Staff & Community Newsletter - Jan 9, 2022

As the new Interim Co-Superintendents of the Portland Public Schools, we’d like to take this opportunity to share with you our priorities over the next six months until the Board can hire a superintendent on a permanent basis.

As we stated when the Portland Board of Public Education appointed us on Jan. 3, we accept this interim appointment with mixed feelings, but with full hearts and total commitment to our community and to our colleagues. We want to assure everyone that we will focus on supporting our school and Central Office teams as we respond to the current challenges and continue to center equity in all of our work. We are grateful to have worked under the leadership of Superintendent Xavier Botana and remain committed to following through on his and our community’s shared vision in the Portland Promise, the district’s strategic plan.

Members of the Portland Fire Department’s Rosemont Station paid a visit to Lincoln Middle School last month with donations to provide for the students of their community. Inspired by this act of kindness, seventh-grader Miguel Ndayikeza volunteered to help Lincoln social worker Kathy Randall, and offered to help her carry items to The Locker Project area.

Casco Bay High School seniors typically hold their  annual "College March” in December but due to inclement weather then, the march was set for Friday, Jan. 13. Now, rain is predicted for that day, so the march has again been reschedule to Friday, Jan. 20. Students will march down Congress Street to the downtown post office to mail their college applications or letters to a significant adult in their life who has supported their achieving this milestone.

Check out this WGME Channel 13-TV feature on baking internships that Portland High School offers as part of its extended learning opportunities program for  students:

"'It's rewarding': Portland bakeries offer internships to high school students"

In case you missed it, Deering High School’s athletic trainer Greg Tosi was featured in a Channel 8 report on Maine schools’ response to sports injuries. Check it out: “How Maine schools are equipped to respond to sports injuries”

The Portland Press Herald has named Kennedy Charles, Bulldog senior defensive back, as a member of its Varsity Maine 2022 All-State Football Team! Read the article: Seniors dominate our list of the state's top high school football players.

The PHS Musical Theater class will present Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” on Saturday, January 14, at 7pm and Sunday, January 15, at 2 and 7pm. The snow date is Monday January 16, at 2pm.Tickets are $7 for seniors and students, $12 for adults. They can be purchased at the door ONLY with cash or check.

The Maine Teacher of the Year program is accepting nominations for 2023 County Teachers of the Year! Members of the public are encouraged to nominate educators who demonstrate a commitment to excellence and who inspire the achievement of all students. Teachers can be nominated by a student, co-worker, administrator, school or district committee. County Teachers of the Year then go on to be considered for the 2024 Teacher of the Year. County Teachers of the Year serve as ambassadors for their students and the profession.

Nominations are open through February 5, 2023, at 5 p.m. Learn more.

The Mitchell Institute is excited to continue offering scholarships to public school students from across the state of Maine. This year, in addition to awarding at least one $10,000 scholarship annually to a graduating student from each of the 135 public high schools in Maine, the Mitchell Institute will award 20 more scholarships across the state, bringing the annual total to $1.55M in support for the class of 2023 Mitchell Scholars. Along with offering the scholarship support, the Mitchell Institute opens doors to numerous resources and programs for Mitchell Scholars.

Presidential Awards infographicThe National Science Foundation (NSF) is currently accepting nominations and applications for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). PAEMST is the highest recognition that a Kindergarten through 12th grade science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science educator may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States.