Last Wednesday our students participated in the National School Walk Out where thousands across the country protested against and to gain awareness of gun violence. Our PYP students created signs, while singing, led by staff and families marched the perimeter of the school. Our MYP students lead a panel discussion with community leaders on gun violence, safety, and awareness. Here is a link to a brief video capturing just a few moments of our student's thoughtful, and moving protest.

Dear PPS Community,

Please know that in collaboration with school administrators, district leadership actively monitored the hundreds of mostly middle and high school students who walked out of our schools today as part of a national demonstration against violence in schools. I am pleased to say that, by all reports, this was a peaceful and respectful event with no serious incidents. While these actions were not district-sponsored activity, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all who helped keep students safe, starting with the students themselves who remained organized, calm and intentional throughout. Others who helped include Portland police, PPS security, and other PPS staff. Thank you all.

Portland Public Schools is in the process of allocating teaching staff at schools throughout the district. As has been true for many years, we are working within a budget that has been chronically underfunded by the state, and we are doing our utmost to make the most of the resources we have. Understandably, parents, students and PPS staff want to know what will happen at their specific schools. While precise allocations won’t be known until enrollment figures become clear in the fall, we can share what we know at this point, and answer many of the questions we have heard to date.

In this week's PPS Pulse: Benson’s Curtis Wilson is state HS Principal of the Year; Martin Luther King Jr. School celebrates 50^th anniversary of name change

It’s been 50 years since some impassioned students led the movement to rename their school after Martin Luther King, Jr. Last Friday, the community turned out in force to show appreciation, and to honor Dr. King with a huge celebration at the school.