Dear Hosford Students and Families, Current & Future -

Hope June is off to a good start. We want to make sure you have key info you may need as you prepare for school year 2019-2020 – please see each section below.

Remember, Rising 6th Grade Students join us for Jump Start on Wednesday, August 28; all other students return Thursday, August 29.

We look forward to seeing you back in August!

Kristyn Westphal, Principal

School Supply List/Ordering: Hosford Families have the option of ordering School Supplies online for 2019-20 at schoolhousesupplies.org. Our full school supply list can also be found on the homepage of the Hosford website.

Summer Office Closure: The HMS office closes for the summer on Friday, June 21 at 5:00 PM,  and re-opens August 12 at 8:00 AM. Counselors are available to assist students and families beginning during schedule pick-up and student verification days in August (as listed below). Teachers are in professional development prior to start of school. They are available starting August 28.

Schedule Pick-Up & Student Verification Days

August 19 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM

August 20   2:00 PM  - 6:00 PM

All families come to Hosford to confirm current details for contact and emergency information, pick up student schedules, meet PTSA, make sure they’re signed up for school communications, check out lockers, and receive packet of important information/action items for school year 2019-2020.

Community Care Day: Saturday, August 24: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Families, staff, students, and community members are invited to join us as we give some TLC to the outside of our school in preparation for welcoming students back to school. Grab your tools and gloves (mark with your name) and we will see you in the sun!

New Student Family Welcome Night & Ice Cream Social: Wednesday, August 28, 6:00 – 7:30 PM: Join us in the Hosford gymnasium, then moving out back if the weather allows, to meet and mingle with staff and PTSA, and enjoy some popsicles and frozen treats.

School Start and End Times: The cafeteria opens for breakfast at 8:45. The first bell rings at 9:10, and classes begin at 9:15 each day. School ends at 3:45; we encourage students to participate in after-school HEAT activities on site. Students not participating in after-school activities are expected to leave campus by 4:00 PM, since supervision is not available outside of scheduled activities.

Back to School Night: Wednesday, September 11: Meet staff, visit classrooms, and learn about Hosford! We will have meetings for families of TAG-identified, Special Education-identified, and Emerging Bilingual students beginning at 5:30; the primary event begins at 6:20 and runs until 8:00 PM.

Principal’s New Parent Coffee: Wednesday, September 18, 9:00 AM: Join us in the library for some coffee and breakfast pastries to learn about Hosford and meet our principal and assistant principal.

Dear Hosford Community:

Beat the back-to-school rush and buy your supplies on-line at Schoolhouse Supplies.
 
Save $5 if you order by July 10!
 
All supplies will be delivered directly to the school.

To order, click this line, find Hosford, and place your order!

Hosford Robotics recently competed in the 2018-2019 FIRST LEGO League Into Orbit Challenge. The challenge saw teams program their robots for a series of missions related to long term space travel. They were also tasked with finding a solution to a problem affecting the physical or mental health on long term space missions. The program took some great steps forward this season. Not only did the school compete well in the tournament part of the season, but made some lasting connections across schools and the community at large. Both Hosford and Winterhaven schools were mentored by the Cleveland High School robotics team Pigmice. All teams interacted and worked together at a pre-tournament scrimmage organized by Pigmice and hosted by Hosford. We also got to compete with the Winterhaven team Frozen Pigeons at the regional tournament as well as the state tournament. One of the highlights of the year was connecting the teams to two former NASA employees, both members of the community and one a Hosford graduate. Thanks Kathie and Jim!

Hosford robotics found great success in the 2018 Into Orbit Challenge. Both teams competed in a Regional Tournament in December at Concordia University. Rock ‘N’ Robots placed 4th in the robot competition and had a great design for an astronaut compression suit to minimize bone and muscle loss.
 
Cumulus robotics was given the Champions award for the strongest overall team at the tournament. They were second in the robot competition and developed a space based aquaponics system to help feed astronauts in space and keep them connecting to and caring for living things. They were also given an invitation to the Oregon State Championship where they competed well in both the robot competition and project judging.
 
Another important success this year was providing the program virtually cost free for students. Participation on these teams can sometimes cost up to $200 per student. Team registration and expenses were mostly covered by a grant from the Boeing Corporation and we had the help of many parents and volunteers along the way. The program was also able to add Mr. Nally, a Hosford staff member as mentor and coach thanks to a generous grant from the Hosford PTSA.
 
If you are interested in getting involved in or supporting the Hosford Robotics program, please contact Mark Wadnizak at mwadnizak@pps.net.

Hello Hosford Families! 
 
This year, instead of fundraising through a book fair, we are cutting out the middle man (and the cheap erasers!) and doing an amazon registry. This way, you can buy us books directly off our list, and they will be sent to the library and put directly in the hands of students who desperately want them! Books on our wish list range in price, and you can also purchase a gift card within your budget. Search "hosford library" in the amazon registry department, or follow the link below.
 
Thanks to all of the folks who have already donated through school pay and made the purchase of so many wonderful books possible. 
 
Link: https://www.amazon.com/wedding/share/hosfordlibrary
 
Thanks for your support of our library!
 
Em Winokur and Kate Fleming
Hosford Library

PPS partners with Multnomah County Student Health Centers (SHCs) to keep students healthy and focused on school. There are 10 SHCs throughout Multnomah County. The SHC is like having a doctor's office in your school. The center serves K-12 students and does not have any out of pocket costs for the student or family. 

 
Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRqjPHG74ys  

Hello Hosford Community!  
 
My name is Laura Sayler and I am writing on behalf of my position as an 8th grade math teacher. I applied for a teacher grant through DonorsChoose.org to get classroom whiteboard tables. This past summer I painted my own classroom tables with whiteboard paint and the kids are LOVING it! Something about it being non-permanent is really supportive for kids with anxiety around math. I’ve also found it’s great for problem solving and brainstorming! 
 
The only problem is that DIY tables have to be redone each year or so and can’t withstand the amount of work my kids are putting into them! I am asking for your support to help all of my students each year have access to a writable table to help them work through their math and thinking.  
 
Any little bit helps and I thank you so much for even considering this! Please use this link to spread the message to anyone you know who is able and interested in supporting students’ math growth in this way! 
 
Link to DonorsChoose Donation Page 
 
In addition to our appreciations and learning, you will receive handwritten thank you and pictures of our work as our heartfelt thank you! 
 
Thank you for your time, 
Laura Sayler

Here is the updated bell schedule for 2018-19.

We welcomed back our first round of 6th graders who attended Outdoor School last week! Find some photos here!

After spending the day with students there, our students had a rest break at Tai Lake, and then met their homestay partners at LiDa this afternoon. (update from Ms. Westphal)

 

 

March 19th, 2018

Dear Parents & Students of Hosford Middle School:

I’m thrilled to announce that Scott Johnston and the Hosford music program have been invited to perform in The HEART of Portland: A PPS K-12 Arts Showcase at the Portland Art Museum in the Kridel Grand Ballroom on Wednesday, April 11th at 6:30pm. This evening reception performance will showcase music, dance and theatre in the main ballroom to kick off a two-week, 90-piece visual arts gallery hosted by the museum.

In its fourth year, The HEART of Portland performance is an avenue for PPS to thank taxpayers for their generous support and investment in arts education. In addition, the show will bring ample amounts of exposure to your school’s music program and raise the profile of arts education in Portland. Attendees for the evening will include school board members, the superintendent and several keystone figures from Portland’s arts, media and political sectors.  The show is free to all who attend. Bring family and friends!

From a logistical standpoint, you’ll receive a detailed itinerary for the night of the show that will give specific information about when your child needs to report for the show and general performance notes. You can expect to receive that next week.

Again, congratulations on being accepted to perform in The HEART of Portland! I’ll be in touch soon.

Warm regards,
Kristen Brayson
PPS Arts TOSA (Teacher On Special Assignment)

Thank you to parent Melissa Toledo for providing pictures of our Student Protest on March 14. You can find more photos here.

The new mascot and nickname for Franklin High School will be Lightning. The process to determine a new identity for the school was finalized Tuesday, when the Portland Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero’s recommendation.

Dear PPS Community,

We have come to the end of what has been an ambitious and groundbreaking school year at the Portland Public Schools. I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to our amazing students, their supportive families, our dedicated teachers, hardworking support staff and dynamic school and district leaders who made it all work.

This week in PPS Pulse: A full summer of modernization and improvements projects; district launches enrollment and program balancing process

This summer promises to be the biggest of the PPS bond program so far. School modernization and improvement projects will touch almost every school over the coming months with security upgrades, new roofs, asbestos remediation, new fire alarms, ADA improvements and a seismic retrofit in the works.