Principal's Newsletter 1.10.2025
Dear Sellwood Community,
Welcome back from Winter Break! Whether you found sunshine somewhere in the world or stayed in Portland with lots of rain (as I did) I hope your family enjoyed some time off and you feel rejuvenated for the new year.
Moving toward second semester there are many events and dates to be aware of. I have updated the "important dates to remember" section at the very bottom of this newsletter. Please refer to that section when you have a moment to update your calendars.
You should also read further for information about our Art & STEM Show next Thursday, Outdoor School dates for 6th-graders, CHS forecasting information for 8th graders, Standards-Based Grading coming to all PPS middle schools, PTA events (meeting next Thursday @7PM), PEAK after school program information, and more.
We also have a last minute request for a few parent volunteers to help chaperone an AVID field trip to the Portland Art Museum on January 22nd. Please see the attached flyer and let us know if you are interested.
Enjoy the weekend,
Sincerely,
Jeandre Carbone
Sellwood MS Principal
SELLWOODARTANDSTEMNIGHT!THURSDAY,JANUARY16
Sellwood Art and Stem classes will have projects on display in the cafeteria next Thursday, January 16th from 5:30-8:00. Please feel free to stop by and view the artwork and stem projects our students have been working on this semester!
PTANEWS
January PTA Meeting - Thursday 1/16
Please join us next Thursday, January 16, at 7:00 pm for our next PTA meeting. The meeting will be held in room 137 at SMS. We have a guest speaker coming to share updates and answer questions about the Cleveland High School Modernization project! Don’t miss this important conversation!
Sellwood Dines Out - Reverend’s BBQ - Thursday 1/16
Our friends at Reverend’s have generously offered to donate 10% of their proceeds ALL DAY on January 16 to SMS! They are open from 12:00-9:00 pm, and the offer includes Dine In, Dine Out, Orders placed on their website, Merch & Gift Cards. Orders placed through third party delivery groups such as GrubHub, Doordash & Uber Eats will not be included. Thank you for your support!
BINGO
We’re excited to announce that the Sellwood PTA will be hosting a Bingo event on Friday, February 7th from 7-9 PM at Union Manor! Our goal is to raise $10,000, and thanks to a generous donor, every dollar you contribute will be MATCHED!
We need YOUR support to make this event a success! All proceeds will go toward beautifying the Sellwood grounds and purchasing much-needed recess equipment, such as , , , , and more!
Here’s how you can help:
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Attend the event and enjoy a fun night! Buy Here
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Buy something at Bingo — every drink helps!
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Donate a prize to support our cause. Email Committee
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Volunteer your time to ensure everything runs smoothly. Sign Up Here
Together, we can make a big impact on our school community. We hope to see you there!
SEE’S CANDY - VALENTINE’S DAY FUNDRAISER
What a sweet way to support SMS! Last day to order is January 31st for delivery before Valentine’s Day. Buy HERE
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. 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!
PEAKAFTERSCHOOLPROGRAMS
PEAK registration open for a little longer! Registration is through 6 Crickets: https://www.6crickets.com/
Scholarship request form is here: https://tinyurl.com/PEAKScholarship
Email sellwoodpeakprogram@gmail.com with any PEAK questions.
Classes this Winter:
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Updated dates! Python Coding with Coding with Kids $219 Tuesdays from 4:15-5:15
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Winter Session: 1/21/25 - 3/18/25 (8 lessons, no school on 1/28/25)
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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.
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Monologue and Scene Study with Rogue Pack Theatre $250 Wednesdays 4:15-5:45
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Winter Session: 1/22/25-3/12/25
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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.
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A few spots left! Speech and Debate Tuesdays 4:15-5:15 $50
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Winter Term: 1/7/25-3/18/25 (no class 1/28)
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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.
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Marimba $104.50 Thursdays 4:15-5:15
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Winter Term: 1/9-3/20/25
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Taught by Ben Kinkley
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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.
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Only 2 spots left! Red Cross Babysitter Training - $140 All Day Course 1/28
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One-day training offered on no school day
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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.
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OUTDOORSCHOOLFOR6TH-GRADERSMARCH16thto21st
Families of 6th-graders - Outdoor School for all 6th-graders will take place March 16th to March 21st. You will be receiving additional information about Outdoor School in the coming month. Please refer to this flyer to get an overview about what to expect.
FOR8THGRADERS-CLEVELANDFORECASTING
Hello 8th-grade families!
High school is just around the corner and it is time to forecast for Cleveland HS classes next year. Ms. Katie pushed into science classes on Thursday and Friday this week to go over forecasting. Below are the links to the presentation, course planner (student got a yellow hard copy of this in class), the video walk through of how to use the course planner, the interactive course guide with class descriptions, the video through for how to submit course requests into StudentVue, and the step by step PDF guide for how to submit course requests into StudentVue. These links can also be found in science Canvas.
Please submit course requests through StudentVue by January 22nd. If you have questions tune in to a virtual info session with CHS Counselors Thursday, Jan.16 at 5-6pm LINK
- CHS forecasting presentation slides
- Course planner (students got a yellow hard copy of this in class)
- Video: How to use the course planner
- Interactive course guide for class descriptions
- Video: how to submit course requests in StudentVue
- PDF: Step by step walkthrough on how to submit course requests into StudentVue
CHS counselors will be at Sellwood to go through course requests with students 1:1 on Jan 22nd in social studies classes.
STANDARDSBASEDGRADING@ALLPPSMIDDLESCHOOLS
Dear PPS Middle Grades families,
PPS is moving to a new Standards-Based Grading System for all 28 middle schools. The purpose is to provide clearer and more meaningful feedback to students. Some of our middle schools are already using this approach, and research supports its benefits. Our K-5 schools have also made progress in this direction with their report cards.
We invite you to visit our middle grades Standards-Based Grading website at pps.net/sbg. There, you can find updates, resources, timelines, materials, and FAQs.
There will be three family and community engagement events in person and virtually at the Prophet Education Center (501 N. Dixon St.) in the PPS Boardroom. We invite all who have current middle grades students or students entering into the middle grades to these presentations where we will provide updates as well as listen to feedback and answer questions.
Family and Community engagement (Virtual and in person)
February 13, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
March 13, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
May 8, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
We believe grades are an important way to communicate with students and families. This new system will make it clearer what students need to do to meet academic expectations.
If you have any questions, please contact Richard Smith at rsmith5@pps.net. Check the website often for updates. We look forward to working with you during this exciting transition.
PPS:RESPONDINGTOIMMIGRATIONANDCUSTOMSENFORCEMENT(ICE)
Information and Family Supports
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This FAQ answers many questions about the steps Portland Public Schools will be taking to safeguard staff and students going forward.
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The Immigrant Legal Resource Center Little Red Card This card is meant to help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations. These can be printed out and carried on your person.
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Know Your Rights for Families/Students (Oregon ACLU)
SPEDRECRUITMENTDAY
The Recruitment Day will take place on on Saturday, February 1st, 2025 at PPS Prophet Center (501 N Dixon Street, Portland, OR 97227) from 9am - 3pm. This event will be a great chance to directly speak with the SPED Department, School Administrators, and Human Resources about career opportunities. Scheduled and walk-in interviews will be available.
See the FLYER for more information.
COGNIZARTYOUNGARTISTSDEBUT
Until 1/21/2025, Cognizart is accepting applications from visual & performing artists ages 10 to 18 to participate in the 31st Young Artists Debut! The Young Artists Debut! offers fun and educational benefits, including the opportunity to showcase and refine creative talents, professional photos and videos of creative works, guidance from mentors, and scholarships or honoraria. Are there any artists you think would benefit from this program?
The full details on the program are on our website at: https://www.metroartsinc.org/young-artists-debut
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
January 16: PTA Meeting - 7-8 PM
January 16: STEAM Show, 5:30-8:00 PM
January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
January 24: Last Day of Semester 1
January 27: Grading Day - No School for Students
January 28: Planning Day - No School for Students
January 29: First Day of Semester 2
February 4: 15 Minute Late Start - Staff Meeting Day
February 7: Annual PTA Bingo Night Fundraiser - 7-9 PM
February 17: Presidents Day - No School or Make-up Snow Day
February 26: Early Release 1:45 PM
March 11: 15 Minute Late Start - Staff Meeting Day
March 16-21: Outdoor School for All 6th-Graders
March 19: Early Release 1:45 PM
March 24-28: Spring Break
April 3: End of Quarter 3
April 4: Grading Day - No School for Students
April 7: Planning Day - No School for Students
April 8: First Day of Quarter 4
April 8: 15 Minute Late Start - Staff Meeting Day
April 17: PTA Meeting 7-8 PM
April 23: Early Release 1:45 PM
April 24: All 8th Grade Field Trip to Bonneville Dam
May 6: All 7th Grade Field Trip to the Holocausts Museum/History Museum
May 21: Early Release 1:45 PM
May 26: Memorial Day: No School
May 28: Spring Band & Choir Concert @ Cleveland HS 7-9 PM
June 3: 15 Minute Late Start - Staff Meeting Day
June 5: Sellwood Showcase Night - 5:30 to 7:30 PM
June 9: 8th Grade Oaks Park Field Trip
June 10: 6th/7th Grade Oaks Park Field Trip
June 10: 8th Grade Promotion - 10:30-11:30 AM
June 10: Last Day of School - Half-day - School Ends 12:30 PM