Sellwood Principal’s Newsletter – November 4, 2022
Greetings Sellwood Community,
I would like to give a special shout out to the girls’ PIL Cleveland Youth Volleyball Team, who ended the season by winning the citywide tournament last Saturday and were crowned "champs". The whole team worked hard all season, came into the tournament seeded #8, immediately defeating #1 Lincoln in the first game and later clinching the championship. Congratulation to Sellwood’s own champion athletes: Kate, Alli, Esme, Hadley, Noemi, Pearl, Addy, Juliette, Evelyn, Thea, and Vivian. Go Warriors!
Please read on about the Sellwood Foundation Annual Campaign, which is a vital component in our ability to staff our school programs.
Also, conferences are coming up on November 21st and 22nd. Below you will find information about signing up for appointments.
Sincerely,
Jeandré Carbone
Sellwood MS Principal
SELLWOOD MIDDLE FOUNDATION UPDATE
Annual Giving Campaign
Calling all Sellwood Families! The Annual Giving Campaign, the largest fundraiser of the year, is in full swing! This fundraising effort is crucial to provide programs and staffing at our school, and with the help of a generous donor, every donation made during this fundraising campaign will be matched 100%!
Our goal is to raise $50,000 in the next two weeks to pay for more teachers, more course variety and smaller class sizes, which means our efforts positively impact every student at our school.
We invite all families to donate at the level they are comfortable. No amount is too small, as together we can make a difference! Please use the provided QR code:
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
It is time to sign up for Sellwood Parent/Teacher Conferences! They are coming up soon, on November 21st and 22nd.
The general schedule for each day is:
8:30AM-12:30PM
1:00-5:00PM
6:00-7:30PM
Please use the master document linked below for sign-ups. There are both written instructions and video instructions to help you sign-up quickly and easily.
Conference Sign-up Master Document
We hope to see you there :-)
PTA NEWS
Staff Appreciation Wednesday Snacks
Thank you to all who have sent in snacks. The teachers and staff are so grateful. Some tell us it’s the only chance they get for a quick bite during the school day.
Please continue to help!
Granola bars, fruit, nuts, anything works! Your student can bring the snack into the office at the start of the school day when they arrive! Sign up on Konstella or use the link below.
Fruit Sale Success
Many thanks to all for supporting our fall fundraiser! We had great success and our school will benefit! We are so grateful to Amy Columbo, for organizing this fundraiser again.
Thank you, Amy!!
Sellwood Dines Out; Holler 11/15
Please mark your calendar for the November Dines Out at Holler.
Tuesday 11/15 Holler will donate 10% of sales to Sellwood.
It’s Not Too Late to Join the Sellwood Middle School PTA!
Help us reach our goal of 100 members! The annual $20 membership dues can be paid on SchoolPay. Dues are used by the PTA for teacher supply reimbursements, arts and music programs, community events, and school support. A portion of your dues also helps the Oregon and National PTA organizations further their missions. Thanks for your support!
CLEVELAND OPEN HOUSE FOR 8TH-GRADERS, DECEMBER 8
Save the date, families of 8th-graders. Cleveland High School’s Open House “Bridging the Gap” event will be in-person the evening of Thursday. Dec. 8, 2022, beginning at 6:30pm. Cleveland looks forward to greeting the members of our class of 2027 next fall!
See the linked FLYER for more information.
Let's Talk About Sex!
Click here for some information about sexual acting out at SMS.
Learning in an environment free from harassment is a justice issue. Let's make sure that all our kids understand how to have a healthy take on sexuality and how to be safe with their peers when using their voices, not just their bodies.
Bridget Geraghty Barnicle
she/her/hers
FROM OUR TAG FACILITATOR
TAG Referral Forms available now
If your student already qualifies for TAG, you do not need to refer again. That TAG designation will stay with them throughout their time in PPS. If you wish to refer your student for TAG (in a new area or for the first time), please follow these directions:
- Go to https://www.pps.net/
sellwood - Use the Academics tab, then select Talented and Gifted
- Links to referral forms are at the bottom of the page by language
- The deadline for this form is November 29
If you have questions, please contact our TAG Facilitator, Lisa Souther (lsouther@pps.net).
FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE AND HEALTH ASSISTANT
Free Community Vaccination Clinic
PIL BOYS’ YOUTH BASKETBALL
Team Tryouts November 5th and 6th
Hello, basketball tryouts are this weekend. Here’s all the relevant information:
Tryout Information:
Fall clinic information:
CHS WBB 2022 Fall Basketball.pdf
General CHS Program information:
https://sites.google.com/
It is important for 6th grade families, and those new to PIL youth sports, to know that athletes must: 1) register with FamilyID, 2) complete a current PIL sports physical, and 3) provide proof of residency PRIOR to tryouts. Players will not be allowed to participate in tryouts without clearing all three steps. All the links necessary are contained within the PIL GBX FLYER.
Thanks in advance,
Stacey Berg
Cleveland Cluster GBX Coordinator
RACIAL EQUITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS DEVELOPMENT:
The Importance of Talking About Race
“Our humanity is worth a little discomfort, it's actually worth a lot of discomfort.”
― Ijeoma Oluo, So You Want to Talk About Race
- Watch: Color Blind or Color Brave?: This TED talk features finance executive Mellody Hobson who explains talking about race is like a "conversational third rail." And that's exactly why we need to start talking about it. In this engaging, persuasive talk, Hobson makes the case that speaking openly about race — and particularly about diversity in hiring -- makes for a better society.
- Read: So You Want To Talk About Race? Author Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from police brutality and cultural appropriation to the model minority myth in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race, and about how racism infects every aspect of American life.
MAIN OFFICE:
The best way to reach us is by email.
- Melissa Whiteside (mwhitesi@pps.net) is our school secretary.
- Claire Howard (choward1@pps.net) is our principal’s secretary.
- Our Sellwood website (pps.net/sellwood) has many “Quick Links” to help you immediately.
The Office Phone Number
- The office phone number is 503-916-5656.
- When prompted, press 4 for Melissa (“Records/Registration”) or press 3 for Claire (Principal’s Secretary)
- When prompted, press 2 for any “Attendance” matters. It’s a designated line just for attendance.
- You can also press 0 for the front counter where often students help us answer the phone and direct communication. This is not a private line and confidential messages should not be left in this voice box.
Secured Building
- Sellwood is a locked and secure building.
- Please ring the doorbell to the right of the main doors to reach the office. We will guide you accordingly.
Parent/Student Requests:
- Please email both Melissa and Claire for student pick up, a student arriving late, or any other matter that may require meeting a parent/guardian at the front door or getting a message to a student. Advance notice is strongly recommended since the office is very busy throughout the day.
Guides to Help you:
- For questions about your student’s absence: Log into ParentVue.
- make changes to your student's registration in Synergy: ParentVue/StudentVue
Please email Melissa (mwhitesi@pps.net) for:
- Attendance: If you need to excuse your child's attendance.
- Passwords: If you have forgotten your password, have been locked out of your account, or do not have login credentials.
- Registration, Enrollment.
- ParentVue (if your account has been disabled).
Please email Claire (choward1@pps.net) for:
- School Pay.
- Bookkeeping/accounting issues.
- Administrative Support: Messages or matters of support to the principal or assistant principals.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
- November 9: Picture retakes
- November 11: No school - Veteran’s Day
- November 19: Sellwood Foundation & PTA Meetings
- November 21 & 22: Parent Teacher Conferences
- November 23-25: Fall Break
- December 12: Winter Band Concert 7:00 PM
- December 12: Art Show
- December 19 – January 2: Winter Break
- January 16: No school - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 26 – End of 1st semester
- January 27 – No school for students - Teacher planning day
- February 17 – No school for students – Teacher planning day
- February 20 – No school – President’s Day (potential snow day make-up day)
- March 27 – 31 – Spring Break
- April 7 – End of 3rd Quarter
- April 10th – No school for students – Teacher planning day
- May 16: Spring Band Concert 7:00 PM
- May 29: No school – Memorial Day
- June 13 – Last day of school
- June 14, 15, 16 – Potential snow day make-up days
