Staff & Community Newsletter - Dec. 7, 2023

Woo-hoo, students! You’ve just passed the first trimester of this school year. There’s lots more learning to come, so make sure you are here in school every day. You’ll get many positives from being in school – not just academic success but being part of the school community and developing traits like curiosity, creativity and responsibility. 

The Portland Public Schools offers high quality pre-kindergarten programming in both Portland Public Schools' buildings and at partnership sites. Children are eligible if they turn 4 years old on or before October 15, 2024. Children are placed in Pre-K slots in their neighborhood schools or at partner sites, based on our Pre-K lottery process. 

An informal “unveiling” of a new Flag Mural at King Middle School took place Nov. 29  during a family multicultural potluck at the school.

The colorful mural, covering the length of an entire hallway along the front corridor of the school, was designed and painted by parent volunteer Lucy Bergen, a local muralist and sign painter, with the help of King students. The mural is a patchwork of flags that spell out the phrase: “WE ARE THE FUTURE.” 

The district began hosting student art shows at Central Office. The first show opened on Dec. 1, coinciding with the city’s First Friday Artwalk, and the exhibits  have continued through the end of. The shows have featured the work of talented students and, as with any of our student art shows, the exhibits also served as a way to showcase the important teaching ongoing  in PPS art classes by our amazing art teachers. 

Dwayne Tomah and Donald Soctomah, two advisors to the Portland Public Schools’ new Wabanaki Studies curriculum, have been featured in a recent episode of PBS Native America. The episode is titled “Language is Life” and began streaming in November. View the program: PBS Native America

Maine’s County and State Teacher of the Year Association, in partnership with the Maine Council for English Language Arts Association, announces their second annual student writing contest. The prompt is “share about a teacher who made a positive difference in your day, week, year, or life.”

Schools and community-based organizations can now apply for the 2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative grants through the Maine Department of Education (DOE). Applications are due by Jan. 12, 2024. These grants support hands-on, engaging, interdisciplinary outdoor learning and career exploration opportunities that connect students with Maine’s amazing natural environments and landscapes. Read more.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and Live and Work in Maine have partnered to launch a nationwide Live and Teach in Maine campaign to attract educators to the state and strengthen the education profession. The multifaceted campaign includes a highly targeted advertising effort, new videos highlighting teachers who have chosen to make Maine their career destination, and events in-state to welcome, connect, and celebrate educators. 

This upcoming Parent University session will offer an overview of the three-lesson fourth-grade health curriculum, which outlines the physical, social, and emotional changes that come in puberty. Also discussed will be why teaching this material is important, and what we can do together to partner to ensure a successful experience for your child. Join us on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Talbot Community School!