Wednesday, May 30th, 2018

The district has scheduled a meeting at the BESC today to discuss Access being located at Peninsula School. The community is invited to attend the work session, and there will be time alloted for three people froom each school to give testimony. If you would like to be considered to give testimony email chusongu@pps.net. A decision regarding which site will share with Access will be made tonight from 5:15-5:30.

Wednesday, 5/30/18

BESC -  501 N Dixon St.

3:30-5:15 PPS Board of Education Work Session

4:45-5:15 Testimonies

5:15-5:30 Vote

Here are a copy of the two emails that were sent out:

Wednesday, May 30th 11:45am

Dear PPS School Communities,

On Tuesday, we sent out notice of a PPS Board of Education work session on finding school buildings in which to co-locate our ACCESS Academy program. Since then, there have been a few changes we want to make sure you are aware of. 

First, the Board has added time for public comment toward the end of the work session, which is scheduled from 3:30-5:15 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the second-floor Mazama conference room at BESC. Starting at 4:45 p.m., two slots will be reserved for each of the five school/program communities potentially affected – Vestal, Lane, Peninsula, Woodlawn and ACCESS – and one slot for the Talented and Gifted Advisory Committee (TAGAC). Testimony will be limited to two minutes per person.

Additionally, immediately following the work session, the Board has scheduled a brief regular meeting from 5:15-5:30 p.m. to hold a formal vote on the ACCESS location. Three slots for public comment have been set for this meeting. 

To request time to give testimony at the work session and/or regular meeting, please contact Caren Huson-Quiniones at chusonqu@pps.net.

During the work session, Superintendent Guerrero will present the process used to determine ACCESS co-location, and present two final options available to the board: Vestal (grades 1-5) and Lane (grades 6-8); and Peninsula (1-5) and Woodlawn (6-8). The Board will discuss these options in preparation for the vote following the work session.

Throughout this process, the district has remained committed to our mission of delivering high-quality instruction to all students in our district. We acknowledge that this process has been long and frustrating for many families. Thank you for your patience and all of the input and feedback sent to PPS on this issue.

Tuesday, May 29th 4:00pm

Dear PPS School Communities,

As many of you may know, the district is in the process of finding facilities to co-locate ACCESS Academy. ACCESS is an alternative program, currently located at Rose City Park. This program provides gifted students an environment where they can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Due to the middle school conversion project, Rose City Park, will become a K-5 school feeding into Roseway Heights Middle School – leaving ACCESS students without a location starting in the fall. 

The Superintendent will present the process used and final options available to the Board of Education during a work session scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. The meeting will take place from 3:30pm – 5pm at the BESC in the Mazama room. The Board will not be taking public comment and will not make a final decision at this meeting.

While all options provide challenges, it is important for Board Directors and the broader community to understand the full context of the constraints and factors that influence the feasibility for a variety of locations. 

At this point, the Superintendent plans to review the challenges and opportunities of co-location with two final options:  Vestal (1-5) and Lane (6-8) or Peninsula (1-5) and Woodlawn (6-8) before a decision is final. 

In managing through concerns and logistical challenges, the district is committed to our mission of delivering high-quality instruction to all students in our district.

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018

Dear Peninsula Community,

As many of you may know, the district is in the process of relocating ACCESS Academy.  

ACCESS Academy is an alternative program, currently located at Rose City Park. This program provides gifted students an environment where they can thrive socially, emotionally and academically and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Due to the middle school conversion project, Rose City Park will become a K-5 school feeding into Roseway Heights Middle School – leaving ACCESS students without a location starting in the fall.

The district is evaluating all available facilities at this time is asking for patience and support from all school communities as options are explored for a co-location at two separate sites. On Friday, Peninsula was identified as a possible co-location and was toured by Superintendent Guerrero and a few members of an advisory group.  

So far, a number of schools have been toured and are still being considered. Some of the schools previously toured include: Boise Eliot, daVinci, Irvington, Lane, MLK Jr., Woodlawn, Sabin, and Whitman.

The superintendent would like to finalize a decision as soon as possible. If Peninsula proves to be a viable option, I will be notified and will work with the ACCESS Academy principal and staff to identify shared benefits, floorplans, staffing requirements and any other needs to ensure a smooth transition for all involved in this process.

I will continue to share any updates as soon as they are available.  

Sincerely,

Silvia Asson

Principal

A message from the Principal regarding March 14th.

The staff and I would like to inform you of our school wide plans for March 14 - the “Day for Students Across the Nation to Honor Lives Lost In Parkland Florida” (see Superintendent Guerrero’s March 3rd message to the PPS community attached below.)

At Peninsula School the staff decided it is important to make this event meaningful and age appropriate for elementary students, as opposed to walk-outs or sit-ins. We are calling March 14 the beginning of “Acts of Kindness” that will continue throughout the remainder of the school year. Students will document 100 “Acts of Kindness” that they witness or perform themselves and post them on charts outside their classroom for all to see and appreciate. Parents and staff can also add to these charts as they witness “Acts of Kindness” too. After a classroom has collected 100 Acts they can celebrate in whatever way they choose - plant a tree, help a buddy in class with a project, or have a class party for example. We feel that this is a way for the Peninsula School community to honor kindness, compassion, good will and thoughtfulness among all its members. Which in turn, enhances a feeling of safety and understanding that promotes well-being in our school climate.

As always, we continue to focus on safety all year and our “Acts of Kindness” is a part of this school wide focus and priority. If you have questions please contact your student’s teacher or the office. We hope you will talk to your student(s) about this activity and next time you are in the school, please add to our “Acts of Kindness” postings.

Silvia Asson, Principal

Letter from the Superintendent - March 6th, 2018

Un Mensaje de la directora con respecto al 14 de Marzo

El personal y yo queremos informarle acerca de nuestros planes escolares para el 14 de marzo: el "Día de Estudiantes en toda la nación para honrar vidas perdidas en Parkland Florida" (ver el mensaje del 3 de marzo del Superintendente Guerrero a la comunidad de PPS que se adjunta a continuación).

En la escuela Peninsula, el personal decidió que es importante hacer que este evento sea significativo y apropiado para la edad de los estudiantes de primaria. Estamos llamando al 14 de marzo el comienzo de "Actos de amabilidad" que continuará durante el resto del año escolar. Los estudiantes documentarán 100 "Actos de amabilidad” que presencien o realicen ellos mismos y los publicarán en cuadros fuera de su aula para que todos puedan verlos y apreciarlos. Los padres y el personal también pueden agregar a estos cuadros ya que son testigos de "Actos de amabilidad" también. Después de que un aula ha recogido 100 Actos, pueden celebrar de la forma que elijan: plantar un árbol, ayudar a un amigo en clase con un proyecto o tener una fiesta de clase, por ejemplo. Creemos que esta es una manera para que la comunidad de la escuela de Península honre la bondad, la compasión, la buena voluntad y la consideración entre todos sus miembros. Lo cual, a su vez, mejora la sensación de seguridad y comprensión que promueve el bienestar en el clima escolar.

Como siempre, continuamos enfocándonos en la seguridad todo el año y nuestros "Actos de amabilidad" son parte de este enfoque y prioridad de toda la escuela. Si tiene preguntas, comuníquese con el maestro de su hijo o la oficina. Esperamos que hable con su (s) estudiante (s) sobre esta actividad y la próxima vez que esté en la escuela, por favor agregue a nuestras publicaciones de "Actos de amabilidad”.      

Silvia Asson, Directora

Superintendent's Letter from March 6th

Mensaje del 6 de marzo del superintendente Guerrero (en español)

9/12/17

Dear Parents,

As you know the District balances enrollment at the beginning of every year.  One of the ways they accomplish this is by starting with Kindergarten enrollment.  Knowing our enrollment numbers were lower than expected, I felt it was better to start with two Kindergarten classes and eliminate the 1st /2nd grade blends.  The numbers continued to stay lower than expected in Kindergarten and as such we still had to give up the allocation for this class.  In reviewing the options, I decided that lower numbers in our classrooms took precedence and not moving students would result in the least amount of disruption so we looked to our other staff and due to licensure and seniority, Mr. Tharp, our STEAM teacher has been transferred to teach math at Ockley Green.  

Mr. Tharp has been an important member of the staff for several years, and it was hard to see him go. However, we have taken steps to lessen the impact of this loss and make sure that our schedule remains the same for students.  

Thank you for your support.

Silvia Asson

Principal

Peninsula School

9/12/17 Letter from the principal - PDF

12 de 09, 2017

Estimadas familias,

Como ustedes saben el Distrito Escolar balancea los números al inicio del curso escolar. Una de las formas en que lo hace es basada en la matrícula de Kinder. La misma ha sido menor que la esperada, por tanto, sentí que sería mejor comenzar con dos clases de Kinder y eliminar las clases combinadas de 1er y 2do Grados. Nuestra matricula continuo bajando en Kinder. Al revisar las opciones, decidí que no mover los estudiantes resultaría menos interrupción. Decidimos revisar los miembros del claustro y teniendo en cuenta las licencias y la antigüedad, el Sr. Tharp, nuestro maestro de STEAM, ha sido transferido a Ockley Green para impartir Matemáticas.

El Sr.Tharp ha sido un miembro importante de nuestro claustro durante muchos cursos escolares y será difícil verlo ir. Sin embargo, hemos tenido en cuenta aminorar el impacto de su perdida y asegurarnos que el horario permanezca igual para los estudiantes.

Gracias por su apoyo,

Silvia Asson

Directora

Escuela Península

Carta del director con respecto a los cambios de maestros-pdf

Silvia Asson, Principal

Welcome Letter to Parents:

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