Portage Christian School

Important Message about Tardiness

PCS Families,

Mr. Pender issued an important statement about tardiness on Monday. If you didn’t get a chance to read it in the highlights, here it is! Thank you for your attention to this issue!

CHRONIC TARDINESS – I have researched this problem and found that in many schools 95% of the student body arrive on time almost without fail. These are the students/families that rise early, plan in advance and leave with plenty of time so that they are not rushing out the door frantically, yelling about the one making them late, breaking the speed limit and raising the stress to dangerous levels. It is the 5% that make the start of the school day difficult for teachers, office employees and themselves. I haven’t found a magic pill that fixes the problem but parents and students should understand the difficulties they create.

First, in the life of the student it establishes a bad habit and character issue.

Second, it imposes on others and is disrespectful; the daily devotions and prayer, pledges and announcements are missed or disrupted so the day does not start right for the student and possibly others interrupted by the student. The first thing that usually happens in a class is instructions for the day or at the very least the first lesson. When a student arrives late the teacher is inconvenienced by having to repeat what he/she told everyone else and the class sometimes has to wait for the late comer to catch up. Thirdly, chronic tardiness reveals priorities. Things that are a priority to us take a front row seat in our planning and practice.

To demonstrate the importance you place on education in the life of your student rise early, pray with him or her about school that day, make sure they have all of their work, drop them off a little early with a blessing and lay the ground work for success in their life. A smooth start to the day is likely to have a positive effect for the rest of the day.

News Flash

PCS Math Mastery Initiative

All grades and all subjects are putting a special emphasis on learning math. This year we have put a special push on our students becoming excellent in their mathematics skills. We have incorporated an assessment tool called NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) to identify specifically where each student is in math understanding. This program provide accurate data for setting goals and promoting advancement. Along with NWEA we are also utilizing MathXL to assist those that have fallen behind to get caught up. Added to those excellent tools we offer Math Lab on Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Then another tool is found in our gymnasium hallway – our Math Mastery Word Wall where we have posted hundreds of pertinent math words arranged in grade order. Teachers use the wall to keep their math words ever before their class.

God’s Girls

Each Wednesday the girls of MS/HS are invited to a devotional during their lunch period. They are encouraged to bring their lunch and eat during the study. Currently they are talking about any subject that is of interest to them. This special time is lead by Mrs. Joyce Girgenti.

Godly Young Men

Beginning January 9th we will begin an exclusive small group of HS boys to study “Disciplines of a Godly Man” during their lunch period. They are encouraged to bring their lunch or participate in the $5 lunch provided and eat during the study. We are only taking 14 young men on a first come first serve basis. They need to sign up in the principal’s office. This group will be lead by Mr. Larry Pender and Mr. Jared Frick.