Portland Public Schools

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.

Therefore, we have reached the point where we will need to close the Tubman campus for in-person instruction starting Friday, January 14, 2022.

We plan on using Friday as a day to allow our educators to plan to transition to temporary distance learning. Your student will have access to learning material on our learning systems (Canvas or Seesaw) during this transition day. Your school leaders and teachers will share more details about what it will look like in temporary distance learning for students.

We plan to operate temporary distance learning through at least Friday, January 21. Families can expect to receive communication before this date should an extension of this pause to in-person learning and school activities be necessary.

Here is what you need to know about the impact of temporary distance learning at Tubman:  

• During temporary distance learning, a limited number of in-person extracurricular activities will take place at Tubman including PIL athletics and performing arts.  Principal Bacon will share more details about these limited activities with the Tubman community.
• Breakfast and lunch will be offered daily for pickup while you are in temporary distance learning. You can pick up meals every day from 11am - 12:30pm at Tubman.
• This year, your student was issued a PPS Chromebook. If your student needs a device, please contact your student’s school to be issued one. If you need to contact the tech support desk, you can do so by either sending an email to support@pps.net or calling our support line at 503-916-3375.

We are mindful of the significant impact that comes from moving a school to temporary distance learning. However, where we cannot offer sufficient staffing to continue on-site instruction in a safe environment, we will have to implement temporary distance learning until we can reopen.

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 as a community.

Margaret Calvert
Regional Superintendent, Portland Public Schools