Principal's Newsletter 10.25.2024
PRINCIPAL'SMESSAGE
Dear Sellwood Community,
Next week is the last week of the 1st quarter. PPS has gone Paperless this year, and parents will be checking report cards on ParentVue. If you need support accessing ParentVue, need an access code, or a new password, please contact Willa Grund at wgrund@pps.net.
For more information on Paperless Report Cards, please visit the following webpage, which includes instructions for accessing report cards on ParentVue as well as opting-out of Paperless Report Cards. https://support.pps.net/support/solutions/articles/8000107807-paperless-report-card
Like many middle school, Sellwood Middle School requires students to stow their backpacks in their lockers during the school day. There are two main reasons. The first reason has to do with space. Our class sizes are large, but our classrooms are small. We cannot accommodate both students and backpacks in classrooms without tripping hazards and blocked aisles. The second reason has to do with safety. Standard sized backpacks can conceal large items that binders cannot easily conceal. While it is a sad reality that schools need to grapple with safety concerns such as these, and nothing is foolproof, I can tell you when I look around the lunchroom and the field at recess, or walk in the hallways seeing several hundred students walking or playing with no backpacks, my belief is we are more secure than if every student was carrying around a backpack.
However, we still have about a dozen students carrying their backpacks or regularly forgetting to put their backpacks in their lockers. That means 94% of Sellwood students are following the backpack rule every day, which is not bad but we can do better. For those students who are not stowing their backpacks in their locker, or who need daily reminders, we will be contacting families to set up meetings and problem solve. (There are exceptions to every rule, as we do have a few students with specific reasons for needing a small backpack, who after admin/parent meetings have been given special permission to carry a smaller size backpack comparable to a binder. Those students must display a "small backpack" pass).
Next week is Spirit Week at Sellwood, and each day will feature a dress up theme. See below for the Spirit Day blurb. Wednesday morning Sellwood hosts my favorite annual assembly, The Cleveland High School Performing Arts Assembly, when Cleveland Band, Drama, and Choir programs perform highlights from their current repertoires, inspiring future high school students to participate in the performing arts.
Thursday, many students will come to school in Halloween costumes. Here are the costume guidelines once again.
No masks or costumes that cover the face, including full face paint.
No props/toys/accessories - especially no fake weapons.
No large, bulky, or inflatable costumes.
No costumes that perpetuate a stereotype of someone's culture, gender, heritage, or religion.
No drug or alcohol references.
No wheels.
Please, leave candy at home.
A reminder that there is no school for students, Friday, November 1st, and Monday, November 4th.
Have a great weekend,
Sincerely,
Jeandre Carbone
Sellwood MS Principal
NEXTWEEKISSPIRITWEEK
PTANEWS
Join the PTA
Please join the PTA and contribute your voice to the conversation on making this a great school year for our kids and SMS community. Here is the link to join!
www.schoolpay.com/link/sellwoodpta
Join Konstella
The PTA uses the Konstella app to keep the parent community up to date with scheduled events, the school calendar, volunteer sign ups and PTA announcements. Here is the link to join!
https://www.konstella.com/cd/AXC2Z9
PTA Annual Campaign - Starts Next Week
The SMS PTA annual campaign starts Monday, October 28! This is your time to donate to support the PTA efforts this school year. We aim to raise $20,000 to support the PTA and PTA programs. Funds will support teacher and elective supplies, library books, curriculum enrichment, field trips, the PEAK after-school program and scholarships, OBOB, and more! Stay tuned next week for more information.
Fruit Sale
Calling all Sellwood PTA supporters and apple and pear fans! We are hosting our annual fruit fundraiser and selling freshly picked and amazing tasting boxes of apples and pears from Kiyokawa Family Orchards. This local orchard from Parkdale, Oregon is known for its excellent quality fruit and a reputation for supporting local nonprofits, like the PTA. Last year the PTA raised more than $4,500 and we ask for your support. The last day to get your order in is Friday November 1st. THANK YOU for helping to make our fundraiser a SWEET SUCCESS! Pick up date is November 7th from 2:30-5:30 at Sellwood Middle parking lot. Order now at: https://pps.schoolpay.com/parent/mip/MfkR
Sellwood Dines Out
SMS Trivia Nights at The Record Pub
Thanks to all who have participated in October Trivia Nights at The Record Pub so far! There is one last chance remaining in October - join us next Wednesday at 7pm to help raise funds for the PTA!
October Volunteer Opportunities
All current volunteer opportunities will be posted on Konstella. Please sign up there or email us at sellwoodpta@gmail.com. We are looking for committee chairs for some of our winter/spring events - if you have experience with event planning, fundraising, and/or leading teams please take a look and sign up! Feel free to reach out with any questions.
SOCK-TOBER
PEAKAFTERSCHOOLPROGRAM
PEAK is a parent-run program that organizes afterschool programs at Sellwood Middle school. We are in search of new volunteers to help us keep this program going, and (hopefully) expand it!
See here for additional details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1knsFI__iI4sZz6aoX0pY2NWQ3NxiOQtHa4i3wE3offM/edit?tab=t.0
If you are interested in volunteering, please email sellwoodpeakprogram@gmail.com
CLEVELANDPILYOUTHGIRLSBASKETBALL
CLEVELANDPILYOUTHBOYSBASKETBALL
More information - https://www.cleveland-warriors.com/camps
MAINOFFICE
The best way to reach us is by email.
Willa Grund is our new school secretary. wgrund@pps.net
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 Willa Grund (“Records/Registration”).
press 3 for Claire (Principal’s Secretary).
press 2 for any “Attendance” matter. It’s a designated line just for attendance.
press 5 for Records, Registration.
press 0 for the front counter – answered by students; not a confidential line.
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.
Picking up your student during the day:
While we understand it is sometimes necessary to pick up your child from school, please try to limit your student’s daytime appointments. If necessary, please ring the bell at the main door and expect to wait while your child is located.
Guides to Help you:
To correct your student’s attendance: Log into ParentVue.
For changes to your student's registration profile in Synergy: ParentVue/StudentVue
Quick Links found on Sellwood’s website (pps.net/sellwood)
Please email wgrund@pps.net for:
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 principal.IMPORTANTDATESTOREMEMBER
October 31: End of 1st Quarter
November 1 & 4: Teacher Planning - No School for Students
November 5: School Starts at 9:30
November 11: Veterans Day – No School
November 20: Early Release at 1:45
November 25 & 26: Parent Teacher Conferences
November 27-29: Fall Break
December 3: School Starts at 9:30
December 12: Winter Band & Choir Concert @ Cleveland Auditorium
December 18: Early Release at 1:45
December 23-January 3: Winter Break
January 16: PTA Meeting
January 16: STEAM Show