School resumes in person on Tuesday, January 18th at 8:30 AM. Tuesday is a B day. 

Watch our Bridging the Gap Video

Links in video:

Register for CHS Sports

Cleveland Organizations

VIRTUAL 8th Information Night: Thursday, December 9th, 6:30pm.  

Zoom Recording: Passcode: 1uw=D0pf

More information can be found here https://www.pps.net/8thgradeinfo

We would like to introduce to you our new school-wide communications app. The app is called Trivory and is available to download in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. To access Trivory on a web browser, click here.

Trivory makes it easy for students and parents to stay in the know with everything going on at school. The News tab helps you stay informed with all the latest updates and information. Discover upcoming events and keep track of schedules with the Calendar. Plus you can find teacher contact information in the Staff Directory, learn about school programs and places in the Resources section, get push notification updates, and more!

Take some time to download the app and become familiar with it. We are still building the various sections of the app and you will see new content, resources and information throughout the school year. 

Click HERE to view the student bell schedule and yearly calendar

Dear Cleveland Families,

PPS sent a message last night about Cleveland moving to Temporary Distance Learning (TDL). This was a difficult decision to make. Our students, staff and families have been through many transitions in the last year and a half and I know that these changes bring anxiety and uncertainty. I want to assure you that we are committed to maintaining continuity of instruction for our students during this time.

TDL Logistics

Teachers are working today to prepare for distance learning. Your student should check the Canvas pages of their teachers this afternoon for instructions and links to the class meetings.

Canvas link

The login for Canvas is the student’s PPS username and password.

If your student needs a hotspot or their chromebook is not working, they may come to the school on Monday between 8:00 and 9:00 AM to get technical support. Please remind them to bring their non-working chromebook so that we can send it in to be repaired. They will be issued another chromebook to use.

We will follow our regular schedule next week. Below is a chart of the schedule for next week. 

Classes will meet virtually at the same times as the classes met in person. Students need to join the virtual meeting through the Google Meet link on the course Canvas page. Attendance will be taken based on the student being present on the Google Meet. Lessons will be structured so that students have time with their teachers and peers online as well as time allotted for independent work offline.

Teachers and students have worked hard this semester to build community and I know our teachers want to maintain that next week. It will be very helpful for students to have their cameras on while attending class virtually. Google Meet has an array of background filters that students can use if they only want their image to be available in the virtual classroom. Please encourage your students to keep cameras on during class. 

Meal service will be provided at Franklin High School and students may pick up food between 1:00 and 3:00 PM.

Extracurricular activities are paused for the week. Some events will move into a virtual setting and others will need to be rescheduled.

COVID-19 Safety Practices

Please continue to let the school know if your student tests positive for COVID-19. If your student’s symptoms are mild, they will be able to join their classes virtually while being quarantined at home. We will continue to contact trace for the cases we had here this week. Again, close contact students will receive an email if the close contact occurred in the classroom. We are also being assisted by contact tracers that have been hired by the district and you may receive a call from them to let you know that your student was a close contact at school other than in the classroom. 

I would encourage your student(s) to practice some of the same protocols we use at school to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Students should wear masks if they are socializing with people who are not in their household. A distance of 6 feet is recommended when congregating. Vaccinations are a key component in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and reducing the severity of symptoms should a person contract the virus. The student health clinic will remain open next week. If you have an appointment for a vaccine, you will be able to keep it.

Student Support

Our counseling staff, social worker and school psychologists will be available next week via email and virtual appointments. Do not hesitate to reach out if your student needs extra support. I want to assure you that our goal is to return to in person school safely so that our students get the support they need from their caring teachers and support staff. I already miss seeing students. I remain committed to having a safe and supportive environment for each and every one of our students.

Jo Ann Wadkins

Principal

Cleveland High School

Dear Cleveland Families,

Congratulations to all of our students who have completed Quarter 1 of this school year. This grading period marks the halfway point in the first semester. The grades on the report card indicate the progress your student is making in achieving the learning targets in their classes. This grade does not go on the permanent transcript of your student. Students have time in November, December and January to work with their teachers to improve. We know that grades can be stressful for students. Learning is a journey and this grading period is just a snapshot of where your student is right now. 

Parent teacher conferences can be a great way to connect with your student’s teachers as we move forward in the semester. Conferences are November 22nd and 23rd and will be virtual across all PPS schools. Conferences are scheduled and we are currently reaching out to schedule priority conferences for students who may be struggling in multiple subjects. On November 18, 2021 we will open up the scheduling tool for all parents to sign up for a virtual conference. We will send out a link to use to easily schedule a time and scheduling tool will be available until 10:00 PM on November 19, 2021. You can elect to meet with as many of your student’s teachers as you wish. Please recognize that there are a limited number of slots for each teacher across the 2 days. Please do not feel obligated to sign up for conferences if your student is doing well and is feeling supported at school. Also, do not hesitate to reach out to teachers, counselors or administrators at any time to partner in supporting your student.

I want to recognize the tremendous work of our students in the variety of sports and activities at the school: 

Our two soccer teams made it to the state playoffs this year. While the girls lost their first round match against number 2 ranked Lake Oswego, they played with great heart and scored 2 goals. Our boys team advanced to the quarter finals and lost against Grant HS in a match that went to penalty kicks. Our team showed great sportsmanship and skill. There was a great crowd supporting them this past Saturday.

The fall play, Antigone, opens tonight in our beautiful auditorium! Please come see the remarkable work that our students and theatre director, Michael Payne, have produced. The rehearsals have looked amazing and I am excited to see the play. The play is being performed tonight, Nov. 9, tomorrow, Nov.10 and Friday, Nov. 12. Please remember to bring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test when coming to see the play.

Our speech and debate program has been recognized by the National Speech and Debate Association as the leading chapter in the North Oregon District for the 2020-21 school year. 

Our CARE (Cleveland Alliance for Racial Equity) leadership class has started a mural project that celebrates Black empowerment. Here is what  the students said in their mural proposal:

“Our project is an uplifting mural that provides Black empowerment to every African/African-American student in Cleveland High School. It gives children of color something to look at and see themselves in when they are not getting that representation in a mostly white school. It's a way to make everyone feel great about themselves no matter what color they are and is group based to include everyone. C.A.R.E’s mission is to provide equality and safe spaces for voices that need to be heard the most, and this project represents that.”

We will be hosting a student forum tomorrow which will be an all eight period day. Our freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes will each get a chance to participate during designated periods. The student forum, organized and spearheaded by Arly Holzweissig, advanced leadership student, and Moxie Thompson, CARE leadership student, will give students an opportunity to share their experiences at CHS with the school admin team. I am looking forward to hearing from our students and working together to build community at CHS.

Jo Ann Wadkins

Principal

Cleveland HS

Dear Cleveland Families,

As always, I hope you are well. I have enjoyed seeing our students actively participate in events throughout the fall. We are looking forward to welcoming families to performances in our beautiful auditorium. Kudos to Gary Riler and the wonderful volunteers who made this year’s Play-a-Thon a success with $27,000 raised for the music program at Cleveland HS. Thank you to all of those who so kindly donated! Although the annual Play-a-Thon was live streamed, we will be hosting theater and musical productions in November and December where audiences will be welcome! 

I do want to remind all families that proof of vaccination for COVID-19 or a negative test for COVID-19 is required to attend any event in Portland Public Schools or to visit any campus for a period longer than 15 minutes. If you have a meeting on campus with school staff, you will check into the office as usual but will also need to show proof of vaccination or test status. Starting this week, we will be checking vaccination and test status at all home athletic events and all performances. This requirement is in line with state mandates and you should have received communication from PPS last week about the guidance for visitors at PPS campuses. 

New COVID-19 Guidance for Visitors

Athletics This Week - Cleveland Stadium

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021- Boys Soccer Senior Night!

Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 - Football

Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 - Girl’s Soccer 

Safety

Both Oregon Live and KOIN published stories of recent car jackings that have occurred in our neighborhood. One happened last week at the corner of SE Franklin and SE 28th shortly after school. The suspects approach cars with lone drivers and use a tactic where they say something is wrong with your car to get the driver to get out of the car. I was disheartened to learn of the carjacking that affected a neighbor of Cleveland HS. I want us all to be safe. 

Picture Retakes

Lifetouch will be on campus on Thursday, Oct. 21 for picture retakes. Retakes are intended for students that did not get a picture taken during registration or received a packet of pictures they are not pleased with. Students must bring the original photo packet with them. Students will be released from class to go to the auditorium.

Graduation

We will be returning to Providence Park for graduation this year. Graduation will be held on June 7, 2022 at 5:00 PM. Currently, the last day for seniors is June 1, 2022. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conferences will be held November 21st and 22nd and will be virtual. We will be using an electronic sign-up system like we did last year for you to schedule time with your student’s teachers. Alaina Langdahl, Vice Principal, will be organizing the event this year and she will share more details as we get closer to the date. 

Jo Ann Wadkins

Principal

Cleveland High School

Dear Cleveland Families,

I know it is hard to believe that the beginning of the 2021-22 school year is just around the corner! We are excited to welcome back students to a full week of school in person. The class of 2025 looks to be our largest yet! I also know that we are starting this school year with some questions about the Delta variant of the Coronavirus and how that might impact what school looks like this year. You can expect regular communication from me and PPS regarding COVID-19 protocols. Currently, all students and staff are required to wear masks while in the building. Classroom furniture is being placed to allow three feet between students where possible. I would encourage students to self monitor for COVID symptoms and to stay home if they have a fever of 100.4 F or higher, shortness of breath, an unexplainable cough or a sudden loss of sense of taste or smell.

I would like to offer my gratitude to all of you for your continuing support of public education and your neighborhood school. Last year was challenging but we also grew and came together in new ways as a community to support our students. We have a dynamic, talented and dedicated staff who are excited for this coming school year. We cannot wait to laugh, learn and grow with your students as we work together with you to make it one of the best yet! 

Click here for important information that families and students will need as you prepare to return to school. 

Jo Ann Wadkins,

Principal

Cleveland High School

Dear PPS Community,

On Monday, January 31, Portland Public Schools teachers and staff will have a day to collaborate and plan for the start of the second semester, with no classes held for students on that day. This comes after the PPS Board of Education, at a special meeting on Tuesday, unanimously voted to turn January 31 into a staff collaboration and planning day for school-based staff, creating an opportunity for school staff to work on campus-specific school climate plans and instructional practices to support the diverse needs of our students. 

The recent surge in cases due to the Omicron variant, compounded by the unrelenting and continued stress from this pandemic, has impacted all of us as individuals and as a collective society. Every sector continues to face challenges, and Portland Public Schools (PPS) is no exception. We know firsthand that navigating this pandemic is taxing, especially for our students who desperately need and deserve consistency, stability and access to in-person learning experiences. 

Dear Jefferson Community,

We are so pleased to inform you that Jefferson will return to in-person classes on Monday, January 24. We realize that closing the campus and moving to temporary distance learning created challenges for families, but the dramatic rise in absences of staff and students fueled by the omicron variant of COVID-19 made it too difficult to keep the campus open safely.

Dear PPS Community,

The PPS Board of Education will consider a resolution at an upcoming meeting to make Monday, January 31 into a school climate work day for school staff, with no classes held for students.