April 6, 2020

Dear Peninsula Community,

I hope you are all healthy and finding ways to stay connected during this time of social isolation.  This week, teachers will begin their official outreach to students and families. Our goal for the week is to make a connection with every home and encourage families to engage with the online learning options offered centrally by the district or those designed by Peninsula staff.  Please help support your student as much as you feel comfortable with these activities and know that they are NOT required. 

In order to engage with online activities, you will need a device and internet.  If you don’t have access to both of those, don’t hesitate to reply to this communication or contact your homeroom teacher.   Finally, I will be scheduling a weekly Principal’s Coffee to share information and take questions. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this form to let me know your time preferences.  

In service to students,
Debbie 

Debbie Armendariz
Peninsula School Principal
darmenda@pps.net

Helpful Resources

 If you, or someone you know, has a mental health crisis, please call the a) Multnomah County Crisis Line at (503) 988-4888, available 24/7, b) the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800)-273-TALK

Click here to request a chromebook.

Additional Resources:

• Home learning during the extended break

• Student meal distribution centers 

• Food Pantry pick up sites

• Resources for families needing childcare

• Health Centers

• Volunteering

Dear families,
I hope that you are healthy and well.  In this update, I’d like to point you to some resources.  Please read carefully and if you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out via email at darmenda@pps.net.

The PPS website dedicated to COVID-19 response will be the best source for timely information.  There, you will find updates on the following and more:

• Home learning during the extended break

• Student meal distribution centers 

• Food Pantry pick up sites

• Resources for families needing childcare

• Health Centers

• Volunteering

It is likely that Cesar Chavez School  (5103 N Willis Blvd)   is the closest food distribution center for Peninsula families.  

Meal Service - Tuesday 3/17  through Friday 3/20 & Monday 3/30 & Tuesday 3/31

·       Meals will be available for pickup outside the school from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for students. 

·       Each student will receive 1 breakfast and 1 lunch.

·       Students can also pick up for a family i.e., 3 siblings in the household receive
        3 breakfasts and 3 lunches. 

·       Students will not be questioned, the idea is to keep our students fed. 

·       Students must come each day and cannot pick up a week’s worth of meals,
         per USDA regulations.

·       Meal distribution will be grab and go

·       Only PPS Nutrition Services staff will be distributing food

·       Each of the 14 sites will have the following staff: Lead Administrators (2),
        District Leadership staffers (2), Mental Wellness Provider, Curriculum Assistant,
        and Campus Security Agents.  

Curriculum & Enrichment Tables

·       Each site will have a curriculum table staffed by PPS Office of Teaching and Learning staff with work that students K-12 can do over the break

·        The work will not be graded

Health Services

·       Health services are available for all K-12th students in Multnomah County over Spring Break at the Parkrose Student Health Center.
        See this Spring Break Flyer (English/ Spanish) for more information.

 Volunteering at sites

·       The district is closely following the directives from State and City leadership and therefore have imposed certain protocols/procedures to reduce exposure to students, families and staff. Many of you have asked if you can volunteer, and I want to thank you for your willingness to assist. However, PPS is asking that employees/volunteers not assist and instead are encouraging employees/volunteers to stay home to reduce exposure.  Parties interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact the Oregon Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

  PPS Fund

·       Help our Portland Public Schools respond to the needs of students, families, and school communities during this unprecedented school closure. While public dollars are currently covering the cost of maintaining basic nutrition services at a number of school sites, we know that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt more broadly across our school communities. Please consider making a donation. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email at darmenda@pps.net

In service to children,

Debbie Armendariz

Peninsula School Principal

New Visitor Check-in system for 2019-20 School Year

 

 

 

SchoolPay is an online program that allows parents, guardians and other community members to use their credit or debit card to pay for school related items. It costs nothing to use and 100% of the money goes to the school for use in only the specified way.

 

Parents and Guardians who are on a student's registration and have an email address on file are already set up with an account, and have access to all of their students in one place. Buy yearbooks, pay for a field trip, donate money to the art program, or put a deposit on an instrument rental are just some of the things that you can pay for using school pay.  Have a family member or neighbor who would like to buy something. Just open the item in School Pay, send them the link and they can check out as a guest. 

It's quick and easy to get started, just follow the instructions in the following guide. 

SchoolPay Guide 

Log into SchoolPay  

 

Dear PPS Family,

In response to the continuing COVID-19 health crisis in our state, today Governor Brown and the Oregon Department of Education announced that our school campus doors will not open again for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. We all miss seeing our students in school buildings, but the health and safety of our students, educators, staff and the broader community, remains the highest priority. 

The District is offering a second round of Chromebook device pickup. Even if you did not already fill out a device loan survey, you may still pick up a device. We will begin distribution to high school students on Wednesday, April 8 and then to all students on Thursday, April 9. Please visit www.pps.net/devices for more times and locations.

Dear PPS Parents and Guardians,

We know this is a time of transition as we move from school buildings to home-based distance learning for the duration of this closure. In order to continue to work in similar ways with our students as we did in our buildings, principals, teachers and counselors will need to be able to communicate with you and your students while maintaining safety and privacy for all. Because of this situation, we are partnering with Remind to provide a simple platform for all of us to engage together. 

The disruption to daily life during the coronavirus crisis has hit all corners of society. For students, it has meant not being able to attend school. Staff in the PPS Student Success and Health department have gathered tips to help you help your student cope: