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

Dear Colleagues,

The Humanities Department is excited to announce Elizabeth Martin as the Program Administrator for Dyslexia. Elizabeth has worked in Portland Public Schools since 2012, and her new position will allow her to use the skills and knowledge she has gained in working with students with reading difficulties and disabilities.

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.

Portland Public Schools will join thousands of other school districts in the United States in participating in the Great Shakeout, a national earthquake preparedness event on Thursday, October 17 at 10:17 a.m.

The PPS Aspiring Leadership Program is focused on creating a community of practitioners who are inspired by the urgent need to transform our students’ experience to a radically more equitable one and who aspire to develop their own skills to bring about that change. The program will introduce candidates to leadership standards aligned to the new strategic direction of the district and provide opportunities for you to develop and apply a set of dispositions, knowledge and skills to determine the right leadership path for you. If you are interested in applying, submit your application online via this link or apply to Job No. 20175 on the PPS Employment Opportunities page. 

In this week's PPS Pulse: Franklin teacher honored as Oregon Teacher of the Year; REAHL Toolkit helps students who have substance use issues

One testimonial called Mercedes Muñoz a “force of nurture.” Another said she is a “living embodiment of grace under pressure.” A third said her students are “immeasurably lucky to have her.”

The Portland Public Schools program created to support students facing substance use and mental health challenges is offering a new tool. The REAHL Online Toolkit gathers information and accredited resources to serve as a starting point for students, families and staff looking for additional strategies and supports.

A recent uptick in cases of measles and whooping cough in Portland-area children is prompting a reminder for families to keep their students up to date for vaccines.

In this week's PPS Pulse: High school theater troupes will stage a wide range of plays this fall; Vestal students make peace statement one penny at a time