Sellwood Principal’s Newsletter – November 5, 2023

Greetings Sellwood Community,

I apologize for not sending the newsletter till today.  I was hoping for some news to share, but as of right now we still do not know with certainty whether school will be in session tomorrow or not.  PPS Communications has promised to send out an email and text tonight at 7 PM.  That being said, I would be prepared for the strong possibility that school will not be in session.  Principals do not have advance notice, so I will be getting my news at the same time as you.

Last week was quite strange and lonely at the school, with Ms. Collins, me, Ms. Melissa, Ms. Claire and our custodians by ourselves in a very quiet building.  We very much miss our students and teachers.  Please know that at Sellwood we love, cherish, and value our students and our teachers, and we look forward to everyone’s return.

Here is the link again to the PPS strike resource page.

https://www.pps.net/strikeresources .

We hope to see you again soon!

Sincerely,

Jeandré Carbone

Sellwood MS Principal

jcarbone@pps.net

Sellwood Principal’s Newsletter – October 27, 2023

Greetings Sellwood Community,

Next Tuesday is Halloween, and while we love seeing students in their costumes, we want to make sure that all costumes are safe and appropriate.

Guidance regarding Halloween Costumes. 

• No masks or costumes that cover the face, including full face paint. 
• No props/toys/accessories - especially no fake weapons. 
• No large, bulky, or inflatable costumes. 
• No costumes that perpetuate a stereotype of someone's culture, gender, heritage, or religion. 
• No wheels
• Please, leave candy at home.

As you know, the Portland Association of Teachers has notified the district of its intent to strike starting Nov. 1. We have no way to know how long a strike would last. While we all sincerely hope this is averted, a strike would mean Sellwood’s building is closed. PPS will continue to support limited services, and has provided some remote learning materials: https://www.pps.net/strikeresources . The district has also provided some guidance for discussing a strike with your children. Whether you do so or not, I would encourage you to familiarize yourself with the issues and process. The district has provided resources on its bargaining website, which link to content developed by both the district and the union.

We will be conducting a locker clean-out just before dismissal on October 31^st.  Students should remove any food items and any clothing or other supplies they might need in the near future.  In the case of a teacher strike and school closure, they will not be able to retrieve any items from the school for the duration of the closure.  If there is no strike, student lockers will be that much cleaner.

Finally, Parent/Teacher conferences will be happening in less than a month.  The conference formats available are both virtual and in person. Next week, we will be sharing the schedule and all of the details for sign-ups, so keep an eye out for that communication.

Sincerely,

Jeandré Carbone

Sellwood MS Principal

jcarbone@pps.net

Sellwood Principal’s Newsletter – October 20, 2023

Greetings Sellwood Community,

As you may heard from PPS Communications and/or read in the news today, the Portland Association of Teachers has voted to authorize a strike, potentially starting November 1st.  I expect families have many questions about how a teacher strike would impact you and your children.  PPS has put together the following resource to help answer some of your questions.  Family Resources During a Strike.  The document contains information regarding: Resources to Support Learning, Full or Partial Closures, Student Supports, and Discussing Closures with Your Children.  There is also an FAQ with answers to general questions, and a link where you can submit your own questions.

Please know that I understand and appreciate that there will be challenges for families going forward in the event of school closures.  I will do my best to make sure that you have the most up-to-date information as November 1st approaches.

Sincerely,

Jeandré Carbone

Sellwood MS Principal

jcarbone@pps.net

Sellwood Principal’s Newsletter – October 12, 2023

Greetings Sellwood Community,

By now, all or almost all students should have their IDs and a lanyard which they can display.  It looks like most students are wearing them!  If your child does not have an ID or lanyard, they should check with their science teacher or come to the main office for assistance.  Please read on for information about wearing student IDs while at school.

WEARING STUDENT IDs WHILE AT SCHOOL

Wearing student IDs is a new thing for students and they will need to develop this as a habit.  We are currently reminding students to wear their IDs displayed and also appreciating them for wearing the IDs where they can be seen.

While we have provided students with lanyards, these particular lanyards are not mandatory.  If students want to get their own special lanyards to personalize or be more blingy, that is fine.  Some students have swapped their lanyards for carabiners or key chains to hang from their belt loops.  All of these options are just fine; the point is to get students accustomed to displaying their identification while at school, just as staff already do, and just as students will continue to do in high school.

Students can wear their IDs in a variety of ways, as long as the ID itself is visible. 

However, wearing the ID inside the pocket with just the lanyard hanging out is not the right way.

Finally, students must not swap lanyards with a different grade level.  If they are wearing one of the school supplied lanyards, it must be their grade level. The ID lanyards are color coded

• 6th grade yellow
• 7th grade light blue
• 8th grade dark blue

Please support our efforts at enhancing school safety and improving efficiency (lunch lines and library check-out) by encouraging your child to wear their IDs in one of the visible, allowable ways.

Enjoy the three-day weekend.

Sincerely,

Jeandré Carbone

Sellwood MS Principal

jcarbone@pps.net

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.