News

The first day of school for Portland Public Schools’ students in grades 1-12 is Wednesday, Aug. 30, this year. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children start on Tuesday, Sept. 5, the day after Labor Day. But even before the first day of classes, and also into the fall, district schools will be holding events that include open houses, ice cream socials, barbecues and other welcoming events for students and families.

The Portland Public Schools' Multilingual & Multicultural Center has received a $7,500 grant from the People of Color Fund grant program of the Maine Community Foundation. The grant money will go to support Parent University, a new program focusing on connecting parents and caregivers with their child's school, school system, and community organizations through learning opportunities.

Gregg Palmer, principal of Falmouth High School, has been selected to become the new principal of Deering High School, Portland Superintendent Xavier Botana announced July 21. The Portland Board of Public Education is slated to vote on Palmer's nomination on Aug. 1.

The Summer Success Picnic, an event in Deering Oaks Park being held to celebrate Portland’s free summer meals program for kids and summer learning, has been rescheduled to Friday, July 14, because of rain in the forecast for the original date of July 13. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.