To CHS Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen:

We are planning a “drive through” at CHS so juniors, sophomores, and freshmen can finish their check out for summer, and pick up belongings that were in their locker. Lockers have been cleaned out, and all personal items have been carefully placed in bags and labeled with each student's name.  At this time, we'll also have students return books and band instruments that are not being used during the final days of school.

More information will be sent on Monday now that the District has given us approval; at this time we want to alert our students and parents to prepare for the "locker check out".  The specific days for the pick-up will be:  Tuesday June 2nd for Juniors, Wednesday June 3rd for Sophomores, and Thursday June 4th for Freshmen.

Again, times and specific instructions will follow on Monday.

Thank you for your patience.

Paul Cook

Principal

Dear CHS Parents and Families,

By the end of next week, you will see your student’s third quarter marks, which reflect any work assigned up to March 13, when schools were closed. The grades will appear only as “Pass” or “Incomplete.” While these third quarter marks do not appear on your student’s final transcript, we hope they will give you an indication of your student’s progress prior to school closure. 

As we move closer to the last day of the semester (June 5th), we want to make sure you had all the pertinent information regarding student assessment going forward. Below is an outline of the requirements for our students for 2nd semester. Most important, students are expected to continue learning throughout the remainder of the school year and engage in online coursework. Our teachers are continually adjusting curriculum and instruction in order to support our students in this new educational platform.   

Students will receive one of two grades for second semester (June 5): 

PASS

Student demonstrates evidence of essential learning: up to the point of school closure (March 13), AND demonstrates continued evidence of essential learning by participating actively in Distance Learning for All through June 5.  (This will include grades from A to D)

INCOMPLETE

Student does not demonstrate evidence of essential learning at the time of school closure AND does not yet demonstrate essential learning as part of Distance Learning for All by the end of spring term 2020. (This would include the grade F)

Be sure that if your student is experiencing concerns in participating in the Distance Learning for All approach, please contact your student’s counselor or teacher to discuss additional options to support your student and to adjust to your family’s needs. 

The plan for students with “Incomplete(s)”:

We are committed to ensuring that all of our Cleveland students continue to experience high quality teaching and learning during these challenging times, and we appreciate your continued support - be safe.

Best,

Paul Cook and the CHS Admin. team

Cleveland High School Family Newsletter

April 9, 2020

Dear CHS Parents and Students,

We hope this newsletter finds you healthy and safe.  As you might know, we have received two big announcements from the Governor over the past 24 hours regarding the school year and the status of our seniors.  For all students across the state, all in-person classes are cancelled, and schools will remain closed. Please understand, however, that instruction will continue via distance learning for the rest of this school year.  

Yesterday, the Governor announced that seniors who were on track to graduate when classes were cancelled will receive passing grades and will earn their diploma. Again, please be aware that ALL seniors are expected to follow the student daily schedule printed below. Seniors who did not have passing grades at the point schools were closed are expected to work with their teachers to improve their grades so that they may also graduate. Information concerning each senior’s status will be sent home as soon as possible.

For all students who will continue their education via distance learning, the District has provided this template for a daily schedule which as you see does not resemble the regular A/B schedule we are used to. We have attached the Cleveland Student Daily Schedule that will begin on Monday, April 13, and ask that students and parents be aware of what will occur each day and at what time. 

This new schedule will allow us a blend of continuing to focus on the essential learning and opportunities that will enable our students to grow academically through all the challenges we are facing, and the flexibility to adjust to what might be happening in their and their teachers’ personal situations.  

Here is an example of how a student’s daily schedule might look:

8:15 - 8:50    Student-directed learning in their coursework (reading, writing, etc.)

9:00 - 10:00 and 10:10 - 11:10  Two classes per day (Monday - Thursday) 

Here are two examples of how instruction may be offered:

1:00 – 3:15  Student Choice

• Physical Activity 

• Mindfulness 

• Self care 

• Continued coursework 

• Projects, etc.

While we know there are many more questions than we have answers for at this point, we will share more information as it arrives from the District and ODE. These are unprecedented times which lead to unprecedented challenges.  We are in this together and are here to do what is best by our students. We need to stay positive, focused and safe.  

Sincerely,

Paul Cook and the CHS Administration team

Coronavirus update: Schools will be closed through April 28

Under an executive order from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Portland Public Schools and other districts in Oregon will be closed through April 28.  More information and updates

Actualización de coronavirus: las escuelas permanecerán cerradas hasta el 28 de abril:

En virtud de una orden ejecutiva del gobernador de Oregón Kate Brown en respuesta a la pandemia de coronavirus, las Escuelas Públicas de Portland y otros distritos de Oregón permanecerán cerrados hasta el 28 de abril. Más información y actualizaciones

 

March 29, 2020

Dear Cleveland Families,

I hope that this letter finds you safe, healthy and that your loved ones are doing well during these difficult times.  While there is much uncertainty in everything around us currently, my administrative team and I are hoping to bring some familiarity and normalcy to what is unique and unprecedented in how we “conduct” school at CHS. However, one thing is for certain:  we are doing this together, all learning together as we venture into this new territory.

Now that “Spring Break” is coming to a close, we are sharing some information as to next steps for the next few weeks for students and staff and providing the information as we know as of today 

• We are expecting the Oregon Department of Education to issue in the very near future new guidance regarding 3rd quarter/second semester grades, class credits, and graduation requirements.   Once the new guidance is issued, we will be able to answer many questions, including those regarding graduation requirements for the Class of 2020.

• Our task in the next week is to help ALL of our teachers facilitate remote learning with ALL of our students. As you know, many of our teachers have already developed remote learning opportunities for students.  Cleveland teachers will spend most of next week planning and preparing for remote learning.  The District is providing a series of online courses for teachers to complete. Starting Monday, our teachers will also meet in “virtual” departments to identify essential learnings that we want our students to master before the end of the school year.  

• Cleveland teachers will be sending information to students to establish connections and to determine who is and isn’t accessing online learning.  In addition, we will be reaching out individually with support to students who need to recover credit in order to meet graduation requirements, or who need specialized programming along with those who need access. 

In the next week, we will finalize a schedule and be able to offer answers to the essential questions we know you have.   It goes without saying that information from the District and the state is changing or happening daily. Please know that we will be communicating updates as we receive the latest information.  

Thank you in advance for your patience, understanding and flexibility. 

All the best,

Paul Cook and the CHS Administrative Team 

My heart breaks.

My heart breaks for the Black lives that continue to be lost to racist brutality and the failure of recognizing our shared humanity. 

Two teachers from Portland Public Schools were named finalists for the OnPoint Educator of the Year Awards, leading a strong showing by PPS in the OnPoint Excellence in Education program.

Madison High School teacher James Jeffrey-West has been named a 2021 Oregon Regional Teacher of the Year. Jeffrey-West, who is in his seventh year at Madison and 22^nd year as a teacher, won for the region covered by the Multnomah Education Service District.

A public meeting of the Board of Education, acting in its capacity as the Budget Committee of Portland Public School District 1J, Multnomah County, Oregon, will take place during the regular School Board meeting on the 26th day of May at 6 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to receive the Superintendent’s budget message and Proposed Budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, and to receive public comment.