Dear Sellwood Community,

 

Our two week winter break is here! The first four months of the school year have flown by, and it has been my joy to serve as the Sellwood Middle School principal.

 

I am so grateful for the positivity and involvement of Sellwood students, staff, and families.

 

I appreciate you all!

 

Have a wonderful break, and I hope you enjoy some rest and relaxation.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jeandre Carbone

Sellwood MS Principal

Bingo - Save the Date, February 7

 

Please mark your calendars for our Drag Queen Bingo event - Friday, February 7 at Union Manor, from 7-9pm. Money raised will go towards the Beautification Plan for SMS! More information on ticket sales coming soon. Don’t miss this popular event!

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities

 

CLOTHING CLOSET

Monday, January 27, is Sellwood’s day to send 5-6 volunteers to help at the PPS Clothing Closet from 9:30-1:30 pm. Each PPS school is responsible for sending volunteers twice during the school year to assist students in receiving clothing and shoes. The Closet is located at the Marshall campus, 3905 SE 91st. Please sign up on Konstella!

 

They are also looking for donations of teen-adult sized gently worn/new sweatshirts, hoodies, and warm coats, as they are very low in these items, as well as boys’ pants, joggers, and jeans size 4-14.

 

Thank you for your support!

 

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

PEAK registration is open! Registration is through 6 Crickets: https://www.6crickets.com/

 

The PEAK Program is a series of in-person after school classes open to all Sellwood students. The PEAK program is totally independent of Sellwood Middle School and is under the jurisdiction of PTA. Most classes run on a 8-10 week session schedule in the fall and winter and require a fee. Scholarships are available as the PEAK goal is to include every SMS student.

Scholarship request form is here: https://tinyurl.com/PEAKScholarship

Please email sellwoodpeakprogram@gmail.com with any questions. We are always looking for parent volunteers to help us run this program. Please email if you are interested!

 

Classes this Winter:

 

• Python Coding with Coding with Kids $259 Tuesdays from 4:15-5:15

• • Winter Session: 1/7/25 - 3/18/25 (10 lessons, no school on 1/28/25)

  • Join us to explore Python, a widely used programming language. Beginners get a user-friendly introduction, covering essentials like variables and functions. Returning students delve into advanced topics like Arrays, while all students create various fun games, including a custom space invaders game. Flyer.

 

• Monologue and Scene Study with Rogue Pack Theatre $250 Wednesdays 4:15-5:45

• • Winter Session: 1/22/25-3/12/25

  • Aspiring actors! Come learn the craft of acting through games, exploring your imagination and learning how to apply it to script and character analysis, scene study and or monologue development according to each person’s interests. We’ll build confidence in our ability to embody characters and bring stories to life in a supportive, playful and collaborative class.

• Chess Club approx $125 Mondays 4-5 pm - all year course!!

• • Runs from October to March 31, 2025, a few spots left!

  • Taught by Alaric True

  • We play chess after school on Mondays! We improve our chess skills by playing as much as possible, solving puzzles, and learning basic strategies. Our after-school program focuses on basics but we hope to develop a more competitive program. We meet on Mondays that school is in session. Note that this is a year-long club.

• Speech and Debate Tuesdays 4:15-5:15 $50

• • Winter Term: 1/7/25-3/18/25 (no class 1/28)

  • The Cleveland High Speech and Debate team is one the largest and most successful programs at the school. Find out why these students love it so much, and build your own debate skills. You will practice speaking and debating skills in preparation for local middle school competitions The Sellwood team will be coached by team captains from Cleveland. Appropriate for both new and returning students.

• Marimba $104.50 Thursdays 4:15-5:15

• • Winter Term: 1/9-3/20/25

  • Taught by Ben Kinkley

  • Curious about African music? Want to share your own ideas with a new music ensemble? Sellwood Marimba is the place for you. Come to learn the basics or build your skills - and definitely come to jam! We'll meet ten sessions this winter, on Thursdays beginning January 9. No experience is necessary. Instruments are provided.

• Red Cross Babysitter Training - $140 All Day Course 1/28 or 3/3

• • One-day training offered on no school days or Saturdays

  • Designed for young people to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and responsibly give care to infants and children in a residential setting. Participants receive a certificate of completion for Babysitter’s Training.

  • We are seeking a parent chaperone for the 3/3 course in exchange for free tuition. Email sellwoodpeakprogram@gmail.com.

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.

December 23-January 3: Winter Break

January 16: PTA Meeting

January 16: STEAM Show, 5:30-8:00 PM

Link to PPS Calendar for 2024 - 2025