Staff & Community Newsletter - June 6, 2024

The  Portland Public schools will be operating various summer meal sites at 11 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.

Casco Bay High School ranks #5 among the top high schools in Maine,  according to U.S. News & World Report. Learn more.

Congratulations to Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) Automotive Program students William Cuttler and Harrison Behnke for recently placing first in the Ford ACE Student Automotive Skills Competition. As winners, they have been awarded room and board scholarships worth $5,500 each to Central Maine Community College. Additionally, they received over $2,500 in tool prizes, enhancing their future careers in automotive technology. The PATHS Automotive program also received a remarkable prize: a brand-new 2024 Mustang GT, generously donated by Ford Motor Company.

The district has free at-home COVID test available for students and staff/employees. Ask your school building nurse or email PPS School Nurse Coordinator Tina Veilleux at veillt@portlandschools.org.

Brooke Teller, the district’s science coordinator, shared this update on life science learning on the part of  Portland Public Schools students: 

PPS third-graders have been raising salmon in their schools.

Julia Marquardt-Luesma, a Casco Bay High School senior in the Commercial Art Program at the Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS), recently won the Gold Medal in the State Pin Design Competition at the 2024 Maine SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference. SkillsUSA is a national career and technical education organization. The pin, featuring a lobster and buoy, will be proudly worn by the Maine student delegation at the SkillsUSA national conference in Atlanta later in June.

Author and illustrator Maris Wicks visited Reiche Community School and Presumpscot Elementary School on June 3 and 4. Wicks has written and illustrated picture books and graphic novels with a science focus such as "Dragon Bones," "You and the Bowerbird," "Coral Reefs," "Human Body Theater" and "Primates."

Recent accomplishments of PPS staff include that of Michael Loring, lead custodian at Presumpscot Elementary School, who won Maine’s 2024 Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest. Loring’s painting of a harlequin duck was chosen in April from among 13 entries. This is his second win in the annual contest. Duck stamps are collector’s items that raise funds to manage and conserve waterfowl in Maine.

Congratulations to Deering High School Co-Curricular/Athletic Director Michael Daly, for being recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator! 

The NIAAA announced Daly's accomplishment on May 21. "To earn this distinction, Michael L. Daly has demonstrated exemplary knowledge, contributions and on-going professional development in the field of interscholastic athletic administration," the NIAAA said. "The voluntary certification process included a thorough evaluation of the candidate's educational background, experience, NIAAA Leadership Courses and professional contributions.” The process culminates with a practical written or oral presentation project.

Portland Public Schools educational technician Jennifer Cooper is the winner of the Maine Education Association's 2024 Joan McGovern Education Support Professional Award. Cooper, who is president of thPPS educational technician Jennifer Cooper in May won the Maine Education Association's 2024 Joan McGovern Education Support Professional Award. Cooper, president of the union representing our ed techs, was recognized for her outstanding accomplishments and significant contributions to public education. Cooper now is Maine’s nominee for the National Education Support Professional.

The Portland Public Schools family extends deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of James (Jimmy) Neales IV, 59, who passed away unexpectedly on April 29. Mr. Neales, who attended the Portland Public Schools and graduated from Portland High School in 1983, was passionate about working with children and teaching them arts and crafts.

Mark your calendars! The Pride Portland! Parade is on Saturday, June 15, starting at 1 p.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.

The Maine Mariner's Summer Reading Program, Read with ME, is back for the 2024 summer! This is a free reading program for kids 12 and under to participate in.

Thanks to a very generous offer from business owners and sisters Erin Evans and Carson Burnham (both K-12 PPS  graduates – Erin PHS Class of '89 and Carson PHS class of '88) are inviting any PPS staff members to attend some free fun dance fitness classes!

Date: Thursday, June 13, 2024 from 5:30 - 8:00 pm

Location: Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, Freeport

An educator workshop and teacher-appreciation dinner with Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries of The Ohio State University, Dr. Kate Shuster of the Hard History Project, and longtime education leader Maureen Costello, who works at the intersection of history, civics, and social justice education.