Ockley Green Middle School SUN Registration

Dragon Family,

This form will record the data that you've given and will properly register you for the classes you've selected.  ***(Please Be Advised) You MUST fill out a 2023-2024 SUN Enrollment Form (2 links down below) first in order to participate in the SUN enrichment program.*** 

English Version
https://secure.na2.adobesign.com/public/esignWidget?wid=CBFCIBAA3AAABLblqZhDx88skl0jgbpS-h7Ux1-NcrRPtJ8PxSnOOqax5JpSrvVNLVLSKoOFV6tVUBJSH2OI

Spanish Version
https://secure.na2.adobesign.com/public/esignWidget?wid=CBFCIBAA3AAABLblqZhB1ajis0wQsIq00RcQqLYtb70X_Yh2ICtlk_f2AnvfxXjYV8SBgUoOegCOFVnNkg54

*Registration will stay open for the first week of programming before closing for the term.

If you have any questions, please contact your SUN Program Manager:
Elisa Prieta    Email: elisap@selfenhancement.org 


Program Dates: October 9th, 2023- December 14th 2023 
Program Days of The Week: Monday- Thursday
Program Times: 3:45pm-5:30pm

Harrison Park, which transitioned from a K-8 to a middle school this fall, recently held a school-wide vote for a new mascot. According to Principal Leah Dickey, these first few months as a middle school have been pivotal for students as they navigate the new exciting normal and establish an identity as a school and community. Picking a mascot has been an important part of that journey.

Principal Phu Dao is many things to the students and staff of Roseway Heights Middle School: mentor, role model, champion, friend. Ask anyone who has learned from and worked with him and they will tell you that he has dedicated his entire career to advocating for students, families, and educators. And now he’s being honored for that dedication.

Courageous Conversation, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that works with individuals and institutions to address racial disparities through sustained, fruitful dialogue, has named Principal Dao this year’s recipient of the Dr. Charles Hopson Racial Equity Principal Leadership Award. 

Bird watching, Lego robotics, gardening, mindful art, coding, running and walking, the high-stakes world of self-governance. It’s all in a morning’s work for the students of Skyline K-8, where every Wednesday begins with participation in one of the school’s many C.A.S. clubs.

We need our community and PAT’s bargaining team to recognize that we are not unwilling to accept their proposal: we are unable. Even the proposal we have made will require at least $45 million in structural budget cuts over the next three years.

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

This continues to be a difficult time and I am saddened for the tremendous impact the school closure is having on the well-being of our students & staff. I continue to prepare for their re-entry and look forward to welcoming back our students & staff soon.

It has been confirmed that the earliest students would be back is Monday, November 27th since originally Conferences were scheduled for next week. Please reference the email notice from PPS regarding the postponement of Conferences. Our staff is excited to support Student-Led Conferences and the additional time will allow them to provide opportunities for our students to reflect on & prepare for sharing their academic growth with their families.

You can access resources & information, including supplemental learning activities by grade-level, student enrichment activities in the community and mental health services, through the Buttons included in the Strike Resources section of this newsletter.

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

I continue to hold out hope that we will be able to welcome back our students & staff soon. If you find that you or your child is in need of more support, there are a wide range of resources for families & students available, such as supplemental learning activities by grade-level, student enrichment activities in the community and mental health services. You can access this information through the Buttons included in the Strike Resources section of this newsletter.

We have rescheduled our Picture Retake Day, originally scheduled for November 8th, to be on Monday, November 27th. While the Monday after the Fall Break is not ideal, we wanted to make sure to hold the retakes prior to Winter Break. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Front Office.

As you notice, we have finally moved to the use of S’More to create the weekly newsletter. I welcome your feedback on what information you would like to have included in this newsletter and ways that we can improve the layout to make it easily accessible to you. Please send your feedback to Principal Secretary, Grace Duncan, gduncan@pps.net.

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

I sent this message out last week, but given the importance, feel it is relevant to share again this week.

PPS sent out a communication last night on 10.19.23.  I am also including it here for your reference.  As we approach the potential strike start date of November 1st, the most up-to-date information for families will be on the Family Resources During a Strike webpage.

Please know that I and our staff are committed to ensuring students continue to have a positive school environment and that the routines we have established remain strong up to and after their return after this potential loss of school days.  I have been in regular communication with our site-based PAT Representatives and we will continue to problem-solve how we best support students during this time.  

I continue to hope for an agreement prior to November 1st and our staff continues to stay focused on providing students a calm & positive learning environment through next Tuesday.  This will include our Harvest Festival at the end of the day on Tuesday which includes Face Painting, Volleyball, Cornhole, Haunted House Making and many more options for students.  

Please see below for some important updates!

Conferences are November 20th - 21st

One way that we are elevating student voice and supporting our students to grow as reflective engaged learners is to have them prepare for Student-Led Conferences this year.   These will occur during the Conferences scheduled for November 20th & 21st.  These will happen during 20-minute time slots and you will meet with a teacher and your student. During this time, your child will present a portfolio of their work completed thus far in the school year. This portfolio will provide an overview of their academic achievements, creative projects, and personal development. In addition, your child will share their academic, social, and behavioral goals for the remainder of the year. We believe that this self-assessment process empowers our students, encouraging them to take ownership of their learning and growth.

Our staff have prioritized their scheduling slots and teachers are beginning to reach out through next week directly to families to confirm a time.  Once priority scheduling is complete, teachers will send out an email with information on self-scheduling. See below for the overall schedule and for when Virtual options will be available.

In addition to the 20-minute time slot that you schedule, you will be able to informally connect with other staff available during these days.

Road Closure October 30th

We received notification that on Monday, from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM, the following area will be closed to traffic:  Maryland to Montana/Rosa Parks to Holman.  Bus traffic will still be allowed through.

Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB)

Ockley Green will be participating in the Oregon Battle of the Books again this year!  OBOB is a fun reading competition that encourages students to read great books from many different genres and perspectives.  Interested students can get a form from the library.  They do not need to have a team, they can just sign up individually.  

Important dates:

• Interest forms are due Thursday, November 9: Turn in to Ms. Peacock or Ms. Rachel
• Mandatory OBOB meeting for all participants on Thursday, November 16
• School battles will begin in February, all during school hours
• Regional tournament is in March

We have copies of all of the OBOB books available in the library, and on SORA, so students should start reading now!

If you have any questions, contact Ms. Peacock at vpeacock@pps.net

PIL Youth Winter Sports Tryouts

JEFFERSON - Cluster Coordinator: Andre Lawrence alawrenc@pps.net  

Boys Basketball - Tryouts at Jefferson HS 

• Head Coach: Pat Strickland pstrickland@pps.net   
  • November 4th and 5th 
    • 6th grade 9am-10:30am
    • 7th grade 10:45am-12:15pm
    • 8th grade 12:30pm-2pm

Girls Basketball - Tryouts at Jefferson HS 

• Head Coach: Andre Lawrence alawrenc@pps.net  

• November 4th and 5th
  • 2:30-4pm

Wrestling - No Tryouts

• Head Coach: Montral Brazile mbrazile@pps.net  
• Youth Head Coach: Hiag Brown hiagbrown@gmail.com 
  • Practice beginning November 13th
    • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
    • 5:30-7pm in the Jefferson Mat Room

ROOSEVELT - Cluster Coordinator: Jaeger Vega jvega@pps.net

Sign Up Info

Youth Boys Basketball Tryouts 

• Wed Nov 8
  • 6/7th grade 6p-7:30p
  • 8th grade 7:30-9pm 
• Thursday Nov 9
  • 6/7th grade 6p-7:30p
  • 8th grade 7:30-9pm

Youth Girls Basketball Tryouts

• Saturday, November 4, 2023
  •  6th/7th grade 9:30-11am   
  • 8th grade 10:30-12pm  
• Tuesday, November 7th, 2023
  •  6th/7th grade 6-7:30pm
  • 8th grade 7-8:30pm      

Youth Wrestling begins on Nov 8 

Wreath Sale October 23 - November 3

OG Supporters annual Holiday Wreath Sale is here.  Please consider supporting their fundraising efforts with the purchase of a beautiful wreath.  OG Supporters Wreath          

OG Supporters Tamale Boy Fundraiser

Fundraiser Event!  Come on out to Tamale Boy, on NE Dekum on Thursday, 11/2 and they will be donating a percentage of all sales, dine-in or take-out.  Support a local restaurant, enjoy a great meal, and support OGMS!  No flier or mention of the event needed.

Garden Clean Up Volunteers Needed

Thank you OG Supporters and Bekki Sims for taking on the Garden Clean Up Project.  If you are interested in being part of the Garden Crew, then contact either admin@ogsupporters.org or bekki.jane@yahoo.com.

Important Dates

• November 2nd: Last Day of the Quarter
• November 3rd: No Students (Teacher Planning Day)
• November 8th: Picture Retake 
• November 10th: No School (Veteran’s Day)
• November 20th & 21st: Conferences

Please take a moment to find and bookmark our school website to become more familiar with programs and information.  

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

PPS sent out a communication last night on 10.19.23.  I am also including it here for your reference.  As we approach the potential strike start date of November 1st, the most up-to-date information for families will be on the Family Resources During a Strike webpage.

Please know that I and our staff are committed to ensuring students continue to have a positive school environment and that the routines we have established remain strong up to and after their return after this potential loss of school days.  I have been in regular communication with our site-based PAT Representatives and we will continue to problem-solve how we best support students during this time. 

Please see below for some important updates!

PIL Youth Winter Sports Tryouts

JEFFERSON - Cluster Coordinator: Andre Lawrence alawrenc@pps.net  

Boys Basketball - Tryouts at Jefferson HS 

• Head Coach: Pat Strickland pstrickland@pps.net   
  • November 4th and 5th 
    • 6th grade 9am-10:30am
    • 7th grade 10:45am-12:15pm
    • 8th grade 12:30pm-2pm

Girls Basketball - Tryouts at Jefferson HS 

• Head Coach: Andre Lawrence alawrenc@pps.net  

• November 4th and 5th
  • 2:30-4pm

Wrestling - No Tryouts

• Head Coach: Montral Brazile mbrazile@pps.net  
• Youth Head Coach: Hiag Brown hiagbrown@gmail.com 
  • Practice beginning November 13th
    • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
    • 5:30-7pm in the Jefferson Mat Room

ROOSEVELT - Cluster Coordinator: Jaeger Vega jvega@pps.net

Youth Boys Basketball Tryouts 

• Wed Nov 8
  • 6/7th grade 6p-7:30p
  • 8th grade 7:30-9pm 
• Thursday Nov 9
  • 6/7th grade 6p-7:30p
  • 8th grade 7:30-9pm

Youth Girls Basketball Tryouts

• Saturday, November 4, 2023
  •  6th/7th grade 9:30-11am   
  • 8th grade 10:30-12pm  
• Tuesday, November 7th, 2023
  •  6th/7th grade 6-7:30pm
  • 8th grade 7-8:30pm      

Youth Wrestling begins on Nov 8 

Pest Control

We continue to have no sightings of rats and feel confident that the infestation has been taken care of.  However, we will still continue to have rat mitigation steps in place.  Please review the Ockley Green IPM Notification 10.23.pdf for an updated steps.

Wreath Sale October 23 - November 3

OG Supporters annual Holiday Wreath Sale is here.  Please consider supporting their fundraising efforts with the purchase of a beautiful wreath.

OG Supporters Tamale Boy Fundraiser

Fundraiser Event!  Come on out to Tamale Boy, on NE Dekum on Thursday, 11/2 and they will be donating a percentage of all sales, dine-in or take-out.  Support a local restaurant, enjoy a great meal, and support OGMS!  No flyer or mention of event needed.

Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook

Today during Period 7, students received a copy of the PPS 2023-24 Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.  Teachers reviewed some new language and changes in the behavior expectations and students spent time identifying their Rights & Responsibilities.  See this slidedeck for a list of the new updates..

SUN School is in Session

Ockley Green SEI SUN registration

Fall registration is still open! Please make sure to fill out an application before signing up for programming. Enrichment classes are Monday - Thursday from 3:45 PM to 5:30 PM. Registration is first come, first served!

Important Dates

• November 2nd: Last Day of the Quarter
• November 3rd: No Students (Teacher Planning Day)
• November 10th: No School (Veteran’s Day)
• November 20th & 21st: Conferences

Please take a moment to find and bookmark our school website to become more familiar with programs and information.  

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

We have added a critical component to our Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program this year in having regular guidance sessions for our 6th Grade students, led by our Dragon Leaders.  This week, our Dragon Leaders led their first direct guidance activity with their student groups during Advisory.  These students showed our Ockley Green Core Values: Caring, Collaboration and Growth as they worked with their 6th Grade students.  I am incredibly appreciative of how this important work is helping in the creation of a positive learning environment through supporting our 6th Grade students' transition. 

Please see below for some important updates!

Bargaining & Contingency Plan

Please see this information regarding Bargaining.

RHS Cluster Diverse Learners Night

Families in the Roosevelt Cluster are welcome to join for an evening of food, music and information.  The event is October 19th, 5:30 - 7:00 PM.  See these fliers for more information: English, ​Spanish.

SUN School is in Session

Ockley Green SEI SUN registration

Fall registration is still open! Please make sure to fill out an application before signing up for programming. Enrichment classes are Monday - Thursday from 3:45 PM to 5:30 PM. Registration is first come, first served!

Class List 

• Open Gym
• Chess For Success 
• Cooking 
• Barbershop
• Robotics- Will be held at Jefferson High school. Permission slip to follow. ( 6 slots open)
• MESA Invention club- Become an inventor, use engineering, coding and other STEM based solutions to solve real-world problems.
• Tutoring
• SEI (Program students only)

Dental Sealants Coming November 16th

Multnomah County’s School and Community Oral Health Program is offering Free sealants and dental screening. A dental screening is a quick look inside your child’s mouth to check the overall health of their teeth, and sealants will be placed if needed.

This service is available for students in 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

What questions do you have? Please call us at 503-988-3905.

To use this FREE service please fill out the electronic permission slip at this link:

Electronic Permission Form English

Volunteer Opportunity - PTA Clothing Center in PPS 

The clothing center serves more than 1,500 students across the city each year. It's entirely run by volunteers. Each school in the district is assigned to arrange for volunteers two days per school year, and our turn is coming up on October 19th. On days where there aren't enough volunteers, the Clothing Center is unable to open. Please help keep the doors open for families in need! If you're available, you can sign up HERE.

Important Dates

• October 13th: No School for Students (Teacher Inservice Day)
• November 2nd: Last Day of the Quarter
• November 3rd: No Students (Teacher Planning Day)
• November 20th & 21st: Conferences

Please take a moment to find and bookmark our school website to become more familiar with programs and information.  

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

This coming week, we are excited to start our House of Dragons schoolwide positive behavior program focused on supporting our students in being engaged learners at school. In addition to continuing to support our students feeling a strong sense of belonging at school, our goal is to also reaffirm our academic and school expectations and support our students to engage in behaviors that create a positive learning environment.  

Our House of Dragons are set up as multigrade Houses through our Advisory classes.  The behaviors we have identified that characterize being OGMS Proud are:

• The Better You
• Uplifting & Academic Language
• Check your Tech & Respect
• Activate Your Brain
• Our Space Is Your Space

Students can also earn points for:

• Showing our core values of Caring, Collaboration, and Growth
• Taking part in advisory and class activities
• House competitions

Your student received a handout earlier this week during Advisory with specific information for how to set up a Parent/Family account through LiveSchool. Having this access will allow you to see comments & points from staff on your child’s own growth.  For more information on accessing this, as well as more information about our House of Dragons, see this slideshow.  Here is a video that provides you an overview of the LiveSchool Parent App.

Please see below for some important updates!

SUN School Starts Next Week

Ockley Green SEI SUN registration

Fall registration is now open! Please make sure to fill out an application before signing up for programming. Enrichment classes are Monday - Thursday from 3:45 PM to 5:30 PM. Registration is first come, first served!

Class List 

• Open Gym
• Chess For Success 
• Cooking 
• Barbershop
• Robotics- Will be held at Jefferson High school. Permission slip to follow. ( 6 slots open)
• MESA Invention club- Become an inventor, use engineering, coding and other STEM based solutions to solve real-world problems.
• Tutoring
• SEI (Program students only)

Dental Sealants Coming November 16th

Multnomah County’s School and Community Oral Health Program is offering Free sealants and dental screening. A dental screening is a quick look inside your child’s mouth to check the overall health of their teeth, and sealants will be placed if needed.

This service is available for students in 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

What questions do you have? Please call us at 503-988-3905.

To use this FREE service please fill out the electronic permission slip at this link:

Electronic Permission Form English

Student Check Out & Pick Up

During Hybrid, there was a change to the Student Check Out process that included students being sent outside to Parents/Guardians to pick up when they are being checked out from school.  Starting October 2nd, we are requiring the Parent/Guardian to come into the Front Office to sign their student out.  We only allow students to be released to the people listed in Synergy. Thank you for your understanding and help with ensuring student safety.

Volunteer Opportunity - PTA Clothing Center in PPS 

The clothing center serves more than 1,500 students across the city each year. It's entirely run by volunteers. Each school in the district is assigned to arrange for volunteers two days per school year, and our turn is coming up on October 19th. On days where there aren't enough volunteers, the Clothing Center is unable to open. Please help keep the doors open for families in need! If you're available, you can sign up HERE.

Important Dates

• October 13th: No School for Students (Teacher Inservice Day)
• November 2nd: Last Day of the Quarter
• November 3rd: No Students (Teacher Planning Day)
• November 20th & 21st: Conferences

Please take a moment to find and bookmark our school website to become more familiar with programs and information.  

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

Our Social Worker, Genie Gomez, is leading the implementation of our new SEL Curriculum, We Do It For the Culture in Advisory.  She is working with a terrific group of staff to further develop the activities and ensure that they are accessible to students.  A big shout out to Rocio Miranda Alarcon, Kathryn Dennis, Grace Rodgers, Hannah Givertz, Crystal Stevens, Craig Patterson and Galen Dickstein for their work on making Advisory a meaningful time for students.  

Please see below for some important updates!

Student Check Out & Pick Up

During Hybrid, there was a change to the Student Check Out process that included students being sent outside to Parents/Guardians to pick up when they are being checked out from school.  Starting October 2nd, we are requiring the Parent/Guardian to come into the Front Office to sign their student out.  We only allow students to be released to the people listed in Synergy. Thank you for your understanding and help with ensuring student safety.

MAP Testing Continues Next Week

This week, students completed MAP Testing in Math and next week, they will take the Reading MAP Test.  MAP is a test to measure comprehension of standards and growth throughout the year. Please make sure your child brings their charged chromebook next week. We have a charging station available in the library for students and math and language arts teachers will have a handful of computers to loan students during the test.

Lockdown Drill

Today, our students participated in our first Lockdown Drill.  This drill can be difficult to experience and I truly wish that it was not a necessary part of our students’ lives.  Prior to the drill, students reviewed expectations in Advisory and they did an amazing job of quickly moving into safe places in their classrooms when we held the drill.  

Talented and Gifted Updates (TAG)

During the TAG Family Night we shared information about the systems and supports for our students, their families and teachers here at Ockley Green. It has a wealth of information about the referral process, acceleration, and services for students currently identified.  All teachers have been provided with a roster of their students identified for TAG in math, reading and intellectuality. Additional resources include the Important Dates 2023-2024 and the TAG Parent Advisory Council (TAGAC) If you have a question about TAG that your child’s teacher, or school TAG facilitator Ms. Melissa (mbrabham@pps.net) are not able to answer, please use Let’s Talk to communicate with the TAG office. 

OG Supporter Fundraiser

Our first revenue share event of the school year is here!  Help support this fundraiser and come check out the new Mike’s Drive-in on Lombard on Thursday, Oct. 5^th from 4-8pm, dine in or take out.  This event requires showing the flier or at least mentioning the Ockley Green event when ordering.  Please share with friends and family!

Ockley Green Supporters October Meeting

OG Supporters meetings are held every first Wednesday of the month, from September through May. All meetings are virtual. You can find a link to join at www.ogsupporters.org/events. At our next meeting, on Wednesday, October 4th, Principal Rierson will be our guest speaker. If there are any specific topics you'd like her to address, you can let her know by filling out this form. 

Volunteer Opportunity - PTA Clothing Center in PPS 

The clothing center serves more than 1,500 students across the city each year. It's entirely run by volunteers. Each school in the district is assigned to arrange for volunteers two days per school year, and our turn is coming up on October 19th. On days where there aren't enough volunteers, the Clothing Center is unable to open. Please help keep the doors open for families in need! If you're available, you can sign up HERE.

Important Dates

• October 4th: 2-Hr Late Opening for Students
• October 13th: No School for Students (Teacher Inservice Day)
• November 20th & 21st: Conferences

Please take a moment to find and bookmark our school website to become more familiar with programs and information.  

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

It was wonderful to connect with families during the Back to School Night on Wednesday of this week.  We appreciate your partnership in supporting your learner to find success here at Ockley Green.

This week brought opportunities to celebrate Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, which offers an opportunity to honor, recognize, and celebrate Latino contributions to our community, state, and country.  Students created personalized Papel Picado banners during Advisory and these are now displayed throughout our hallways.  Over the next month, our students will have the opportunity to further understand the unique history and contributions of Latinos/Latinas in Portland and across our country.  

Please see below for some important updates!

MAP Testing Starts Next Week

On September 27 OGMS students will be taking the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test.  MAP is a reading and a math test to measure comprehension of standards and growth throughout the year.  Students will take the test three times to measure their growth. In the Fall: September, Winter: January and Spring: April

Please make sure your child brings their charged chromebook starting Monday September 27. We have a charging station available in the library for students and math and language arts teachers will have a handful of computers to loan students during the test.

Lockdown Drill

Next week, our students will participate in our first Lockdown Drill.  This drill can be difficult to experience and I truly wish that it was not a necessary part of our students’ lives.  We will review information in Advisory on Tuesday about why we do this drill and the importance of practicing the steps we take in this situation and have the drill later in the week.  

Please remind and encourage your student that they can always talk with a trusted adult if they are feeling anxious or concerned as a result of this, or any, drill.  Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have regarding our safety & emergency practices.

OG Supporter Fundraiser

Our first revenue share event of the school year is here!  Help support this fundraiser and come check out the new Mike’s Drive-in on Lombard on Thursday, Oct. 5^th from 4-8pm, dine in or take out.  This event requires showing the flyer or at least mentioning the Ockley Green event when ordering.  Please share with friends and family!

Bus & Pick Up

Please help us in creating a safe area for our buses on Montana by making pick-ups before and after school on Ainsworth Street.  We have already observed students darting out from behind buses, so your help with keeping car traffic on Ainsworth is greatly appreciated.

Stay Involved through ParentVue

ParentVUE is a secure website and mobile app which offers parents and guardians real time access to:

• School Messages, Calendar, Attendance, Grades, Class Schedule, Course History, Grade Book, and School Information.

User ID and password remain the same each year. If you have not set up your account or have any questions, contact Ian Palu, ipalu@pps.net . 

Important Dates

• September 27th: Picture Day
• October 4th: 2-Hr Late Opening for Students
• November 20th & 21st: Conferences

Please take a moment to find and bookmark our school website to become more familiar with programs and information.  

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

Next week we will host Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 21st, 5:30 - 7:30.  We are looking forward to seeing you and sharing more about Ockley Green.  This year, we will start out the night with a couple of options prior to the Welcome and Classroom Visits.  Please join us for one of the offerings at 5:30.

TAG and ESL Family Meetings 5:30 - 5:55

If your student receives ESL services or is identified as Talented & Gifted, then please join us at 5:30 for a Family Meeting.
 

ESL Family Meeting -  Room 113                         TAG Family Meeting -  Library

Gym Reception 5:30 - 5:55

This is an informal reception where you will be able to learn about attendance, Liveschool, our restorative justice practices, Cafe Latino, and ParentVue. We will also have a classroom wish table where you help a teacher collect all the materials they need to have a successful year. Plus we will have a photo area where you can snap a picture with our Dragon.

Please see below for some important updates!

Chargers for Chromebooks

Last year, Rachel Manter led the effort to fully update our Chromebook records and implemented a system for managing repairs to Chromebooks.  In June, we collected all Chromebooks to ensure that they were updated and cleaned.  Students have received their Chromebooks, however, we currently have only about half of the needed Chargers.  The PPS IT Department is no longer providing chargers to schools.  Thus, I needed to determine how to fund an order of chargers, which was made this week for the additional 250 Chargers needed.  We will distribute those as soon as we receive them.  Please note: We are keeping a record of every charger given out.  If a student loses their charger, then it will not be replaced by the school.

Pest Control Update

Pest Control has isolated what they believe to be the remaining source & access that needs to be addressed.  They are taking aggressive measures, including creating physical barriers in addition to ongoing chemical treatment.

We will continue to hold the expectation of hot lunches being consumed in the cafeteria and are communicating to staff about the steps they can take to aid in pest prevention.  The presence of rodents is concerning for multiple reasons and we will continue to work on creating a school facility that is conducive to learning.

Lunch Time

We have been closely monitoring lunch time to ensure that students have time to eat and get in some movement.  We have made alterations based on feedback and observations.  We have noticed the time to get through the line has decreased and most students have 15-20 minutes to eat.  

Some have asked about the possibility of 2 lunches, but our modified block schedule makes this challenging to achieve.  With the improved lunch line times, we will continue with only one lunch period.

The library is now available at lunch time.  Students can collect a library pass in the morning before the first class of the day.

We are organizing our Lunch Clubs and will soon have options out for students.  Students can suggest a club! They can talk with Mr. Chavez to learn about that process. 

Bus & Pick Up

Please help us in creating a safe area for our buses in Montana by making pick-ups before and after school on Ainsworth Street.  We have already observed students darting out from behind buses, so your help with keeping car traffic on Ainsworth is greatly appreciated.

Stay Involved through ParentVue

ParentVUE is a secure website and mobile app which offers parents and guardians real time access to:

• School Messages, Calendar, Attendance, Grades, Class Schedule, Course History, Grade Book, and School Information.

User ID and password remain the same each year. If you have not set up your account or have any questions, contact Ian Palu, ipalu@pps.net . 

Important Dates

• September 20th: Back to School Night 
• September 27th: Picture Day
• October 4th: 2-Hr Late Opening for Students
• November 20th & 21st: Conferences

Please take a moment to find and bookmark our school website to become more familiar with programs and information.  

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

Over the past 2 weeks, our staff have been working hard to build community in their classrooms and to support students with understanding our schoolwide expectations & processes.  As we implement some new systems, it is important to observe and troubleshoot along the way.  We appreciate the feedback we received from families & students about lunch time and made some adjustments this week.  Yesterday, we noted that the amount of time students have to eat has continued to increase and our students are doing an amazing job with quickly getting to their starting location for lunch.  We will continue to monitor and adjust to find that sweet spot that supports students having enough time for lunch and that also provides an opportunity to have activity outside.  

One of our main focuses last week was on helping our students understand the WHY behind moving to a complete Off & Away Cell Phone policy. This week, the policy went into full effect. As of yesterday, we have 28 students that have received a warning and 10 that had a one-to-one check in with their teacher.  On the 3rd time a Cell Phone is out, there will be contact home.  We look forward to your partnership in supporting our goal of decreasing distractions in our learning environment. Please be assured that you and your student will be able to contact each other in an emergency or to relay time-sensitive messages, such as a new pick up time after school, through the Main Office, at 503-916-5660.  

Now that our students are aware of our schoolwide expectations, we are preparing to again implement our LiveSchool Positive Support System.  Our Climate Team is finalizing some adjustments to our rubric and the system for students to use their points for rewards.  More information will be shared when we go live with this system.  Related to this, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the 23-24 PPS Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.  Once we receive the hard copies from our Student Conduct Office, we will distribute them out to students and review key updates.

Please see below for some important updates!

Bus & Pick Up

Please help us in creating a safe area for our busses on Montana by making and pick ups before and after school on Ainsworth Street.  We have already observed students darting out from behind busses, so your help with keeping car traffic on Ainsworth is greatly appreciated.

Stay Involved through ParentVue

ParentVUE is a secure website and mobile app which offers parents and guardians real time access to:

• School Messages, Calendar, Attendance, Grades, Class Schedule, Course History, Grade Book, and School Information.

User ID and password remain the same each year. If you have not set up your account or have any questions, contact Ian Palu, ipalu@pps.net . 

Important Dates

• September 20th: Back to School Night 
• September 27th: Picture Day
• November 20th & 21st: Conferences

Please take a moment to find and bookmark our school website to become more familiar with programs and information.  

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Ockley Green Families & Partners -

It has been an amazing opening week here at Ockley Green.  Students have done a wonderful job of meeting our school wide expectations and learning some new processes, such as how to enter & exit the Cafeteria and keeping all food in the Cafeteria.  Our halls have cleared quickly between classes, students have been engaged and they are enjoying connecting with old friends…and making new friends!  We are looking forward to getting our Lunch Clubs up and running soon and the startup of our House of Dragons LiveSchool.  More to come later on that.

We also ended the week with the sad news of the death of a former classmate.  I appreciate our staff and their care of our students and each other.  Our Counselors and Social Worker provided a Grief Space for students and staff, where they were able to share memories and process this heartbreaking loss.  Thank you to Ms. Galen, Ms. Melissa and Ms. Genie for your support to our community.

Please see below for some important updates!

Stay Involved through ParentVue

ParentVUE is a secure website and mobile app which offers parents and guardians real time access to:

• School Messages, Calendar, Attendance, Grades, Class Schedule, Course History, Grade Book, and School Information.

User ID and password remain the same each year. If you have not set up your account or have any questions, contact Ian Palu, ipalu@pps.net . 

Important Dates

• September 20th: Back to School Night 
• September 27th: Picture Day
• November 20th & 21st: Conferences

Please take a moment to find and bookmark our school website to become more familiar with programs and information.  

In Partnership,

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal, Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Families & Partners -

Please see below for some important updates!

Jefferson Dancers Auditions  REMINDER

Auditions for Jefferson Dancers I & II are June 5th & 6th.  See this Flyer for more information.

Summer Acceleration Academy  REMINDER

We are so excited that many of our students who need additional support in grade level reading and math learning will have the opportunity to participate in Summer Acceleration Academy this summer from July 10 - August 4, 2023 from 9 am - 1 pm, with optional afternoon programming until 5:30pm through SUN or RESJ partners. Students from Ockley Green MS will be attending SAA at the Faubion hub site. 

Invitations for Summer Acceleration Academy are based mid-year assessments identifying students who need support reaching grade level reading and math during this four week program. Families of students who are invited to participate in Summer Acceleration Academy will receive invitations to enroll online or through the school office by calling or returning a paper form that will be sent home in backpacks.

We feel this is an important opportunity for your student and understand that you may have other students in your house who need summer activities who do not meet the criteria for SAA. The RESJ department will be offering summer activities at many of the SAA sites. Stay tuned for enrollment information that will be coming soon.

8th to 9th Grade Summer Transition Opportunity  REMINDER

The Leap into 9th Grade summer program prepares incoming ninth grade students to excel in high school by building a foundation for success before starting high school. 

Dates and Times:  July 17 - August 4, 2023, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

@ Benson, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, McDaniel, Roosevelt 

Families can register online or complete the PDF and return it to the high school.

Summer Opportunities

• Ubuntu Summer Camp
• Camp out Portland for LGBTQ+ Youth

Working On It  

These are areas that, when our team is ready to provide additional information, I will provide an update in the section above.

• Reconfiguration of spaces for the 23-24 school year with a goal of no large classes meeting in the Portable classrooms;
• Hiring for 2023-24 (we have DLI and Sped hires in process);
• Building the Master Schedule for the 23-24 school year.;
• End of year celebrations.

Important Dates

• May 29: Memorial Day - No School
• June 2: All Library materials due
• June 7: 8th Grade Oaks Park Field Trip
• June 9: 8th Grade Promotion Family Picnic
• June 9: 8th Grade Promotion @ Roosevelt High School
• June 12th: 7th Grade Field Trip
• June 14: Last Day of School for students

In Partnership,

--

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal

Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Families & Partners -

Please see below for some important updates!

OG Plant Sales Pick Up  NEW

Thank you for all the orders for the OGMS Supporters Plant Sale! Please pickup plants ordered next Thursday 5/11 between 2-5 PM on the Ainsworth side of the school. If this pickup time does not work for your schedule please get in touch with Muriah and Carolyn at plantsale@ogsupporters.org 

Clothes Lost & Found  NEW

Please have your student check out the Lost & Found next week.  We will pack up clothes to take to Goodwill next Friday, May 12th.

Summer Acceleration Academy  REMINDER

We are so excited that many of our students who need additional support in grade level reading and math learning will have the opportunity to participate in Summer Acceleration Academy this summer from July 10 - August 4, 2023 from 9 am - 1 pm, with optional afternoon programming until 5:30pm through SUN or RESJ partners. Students from Ockley Green MS will be attending SAA at the Faubion hub site. 

Invitations for Summer Acceleration Academy are based mid-year assessments identifying students who need support reaching grade level reading and math during this four week program. Families of students who are invited to participate in Summer Acceleration Academy will receive invitations to enroll online or through the school office by calling or returning a paper form that will be sent home in backpacks.

We feel this is an important opportunity for your student and understand that you may have other students in your house who need summer activities who do not meet the criteria for SAA. The RESJ department will be offering summer activities at many of the SAA sites. Stay tuned for enrollment information that will be coming soon.

8th to 9th Grade Summer Transition Opportunity  REMINDER

The Leap into 9th Grade summer program prepares incoming ninth grade students to excel in high school by building a foundation for success before starting high school. 

Dates and Times:  July 17 - August 4, 2023, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

@ Benson, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, McDaniel, Roosevelt 

Families can register online or complete the PDF and return it to the high school.

Summer Opportunities

• Camp out Portland for LGBTQ+ Youth

• Current students at OG are eligible for PPS Summer Arts Academy! Students & families can apply by Monday, April 24 one of two ways: 

  • 1. Complete THIS GOOGLE FORM

  • 2. Fill and submit a print application to you. This application should then be emailed to summerartsacademy@pps.net  

Working On It  

These are areas that, when our team is ready to provide additional information, I will provide an update in the section above.

• Outside camera for our staff parking lot to increase safety and reduce vandalism;

• Reconfiguration of spaces for the 23-24 school year with a goal of no large classes meeting in the Portable classrooms;

• Ongoing advocacy of replacement of our Portables;

• Hiring for 2023-24;

• Building the Master Schedule for the 23-24 school year.;

• End of year celebrations.

Important Dates

• May 8 - 12: Teacher Appreciation Week

• May 22 - 26:  Outdoor School for 6th Grade Students

• May 29: Memorial Day - No School

• June 9: 8th Grade Promotion @ Roosevelt High School

In Partnership,

--

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal

Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Families & Partners -

We celebrated Culture & Community this week with a spectacular event!  Our students created poster & digital presentations reflecting a piece of their cultural identity, families and staff sat together for a wonderful meal provided by TaylorMade Comfort Food catering and we were treated to wonderful DJ, band and dance performances.  It was truly magical to be in community together to celebrate our students! Thank you to our SUN Coordinator, Tore James, and our Instructional Specialist, Elise Hughes for leading this effort and to our many staff, family and partners that pitched in to create this wonderful celebration.

Please see below for some important updates!

Summer Acceleration Academy  NEW

We are so excited that many of our students who need additional support in grade level reading and math learning will have the opportunity to participate in Summer Acceleration Academy this summer from July 10 - August 4, 2023 from 9 am - 1 pm, with optional afternoon programming until 5:30pm through SUN or RESJ partners. Students from Ockley Green MS will be attending SAA at the Faubion hub site. 

Invitations for Summer Acceleration Academy are based mid-year assessments identifying students who need support reaching grade level reading and math during this four week program. Families of students who are invited to participate in Summer Acceleration Academy will receive invitations to enroll online or through the school office by calling or returning a paper form that will be sent home in backpacks.

We feel this is an important opportunity for your student and understand that you may have other students in your house who need summer activities who do not meet the criteria for SAA. The RESJ department will be offering summer activities at many of the SAA sites. Stay tuned for enrollment information that will be coming soon.

8th to 9th Grade Summer Transition Opportunity  REMINDER

The Leap into 9th Grade summer program prepares incoming ninth grade students to excel in high school by building a foundation for success before starting high school. 

Dates and Times:  July 17 - August 4, 2023, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

@ Benson, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, McDaniel, Roosevelt 

Families can register online or complete the PDF and return it to the high school.

Tobacco Cessation Youth Ambassadors  REMINDER 

Our Urban League of Portland Youth Specialist, Dasyanique Lewis, is looking for Tobacco Cessation Ambassadors representation across select Middle Schools, including Ockley Green Middle School.  See this flyer for more information.

Summer Opportunities

• Camp out Portland for LGBTQ+ Youth
• Current students at OG are eligible for PPS Summer Arts Academy! Students & families can apply by Monday, April 24 one of two ways: 
• 1. Complete THIS GOOGLE FORM
• 2. Fill and submit a print application to you. This application should then be emailed to summerartsacademy@pps.net  

Working On It  

These are areas that, when our team is ready to provide additional information, I will provide an update in the section above.

• Outside camera for our staff parking lot to increase safety and reduce vandalism;
• Reconfiguration of spaces for the 23-24 school year with a goal of no large classes meeting in the Portable classrooms;
• Ongoing advocacy of replacement of our Portables;
• Hiring for 2023-24;
• Building the Master Schedule for the 23-24 school year.;
• End of year celebrations.

Important Dates

• May 8 - 12: Teacher Appreciation Week
• May 22 - 26:  Outdoor School for 6th Grade Students
• May 29: Memorial Day - No School
• June 9: 8th Grade Promotion @ Roosevelt High School

In Partnership,

--

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal

Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Families & Partners -

Please see below for some important updates!

8th to 9th Grade Summer Transition Oppotunity  NEW

The Leap into 9th Grade summer program prepares incoming ninth grade students to excel in high school by building a foundation for success before starting high school. 

Dates and Times: July 17 - August 4, 2023, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

@ Benson, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, McDaniel, Roosevelt 

Families can register online or complete the PDF and return it to the high school.

Tobacco Cessation Youth Ambassadors  NEW 

Our Urban League of Portland Youth Specialist, Dasyanique Lewis, is looking for Tobacco Cesation Ambassadors representation across select Middle Schools, including Ockley Green Middle School.  See this flyer for more information.

Culture and Community Night  REMINDER

Mark your Calendars! 

You’re invited to Ockley Green’s second annual Culture and Community Night! Please join us at Ockley on Wednesday, April 26th from 5:30 to 7:30 for food, performances, community resources, and most importantly highlight student's academic achievements as it relates to their individual cultures!

What: Culture and Community Night 

When: Wednesday, April 26th 

Time: 5:30- 7:30

Where: Ockley Green Middle School

Hope to see you there! 

OG Supporters Plan Sale  REMINDER

OG Supporters will be holding this sale on the Ainsworth side of the school Thursday 5/11. The nursery will be delivering plants around 1PM and then we will be sorting orders and people will start picking up between 2-5PM. We will possibly have a couple other volunteers helping us. 

https://ockleygreensupportersplantsale.company.site

Orders are due by April 20th by 5PM

Summer Opportunities

• Camp out Portland for LGBTQ+ Youth

• Current students at OG are eligible for PPS Summer Arts Academy! Students & families can apply by Monday, April 24 one of two ways: 

  • 1. Complete THIS GOOGLE FORM

  • 2. Fill and submit a print application to you. This application should then be emailed to summerartsacademy@pps.net  

Working On It  

These are areas that, when our team is ready to provide additional information, I will provide an update in the section above.

• Outside camera for our staff parking lot to increase safety and reduce vandalism;

• Reconfiguration of spaces for the 23-24 school year with a goal of no large classes meeting in the Portable classrooms;

• Ongoing advocacy of replacement of our Portables;

• Hiring for 2023-24;

• Building the Master Schedule for the 23-24 school year.;

• End of year celebrations.

Important Dates

• April 17th - April 28th: Statewide Assessments

• April 26th: Culture & Community Night

In Partnership,

--

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal

Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Families & Partners -

In PPS, we believe that Arts Education matters and that “The arts are fundamental to children's creative expression and their overall growth and learning. Integrated into core curriculum, they enhance comprehension and engagement. On their own, they nurture self-esteem and increase whole-brain activity. The arts are our greatest tools to promote creativity in the classroom. Our vision at PPS is to increase equitable access to the arts for all children.”  Earlier this week our annual HeART of Portland: A Portland Public Schools K-12 Arts Showcase took place at the Portland Art Museum.  Two of our students, Penelope Dorneman and Zoe Smith, were selected to represent Ockley Green MS with the showcasing of the Art pieces they created for their architectural design project.  It was wonderful to have these pieces on display at this event and their Ms. Kray’s support in facilitating that is appreciated.

Please see below for some important updates!

MESD Dental Sealants was a Success  NEW

Last November, volunteers from MESD were on site to give the following number of students, shown below, dental screening, sealant and fluoride varnish services.  Thank you for getting students signed up last Fall.  We will continue to partner with MESD to offer this service to our students.

      # OF STUDENTS SCREENED                                                        61

      # OF STUDENTS RECEIVING SEALANTS                                    41

Culture and Community Night  NEW

Mark your Calendars! 

You’re invited to Ockley Green’s second annual Culture and Community Night! Please join us at Ockley on Wednesday, April 26th from 5:30 to 7:30 for food, performances, community resources, and most importantly highlight student's academic achievements as it relates to their individual cultures!

What: Culture and Community Night 

When: Wednesday, April 26th 

Time: 5:30- 7:30

Where: Ockley Green Middle School

Hope to see you there! 

OG Supporters Plan Sale  NEW

OG Supporters will be holding this sale on the Ainsworth side of the school Thursday 5/11. The nursery will be delivering plants around 1PM and then we will be sorting orders and people will start picking up between 2-5PM. We will possibly have a couple other volunteers helping us. 

https://ockleygreensupportersplantsale.company.site

Orders are due by April 20th by 5PM

Dining Out to Support OG at Por Que No Taqueria  NEW

OG Supporter Fundraiser:  On Wednesday, April 19th, come on out for some tasty tacos and more at Por Que No Taqueria to support the school and a local business! They'll be donating a % of sales for the day to OG Supporters in support of our upcoming Community & Culture Night.  Open 11am-10pm, dine in or take out.

Bell Schedule Update  NEW

The District provided 3 options for Bell Schedules at the Middle School level. We will be collecting feedback from staff, students and families. Please be on the lookout for a more detailed email and survey soon to share feedback on these options.

Summer Opportunities

• Camp out Portland for LGBTQ+ Youth
• Current students at OG are eligible for PPS Summer Arts Academy! Students & families can apply by Monday, April 24 one of two ways: 
  • 1. Complete THIS GOOGLE FORM
  • 2. Fill and submit a print application to you. This application should then be emailed to summerartsacademy@pps.net  

Working On It  

These are areas that, when our team is ready to provide additional information, I will provide an update in the section above.

• Outside camera for our staff parking lot to increase safety and reduce vandalism;
• Reconfiguration of spaces for the 23-24 school year with a goal of no large classes meeting in the Portable classrooms;
• Ongoing advocacy of replacement of our Portables;
• Hiring for 2023-24;
• Building the Master Schedule for the 23-24 school year.

Important Dates

• April 17th - April 28th: Statewide Assessments
• April 26th: Culture & Community Night

In Partnership,

--

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal

Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Families & Partners -

We had a fun and festive end to Quarter 3 today with our Spring Dance.   While this was a whole staff & OG Supporter effort, a special shout out to Ms. Halbig, Ms. Stone, Ms. Tore and all of our Leadership students.  It was wonderful to see the excitement, laughter and amazing dance moves from our students.  Students also had the opportunity to participate in Board Games, Chess, Arts, Computer Games and many other options.  It would not have been possible without all the support from staff & volunteers, so THANK YOU for everyone’s piece in creating some joy in our community.  

Please see below for some important updates!

Culture and Community Night  NEW

Mark your Calendars! 

You’re invited to Ockley Green’s second annual Culture and Community Night! Please join us at Ockley on Wednesday, April 26th from 5:30 to 7:30 for food, performances, community resources, and most importantly highlight student's academic achievements as it relates to their individual cultures!

What: Culture and Community Night 

When: Wednesday, April 26th 

Time: 5:30- 7:30

Where: Ockley Green Middle School

Hope to see you there! 

OG Supporters Plant Sale  NEW

We will be holding the sale on the Ainsworth side of the school Thursday 5/11. The nursery will be delivering plants around 1PM and then we will be sorting orders and people will start picking up between 2-5PM. We will possibly have a couple other volunteers helping us. 

https://ockleygreensupportersplantsale.company.site

Orders are due April 20th by 5PM.

Dining Out to Support OG at Por Que No Taqueria  NEW

OG Supporter Fundraiser:  On Wednesday, April 19th, come on out for some tasty tacos and more at Por Que No Taqueria to support the school and a local business! They'll be donating a % of sales for the day to OG Supporters.   Open 11am-10pm, dine in or take out.

Summer Opportunities

• Camp out Portland for LGBTQ+ Youth
• Current students at OG are eligible for PPS Summer Arts Academy! Students & families can apply by Monday, April 24 one of two ways: 
  • 1. Complete THIS GOOGLE FORM
  • 2. Fill and submit a paper application, available in the main office at Ockley Green. This application should then be emailed to summerartsacademy@pps.net  

Working On It  

These are areas that, when our team is ready to provide additional information, I will provide an update in the section above.

• Outside camera for our staff parking lot to increase safety and reduce vandalism;
• Reconfiguration of spaces for the 23-24 school year with a goal of no large classes meeting in the Portable classrooms;
• Ongoing advocacy of replacement of our Portables;
• Hiring for 2023-24;
• Building the Master Schedule for the 23-24 school year.

Important Dates

• April 17th - April 28th: Statewide Assessments
• April 26th: Multicultural Night

In Partnership,

--

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal

Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Families & Partners -

It has been brought to my attention that we have a mural in the library that contains an image of the Imperial German Flag that had been used during the Nazi Regime and is currently being embraced by Neo-Nazi groups. I am appreciative of the student that shared this noticing with a staff member.  As a result, I have made a Project Development Request to begin the process for making a change to just this flag on the mural.  I want to ensure that the Art in our school is representative of our values and any symbols of oppression will not be tolerated in our spaces.  For additional information regarding Murals inside school buildings, see the Art in the Schools page on the PPS Facilities website.  As I learn more about whether there are necessary steps with gathering community input when requesting a change to a mural, I will share that information with you.

Please see below for some important updates!

Bell Schedule Update  NEW

As shared previously, the District Middle Grades Redesign Committee is creating a limited number of Bell Schedules for Middle Schools to select from.  We will have more information on the options after an upcoming meeting on April 5th.  Once we have options, our team will invite feedback on the options from our Families, Staff & Students. 

SUN Afterschool Spring Term Classes REMINDER
 

Spring Registration is now open, sign up for classes here. Please make sure that you have completed a SUN application before registering.
 

Don't see a class that you're interested in, let us know here.

Interested in Volunteering? REMINDER

If you are interested in getting more involved at the school, please consider volunteering.  See the Ockley Green Supporters website: https://www.ogsupporters.org/volunteer  There are a variety of ways to help out!  Take a look. 

Summer Opportunities

• Camp out Portland for LGBTQ+ Youth

Working On It  

These are areas that, when our team is ready to provide additional information, I will provide an update in the section above.

• Reconfiguration of spaces for the 23-24 school year with a goal of no large classes meeting in the Portable classrooms;
• Ongoing advocacy of replacement of our Portables;
• Hiring for 2023-24​​​​​​​

Important Dates

• March 27th - 31st: Spring Break
• April 26th: Multicultural Night

In Partnership,

--

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal

Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Families & Partners -

Starting next week, Wednesday March 1st, we are officially starting our Cell Phone Policy reset. In preparation for this, students considered their own cell phone usage and discussed an article, “What Phones Do To Teen Brains (And What Teens Wanted To Know About That)” by John Daley  in Advisory on Tuesday & Wednesday earlier this week.  Students will continue to learn about the new Cell Phone Policy on Monday and Tuesday next week.  Here are the Advisory lesson slides being used to support this work with our students and the new policy below.

Ockley Green Middle School

Cell Phone Use

• Cell phones off and away while class is in session (including when students leave class for the bathroom).
• No cell phone use for class work
• Cell phones may be used before and after school and lunch/recess (not during passing periods)
• Teachers document cell phone usage in classrooms and support staff intervenes and documents cell phone usage in hallways and during passing periods.  Responses noted below:
  • 1st Day- Teacher gives verbal warning to have phone off and away and documents in the form
  • 2nd Day- Teacher contacts family and documents in the form
  • 3rd Day- Teacher conferences with student and documents in the form
  • 4th Day- Teacher documents in the form then Admin email teachers about next step for the student, meets with student, contacts family, and sends a warning letter and cell phone contract 
  • 5th Day- Teacher documents in the form then Admin email teachers about next step for the student, meets with student, contacts family and student must turn in to front office or keep phone at home for one week
  • 6th Day-  Teacher documents in the form then Admin email teachers about next step for the student, sets up and conducts a meeting with their family and creates a specific cell phone support plan which could include no phone at school for a longer period of time

We value your partnership in communicating the negative impact on students’ ability to focus on learning when phones are out and they are engaging with social media or are texting during class.   Please be assured that you will be able to contact your student in an emergency or can relay time-sensitive messages, such as a new pick up time after school, through the Main Office.  

Please see below for some important updates!

OG Supporter Fundraiser  NEW

Another easy OG Supporter fundraising opportunity! Come on down to Tough Luck next Tuesday, 2/28 dine in or take out. Tough Luck will donate 15% of their sales in support of the OGMS 8th Grade Capstone Dance Team's upcoming trip to Vegas. In Vegas, they'll participate in a workshop with the world famous Jabbawockees and also experience a live performance. 

Tuesday, February 28th

Tough Luck

All day, dine in/carry out

15% of ALL sales donated to OG Supporters!

Menus, available here: https://www.toughluckbar.com/square-meals

Substance Use Awareness  REMINDER

Our Counselors are working on a trauma-informed presentation to provide during class on Substance Use Awareness, with a focus on the rise of opiates and the uniquely dangerous nature of fentanyl.  PPS has a number of in-district resources on substance use for students and their families.  These include: 

• Multi-Lingual Prevention Strategies and Healthy Decision Making 
• Portland Public Schools Substance Use Resources 
• Family request for supports 

LAST CHANCE Successful School Survey Closes February 28th  REMINDER

Thank you to everyone who has already responded to the Successful School Survey.  We are currently at 144 family responses, which is about 38% of our families.  We hope to hear from at least 50% of our families.  

To take on your own, then, if viewing this via email, click here:  Successful Schools Survey (English)  or Successful Schools Survey (Spanish). If you need a language other than English or Spanish, start with the English survey and select your language of preference. You can also access either the English or Spanish version via the QR code below.

Direct Link to English Survey

Direct Link to Spanish Survey

Working On It  

This is a new section that will be included moving forward to communicate what we are working on.  These are areas that, when our team is ready to provide additional information, I will provide an update in the section above.

• Reconfiguration of spaces for the 23-24 school year with a goal of no large classes meeting in the Portable classrooms;
• Ongoing advocacy of replacement of our Portables;
• 5th Grade Open House March 6th;
• Creation of clear identification process for Compacted Math courses.

Important Dates

• February 28th: Black Honor Roll Luncheon
• March 6th: 5th Grade Open House 
• March 22nd:  Spring Music Concert
• March 27th - 31st: Spring Break

In Partnership,

--

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal

Ockley Green Middle School

Hello Families & Partners -

A couple weeks ago, you received a Community Budget Message from PPS.  As shared in that message, PPS, as well as districts across the State of Oregon, continue to experience a decline in enrollment.  Subsequently, PPS is planning for a leaner budget next year.  At Ockley Green this means that we had to make reductions in our staff for the 2023-24 school year.  These are never easy decisions to make.  Our staff is a highly collaborative, supportive and student-centered team, so it is difficult for all of us to know that some of our colleagues will work in a different setting for the next school year.  In making our staffing decisions, the administrative team prioritized the following areas:

• Maintain a robust student support team to support our ongoing Climate work focused on increasing students’ Sense of Belonging;
• Continue to provide embedded Intervention classes to support students significantly below grade level; and 
• Reduce electives to improve the class sizes for our Math, LA, Social Studies and Science classes.

To meet our staffing requirements, we will have some reduction in the first two areas listed above, but we worked to minimize any decrease to ensure we could still offer all areas of support and maintain some Intervention classes.  Some specific changes to programming next year that will support the third area listed above are: 1) elimination of Drama, but to continue to provide a full offering of Band, Dance and Art; 2) a return to offering the District minimum requirement of a Quarter each of PE and Health as opposed to a full year offering, thus reducing from 3 Health/PE teachers to 2 Health/PE teachers; and 3) reduction of our library staff, while also maintaining the ability to have our library open for the entire school day. These decisions, along with some shifts of classroom spaces, will also provide relief to the ongoing challenge of finding appropriate classroom spaces in the main building. 

Please see below for some important updates!

Substance Use Awareness  NEW

Our Counselors are working on a trauma-informed presentation to provide during class on Substance Use Awareness, with a focus on the rise of opiates and the uniquely dangerous nature of fentanyl.  PPS has a number of in-district resources on substance use for students and their families.  These include: 

• Multi-Lingual Prevention Strategies and Healthy Decision Making 
• Portland Public Schools Substance Use Resources 
• Family request for supports 

McDaniel High School is hosting a Substance Use Awareness night on February 23rd.  Interpretation will be available.  Principal Skyles has shared that it is open to all PPS families.  For more information, click here.

Successful School Survey  NEW

We are currently at 91 family responses, which is close to 20% of our families, on the Successful School Survey.  We hope to hear from at least 50% of our families.  

We are offering 2 in-building sessions to support families in completing the survey.  There will be treats, coffee & tea and families will have access to a computer and Spanish support.  Please join us for either of the sessions below.

• Tuesday February 21st 3:45 - 4:30 in the Library
• Wednesday February 22nd 9:00 - 9:45 (Spanish supported) in Room 203

To take on your own, then, if viewing this via email, click here:  Successful Schools Survey (English)  or Successful Schools Survey (Spanish). If you need a language other than English or Spanish, start with the English survey and select your language of preference. You can also access either the English or Spanish version via the QR code below.

Direct Link to English Survey

Código QR para Encuesta en Español

The Successful Schools Survey window is January 23rd - February 28th.  More information coming soon for supported sessions at Ockley Green with computer access to complete.

Working On It   NEW

This is a new section that will be included moving forward to communicate what we are working on.  These are areas that, when our team is ready to provide additional information, I will provide an update in the section above.

• Reconfiguration of spaces for the 23-24 school year with a goal of no large classes meeting in the Portable classrooms;
• Ongoing advocacy of replacement of our Portables;
• Updated Cell Phone Policy and Impact of Technology & Social Media lessons during Advisory for immediate implementation (more soon on this).

Important Dates

• February 20th: NO SCHOOL - Presidents’ Day
• February 24th: Black History Month Assembly
• February 28th: Black Honor Roll Luncheon
• March 6th: 5th Grade Open House 
• March 22nd:  Spring Music Concert
• March 27th - 31st: Spring Break

In Partnership,

--

Julie Rierson

Pronouns: she/her

Principal

Ockley Green Middle School