Portland Public Schools

Newspapers might be sputtering around the country, but at high schools in Portland Public Schools, the fourth estate isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving. In various formats – printed, online or a combination of both – our budding reporters are telling the stories of their campuses and beyond.

A sampling of work written by students in some of our high school newspapers and magazines.

From the Cleveland Clarion: “Cleveland gives back” by James Dryden

One of the most prolific charity programs that we have at school is CHS Gives Back, an initiative to raise money for the families at Cleveland that need it most. The leadership class organized the fundraiser and put on the assembly and with the help of the school, managed to raise $6,446.15, according to leadership teacher Susie Brighouse. 

“$1,500 will be granted back (with matching funds) to help immigrants and refugees in our community with healthcare and housing costs,” Brighouse said.  “The rest will go directly to assisting CHS students and their families.”

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From The Franklin Post: “The story of Archie: How one good boy helps a whole community” by Ryan Kovatch

For some students at Franklin, life can get pretty ruff. With an increasing number of students reporting anxiety struggles, it’s clear that the student body might need a hand (or a paw). Meet Archie, the school’s therapy dog. You may have seen him in passing, roaming the halls with a companion and a smile on his snout. His adorable labradoodle face might be captivating, but Archie is much more to Franklin than meets the eye.

“Archie is everyone’s little dose of happiness,” says Dana Miller, French teacher at Franklin and caretaker of Archie. This is Archie’s fifth year at the school. “Our former principal, Ms. Valder, knew that I had him and that I took him to a care facility on weekends. She wanted me to bring [him] to a class that our school psychologists were organizing for students who are dealing with increasing amounts of anxiety,” says Miller. “That led him to work with other groups in our school, such as the Life Skills class.”

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From Grant Magazine: “Youth Rising” by Peter Sallinger (part of the magazine’s Climate Change Issue)

Hundreds of red-clad protesters flood into the University of Portland’s Buckley Center auditorium. Like me, most of them hope that they will have the opportunity to share their thoughts. They’ve arrived clutching sheets of paper, on which they have scrawled their worries, hopes and dreams for the future, their anger and frustration at the infamously slow action on the part of our city bureaucracy and visions of the world that they will leave for their grandchildren.

Some of them are youth. For the most part, that is a change.

The occasion was one that had been building momentum for months. Zenith Energy was (and currently is) planning to expand the oil train capacity of its Portland terminal. The expansion was met with outcry from Portland’s environmental community, and after months of pressure, the city finally agreed to host a forum on the issue this past July.”

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From The Constitution (Madison): “Johnston slides toward success” by Macey Pine

Catriona (Cat) Johnston’s interest in music sparked at Roseway Heights Middle School where her dad taught music classes. She was always encouraged to participate in and learn about music in her family. And now, she says she is excited to play trombone in Honor Band for the opportunity to play with other students from all over Portland

When she’s not playing trombone or doing homework, she plays in her own band called Cat and Honey. They play alternative rock with Cat singing and writing songs for the band. Cat says she enjoys writing songs because “writing songs is a good way to get things off my chest after a bad day, kind of like a diary.” Cat also started playing the guitar two years ago and started producing solo songs. She hopes to have an album out soon.

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From the Cardinal Times: “Substance abuse groups promote mental health and physical health” by Gracie Pixton

Many students at Lincoln struggle with substance use, or know someone who is struggling. In addition, many do not fully understand the risks. To combat this issue and to provide students with the resources they need, students and administration have established two groups that are dedicated to educating students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

The first is a substance awareness group that meets weekly during lunch on Mondays. This group is funded by Regence Health. Regence has provided Lincoln with a grant to help bring awareness about substance use among teens.

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From The Horse (Wilson magazine): “Get to know your new principal” by Ginger Felberg

Wilson has entered a transition year led by our new principal Filip Hristic. The former principal of Roosevelt is thrilled to finally be working at a high school in his own community. He hopes to bring a new wave of communication, accountability, and community to Wilson. He has high expectations for our school and years of experience personal and professional, that he is ready to bring to the table.

Born in Serbia, Hristic made the move from Serbia to Los Angeles with his family in the seventh grade. A year later the family moved again to Boston ultimately. Hristic finished his education in Boston receiving a masters in philosophy from Boston College and a doctorate in education in leadership from Harvard University.

“I graduated from college with a degree in philosophy, [and] I didn’t know what I was going to do,” Hristic said. “I just felt like I was searching for meaning to life. I was full of these existential questions. What is this all for?”

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