PPS Community Newsletter - January 9, 2025

Portland families of eighth-graders: The time has come to decide which high school you'd prefer to attend in September 2025! Our three excellent high school options – Casco Bay High School, Deering High School and Portland High School – have all held open houses. Now, starting Friday, January 10, current PPS families will receive a personalized link to the preference form via text and email.

The fall session of Maine Inside Out’s youth theater projects culminated in late 2024 with original performances at King Middle School followed by community dialogues between the performers and the audiences! The youth artists said their favorite parts of these projects were friendships, the mentors and facilitators, sharing their stories, and sharing their voices.

All PPS eighth-grade students will be asked to rank which high schools they would prefer to attend by January 24. To help students make an informed decision, Make It Happen sponsored a high school information session on Dec. 4 that brought together MIH high school student representatives and eighth-grade Make It Happen students to the Portland Public Library.  DHS, PHS and Casco students shared their passion and knowledge about their respective high schools.

Lucy Sommo, an ESOL teacher at Deering High School, recently organized a fantastic cultural event that brought the school together. Students from across the globe now attending Deering shared their culinary traditions, preparing a delicious array of dishes representing their diverse backgrounds.  From tamales to fufu, the event was a feast for the senses and a true celebration of the rich cultural tapestry at Deering.

Congratulations to the incredibly talented Deering Players for their sensational production of “The Addams Family Musical.” All three recent performances captivated audiences and received thunderous applause. A production of this caliber doesn't just happen overnight. It takes months of dedication, collaboration, and sheer hard work. Read on to learn all the  incredible individuals who brought this macabre masterpiece to life.

C-SPAN is hosting its 21st annual StudentCam national video documentary competition. This opportunity engages middle and high school students nationwide to explore and think critically about topics important to them and which will affect their futures by creating short documentaries. 

The University of Southern Maine Educational Leadership Program and the Southern Maine Partnership offer the following learning opportunities for educators: January 14, March 25, and May 14.

The Portland Public Schools family extends deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mary "Kay" Richards Lussier, 80, of Portland, who passed away Dec. 20, 2024, after a courageous four-year battle with cancer.  She had a long career as a registered nurse and worked as a substitute nurse at the Portland Public Schools for many years before her retirement. She was fondly known as “Nurse Mary” to many staff and students in various schools throughout PPS.