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PPS Pulse, Nov. 21, 2017
11/21/2017In this week's Pulse: Read about the Madison student leaders' confab in Seattle and a taste of Japan at Richmond
PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS | NOVEMBER 21, 2017 Español | Tiếng Việt | 中文 | Русский | Soomaali Madison High School students Faisal Osman (far left), Fowzia Ibrahim (third from left), Ashley Rojas (second from right) and Ryan Moon (far right) work with advisors at the Youth Engagement & Leadership Lab in Seattle. Photograph by Pamela Jordan.
Madison student leaders brainstorm about school change at Seattle conference
Nearly 40 students from as far away as Dallas, Texas, and as close as White City, Wash., huddled around tables recently at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, brainstorming about changes they wanted to see at their high schools. The students, including four from Madison High School, were invited to Seattle to attend the Youth Engagement & Leadership Lab (YELL).
“We feel that students have it in them to create change, so we want to supply the resources and ask the students to make it happen,” said Julie McGerry, program manager at inspirED, the organization in charge of YELL.
Madison’s young leaders already are playing a part in improving the school’s culture. Sophomore Faisal Osman and junior Fowzia Ibrahim are part of the school’s Muslim Student Alliance. Osman also belongs to Madison’s Restorative Justice Club and its Leadership Equity Team. Sophomore Ashley Rojas is part of La Raza Unida, Madison’s Latino student affinity group, and sophomore Ryan Moon is a leader in Madison’s AVID and Step Up programs. Their ages also had something to do with why they were selected. As underclassmen, they’ll return to Madison next year and continue the work they’ve started this year.
Lunch gives Richmond students a taste of Japan
Richmond is PPS’s Japanese dual-language elementary school, and students are immersed daily in all things Japan. On Friday, they went an extra step, getting a literal taste of the culture.
PPS Board moves ahead with opening two middle schools
Portland Public Schools will move forward with plans to open two middle schools in 2018-19.
The PPS Board of Education on Tuesday passed Resolution 5534, by a 7-0 vote, directing Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero to establish Roseway Heights and Harriet Tubman as middle schools, with students in grades 6-8. The board also directed that eight schools be converted into elementary schools with students from kindergarten to fifth grade.
The Jefferson boys basketball team won the ninth state title in program history when it beat Clackamas at the Chile Center in the Class 6A championship game. Photograph by Mike Tokito.
Sports update: Jefferson’s quest to repeat in boys basketball headlines winter season
The winter high school sports season is under way in Oregon, with practices starting last week and games and meets set to begin Nov. 29. Here’s a quick look at the season’s sports in the Portland Interscholastic League:
The main gymnasium at Grant was torn down last week, part of the two-year rebuild of the high school campus. Photograph by David Mayne.
Bond update: Water fountains back on at more schools, work continuing at Grant
PPS Bond project work is continuing on many fronts.
Water quality teams have replaced water fixtures in the first group of 15 schools and are now retesting the water for each school. When the water test results show that the quality of the water coming from the drinking faucets is better than the EPA recommendations for schools they are turned back on. The water is now flowing again at Atkinson, Applegate, Astor, Chapman, Hayhurst, Richmond, Sacajawea, Skyline, Woodstock and West Sylvan.
Capitol Hill Elementary School students and faculty practiced their response to an earthquake during a reunification drill. Photograph by Laura Hanson.
Capitol Hill Elementary practices school-wide response to emergencies
In case of a fire, students know to evacuate the building at their teacher’s direction. In case of an earthquake, students know to brace themselves under their desks and protect their heads and necks. But what happens after those events? What happens if a school crumbles or burns, leaving students and staff without a way to contact parents and families?
Last week, Capitol Hill Elementary School attempted to answer those exact questions.
Fire department giving coats video
Portland Firefighters responded to a call for warm winter coats at both Clarendon and Sacajawea schools. Firefighter’s Local 43 raised over $15,000 to provide brand new coats for the Head Start children. More than 600 pink, green, blue and red coats were given to the children this Thanksgiving week, just in time as winter sets in here in the Pacific Northwest. Thank you Local 43 for reaching out to PPS. For more information and how you can support “Operation Warm Coats,” visit here.
Madison biomedical showcase
A young scientist from Madison High School delivered a 3-minute fastpitch presentation to a group of entrepreneurs and researchers, on her class project that can help detect E. coli in water. Cynthia Bui, a senior in the school’s Biomed CTE program, was asked to share her findings at the annual Oregon Bioscience Showcase. Cynthia was one of only four high school students invited to participate.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, November 22
REMINDER: Schools closedTuesday, November 28
Board meeting at Jefferson High SchoolTuesday, November 28
MLC, 8th grade info nightWednesday, November 29
Roosevelt HS, 8th grade info nightTuesday, December 5
Board meeting
MOST HIGH SCHOOLS: Early dismisssalMonday, December 11
Recruiting meeting for bilingual teaching candidatesTuesday, December 12
CANCELED: Lincoln 8th grade info night
New date: January 8PORTLAND YOUTH PHILHARMONIC SET TO HOLD FOUR FREE CONCERTS
Registration is under way for the Portland Youth Philharmonic’s annual free concerts for students in grades 3-8.
MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED: PAUL J. DE MUNIZ, MADISON HIGH SCHOOL, 1965
In 2000, Paul De Muniz was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court, making him the first Hispanic American voted into statewide office in Oregon. From 2006 to 2012, he served as the court’s chief justice as well as administrative head of the Oregon Judicial Department. De Muniz has won a number of state and national awards, and in 2011 was inducted into the National Center for State Courts' Warren E. Burger Society for his commitment to improving the administration of justice within the states.
DEADLINES: HIGH SCHOOL LOTTERY, AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Two dates are coming up that families should be aware of: Friday, Dec. 1, high school lottery and Friday, Dec. 15 for ACA applications.
LEWIS ELEMENTARY’S LITTLE FREE LIBRARY OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Lewis Elementary School became the latest organization to open a Little Free Library, a program that uses small boxes to make books available under a “take a book, return a book” philosophy. More than 50,000 Little Free Libraries have been opened, with locations in all 50 states and around the world.
NO PPS PULSE ON NOVEMBER 28
Due to this week’s holiday, the PPS Pulse newsletter will not be published on Nov. 28. Be sure to look for the Dec. 5 edition to stay informed.
WE WANT YOUR IDEAS
Please feel free to submit story suggestions, links to the best stories on your school web site or newsletter, photos, videos and other items you think would have district wide interest. Email story ideas, images and documents to: ltrapp@pps.net.
PULSE CONTACTS
Coordinator
Lindsay Trapp
ltrapp@pps.netEditor
Mike Tokito
mtokito@pps.netStaff writer
Laura Hanson
lhanson1@pps.netStaff writer
Pam Jordan
pjordan1@pps.netDesigner
Louise Tollisen
ltollisen@pps.netDesigner
Richard Martin
rmartin1@pps.netThe District is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all its educational and employment activities. The District prohibits discrimination based on race; national or ethnic origin; color; sex; religion; age; sexual orientation; gender expression or identity; pregnancy; marital status; familial status; economic status or source of income; mental or physical disability or perceived disability; or military service.
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