• Dear Kelly Families,

    We are excited to welcome our students, families and staff back to Kelly for the 2025-2026 school year. 

     

    We have a lot to celebrate from last school year, including: 

     

    • Kelly welcomed several new school partners last school year, including the African Youth and Community Organization, Reading Results, Vision To Learn, the Urban League of Portland, and the Slavic Community Center NW.

      These new partners joined an already robust partner community that includes the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization, Growing Gardens, Latino Network, the Oregon Food Bank, Multnomah County Library, Oregon Battle of the Books, Schoolhouse Supplies and more.

    • Kelly students reported a 24% increase in their response to the question “How positive or negative is the energy of the school?” on the Successful Schools Survey.

    • Math achievement increased by 8% schoolwide - as measured by the Oregon Statewide Assessment.

    • Our school enrollment increased by 13% during the school year.

    This year we will continue to focus on academic improvement with a specific goal to improve schoolwide attendance by 10%. We checked the data and found that the more often students attend school at Kelly, the more likely they are to academically succeed (see graph below). Thank you for helping make sure that our students come to school on time and prepared to learn. It’s going to be a great school year.

     

    In the service of students and families, 

     

    Jeff Waters - Principal 

    Anna Davis - Assistant Principal

     

     

    School-Family Communication

    INFORMATION SHARING

    ParentSquare: PPS is transitioning to ParentSquare as our communication platform. This will allow us to send messages and newsletters directly to families by email or phone. 

    Kelly Website: The website is a great place to find contact information for staff, school related documents, and a calendar of events. Community newsletters will also be posted to our website. 

    Backpacks: Classroom teachers may send communications home with your child.  Please check backpacks daily. 

    DATES TO WATCH 

    • 8/22, 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm, Popsicle Social on Kelly Playground
    • 8/26 - First day of school for Grades 1-5
    • 9/2 - First day of school for KG
    • 9/17 - First Early Release (school out 11:50)
    • 9/18, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Back to School Night

     

    Arrival - Be On Time and Ready to Learn

    New Procedures - Please Read Carefully!

    7:45 am:  All students will enter through the main entrance, which is located on SE 91st Avenue near the flagpole. Students need to line up in a single line, starting on the paw prints outside of the front doors. The line will extend down the path towards the flagpole.  When students enter the building, they will go to the cafeteria for breakfast. Students can also read in the cafeteria until it’s time to go to class. 

     

    Starting at 7:55 students can go to class.

    The tardy bell rings at 8:00 and all students need to be in class by that time. Families can say goodbye to their child at the main entrance. If you need to speak with your child’s teacher, please email them to set up a time to meet. If you are in the building, you need to sign in at the main office. This is for your safety in the event of an emergency so that we can account for the whereabouts of all people in the building. 

     

    If students arrive after 8:00 am:  The main school entry doors will be locked. Ring the bell and the office will let you in. Students who arrive late can still get breakfast and eat in the cafeteria until 8:30 am. As part of the school’s rodent mitigation plan, students may not eat breakfast in classrooms. 

     

    Toys, Sports Balls, Fidgets and Personal Electronic Devices

    New Procedures - Please Read Carefully!

    In order to reduce the risk of distractions, conflicts, hurt feelings, and lost or damaged property, we ask that students leave all toys, sports balls, fidgets, and personal electronic devices at home. The school has fidgets for students who may need them for educational purposes. We have a ton of sports equipment for student use. Student use of cell phones during school hours is banned by Governor’s Executive Order 25-09. If your child has a phone for safety purposes, it must remain OFF, AWAY and INVISIBLE ALL DAY.  

     

    If the school observes a toy, fidget, or personal electronic device during the school day, the office will store them in a secure location until the end of the school day. The school is not responsible for loss or damage caused to personal items.

     

    Dismissal

    New Procedures - Please Read Carefully!

    All students dismiss at 2:30. Bus riders and students enrolled in SUN or Champions will head to their assigned locations. Teachers will walk car riders and walkers outside to meet up with families. Families must meet students in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students under the covered area. Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades will meet their families at a designated location as arranged by the family. Students in grades 3rd-5th are dismissed out of the doors by our parking lot. 

     

    Families, please do not double park, park in the middle of the street or block a neighbor’s driveway.

    Please be on time. If an emergency arises or you need to change your dismissal plans, please complete the Dismissal Plan and Dismissal Change form located on our website. Our office closes at 3:00pm and all students must be picked up by then.

     

    Please do not send these messages through your child or the classroom teacher as these messages are often not received or received in time.

     

    Kelly Breakfast and Lunch Program

    Breakfast and lunch are free to all students this year - you do not need to complete a meal application. All students will have the opportunity to grab a breakfast when they enter the gate and will take it class. 

     

    School Supplies

    Your student will receive basic school supplies along with a backpack on the first day of school from their classroom teacher. Schoolhouse Supplies has again partnered with Kelly Elementary to provide these to all of our students. Teachers may request additional school supplies throughout the year and will share this information with families. 

     

    Back to School Packets

    Back to School Packets will come home the first week of school. Please review the Student Verification Form that will come home. Make all changes, sign this form and return it to the office. It is important to have up-to-date information in case of an emergency.

     

    Important Policy Resources

     

    See you soon!