Staff & Community Newsletter - Nov 10, 2022
Dear Portland Public Schools families, staff and community members,
We recently submitted our enrollment numbers to the state and we have just six fewer students this school year as compared to last year. We continue to serve close to 6,500 students, which is good news after a couple of years of decreasing enrollment. We continue to be the State’s largest and most diverse school district.
SCHOOL BOARD NEWS
Superintendent Xavier Botana and Board Chair Emily Figdor comment on the school budget autonomy vote and congratulate Julianne Opperman, who won the District 3 Board seat after a ranked choice voting runoff on Nov. 9.
DISTRICT NEWS
Deering High School students have been busy taking advantage of extended learning opportunities (ELOs) this fall, according to Sydney Williams, Deering’s ELO coordinator. Recent ELO experiences have focused on youth leadership and careers in medicine.
Coming off big wins at the State Championship last February and with team members qualifying for nationals this spring, the Deering High School Debate Team is looking strong again this year, according to teacher Molly Callaghan, who co-coaches the team along with Krista Simonis. In an exciting new event this year, Deering also will be hosting an all-events speech and debate tournament on Nov. 19.
A Congressional Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U.S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made Nov. 11 of each year a legal holiday—”a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.'” Congress amended this act on June 1, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans,” and it has since been known as Veterans Day. The Maine Department of Education has provided some educational resources to help observe the day. Learn more.
The Portland High School internship program is a strong part of the school’s offerings, and this year an internship that teaches students about what it’s like to work in a bakery is proving most popular among a variety of offerings.
The Portland Public Schools is inviting parents to join the High School Design Team to help reenvision our high schools to better meet the changing needs of our community. Portland’s high schools have many wonderful features. We are rightly proud of much of what our schools are able to offer our diverse student body. All three of our general high schools have a rich set of traditions and unique characteristics. At the same time, we all recognize that as we focus on creating equitable outcomes for all of our students, we have a responsibility to look deeply at our high schools and continue to evolve them to meet the changing needs of our community.
Check out this Nov. 7 WGME-TV Channel 13 story on the Portland Public Schools’ amazing “Make It Happen!” program: To college and beyond: Unique Portland program shows students how to 'Make It Happen'
East End Community School is the grateful recipient of a Little Free Library that is among six that United Way of Southern Maine (UWSM) and WEX, Inc. are installing to promote youth literacy and increase access to books for children. The other libraries are located at local parks and partner organizations in Portland and Biddeford.
RECOGNITIONS
Ellen Flores, a teacher in the Breathe program at Lincoln Middle School, has won the 2022 Maine Psychological Association Educator Recognition Award for her commitment to advancing positive mental and behavioral health outcomes for students
The Maine Department of Education announces that PAE, Maine’s largest adult education provider, is the recipient of a total of $1,480,500 in grants for three Strengthening Maine Workforce projects.
EVENTS
Painting for a Purpose, which funds PPS students' service learning projects, will hold a Holiday Mix & Mingle Open House on Nov. 19, 3-6pm, at 5 Harris Drive in Falmouth. Original, hand-painted artwork for sale! www.PaintingforaPurpose.net
OPPORTUNITIES
The Telling Room, a literary arts education organization in Maine, has opened submissions for a statewide writing contest. Youth youth ages 6 – 18 can submit writing samples in all forms of creative and personal writing – the theme is open.The grand prize winner will receive a $250 award and will be published in The Telling Room’s Annual Anthology. Submissions close on November 30, 2022. For more information and to make a submission visit The Telling Room website.
Resource
Upcoming Events
Community Resource Fair
Rowe School
November 17, 2022 4:30-5:30 PM
Shared Space Cafe: Community Conversation
Forum for Rowe School Families
November 17, 2022 5:30-7:30 PM
Parent University
High School Information Night for 8th Grade Families
December 5, 2022. 6:30-8:00 PM
Zoom Link: tinyurl.com/HSInfoNight22
Parent University
World Language Community Forum
December 19, 2022
6:30-8:00 PM
Zoom Link: tinyurl.com/CFSpanLang