Dear Jackson Community,

I am pleased to announce that Susan Kosmala will become the new principal of Jackson Middle School. Susan is a veteran of Portland Public Schools who has served as principal of Buckman Elementary School the last four years.

Relax this summer knowing that you're all ready with next year's supplies! Order your student's supplies online from SchoolhouseSupplies.org/online, and they will be delivered to your student on the first day of school. Save $5 if you order by July 10, and the last day to order will be August 1.

Saying no to a bully and to bullying begins with reporting! Students are free to report bullying anonymously by using this online form. Every report will be reviewed by Mrs. Nolen and Mr. Crabtree. In many cases, students will be talked with to get more information or to simply share the report. 

Students who are experiencing teasing or bullying need to be encouraged to reach out to their trusted adults for help. Parents, teachers, counselors, and your principals are here to help. Ask for time to talk with any of us or complete the anonymous report and tell us you want to meet in the description.

Students and families can learn more about bullying here.

I am thrilled to be joining Jackson Middle School this year, and we are all quite excited about the first days of school. If you haven’t had a chance to see what students need this year, the school supply list is available on the Jackson Middle School website. This year we will be giving every student a Jackson planner, but we are asking families to include a three-inch binder in their back to school purchasing (unless you choose to purchase it from the school). These binders are important tools for students to learn how to manage the materials and deadlines for six classes each semester. Core teachers will be setting aside time each week for students to regroup and reorganize their work, and to build those organizational habits.

When your student arrives on Wednesday, or Thursday, they will see workers still on site. Construction will continue through the end of September. Outside, we have new sidewalks, as well as new roofs on the shop and the front of the building. Inside there are new railings, new water fountains, and classroom modifications in some rooms. We also get to welcome new staff in administration, art, special education, and 8th grade. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Karl Newsome (Assistant Principal), Ms. Jessica Hickey (Art), Ms. Mary Ventura and Ms. Carol Lam (Resource Center), and Ms. Rhonda Brennan and Ms. Courtney Baker (8th grade)!

And, a quick school tip:

Sixth grade parents: supervision looks different at middle school. The doors open at 8:55 and students are welcome to have breakfast in the cafeteria or spend a few minutes with their friends. We do not have staff outside prior to the doors opening, so understand that students are both unsupervised prior to 8:55 and they are on school property and are expected to comply with school and district policies. That level of independence can be hard, because students are still developing the capacity to fully understand cause and effect. If you have flexibility within your family, this is a place to exercise it.

Thank you, families, for everything you do to support our students. Have a great week, everyone!

Susan Kosmala
Principal

In this week's PPS Pulse: Middle school singers preview their future at Franklin; schools prepare for earthquake in Great Shakeout

When Lent teacher Chris Meade took his middle school choral students to the recent Franklin Fall Festival, he watched in amazement as they entered the fully modernized high school’s state-of-the-art auditorium.

Families who currently have students in the fifth grade in Portland Public Schools should take note of an important date change. If your students wants to attend a focus option school in the middle school years, the window to apply for the 2020-21 lottery is:

The City of Portland’s Safe Routes to School program encourages families to use active transportation (typically walking or biking) as a safe, convenient, accessible and desirable option for getting to and from school. It needs your help.