Ocean Avenue Friday Notes
June 14, 2024
Mark Your Calendar!
- 06/14 - TODAY: Last Day of School ~ School is Out for the Summer!
- 08/28: Open House and Watermelon Welcome at OAES ~ Late Afternoon
- 09/03: First Day of School ~ Grades 1-12
- 09/05: First Day of School ~ Kindergarten
CLICK HERE for the 2024-2025 District Calendar
Can you tell us about any changes in the staff for next school year?
We are excited to have several new roles for the 2024-2025 School Year, which we filled by promoting our staff. We have some new hires, as well. Let’s get into it.
We have a full-time special educational coordinator at OAES. This is exciting since there will be more support for our special education teachers including our Autism Program, also called the Beach program. One of the pieces our teachers are excited about is to have help with the paperwork and logistics, so they can spend more time teaching students. Theresa Moran has accepted this position. She has an extensive background with special education and with Autism.
The district also added a full-time Climate Coordinator for each elementary school. These positions have been in the middle and high schools for a few years now. This position will support our school’s response to behavior, including being proactive to support students and teachers. This includes our positive response and acknowledgement for students when they have expected behaviors, refining our “how we play at recess” expectations, and supporting teachers with their own class management plans. This role will also work with all of us to enhance our restorative practices, and specific plans to support students throughout the day. Erin Thompson has accepted this position. She has lots of experience and training in supporting positive behavior in schools.
Next year, will have a full-time reading coach, an increase from the half-time role we have had for the last handful of years. This is needed as we start new reading and writing curriculums, built on the science of reading, with direct instruction for all our students. The literacy program is called EL Reading Modules. This curriculum aligns with our International Baccalaureate (IB) program by integrating social studies and science into reading and writing. This program includes an inquiry cycle, and is based on the same standards we have been using in our IB units across the school year. Cindy Soule has accepted this position. Most recently, Cindy was the reading specialist at the district level and supported bringing this reading curriculum to all Portland elementary schools. A few years back, she was named Maine Teacher of the Year.
Portland Public Schools chose to eliminate our Ed Tech reading and writing interventionists, and replace them with teachers.
We have promoted Ana Ibarra from Ed Tech to reading teacher interventionist. (The two other ed tech interventionists, Anne Joyce and Ann Underdown, were offered other Ed Tech roles in the district.)
As we prioritize reading in the immediate future, aligning with district goals, we created a half time math interventionist teacher. Kelley Nogar is easily stepping into this role. Kelley will still be with us full-time, as she has also accepted our half-time IB Coach. Patty Sprague is retiring at the end of this school year. She was our first IB Coach and helped launch us to be authorized and thriving as an IB school.
Tracy McGhie is transitioning into our newest English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher. Tracy studied to become an ESOL teacher, and is excited to take on this new role.
Since our second grade students have reduced in numbers, we need three third grade teachers next year. However, we still needed to hire one new second grade teacher. Justin Molina accepted this position at the end of last week. He has most recently taught in Old Town, Maine and has just moved to southern Maine. We learned that he is great at building relationships with students and his colleagues. We are excited to welcome Justin to the OAES team!
Peggy Michaud accepted our open fourth grade position. She graduated in December and has been working at East End School this semester. Peggy completed her student teaching in Biddeford. We have learned how caring and organized she is at school. We are delighted to have Peggy on the OAES team!
Laurie Hesslink, or Nurse Laurie as many of you know her, is also retiring at the end of this school year. She has been with Portland Public Schools for 26 years, with half of them at OAES. We have hired Carrie Haber to fill Laurie’s big shoes. You may already know Carrie, as she has been our sub-nurse over the last couple of years.
Monday afternoon we are interviewing for a ASD teacher for the Beach program
Final Thoughts...
As we close out the school year, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all parents, families, and friends for your incredible support. From our fun family potluck gathering to student-led conferences and everything in between, your involvement has been truly invaluable.
Together, and thanks to the work of our amazing team of educators, we've observed some incredible progress and enjoyed many memorable moments with our students. You've supported us in turning challenges into opportunities for learning and growth, and we're grateful for the trust you've placed in us. Let's carry this momentum forward into the next school year for even more achievements and amazing experiences! Have an enjoyable summer!
It's Time for Summer Reading!
Here are some wonderful ways for students to stay engaged with books this summer!
CLICK HERE or check out the document below for information on how to access FREE eBooks, audiobooks and library resources.
Happy Summer Reading!
Maine Mariners' Summer Reading Program
The Maine Mariners’ Summer Reading Program, Read with ME, is back for the summer! This is a free reading program for kids 12 and under to participate in. Upon completion, the participants of the Read with ME program will receive 1 ticket to the Mariners Reading Day game (date TBD), 1 child ticket voucher to be used at any home game during the 24-25 season, a Read with ME bookmark, and 1 drink coupon from Aroma Joes. The registration form is live now for parents to sign their children up! Registration Link
A Heartfelt Thank You
On this last newsletter of the year, I wanted to wish everyone a happy, healthy summer and also thank you for entrusting me with the care of your amazing children over the years.
As many of you may know, I am retiring at the end of this school year. I have worked for PPS for 26 years, with half of those years being at OAES. It was obvious to me that OAES was a unique and special place/community and I knew that I had found my forever PPS home! Thank you for asking for my advice (and following it ;) and for navigating those difficult pandemic years together.
A special thanks to the PTO for supporting me in my work and a loud shout out to the rest of the caring OAES staff for their many contributions in getting kids into care. My years at PPS have been some of the most challenging of my career, but also some of the most rewarding!
I am pleased to be leaving you in very good hands! Carrie Haber, RN will be the new nurse at OAES beginning in the Fall. Some of you may already know her as she has been doing a lot of subbing for the district this year and has filled in for me on several occasions. She is very competent, capable and caring, and I know she will be a good fit for OAES!
Carrie has devoted her career to pediatrics and has held a number of varied positions including oncology, pediatric intensive care and camp nursing. She lives in North Deering with her husband and two girls (who attend Lyseth) and her dog. When she isnt working, you will find her spending time outside with her family! She doesn't officially begin until the Fall, but if you have supporting documents (like immunization records) that you want to share, her email address is Haberc@portlandschools.org. Please help me in welcoming her to our wonderful community!
Laurie Hesselink, RN
School Nurse, OAES
June is Pride Month ~ Join PPS in the Pride Portland! Parade on Saturday, June 15th at 1 PM
Mark Your Calendars! The Pride Portland! Parade is on Saturday, June 15, starting at 1 PM from Monument Square in Portland. Come out and celebrate with the Portland Public Schools as we join the parade to march for acceptance, equality, and inclusivity. Look for the PPS yellow school bus on Brown Street (off Congress Street near Monument Square) starting at noon to help decorate. Students, staff and families are encouraged to participate by either riding in the bus or walking with it in the parade to reiterate that PPS supports people for all of the awesome aspects of their identity. Everyone is welcome. Come represent your school and the district in the parade! Learn more at the Pride Portland! website.
Additional Food Resources ~ Groceries, Community Meals, Cash Assistance
There are various locations all across where Portlanders can pick up the food they need to keep themselves and their families fed with healthy & nutritious food. CLICK HERE for a journey map that lays out where you can get groceries, participate in community meals, as well as where you can access cash assistance, all with a map that lays out where each food location is.
Summer Garden Care 2024 ~ Volunteers Needed!
The garden is blooming at OAES and we are looking for volunteers to help over the summer. The garden needs weekly care and watering and we are looking for OAES families to join in this summer to enjoy and help the garden grow!
The Ask - Sign up for a week of garden care. During your assigned week, we ask that you visit the garden for two days - weed/water/observe/update the log and alert the garden caretaker Sarah sarahkatemarshall@gmail.com if anything looks like it needs additional attention or care. This is a great volunteer activity to do with your kids!
The Reward - You and your family get to watch our school garden grow and change over the summer. Learn about what pollinators come to visit our Native Gardens throughout the growing season. Help tend the vegetables that will be offered to the teachers working throughout the summer in the building.
Thanks for your support!
📚 Book Bash in Back Cove ~ Saturday, June 15th!
On Saturday, June 15th, at 11 AM, Back Cove Books at 651 Forest Avenue in Portland, will be hosting a book launch with local art teacher Dorson Plourde, author of Garbage Gulls. A portion of sales from the event will support the Locker Project summer programs.
About Us
Website: https://oceanavenue.portlandschools.org/
Location: 150 Ocean Avenue, Portland, ME, USA
Phone: 207-874-8180
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oaesportland