverly in the
counseling office to where they would like their final transcript sent.
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 323-5482.
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.
Counseling 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 June 21.
Huskie Tracks - May/June 2013 - Page 6
CLASS OF 2013 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 $35. Shipping is included.
Order on line at absolutevideo.com/orders/ and look for Portage Northern Graduation Grad Bash.
SPORTS PHYSICALS FOR 2013-14
The date for physicals for the 2013-14 school year will be Monday May 20th, 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.
2013 Grad Bash Corporate Donors
Please show your special thanks to the following
businesses and groups that are showing their
support to our students thru Grad Bash.:
AAA Kalamazoo/Portage
Ambati Flowers
Ample Pantry
Barnes & Noble
Binder Park Zoo
Bittersweet Ski & Snowboard Area
Bowers Manufacturing Company
Boxstamps Etc., LLC
Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille
Celebration Cinema - Crossroads
Chemical Bank – Shoreline
Chessler Corporation
Daniel S. Maudlin, D.D.S.
Design Details
Erbelli’s Pizza & Italian Cuisine
Farrell Audio and Video
FOP Lodge 98
Gerberts Sub Shop
Harding’s Markets
Hillside Center
Initial Attraction
John A. Wolfe & Associates, Inc.
Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
Kalamazoo Orthodontics PC
Kenneth W. Grabowski Orthodontics
Keystone Community Bank
Liberty Molds Inc.
Little Caesar’s
LoDo’s
Martin Spring & Drive Inc.
Metro Toyota, Inc.
Michigan Commerce Bank
Millenium Restaurant Group
Oasis
Pak Mail of Portage
Portage Auto Repair, Inc.
Portage Motor Sales
Portage Pharmacy
Portage Rotary
Putter’s Family Fun Center
Quality Air Service
Rathco Safety Supply
Schupan & Sons, Inc.
Servicemaster of Kalamazoo
Susan M. Dennis, D.D.S.
Tim Hortons Westside
Timber Ridge Ski Area
West Milham Dental Professionals
Western Diversified Plastics
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PORTAGE NORTHERN PARENTS
Keeping you Connected with Information Parents Need to
Know!
PNP Meeting
How did that last meeting up come up so quickly? May 8th will be our last Portage Northern
Parents meeting of this school year. We will vote on a slate of officers and approve our budget for
next year. We hope you can join us! Stop in at the Main Office to sign in and get a visitor badge
and directions. We make every attempt to adjourn by 12:30pm. If you can't attend, read the
minutes online: From the options on the Portage Northern home page, click "Organizations" and
then "parents" to get to the PNP page.
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, please contact Diana Smith at
DLSappraiser@aol.com. We need parents to help direct students during both programs, as well as
families to donate 2 dozen homemade, nut free cookies.
Did you miss Grad Bash Ticket sales?
There is still time--see Mrs. Barker in the 12th grade office. Don't miss out on the last hurray for
the class of 2013!! See the Counseling office if you need a scholarship.
Volunteer Parents Needed for Grad Bash 2013
We still need parent volunteers to help chaperone our all-night Grad Bash party!! Volunteering is
easy and fun. And believe it or not--your senior will not even notice you are there. Contact Pam
Coughlin pcoughlin44@yahoo.com. Watching our seniors have a fantastic time celebrating with
their classmates is a lasting and rewarding activity.
2013 Grad Video
The fantastic class of 2013 Grad 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 $35! Order forms were included in the senior mailing received in early
April or order on-line at www.absolutevideo.com/orders or call 343-1000.
May 6th deadline to submit photos for Grad Video!
You still have time to turn in photos to be included in the Grad Video. Make sure your senior will be
part of the video show that runs on the big screen at Miller Auditorium before graduation. Submit
up to five photos from high school years in jpeg format to gradvideo13@gmail.com. Group photos
are preferred. Printed photos or CD may be dropped off at the main office and include a self
addressed stamped envelope if you want them returned. Questions: Bruce Bejcek 324-3723
Sign Up To Give Blood
Grad Bash is hosting a Blood Drive on Wednesday, May 22, 8am-1pm in the balcony of the Igloo.
Go to www.miblood.org to schedule an appointment to give. This is the last chance for parents,
students and staff to give blood, sweat and tears to the graduating class of 2013. Grad Bash will
earn $10 per donor.
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VOLUNTARY STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE PROGRAM
The Portage Board of Education has 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.
The plan described in the brochure you'll receive in the fall 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 co-payments.
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 for the enrollment forms at the start of the next school year.
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.
Huskie Tracks - May/June 2013 - Page 9
May-June 2013
SUN
28
5
MON
29
TUE
30
Forensics
Evening of
Champions
6pm
Auditorium
6
7
Deadline for Grad
Video submissions
HGD Hearing
6pm
Admin Building
12
13
Choir Concert
7pm
Auditorium
WED
THU
FRI
1
Cap and Gown
Distribution
10am-1pm
2
8
PNP Meeting
11:30
Community Room
9
10
Academic Awards
11th: 850am
10th: 1040am
9th: 110pm
12th: 630pm
Grad Bash
Meeting 7pm
Community Room
3
Half Day!
Talent Show
7pm
Auditorium
14
15
16
Orchestra Concert Senior Breakfast
7pm
7am, Commons
Auditorium
HGD Hearing
6pm, Admin Bldg
SAT
4
Matt Thrasher
Memorial
Lacrosse
Challenge
Games start at 12
At McCamley
11
17
18
Forensics
Forensics
Mackinac Tournie Mackinac Tournie
Band Concert
7pm
Auditorium
19
20
Forensics
Sports Physicals
Mackinac Tournie 6-7pm
21
22
Grad Bash
Fundraiser:
Blood Drive
8a-2pm
23
Graduation
7pm
Miller Auditorium
24
No School
25
Grad Bash
10:15pm meet in
North Parking Lot
Senior Exams (during regular class periods)
26
27
No School Memorial Day
28
29
30
31
Final Exams
1st 7:45-9:45
2nd 9:55-11:55
1
2
3
Final Exams
3rd 7:45-9:45
4th 9:55-11:55
4
Final Exams
5th 7:45-9:45
6th 9:55-11:55
5
Final Exams
7th 7:45-9:45
Makeup exams
9:55-10:55
6
7
8
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