1/31/24

• 2/2 Gather for Gray 7-9 PM (Foundation Fundraiser) @ the Cider Mill

• 2/5 Teacher Planning Day, no school for students

• 2/6 3Q Begins

• 3/2 Gather for Gray - Auction

• 4/13 Gather for Gray 7-9pm

• Click here for the full RGMS calendar
  

Dear RGMS Community,

I write to you today pleased and proud to be one of three Assistant Principals at the newest (and largest) middle school in the state of Oregon, Grackson Middle School (The Grax).

Jokes aside, I want to express sincere gratitude to Principal Ferraro and Assistant Principals Bethany Nelson and Joe Mitacek for their partnership in coordinating the herculean task of moving a middle school of 500 students into a middle school of 700 students.

Something our school community does really well is track how students are feeling about their experience and modify our plans according to their needs. Our time here will be no different, and yesterday we surveyed students about their experience for reflection and planning purposes. There are still many unknowns about our situation at Jackson - how long we will be here, what is working, what isn’t - and we will continue to make adjustments to our logistics and programming in order to best meet the needs of students and families in our new and temporary home.

We do know this: students left yesterday feeling more confident than they started the day. We asked for students to tell us on a 10-point scale how they were feeling at the beginning of the day vs. the end of the day. Looking at whole-group averages, our students reported feel about a 5.4 / 10 about the transition at the beginning of the day, and reported feeling about a 6.4 at the end of the day. Depending on how you crunch those numbers, that’s either a 10% (1/10) or an 18.5% (1/5.4) improvement in student perception over the course of the day. Given the constraints in moving pieces - we’ll celebrate that.

Take a look below for a few additional important bits:

MORNING DROP OFF AT JACKSON

We know about 33% of students who came to Jackson from Gray were dropped off by an adult. That means that, even accounting for carpooling, more than 100 additional vehicles dropped students off yesterday compared to a “typical” day at Jackson. In order to maintain a safe and orderly morning drop off - we are sharing with you the traffic patterns that parents need to follow at morning drop off (see attached maps).

1. Utilize the NORTH parking lot for drop off;

1. DO NOT drop your student off in front of the building. That is the bus loading zone and is reserved for both Jackson, Gray and Markham buses.

SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUESTS FOR Q3

As we navigated the logistical challenges of relocation, we had to prioritize certain work. That pushed out our typical timeline for reviewing schedule change requests. Thank you for your patience, and I’m happy to report that requests have been reviewed and changes are in the process of being implemented and communicated. Thank you to Ms. Hyde and Ms. Held for picking up work that typically falls in my bucket.

Thank you for your support, patience, grace and commitment to our school community.

In the service of students and families,

Jeff Waters

AP - Robert Gray Middle School (@ Jackson) ((The Grax))

Please continue to use the Robert Gray MS phone number, 503 916 5676 to get ahold of RGMS secretaries. Calls are being forwarded to RGMS secretaries at Jackson MS.

Markham Elementary, Jackson MS & Robert Gray MS all have school buses arriving at different times at Jackson. If you need to pick up your student early from school, please plan on doing so before 3pm when buses begin arriving. It is a very busy place after 3pm.

We are all so proud of our middle schools for their resilience and all that they have been able to accomplish thus far, this year. This is definitely going to be a year we'll remember! If you'd like to help in making this happen, I am looking for assistance with the 2023-24 School yearbook. Do you have experience in making yearbooks? Are you someone who has an eye for detail? or Are you just looking for a fun way to volunteer? I need you!

If you are interested in being a yearbook editor, managing/organizing submitted photos or helping promote yearbook sales please reach out. I hope to identify 2-3 volunteers who have 10ish free hours to spare over the next 3 months. Once I identify we can divide and conquer based on interest. No prior yearbook experience needed! Reach out to Jen Zwartverwer via email at woodruff.jenn@gmail.com to volunteer or with any questions.

Table of Contents

• What is a high school modernization?

• Who’s working on Ida B. Wells’ modernization?

• How can I be involved?

• Where can I learn more?

What is a high school modernization?

• A modernization, or transformation, is an opportunity to extensively renovate or rebuild a school in order to accomplish the following:

• Create a building that meets current building and energy codes

• Create a modern learning environment

• Reflect the unique needs of the school, site, and neighborhood

• Align with Portland Public School’s guiding documents

• All modernization projects include:

• Updated heating & cooling systems

• Seismic upgrades and code required seismic design

• Technology updates

• Improved safety considerations

• New furniture and equipment throughout

• Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems upgrades

• Lighting improvements for energy efficiency and longevity

• Upgraded athletic facilities

Who’s working on Ida B. Wells’s modernization?

• Portland Public Schools’ Office of School Modernization: The Office of School Modernization (OSM) is the department charged with administering PPS capital improvement projects. On average, Portland Public Schools’ (PPS) buildings are over 80 years old, and some were built more than 100 years ago. Many of these schools need upgrades to provide students with modern learning environments. PPS started a 30 year capital improvement program in 2012 to modernize school buildings.

• Program Coordinator: Derek Henderson, dhenderson@pps.net

• Senior Project Manager: Donna Bezio, dbezio@pps.net

• Bora Architecture & Interiors: With their office in SE Portland, Bora feels deeply rooted to the ways of the Pacific Northwest. Their role on the project will be to lead the modernization process and architectural design of the new school.

• After Bruce is a communications agency that delivers strategic, creative solutions to improve communities and build movements nationwide. They will lead the community engagement efforts for this project to make sure that the voices of the surrounding communities are heard.

• Various other design/construction people

How can I be involved?

• After Bruce would love for you to be a part of this process! In our work, we center the communities most impacted to achieve long-term, transformative and sustainable outcomes, and we’re guided by strategies and processes that honor community context, history, lived experience, and immediate and long-term needs. For this project, we are creating opportunities to engage historically-marginalized communities, those under-served, and folks who have been traditionally left out of the decision-making process.

• Listening Sessions are facilitated conversations of ~90 minutes, held virtually or in-person, wherein we explore areas of the high school updates that would be most beneficial to emphasize in the design process. Sign-Up for a Listening Session here

• The Survey will be available to anyone invested in the school’s success. It will be an at-home opportunity for folks to give feedback and thoughts on the updates to the high school. When available, we will add the link to the survey here!

• The Survey may be available in non-English languages. Please contact After Bruce by emailing rhonda@afterbruce.com to find out what’s available.

Where can I learn more?

• Ida B. Wells Modernization Planning & Design

• Jan 27, 2020 - Conceptual Master Plan

Counselors from Ida B Wells HS will reschedule their visit RGMS 8th graders. Stay tuned!

The RGMS Foundation raises money to augment our elective options. The money raised is used at the principals discretion.

Robert Gray Foundation Auction-Save the date!
Gather for Gray
Saturday March 2, 2024

5-7 PM

Want to help with the auction?

We are looking for someone who would be interested in coordinating some house/slot parties. Interested contact Melissa @grayschoolfoundation@gmail.com.

Interested in donating wine for the wine wall?
Bottle must be worth at least $15
Drop off at-2200 SW Sunset Drive
Questions-Contact Jennifer Podichetty-jenmullins@hotmail.com

Silent Auction items help?
Do you have one of the following to donate:
House stay
Unused Gift cards
Other items
Contact Kathleen Healy (kathleenohealy@yahoo.com),or Shannon Daley (shannon.Daley@acfwest.com)

Upcoming music nights

Norwester Sky (https://www.norwestersky.com)-CJ Mead's band

Friday, February 2

7-9 PM

Rivkah Ross Quartet

Saturday April 13

7-9 pm

BottleDrop Drive

1. Get Blue bags from the following locations: RGMS office; Rieke area-1656 SW Sunset Blvd.; Hayhurst area: 5252 SW Idaho St.; Bridlemile area-4031 SW Jerald Way

2 Fill Your Bags!

3. Return Full Bags to any BottleDrop location or Burlingame Fred Meyer.

4 Scan the Barcode on the bag to unlock the self-service bag drop.

Questions: Melissa Light, grayschoolfoundation@gmail.com

Haven’t joined the PTA yet? Do so now using this link.

You will have to select “ROBERT GRAY MS PTA (PORTLAND)” as your “Local Unit”. The rest

is straightforward and takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Membership is $20 for the year.

Do you wish to make a one-time or recurring donation to PTA? You can do so here. Click “Donate” then enter your amount and indicate your intent to donate monthly if desired!

Robert Gray PTA Volunteer Opportunities

Looking for ways to get involved this year? Use the following form to sign up for the events you are interested in and you will receive a follow up email with additional information. The time and support of our volunteers is greatly appreciated. Without it we couldn't make special Gray events happen! Some of these events include Run for Gray, Teacher Appreciation Week, Bottle Drop Fundraiser, Sustainability and extra supervision during lunch time, and more. Please consider volunteering or donating as you are able.

RGMS Volunteer Sign-up

Thank you for your time and support! Looking forward to a great year!

RGMS PTA

Get text alerts about school closures, delays, emergencies and school events:

Text YES to 68453

Email: lnewlyn@pps.net
Website: https://www.pps.net/gray
Location: 5505 Southwest 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 916-5676
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertgraymiddleschool
Attendance Reporting: grayattend@pps.net