These are challenging times for our communities in many ways, and they have shined a light on the continuous systemic inequities that exist in the United States. I am announcing that Madison High School will be starting the process to rename our school along with Wilson High School. The Portland Public School Board has created a district wide policy that provides a detailed outline for naming and renaming district properties.  

At Madison, our values are Community, Respect, Education, Equity, and Diversity. Our school’s namesake, President James Madison was racist and was someone whose beliefs and actions stand in direct conflict with our school’s and our district’s commitment to racial equity. Therefore, I am in support of the PPS plan to change our school name and mascot. In the United States, school names and symbols that memorialize racist leaders have a traumatizing impact on students, families, teachers and staff of all backgrounds. When our public schools are named after individuals who advanced slavery and systemic racism, and we allow those names to remain on school property, we tacitly endorse their values as our own. 

There are more than 4000 individuals who have signed the petition advocating to change the name of our school. In 2019, the Madison Peace and Justice Club conducted a poll where more than 80% of students supported the name change. Several of our students have given testimonies asking our Board of Education for their support to change the name. They advocated for the name to be changed to one that is not “disheartening” and instead, empowers students and values racial justice. 

Now is the time to change the various ways we’ve memorialized racist and painful histories of our past, and move forward with a school name that reflects the inclusive, diverse, and welcoming school community every Madison student deserves. This is our civic duty to foster. I look forward to working with each of you to create this change. 

• Here you will find the application for students to join this committee
• Here is the community version of the application. 

Applications are due on October 9th.

Please if you have any questions let me know. 

Respectfully,

Principal Adam Skyles

Communities across Oregon have been impacted by wildfires this year. The OSAA (Oregon School Activities Association) Foundation has established the Emergency Response Fund, which aims to assist schools to restore equipment, replace destroyed valuables and support students, teachers, administrators, and staff who might have lost valuables during an emergency.

In collaboration with your support, OnPoint Community Credit Union will donate $2 for every $1 donated, up to $10,000.

All funds donated to the OSAA Foundation Emergency Response Fund will be distributed directly to high schools impacted by these disastrous events.  From physical rebuilding to supporting families in need, the schools will have the discretion to support their community in ways they see the most necessary.

If you wish to earmark your donation to a specific school (i.e. Santiam, McKenzie or Phoenix) you may do so in the comments after checkout.

To donate, use this GoFundMe link (https://www.gofundme.com/f/m2nnv-emergency-relief-fund).

 Let’s come together and support these communities in their time of need.  Your kindness and generosity can play a significant role as schools and individuals turn the page from these negative events.

Any Madison students who did not have a photo taken by Lifetouch can now submit their photograph electronically. This photo will become the student's yearbook photo and ID card/Hop Pass (bus pass) photo.

When we return to in-person learning students will be able to the Main Office have a Student ID printed.

Madison Community,

Here's our September newsletter which includes:

Erin Hale 

Madison Counselor

The first official day for the regular Comprehensive Distance Learning schedule begins on Monday, September 14th.
 
Click here to open the schedule: Madison Comprehensive Distance Learning Schedule
 
 
Madison Student Tech Help is still available this week. Click here to complete the form to request support: Tech Help Request
 
 
Please note that due to the poor air quality no one will be at Madison for the pick-up or exchange of Chromebooks or WiFi hotspots at the beginning of the week. 

Here are the steps to get started with classes on Thursday.

Login by 9:00 am.  click here to start: 

 Steps for Students logging in the first day:

> 1. Log into Canvas: Lms.pps.net

> 2. In Dashboard click on your class

> 3. In your class click on "My Live Class"

> 4. Click on your class period in the schedule

Having trouble? Login instructions for Canvas: HERE

Still having trouble? Click HERE to fill out the Student Tech Help Form. We will respond to your requests on 9/3 starting at 8am.

If no one has contacted you by 9am on 9/3 and you still can't log in, email askyles@pps.net.