Principal's Newsletter 6.12.2026

Sellwood Principal's Final Newsletter 2025 26

 

Sellwood Principal's Newsletter - June 12, 2026 

Greetings Sellwood Community,

As we look ahead to the 2026–27 school year, we are excited to welcome our newest students to Sellwood! Incoming 6th graders will attend a special Jump Start orientation on Wednesday, August 26. Led by our WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) student leaders, Jump Start gives students an opportunity to meet classmates and staff, tour the building with their class schedules, learn how to use their lockers, and become familiar with middle school before the rest of the students arrive. The first day of school for all 7th and 8th grade students will be Thursday, August 27.

We have recently become aware of small groups of students climbing onto the roof of the school. This behavior is extremely dangerous and is also a violation of school rules. While we have been able to identify many of the students involved through our security camera system, and contacted their parents, we are concerned that additional students may have participated.

We believe this may be connected to a social media trend, and we ask families to please talk with their children about the risks involved in climbing on buildings. Students should understand that a fall from a roof can result in severe injury or even death. We also encourage parents to check phones and social media accounts for photos or videos that may indicate participation in this activity. Please remind your child that school security cameras monitor these areas and that students who engage in this behavior will be subject to disciplinary consequences. Most importantly, we want all of our students to stay safe and make good decisions throughout the summer.

The school office will remain open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. through Wednesday, June 17th, and will be closed from June 18th through August 3rd. During the summer, the best way to reach me is by email at jcarbone@pps.net. I will be away on summer break, but I will respond as soon as I am able. Due to the extended staffing process this year, we are still finalizing student schedules. Schedules will be available in StudentVUE and ParentVUE after August 3.

Just below my message, you will find links to the Sellwood supply list, and our bell schedule for next year.

Thank you for your partnership and support throughout the school year. It has been a wonderful year of learning, growth, and community. I wish you and your family a joyful and well-deserved summer break, and I look forward to seeing everyone again in August.

Enjoy the summer break,

Jeandre Carbone

Sellwood Middle School Principal

SELLWOOD SUPPLY LIST 2026/27

SELLWOOD BELL SCHEDULE 2026/27

UPDATE YOUR STUDENT”S INFORMATION ONLINE

Please see the flyers linked below for instructions to complete the yearly verification process.

Online verification - English

Online verification - Russian

Online verification - Spanish

Online verification - Vietnamese

CLEVELAND YOUTH CROSS COUNTRY

Registration is now open for Cleveland Youth Cross Country: PIL Youth Sports . The first practice is scheduled for August 17th! Once school begins practices will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:15 to 5:45 at Hosford and Sellwood middle schools. No previous running experience is needed to participate, and there are no tryouts to make the team. Coaches assume that they’re introducing cross country to athletes for the first time. They’re committed to nurturing a lifelong love of running, and encourage athletes to track their progress, set individual goals, and celebrate self-improvement. Most meets are Thursdays after school at various locations throughout Portland. Meet courses vary in terrain and difficulty and will be 3 kilometers(1.8 miles) in length. A 2 kilometer novice race is open to sixth graders and others new to running. Running shoes(no high tops, sandals, or dress shoes), comfortable shorts or leggings, water bottle, and sweats for a variety of weather conditions are the needed equipment. 

MAIN OFFICE

The best way to reach us is by email.  

•  Kirstin Bill (kbill@pps.net is our school secretary/enrollment coordinator.

• Claire Howard (choward1@pps.net) is our principal's secretary. 

• Our Sellwood website https://sellwood.pps.net/  has many "Quick Links" to help you immediately.   

The Office Phone Number

• The office phone number is 503-916-5656.  

• When prompted, 

• press 4 for Kirstin (School Secretary)

• press 3 for Claire (Principal's Secretary)

• press 2 for any "Attendance" matter.  It's a designated line just for attendance.  

• press 5 for Records, Registration

• press 0 for the front counter - answered by students; not a confidential line.

     Secured Building 

• Sellwood is a locked and secure building.  

• Please ring the doorbell to the right of the main doors to reach the office.  We will guide you accordingly.

Picking up your student during the day:  

• While we understand that daytime appointments are sometimes necessary, early release is discouraged.  Please try to limit your student's daytime appointments.  When early release is necessary, please ring the bell at the main door and expect to wait while your child is located.  

Guides to Help you:

• To correct your student's attendance: Log into ParentVue. 

• For changes to your student's registration profile in Synergy: ParentVue/StudentVue

• Quick Links found on Sellwood's website https://sellwood.pps.net/

Please email Kirstin (kbill@pps.net)  for:

• Passwords:  If you have forgotten your password, have been locked out of your account, or do not have login credentials.

• Registration, Enrollment.

• ParentVue (if your account has been disabled).   

Please email Claire (choward1@pps.net) for:

• School Pay. 

• Bookkeeping/accounting issues.

• Administrative Support:  Messages or matters of support to the principal or assistant principal.  

LATE ARRIVALS AND EARLY DISMISSALS

Late Arrival Due to Appointments:   If your student arrives late to school due to an appointment, please let the office know using one of the following options:

a) sign your student in at the office

b) leave a message on the attendance line

c) email Kirstin at kbill@pps.net

d) have your student bring a signed doctors / dentists note

Their tardy / absence will otherwise be unexcused.

Early Dismissal/ Mid Day Pick Ups:   If you are picking your student up during school hours, we kindly ask that you sign your student out in the office and be prepared to allow up to 10 minutes for the pickup process.  We regret that we are unable to call your student from class ahead of time.

Please let Kirstin know if you have any questions or concerns.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER PPS Calendar 2026-27

• August 26: First Day of School for 6th graders (JumpStart Orientation)

• August 27: First Day of School for 7th & 8th graders

• September 3: PTA Ice Cream Social 5:30-7:00 PM

• September 16: Early Dismissal @ 1:45

• September 22: Back to School Night 6:00-7:45 PM

• September 24: Q1 Progress Reports

• October 9: State Inservice Day - School Closed

• October 21: Early Dismissal @ 1:45

• October 28: End of Quarter 1

• October 29 & 30: Teacher Grading & Planning - No School for Students

• November 11: Veterans’ Day - Schools Closed

• November 19, 23, & 24: Parent Teacher Conferences

• November 25-27: Fall Break

• December 10: Q2 Progress Reports

• December 16: Early Dismissal @ 1:45

• December 21 - January 1: WinterBreak

• January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - School Closed

• January 22: End of Q2

• January 25 & 26: Teacher Grading & Planning - No School for Students