Dear PPS Community,

The PPS Board of Education will consider a resolution at an upcoming meeting to make Monday, January 31 into a school climate work day for school staff, with no classes held for students. 

Dear PPS Community,

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Multnomah County Health Department (MCHD) released new contact tracing and notification requirements for K-12 schools today:

Dear PPS Families,

Effective today, Thursday Jan 13, 2022, PPS will implement changes to athletics and a variety of activities in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 across our community:

Dear McDaniel Community,

We are so pleased to inform you that McDaniel will return to in-person classes on [date]. We realize that closing the campus and moving to temporary distance learning created challenges for families, but the dramatic rise in absences of staff and students fueled by the omicron variant of COVID-19 made it too difficult to keep the campus open safely.

Dear Cleveland Community,

We are so pleased to inform you that Cleveland will return to in-person classes on Tuesday, January 18. We realize that closing the campus and moving to temporary distance learning created challenges for families, but the dramatic rise in absences of staff and students fueled by the omicron variant of COVID-19 made it too difficult to keep the campus open safely.

Dear Alliance Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at Alliance. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition Alliance to distance learning.

Dear Kellogg Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at Kellogg. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition Kellogg to distance learning.

Dear George Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at George. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition George to distance learning.

Dear McDaniel Community,

We are so pleased to inform you that McDaniel will return to in-person classes on [date]. We realize that closing the campus and moving to temporary distance learning created challenges for families, but the dramatic rise in absences of staff and students fueled by the omicron variant of COVID-19 made it too difficult to keep the campus open safely.

School staff are excited to welcome students back on the regular school schedule.  Please see specific communication from the school team about welcoming students back for classes and other school activities.  

Our goal is to complete the school year with in-person classes, which have been proven to be a vital component of not only students’ ability to learn, but their social-emotional and mental health, too. Here is what you and your family can do to help keep in-person classes going:

• Make sure you students have proper, well-fitting face masks. Please see our recent message about masks.
• Get everyone in your household who is eligible (ages 5 and up) vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Use the Oregon Health Authority’s vaccine and testing locator tool.
• Monitor your students for COVID-19 symptoms, and keep them home if they show any. 

One final note: As we moved some schools into temporary distance learning, we learned that some families were not aware of the news. We urge you to update your contact information through ParentVue or by contacting your school office. We also suggest that you opt-in to receive text messages from the district by texting YES to 68453.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please reach out to us via Let’s Talk.  We appreciate your patience as we navigate these difficult times together, as a community.

Margaret Calvert

Regional Superintendent, Portland Public Schools

Dear Cleveland Community,

We are so pleased to inform you that Cleveland will return to in-person classes on [date]. We realize that closing the campus and moving to temporary distance learning created challenges for families, but the dramatic rise in absences of staff and students fueled by the omicron variant of COVID-19 made it too difficult to keep the campus open safely.

Dear Faubion Community,

After careful consideration and in consultation with your school leadership, we are extending the temporary distance learning return date until January 21. While we recognize and prefer that every student be in an in-person environment, we made this decision to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff, as well as to better ensure consistent staffing available to safely operate the school. We continue to see high numbers of positive cases of COVID-19 in our community which is causing a continued rise in absences of students and staff.

Dear Ockley Green Community,

After careful consideration and in consultation with your school leadership, we are extending the temporary distance learning return date until January 21. While we recognize and prefer that every student be in an in-person environment, we made this decision to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff, as well as to better ensure consistent staffing available to safely operate the school. We continue to see high numbers of positive cases of COVID-19 in our community which is causing a continued rise in absences of students and staff.

Dear Roosevelt Community,

After careful consideration and in consultation with your school leadership, we are extending the temporary distance learning return date until January 21. While we recognize and prefer that every student be in an in-person environment, we made this decision to prioritize the health and safety of students and staff, as well as to better ensure consistent staffing available to safely operate the school. We continue to see high numbers of positive cases of COVID-19 in our community which is causing a continued rise in absences of students and staff.

Dear Harriet Tubman Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at Harriet Tubman Middle School. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition Tubman to distance learning.

Dear Franklin Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at Franklin. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition Franklin to distance learning.

Dear PPS Community,

We want to let you know about changes Portland Public Schools is adopting, in conjunction with all the school districts in Multnomah County, to the quarantine requirements for those who come into close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

Dear Jefferson Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at [Jefferson]. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our Jeffersons is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition [Jefferson] to distance learning.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Cheryl Proctor as our new Deputy Superintendent of Instruction and School Communities. Dr. Proctor possesses the qualifications, extensive experience, and a demonstrated skill set to serve effectively in this critical leadership role.

Dear Faubion Community,

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant has contributed to a dramatic rise in absences of students and staff at Faubion. The ability to fully staff and safely operate our schools is a key factor that has resulted in the difficult decision to temporarily transition Faubion to distance learning.

Dear PPS Community,

While the best protection we have against COVID-19 continues to be vaccines plus booster shots, we know that when used correctly, face masks create an important barrier that reduces the spray of a person’s respiratory droplets, which can spread the virus that causes COVID-19. Because the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the Delta variant, wearing a well-fitting mask is more important than ever to slow the spread of COVID-19. To limit the spread of the Omicron variant, PPS continues to require individuals to wear masks at all times while on school campuses (indoor and outdoor) and on school buses, except when they eat lunch or have a drink.