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Dear Sellwood Community,

Today is the last day of semester 1. Students are excited to have a four-day weekend before starting the second semester next Wednesday.

However, staff will be working hard on Monday and Tuesday, with teachers submitting quarter 2 grades and finalizing plans for semester 2.

Also, we have some exciting developments to share. This week our fitness center floor was finally installed and we will be able to use the space for quarter 3 & 4 classes. We will be setting up the room on Monday and Tuesday so it is ready to go on Wednesday. Here are some teaser pics of the space and some of the equipment.

In addition, I just received word that the installation of our security camera system will begin on Monday and be completed over the next few weeks.

I will share more photographs of the fitness center when we have it set up!

Please make note of the following change to our staff meetings on the district calendar. The staff meeting that had been scheduled for March 11th has been moved up to February 25th. So, school will start 15 minutes late on February 25th, and March 11th will have a normal start time.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Sincerely,

Jeandre Carbone

Sellwood MS Principal

Dear Sellwood Community,

Welcome back from Winter Break! Whether you found sunshine somewhere in the world or stayed in Portland with lots of rain (as I did) I hope your family enjoyed some time off and you feel rejuvenated for the new year.

Moving toward second semester there are many events and dates to be aware of. I have updated the "important dates to remember" section at the very bottom of this newsletter. Please refer to that section when you have a moment to update your calendars.

You should also read further for information about our Art & STEM Show next Thursday, Outdoor School dates for 6th-graders, CHS forecasting information for 8th graders, Standards-Based Grading coming to all PPS middle schools, PTA events (meeting next Thursday @7PM), PEAK after school program information, and more.

We also have a last minute request for a few parent volunteers to help chaperone an AVID field trip to the Portland Art Museum on January 22nd. Please see the attached  and let us know if you are interested.

Enjoy the weekend,

Sincerely,

Jeandre Carbone

Sellwood MS Principal

Dear Sellwood Community,

Our two week winter break is here! The first four months of the school year have flown by, and it has been my joy to serve as the Sellwood Middle School principal.

I am so grateful for the positivity and involvement of Sellwood students, staff, and families.

I appreciate you all!

Have a wonderful break, and I hope you enjoy some rest and relaxation.

Sincerely,

Jeandre Carbone

Sellwood MS Principal

As part of our district's focus on events that center belonging, equity, and inclusion, we have been screening a series of films that we hope will challenge our perceptions about what is possible in the systems we create for our children with disabilities.

The next film in the series is “Champions,” which will screen on Saturday February 8th at 2:00 PM at Lincoln High School. This event will also include first-hand testimonials from PPS students.

This movie highlights the journey of a basketball coach who leads a team of players with intellectual disabilities. Through humor and heartfelt moments, the movie emphasizes the strengths, individuality, and value each player brings to the team and how inclusion enriches communities and creates positive, supportive environments.

Staff, families, and community members are all invited. Parking is free and light refreshment will be provided. We hope to see you there!

We’re thrilled to announce that two PPS teachers were recently awarded the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). 

Krishnan Ranjani,  a teacher of advanced mathematics and Career and Technical Education (CTE) computer systems at Lincoln High School and Nick Nohner, a computer sciences and data sciences teacher at Ida B. Wells High School, were both selected for the honor which is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The award recognizes outstanding educators for their contributions to the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Each awardee will receive a certificate signed by President Joe Biden and a $10,000 award from NSF. Awardees will also travel to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony at a future date. 

Congratulations to these two exceptional teachers!

We are thrilled to celebrate an incredible achievement by , who have earned spots in the prestigious All-State Ensembles for the Oregon Music Education Association (OMEA). 

This annual statewide competition recognizes the "best of the best" in student musicianship, bringing together top performers from across Oregon to play in cross-district ensembles at the state music education conference this weekend, January 17-19.