Principal's Newsletter 4.19.2024

Sellwood Principal’s Newsletter – April 19, 2024

Greetings Sellwood Community,

Please help us congratulate Sellwood’s prize winning dance team, the Sellwood Stars, just returning from state competition in Pendleton.  They won 1st place for their HipHop Routine!  They also received three superstar awards:  Alyssa M. in Jazz, Ava B. in HipHop, and Maya S. in Contemporary. They also brought home eight drill down awards!

Congratulations Sellwood Stars!

I hope you enjoy the sunny weather,

Sincerely,

Jeandré Carbone

Sellwood MS Principal

jcarbone@pps.net

7TH-GRADE FORECASTING (FOR CURRENT 6TH-GRADERS) Due today!

While students may have completed/submitted their forecasting forms, we do allow students/families to submit the form more than once.  When we start to build the schedule, we use the most recent submission.  The following documents are all that is needed to forecast.  There is the Google Form, the Elective Descriptions, and a video showing how to complete the form.

7th-Grade Forecasting Form

Elective Guide

7th-grade Instructional Video

Office Aide/TA Application

8TH-GRADE FORECASTING (FOR CURRENT 7TH-GRADERS) Due today!

While students may have completed/submitted their forecasting forms, we do allow students/families to submit the form more than once.  When we start to build the schedule, we use the most recent submission.  The following documents are all that is needed to forecast.  There is the Google Form, the Elective Descriptions, and a video showing how to complete the form.

(There is a special trick to completing the form if your child does not want to select any of the year-long electives.  They should select “none” for the first choice, and then any of the other choices for second and third.  If “none” is selected for the first choice, we will ignore the others.)

8th Grade Forecasting Form

Elective Guide

8th-grade Instructional Video

Office Aide/TA Application

PTA NEWS

Sellwood Garden Tour 2024 - May 19 - Volunteer Sign-Up

We are posting volunteer opportunities for the Garden Tour on Konstella - this is a great opportunity to support the school and connect with members of the SMS community. 

We will have 2 shifts open that day, 10:45am-1:30pm and 1:30-4:15pm. Volunteers will be assigned to each of our 6 gardens as hosts, directing traffic, answering questions, and representing the school. Please check Konstella for all volunteer openings and reach out if you have questions. We appreciate your support!

April PTA Social at PDX Sliders

Please join the PTA and Principal Carbone for a social gathering at PDX Sliders on Tuesday, April 23 from 5:30-7:30 pm. This will be a great chance to connect and learn more about the PTA. We look forward to seeing you there!

8th Grade Graduation Sign Orders

If you have a graduating 8th grader and would like to purchase a yard sign to celebrate them, please visit the following link: https://spirithero.com/collections/sellwood. The cost is $25 per sign ($30 if personalized). 

Questions? Email Liz Super at supere@ohsu.edu. Congratulations 8th graders!

PTA Clothing Center Volunteers Needed - May 2

We need 2-3 volunteers from SMS to help out at the Clothing Center, which is located at Marshall High School, from 9:30am-1:30pm on May 2. The Center serves over 2000 PPS students each school year, providing them with clothing and shoes so that they can feel good about attending school. Please sign up through Konstella or email sellwoodpta@gmail.com if you are able to help. Thank you!

SMS PTA Board opportunities - 2024-2025

We are looking for new PTA Board members for the 2024-2025 school year. We will have several member-at-large vacancies on the board and want to ensure all feeder schools are represented. Please consider joining us to and helping with important committees like Sellwood Dines Out, Staff Appreciation, PEAK programs and other important events throughout the year. Reach out to sellwoodpta@gmail.com with any questions!

Important links:

SELLWOOD FOUNDATION NEWS

Sellwood Middle School Community,

You may have read in the news that the PPS Board is discussing making changes to school based Foundations, effectively ending parents' ability to fundraise for specific schools.

The SMS Foundation would like to keep you all updated on these developments. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions and concerns sellwoodmiddlefoundation@gmail.com.

We're on the lookout for some awesome people to join our Sellwood Middle School Foundation Board 2024-2025, and help us fundraise for some important programs at our school. We want to make sure we have the resources to pay for things like resource teachers, French classes, and other electives that will give our students a well-rounded education.

As an SMS Foundation Board member, you'll be in charge of organizing fundraising campaigns, reaching out to potential donors, and building relationships with our community. We're looking for people who care about education and are excited about making a difference in the lives of our students. While experience in fundraising or nonprofit work is a plus, it's not required. We want a diverse group of people from all backgrounds to join us!

If you're interested in getting involved and helping us out, shoot a message Ashley Schmidt ashleyrschmidt@yahoo.com, cell number 503-267-0146 or find Sellwood Middle Foundation on Facebook or Instagram! We'd love to hear from you and talk more about how we can work together to support our school and its students.

With great appreciation,

Sellwood Middle School Foundation

OAKS PARK FIELD TRIPS – PERMISSION SLIPS DUE MAY 3rd

All students should have received the Oaks Park permission form to sign and return. Here are the details of the field trip.  

  • When
  • 8th graders - Monday, June 10th, 2024, 9:30am – 2:30pm 
  • 6th/7th graders – Tuesday, June 11th, 2024, 9:30am – 2:30pm 
  • 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$18.00 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. Let us know by emailing Ms. Collins dcollins@pps.net or Claire Howard choward1@pps.net
  • Lunch:  Students may: 1. Bring a sack lunch, 2. Request a Sellwood sack lunch, or 3. purchase lunch at OAKS Park.  Please note that there can be very long lines and waits for purchasing food at the 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, May 3rd.  
  • 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, violation of the PPS drug/alcohol policy, bullying and harassment, physical attack/harm, property damage (intentional), etc. 

STUDENT LEADERSHIP CLASS NEWS

May Day Flower Drive

Bring hardy potted flowers or plants to donate at school May 1-3. Please bring plants to the courtyard before or after school. Leadership students will plant them outside to beautify our grounds! We are hoping for pansies, daisies, and other easy-care plants. Think of us when you are digging and dividing in your yard, or pick up an extra few plants at the garden center.

Let's honor Earth Month by reducing our plastic impact!

Did you know that only 9% of plastic is currently recycled? Do you have a “bag of bags” under a sink somewhere? Leadership students are spearheading a plastic film recycling drive through Ridwell. We can accept clean, dry plastic bags and film May 6 through May 20. Students and caregivers can drop off plastics inside, near the main office. ***To distinguish plastic *film* from some other kind, try to push your finger through the plastic. If it gives easily and you can make a hole in it, bring it to school!***

This is a one-time collection, but Ridwell is also offering one year of FREE monthly plastic film pickups for Sellwood Middle School for the entire 2024-2025 school year if we get 10 new members to join (purchase a Ridwell subscription for your home) using this link by May 31, 2024:      get.ridwell.com/Sellwood

Imagine the impact of a whole school recycling plastic film, bags, and packing materials. Our textbooks and Chromebooks alone result in a LOT of plastic packaging waste which could be avoided!

LOST OR INTENTIONALLY DAMAGED CHROMEBOOKS

As we are nearing the end of the 2023-24 school year, questions are surfacing about students who have lost or intentionally damaged their Chromebook or their charger/adapter.  In October, the School Board updated the board policy on instructional materials, 6.40.010-P, to include charging students for lost or damaged equipment. Parents/guardians will pay the school and the school will purchase replacement Chromebook using the PPS IT Purchasing process. Chromebook replacements are $515 and lost chargers are $11.50.

PREVENTION ROCKS, MCDANIELS HIGH SCHOOL, APRIL 20TH

Conference on Reducing Youth Substance Abuse

We wanted to share information about an upcoming event called Prevention Rocks.  This conference focused on reducing youth substance abuse is hosted by Big Village and the Multnomah County Health Department. Please check out the flyer.

CLEVELAND HS GIRLS’S SOCCER

Cleveland H.S. Girls’ Soccer program is offering an introduction session for any 7th and 8th graders that may be interested in playing soccer in high school.

For the past 4 years girls’ soccer has fielded 4 teams and everyone (regardless of playing level) has been placed on a team.

Here is the link to more information:https://www.clevelandwarriorathletics.com/page/show/1921641-girls-soccer

If you have questions please feel free to reach out to head coach Doug Diller

7TH GRADE PURE SEED FIELD TRIP

All 7th grade students will attend a field trip to Pure Seed farm and headquarters to learn about careers in agriculture on May 7th from 9:30 to 2pm. Permission slips have been distributed and are due May 3rd.  We are looking for chaperones! If you are interested, please email mmortensen@pps.net

8TH GRADE FIELD TRIP TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

As part of college and career learning, all PPS 8th-graders will be visiting a college or university this spring.  Sellwood 8th graders will attend a field trip to the University of Oregon on May 7th.  Buses will be departing first thing in the morning, and returning at approximately 5PM.  Students will visit the Student Welcome Center, tour the campus, visit the Athletics Facilities and the Museum.  Field trip permission slips have been distributed and are due, Friday, May 3rd.  We are looking for chaperones! If you are interested, please email mmortensen@pps.net

BENSON TECH SHOW – APRIL 18-19

The Benson Tech Show is next week April 18 and 19th from 6:00 - 9:00 pm at the Marshall campus. 

This is an excellent opportunity for them to meet teachers, see student projects, etc. The application deadline comes up quickly (December 2024) so this is a great opportunity for families to check out Benson. We are also having a 7th grade family informational session at 7:00 pm. 

Postcards are being mailed out today to all PPS 7th grade families but we are trying to get the word out.

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

  • May 7: All 8th-grade Field Trip to University of Oregon in Eugene
  • May 7: All 7th-grade Field Trip to Pure Seed Farms
  • May 9 & 10: Sellwood School Play “Roshambo”
  • May 19: PTA Garden Tour
  • May 22: Spring Band Concert
  • 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 10:30 AM
  • June 14: Last Day of School – Half Day
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