Portage Township Schools Update, October 5, 2017

Portage Township Schools Update, October 5, 2017

Aylesworth Elementary
Wednesday, September 27th was the Portage Elementary 4th and 5th Grade Cross Country meet. It took place at Woodlawn Park and we could not of asked for better weather. Our Aylesworth 5th graders showed up ready to run. The kids ran hard and did a great job representing Aylesworth. Congratulations to Ryan Fraker and Michael Wellman for placing in the top 10! Way to go!

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PHS MCJROTC
Cadets from PHS MCJROTC participated in the 29 September 2017 ABC7 Flyover of Portage High School. The program had 75 cadets present to assist the PHS Band in forming the letters for the flyover. A few of the cadets who came early to support are pictured here. Front row kneeling (L to R): Kaleb Garcia, Ethan Trent, Paul Hendron, Juan Torres, Giana Vespo, Melena Trujillo, and Matt Anderson. Back row standing (L to R): Victor Calvin, Bailey Stewart, Corrine Burton, Chris Ford, Jacob Walker, Noah Ringer, Lauren Ford and Jessica Rivera.

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PHS College and Career Night
The Portage High School College and Career Night was a huge success! Hundreds of students visited with college and apprenticeship representatives. This year a financial aid officer from Valparaiso University gave two presentations about financial aid and filling out the FAFSA.

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PHS Graphic Imaging Technology Program
Fire safety information saves lives. It’s as simple as that. Whether it’s in your own home or in your place of employment, education on the various types of fires can literally mean saving your life and the lives of others. Since the beginning of the year, students of the Portage High School Graphic Imaging Technology program have been learning just that. Not only are they taught different types of fires, the course goes on to inform them of different extinguisher types and household ways to deal with the various types.

Instructor Mark Fischer has used a variety of teaching tools, from in-class demonstrations to playing a game he invented to emphasize the importance of this information. This game teaches students critical thinking, collaboration, and ensures that the students can quickly recall information that may one day save their lives. Once this section of this course has ended, typically the students will have a chance to extinguish a live fire. The Portage Fire Dept. provides this training to the program as it has for the past decade.

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Saylor Elemntary
Saylor 4th graders went canoeing on Tuesday. They took a trip to the Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area in LaPorte, through the LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District. Students learned how to canoe and were thankful they had the opportunity to be part of such a great learning experience!

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PLTW Biomedical Students Presented Biometric Security Plans
Students in the PLTW Human Body Systems Biomedical course formed security companies and designed security plans using biometrics. Biometrics are unique physical characteristics such as fingerprints and retina scans that can be used for automated recognition. Student teams competed to win the contract to develop and update the security for a hypothetical company. Presentations were judged on feasibility, cost effectiveness and the quality of the science and sales pitch. Presentations were judged by Indiana State Troopers James Brasseur and William Carlson. Pictures are of the students displayed with their corporation names.

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PHS Art Department
The PHS art department has been very busy working on projects for the upcoming Day of the Dead holiday on October 31st-November 2nd. This year the art department’s theme is “Raptors-Birds of Prey”. Each student project celebrates a loved one whom has passed. Student projects will be featured in a large ofrenda, an altar that holds a large collection of objects. The ofrenda will be displayed in the hallway outside of the guidance office.

Myers Elemntary
4th Grade at Myers Elementary took a step back in time last week when they traveled to Buckley Homestead in Lowell. Students had the opportunity compare their lives today to the lives of pioneers in early America as they observed costumed historians and reenactors. Students were able to experience a 1900s schoolhouse, a cabin from the 19th century, as well as a working farm on their historical journey.