Superintendent's Update

Before students arrived, employees from across Centennial came together for our annual Welcome Back Convocation. This year's gathering had some added significance as we began celebrating 50 years of Centennial School District. While Centennial High School's history reaches back to 1959, the PreK–12 school district we know today took shape 50 years ago. Throughout 2026–27, we will share pieces of our history and recognize some of the people, schools, and experiences that have shaped Centennial along the way.

Our 50th year also coincides with the fourth and final year of Roadmap ’27, the strategic plan that has guided our work since 2023. Over the past three years, Roadmap ’27 has focused our work on improving teaching and learning, strengthening collaboration, and supporting students' sense of belonging, attendance, engagement, and success. This year, our emphasis is on continuing to put that work into practice consistently across our schools while also beginning to engage our community in thinking about Centennial's next strategic plan.

Most importantly, the start of school brings our focus back to the students we serve. The photos below offer just a glimpse of the first days across Centennial, and I look forward to sharing many more examples throughout the year of the learning, accomplishments, celebrations, and people that make up our schools.

Thank you to our staff, families, students, and community for helping us begin Centennial's 50th year.

We wish all of our Centennial community a safe and happy Labor Day holiday. All District schools and offices will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15, honoring the histories, cultures, and contributions of individuals whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Hispanic Heritage Month does not cover one single month but instead begins in the middle of September and ends in the middle of October. The timeframe of this month is significant because several Latin American countries celebrate their independence days within these dates, including:

• September 15: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
• September 16: Mexico
• September 18: Chile
• September 21: Belize

During the month of September we recognize Attendance Awareness Month. Addressing chronic absence from school is a key component of improving graduation rates, increasing academic achievement and giving our students the best chance at school and beyond.

Regular school attendance plays a key role in student success and well-being. Students in kindergarten through third grade who attend regularly are more likely to read at their grade level, and by ninth grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than eighth-grade test scores. Additionally, regular school attendance keeps students engaged and connected as an important part of their school community.

For more information on how attendance matters across all grade levels, see the flyers below.

Our District uses ParentSquare to communicate with families via emails, texts, and mobile app notifications. To make sure you are receiving all communications, please contact your child’s school with any updates to your preferred email address and phone number so that we can reach you correctly.

We encourage all families to register their accounts for the best experience with ParentSquare communications. While you do not have to register to receive emails and alerts from your school, registration does have many helpful benefits, including:

• All of your messages in one convenient dashboard or phone app

• Customization features: Registering your account allows you to select when and how you want to receive messages from your school, based on your specific preferences and schedule.

All unregistered parents/guardians will receive an invitation email and/or text on Tuesday, September 8 with an updated registration link. To complete your registration using this link, please see the directions below, or contact your school office for assistance:

ParentSquare Registration Instructions (English)

ParentSquare Registration Instructions (Spanish)

The Student Health Center is now open at Centennial High School!

All youth ages 5-18 who live or go to school in Multnomah County can receive medical services at the Student Health Center. The Center provides many of the same services as a doctor’s office, including:

● Sports physicals
● Physical exams
● Counseling and mental health
● Reproductive health
● Prescription medication
● School immunizations
● Vision and dental screenings

To make an appointment at the Centennial Student Health Center, call 503-988-5488 to schedule. Some same day appointments are available. For more information, including other available locations, please visit the link below.

Beginning September 11, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will close southbound I‑5 through the Rose Quarter for up to five weeks.

While this road construction is happening outside of our District, it will cause major traffic delays across Portland. ODOT expects travel times to be two to three times longer than usual, especially during morning and afternoon commutes. For students that travel to programs outside of our District, transportation may take longer than usual.

To help your family prepare:

• Leave earlier than usual for school, work, or appointments

• Check traffic conditions before heading out

• Plan alternate routes or transportation options

• Contact your school office if transportation issues affect your student’s arrival or departure

Planning ahead before September 11 will help keep routines running smoothly during the closure. ODOT has created tools to help families plan for the closure, including maps, travel tips, and construction updates. See the link below for more details.

The entire Centennial community is invited to be a part of this year's Centennial School District Homecoming celebration, happening on September 25, 2026.

Come show your school spirit and join in the fun as we celebrate the Centennial School District's 50th Anniversary! This year's festivities will kick off with tailgating and the Homecoming Parade at 5pm, leading up to the big game at 7pm at the CHS Stadium. Go Eagles!