Sellwood Principal’s Newsletter – June 9, 2023
Greetings Sellwood Community,
It was wonderful to see some of you last Sunday at the fabulous PTA Garden Tour, which was a huge success. You can read more about the Garden Tour in the PTA section below. It was very well organized, enjoyable, and full of inspirational ideas for our own garden. I'm already looking forward to next year's tour.
I also had the opportunity to talk with many during Wednesday's Showcase Night. What a fun event with so much to see and hear! A good time was had by all, and I have to say that after the COVID restrictions of the past years, it is a joy to be able to host evening community events! Thank you to Sellwood teachers for working hard to display student work and plan performances, and a special thanks to 8th-grade teacher Lisa Souther for her extra efforts to organize the program and secure the food trucks!
It is hard to believe, but today is the last Friday of the 2022/23 school year. A short re-cap of the events planned for next week:
Monday will be our whole-school field trip to OAKS Park. We will be taking attendance in first period, and students will walk to Oaks Park with their first period classes. At about 2PM, staff and students will begin walking back to school. After arriving at the school, at about 2:45 everyone will enjoy a staff vs. 8th graders volleyball match, outdoors on the field.
Tuesday will be a normal schedule for 6th and 7th graders. For 8th graders, after lunch/recess they will practice for their promotion ceremony. At 2:15 we will hold the ceremony on the field, followed by cake and photos in cafeteria and courtyard.
Wednesday will be a normal school day schedule.
If your child will be absent any of those days, for example, missing Oaks Park on Monday, or an 8th-grader staying home on Wednesday, please enter the absence on ParentVue or contact the main office.
Next Friday, I will be sending my final newsletter for this school year, although you will receive individual student schedules and other information in July.
Have a great weekend,
Jeandré Carbone
Sellwood MS Principal
SELLWOOD GARDEN TOUR SUCCESS!
We had almost 500 people buy tickets and come through the gardens. We couldn't have done it without the help of the garden tour committee and volunteers. The garden tour raised $17,000 for our school! From this success we plan to create a curriculum enrichment grant for the school to fund more “extras” such as assemblies, field trips, theater, music and arts support as well as continue to fund electives, teacher support and classroom supplies. Not only did we raise money for our middle school kids; but we also gave the community a great experience. Many thanks to the garden tour committee; Phoebe Maloney, Tasha Bartley, Gina Benzien, Sarah Lewis, Allison Joy, Brian Kerr, Karen Hansen.
PTA SHOUT OUTS!
I am very grateful for the team of parents who have kept the PTA going this year. Middle school is a time of change for our students and supporting them and the staff of SMS is important. Our Board and committee leads have worked all year long to help support our school and raise money for gaps in school funding. I appreciate them finding time in our busy lives to make a difference.
Many thanks to this year’s PTA Board; Mindy Parker, Erin Black-Mitchell, Melisa Pierson, Liz Super, Katka Howland, Megan Perkins, Micah Chu, Tasha Bartley, Phoebe Maloney, Karen Hansen
Also a special thank you for our committee leads;
- Staff Appreciation: Rachel McDonald, Alison Eshel, Cathy Ma
- PEAK after school program: Seth English-Young, Sharon Jueneman, Shannon Bishop, Grace Phillips
- Sellwood Dines Outs: Micah Chu
- Fall Fruit Sale: Amy O’Conner
- Clothing Closet: Rachel McDonald
- JEDI: Bridget Geraghty
- Konstella: Megan Perkins
- 8th Grade Promotion: Liz Super, Trisha Highland
Congratulations to all the 8th grade students and parents! I hope everyone has a great summer and I look forward to continuing to connect with our school community in the fall.
With gratitude, Karen Hansen, SMS PTA President
FROM SELLWOOD’S LIBRARY
Please Bring Back the Books!
All library books are due on Friday, June 2, 2023. We always welcome late books. If you think a book is lost, please talk to us before paying. And, please, do not purchase replacements. Thanks in advance, Sellwood families!
OAKS PARK FIELD TRIP, MONDAY JUNE 12TH
Here are the details of the field trip.
- When: Monday, June 12th, 2022, 9:30am – 2:00pm
- Transportation: We will be walking both to and from the park. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes! All students will return to Sellwood for school dismissal; no exceptions.
- Cost: $17.00 will include Adrenalin Peak Roller Coaster, Go-Karts, Atmosphere (new ride).
- Preferred payment on-line with School Pay.
- If this presents a financial hardship, scholarships are available.
- Lunch: Students may: 1. Bring a sack lunch, 2. Request a Sellwood sack lunch, or 3. purchase lunch at OAKS Park. We have reserved a Picnic Area (students can leave their lunch here during the day).
- Other Costs: Students can bring extra money for snacks, games. etc.
- Due Date for Permission Slips: Friday, June 1st.
- Expectations: In order to make sure this experience is safe and enjoyable for everyone, students attending Oaks Park are expected to be on their best behavior and must be responsive to adult direction. We are also expecting that as we come closer to the end of the year, that students will continue to meet behavior expectations while at school.
- If a student were to receive a serious stage 2-3 referral that would merit suspension, between now and the end of the year, that student may be suspended from attending Oaks Park with their class. Examples of incidents that may merit suspension: fighting, serious disruptive conduct, bullying and harassment, physical attack/harm, property damage/graffiti, etc.
THE SELLWOOD FOUNDATION
Turn Your Summer Refreshments into Support for Sellwood Middle School!
Transform your summer beverages into a valuable contribution to our school! Visit the office at any time until the end of the year to pick up blue bags for BottleDrop.
In case you happen to exhaust your supply of blue bags during your backyard parties this summer, there's no need to worry! Our generous SMS community members have a stash on their porch. Keep this newsletter bookmarked to easily locate blue bag access points near you:
- 6924 SE 19th Ave. (close to SE Bybee & 19th)
- 7929 SE 34th Ave. (close to SE Crystal Spring Blvd & SE 34th)
- 4032 SE Henderson St. (close to SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd & SE Henderson)
- 7408 SE 46th Ave. (close to SE Flavel Drive & SE 46th)
Return your bags to the nearest BottleDrop location. Exciting news! You can now conveniently drop off your bags at Trader Joe's, located at 4715 SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ashley Schmidt at ashleyrschmidt@yahoo.com or call 503-267-0146.
We sincerely appreciate your support for the Sellwood Middle School Foundation!
CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP
June 20-22, 10am – 1 pm, Grades 6-8, FREE
Contact rmarchello@pps.net, aroddis@pps.net, kiera95gabaldon@gmail.com
8TH-GRADE PROMOTION, JUNE 13TH
We invite all 8th-grade families to help honor and celebrate the culmination of 8th-graders middle school years at Sellwood, giving them a joyous send off to high school.
Here are the basic details for promotion:
Date: Tuesday, June 13th
Time: 2:15 PM
Place: On the Sellwood Field. Bring low chairs or blankets for sitting. (in case of bad weather - the event will move to Sellwood's gym)
Sellwood's Jazz Band will perform and the ceremony will be followed by cake and photos.
CLEVELAND SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMP FOR BOYS
Last Chance to register!
CHS Basketball Camp for Incoming 7th-9th Grade Boys
June 19-22
10:30-1:00pm
Cleveland High School
A unique opportunity for RISING 7th-9th grade boys to be mentored by the CHS JV & VARSITY players themselves, under the direction of Head Varsity Coach, Sam Glasgow. Space is limited!
Complete details and registration on the Cleveland Boys Basketball Website.
GO WARRIORS!!
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL DAY CAMP OPPORTUNITIES THIS SUMMER
Warrior Camp @ CHS, rising 5-8 grade, June 19-22, 1:30-4:30pm
https://sites.google.com/
Nike camp @ UP, ages 8-13, July 17-20 and 24-27
https://www.ussportscamps.com/
COGNIZART 360 SUMMER ARTS CAMP
Check out the flyer for more information.
RACIAL EQUITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS DEVELOPMENT:
WATCH: Don't Erase Me: The Modern Arab American. An illuminating TED Talk by Jeremiah Stinnett who speaks out against the erasure of Arab-American identity.
READ: The Other Americans by Moroccan American Laila Lalami
Timely, riveting, and unforgettable, The Other Americans is at once a family saga, a murder mystery, and a love story informed by the treacherous fault lines of American culture.
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
- June 12: Oaks Park – All Grades, followed by volleyball on the field at 2:45 pm.
- June 13 - 8th-grade Promotion – 2:15 PM – On the Sellwood Field.
- June 14 – Last day of school
- August 29 – 1st day of School 2023/24 (6th-graders)
- August 30 – 1st day of School 2023/24 (7th/8th-graders)
