Staff & Community Newsletter - March 7, 2024

Brooke Teller, the district's PreK-Grade 12 science coordinator, shared the following elementary school science update:

PPS third graders are continuing their Wabanaki Studies/Life Science unit with a study of Atlantic salmon. On March 6, each elementary school received 200 endangered Atlantic salmon eggs to raise for the next 6-8 weeks.

Cathy Jurgelevich, district PreK dual language learner (DLL) teacher, shared the following concerning guided drawing:

Peaks Island Elementary School students held their 4th Annual Love Parade on Feb. 14, spreading joy to senior center residents and their community. 

Students: March 8 marks the end of the second trimester, meaning that we’re two thirds of the way through the school year. For a strong finish to the school year in June, BE HERE in school every day! You will get many positives – not just success in academic subjects but you’ll feel part of the school community and you’ll  grow your curiosity, creativity and sense of responsibility. 

At its March 5 meeting, the Portland Board of Public Education voted to approve a calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. The first day of school for students in grades 1-12 will be Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024 – the day after the Labor Day holiday. Pre-K and kindergarten students will start on Thursday, Sept. 5. The last day of school for students is expected to be Friday, June 13, 2025.

Casco Bay High School’s beloved Principal Derek Pierce announced last month that he will step down at the end of this school year as leader of the school he founded and shaped over the past 19 years. Pierce, 57, told the Portland Press Herald that the decision was not an easy one.

A 2021 law requires African American studies in Maine schools, and legislators this year are considering updating the law to ensure compliance and provide resources in all K-12 schools. The Portland Public Schools is a leader in developing an African American studies curriculum. This Feb. 20 Portland Press Herald features a class taught at Portland High School.

Cross Cultural Community Services hosted its annual Black History Month Community Wellness Fair in Portland in February. A TV story featured social worker Blanca Santiago, who has spent many years serving PPS students, speaking about the progress Maine and Portland have made in providing mental health services to people of color and kids who come to Maine with their parents as either economic refugees, or fleeing oppression. 

Sebastian Milstein-Jones, a grade 9 student at Casco Bay High School, took second place in the grades 9-12 category in the second annual statewide Student Writing Contest in which students write about the positive impact of teachers upon their lives. In addition, Shukri Ibrahim, also a freshman at Casco Bay, won honorable mention in the same grades 9-12 category.

The contest is put on by the Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association, in partnership with the Maine Council of English Language Arts. The writing prompt this year was: “Share about a teacher who made a positive difference in your day, week, year, or life.” Both students wrote moving essays about former teachers at Lincoln Middle School. Sebastian wrote about English teacher Peter Casasa-Blouin and Shukri wrote about Mr. Smith.

The Forecaster, Jan. 30, 2024

"The Blue Heron" showcases students' writing, artwork and photography and has also sparked a celebration of literacy at the school

National School Social Work week this year is March 3-9, a time to turn the spotlight on the dedicated professionals who play a pivotal role in enhancing the well-being and success of students. The Portland Public Schools wants to use this opportunity to express deep gratitude to our school social workers for their exceptional contributions to help our students thrive and learn!

The community is invited to an enchanting evening at the Deering Sisterhood club's annual Best of Both Worlds Show, taking place in the historic auditorium at Deering High School, 370 Stevens Avenue.

Here’s a message from the Maine Department of Education about the 4th annual International Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Day celebration on March 8, 2024: “We know that Maine schools are doing amazing things to cultivate the social and emotional learning of all of their students and we want to share that collective success with the nation.

The OUT Maine Scholarship Fund provides renewable support for Maine LGBTQ+ youth pursuing post-secondary education at an accredited, not-for-profit, non-sectarian college, university, or technical/vocational college in the United States. Applicants must demonstrate a financial need.