December has arrived with shorter daylight hours, colder temperatures, and winter sweaters. With two weeks left before winter break, we can finish 2023 strong.

Much is happening in Centennial, and I wanted to share a few recent highlights with you.

On November 15, 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in the annual Principal for Almost a Day event coordinated by All Hands Raised. I had the privilege of hosting three guest superintendents: Moses Rain, Self Sufficiency Coordinator with the Department of Human Services, Patty Wood, Chair of All Hands Raised and CEO of Education Northwest, and Tobias Read, Treasurer with the Oregon State Treasury. The event unites community stakeholders and school leaders to explore the triumphs and opportunities in education.

During our visit, we talked about various perspectives and experiences related to education and took a tour of Meadows Elementary guided by Principal Lisa Clingan. I value opportunities to showcase Centennial and the extraordinary work happening here. I invite you to view a short clip of the visit by clicking here.

Another recent highlight was the Centennial High School Report to the Centennial School Board of Directors on November 8, 2023. School reports to the Board had been in abeyance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before this, school reports had been a long-standing component of Board meetings, intended to inform the Board of the work and focus of Centennial schools in alignment with the District’s Strategic priorities.

Through the report facilitated by Principal Marin Miller, the Board heard from students and staff about various programs and topics at CHS, including Performing Arts, Culinary Arts, Student Store, Trades, Reading Support, and Social-Emotional Safety.

You can view the CHS Report by clicking here or the direct link below.

Reports from each Centennial school are scheduled throughout the year, the next being Oliver Middle School at the December 13, 2023 School Board meeting. I encourage you to tune in and learn more about the exciting things happening at Centennial’s newest school!

To view the full list of regular scheduled CSD Board Meetings and get the YouTube link to watch them live, click here.

Monday, Dec. 18, 2023 through Monday Jan. 1, 2024 is winter break for Centennial School District. Classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Our schools will be closed during this time. Have a restful winter break and an enjoyable holiday season!

To view a full version of the 2023-24 Academic Calendars click here.

This afternoon, December 1, 2023, Director of Business & Operations Paul Southerton, Technology Director Frank Decker, and Superintendent Owens met with a group of Information Technology staff for one of their twice-yearly collaborative work sessions.

The meetings are an evolution from listening sessions held over the past two years to collaborative problem-solving sessions with staff from operations departments working with District leadership to both celebrate successes as well as co-construct solutions to some of the problems of practice they, as a group, have previously identified.

Centennial School District is excited to fully implement ParentSquare - our official centralized District communication platform. The District Remind messaging application will sunset Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 and we encourage all our families to register and connect with us via ParentSquare.

ParentSquare will serve as our District messaging platform, which offers an array of digital communication tools, including email, text, phone messaging, forms and much more. Almost all Centennial families have already registered to ParentSquare – placing us at a 96% contactable rate of our families.

Using this platform streamlines District messaging to a single source for our community. Ensuring reliable communication channels is important for our community, and we want our families to know they can count on us to provide them with the tools needed to stay connected with content that relates to them and is easy to use.

Check out the ParentSquare video tutorial below. We also encourage families to update their contact information in Synergy to ensure you have your name, phone number, address, emails and home language updated.

Centennial School District and Multnomah County continue their SUN Community Schools partnership, serving nearly 700 students across seven Centennial schools. The SUN Community Schools program offers students the opportunity to support healthy children and their development and family stability thanks to the collective effort of their network of partners who support youth academic success.

The program integrates various strategies and services for our students to improve their educational and economic outcomes, strongly emphasizing communities of color and those living in poverty. According to Marilyn Arellano, Patrick Lynch Elementary SUN Site Manager, SUN staff work with their respective school to ensure high-quality programming for students of color. “We focus on academics. Most of the students participating in the programs need support,” said Arellano. “We focus on social and emotional skills, academics, and mental health.”

Three secondary-level schools (Centennial High School, Oliver Middle School, Centennial Middle School) and four of our elementary schools (Meadows Elementary, Parklane Elementary, Patrick Lynch, and Powell Butte) participate in SUN, offering our students equitable access to resources, culturally responsive teaching, professional development, and conflict resolution program, among other things.

“The SUN program helps students by implementing a comprehensive approach to education that can improve student achievement, attendance, behavior, and overall skills for healthy development and academic success,” said Daniel Vida, Meadows Elementary SUN Site Manager. “A key factor in this improvement is creating a positive and inclusive learning environment. When students feel a sense of belonging and safety, they are likelier to attend school/SUN regularly and engage in the learning process.”

Thanks to the collaboration between Multnomah County, Centennial School District can offer services that focus on providing safe and positive learning environments that offer positive life experiences and lead to better student behavior as a result of students feeling motivated to uphold the standards of respect and responsibility.

Furthermore, focusing on holistic development, including social and emotional skills, alongside academic skills, contributes to well-rounded individuals. Programs that address these aspects foster positive relationships between students and teachers, enhance communication skills, and promote emotional resilience. Incorporating interactive and experiential learning methods can make SUN more engaging and relevant to students, resulting in improved performance while attending SUN. By recognizing and addressing the multifaceted needs of students, SUN can create an environment that nurtures healthy development and sets the stage for long-term success.

Students enrolled in a SUN site can participate in the program and take advantage of the services offered. The most excellent highlight of the partnerships is that SUN offers services and enrichment that support the success of students who may be at risk of academic failure.

Take care of your healthcare needs with no out-of-pocket costs at the Multnomah County Parkrose Student Health Center. Youth and teens ages five to 18 are welcome with or without insurance. Call 503-988-3392 to schedule your appointment and visit them at 12003 NW Shaver St.