2409 N. Saratoga St.•Portland, OR 97217•Ph (503) 916-6255•Fx (503) 916-2618
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Dear Families,
Welcome to the 2021-22 school year. As a staff, we eagerly look forward to reconnecting with our community and building new relationships. It is our hope that through these turbulent times, you were able to both strengthen your ties with loved ones and work to heal the inequities that exist in our society.
As has been true for the past eighteen months, there is uncertainty about exactly what the months ahead will look like. We are still planning to re-open school in-person, full days, five days a week. You can find information about the district safety plans at https://www.mkt-box.com/pps/backtoschool2021. As we get closer to the first day of school, you will receive more specific information about our building plans, including entry and exit procedures.
The first day of school for grades 2-5 is Wednesday, September 1st. School doors will open at 8:37, and school will begin at 8:45, dismissing at 3:00 pm. Kindergarten and first grade are on a staggered start and will be notified by mail regarding their start date.
Many people are curious about staffing. We have one new teacher joining us this year. Ms. Jinnet Powel is our new 5th grade humanities teacher. This year, both 4th and 5th grades will be departmentalizing, with one teacher focusing on the math, science and health portions of the content and the other teacher focusing on reading, writing and social studies. This change allows teachers to strengthen their expertise by narrowing the content bands they are required to teach. It will also allow students diversity in their teachers and begin preparing them for middle school.
We have had a few shifts in positions; staffing for the 2020-21 school year is as follows:
Kindergarten: Ms. Cooper, Ms. Larsen, Ms. Pearson
1st Grade: Ms. Peake, Ms. Pinder
2nd Grade: Mr. Brown, Ms. Ferguson
3rd Grade: Ms. Michels, Mr. Wolfe
4th Grade: Ms. Shutt, Mr. Ibrahim
5th Grade: Ms. Brislin, Ms. Powel
PE: Ms. Nguyen
Music: Ms. Schrepping
Media: Ms. Hall (½ time)
Art: Ms. Castillo-Harding
Counselor: Ms. Spiers
Social Worker: TBD
School Climate Coach: Ms. Whitaker
Learning Center: Ms. Lopez (½ time)
Speech Pathologist: Ms. LeMeune
ELL: Ms. Routtenberg
Reading Intervention: Ms. Bush, Ms. Lopez (½ time)
Math Intervention: Ms. Hall (½ time)
Paraeducator: Ms. DeRuiter
Educational Assistant: Ms. Newton, TBD
Library Assistant: Ms. Woodward
School Secretary: Ms. Holm
Principal’s Secretary: Ms. Pettit
Custodian: Ms. DeWeese, Mr. Moore
School Supplies
The supply lists for in person learning are available on our website here. If you need support in getting supplies, please contact Ms. Spiers at espiers@pps.net.
Free and Reduced Lunch
For the 2021-22 school year, all students are eligible for breakfast and lunch at school, at no charge. However, by applying for meal benefits, families may become eligible for additional benefits, such as reduced fee waivers for school related fees, child care discount and low cost internet. You can apply at: https://www.pps.net/Page/2464. If you’re having difficulty with the process don’t hesitate to call nutrition services at (503) 916-3399, or call us.
I am extremely excited for the upcoming year and look forward to continuing to build community, advance social justice issues and improve learning.
Sincerely,
Amber Gerber
Principal, Chief Joseph Elementary School
agerber@pps.net
971.284.7108
Dear PPS Community,
As images have emerged of the 19 fourth-grade students and their teachers killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, they break my heart. As a parent and educator, hearing of this latest tragedy brings up heavy emotions for me. I share the grief and anger at the death of innocent children and selfless educators. This is a tragic and senseless act, and I keep each of the victims’ families in my heart.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Information and Resources from PPS Student Support Services
While focusing on mental wellness is essential every month, May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month. Portland Public Schools is committed to uplifting wellness and to supporting all of our students to stay healthy, mentally and physically.
Dear PPS families and staff,
This week, Multnomah County health officials made an announcement about masking, due to the current COVID-19 surge. The Health Department is asking people to wear masks indoors until new coronavirus case counts and hospitalizations start to fall, and strongly recommend that people wear masks in schools. The current increase in COVID-19 cases is expected to peak in mid-June, when PPS’s school year ends.
On National School Nurse Day, we salute the four dozen nurses who serve Portland Public Schools.
Our school nurses have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, taking on responsibility for a wholly different level of care and an illness that remains a mystery in many ways, even after two years.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Board Charter Schools and Alternative Programs Committee Meeting
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Board Policy Committee Meeting
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Kindergarten Popsicle Social for current & incoming families
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM 5th Grade Promotion
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Board Audit Committee Meeting
4:30 PM TSCC Hearing
6:00 PM District Board Meeting
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Board Facilities and Operations Committee Meeting
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Board Intergovernmental Committee Meeting
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Board Policy Committee Meeting
6:00 PM District Board Meeting