From Lisa Newlyn, Principal

Dear Parents and Families - 

Please join me in congratulating our Robert Gray Middle School Class of 2021!  It was a joy to be with our student body during both our on-campus drive through Wednesday as well as on the Wells HS Track last night.  Thank You Thank You to our amazing parent planning team and PTA led by Mollyanne Fleming.  And Thank You to all of YOU who made the events extra special by attending, sharing smiles and congratulations with us as well.  

Whether you are a promoted 8th grader or getting ready to be one very soon - please enjoy our promotion assembly video.  

I'd like to take a moment and recognize staff members who will be leaving us as we also welcome new staff to RGMS.  You can view our updated roster with this link.  

Retiring Staff:
Amy Hardin, Stacy Mercer. 

Ms. Hardin and Ms. Mercer have worked for many years at RGMS and throughout the district.  They deserve our congratulations on their retirement.  We look to see them as friendly faces from time to time!

Staff Moving on to their Next Adventure:
Jason Horvat, Janet Olsson, Ian McMaster, Ting Luo, Matthew Lowe, Jordan Mackey. 

It's always hard to say goodbye, but we are glad to have these fine humans as forever connections in life and education.

Please Welcome!
Melissa Sabga - 6th grade Math.  Ms. Sabga comes to us from Harrison Park K-8 where she has taught for the past several years.  Her experience in middle grades and Math and drive for differentiated instruction will serve our students well.

Amy Steel - Art.  Ms. Steel comes to us from Vestal K-8 where she put social justice themes to visual reality with students.  Her talents and love of all things creative are the perfect fit for our students here at RGMS.

We are doing some hiring this summer and will look forward to introducing you to our full staff this Fall.

In such an unprecedented year, we are truly thankful for the partnership you have all shared with us - our faculty and staff - to make distance learning as much of a success as possible.  It wasn't easy for kids, families, or staff.  And through it all, we are smiling at the end and look ahead to Fall with positive anticipation.  We may have even learned a few things we will hold onto forever.  

This is our final newsletter for the 2020-2021 school year.  It's my great pleasure to serve our community as Principal.  Though most staff are leaving, Mr. Waters and I will be here through the summer.  If you need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out to us by phone or email: (503) 953-0852.

Have a wonderful and restful summer!

Lisa Newlyn
Principal

If you missed the 5th Grade Information Night, you can view the video of the event here, and view the slide show here.

Dear PPS Families & Community,

Thank you for your ongoing collaboration and support as we continue to navigate these unprecedented times. In our ongoing effort to support the needs of all our students, PPS is offering an Online Learning Academy (OLA) for students who cannot attend in-person due to COVID-19 related health reasons.

Dear PPS High School Families,

Yesterday, Multnomah County Health announced updated guidance for mask-wearing: Wear a mask when indoors around people you don’t live with, whether vaccinated or not. This update is in response to increases in Delta variant cases in Oregon and is consistent with evolving guidance from state and national public health agencies, including the CDC, which today will advise that vaccinated people who live in high-transmission areas wear masks in indoor public spaces and that K-12 schools require masks for all.

Yesterday, Multnomah County Health announced updated guidance for mask-wearing: Wear a mask when indoors around people you don’t live with, whether vaccinated or not. This update is in response to increases in Delta variant cases in Oregon and is consistent with evolving guidance from state and national public health agencies, including the CDC, which today advised that vaccinated people who live in high-transmission areas wear masks in indoor public spaces, and that K-12 schools require masks for all.

All of us at Portland Public Schools are mourning the loss of Paul Edward Coakley Sr., a beloved educator who passed away on July 18, 2021. He was 67.