congratulations, class of 2016 graduates! - Portland Public Schools [PDF]

Council that it send a $70 million bond proposal to city voters in November for improvements at Presumpscot, Longfellow,

0 downloads 3 Views 2MB Size

Recommend Stories


Congratulations Graduates
If your life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough. Wes Jacks

Congratulations Graduates
It always seems impossible until it is done. Nelson Mandela

Congratulations Graduates
When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something

congratulations graduates
Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion. Rumi

Congratulations Graduates
Be who you needed when you were younger. Anonymous

Congratulations Graduates
Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that

Congratulations Graduates
You're not going to master the rest of your life in one day. Just relax. Master the day. Than just keep

Congratulations Graduates
Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone’s life. Be the light that helps others see; i

Congratulations Graduates
I tried to make sense of the Four Books, until love arrived, and it all became a single syllable. Yunus

Congratulations Graduates
Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give. Ben Carson

Idea Transcript


Community e-Newsletter June 2016

Congratulations, Class of 2016 graduates! Nearly 500 Portland Public Schools’ students graduated during commencement ceremonies in the second week of June. Portland High School, the second oldest operating public high school in the United States, held its 195th graduation exercises June 8 at Merrill Auditorium. Valedictorian Chessa Hoekstra said students’ experiences at PHS form “a mosaic” of moments. “This time defines us now and will shape who we become in the future,” she said. Salutatorian Brad Ravenelle urged students to “not get lost in the pursuit of glory but rather seek to be remembered as the best of men and the best of women.” Deering High School held its 142nd commencement exercises on June 9, at the Cross Insurance Arena. Valedictorian Kristin Francoeur spoke of the memories she and her classmates will treasure about DHS throughout their lives. Now, however, she said, “It’s time to make a new memory.” Salutatorian Isaac Finberg said that while it’s necessary to prepare for some things – such as the speech he gave at graduation – it’s also important sometimes to just “wing it.” He urged graduates, “Don’t be afraid to do something unpredictable and out of the ordinary.” Casco Bay High School held its 8th graduation exercises on June 9 at Merrill Auditorium. CBHS, founded in 2005, is the Portland Public Schools’ newest high school. It is a part of the EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) network, and CBHS students engage in project-based learning expeditions. The high school’s graduation ceremony was in keeping with the school’s nontraditional approach to learning, with lots of hugs, humor and heartfelt sentiments mixed in with the pomp and circumstance during the evening ceremony. For example, all the members of the Class of 2016 delivered some “final words,” each sharing a thought on topics such as life, their school experience and the future as they graduated. Graduating senior Josie Pierce, chosen by the Graduation Committee as the class writer, read a poem she wrote about redemption. Mohamednoor Hassan was the class speaker. He said class members were like his second family. “This is a class that is unique, not just because we got class and style,” he said. “We have a lot of love and respect for each other.” The Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS), a regional career and technical education school that draws students from about 20 communities, including Portland, held a ceremony May 20 to award students certificates of completion in the programs they had taken. Some students also received national certifications. Portland Adult Education’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. on June 16 at Merrill Auditorium for the 42 students who attained high school diplomas and the 103 students who passed the HiSET test (formerly GED).

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

Introduction from NEW SUPERINTENDENT XAVIER BOTANA Dear Portland Public Schools Families and Community Members, I am thrilled to be able to write this message to you as the incoming Superintendent. I cannot wait to begin my tenure on July 1st, so I am taking this opportunity to introduce myself in this Community e-Newsletter. I have been an educator for more than 30 years. Every year has been different and great in its own way. I can honestly say that this is the first time I have been more excited for a new year to begin than I am for the old one to end. My school year in Michigan City is wrapping up. May 30th was our last student day and on June 1st, our teachers ended their school year, looking forward to a summer of family time, relaxation and professional growth. Our amazing seniors graduated on Sunday, June 5, and watching them walk across the stage was a fitting ending to this eventful school year. Over the next weeks, I will focus on transitioning my responsibilities while starting to work on the Portland Public Schools in earnest. I have been spending time on the phone (mostly in the evenings) beginning to learn about the issues, build relationships and plan ahead. I am grateful to the many school district folks who’ve been freely giving of their evening time to help me in this process. My family and I are working to transition our personal affairs so that we can be together in Portland as soon as possible. So, as you might imagine, there are lots of boxes, leases, phone calls, forms and good-byes in our present … We are so excited to become a part of your community and look forward to making it our own for many years. I look forward to meeting many of you, working with all of you and building a better future for our students, together. Best,

Xavier Botana

PROACTIVE TESTING SHOWS SCHOOL WATER SAFE Recent testing by City staff for lead in the drinking water of Portland Public Schools’ facilities shows safe levels in the district’s school buildings and its Central Kitchen and Central Office facilities. To be proactive, City maintenance staff took samples of water for testing earlier this spring after a lead poisoning crisis in Flint, Mich. The water samples were taken at 17 PPS facilities in late March and the Portland Water District analyzed them in April. The results show that the lead results in all locations were below the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action level of 15 micrograms per liter (µg/L). Water coming into a facility does not contain lead, so any lead present originates from interior plumbing and fixtures, according to the Portland Water District. Even though zero lead is the goal, is it typical to have at least some trace amount of lead in drinking water in homes and buildings in Maine. Faucets manufactured prior to 2014 contained lead and prior to 1987, when Maine outlawed it, lead was used to solder plumbing joints. Although not required to do so by law, PPS has installed bottle filler water coolers at most schools, which can filter out some lead. The water district also tested the PPS facilities for copper. All the copper results were well below the EPA action level of 1.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L), with the exception of water from a faucet at Lyseth Elementary School, which tested at 1.4 mg/L. Recent plumbing work is most likely the factor in the slightly high result. Water from that faucet was being retested. Copper gets into the water by dissolving from copper pipes, especially new ones. Over time, a coating forms in the pipes that can insulate the water from the copper in the pipes. The Lyseth faucet is connected to a new copper pipe. If water is run for about 30 seconds, the copper clears out, so PPS recommends that faucet be run before drinking water from it. Also, there are two bottle water coolers at Lyseth. The results of water testing results at PPS facilities can be found on the Portland Public Schools website, www.portlandschools.org. Go to the Facilities Department to access a file labeled “School Water Testing April 2016.”

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

NEWS FROM INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT JEANNE CROCKER Dear Portland Public Schools Families and Community Members: Welcome to the Portland Public Schools’ June 2016 Community e-Newsletter, which updates you on news about our schools as we wrap up the school year. You can read about our wonderful graduates and other award-winning students, learn about summer meals and reading programs for students, find out about news from our schools – and much more! This will be my last letter to you as interim superintendent, because I will be passing the baton to new Superintendent Xavier Botana on July 1. I extend a very warm welcome to Xavier as the new leader of Maine’s largest and most diverse school district! The Portland Board of Public Education selected him in May after a nationwide search. His qualifications match what families, district employees and the Portland community all said they want in a superintendent. He is very committed to making Portland home for himself and his family, providing the long-term leadership and stability that our district needs. I want to express my gratitude for the support you have shown me during my year as interim superintendent. I also want to thank you for supporting the school budget this spring, ensuring that we can continue our vital work of providing a quality education to the young Portlanders who are the city’s future. I also would like to take this opportunity to urge anyone who wants to play an even more active role with the Portland Public Schools to please volunteer in the upcoming school year. We have a wide variety of opportunities for volunteers, ranging from working in the classroom to walking a student to school as part of our Walking School Bus program. You’ll find more details about how to volunteer in these pages. Also, please mark your calendars for the Portland Board of Education on June 21 at Hall Elementary School, at which the board will hold a public hearing and vote on whether to recommend to the City Council that it send a $70 million bond proposal to city voters in November to pay for improvements at Presumpscot, Longfellow, Lyseth, and Reiche elementary schools. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all our students attend schools with safe environments designed for academic excellence and 21st century learning. I’ll close by saying the end of my term as interim superintendent doesn’t mean I’ll be leaving. Instead, I’m stepping back into my former role as the district’s director of school management. The position has been renamed Assistant Superintendent for School Management to better reflect its position in the organization. I look forward to continuing to partner with you, our families and our community, in the essential work of educating Portland’s children. In the meantime, I wish everyone an enjoyable summer!

Portland Interim Superintendent Jeanne Crocker

BUILDINGS FOR OUR FUTURE UPDATE The Portland Board of Public Education on June 7 held a first reading and public hearing regarding a recommendation to the City Council that it send a $70 million bond proposal to city voters in November for improvements at Presumpscot, Longfellow, Lyseth, and Reiche elementary schools. The board will hold another public hearing and take a final vote on the recommendation on June 21. The meeting will be at Hall Elementary School. Board members have expressed support for making such a recommendation, saying the four schools are in urgent need of upgrades to ensure all PPS students have access to a facility that meets their learning needs. According to the most recent “Buildings for Our Future” report from architecture and engineering firm Oak Point Associates, it will cost a projected $70 million to upgrade the four schools. Portland voters in April approved a $29.7 million bond to pay for constructing a new Hall Elementary School on the existing site. All but $1.4 million of the bonded amount will be reimbursed by the state.

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

June 2016

ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSITIONS

PRIDE PARADE 2016

The Portland Board of Public Education recently approved the hiring of three new administrators effective July 1: Caitlin LeClair, as principal of King Middle School; Ben Donaldson, as principal of Lyman Moore Middle School; and Kevin Stilphen, as director of the Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS). LeClair has been at King for 14 years, where she’s currently a teaching strategist. Donaldson was a Casco Bay High School teacher and ninth-grade team leader until June 2015, when he became assistant principal at Mahoney Middle School in South Portland. Stilphen has been with the district since 2004 and currently is the student services coordinator at PATHS.

The Portland Public Schools will once again have a big yellow school bus as an entry in the Portland Pride Parade this year. Please come and cheer participants on at the Saturday, June 18, event!

PATHS Director Michael Johnson is retiring; Kathleen Bouchard’s one-year post as interim principal at King is coming to an end; and Lyman Moore Principal Stephen Rogers is book-ending his educational career back in the classroom. Portland High School Principal Deborah Migneault is retiring. A process is underway with PHS staff, students, parents and community members to find a replacement. Becky Foley, the district’s chief academic officer, recently accepted a position as superintendent of RSU 5, representing Freeport, Durham and Pownal. Ellen Sanborn, PPS chief financial officer, has accepted a position with Greater Portland METRO. A search is underway to fill those positions. Kim Brandt, PPS director of school management, will become superintendent of M.S.A.D. 52, representing Turner, Leeds and Greene. Jeanne Crocker previously was PPS director of school management before accepting a one-year appointment as interim superintendent last summer. This summer, she will take over the position that Brandt is vacating. The position has been renamed assistant superintendent for school management to better reflect its position in the organization.

The Parade, an annual celebration of inclusivity, diversity and unity, begins at noon. The route starts in Monument Square and proceeds down Congress Street, turning right onto High Street, then left onto Park Avenue and into Deering Oaks Park. The Portland Public Schools’ participation in the parade sends an important message to PPS students, staff, families and the public that the district works to foster harmony and understanding and that it welcomes and values everyone in the Portland Public Schools!

LAST STUDENT DAY IS FULL DAY Friday, June 17, is the final day of school for students this school year and will be a full day, not a half day, as in past years. Monday, June 20, and Tuesday, June 21, are the last staff days for teachers and educational technicians. Those also will be full days.

Stay informed about the Portland public Schools You can follow the Portland Public Schools on Facebook (Portland, ME Public Schools), Twitter (@PORTLANDPUBLIC) and YouTube (portlandschools). You also can watch programs on TV3, Portland’s education station, even if you don’t have cable. TV3 programs stream live and many are available on demand. Go to: http://www.portlandschools.org/departments/tv3. Check the district’s website (www.portlandschools.org) for the latest district news, school budget information, school cancellations and upcoming events. An easy way to get to PPS’ YouTube, Twitter and Facebook sites is by clicking on the icons at the bottom of the homepage. The “Stay Informed” section of the district’s website (https://www.portlandschools.org/district_home/district_information/stay_informed) also outlines ways to stay up to date on district news.

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

Graduates earn stem endorsements June is a time of graduations and celebrations! The graduating Class of 2016 saw approximately 33 of our students across our three high schools graduating with the first Portland Public Schools’ STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) endorsements. This endorsement recognizes the students who have demonstrated a commitment to their STEM learning. In order to have earned this endorsement, the student provided evidence of the following: • • • •

Completed a minimum of 20 credits in STEM courses Demonstrated a minimum competency in pre-calculus Earned credit in at least one STEM college course or STEM A.P. course Completed a minimum of 50 hours of STEM learning through such areas as STEM internships, extended learning opportunities, or capstone projects.

The National Science Foundation notes: “In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.” The Portland Public Schools is offering students the opportunity to participate in increased rigor in these subject areas. With additional learning experiences in STEM, our students will be better prepared for these majors in college and in successful technical careers. As STEM occupations grow at an ever-increasing rate, the Portland Public Schools is motivated to have our students graduate with STEM endorsements in order to better prepare them to compete in today’s global society. On another note, I have accepted a position in RSU 5 to become that district’s next superintendent. It is with mixed emotions that I accepted this position, as it has been a privilege to be the Portland Public Schools’ chief academic officer. I have enjoyed striving with district and school leaders and staff to make the Portland Public Schools a better district. In the process, I have become a stronger leader and learned many lessons, and I hope in some small way I have made a difference in the lives of the students, staff and families of PPS. – Becky Foley, Chief Academic Officer

VOLUNTEERS WANTED ! The Portland Public Schools welcomes volunteers and community involvement in our schools. A community coordinator works in each school to develop and coordinate opportunities for meaningful involvement. Please consider volunteering when the new 2016-2017 starts in the fall! Among opportunities is the Walking School Bus program at our elementary schools, in which adults can volunteer to accompany students as they walk to school, promoting fitness and good attendance. To learn more, please contact the community coordinator at your local school: https://www.portlandschools.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=1094237&pageId=7033442 Community and business partners are vital to the mission of the Portland Public Schools. Please get involved!

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

Awards and Recognition for students The following is a sampling of awards/honors recently won by district students: • Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) automotive class students Victor Graviss, whose sending school is Deering High School, and Zachary Holmquist, who attends South Portland High School, finished in first place recently at the 2016 New England Top Tech Challenge, sponsored by the Universal Technical Institute. Victor and Zachary each received a championship trophy $10,000 scholarship to UTI Technical School. PATHS received a large toolbox filled with $2,000 worth of tools. A total of 32 teams competed in this challenge. Another PATHS team took fourth place. • Presumpscot Elementary School third-grader Xavier Bradford won first place this spring in a competition for creating a video that combines math and engaging narration to tell an adventure story that he wrote. Xavier competed in the Middle School Division through a Freeport-based nonprofit called Meridian Stories. He won first place in the “Graphic Journal” competition by creatively performing a TED Talk about the adventure story he authored. The story is about a baker's son named Felix and his crew who venture out into the Atlantic Ocean to prove that Felix “can do more than burn apple pies.” Xavier designed graphs and equations that represent the ups and downs of the journey, including the distance the submarine was from Maine, the number of dents in the ship from fighting amphibians, and the confidence levels of Felix along the way. • A team of King Middle School students recently took second place in a statewide engineering contest involving building a floating wind turbine. The Windstorm Challenge engineering competition took place May 20 in Orono. Students from high schools and middle schools competed. That event and also a Wind Blade Challenge were hosted by UMaine's Advanced Structures & Composites Center. In the Windstorm Challenge, student teams competed to build a stable floating wind turbine. King students came in second, behind Falmouth High School. Caribou Middle School came in third. Gus Goodwin, King Middle School’s technology education teacher, said King Windsor 8 students “did this project as part of our W3 (Wind Water Waves) Expedition.” Students in the challenge designed and built the projects over the past few months and demonstrated them at the competition. • The new Deering/Portland Unified Basketball Team was honored by the Portland Board of Public Education and Interim Superintendent Jeanne Crocker at the board’s April 26 meeting. The following description of this successful team was read at the meeting: “Deering and Portland high schools proudly collaborated on an inaugural season of Unified basketball this year. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, the Deering/Portland Unified Basketball Team held their first home game. Unified basketball is a sport cosponsored by the Special Olympics and the Maine Principals’ Association. This program was created last year by the MPA and consisted of 16 teams across the state. This year, 32 districts had participating teams. Unified basketball partners students with identified developmental disabilities with fellow students to participate in an MPA sport both in eight regular season games and the opportunity to earn heal points to compete in playoffs. Coaches for the Portland team consisted of Adam Perron and Chris Hazelton, along with parent liaison Miles Bisher. The team had a very successful first year, finishing by being the South Region runner up. Students from the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams were among the many positive, happy and supportive fans that attended these games.”

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

More Student Awards and Recognitions

• The 2016 MPA Principal’s Award winners from the Portland Public Schools’ three high schools are: Sahra Ahmed, Deering High School; Josie Pierce, Casco Bay High School; and Moses Small, Portland High School. The students received their awards at an Honors Luncheon in Bangor on April 2. Each year, Maine high school principals nominate one senior from their schools to receive an MPA Principal’s Award. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals' Association, is given in recognition of a high school senior's academic achievement and citizenship. • Three Deering High School sophomores – Alexander Fitzgerald, Fadumo Adan and Arlo Farr-Weinfeld – were finalists in the Ninth Annual Merriconeag Poetry Festival, held May 1 at the Maine Coast Waldorf School in Freeport. These students' poems were among only 20 selected for the event. They were chosen from more than 100 submissions from students in Cumberland, Sagadahoc, and Androscoggin counties. This year's judge was nationally known poet Rachel Contreni Flynn. All three Deering students expressed feelings of surprise about having their poems selected. “I feel lucky and also proud of myself,” Alex said, adding, "I am really impressed and really proud that three Deering students out of the 20 were selected as finalists for the festival." Shana Genre, the students' creative writing teacher, welcomed the happy news. “I am so excited that these students will be honored at the festival,” she said. “It has been a pleasure to work with them and watch their creative voices develop.” • Deering High School junior Gabriel “Tito” Morales in February won the New England Golden Gloves boxing championship in the novice class. Barry Wilson, a Lyman Moore Middle School sixth-grader, became the New England Junior Champion in his 90-pound weight class. w

w

w

w

w

w

w

District Wins Equality Award The Portland Public Schools has been recognized by EqualityMaine for providing safe and inclusive school learning environments for youth. The district received EqualityMaine’s Partner for Equality Award at the organization’s Annual Awards Gala in April. The Portland Public Schools is “leading the way for what it means to provide safe and inclusive learning environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in Maine, as well as being an employer of choice for LGBT teachers, administrators and staff,” EqualityMaine said.

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

Lyman Moore Students hold poetry slam Lyman Moore Middle School teacher Tyler Jellison brought a group of eighth-graders to a recent Central Office staff meeting for the students to hold a “poetry slam,” in which they recited poems they had written. Students Jean-Daniel Liwanga and Noah Collins recited a poem called, “Don't Discriminate Us.” Hanan Ali recited two poems, “Look” and “Can’t Touch This.” Prise Josephine recited, “I'm an African.” Another girl’s poem was called “The All Knowing.” Shahed Amer also recited two poems. One was “Responsibilities” about being a big sister. The other was “Forgotten Land,” about her home country, Iraq. The students’ moving recitations earned them a standing ovation from staff.

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

Summer Reading Program: I ♥ Reading in Portland The Portland Public Schools and the Portland Public Library are excited to announce a joint summer reading program for 2016: I ♥ Reading in Portland: Time of Wonder. Children throughout the community are encouraged to read about and explore the natural world this summer! This year’s theme, Time of Wonder, has a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) activities. Elementary school students will receive the reading log/map from their school library in June. The program will run for eight weeks and sign-up at the Portland Public Library begins the week of June 20. The goal is to read or listen to at least eight books this summer The adventure map contains suggestions for reading as well as outdoor activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Children who visit the public library during sign-up will also receive a ticket voucher to a Portland Sea Dogs game! Those children who reach the reading goal and return their logs to the public library will receive a certificate, a book, a coupon from Gelato Fiasco and a free Kids’ Meal from Subway. The public library will return completed forms to each school or students can return their completed log too their school in September. There will be a variety of educational and entertaining programs at different Portland Public Library locations! The Sam L. Cohen Children’s Library (Monument Square location) will also offer special programs during their regularly scheduled story times on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Check the Portland Public Library calendar for details.

june 2016

SUMMER MEALS IN PORTLAND The Portland Public Schools and the Opportunity Alliance will be operating summer meal sites across the city of Portland this summer. Meals and times will be posted at sites and will be distributed prior to the end of school. Most sites will begin operations on June 27 and continue thru mid-August. All children 18 years and younger may receive a meal free of charge at any of these locations. A Summer Success Picnic will kick off the summer at Deering Oaks Park on Wednesday, July 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (rain date of Thursday, July 14). All are invited to the event, which will incorporate friends, fun and food! For more information about sites and times, you may dial 2-1-1. Portland Open Meal Sites are: Front Street Community Center; North Deering Gardens; Ocean Ave Elementary School; Riverton Housing; Sagamore Village; Lyman Moore Middle School; Lyseth Elementary School; Danforth Heights; Deering Oaks Park; Deering High School; Fore River Housing; Reiche Summer Program; Kennedy Park; Munjoy South Playground; The Root Cellar; Unity Village; and the YMCA.

JOIN US FOR A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON CHALLENGES/OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW AMERICAN CHILDREN/TEENS/FAMILIES! The Center for Grieving Children's Intercultural Advisory Council is hosting its second annual Community Conversation, in collaboration with Portland Public Schools, to explore the educational challenges and opportunities faced by new American children, teens and their families. The event will take place on Wednesday, June 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Portland Public Library’s Rines Auditorium. Light refreshments and gathering will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The program begins at 6 p.m. Speakers will represent diverse perspectives on the topic and will include members of the Center's Intercultural Advisory Council, representatives from Portland Public Schools, parents, and students. French, Arabic, Acholi, Somali, Kinyarwanda and Nuer interpretation will be provided. For more information or to preregister, call 207.775.5216 or email Sue Calhoun at [email protected]

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

AWARD-WINNING STAFF • Casco Bay High School Principal Derek Pierce is Maine’s NASSP Principal of the Year for 2016! Pierce was honored for the achievement at the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) Spring Conference on April 28. The MPA said Pierce received the award based on his accomplishments as a strong educational leader; as a role model in the development of positive school culture and climate; for building student-centered programs; and on his ability to inspire all those around him to meet the learning needs of every student, every day. In announcing Pierce’s selection, MPA Executive Director Richard Durost noted, “Derek Pierce has been the constant in the development of Casco Bay High School as a national model for expeditionary learning. His leadership as well as the commitment of the students, staff, and Portland School Department to provide an alternative educational option is commendable.” Interim Superintendent Jeanne Crocker said the district is proud Pierce will serve “as our representative in excellence in secondary school leadership.” Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling said, "Derek Pierce is a jewel in Portland. … I am beyond pleased that he is being recognized statewide for his excellent work with Portland school kids. We are lucky to have his skills in our community." Pierce said many people played a role in helping him gain the recognition, including the Portland Board of Public Education, PPS staff, his family and the school’s students. He told the students: “You are our greatness.” The students gave him a standing ovation. • The Portland Board of Public Education and Interim Superintendent Jeanne Crocker recently recognized Duke Madsen, King Middle School athletic director, for winning the 2016 Excellence in Middle Level Athletic Administration Award at the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) annual spring conference in Rockport on April 7. Recipients of the award are chosen for their positive contributions made to middle school athletics at the local and state levels. Duke has been an integral contributor to the Southern Maine Middle School Athletic Conference, where he serves as basketball liaison for the Cumberland County Division as well as the baseball umpire assignor. In a statement, the MIAAA said, “Madsen has demonstrated creativity and innovation in increasing participation opportunities for students in his school.” • King Middle School staff members were honored by the Portland Board of Public Education and Interim Superintendent Jeanne Crocker for their successful efforts to provide more students with school breakfast. The school won a $500 award from Full Plates Full Potential, which was presented to King Interim Principal Kathleen Bouchard and cafeteria staff Andrea Garland and Bonnie Roast at the board’s May 10 meeting. During this year’s National School Breakfast Week in March, Full Plates Full Potential and the Maine Department of Education’s Child Nutrition program challenged schools to increase school breakfast participation. The benefits of eating school breakfast include improved academic performance, attention span, and overall health. During the current school year of 2015-2016, 47.7 percent of Maine children qualify for free and reduced price school meals. Of these approximately 86,000 children, only 40 percent participate in school breakfast. King Middle School went from a traditional cafeteria breakfast to Breakfast in the Classroom beginning in December – providing many more students with access to breakfast. Since its inception, program participation has increased.

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

MORE STAFF ACCOLADES • David Hilton, a Lyman Moore Middle School social studies teacher, headed to the Philippines in June, in the final step of a fellowship he won from the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program. Hilton is one of just three teachers from Maine to have won the one-year fellowships in 2015 from that U.S. State Department program. The three – who also include a teacher from Camden and one from Gray-New Gloucester – are among only about 80 teachers around the country to be awarded the 2015 fellowships. The Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (TGC) is a yearlong professional development opportunity for the nation’s elementary, middle and high school teachers to become leaders in global education. The trip in June will be the final step in the fellowship, which Hilton was awarded last June. Hilton said, “I hope to see how Filipino schools compare to American schools. I want to learn what they do well and what they struggle with. I hope to bring back some innovative ideas for improving my school. Also, I hope to be able to have lots and lots of personal experiences with Filipino people – teachers, students, young people and families. I want to get a sense for Filipino culture.” • Portland High School music teacher Jayne Sawtelle won a $5,500 grant for the school to start a percussion ensemble. The 2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools Enterprise Award grant award was presented to the school on May 12 by the GRAMMY Foundation and the Ford Motor Company Fund. Sawtelle said the award will greatly benefit the school. “We are planning to have a percussion ensemble and, specifically, purchase Caribbean steel drums and start a steel drum band,” she said. Sawtelle credited Cathie Martin, PHS administrative secretary, with alerting her about the opportunity to apply for the grant. w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

w

FOSTER GRANDPARENTS AID IN STUDENT SUCCESS The Portland Public Schools is grateful for the Foster Grandparent Program, through which adults age 55+ volunteer to mentor and tutor students under the supervision of teachers and staff. One such outstanding Foster Grandparent is Al Hodder, who works with students at Portland High School. Here’s a profile of Al Hodder, role model and mentor, that was recently provided by Opportunity Alliance, which sponsors the Foster Grandparent program: “Expect the unexpected” was the first piece of advice Foster Grandparent Al Hodder received as he prepared for his first day volunteering with English language learners at Portland High School. Within minutes of Al being introduced to the classroom, a girl rushed over to him to ask for help on a paper. Without having much background on the subject, Hodder dove right in, helping her research, plan and edit her paper. From that moment on he was hooked, enthusiastically anticipating each new day and challenge as a Foster Grandparent. “Mr. Al,” as he is known by his students, volunteers with the Foster Grandparent Program, a national program sponsored in Maine by the Opportunity Alliance. Foster Grandparents is a program in which volunteers who are 55 and older serve 15-40 hours a week in local schools, Head Start programs and child development centers across York, Cumberland and Southern Oxford counties. All Foster Grandparents receive training, supervision and recognition. Income eligible volunteers receive a nontaxable stipend, meals and mileage reimbursements. While most Foster Grandparents volunteer with primary-school age children, supporting the students as they learn how to read and solve math problems, Hodder’s situation is unique in that he is able to provide not only assistance with paper writing or math classes, but he also can be a mentor to students who are navigating the complex world of applying to college, helping them formulate personal statements and apply for scholarships. In the classroom, Hodder provides crucial academic and social support to students new to American culture and the English language. As Hodder’s teacher tells him, “I could not run my classroom without your help, Al.” The gratification in volunteering happens every day when Hodder sees his students in the hall or on the streets of Portland. His students run to greet him or excitedly introduce him to their family members. He has been fortunate to have seen a few of his students become United States citizens, a huge milestone in the lives of new Americans. For Hodder his enjoyment comes from watching students progress each and every day. To learn more about volunteering with the Foster Grandparent Program call 207-773-0202 or email us at [email protected].

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing

KING NOW MENTOR SCHOOL King Middle School recently was named a 2016 EL Education Mentor School, an honor given to highperforming EL Education schools that have not only reached the organization's high standards for quality, but also have demonstrated a readiness and willingness to share their expertise with new network schools. EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) is a leading K-12 nonprofit that is redefining student achievement in diverse communities across the country. King is one of 12 Mentor Schools that are a subset of the 25 EL Education Credentialed Schools that excel in three dimensions of student achievement powerfully associated with success in college and careers: mastery of knowledge and skills; character; and high-quality work. During the two-year term, King will be partnered with one new EL Education school, regularly connecting in person and through other means to share best practices and provide advice.

PPS DESIGNATED CONFUCIUS CLASSROOM The Portland Public Schools has been named a Confucius Classroom in concert with the University of Southern Maine’s Confucius Institute. In becoming a Confucius Classroom, the district is able to enrich its offerings in Chinese language and culture and expand Mandarin classes at Deering and Casco Bay high schools. To formally celebrate this recognition from Hanban, the Confucius Institute Headquarters affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education, an inaugural ceremony was held May 21 at Deering High School auditorium. The ceremony included tree planting, ribbon cutting, and Chinese performances. A Confucius Classroom plaque was awarded to the Portland Public Schools. Leaders from the Portland Public Schools, the University of Southern Maine and the city of Portland, and dignitaries from the Chinese Consulate attended the event.

june 2016

Culture club-portland honored by city On May 16, Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling and the Portland City Council honored Culture Club-Portland for “ensuring access to world-class arts for all students in Portland Public Schools.” Culture ClubPortland was created in 2012 in response to growing concerns about the dwindling presence of cultural experiences for students in Portland’s public schools. The consortium, brought together by a generous anonymous donor, includes the Portland Museum of Art, Portland Ovations, Portland Stage, and Portland Symphony Orchestra, and has the aspirational goal of providing free arts experiences to every child in the Portland Public Schools, every year. To learn more, go directly to the arts organizations’ websites.

STUDENT ART FEATURED IN ANNUAL CITY HALL EXHIBIT The Portland Public Schools’ Annual Student Art Show was on display at Portland City Hall from April 28 through May 18. The work of approximately 650 talented Portland Public Schools’ students in kindergarten through grade 12 was exhibited during this year’s show. Visitors had the opportunity to view creative and compelling works from each grade level and also get a sense of students’ growing artistic capabilities as they mature. Chad Hart, Riverton Elementary School art teacher and the Portland Public Schools’ art coordinator, said the annual show is a credit to the district’s art teachers and “showcases the wonderful talent of our students, their creativity, imagination and their abilities.”

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

CIVIL RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS The Portland Public Schools, with support from our colleagues on the city side, will begin immediately to plan for the changes indicated in the guidance letter below, issued in May by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice. The district is committed to establishing and maintaining a culture in which all our students and staff feel comfortable, safe, and valued. Parents and students and staff interested in serving on a Task Force to determine best appropriate steps, please e-mail Interim Superintendent Jeanne Crocker at [email protected]. The first meeting of the Task Force is expected to take place in late June. The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice released joint guidance today to help provide educators the information they need to ensure that all students, including transgender students, can attend school in an environment free from discrimination based on sex. Recently, questions have arisen from school districts, colleges and universities, and others about transgender students and how to best ensure these students, and non-transgender students, can all enjoy a safe and discrimination-free environment. Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, schools receiving federal money may not discriminate based on a student’s sex, including a student’s transgender status. The guidance makes clear that both federal agencies treat a student’s gender identity as the student’s sex for purposes of enforcing Title IX. The guidance explains that when students or their parents, as appropriate, notify a school that a student is transgender, the school must treat the student consistent with the student’s gender identity. A school may not require transgender students to have a medical diagnosis, undergo any medical treatment, or produce a birth certificate or other identification document before treating them consistent with their gender identity. The guidance also explains schools’ obligations to: • Respond promptly and effectively to sex-based harassment of all students, including harassment based on a student’s actual or perceived gender identity, transgender status, or gender transition; • Treat students consistent with their gender identity even if their school records or identification documents indicate a different sex; • Allow students to participate in sex-segregated activities and access sex-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity; and • Protect students’ privacy related to their transgender status under Title IX and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. At the same time, the guidance makes clear that schools can provide additional privacy options to any student for any reason. The guidance does not require any student to use shared bathrooms or changing spaces, when, for example, there are other appropriate options available; and schools can also take steps to increase privacy within shared facilities. To read the joint guidance, go to: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201605-title-ix-transgender.pdf To read about a compilation of policies and practices that schools across the country are already using to support transgender students, go to: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oshs/emergingpractices.pdf

PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY 2016 Sixteen leaders of local businesses, colleges, nonprofits and other organizations spent a day as guest principals at Portland’s public schools during the week of May 2-6, as part of our fourth annual Principal for a Day program, run in partnership with the Portland Regional Chamber. The leaders got a firsthand look at our schools, and our principals had an opportunity to learn about the perspectives of these seasoned executives. And some executives have pledged to do more to help our schools! Our students enjoyed interacting with our guest principals. For example, in the photo at right, Jack Quirk, president and CEO of Quirk Auto Group, reads a book with a student at Riverton Elementary School. And Dajuan Eubanks, president of the Maine Red Claws, gave East End Community School students a thrill by signing autographs. Thanks to the executives, the Portland Chamber and our school leaders for making the program a success again this year!

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

NEW BELL SCHEDULES FOR MOST ELEMENATRY SCHOOLS AND TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS The Portland Public Schools has set new start and end times for most of the district’s elementary schools and two of its middle schools for the upcoming 2016-2017 school year. Please refer to the above calendar for the bell schedules of those schools and all other schools. You can also find the calendar on the district’s website, www.portlandschools.org, under the “News & Calendars” tab. The schedule changes are necessary to ensure school buses get students to and from school in a more timely manner. This year, some students had long wait times before a school bus could take them home at the end of the school day. Also, in the mornings, some buses had to drop children off at school too far in advance of those schools’ start times. The time adjustments for the new school year are designed to ensure that buses are waiting when students are dismissed from school and that buses won’t arrive at school more than 15 minutes before school starts in the morning. High school bell schedules won’t change – they’ll keep the same 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. schedule that they have this year. The Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) also will retain its current schedule There also will be no schedule changes for King Middle School, Riverton Elementary School and the island schools. All other schools will have new bell schedules. The bell schedule changes were approved by district administration in consultation with school building leaders. They were presented to the Portland Board of Public Education at a workshop session on May 10.

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

News from our schools • Presumpscot Elementary School students held culminating events for several learning expeditions in June. As part of fourth-graders’ Coastal Erosion of Saco Bay Expedition, students created brochures about erosion to educate summer visitors to Maine and presented their research about erosion at The Ecology School in Saco. As the finale of their Lobster Expedition, third-graders gave lessons on the life cycle of a lobster to visitors and other students while participating in the Atlantic Cup Kids Day on the Maine Wharf. Second-graders studied pollinators as part of a Pollinators Expedition and planted a pollinator garden at the school. • Ocean Avenue Elementary School students and art teachers – as well as teachers and students from Hall, Longfellow, Lyseth and Riverton elementary schools and Deering High School and the Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) – have been partnering with Rosemont Market & Bakery on a mural project for Rosemont’s Brighton Avenue store. They recently unveiled the artwork, consisting of seven panels on the outside of the building that depict Portland’s agrarian history. The mural project has been a two-year collaboration between Rosemont and art teachers and students throughout Portland. Spearheaded by Simon Williams, an educational technician at Ocean Avenue School, the impetus for the mural project came from Williams’ desire to energize Portland youth to contribute meaningfully to their community and to call attention to the impact Portland Public Schools’ art programs can have on enriching life in Portland neighborhoods. • Lincoln Middle School ELL teachers Jane Armstrong and Robyn Bailey created a unit of study called “The Many Faces of Commercial Street” with the aid of a grant, funded in part by the Portland Education Foundation. The grant helped 25 ELL students to use inquiry and research based study to investigate the many businesses, buildings, and people of Commercial Street. Students interviewed people who work and live there to seek out information about its rich history. Essential questions for the unit included: How does change affect our world? How can we learn from change? What problem-solving strategies can individuals use to manage conflict and change? Visiting artists included: David McLain, a National Geographic photographer, and writing mentors from The Telling Room, a nonprofit writing center in Portland. Student work, both written and visual, will be displayed as an art installation at the school. • The junior class of Casco Bay High School held a premiere of student-made documentaries: “Detroit: Stories from Inside the City” at the Nickelodeon Cinemas on June 6 and the free event was so popular it sold out. Students set a second performance for 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, at the school. CBHS junior Skylar Cummings explained the “Junior Journey,” an annual learning expedition for 11th-graders, of which the documentaries are a part: “As a class, we have been examining the widening gap between rich and poor in our country. In late April, 92 juniors traveled to Detroit to help those who are rebuilding the city and to uncover individual stories of economic inequality. Teams of students have created documentaries on people living in Detroit … powerful stories.” • Deering High School students in May presented an original performance titled “It Could Happen To You,” which exposes the reality of sexual exploitation of minors in Maine. The production was created in partnership with Stop Trafficking ME and was under the direction of DHS drama teacher Kathleen Harris. The production was written and produced by DHS students. The plan was to film the performance and make copies available to other high schools in Maine to help address the problem.

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

More News from Our Schools The Fashion Marketing Program at the Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) put on its annual fashion show in April. The “Collection 2016 Fashion Show” was PATHS’ 25th annual fashion show. Instructor Jane Krasnow said the 2016 show featured two senior collections, one splashy and formal and the other very casual. “Some garments are very wearable, others are wearable art,” Krasnow said. Proceeds benefited student scholarships as well as helping “Facing Maine,” a community organization that helps families and children that are dealing with cleft lip and palate. Also, PATHS students partnered with Cape Elizabeth High School’s “Cape Closet,” which provides donated prom gowns free to students who need them. PATHS students redesigned and updated gowns to demonstrate how easy it is to make a slightly out-of-date prom gown into the current style. The students enjoyed the community service project and presented some of the gowns at the show. Portland High School recently received national certification for its Project Lead The Way (PLTW) engineering program, which it has been offering since 2013. PLTW is a nonprofit that provides a transformative learning experience for K-12 students and teachers. PLTW Engineering empowers students to step into the role of an engineer, adopt a problemsolving mindset, and make the leap from dreamers to doers. The national PLTW recognition distinguishes schools for successfully demonstrating a commitment to PLTW’s national standards. “We’ve seen how the PLTW engineering classes inspire students to think critically and problem solve,” said Rosalee Lamm, PLTW teacher. “We are extremely proud to be PLTW certified.” Principal Deborah Migneault said the program “draws more students to engineering, math and science and gets them thinking about college and their careers.” Hall Elementary School fifth-graders are currently completing their artist research project by making their own 12' x 12" cloth pillows. These pillows display students' own interpretation of their chosen artist's work. This multiple week research project is a wonderful souvenir of their art experience at Hall School!

East End Community School fifth-grade ambassadors spent time discussing ways to be a global citizen and help others. So East End and UNICEF Kid Power teamed up to saves lives. By getting active with the UNICEF Kid Power Band, kids earn points to provide therapeutic food packets for malnourished children around the world. The more kids move, the more points they earn and the more lives they save. Students during the month of March and April opened over 1000 packets of therapeutic food and set a goal of opening another 500 more before the end of school. Students in grades 3 -5 wear Kid Power Bands. These Bands measure movement. Physical activity earns Kid Power Points, which unlock funding from partners, parents and sponsors. UNICEF uses these funds to deliver lifesaving packets of therapeutic food to severely malnourished children. Lyman Moore Middle School's third annual HyperHeart 5k, a race organized by former Moore and current Portland High School students Karina Boothe and Lauren Paradise, took place in May and was once again incredibly successful in raising money for the American Heart Association. The girls' fundraising efforts netted $2,700 this year, for a three-year total of $7,000. Karina and Lauren started organizing the race as seventh-graders in order to raise awareness of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disorder that has affected both of their families. It has evolved into a great annual event for the schools, neighborhood, and community. In May, King Middle School eighth-graders hosted Katie Brown, executive director of The Locker Project, for a discussion about Franklin Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” – freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom of speech, and freedom of worship. The students were exploring these freedoms, derived from FDR’s 1941 State of the Union address, as part of a semester-long learning expedition. Brown’s appearance was an opportunity for students to learn how to enhance and maintain freedom from want in greater Portland. It also marked the beginning of a collaboration between King Middle School and The Locker Project. King students will determine how and when the school will begin its own food pantry. The Locker Project, in partnership with the Good Shepherd Food Bank, helps ensure food security for all Maine children through local schools.

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

More News from our Schools • Longfellow Elementary School recently received a donation of $1,000 from its business partner, University Credit Union. The funds will be used to purchase iPads for classrooms. This is the fifth year the credit union has “adopted” Longfellow School. The credit union has donated a total of $6,685 to the school during that time, which has been used to expand learning opportunities for students. Past funds were used to fund a wall mural, iPads, and leveled-literacy take-home books. In addition, the credit union has provided supplies for the nurse's office, funded Thanksgiving baskets, and supported the school’s Holiday Angels program.. • A strong partnership has developed between Reiche Community School and Waynflete School. More than 60 students from Waynflete, a private school located in Portland’s West End, visit Reiche, a public school in the same neighborhood, each week. Through a program called The Story Boost Project, the older Waynflete students read to Reiche kindergarten students to help foster a love of reading. The program has been growing over the past six years. In addition to inspiring students to read, friendships between students from the two schools also are forged. • In May, 11 fourth-grade Riverton Elementary School Civil Rights Team (CRT) members visited the classrooms of teachers Jena Kerns and Kelley Holmes at Longfellow Elementary School. With the help of Amanda Atkinson-Lewis, social worker at Riverton and co-advisor of the CRT and Sarah Thomson, Longfellow parent and CRT enthusiast, Riverton students told the Longfellow students about the Riverton CRT, talked about differences, learned about discrimination and what students can do about it, read some books with anti-bias themes (“Amazing Grace,” “And Tango Makes Three,” “The Family Book,” and “It’s OK to Be Different”), and had some discussion questions for the class based on those books. The goals of the visit were to get students thinking and talking about all the ways that they can be different from each other and that differences are a GOOD thing; have students learn what discrimination is and think and talk about ways they can help with that problem; and have students think and talk about how, even though they all have things that make them different, they also have lots in common. It was a wonderful experience for all involved to bring the two schools together for such important work. • It’s all in the family in fifth-grade teacher Carrie Mooney’s classroom at Lyseth Elementary School. The teacher’s mother, Stacey Mooney, assists as an educational technician and the teacher’s grandmother, Carrie Benner, works as a volunteer in the classroom. Carrie Mooney herself is a Lyseth alum. The family is devoted to education – and to Lyseth! (Pictured, from

left to right, are: educational technician Stacey Mooney; classroom volunteer Carrie Benner; and Lyseth Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Carrie Mooney.) In the picture at right, also at Lyseth, kindergarten students help prepare their school garden for planting carrots and potatoes during the school's annual Greening Day on May 19. More than 500 Lyseth students participate in stewardship projects on their school grounds each Greening Day, which has become a beloved school tradition for the last five years.

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

More news from our schools • Peaks Island Elementary School students launched a project earlier this year called RRR-Evolution – Reduce-Reuse-Recycle and evolution or change. The purpose of the project was to learn the impact on the island of all the trash residents generate. On June 7, Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling traveled to Peaks to “commission” some solutions that the students designed and built to help deal with that trash: a compost container and a returnables container. “These two pieces will be a permanent feature at our Peaks Island Elementary School as we move to a Green Schools of Choice status in the coming year,” said the school’s teacher leader, Renee Bourgoine-Serio. The mayoral visit was the culminating event of the RRR-Evolution project. Parents and the community were invited to participate in a gallery walk of the work that students in kindergarten through grade 5 did to explore the question: “What impact does trash have on our island community?” Student art and writing were featured. Activities during the RRR-Evolution project included having school staff and students carry around all their own trash for a week to get a sense of how much waste they produce; sorting and weighing their trash with the help of ecomaine waste management; and then traveling to the mainland to follow their trash to ecomaine, to see what happens when it leaves the island. The project involved math and reading and focused on writing and science, particularly engineering. Also, the Peaks Island School’s “After School Academy” hosted and performed an evening of community theater with a series of plays this spring. The academy is a free, after-school enrichment program for every student at the school. The academy began last fall in collaboration with Portland Recreation, the Peaks Island Fund of the Maine Community Foundation and several island nonprofit organizations. Other programs offered under the umbrella of the After School Academy have included Lego Robotics; an environmental arts activity in conjunction with an International Coastal Cleanup event; and “Island Adventurers,” which got students out into the community to explore and learn about the island.

A LETTER from CLiff Island School Each spring the Outer Islands TLC (Teaching and Learning Collaborative) gets together for a big group field trip. The TLC consists of six island schools (Monhegan, Isle Au Haut, Islesford, Frenchboro, Matinicus, and Cliff) that work together to provide additional learning opportunities for the students in their one- and two-room schoolhouses – such as shared book groups, social studies and science collaborations, morning exercises, and student council. During the last week in May, we all stayed at the Wayfinder School in New Gloucester. Each activity-filled day was extra special, because the students got to share the experiences with their island friends. Some of the highlights were a mock presidential debate and election (Harriet Tubman and Theodore Roosevelt tied); an author (Mary Cerullo) visit and workshop with Island Readers and Writers; the construction of a greenhouse during our service learning project; the launching of a weather balloon at the Gray weather station; and visits to the Maine Wildlife Park, The Telling Room (a writing program in Portland that we highly recommend!), The Portland Museum of Art and the Maine Historical Society; and of course, Capture the Flag! – Joshua Holloway, teacher

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

Thank you to our retirees for your service! The Portland Board of Public Education honored our district’s retirees on June 7. Listed below are new retirees and those whose retirement last year came after the board’s June 2015 retirement ceremony. Also listed are most recent job titles and years of service with the district. (We apologize for omitting here any retirees who signed up after this newsletter’s deadline.) • Donna Holden, Peaks Island Elementary School, 38 years • Margaret Hoyt, district health teacher, 42 years • Dawn Hubert, special services school secretary, 17 years • Cheryl Hudson, Deering High School teacher, 33 years • Michael Johnson, PATHS director, 17 years • Nancy Jordan, Riverton Elementary School teacher, 33 years • Alice Levesque, Deering High School ed tech, 17 years

Retirees attend a June 7 reception at City Hall.

• Faith Lockhart, special services school secretary, 17 years • Glen Mayberry, Deering High School teacher, 19 years

• Douglas Armstrong, PATHS culinary arts instructor, 13 years • Michael McCarthy, King Middle School principal, 28 years • Cindy Blais, Portland High School teacher, 27 years • Geraldine Merrill, Hall Elementary School teacher, 22 years • Mary Ann Brown, Deering High School teacher, 29 years • Deborah Migneault, Portland High School principal, 5 years • Annick Cadot, Deering High School teacher, 26 years • Virginia Milioto, East End Community School teacher, 9 years • Patricia Coombs, Lincoln Middle School teacher, 29 years • Susanne Mitchell, district accounting specialist, 18 years • Constance Daigle, Deering High School teacher, 12 years • Karen Morton, Reiche Community School math coach, 30 years • Eileen Dawson, Lyseth Elementary School teacher, 20 years • Carroll Nappi, Portland High School teacher, 28 years • Carol Dayn, Riverton Elementary School teacher, 28 years • Susan Neily, Portland High School teacher, 43 years • Katheryn Dunham, Deering High School guidance, 16 years • Carol Nylen, King Middle School teacher, 14 years • John-Paul Fabish, Lyman Moore Middle School teacher, 13 years • Claire Olson-Crocker, Lincoln Middle School teacher, 30 years • Rocco Frenzilli, Portland High School teacher, 41 years • Katharine Porter, Portland High School teacher, 9 years • Mark Gervais, King Middle School, teacher, 39 years • Nancy Rawlings, Ocean Avenue Elementary School teacher, 12 years • Priscille Grassi, Deering High School food service worker, 20 years • Anita Romanow, Riverton Elementary School ed tech, 24 years • Sandra Guerra, Portland High School teacher, 45 years • Ellen Sanborn, district chief financial office, 2 years • Brenda Gushee, Deering High School teacher, 27 years • Sheryl Simmons, Deering High School teacher, 18 years • John Gutgsell, Portland High School custodian, 18 years • Helen Snyder, Deering High School educational technician, 33 years • Susan Healey, Hall Elementary School teacher, 29 years • Nancy Tryzelaar, Ocean Avenue Elementary School teacher, 29 years • Ronda Hebert-Gagne, Reiche Community School, office secretary, 8 years

• Kevin Whittemore, district assistant transportation director, 25 years

• Joseph Herring, Ocean Avenue Elementary School custodian, 28 years

• Bruno Yomoah, Deering High School teacher, 19 years

Portland Public schools: ensuring student success in a diverse, ever-changing world

june 2016

TRANSLATION ASSISTANCE English If you need help with translating this information into another language, please call the Multilingual and Multicultural Center at 874-8135. Acholi Ka imito kony me kwango ngec man i leb mukene, tim ber go cim i ofic pa Multilingual ki Multicultural Center i nama 874-8135. Arabic ‫صاليرجي تﻷاةﺮﯾاﺪﺒﺠﻣاﺮﺒﺗﺎﻐﻠﻟا‬,‫ اذﺎﺘﻨﻛﺔﺟﺎﺤﺒٮﻟاةﺪﻋﺎﺴﻤﻟﺎﯿﻓﺔﻤﺟﺮﺘھﺬﮭﺗﺎﻣﻮﻠﻌﻤﻟﺎٮﻟاﺔﻐﻠﯾﺮﺧا‬.8135‫ي يةف ترب الرقمعلىال‬-874.‫الم‬ ‫ات ثقاف تعددةوال‬ Chinese 874-8135 French -Si vous avez besoins d’aide avec la traduction dans une autre langue, s’il vous plait appelez le CentreMultilingue et Multiculturel au 874-8135. Khmer ្របសិនេប នរល ក្រត វក រជំេួ យ រួយ បកក ្របដំណឹ នេេះនរទ ជាភាភ រ សូ មទ ក់ទេម ទេម ជឈ មណ លពហុ ហុ ភាស រ ស វបបធ រIបធ របធ ម៨៌ ៧៤-៨១៣៥ ។ Kinyarwanda -Nimwaba mukeneye ubasemurira mu rundi rurimi, tubasavye guhamagara ikigo C’Indimi n’Imico itandukanye kuri 8748135. Espanol Si usted necesita ayuda traduciendo esta informacion a otro idioma, por favor llame el Centro Multilingue y Multicultural al 874-8135. Portugues Se voce precisa de ajuda com a traducao desta informacao para Portugues, por favor, ligue para o Centro Multilingue & Multicultural no telefone 874-8135. Somali Haddii aad u baahan tahay in lagaa caawiyo sidii warbixintaan laguugu tarjumi lahaa af kale, fadlan soo wac Xarunta dhexe Luqadaha iyo Dhaqamada kala Duwan: 874-8135. Swahili -Ukihitaji msaada na kutafsiri katika lugha nyingine, tafadhali piga simu ofisi ya Mipango ya Lugha na Kitamaduni kwa 874-8135. Vietnamese Nêu quy vi cân giup đơ đê dich thong tin nay sang ngon ngư khac, xin hay goi Trung Tam Đa Ngon Ngư va Đa Van Hoa theo điẹn thoai sô 874-8135.

Smile Life

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile

Get in touch

© Copyright 2015 - 2024 PDFFOX.COM - All rights reserved.