Portland Public Schools Summer Services And Programming For Students

Press release from Portland Public Schools:

June 4, 2020

Dear PPS Community,

As the 2019-20 school year comes to an end, we want to update you on the services and learning opportunities we are looking forward to providing this summer as we continue to adjust to the ever-changing landscape during the coronavirus pandemic.

Meals for Students We are pleased to announce that the meal service we have provided for students since the closure of school on March 16 will continue during the summer. Although we will lose two sites because of construction, we are adding a new site to bring our total to 14 schools where students can receive breakfast and lunch Monday to Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

PPS also is partnering again with Portland Parks & Recreation to provide meals at 13 additional parks throughout the city starting June 22.

• See PPS and Parks meal sites and times

Summer Learning Opportunities Our teams are creating learning opportunities for all students and families throughout the summer. Students and families will continue to have access to online learning modules featuring activities in language arts, math, and other enrichment areas. The PPS Learning Modules can be found at pps.net/student.

In addition, our Humanities department is hosting a Summer Literacy Challenge where students in grades K-8 can participate in weekly learning challenges for the chance to receive books, gift cards, and passes to local attractions such as OMSI. More information can be found at the 2020 Summer Fun page.

Targeted Learning Resources A key priority for PPS is to re-engage students over the summer with robust learning opportunities and give students, particularly in underserved communities, the opportunity to reconnect with school and catch up on core academic skills such as literacy and math.

The Division of Instruction and School Communities is focusing summer programming efforts in the following areas:

• School Improvement Summer School in eight high-needs schools: Boise-Eliot/Humboldt, César Chávez, Lent, Rigler, Rosa Parks, Scott, Sitton, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (in-person & virtual)
• Summer Scholars for high school students (virtual)
• PPS Alternative Schools summer programs
• Extended School Year for qualifying students receiving Special Education services (virtual)
• Migrant Education Program (virtual)
• Head Start summer program that focuses on students transitioning into kindergarten, including students with disabilities (in-person)
• Arts Academy for middle school students in underserved communities (in-person & virtual)
• Math & athletic camp for males of color (in-person)
• Climate justice workshop for high school students (virtual)

Please note that our programming is based on guidance from the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority, and these programs will be offered virtually or, in some cases, with limited in-person classroom instruction. For our limited in-person programs, we will create a safety plan based on ODE guidance.

The 2019-20 school year has been as challenging as any in recent memory for all of us. As we bid farewell to our high school seniors, we look forward to continuing to serve, to the best of our ability, our returning and new students and look forward to brighter days ahead.

This press release was produced by Portland Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.