From Jeff Waters, Assistant Principal

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you to our PTA for all of the goodies, snacks, coffee - even boba tea - that have kept us energized throughout the week (the last week of the first half of the fourth quarter). 

With the midterm already here, you should expect to find progress reports in your mailbox this week. Remember that these are not final grades that will end up on a transcript but are intended to provide students and families with an update about how their student is doing so far in the quarter. Hopefully, the marks are encouraging and provide you with valuable information related to what your student needs to do to finish the year strong.

We're deep into planning for next school year, building the schedule, talking about systems, refining the work we are doing to elevate student voice and promote a positive and inclusive school community.

Shout out to two new affinity groups that have launched in the last few weeks: 1) the Asian / Pacific Islander Club (APIC), which is being led by our own parent and School Secretary, Ms. Britney Small, and 2) the Indigenous Youth Club (IYC), which we have launched in partnership with a local culturally specific non-profit, the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA). We've heard from students that holding space for them to connect with other students who share similar identities is a valuable component to school life. We're grateful to add APIC and IYC to the mix along with GLOW, BSU, JSU, SOL, and our No Place for Hate Committee that has helped educate and inform our community while working to build the sort of school where each and every student can say, "I belong." 

Responding to data, "student voice" has been central to our school improvement planning for the last three years. Last Friday, our Student Leadership and Student Council led the implementation of the first School Dance / Activity Day since the 2018-2019 school year. It wasn't perfect, and we're listening to feedback for how to improve the experience in the future, but it was an overwhelming success, and we're proud of our students for their efforts in planning a fun and exciting community building activity.

Thank you students! Thank you teachers! Thank you families for your support. 

Take care, 

Jeff Waters
Assistant Principal

 

Missed the meetings?  That's OK!  You can still participate here:

Dear PPS Community,

As images have emerged of the 19 fourth-grade students and their teachers killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, they break my heart. As a parent and educator, hearing of this latest tragedy brings up heavy emotions for me. I share the grief and anger at the death of innocent children and selfless educators. This is a tragic and senseless act, and I keep each of the victims’ families in my heart.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Information and Resources from PPS Student Support Services

While focusing on mental wellness is essential every month, May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month. Portland Public Schools is committed to uplifting wellness and to supporting all of our students to stay healthy, mentally and physically. 

Dear PPS families and staff, 

This week, Multnomah County health officials made an announcement about masking, due to the current COVID-19 surge.   The Health Department is asking people to wear masks indoors until new coronavirus case counts and hospitalizations start to fall, and strongly recommend that people wear masks in schools. The current increase in COVID-19 cases is expected to peak in mid-June, when PPS’s school year ends. 

On National School Nurse Day, we salute the four dozen nurses who serve Portland Public Schools.

Our school nurses have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, taking on responsibility for a wholly different level of care and an illness that remains a mystery in many ways, even after two years.