June 2015 - Portland Public Schools

June 2015


	School Board Schedules Meeting to Appoint Interim Superintendent Posted on 07/02/2015 The Portland Board of Public Education will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, July 7, to appoint an interim superintendent to replace Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk, who is leaving this summer to take a job in another state more about School Board Schedules Meeting to Appoint Interim Superintendent
	Superintendent Caulk Leaving for New Post in Kentucky Posted on 06/29/2015 Portland Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk has accepted a position as school superintendent for the 40,000-student Fayette County Public Schools in Kentucky. His departure date from the Portland school system will be determined by Caulk and the Portland Board of Public Education more about Superintendent Caulk Leaving for New Post in Kentucky
	10 Ways Parents Can Help Kids Get Ready for Kindergarten Posted on 06/25/2015 Summer is an ideal time for parents to help their children prepare for kindergarten in the fall – and a new brochure from Portland ConnectED’s Starting Strong campaign has 10 great ideas on how to do that. more about 10 Ways Parents Can Help Kids Get Ready for Kindergarten
	DHS Students’ Book Imparts Wisdom, Hope for Middle-Schoolers Posted on 06/24/2015 Some Deering High School students have written an anthology of stories to help middle school students make a successful transition from middle school to high school. more about DHS Students’ Book Imparts Wisdom, Hope for Middle-Schoolers
	PPS Proud Part of Pride Parade for First Time Posted on 06/22/2015 A group of more than 50 people, including Portland Public Schools students and staff and their families, as well as school board members, represented the district in Portland’s annual gay pride parade on Saturday, June 20. more about PPS Proud Part of Pride Parade for First Time
	Summer Lunch Programs Open June 29th Posted on 06/22/2015 The Portland Public Schools and partners will be serving summer fun, activities and meals around the city. PPS is working with multiple partners through Portland ConnectED’s Portland Summer Success – Feeding Bodies & Minds program to offer no cost summer meals for children from June 29 through August 14. more about Summer Lunch Programs Open June 29th
	District To Be Official Participant in Portland’s Pride Parade Posted on 06/20/2015 The Portland Public Schools will have a formal presence this year in Portland’s annual gay pride parade. District and school staff, school board members and students will participate in the Pride Parade down Congress Street this Saturday, June 20, riding in one of the district’s signature yellow school buses and also marching alongside it. more about District To Be Official Participant in Portland’s Pride Parade
	Superintendent Caulk Finalist for Superintendent Job in Kentucky Posted on 06/19/2015 Portland Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk is a finalist for a position as school superintendent for the 40,000-student Lexington, Ky. public school system. If he’s appointed to the new job, his departure date from the Portland school system will be determined by Caulk and the Portland Board of Public Education. more about Superintendent Caulk Finalist for Superintendent Job in Kentucky
	Moore Students’ Hyper Heart Race Raises $2,500 Posted on 06/19/2015 The recent second annual Hyper Heart 5k Race at Lyman Moore Middle School raised $2,500, an increase over the $1,000 raised the first year. more about Moore Students’ Hyper Heart Race Raises $2,500
	School Board honors Music Teacher, Food Service Manager Posted on 06/18/2015 The Portland Board of Public Education earlier this spring recognized Reiche music teacher Alyson Ciechomski. She and the school’s kindergarten team have developed a partnership with the Portland Symphony Orchestra, called PSO Musical Explorers. The partnership has developed a program that uses music to accelerate learning across the curriculum. more about School Board honors Music Teacher, Food Service Manager
	‘Crusher’ Helps Ocean Avenue Students Launch into Summer Reading Posted on 06/18/2015 Ocean Avenue Elementary School’s recent “Literacy Night-Launch into Summer Reading” event was a big success. more about ‘Crusher’ Helps Ocean Avenue Students Launch into Summer Reading
	School Board Thanks 2015 Retirees Posted on 06/17/2015 The Portland Board of Public Education held a special ceremony prior to the board’s June 16 business meeting to recognize 29 Portland Public Schools’ employees who recently chose to retire. more about School Board Thanks 2015 Retirees
	School Board Votes to Proceed on Hall School Replacement Posted on 06/17/2015 The Portland Board of Public Education voted on June 16 to proceed with the steps necessary to construct a new building to replace Hall Elementary School as a state-funded school construction project based on an estimated enrollment of 525 students. more about School Board Votes to Proceed on Hall School Replacement
	School Board Honors PE Teacher as Wellness Champion Posted on 06/17/2015 The Portland Board of Public Education at its June 16 meeting recognized Carolyn Cohen, a physical education teacher for Ocean Avenue and Presumpscot elementary schools, for her outstanding dedication and service. more about School Board Honors PE Teacher as Wellness Champion
	Lyseth ELL Family Literacy Night Features Puppets and More Posted on 06/16/2015 Lyseth School recently held its second annual ELL (English language learner) Family Literacy Night in the school's library and art room. One popular feature at the May 27 event was a new puppet theater built by students at the Portland Arts and Technology High School. more about Lyseth ELL Family Literacy Night Features Puppets and More
	Credit Union Makes Generous Donation to Longfellow School Posted on 06/16/2015 Longfellow Elementary School recently received a donation of $1,400 from its business partner, University Credit Union. The funds will be used to purchase books for the school’s book room. more about Credit Union Makes Generous Donation to Longfellow School
	PPS Summer Programs Feed Young Minds and Bodies Posted on 06/15/2015 School’s out for Portland Public Schools’ students on Friday, June 19, but they can continue learning all summer long through a variety of programs offered by the district and in conjunction with community-based organizations. Students can also get nutritious free meals at various locations throughout the city. more about PPS Summer Programs Feed Young Minds and Bodies
	Students’ Dream of Fixing up Playground Becoming Reality Posted on 06/12/2015 Two Lyman Moore Middle School students, Atak Natali and Divine Macibiri, have organized a Front Street Playground Fix-Up Day for Saturday, June 13, to which students, staff and community volunteers are invited. The goal of the event at the city-owned Front Street Housing complex at 34 West Presumpscot St. is to make the playground as clean and safe as possible. more about Students’ Dream of Fixing up Playground Becoming Reality
	Casco Bay High School to Celebrate 10th Anniversary Posted on 06/11/2015 Casco Bay High School, the Portland Public Schools’ newest high school, is 10 years old this year. CBHS is holding a picnic to celebrate the occasion. more about Casco Bay High School to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
	CBHS Teacher Wins First Amendment Challenge Award Posted on 06/11/2015 Casco Bay High School senior humanities teacher Mark Ford has won a First Amendment Challenge award for leading his students in a learning expedition that culminated in a Soapbox Celebration of Free Speech in Portland’s Monument Square in May. more about CBHS Teacher Wins First Amendment Challenge Award
	USDA Under Secretary To Tour DHS Kitchen, Lunch with Students Posted on 06/10/2015 U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Kevin Concannon will be visiting Deering High School on Friday, June 12, to see firsthand an example of the Portland Public Schools’ food service operation, which is funded, authorized and regulated under the programs in the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service division. more about USDA Under Secretary To Tour DHS Kitchen, Lunch with Students
	DHS’ Second Annual Cultural Heritage Day is June 12 Posted on 06/10/2015 Students and faculty of Deering High School will celebrate the school’s second annual Cultural Heritage Day on Friday, June 12. The event is organized by Seeds of Peace members from Deering and will feature an afternoon of international foods, dancing and games for the entire student body. more about DHS’ Second Annual Cultural Heritage Day is June 12
	PHS Freshmen Share Personal Memoirs in New Exhibit Posted on 06/10/2015 A community exhibit of personal memoirs written by Portland High School freshmen is on display at the school through Friday, June 19, the end of the school year. more about PHS Freshmen Share Personal Memoirs in New Exhibit
	Moore Students To Hold Samantha Smith Challenge Showcase Posted on 06/09/2015 Earlier this month, students from Lyman Moore Middle School and King Middle School participated in the first annual Samantha Smith Challenge celebration in Augusta. They were among more than 500 Maine students who accepted the challenge from Americans Who Tell the Truth and the Maine Association for Middle Level Education to choose a problem in their community, state, country or the world that they would like to address and help solve. more about Moore Students To Hold Samantha Smith Challenge Showcase
	Portland Adult Education 2015 Class of ‘Strivers’ Graduates June 11 Posted on 06/09/2015 Portland Adult Education (PAE) will host its graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 11, at 6 p.m. in Merrill Auditorium for more than 180 graduates. They include 40 students who have attained high school diplomas and the 143 students who passed the HiSET test, a high school equivalency test. more about Portland Adult Education 2015 Class of ‘Strivers’ Graduates June 11
	School Board Recognizes Students for 'Buddy Bench' Project Posted on 06/09/2015 The Portland Board of Public Education recently recognized students from Hall and Riverton elementary schools and Deering High School and the Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) for their work on a community-based “Buddy Bench” project. The project was designed to help foster friendship, kindness and inclusion among students during outdoor play. more about School Board Recognizes Students for 'Buddy Bench' Project
	Lincoln Middle School to Hold ‘School's Out 5K’ on June 13 Posted on 06/09/2015 The Lincoln Middle School “School’s Out 5K” is a high-energy, all-ages, 5-kilometer run through the Deering neighborhood of Portland to support experiential learning at the school. more about Lincoln Middle School to Hold ‘School's Out 5K’ on June 13
	School Board to Vote on Hall School Plan June 16 Posted on 06/09/2015 The Portland Board of Public Education plans to take a vote at its next business meeting Tuesday, June 16, on the next steps in the planning process for replacing Hall Elementary School. more about School Board to Vote on Hall School Plan June 16
	Public Invited to Tour Lyseth Elementary School June 16 Posted on 06/09/2015 A tour of Lyseth Elementary School will take place on Tuesday, June 16, prior to a Portland Board of Public Education meeting being held at the school that evening. more about Public Invited to Tour Lyseth Elementary School June 16
	PATHS Gets Student Representative on School Board Posted on 06/08/2015 PATHS now has a student who represents the school on the Portland Board of Public Education. more about PATHS Gets Student Representative on School Board
	Presumpscot Teacher Is One of Sea Dogs’ “Starting 9” Posted on 06/04/2015 Rebecca Maiorano, a teacher at Presumpscot Elementary School, has been selected to be one of the “Starting 9,” a group of Maine’s top teachers who will be honored at a Portland Sea Dogs game Friday, June 5. more about Presumpscot Teacher Is One of Sea Dogs’ “Starting 9”
	Lyseth Students Win Grant for School ‘Shine’ Sign Posted on 06/03/2015 Four Lyseth Elementary School students recently won a Painting for a Purpose grant of $401 to create a new inspirational sign for the school out of recycled CDs. The sign is scheduled to be completed and installed on June 17. more about Lyseth Students Win Grant for School ‘Shine’ Sign
	Four New School Leaders for the Portland Public Schools Posted on 06/03/2015 Starting July 1, the Portland Public Schools’ school leadership teams will gain four new leaders more about Four New School Leaders for the Portland Public Schools
	Hall Elementary School Math Team Honored Posted on 06/03/2015 At its June 2 meeting, The Portland Board of Public Education and Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk recognized the Hall Elementary School Math Team for its achievements. more about Hall Elementary School Math Team Honored
	Parents Invited to Informational Meetings on METRO Plan Posted on 06/02/2015 Families of students who will attend a Portland Public Schools’ high school this fall are invited to attend informational open houses this month about the new plan to have Greater Portland METRO buses transport high school students to and from school and extracurricular activities, starting in September. more about Parents Invited to Informational Meetings on METRO Plan
	Gifted and Talented Teacher Wins Harvard Fellowship Posted on 05/20/2015 Michelle Amato, a gifted and talented teacher who works with students at Hall and Riverton elementary schools and Longfellow and Lincoln middle schools, has been selected by Harvard University to attend the Future Learning Institute of Harvard. more about Gifted and Talented Teacher Wins Harvard Fellowship
	Lyseth Teacher Team Headed to Harvard this Summer A team of Lyseth Elementary School teachers has been selected to attend the Project Zero Summer Institute at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in July. more about Lyseth Teacher Team Headed to Harvard this Summer