The Talbot Sunday Update

• ACCESS Testing for English Language Learners continues this week.

• February 19th- February 23rd-No School-February Vacation

Talbot hosted a community dinner this past Thursday focused on social-emotional learning. Talbot staff shared information about how to engage with students about their emotions and strategies to use when we feel "big feelings". Then, families were invited to make their own "tool kits" to take home from resources provided and we shared in a delicious community dinner provided by Wayside Food Programs.

The next community dinner will be held on Tuesday, April 30th. We hope to see you there!

If you have questions or want to learn more about community dinners or the community school model at Talbot, contact Kristin Rogers at rogerk@portlandschools.org.

The Student Leadership Team has designed a school-wide project for February. Every student and staff member at Talbot will write their name on a piece of paper that will be put together in a paper chain to be displayed throughout the school. We will also display individual hearts on which students can respond to the prompt, "What do you love about Talbot?"

Student leadership team members will visit each classroom to briefly explain the directions for this project.

An update on the progress that the Portland Public Schools is making on developing and implementing a Wabanaki Studies curriculum and a Local Black History curriculum was presented at the Board of Public Education's Sept. 19 meeting. Both curricula are essential to help students gain an accurate, full and inclusive history of their state and nation. Both curricula also offer opportunities for interdisciplinary learning across all content areas, not just social studies.

Learn more

If you missed the Oct. 11 our PPS Parent University session about ways adults can help kids safely navigate the "digital wilderness," it's now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DcwTGIEkd4I

Dec 4 2023

It's the time of year in Maine to expect snow storms and other types of inclement weather events. In advance of the changes in the weather, Superintendent Ryan Scallon presented the Portland Public Schools' snow day plans for the 2023-2024 school year to the Board of Public Education meeting at its Nov. 14 meeting.

Here are the details:

Overview

In cases of inclement weather, the Portland Public Schools will use up to three traditional snow days. Our schools will be closed on those days 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 in June.

This would mean that the last possible day of school for students would be Monday June 17th, and the last possible day for teachers would be Tuesday June 18th.

If there are more than three days of inclement weather, we will have remote learning days in lieu of a snow day. On remote learning days, students will stay home and will be expected to complete academic assignments. Remote learning days will not need to be made up at the end of the year. If an inclement weather remote day is called, the district will make school meals available for families to pick up (see below).

Remote Learning Expectations

● Elementary (grades PK-5)–Students will be provided with hard copy materials to be completed at home and returned to school the next day.

Food Service Plans for Remote Learning Days

Meals available for pick up at eight school locations, typically from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m:

● Lincoln Middle Schools - Leland Street, back parking lot delivery door

● King Middle School – Front Door, drive-up service available

● Lyman Moore Middle School – Front Door, drive-up service available

● Peaks Island Elementary School

● Portland High School – Delivery door next to garage on Chestnut Street side

● Presumpscot Elementary School – Front Door, drive up service available

● Reiche Community School – Current building entrance on Clark Street side

● Talbot Community School – Front Door, drive-up service available Families may pick up meals at any location most convenient to them.

Communication

Final decisions regarding snow days and remote learning days will be communicated by School Messenger and through various media outlets no later than 5 a.m.