June 11, 2026

Inside our newsletter this month:

School Board Update

Superintendent, Board Chair Thank Voters for FY27 Budget Approval

District News

Student & School Highlights

Recognitions

PPS in the Press

Events & Opportunities

In Memoriam

Superintendent, Board Chair Thank Voters for Overwhelming Approval of FY27 Budget

Following the return of election results on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Superintendent Ryan Scallon and Portland Board of Public Education Chair Sarah Lentz issued a joint statement expressing deep gratitude to city voters and partners for their resounding approval of the Portland Public Schools’ $179.3 million budget for fiscal year 2027. The budget was approved by a margin of more than 3 to 1.

“We are profoundly grateful to Portland voters for approving our school budget for the 2026-2027 school year,” Scallon and Lentz said. “By supporting this budget at the polls, our community has once again demonstrated how deeply it values a quality public education for our city’s young people.”

This $179.3 million comprehensive budget is designed to continue the meaningful progress our district has seen over the past two years of implementing our five-year Strategic Plan—particularly in improving reading and math outcomes for economically disadvantaged students, multilingual students learning English and students with IEPs.

Developing this year's budget brought significant hurdles, driven largely by a $4.1 million reduction in state funding due to lower enrollment and rising city property values. Addressing that deficit required a carefully balanced approach. The final budget represents a commitment to fiscal stewardship and responsibility, while simultaneously making strategic investments to maintain our momentum for student success."

Photo of children reading a picture book

Apply for SPED Parent Committee

As part of the district’s Strategic Plan work on family engagement with special education, the Portland Public Schools is creating a district-wide committee focused on improving the services and outcomes for students with IEPs. To form this committee, we are looking to bring together a diverse group of 15-20 parents of students across a variety of schools, grade spans, and programs. If you are interested, please submit your application by June 21 at: tinyurl.com/ppsSpecialEd26.

Free Summer Programs for Students

This summer, the Portland Public Schools is offering three, free programs for qualifying students. The programs are:

● Step-Into-Kindergarten (Reiche School)

● Step-Into-Kindergarten (Talbot School)

● Wayfinders (Talbot School)

Read on for more details and to see flyers with registration details.

Reminder: Last Day of School June 18

The Portland Public Schools had to close schools due to bad weather three days this school year—on Dec. 2, Jan. 7 and Jan. 26. Those three days were traditional “snow days,” when students didn’t go to school in person or learn remotely. These days need to be made up at the end of the school year, which means that the last day of school for students will be on Thursday, June 18, a half day. Friday, June 19, is Juneteenth, a district holiday, so teachers' last day will be on Monday, June 22.

Summer Meals Program Starts July 6!

The Portland Public Schools is operating summer meal sites at 12 locations across the city of Portland this summer. All children and teens 18 years and younger can receive a nutritious meal free of charge to be enjoyed on site. Sites will begin serving on Monday, July 6. Meals will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children and teens can attend any of the meal site locations convenient to them. View the meal sites and learn dates and times of operation.

View Summer Activities & Resources

Summer break offers a great opportunity for students to learn, explore, and stay active. To help families make the most of the season, we’ve compiled a list of summer programs, activities, and resources on our Summer Resources & Activities page on our website. The page also includes information on summer reading programs. Many students experience a “summer slide”—a loss of academic skills and knowledge that can happen during the summer break. Summer reading programs help prevent this learning loss.

SUN Bucks EBT Benefits Available

SUN Bucks provides families with a $120 EBT benefit for each eligible school-aged child to buy groceries when school is out of session. SUN Bucks supplements families’ grocery budgets over the summer. This program occurs in addition to free meals that children and teens may access at summer meal sites in their communities. Most eligible children will receive SUN Bucks benefits automatically, but some families will need to apply. This summer, SUN Bucks were expected to reach families’ EBT cards by the end of the first week of June. Learn the details.

PATHS Offering Summer Playgroup

The Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) is offering a free playgroup this summer for children ages 2 to 5. It will include adult multilingual volunteers who are interested in working in education. The idea for the playgroup, called The Giggle Garden, is that everyone will be practicing English language skills together through books, songs, and activities. It will include elements of The Regulated Classroom including settlers, activators, connectors, and affirmations. All participants will receive one book per family. Interested parties can sign up for one week, or all 4 weeks.

Enrollment Open for 26-27

Families that are enrolling a new student or have a student moving between schools: Enrollment at the Portland Public Schools is open for the 2026-2027 school year. Registrations for the 2026-2027 school year opened on February 23, 2026 for kindergarten and on April 1, 2026 for grades 1-12. Ready to get started? Go to the Enrollment and Registration page on our website, a one-stop destination for joining our vibrant learning community.

Important Back-to-School Dates

The Board of Public Education at its March 31 business meeting approved the district calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. The calendar underwent revisions based on feedback from staff, families and the community before final approval. Because Labor Day is late in 2026—it’s not until Monday, Sept. 7—students and staff will begin school before that date. This is consistent with the timing of other districts in our area and ensures that school will finish prior to the Juneteenth holiday on June 19. Teachers and ed techs will return on Aug. 24 and the first day for students in grades 1-12 will be Aug. 31. Pre-K and kindergarten students will start on Sept. 1.

June Tech Tip: Artificial Intelligence and Social-Emotional Well-Being

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic with important elements to consider and make sense of. Chatbots, computer programs or apps using AI to respond to users in real time, are designed to simulate human conversations and are built into many personal technology applications that children may use and which parents/guardians should be aware of.

As students navigate the complex challenges of adolescence, the use of AI for social and emotional support presents a unique mix of benefits and risks. For many struggling youth, AI offers what feels like a safe, anonymous sounding board to explore deep-seated insecurities they might not feel comfortable sharing with real people. Because AI provides non-judgmental, often validating responses, it can temporarily boost a teenager's mood and help them feel less isolated.

However, major advocacy groups—including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Common Sense Media, and The Jed Foundation (JED)—strongly advise against teenagers and youth using AI chatbots for mental health support, warning that the risks far outweigh the benefits. The lack of clinical oversight, insufficient safety guardrails, and absence of actual mental health expertise pose serious dangers. Furthermore, when a user forms a perception that a chatbot genuinely "cares" for them, it can lead to severe consequences. Studies have linked over-reliance on these tools to worsened mental health crises, increased anxiety when interacting in the real world, and a decline in crucial social skills.

PPS Class of 2026 Graduates

High school graduation exercises for the Class of 2026 at the Portland Public Schools’ three academic high schools took place on June 3 and 4 at Merrill Auditorium. In speaking to graduates, Superintendent Ryan Scallon invoked the memory of Gerald Talbot, Maine civil rights icon, community leader and the state’s first Black legislator. Talbot, for whom Talbot Community School is named, passed away in May. “He was a leader in every sense of the word: in his family, in his neighborhood, in the fight for civil rights, and in the life of this whole state,” Scallon said. “He did not wait for permission to make Maine more fair. He led, and in doing so he opened doors that many will walk through today. Class of 2026, carry his example with you."

Make It Happen end of year Celebration 2026

MIH Celebration and Awards

The annual Make It Happen (MIH) farewell celebration is a time to honor the hard work and academic success of the graduating class of MIH—a college-readiness program for multilingual students. Students, families, teachers, staff, community partners and academic coaches all gather to acknowledge the accomplishments of the graduating seniors who proudly receive their cords and MIH certificates of completion. In her remarks, Casco Bay High School student Gina Antonio said, “MIH became more than just a program for me. It became a place where I felt supported, encouraged, and reminded that I had people who believed in me."

Photo of Rowe students exploring archery

Rowe Students Learn Archery

Rowe Elementary School physical education (PE) teacher Rene Custeau shared the following about an exciting event students participated in last month: “If you walked by the Rowe Elementary gym recently, you might have noticed things were a little quieter than usual. That’s because our third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders were busy testing their focus and trying something brand new: archery! For almost all of our students, this was a totally new experience. Most had never even held a bow before, but they jumped right in with a mix of nerves and excitement. It was great to see students who aren't usually into traditional team sports find their groove here."

Deering Dominates at Model UN

Deering High School had another hugely successful trip to the recent Maine Model United Nations conference at the University of Southern Maine. With a team of 47 delegates, Deering again had the largest delegation in the state. Students debated a variety of topics, including Clean Water, Right to Asylum, Trade Wars, and Improving Farmers' Livelihoods. In their respective committees, Clementine Enright, Zach Lee, Ellis Retzer, Noah Rasheed, and Margo Bean were named Honorable Mention Delegates. Avery Stone was named Distinguished Delegate. For the second year in a row, Deering won Best Large Delegation, making the school basically back-to-back State Champs of Maine Model UN! Learn more.

Photo of students/teachers at OAES September 2025

Australian Educators Visit Schools

On May 19, two educators from Tasmania, Australia, visited Ocean Avenue Elementary School and Lincoln Middle School. The educators, Melissa Didham and Sarah Smith, were accompanied by Karen Robbie from Maine PBIS and Tracy Whitlock from MDOE. The Australian educators are in the United States for two months as part of the Tasmanian Hardie Fellowship program, where they seek to understand more about MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support), especially how schools are integrating social, emotional, behavioral, and academic supports for students in a comprehensive system. Robbie, who helped to organize the educators' visits around the state of Maine, reached out to Joanna Frankel, director of elementary culture and climate, to identify model sites to visit in Portland.

Photo of PHS students working with an engineer

PHS Students Explore Engineering

Engineering students at Portland High School learn through projects and community engagement. This year, students scouted sites in Bayside and took measurements for their Green Stormwater designs. They examined carbon fiber foils used to harness tidal energy by ORPC at Tech Place in Brunswick. They donned hard hats and orange vests and toured the construction site on Lancaster Street. And they spoke with professionals on "Ask an Engineer Day" to gain a better understanding of what engineers do, asking questions and exploring 3D models and drawings.

CBHS Student 'Youth of Year'

Nludi Celestino, a senior at Casco Bay High School, has been selected as Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2026 Maine State Youth of the Year! In recognition of being selected, Nludi also received a $2,500 scholarship awarded by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Nludi was awarded the state title on May 6. He entered the state competition after being selected as Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine’s Youth of the Year from a pool of candidates across the Southern Maine clubs in April. His state win secured him a spot to compete in the Youth of the Year regional competition in New York in June. Read more.

PPS Retirees Honored June 9

Twenty Portland Public Schools employees are retiring this year. The retirees were honored by the Portland Board of Public Education and the district in a ceremony on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Those recognized have served throughout the district and held a wide variety of roles in service of students and families. The school year retirees include a school principal, a social worker, teachers, Food Service members, educational technicians, a secretary and a custodian, among others. "I want to thank you very much for everything you’ve given to the district and to our students," Superintendent Ryan Scallon said.

Valedictorian National Merit Scholar

Ellis Wood, valedictorian of the Deering High School Class of 2026, is a college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship winner, making him a National Merit Scholar. Wood is among just five Maine students recently announced as winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by the U.S. colleges and universities they plan to attend. Wood and the other Maine students are part of a select cohort of more than 2,500 National Merit Finalists nationwide to win the college-sponsored scholarships so far. In Wood’s case, he won a National Merit Tufts University Scholarship.

Step Up Award Winners 2026

Congratulations to 2026 winners of the Step Up Award: Deering High School student Ruth Mbuco and Portland High School students Meuri Domingos, Will Lukoki and Anuria Munkula. Every year, hard-working and high-achieving students in the district’s Make It Happen college-readiness program are selected to apply for the Step Up Award; the purpose of which is to free up time from paid work in order to give students the opportunity to participate more in their school communities and extracurriculars. Thank you to the founders of the award, Bill and Ann Weber, and to newer additional contributors Kevin Huber, Carole Center and Ed Hoell. The winners will receive scholarships for each of their remaining semesters in high school.

DHS Science Olympiad Team at Nationals 2026

DHS Science Olympiad Team Spirited

First, the Deering High School Science Olympiad Team took first place at the Maine State Science Olympiad Tournament in April, securing a spot to represent Maine at the 42nd National Science Olympiad Tournament at the University of Southern California on May 23. At that national contest, Deering's Science Olympiad "Purple Team" stood out. Out of 60 high school teams from across all 50 states, Deering was honored with the prestigious National Spirit Award for Division C, which comes with a $2,000 check to support the school's program. Congratulations to these amazing students and their coach and science teacher Cyle Davenport.

Seal of Biliteracy Graduates

This year 84 Portland Public Schools graduates earned the Seal of Biliteracy in a total of twelve languages. The languages represented this year are Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, French, Kinyarwanda, Latin, Lingala, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish. Seven students have earned the Seal in two languages. One standout student has earned the Seal in three languages! The Seal of Biliteracy is an official recognition awarded by the state and placed on a student’s high school transcript to honor proficiency in English and one or more languages. Maine has six colleges that offer college credit (up to 6 credits) in exchange for the Seal of Biliteracy. In addition, Seal recipients with proficiency in certain languages are recruited by Maine employers such as the Maine Bureau of Human Resources and Maine Mobile Health.

DHS Senior National Merit Scholar

Deering High School senior Alma Wallace has won a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship, making her a Merit Scholar. She is one of just eight Maine seniors to be awarded that scholarship and among 2,500 Merit Scholars chosen from a nationwide talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

PPS Recognized for Digital Safety

The Portland Public Schools is proud to share that we have been officially recognized as a Common Sense District, a national honor awarded to school systems that demonstrate a strong, community‑wide commitment to digital citizenship and helping students thrive in today’s technology‑rich world. This recognition—from Common Sense Education, a national non-profit devoted to educating students and families on technology and its uses—reflects the work happening across our schools to ensure students learn how to use digital tools safely, responsibly, and creatively.

EECS Educator Is Influential

Hana Tallan, an ESOL educator at East End Community School who has dedicated herself to helping Portland Public Schools students succeed for nearly three decades, has been recognized by Influential Women, a platform that amplifies voices that inspire change. Tallan came to this country from Somalia in 1990 and joined the district in 1996 as an educational technician. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and became a certified teacher in 2019. She earned a master’s degree in education leadership from USM in 2025.

Photo of CBHS graduation 2026 caps in air

CBHS Holds 18th Commencement

This great story by WGME-TV, Channel 13 reporter Scott Episcopo is about Casco Bay High School's June 4 graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026. The June 5, 2026 story really showcases students' voices and the true spirit of Casco Bay.

PHS Student Is 'Grad to Watch'

This June 3, 2026 Portland Press Herald story highlights 12 seniors throughout Maine who are leaving high school to make their impact on the world but aren’t waiting until they receive their diplomas to start making a difference. Portland High School senior David Tit is one of those featured. Read his story in the article.

Photo of crossing guard Danny Lowe June 2026

Community Celebrates 'Danny Day'

June 3, 2026 marked East End Community School's fifth annual "Danny Day," a celebration of Danny Lowe, a beloved school crossing guard, who is a young man with autism. Here's a great story from Maine Public about this heartwarming annual event, which means a lot to Danny and EECS students and families.

CBHS Senior 'Youth of the Year' (opens in new window/tab)

Check out this May 26, 2026 story from WMTW-TV Channel 8 story on Nludi Celestino, a Casco Bay High School senior chosen May 6 as Boys & Girls Clubs of America 2026 Maine State Youth of the Year! He entered the state competition after being selected as Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine’s Youth of the Year from a pool of candidates across the Southern Maine clubs in April. That earned him a spot competing for the Youth of the Year regional competition in June.

DHS Alums' Tech Project Expanding

The Maine Monitor reported on May 26, 2026, that schools in Calais, Maine, are testing OrangePasses, a digital hall pass system, through a trial that could lead to full adoption for the 2026–27 school year. The trial is intended to determine whether the app improves student flow, reduces disruptions, and provides a cost-effective solution for schools. OrangePasses was originally conceived as a senior capstone project by Deering High School student Courtney Jackson, with assistance from fellow student Israk Arafat and computer science teacher Jeff Borland. The project continued to be developed while the students attended colleges within the University of Maine system and is now used by more than 25 schools across Maine.

New Scholarship Honors PPS Nurse (opens in new window/tab)

This May 6, 2026 Portland Press Herald op-ed by the Maine Association of School Nurses speaks to the importance of school nurses and sings the praises of the late PPS school nurse Amanda Rowe, for whom Rowe Elementary School is named. The association has created a new scholarship in her honor, stating: "Nowhere is the profound impact of this profession more evident than in the life and legacy of Amanda Rowe. A dedicated school nurse from Portland, Maine, Amanda served her community with a level of compassion and tenacity that redefined the role."

EECS to Celebrate Its 20th

East End Community School (EECS) will celebrate its 20th birthday on Friday, June 12, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. EECS invites students, families, staff members and alumni to this milestone event, themed “Twenty Years of Learning & Community,” to honor the school’s two decades of educational excellence and community spirit on Munjoy Hill. The celebration will feature an exciting series of exposition games showcasing students from EECS’ after-school partnership with the Hearts of Pine’s “Portland Soccer Project,” and a visit from Hearts of Pine players. Guests can enjoy a variety of treats, including ice cream and “20th Birthday” cupcakes, face painting and balloon animals.

Film Includes the Late Gerald Talbot

On June 12, the Portland Public Library plans to screen “Anchor of the Soul,” a 1994 documentary that explores the history of Black Mainers through the lens of two churches—the Abyssinian Church and the Green Memorial A.M.E. Church. There will be another screening of the film in South Portland on June 18, as part of a Juneteenth celebration in that city. The late Gerald E. Talbot, the Maine civil rights icon for whom Talbot Community School is named, appears in the film, created by Portland Adult Education ESOL teacher Shoshana Hoose and Karine Odlin.

PPS to Join In Pride Portland! Parade

Mark your calendars! The Pride Portland! Parade is on Saturday, June 20, this year, starting at 11:30 a.m. from Monument Square in Portland. Come out and celebrate with the Portland Public Schools as we join the parade to march for acceptance, equality, and inclusivity. Look for the PPS yellow school bus parked on Preble Street near Monument Square and join us! Bus decorating begins at 10:30 a.m. All students, staff and families are invited to participate by either riding in the bus or walking with it in the parade to reiterate that PPS supports people for all of the awesome aspects of their identity. Everyone is welcome. Come represent your school and the district in the parade. Check out this flyer and go to the Pride Portland! website for more information.

Register for Recreational Soccer

The City of Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department is now administering recreational soccer for children 4-years-old through sixth-grade. Online registration is available at: Portland Maine My Rec; the program is fee-waiver eligible. Registration is open through July 24. Need assistance?

Call 207-808-5400 (translation assistance available)
Email general questions: recreation@portlandmaine.gov
Coaching & player registration: Ryan French at rfrench@portlandmaine.gov
Fee waiver assistance: Emily Collins at ecollins@portlandmaine.gov

New Outdoor Pool Opens June 29

The City of Portand's Rising Eddy Community Pool, formerly known as the Kiwanis Pool, will open June 29. The Kiwanis Pool closed in 2024 for renovations and now the work is completed and the outdoor pool is about to open with a new name chosen through community input. All pool users must sign up on MyRec to create an account and be able to sign the appropriate waivers. Here are some helpful instructions for setting up an account and registering for a program or pass. An Access Fund has been created to support anyone who needs financial assistance.

Kids Duathlon: Register & Volunteer

The Portland Kids Duathlon is a running and biking race at Payson Park on July 19 designed for participants ages 3-12. It's a great, family-friendly event and a fundraiser for the Foundation for Portland Public Schools. Registration is open, and often sells out. The race is also dependent on volunteers, so please sign up. Here’s the link to register, volunteer & learn more. Benchmark Real Estate, the event presenter, offers a discount code for families who need a little support. No questions asked. Use it if you need it or share with a family that does. Use code FAMILY for 20% off registration. To waive all registration fees, email racedirector@portlandkidsduathlon.com.

New Tool to Support Access to Public Library Storytimes

Just in time for summer learning, Island Readers & Writers has launched the Maine Storytime Finder, a new online resource developed as part of an initiative to support early childhood literacy. The mission of the Maine Storytime Finder is to connect families to free library programming, encouraging a positive culture of reading throughout Maine. The Finder allows users to search by location, age group, and date to find storytime opportunities at libraries across the state. At the time of the Finder’s launch, more than 50 libraries had already participated, with more than 100 recurring programs for babies and children of all ages. Additional libraries and events will be added on an ongoing basis. Learn more.

Gerald E. Talbot: For Whom Talbot School Named

Gerald E. Talbot, 94, a Maine civil rights icon, community leader and the first African American elected to the Maine Legislature, passed away on May 9, 2026. His loss is mourned by the Portland Public Schools community, especially at the school named in his honor: Gerald E. Talbot Community School. On May 10, 2026, Superintendent Ryan Scallon sent a letter to the Portland Public Schools community regarding Talbot’s passing, noting: “For our district, this loss is deeply personal. Mr. Talbot’s name is carried every day by the students, families, and staff of Gerald E. Talbot Community School, and his legacy is woven into the fabric of our city and our state.”

Jan Paul, Wabanaki Curriculum Advisor

Jan Paul, an advisor and contributor to the district’s Wabanaki Studies curriculum, passed on April 3, 2026 at the age of 58. She was an amazing person, educator, scientist, and water protector. Fiona Hopper, the district’s social studies special projects coordinator, wrote a tribute to Paul that was published in the Maine Wabanaki REACH blog: Voices of Decolonization. The Portland Public Schools family is grateful for Paul’s contributions to expand the knowledge of PPS students and extends deepest condolences to her family and friends. Read Jan Paul’s obituary.

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June 11, 2026

Inside our newsletter this month: