Portage Northern High School • Jim French, Principal • portageps.org/schools/high/nhs • 269.323.5400 • August/Sept 2015
SEPTEMBER 8TH, FIRST DAY — WELCOME BACK!
WHAT WILL THIS DAY LOOK LIKE? PLEASE READ THIS...
Happy first day, Huskies!! It is important to note that
EACH grade will report to a different part of Northern’s
campus upon arrival. Below, find your student’s GRADE
and to find out where they go once they arrive on
Tuesday September 8.
9TH GRADERS: Report to the AUDITORIUM by
7:35am, where they will begin their day with a
‘Class Meeting’.
10TH GRADERS: Report to the IGLOO by 7:35am, where they will have their SCHOOL
PICTURES taken by Life Touch.
11TH GRADERS: Report to your HUSKIE ROOM in the SCIENCE WING by 7:35am.
Exact room assignments will be posted throughout the area.
12TH GRADERS: Report to the DOGHOUSE by 7:35am, where they will find a ‘Huskie
Club Fair’.
EACH grade will attend all four locations (Huskie Room, Pictures, Class Meeting & Huskie
Club Fair) throughout the morning and will end in the Igloo with a full school Pep Assembly.
Dismissal for this first day will be at 10:50 a.m.
Note: Jostens will be in the Doghouse during Club Fair with info on Class rings, graduation
announcements, cap and gown orders, etc.
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page
WELCOME BACK – FROM MR. FRENCH
This is such an exciting time! We are here in the building preparing and planning for a fantastic 2015-16
school year. A good part of this summer has been spent interviewing and selecting new staff members.
We are so fortunate to have such an outstanding faculty at NHS to help all students grow and become
life-long learners and are thrilled to announce the following new additions:
First, we have selected Nate Ledlow as our new Assistant Principal. Mr. Ledlow comes to us from
Watervliet High School where he has been the principal for the past four years. We also have a new
vocal music instructor, Robert Jordan. Many of you know Mr. Jordan from North Middle or even West
Middle this past year. Our new English/Theater/Forensics teacher is CeCe Weeks. Mrs. Weeks comes to
us from Loy Norrix High School and has built a great program in our neighboring district. We have also
hired Amanda Mills for our World Language department. Ms. Mills filled a long term sub position at
Mattawan Middle School last spring and is excited to join our team at NHS. And lastly, we have hired
Amanda Thorpe for our vacant English position. Mrs. Thorpe comes with great experiences at Community
High School and we are excited to see her talents put to work with our kids.
If this will be your first year at Northern High School, we strongly encourage you to attend the “Freshmen
Orientation Day” on Monday August 31st, at 8am–12 noon in the Igloo (our gymnasium). If you are a
non-freshman new student to Portage Northern we will be hosting a “New Student Orientation” that
morning at 10:30 – 12 noon. We will be combining with the freshmen for specific building information
and activities but please join us for an opportunity to see Portage Northern High School and meet some of
your student leaders. Parents, please drop off your child at 7:45am or 10:15am and then return for a
new parent orientation at 11am for important information and a great Q&A time. This will last until
dismissal for all students at 12 noon. Please join us for a packed morning of activities and orientation to
NHS.
For more information please follow @PNHSLinkCrew and/or @PortageNorthern on Twitter or via our
Portage Northern website or Facebook page.
Schedule Summary: August 31st, 2015 - New Student Orientation
8-12 noon - All freshmen
10:30-12 noon - All non-freshman new students
11:00-12 noon - New parent orientation (Auditorium)
See you at PNHS on either August 31st or September 8th!
STAY IN THE HUSKIE LOOP!!
This is the ONLY issue of Huskie Tracks that will be mailed to your home! The remainder of the year’s valuable issues
will be published electronically and posted on our website. If you’re a parent who likes to know what’s going on
around here, you’ll want to give us your email address. You’ll get the daily announcements
delivered right to you every morning, plus other important notifications like when the Huskie
Tracks is ready (around the first of every month). News will come right to you, ‘hot off the
press’, into your emailbox.
Just visit our webpage, scroll to the bottom and fill out the super-simple 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 - August/September 2015 - Page 2
A FEW MORE FIRST DAY DETAILS
Your student should bring with them on September 8:
School Pictures Order: Students in Grades 9, 10 & 11 will have
their school pictures taken for the yearbook on the first day. Parents can either (1) order online using the ID WG065053Y0, (2)
pick up an order form in the main office during regular hours, or
(3) print an order form available on our home page and send it
with their student on September 8. PARENTS: If a student does
not bring an order form, their picture will be taken regardless; orders can be dropped off in the Main Office all week and LifeTouch
will pick them up on September 11.
Concussions Acknowledgement Form: Freshmen will be receiving in the summer packet “Educational Material about CONCUSSIONS”. There will also be an Acknowledgement Form that must be
signed & returned on the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. This is required
by the State of Michigan.
Forms and/or Payments: For yearbook, athletic passes, lunch
passes, parking passes (see below).
Off-Campus Lunch Passes, 11th and 12th Graders only:
 Go to: portageps.org/schools/high/nhs/information/forms to print the Lunch Permit form
 Print the “Lunch Permit Pass” form.
 Bring the completed form, including parent signature, to school on September 2.
 Students will NOT get their actual Lunch Pass until the Grade Office has contacted a parent to verify that
permission is given for your child to leave campus for lunch.
 Passes are $5 and good for one Marking Period at a time.
Parking Passes for students who will be driving to school:
 Can be obtained at the ‘Huskie Club Fair’ on the first day of school.
 Go to: portageps.org/schools/high/nhs/information/forms to print the Parking Permit form
 Print the “STUDENT PARKING PERMIT” form.
 Bring the completed and signed form, Student ID, Driver’s License, vehicle registration and $20 to obtain the
annual Parking Pass.
All student book fines and fees must be paid in order for your student to receive a student parking permit or offcampus lunch permit pass. You will receive a separate letter prior to opening day if your student has any outstanding fees/fines.
Athletic/Activity Passes may be purchased at the Club Fair. Please make checks payable to PN Athletics. Both
the Student Activity Pass and the Family Punch Pass are good at all home events except MHSAA tournaments and
all hockey games.
Student Activity Pass: Passes purchased Aug 17 thru Sept 11 will be $35. After Sept 11, the price is $45.
Family Punch Pass: Family punch passes are as follows: 20-punch is $65, 10-punch is $35.
2015-16 Yearbook subscriptions will be sold at the Club Fair. The price is $65 until September 30, 2015.
Beginning October 1 until the final purchase deadline of February 1, the price is $70. This pricing includes the
Yearbook AND the Spring Supplement. Please make checks payable to PNHS-Yearbook and include your student’s
full name in the memo. Yearbooks can also be purchased online beginning on September 1. (see Page 11 for
more details.)
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 3
FROM THE COUNSELING OFFICE
Welcome back! We hope that you had a restful & safe summer.
Counselors are assigned to students by their last names. Here is a listing of our Counseling Office staff:
Shari Smith
Letters A – D
323-5527
ssmith@portageps.org
Krista Hovestadt
Letters E – K
323-5420
khovestadt@portageps.org
Amy DiMaggio (Director)
Letters L – Ri
323-5472
adimaggio@portageps.org
Cindy Figueroa
Letters Rj – Z
323-5424
cfigueroa@portageps.org
Deb Beverly
Registrar/Enrollment/Appointments 323-5475 dbeverly@portageps.org
Counseling Summer Newsletters Online
Please visit the Counseling tab of our PNHS website for a very detailed, grade-specific letter for all students and
parents. Please refer to this Counseling newsletter for important “back to school” information. Also included
are important testing dates and general info for standardized testing for each grade level.
Counseling Presentations
During the first weeks of school, counselors will visit all grades in their English classes. We will present detailed
info about counseling services, standardized testing, college planning and future Counseling presentations.
Please be sure to ask your student for a copy of the handouts that will be given at each presentation.
Scheduling
This past spring, 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, schedule changes will be very limited! This includes seminars. We must treat seminars as a
regular elective class. No longer can we say, “Johnny doesn’t really like his elective…it’s not what he expected,
let’s just put him in a seminar.” 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 Support
Please encourage your student to seek help if they are struggling in his/her classes. Many teachers are more
than happy to help students before or after school. Encourage your child to make an appointment with a
teacher for extra help. Also, please try to communicate (as soon as possible) with the teacher in question,
if/when a concern arises.
Northern works very hard to ensure that all students learn and are successful in their classes. There are several
resources available to your student. After school, we offer the ASSIST Program. The ASSIST room is on the
second floor of the building. Students are encouraged to “drop in” to the ASSIST room any time MondayThursday from 2:55 to 4:55. Students can extra time and practice with a teacher and can seek help from many
tutors that are available. Ask your classroom teacher or counselor for more information regarding these
supportive resources.
Standardized Testing
All standardized tests are managed by our Testing Coordinator, Ruthie Connaughty. (Ruthie is also the
Administrative Assistant for Mr. French.) Her contact info is rconnaughty@portageps.org and 323-5461. She
will handle all test registration, communication and scheduling.
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 4
Standardized Testing for Each Grade Level:
9th Grade: PSAT no charge, taken in Spring
10th grade: PSAT no charge, taken in Spring
11th grade: PSAT, taken in fall (National Merit qualifying test)
SAT - April 12, 2016
WorkKeys/MSTEP - April 13, 2016
12th grade: Possibly re-take ACT/SAT, if interested, or if not completed during Junior year
For ACT testing info, go to www.actstudent.org. For SAT testing info, go to www.collegeboard.com.
General Class / Grade Info
The counselors would like to remind parents and students that we are here to advocate for the students and their
needs. We would like to encourage parents to:
· contact the individual teachers first with concerns about assignments, grades or student progress.
· ask teachers for specific feedback and to offer specific recommendations/suggestions for improving academic
achievement in their classes.
· contact counselors if grade concerns are not resolved.
· seek additional help from teachers before or after school...consult teachers to make appointments
· utilize the ASSIST program offered here at PNHS.
Suggestions for Students and Parents:
The Counseling Office works hard to communicate with both parents and students in a variety of ways. Please
be sure to check the Portage Northern website under “Student Services: Counseling” and listen to daily
announcements. Counselors will visit all grades, in their English classes, within the first few weeks of school.
We will provide handouts to all students. Please ask your student for copies of the presented work.
Have a great school year! Be sure to check in with your counselor if/when you have questions or concerns.
OPEN HOUSE
Please join us for Northern’s 2015 Open House for parents AND students. Our Open House this year will be held
from 6:30-8:30pm on Wednesday September 23. Please bring your student’s class schedule with you when you
come. You will have an opportunity to meet your son or daughter’s teachers, counselor and administrators.
We will begin the evening promptly at 6:30 in the Auditorium for a brief introduction and reminder of important
information for parents. Following this, parents will be released to follow an abbreviated version of their student’s
schedule. Teachers will have ten minutes to review grading policies, any major projects that will be required during
the year, class expectations, and an overview of the class. Please remember that there will limited time available. If
you need to speak with a staff member on a personal matter, please schedule this for another time.
2015-16 PEST CONTROL NOTICE
Portage Public Schools has adopted an Integrated Pest Management program. Inherent with this are the District’s
efforts to reduce pesticide use as much as possible. For more information, you can go here on the PPS website to
read our Pest Control Annual Notice.
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 5
READY TO SHAKE THINGS UP WITH THE MUSICAL ALL SHOOK UP!
Inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley, All Shook Up takes place in the
1950's and follows the story of Chad, a
guitar-playing roustabout who changes
everything and everyone he meets. When
he shows up to a square little place in the
mid-west looking for someone to fix his
bike and to find a little excitement, he
quickly finds out that the Mayor has outlawed all fun and he promises to breathe
some life into the sad little town.
Based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night,
the musical is packed with catchy songs
you will know like: "Jailhouse Rock," "Heartbreak Hotel," and "Don't Be Cruel," and features
characters and dancing you are bound to love.
Directors are looking for students who enjoy singing, dancing, or acting. All are encouraged to
audition and no experience is required. Audition dates are September 14-16. The directors will
be hosting two informational meetings prior to the actual audition dates. The first will be before
school starts on Thursday August 13 at 12pm in the PN choir room. The other will be Thursday
September 10 after school at 3pm in the auditorium.
Please check the PN Drama website: www.pndrama.org, and the Facebook page: PNHS
Presents All Shook Up, The Musical, for further information including audition cuts which will be
posted in mid-August.
DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Daily announcements will be read to all students during 4th hour and students can also see highlights on the
monitors throughout the building. These announcements are also posted in every office and are available on our
website. Please impress upon your students the importance of paying attention to this very important daily
information!
Would you like to read them right in your email inbox? Share your email with us and you will receive them each
day. If you are a parent that likes to stay in the loop, please visit our webpage and scroll to the bottom and fill out
this simple form. Also we suggest our students sign up so they can get the announcements as well. In today’s
world, there is absolutely no excuse to not be informed, right?
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Postcards will be mailed to students that have been signed up for bus
transportation on August 22, 2015. If you do not receive a postcard by
August 25, please contact the transportation office as soon as possible at
269-323-5151.
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 6
FALL SPORTS AT PORTAGE NORTHERN
Get excited to support your Huskie athletes!! Our fall season starts August 13 with the exception of football which
begins on August 11. Teams and coaches are listed below.
Football:
Pete Schermerhorn
pschermerhorn@portageps.org
Men’s Soccer:
Justin Rhodes
justin.d.rhodes@wmich.edu
Volleyball:
Alex Greene
alex.greene4956@gmail.com
Sideline Cheer:
Heather Prentice
HMPrentice@aol.com
Cross Country:
Matt Swanson
mswanson@portageps.org
Men’s Tennis:
Melanie Remynse
mremynse@portageps.org
Women’s Swimming:
Shelby Cloyd
cloydshelby@gmail.com
Women’s Golf
Bob Eustice
reustice@portageps.org
For specific practice times and schedules, please contact the coach and they will provide detailed information.
Show your Huskie Spirit and support our athletes! You can find all our sports schedules at our website
www.portageps.org/schools/high/nhs. Select the Athletics tab on the left side of the home page.
IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY SPORT:
1. A Portage Public Schools physical form much be on file in the Athletic Office before they begin practice.
2. A signed Code of Conduct form must be on file in the Athletic Office.
3. The Athletic Director will check previous semester academic performance and a student must be academically eligible to participate.
4. All athletes and parents much attend the Code of Conduct Meeting (Monday August 17,
6:30pm). See details below.
5. Portage Public Schools require a ‘Pay to Participate’ fee which MUST be paid BEFORE the first contest. Detailed information is available online or in the Athletic Office.
ATHLETIC CODE OF CONDUCT MEETING
All new Huskie athletes (this includes incoming freshmen, transfer students, and upperclassmen who have not previously participated in a sport at PNHS) and their parents are required to attend this meeting. This includes students who might participate in fall, winter or spring sports during the 2015-2016 school year.
Monday August 17 at 6:30pm in the PNHS Auditorium
Important information about the policies and procedures of the athletic department will be discussed. All athletes
and their parents/guardians are required to sign a Code of Conduct form in order to be eligible and the information
necessary for that form will be covered at this meeting.
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 7
WHO DO I CALL??
If your student is absent for any reason, you must inform the appropriate grade office.
The 10th and 11th grade office is in the Lower Level Commons: Samantha Mein 323-5562
The 9th and 12th grade office is on 3rd Floor: Kathy Augustine 323-5471
If you have general questions, need to deliver items to your student, etc: Main Office 323-5400
Sports related questions, physical forms, athletic passes, Athletic Office: 323-5561
Scheduling, standardized testing, college planning: Counseling 323-5475
Communication, Family Access (Skyward), social media, announcements. etc: Brenda Marsh 323-5466
SCHOOL DANCE AND FREE BUS
Our Student Senate is sponsoring a dance on Friday September 11 (the very first week of school!!), starting
immediately post-game, ending at 11:00pm. The cost is $5. The dance is held in the Commons; parents can pick up
there afterwards (this is the North entrance). There is a bus that will transport students from McCamley Field back
to PNHS at no charge. The bus picks up near the North end of the field (closest to the concession stand), and will
make a few round trips starting during the later part of the 4th quarter.
VOLUNTARY STUDENT INSURANCE
Portage Schools will again make available for purchase a voluntary student accident insurance program for the
2015-16 school year. PPS offers this voluntary program because of trends in family health and dental insurance.
Decreasing coverage levels with increasing deductibles and/or percentages of co-payment are common concerns
facing families today.
Please visit 1stAgency.com to access the plans available to Portage Public School families. This information is also
available through the portageps.org website under the Parent tab.
PORTAGE NORTHERN MARCHING BAND PRESENTS "PATIENT ZERO"
The 2014 Marching season was yet another crazy ride ending in an amazing performance at Ford Field and a 4th
place finish!
For our 2015 edition, the PN Marching Band presents "Patient Zero". The story line takes us to a world 50 years
from now - a major milestone in human history - all sickness and disease has been eradicated! Early in the show,
you will see and hear the new, modern world. As the show continues, we will find that while we thought we had
eradicated all illness, we seem to have missed one. Watch as the entire band tries to escape from the grips of this
new "bug". You wont want to miss this high
energy, loud, and aggressive show!
Whether supporting at McCamley or traveling
with the band to one of our six competitions
across the State, come shout "loud and proud"
for your Huskie Marching Band!
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 8
CAN YOU SPARE AN HOUR TO HELP A READER?
PARENTS, can you donate an hour or two hour a week to help a student succeed in high school? Adult volunteers
are needed to work one on one with incoming freshman as well as upper class students who are in need of help
with school work, organization and study skills, and the support of a caring adult. Time would be scheduled to work
with students during their seminar time once or twice a week, based on your availability and schedule. No special
skills are needed, and though we are only asking for volunteers to commit to this school year, it is the hope that
your relationship with your student may continue throughout their time at Portage Northern. Ongoing one-on-one
time with a caring adult has been shown to be essential to the success of all students.
An organizational meeting will be held for new volunteers shortly after the start of school, with a planned start date
of early October. Please contact Terri Novaria, volunteer coordinator for our Huskie Helper program, at 345-2404 or
NoviKazoo@aol.com.
RECYCLING?
The PNHS Art Department can recycle for you! We can always use your (clean): Plastic containers, Plastic grocery
bags, Fabric scraps/ wallpaper samples, Glass jars or bottles, Any other large batches of miscellany that may come
your way! (ex.: overstocked tiles, containers, paper…), Old (safe) cans of paint. Goods to be donated can be sent
in with a student or brought to the art department. Feel free to contact Sarah Nott (sjnott@portageps.org) with any
questions.
FOOD FACTS FROM THE HUSKIE CAFE
Meal Prices for 2015-16:
High School Breakfast - $1.50
High School Lunch - $2.50
Premium High School Lunch - $2.85
Ala Carte Entrée - $2.50 / $2.85 (depending on the station)
Milk - $ .50
Meal Benefit Applications are now available for the 2015-16 school year. Please log onto www.lunchapp.com to
complete your application. Remember, benefits from last school year are only available until October 19 th.
Need carb counts? Want to know how many calories your favorite school lunch has? Have a food allergy and
need to find a safe meal? Then check out Portage’s exclusive Nutrislice website! http://portageps.nutrislice.com
or download the app to your smart phone and have the info at your fingertips each day before lunch!
Low Balance Email Alerts – tired of last minute texts or emails asking for lunch money? Sign up for our low balance
email alerts. When your student’s balance falls below $5, you will receive an email that lets you know you need to
replenish funds on their account. You can sign up at www.sendmoneytoschool.com or call our office at 323-5155
to sign up.
Lunch Money - Yes your student can pay cash for his or her lunch each day, or they can bring in a check or cash to
put on account, but did you know you can add money to your student’s lunch account electronically? Simply sign
on to SendMoneyToSchool.com, setup your account (you will need your child’s student ID number—they should
know it), and then you can add funds, see their order history, set up email low balance alerts, and even transfer
funds if you have more than one student.
If have questions or concerns, please contact Susan Livingston, Director of Dining Services at 323-5155 or via email
at slivingston@portageps.org.
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 9
Welcome back parents! We are excited to start this year as our new Portage Northern
Parents Compass! Portage Northern Parents has a long history as the parent organization of Northern High School and as such supported our students, staff and school through
our donations of time, talents and funds. Over the course of last year, a dedicated group
of our parents and PN staff members met to discuss how our organization can continue to
fulfill our mission of support while growing and changing with the needs of Portage Northern. Fresh, new ideas were generated in those meetings and with them a new identity
and name emerged … Portage Northern Parents Compass.
We invite you to join us as we start on this new path for our organization! Our schedule
of monthly meetings for this year will be varied and will include a mix of lunchtime meetings, evening meetings, and some meetings entirely focused on specific topics that are
important and relevant to high school parents. The first meeting of the year for Portage
Northern Parents Compass is Wednesday, September 16th at 11:30 a.m. in Community Room A. Come hear the most up to date information that you need to know to
start the year with Portage Northern’s Principal, Jim French and the Director of Counseling,
Amy DiMaggio. Please check in at Northern’s Main Office for a visitor badge and directions. Parking is available in the South lot at the front entrance and in the North Middle
School lot.
Look for our new Portage Northern Parents Compass page coming soon through the
Portage Northern home page! A complete schedule of our meetings with meeting topics
will be published on our page. A link to our volunteer and donation form will also be found
on our new page, but until then, we have included a copy here.
Our 2015-2016 Executive Officers look forward to working with you!
President
Sheila Labian
372-3331
slabian4ceo@aol.com
Vice President
Janet Ingersoll
329-2994
jingersoll3@aol.com
Treasurer
Melissa Shufelt
372-4553
mjshufelt@aol.com
Secretary
Jean Truitt
323-4609
jet874@charter.net
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 10
Parent Name(s) _________________________________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________________________________
Phone Numbers _________________________________________________________________________________
Parent Email Address ____________________________________________________________________________
Student Name(s) and Grade(s) _____________________________________________________________________
To keep parents informed on their path through PN, your email will be given to the PN Communication & Data Coordinator in
order to receive daily announcements and Huskie Track notifications. If you do not want to receive the announcements and
notifications, please check here. 
Portage Northern Parents Compass can only exist
and continue it’s mission with your donations of time, talent and funds.
The only source of income for Portage Northern Parents Compass is parent donations.
We are a 501c3 nonprofit, so your donations are tax-deductible. Your generous donations allow us to continue our mission
of supporting Portage Northern High School and it’s students and staff. We are proud to contribute support to Academic
Awards, Senior Awards Night, the Staff & Retiree Luncheon, and special request grants from PN staff. We sponsor the only
graduation fundraiser, the annual Holiday Dance and we support almost half the cost of Portage Northern’s graduation at
Miller Auditorium. If we can count on your donation, please check the amount below and make your check payable to
Portage Northern Parents.
You can count on my tax-deductible donation enclosed:  $10  $25  $50  Other __________
I can help with:
 Picture Day—September 8: assist with checking in and directing Northern Students through the picture process
 Graduation Fundraiser—Holiday Dance: decorate and setup on Dec. 11; work coat-check, chaperone or serve
refreshments at the dance on Dec. 12; cleanup on Dec. 13
 Academic Awards—May 5, during the day: usher, help direct students through program
 Senior Awards Night—May 5, during the evening: usher, donate snacks, serve refreshments
 Staff & Retiree Luncheon—TBA usually last week of school: donate desserts, serve desserts
 Grad Bash: Senior Parents help in a variety of areas, you will be contacted by Grad Bash Chairperson
 Grad Bash: Junior Parents help with bus check in immediately after graduation ceremony
 Prepare or purchase snacks/drinks as needed for various events
 I want to help but can’t specifically commit now, just contact me whenever you need help
Please return this form to: Portage Northern High School, 1000 Idaho, Portage MI
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 11
SPORTS PASSES
Did you know you can save money with sports passes? You can purchase a Student Activity Pass (for high school
students only) for only $35 if you hurry and purchase by September 11, or $45 after September 11. Your student
can use this pass to get into PNHS sporting events for the entire school year.
You can also purchase a Family Punch Pass. These can be used by
parents, siblings, grandparents, etc. You can purchase a 20punch pass for $65 or a 10-punch for $35.
The fine print? Passes can be used only at Home events only, and
cannot be used for tournaments or hockey games. Sporting events
are $5 per person without a pass. Passes can be purchased in the Athletic
Office or at any sporting event.
PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY
Regarding our PED (Personal Electronic Device) policy at
NHS, the below chart indicates the areas and sign color
(displayed throughout the building) for each area and acceptable use.
Remember that teachers will define appropriate times and what devices are acceptable in their
classrooms and will display the appropriate sign in a visible area. Teachers reserve the right to
allow the use of PEDs in their classroom for educational purposes. For more information please
refer to your student handbook upon receipt during “Huskie Day”, September 8.
Sign Color
Red
Yellow
Green
Bathrooms, Locker
Rooms, Hallways
during class time,
some classrooms
Classrooms with
teacher permission
Hallways during
passing, before or
after school, Commons during lunch
Phone Calls
NO
NO
YES
Texting
NO
NO
YES
Personal Email
NO
NO
YES
School Email
NO
Yes, with permission
YES
Web Browsing
NO
Yes, with permission
YES
Music
NO
Yes, with permission
YES
Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
NO
NO
NO
Taking Photos/Video
NO
Yes, with permission
NO
Note Taking
NO
Yes, with permission
YES
Calendar Functions
NO
Yes, with permission
YES
Examples of Locations
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 12
IT’S TIME TO THINK YEARBOOK AGAIN!!!
The 2015-2016 Yearbook will be completed and distributed before seniors graduate and before underclassmen leave
for the summer. The seniors will have a special signing party at the end of the year.
ORDERING:
Beginning September 1, 2015, you may order your yearbook online through Northern’s homepage. Click on
‘organizations’ choose ‘yearbook’ and click on the icon that reads ‘Like Yearbook? Click here to order’. This is the
best and most efficient way to purchase your student’s yearbook. If you must bring a check or cash, students may
bring these to the following events:
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION: Monday August 31, 2015 from 11-12pm in the Auditorium Lobby
HUSKIE DAY CLUB FAIR: Tuesday, September 8, 2015, 7:45am-10:30am, The Dog House. Cash or check
accepted on the first day of school. Please make all checks payable to PN Yearbook, and write the student’s first and last name on the memo line. Credit/debit cards are easily available to use online. There is
no waiting in line when you pay online!
PRICE:
The price includes a yearbook that features the student body and is over 200 pages of interesting stories! Plus, with
each purchase, you will automatically get a supplement that features all of the spring sports and activities.
During the month of September, only $65
From October 1 until the final purchase deadline of February 1, cost is $70
SENIOR PICTURES:
Seniors must have their pictures submitted to the yearbook by October 31st. All submissions after November 1st
must include a $10.00 late fee. No photos will be accepted after November 7 th. This deadline is firm and final.
Please respect this deadline. Please submit your photo to the e-share website on Northern’s homepage. Go to
Organizations, click on Yearbook, and click on the yearbook icon. There, you are able to submit your photos to
eshare, buy a yearbook, add a nameplate to your student’s yearbook, or design a brag page for your student.
Please email Miss Wangler if you have any questions about this process. As a last resort, you may email the photo
or bring in a hard copy to Miss Wangler. Please see the mailer for specific specs on pictures. All of the information is
also on the website under yearbook.
THE YEARBOOK ORDER CENTER:
This is a one-stop shop where you can buy your yearbook, design a brag page, submit your senior picture, and order
any extras like posters of your student/friends/family. Plus, new this year personalized NAME PLATES are available
for the front of your student’s yearbook. This is a classy nameplate that is an extra cost, but well worth it. You can
buy a one-line plate with just their name or a two-line plate with their favorite activity, class name, date of graduation, etc. This is a great way to personalize your yearbook. This easy website can be found on the NHS homepage,
under organizations, and under yearbook.
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 13
Class and Lunch Schedules
7:35—8:28
8:33—9:26
9:31—10:24
10:29—11:24
5th Period
Lunch A (1st Lunch) Lunch B (2nd Lunch)
Lunch 11:29—11:59 Class 11:29-12:21
Lunch occurs before and after 5th hour. Students
will have either A or B Lunch, depending on what
subject they have for 5th hour:
Class 12:04-12:56
2nd Lunch (B)
All Third Floor & Lower Level Classes:
English, World Language, PE, Art, Science
1st Period
2nd Period
3rd Period
4th Period
6th Period
7th Period
Lunch 12:26-12:56
1:01—1:53
1:58—2:50
1st lunch (A)
All First & Second Floor Classes:
CI, Math, FACS, Soc St, Business, Band
QUESTIONS? MAKE YOUR NOTES HERE AND LET US KNOW
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Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 14
August/September 2015
SUN
August 9
Band Camp
Kickoff 1-9pm
MON
10
Football begins
TUE
11
WED
12
Fall Sports begin
THU
FRI
13
14
Musical Info Mtg
12pm Choir Room
SAT
15
Marching Band Camp 8am-10pm
Marching Band
Family Night
6pm
16
17
Athletic Code
of Conduct Mtg
6:30pm
18
19
23
LinkCrew
Training 4pm
24
25
LinkCrew
Training 8am
26
30
31
Freshman
Orientation
8am-noon
New Parents
Orientation
11am-noon
1
2
6
7
Labor Day
8
9
Huskie First Day
7:35am-10:50am
13
14
15
20
21
22
28
29
4
5
11
Football @ home
Dance 9-11pm
12
18
19
25
26
Mini Band Camp noon-4pm
27
Varsity Football
First Game! (at BC
Lakeview) 7pm
3
Varsity Football
Home game 7pm
10
Musical Info Mtg
3pm Auditorium
16
17
PNP Meeting
11:30am
Community Room
Musical Auditions 3-9pm
20
27
21
28
22
Musical Parent
Meeting 6:30pm
Auditorium
23
Open House
6:30-8:30pm
24
29
30
Last day for
early bird
Yearbook Pricing
1
Portage Athletic
Foundation’s
Oktoberfest 4pm
@Celery Flats
Homecoming Week (details to follow...)
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 15
2
Varsity Football
Home Game 7pm
3
Homecoming
Dance
PORTAGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2015-2016 Student Calendar
Elementary: Instruction starts promptly at 8:25am and dismisses at 3:38pm; half day dismissal at 11:40am
Middle & High School: starts promptly at 7:35am and dismisses at 2:50pm; half day dismissal at 10:50am
September 8 - First day of School; morning only
October 12 - Half day; morning only
November 5 - Half day; morning only; end of 1st quarter
November 6 - No School
November 9 & 11 - High School Conferences 3:30pm-7:15pm - School all day
November 10 & 12 - Middle School Conferences 3:30pm-7:15pm - School all day
November 17 & 19 - Elementary Conferences 4:15pm-8:00m - School all day
November 25 - No School
November 26-27- Thanksgiving Recess
December 21-31- No School - Winter Recess
January 1 - No School - Winter Recess
January 4 - School Resumes
January 25-28 - High School Exams morning; no school for High School in afternoon
January 29 - No School
February 8 & 10 - High School Conferences 3:30pm-7:15pm - School all day
February 9 & 11 - Middle School Conferences 3:30pm-7:15pm - School all day
February 16 & 18 - Elementary Conferences 4:15pm-8:00pm - School all day
February 26 & 29 - No School - Mid-Winter Break
March 31 - Half day morning only; End of 3rd quarter
April 1 - No School - Spring Recess
April 4-8 - No School - Spring Recess
May 6 - Half day
May 27 - High School Graduations
May 30 - No School - Memorial Day
June 1-2 - High School Graduations
June 7-10 Exams morning only; no afternoon classes for High School only
June 10 - Last Day of School* - half day
*Cancellations beyond what the law allows will extend the final day of school beyond June 10th.
Huskie Tracks - August/September 2015 - Page 16
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