May 27, 2022

Dear PPS Community,

Earlier this year, the PPS School Board unanimously adopted one of the most aggressive school district climate crisis response policies in the nation.

We are now looking for PPS students and members of our community to join the district’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emission in half by 2030 and make other meaningful progress on important sustainability initiatives.

Dear PPS Community,

As images have emerged of the 19 fourth-grade students and their teachers killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, they break my heart. As a parent and educator, hearing of this latest tragedy brings up heavy emotions for me. I share the grief and anger at the death of innocent children and selfless educators. This is a tragic and senseless act, and I keep each of the victims’ families in my heart.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Information and Resources from PPS Student Support Services

While focusing on mental wellness is essential every month, May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month. Portland Public Schools is committed to uplifting wellness and to supporting all of our students to stay healthy, mentally and physically. 

Dear PPS families and staff, 

This week, Multnomah County health officials made an announcement about masking, due to the current COVID-19 surge.   The Health Department is asking people to wear masks indoors until new coronavirus case counts and hospitalizations start to fall, and strongly recommend that people wear masks in schools. The current increase in COVID-19 cases is expected to peak in mid-June, when PPS’s school year ends. 

On National School Nurse Day, we salute the four dozen nurses who serve Portland Public Schools.

Our school nurses have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, taking on responsibility for a wholly different level of care and an illness that remains a mystery in many ways, even after two years.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Portland Public Schools recognizes the important contributions of Asian Americans Pacific Islander.

Dear Colleagues,

On April 19, the Board of Education unanimously and enthusiastically approved Resolution 6478 recognizing our professional educators and administrators and declaring May 2-6, 2022 as Professional Educator and Administrator Appreciation Week at Portland Public Schools.