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Attendance Boundaries Committee Update

The second meeting of the district’s new Community Advisory Committee on Attendance Boundaries for PreK-8 Schools took place on Sept. 26. The Boundaries Committee had 3 objectives: Understand the process, familiarize themselves with data to be used to consider adjustments to the boundaries & identify the committee's priorities when making adjustments to boundaries.

  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Attendance Boundaries Committee Update
Image of Nyalat Biliew, nominated for Congressional Black Caucus’ Young, Gifted & Green 40 Under 40 Award

Nyalat Biliew – Sierra Club Maine's Grassroots Climate Action Organizer, a member of the Portland Board of Public Education and a Deering High School alum – was nominated in September for the Congressional Black Caucus’ Young, Gifted & Green 40 Under 40 Award. This honor recognizes environmental justice leaders under 40 from across the U.S. – including Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other non-white individuals. These leaders come from various fields such as education, arts, policy, healthcare, social justice, storytelling, and clean energy, and they are all contributing to solutions for the climate crisis and dismantling environmental inequities.

  • Deering High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about DHS Alum Nominated for Green Award
Graphic advertising for volunteers at PPS

There are many ways to volunteer in The Portland Public Schools. Volunteers are always needed for classroom assistance, after-school tutoring, and chaperoning field trips. In addition, there are a wide variety of other volunteer opportunities. Check out the following examples and volunteer to make a difference in the lives of our students:

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PPS Needs YOU – To Volunteer!
State of Maine Judicial Branch logo

Every year for nearly two decades, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court has held oral arguments in appeals of real cases in Maine high schools as a learning exercise for students. This year, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, the state’s highest court will be holding oral arguments at Deering High School, with students from Deering, Portland and Casco Bay high schools invited to attend.

  • High Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about DHS To Host Maine’s High Court
2024-2025 DOE Maine Teacher Leader Fellows group photo

Joshua Chard, East End Community School teacher and 2024 Maine Teacher of the Year, and Melissa Frans, PPS special education multilingual coordinator, have been named as Maine Department of Education 2024/25 Teacher Leader Fellows – a cohort of six extraordinary educators from across the state. The six will share their expertise in civics, personal finance, integrated arts, and multilingual learning, including teaching multilingual learners with disabilities, with other educators across the state.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PPS Educators DOE Teacher Leader Fellows
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony photo of ribbon being cut September 2024

On Saturday, Sept. 21, the Portland Public Schools held ribbon-cutting celebrations of the beautiful new renovations at Presumpscot, Longfellow and Reiche elementary schools. If you were unable to attend these Buildings for our Future ceremonies, you can watch each ceremony on YouTube:

  • Longfellow Elementary School
  • Portland Public Schools
  • Presumpscot Elementary School
  • Reiche Elementary School
Read More about School Renovations Celebrated
Crossing Guard job ad flyer Fall 2024

The Portland Public Schools needs school crossing guards. Be a local hero to help students get to and from school safely! Rewarding work with no nights, weekends or holidays. Earn $20 per hour plus bonus time! For more information, call Area Supervisor Lenore at (207) 680-0180, text “KIDSSAFE” to 22100 or visit: https://acmssafety.com/careers/

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Crossing Guards Needed!
School Flu Vaccine Clinics in October

The Portland Public Schools will again be partnering with Northern Light to offer flu vaccines in our schools for students and staff. Students and staff must enroll a week prior to the clinic. Unlike previous years, there will not be any same-day enrollments for the flu clinics.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about School Flu Vaccine Clinics in October
Announcement of ribbon-cutting celebrations for Presumpscot, Longfellow and Reiche elementary schools

On Saturday, Sept. 21, the Portland Public Schools will hold ribbon cuttings to celebrate the completion of the renovation projects at Presumpscot, Longfellow and Reiche elementary schools! City voters in 2017 approved a $64 million Buildings for Our Future (BFOF) bond for renovations to Lyseth, Presumpscot, Longfellow and Reiche elementary schools. The renovations to Lyseth were finished in 2021, and a community celebration was held then.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PPS to Celebrate School Renovations
Flyer for All Staff Welcome Event Aug. 28, 2024

The entire PPS employee community gathered together on Wednesday, Aug. 28, in Merrill Auditorium to launch the 2024-2025 school year as one team, generating energy, inspiration, and a shared sense of belonging. The All Staff Welcome event also included a foundational overview of the district’s new strategic plan and priorities for the new school year.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PPS in 2024-2025: One Team, One Plan
Boundaries Committee Members Appointed

At its Aug. 20 meeting, the Portland Board of Public Education unanimously approved the appointment of the members of the district’s new Community Advisory Committee on Attendance Boundaries for PreK-8 Schools. The new Boundaries Committee is tasked with evaluating whether, and how, the district should redraw the enrollment boundaries for some or all of its elementary and middle schools to achieve more equitable enrollment and demographic balance. Also, the committee will consider whether changes should be made to the district’s current middle school model to better reflect current and future enrollment and better promote equity and achievement.

  • Elementary Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Boundaries Committee Members Appointed
2024 BOA Student Leaders Jael Mowa and Isabella Figdor

Two students at Deering High School were selected this summer as Bank of America 2024 Maine Student leaders, winning paid summer internships connecting them to leadership training and work experience. Isabella Figdor and Jael Mowa, both rising seniors at Deering this fall, not only gained practical work and leadership experience while working with local nonprofits, but also have received financial education coaching from Bank of America’s Better Money Habits curriculum, all while earning competitive wages.

  • Deering High School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about DHS Students 2024 BOA Student Leaders
New School Leaders Appointed

At its Aug. 6 meeting, the Board of Public Education approved the appointment of Darralynn Jones as Lyman Moore Middle School Principal and also of three assistant principals: Alberto Morales at Casco Bay High School, Kristin Rogers at Talbot Community School; and Rebecca Schouvieller at Deering High School. The Board also approved the appointment of Spencer Allen as Portland High School’s co-curricular director and was introduced to David Briley as a new teacher leader at Reiche Elementary School, a teacher-led school.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about New School Leaders Appointed
Three School Board Seats on Ballot Nov. 5

Three Portland Board of Public Education seats are up for election on Nov. 5: an at-large seat and the District 1 and District 2 seats. Only the at-large seat is contested on the ballot.

That seat is currently held by Board member Nyalat Billiew, who is not seeing re-election. Two candidates are vying for that at-large seat: Maya Lena and John Rousseau, both newcomers to Portland politics. Lena is a substitute teacher and artist in Portland and a PPS parent.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Three School Board Seats on Ballot Nov. 5

Testimonials

What students, parents and faculty have to say about our school.

“I am repeatedly impressed with the level of my daughter's academics...the quality of the teachers is remarkable."

  • PPS Parent

"I'm proud to work for an educational system that constantly tries to improve and values everyone."

  • PPS Faculty

Cliff Island At A Glance

Facts About Our School

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Students Enrolled

Our students come from a wide variety of culturally rich backgrounds. We believe that learning in diverse groups prepares students to thrive.

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Languages Spoken In The District

Top 10 most spoken languages in the district includes: English, Somali, Arabic, Lingala, Khmer, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Vietnamese and Kinyarwanda.

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Free and Reduced Lunch

Free-and-reduced lunch paperwork is low due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal and state funding has enabled every student to receive free meals without requiring income verification.

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