Principal's Newsletter 2.16.2024

Sellwood Principal’s Newsletter – February 16, 2024

Greetings Sellwood Community,

This week, all school principals received their staffing allocations for the upcoming school year.  You may have read about the predicted staffing cuts, reduction in services, and cost-saving measures.  Unfortunately, Sellwood will not be immune to these cuts.  Although there is always the possibility of future changes, we will most certainly be impacted.

Right now, I am still working through the staffing process, but I will be able to share more specifics about any changes in a few weeks.  Sorry the news is not better.

Also, don't forget that Monday, which is also Presidents' Day, is a make-up school day.

Enjoy the weekend,

Jeandré Carbone

Sellwood MS Principal

jcarbone@pps.net

OUTDOOR SCHOOL FOR 6TH GRADERS

6th grade students will be attending Outdoor School (ODS) Sunday, March 17th - Friday, March 22nd. 6th grade students' 4th period teachers should have already communicated details via email to parents. Be on the lookout for those emails as they have important information for you about this. Click here to learn more about Outdoor School. 

MESD Outdoor School Gear Library is open if you need gear for the camp (sleeping bag, rain jackets, coats, hats, fleeces, warm clothing, rain boots, toiletries); located at 12027 NE Sumner St. 

PTA NEWS

Sellwood Garden Tour 2024

We are happy to announce that we are working to host the Sellwood Garden Tour again this year.  This event raises funds for Sellwood as well as provides a wonderful community event.  

We are looking for gardens to showcase this year.  Please let us know if you have any leads on beautiful outdoor spaces!  

If you would like to help on the Garden Tour committee or if you know of a local business who may want to sponsor the event please reach out!  

We need our school community's support to make this year's event a success again.  Thank you!  

Sellwood Dines Out; Reverend’s BBQ 2/28

Please join us Wednesday, February 28th and enjoy some amazing BBQ.  Thank you to Reverend’s for supporting our middle school!

Funds from Sellwood Dines Out support educational programs, student scholarships, and teacher/staff classroom projects at SMS. 

Important links:

SELLWOOD FOUNDATION

DRAG QUEEN BINGO

MARCH 8 FROM 7-9PM

https://donorbox.org/events/557573

Join us for an unforgettable evening of Drag Queen Bingo on March 8 at Westmoreland’s Union Manor! Get ready for a night of fun and fabulous prizes, including a weekend getaway on the OREGON COAST, a SUNRIVER condo stay, and a brand new E-SCOOTER (raffle $5/ticket)! Not a grand prize winner? No worries. Each prize bundle is valued over $200 and includes gift cards to local wineries, restaurants, event spaces, salons and so much more. 

Tickets for bingo are $25 for the first card, $5 for additional cards - and you can even snag a card for a teacher! SMS teachers and administrators get their first card free, and $5 for each additional card.

Our dazzling host and Portland drag sensation, Coco Jem Holiday, will be calling numbers and keeping the laughter rolling! 

Indulge in wine, beer, N/A drinks and freshly popped popcorn for sale as you bingo your way to victory! Speaking of wine- anyone who donates a bottle of wine will get a free ticket to the Sunriver raffle!! One bottle = One raffle ticket, so donate generously! Please drop wine donations with your name on the bottle to one of the addresses listed below. 

Don’t miss out - grab your tickets now at https://donorbox.org/events/557573 and let’s bingo and win like never before!! Follow the SMS Foundation on Instagram @sellwoodmiddlefoundation to learn more!

Donation locations: 

7408 SE 46th Ave.

6924 SE 19th Ave.

3704 SE Ogden St.

EXCLUSION DAY, IMMUNIZATIONS BY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21

PPS is required to ensure that all students are up to date on all school-required immunizations, or have a signed medical exemption letter signed by a licensed physician or a non-medical exemption, by Wednesday, February 21, 2024 (“Exclusion Day”). Immunizations are required by state law for children and students in attendance at public and private schools, preschools, childcare facilities and Head Start programs in Oregon. 

On February 7th, the Multnomah County Health Department (MCHD) will mail a notification letter to all students who are due to receive one or more required vaccinations or who do not have a record of immunization. Students who do not have all their school-required vaccines or a qualifying exemption by Exclusion Day will not be allowed to attend school until their immunizations are up-to-date. 

What to do if you get a letter

  1. Call your school if you have already provided your child’s immunization record to the school and verify whether the school has a copy on file. 
  2. If your student needs updated vaccinations, get your child immunized right away. You can schedule an appointment with your child’s regular health care provider, or with:
  3. Bring to your child’s appointment the Certificate of Immunization Status Form that was included with the letter you received from MCHD. This Form will let the provider know what vaccinations your student still needs. If you misplace the CIS Form you received in the mail, you can request another copy from your child’s school).
  4. Once your student has received their required vaccines, sign the completed immunization form and turn it in to your child’s school.

Thank you for keeping your student and their classmates safe, in school, and ready to learn!

LEWIS SCIENCE CAMP FUNDRAISER – “LEWIS ROCKS”

On Saturday, March 2nd, from 4-7PM, Lewis Elementary School will host a benefit concert raising funds for their 5th Grade Science Camp.  Please see the flyer for more details.

SELLWOOD COMMUNITY HOUSE TALENT SHOW

Sellwood Community House is hosting a Talent Showcase this Friday, 7-9pm at Slow Pour Coffee + Bar. Performers are all 6th-8th graders and kids, parents, neighbors and community members are invited to come and watch! (This is not a school sponsored event)

Proceeds from this event, including food, beer and wine sales, support the rebuilding efforts at SCH and our teen/tween programs. I'd love it if this could be shared in your Friday newsletter.

The link to purchase tickets online (they're also available at the door) is here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/993d40c3-5b90-4c67-b389-678ba862a8a1

Check out the flyer for more information.

PROGRAMS, EVENTS & RESOURCES

Camps, Classes, & After School Programs:

Preschool Programs:

Community Events & Information:

Vaccinations, Health & Wellness:

PIL YOUTH SPORTS

PIL sports registration, schedules and calendar found HERE. Sellwood falls under the "Cleveland Cluster". If your student is playing a sport or any extracurricular activity outside of the PIL, we would love to support them as well. Send an email to Mr. KB (akennybrew@pps.net) including the schedule, including playoff information, and team pictures. Thank you 

COUNSELING CORNER

Students with last names A-L: Mr. KB – akennybrew@pps.net

Students with last names M-Z:  Ms. Katie – kfrancis@pps.net

MAIN OFFICE

The best way to reach us is by email.  

  • Melissa Whiteside (mwhitesi@pps.net) is our school secretary and registrar.  
  • Claire Howard (choward1@pps.net) is our principal’s secretary and bookkeeper.
  • 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;
  • press 3 for Claire 
  • press 2 for all Attendance matters. 
  • press 5 for Records, Registration.
  • press 0 for the front counter; however, students may answer this line.  Do not discuss anything confidential or leave any confidential messages.  

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 or if you must get a message to a student.  For student pickup, advance notice is strongly recommended to minimize classroom interruptions. No pickups/dismissals will be allowed after 3:30 pm.

Guides to Help you:

To access your student’s attendance in Synergy: Log into ParentVue. 

To make changes to your student’s registration in Synergy:  ParentVue/StudentVue

Please email Melissa Whiteside (mwhitesi@pps.net) for:

  • Passwords:  If you have forgotten your password, have been locked out of your account, or do not have login credentials
  • ParentVue (if your account has been disabled).   

Please email Claire Howard (choward1@pps.net) for:

  • School Pay/Bookkeeping/accounting issues.
  • Administrative Support:  Messages or matters of support to the principal or assistant principal.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

  • February 19: Make-up day (President’s Day – previously not a school day)
  • February 21: Exclusion Day – Get your vaccines!
  • March 12: 5th-grade Parent Info Night
  • March 17-22: Outdoor School for 6th-graders
  • March 25 to March 29: Spring Break
  • April 5: No School for Students – Teacher Planning Day
  • April 8: Make-up Day (Previously not a school day for students)
  • May 9 & 10: Sellwood School Play “Roshambo”
  • May 15:  All 8th grade Field Trip to the University of Portland
  • May 22: Band Concert & Art Show
  • May 27: Memorial Day – NO SCHOOL
  • June 6: Showcase Night
  • June 10: OAKS Park – 8th Grade
  • June 11: OAKS Park – 6th and 7th Grades
  • June 12-14: Make-up Days
  • June 14: 8th Grade Promotion
  • June 14: Last Day of School – Half Day

 
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