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Read a message from Pamela Otunnu Thomsen, PPS Director of Secondary Innovation and Outcomes, on our recent High School for the Future Listen and Learn community engagement events. Read on to learn more information and watch the final Nov. 6 virtual Listen and Learn session for PPS parents and community members on YouTube.
- High Schools
- Middle Schools
- Portland Public Schools
In cases of inclement weather, the Portland Public Schools will use up to three traditional "snow days." Our schools will be closed and students will not be expected to go to school in person or learn remotely. No school meals will be provided on snow days. Those days would be made up on June 16, 17, and 18th. This would mean that the last day of school for students would be Wednesday, June 18th, and the last possible day for teachers would be Friday, June 20. (June 19 – Juneteenth – is a holiday)
- Elementary Schools
- High Schools
- Middle Schools
- Portland Adult Education
- Portland Public Schools
Three Board of Public Education seats were up for election on Nov. 5: an at-large seat and the District 1 and 2 seats. Newcomers to elected office, Maya Lena and Abdulkadir Ali, won the at-large and District 2 seats, respectively, and incumbent Abusana “Micky” Bondo, the current Board vice chair, was re-elected to her District 1 seat. Also, current at-large Board member Ben Grant won a City Council seat so will be resigning his Board seat by December.
- Elementary Schools
- High Schools
- Middle Schools
- Portland Adult Education
- Portland Public Schools
Over the past few weeks, students at Lyseth Elementary School practiced being engaged citizens as they learned about the Nov. 5 election. They learned about the Maine state ballot, including the referendum question on whether Maine should have a new state flag, and about the presidential candidates and candidates for Congress. Then, on Oct. 29, the entire school participated in the Maine State Mock Election.
- Lyseth Elementary School
- Portland Public Schools
At Rowe Elementary School, physical education teacher Rene Custeau does much more than teach the basics of physical education. Custeau creates opportunities for students to be engaged and excited while overcoming challenges and having fun.
- Portland Public Schools
- Rowe Elementary School
World-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium on Oct. 10 and Portland Public Schools high school orchestra students had a unique opportunity to attend as Ma rehearsed with the Portland Symphony Orchestra that day – thanks to the efforts of their enterprising music teachers.
- High Schools
- Portland Public Schools
Having multilingual books in the school library is creating fun “book buddy” experiences for students at Ocean Avenue Elementary School, says Eva Platt, the school’s teacher librarian.
- Ocean Avenue School
- Portland Public Schools
Jen Montague is the Portland Public Schools’ new Food Service Director. Her appointment was approved by the Board of Public Education at its Oct. 1 meeting and she joined the district on Oct. 14.
- Elementary Schools
- High Schools
- Middle Schools
- Portland Public Schools
Meghan Mellor Trulaske Miers had a creative, philanthropic spirit that will live on in the Portland Public Schools, thanks in part to a generous gift in her memory. Meghan’s family has made a very generous pledge to the Foundation for Portland Public Schools (FPPS) over five years to enrich learning experiences for students.
- Portland Public Schools
On Oct. 25, Deering High School will host Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the U.S.; Noel Nelson Messone, Ambassador of the Gabonese Republic to the U.S. and Martial Ndoubou, Ambassador of the Central African Republic to U.S. This event will celebrate the French language and heritage in Maine and provide a unique opportunity for students, educators, and community members to engage with high-level diplomats.
- High Schools
- Portland Public Schools
Portland Adult Education (PAE) invites community members to attend a special forum hosted by ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students. With election day fast approaching, this timely event will provide an opportunity for PAE students to engage with state and local leaders on pressing issues such as housing, immigration, gun violence, and transportation. This free event will take place on Tuesday, October 29, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the Rines Auditorium at the Portland Public Library. Reserve your spot!
- Portland Adult Education
- Portland Public Schools
Reminder: Odyssey of the Mind (OM) registration is open until Nov. 1 for Portland middle and high school students! OM is an international creative problem-solving program that challenges students to think outside the box, work collaboratively & unleash their imagination.
- Elementary Schools
- High Schools
- Middle Schools
- Portland Public Schools
The Board of Public Education has voted to approve a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the union representing the district’s educational technicians. The new contract recognizes the important work of these valued employees and makes the Portland Public Schools more competitive with other districts.
- Elementary Schools
- High Schools
- Middle Schools
- Portland Public Schools
Simon Bean, an eighth-grader at King Middle School, has been awarded a $500 service-learning grant from Painting for a Purpose for his project, Building Community through Building Birdhouses. Simon hopes his project will aid fellow students in gaining insight into future career paths and opportunities as they continue their education.
- King Middle School
- Portland Public Schools
As the state of Maine this fall remembers those lost to senseless gun violence last October in Lewiston, East End Community School and the Maine Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MECDHH) are celebrating the life of Joshua Seal with a beautiful memorial bench.
- East End Community School
- Portland Public Schools
A $25,000 award from The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation will be used to purchase books for the Lyman Moore, King and Lincoln middle school libraries that will benefit students learning English as well as other students.
- Middle Schools
- Portland Public Schools
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
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
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
World-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma is coming to Portland’s Merrill Auditorium on Thursday, Oct. 10 – and Portland Public Schools high school orchestra students will have a unique opportunity to attend as Ma rehearses with the Portland Symphony Orchestra that day.
- High Schools
- Portland Public Schools
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
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
Portland Adult Education put together a cycling team to participate in the Dempsey Challenge in September – and PAE Communications & Outreach Coordinator Adam MacDonald described this intrepid team’s success in both pedaling and fundraising:
- Portland Adult Education
- Portland Public Schools
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
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
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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.
Social Media Feed
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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.