PPS Community Newsletter - August 15, 2024
The 2024-2025 school year officially gets underway for students in September, but schools are also holding open houses and other activities in August to welcome back students and families.
DISTRICT NEWS
At its Aug. 6 meeting, the Board of Public Education approved the appointment of Darralynn Jones as Lyman Moore Middle School Principal and also of three assistant principals: Alberto Morales at Casco Bay High School, Kristin Rogers at Talbot Community School; and Rebecca Schouvieller at Deering High School. The Board also approved the appointment of Spencer Allen as Portland High School’s co-curricular director and was introduced to David Briley as a new teacher leader at Reiche Elementary School, a teacher-led school.
Three Portland Board of Public Education seats are up for election on Nov. 5: an at-large seat and the District 1 and District 2 seats. Only the at-large seat is contested on the ballot.
That seat is currently held by Board member Nyalat Billiew, who is not seeing re-election. Two candidates are vying for that at-large seat: Maya Lena and John Rousseau, both newcomers to Portland politics. Lena is a substitute teacher and artist in Portland and a PPS parent.
Instead of SchoolMessenger, the district will now be using the ReachMyTeach platform to send messages to families and staff.
Instead of postcards in the mail, PPS families will receive their child’s bus route information electronically through ReachMyTeach, the easy-to-use messaging platform that the district will be using for all communications this year. The bus route information will be sent on or before Aug. 21.
In June, after a year-long effort engaged in by the whole PPS community, the district’s new five-year strategic plan won unanimous approval from the Board of Public Education.
The Maine Department of Education this summer awarded nearly $2.8 million in Summer Learning and Enrichment Grant funding to 61 Maine schools.
Co-chaired by student representatives from the Maine State Board of Education – This year's co-chairs were Phat Thai, a senior this year at Deering High School, and Ryan Hafener, a recent Hampden Academy graduate – the Student Cabinet provides a forum for Maine students’ voices to be heard.
During the last school year, anonymous donors gave the Foundation for Portland Public Schools (FPPS) a $50,000 matching donation to launch the Ed Feeney Athletics Fund. As the 2024–2025 school year begins, this fund is available to assist students who need athletic gear to be able to play sports.
Rowe Elementary School capped off the 2023-2024 school year with a field day enjoyed by the whole school community, physical education teacher Rene Custeau reported. Here’s his account of the event:
In June, staff at the Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) were proud to be able to provide week-long “career camp” programming for rising ninth-graders from PPS’ three middle schools. The students had three programs to choose from; Auto Collision, Farm to Fork, and New Media.
PPS IN THE PRESS
Our district was in the spotlight this month in the Maine Department of Education’s news feature “Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories” regarding the Portland Public Schools being recognized in June as a Common Sense District for its work teaching students to be good digital citizens.
Portland Adult Education is one of the recipients sharing in $2 million in clean energy workforce training program grants from the state.
On July 15, the Portland Press Herald had a feature on Portland High School’s new co-curricular director. Check out: Portland High hires Spencer Allen as athletic director
The 34th Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic all-star football game took place at Lewiston High School on Aug. 20 and this July 19 Portland Press Herald article featured some PPS players: Lobster Bowl: Portland teammates eager to make most of opportunities
Portland High School girls distinguished themselves in the Class A South quarterfinals in June, making it to the semifinals for the first time in years. Read this June 6 Portland Press Herald story on their win: Softball: Portland defeats South Portland for first Class A South semifinal trip since 2017
RECOGNITIONS
Two students at Deering High School were selected this summer as Bank of America 2024 Maine Student leaders, winning paid summer internships connecting them to leadership training and work experience. Isabella Figdor and Jael Mowa, both rising seniors at Deering this fall, not only gained practical work and leadership experience while working with local nonprofits, but also have received financial education coaching from Bank of America’s Better Money Habits curriculum, all while earning competitive wages.
EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, the entire PPS employee community of approximately 1,400 staff members will gather in one space – Merrill Auditorium – to kick off the new school year together as one district. See you there, PPS staff!
All families and staff are invited to join us for our Parent University offerings for the fall semester! These interactive workshops cover a wide range of subjects, from fostering healthy technology habits at home to learning how to advocate for state and district-wide education initiatives!
Upcoming Events
New Staff Orientation
August 20, 21 & 22
August 28, 2024
8AM