SPHS Update

SPHS Community,

This past week was another great one. Friday and Saturday in particular were nothing short of spectacular. I'm so excited by our partnership with SMCC. It resulted in a FANTASTIC day for our 9th and 12th graders on Friday, October 13th. Lots of pictures below, but 9th graders learned about the amazing opportunities that SMCC makes available for our students. 12th graders got to hear from a panel of current college students about what college life is like and how SMCC can help them make their dreams become a reality. Thanks to the staff who did such a great job keeping everybody where they needed to be. Also, a very special thank you to the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Community Chamber of Commerce for their very generous financial support to help provide lunch at SMCC for our students.

We learned about:

The Dual Enrollment Program at SMCC helps current High School students earn college credits while earning their HS diploma. We heard about a few students from other schools who graduated from SMCC with an Associate Degree BEFORE they graduated from High School. The state of Maine covers the cost of up to 11 college credits, but SPHS does even better because we cover costs for an unlimited number of credits. Why? Because we know that access to advanced courses in HS is predictive of success in college so we think it is important to remove any financial barriers.

The Embark Program is a fantastic program that mentors High School students as they transition into college specifically designed for high school students who are unsure about what comes next.

SMCC's Spring Ahead program is a unique opportunity for high school students who want to get a jump start preparing for the educational opportunities available after high school. Students complete their high school education while at SMCC, where they are enrolled in college-level courses and earn college credit. A dedicated college coach and peer mentor guide students throughout the year, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed.

We are singularly privileged to have such a great partner in providing an OUTSTANDING educational experiences for our students. Our proximity to the SMCC campus makes the opportunities even broader and better. Thank you SMCC!

Also on Friday, the 10th and 11th graders did a great job taking the PSAT. We had great participation and everything went incredibly smoothly. Thank you to Teri Wark for her tireless work organizing the test, thank you to the proctors and support staff who help ensure our students' success, and thank you to the MELMAC Educational Foundation for their support in providing this opportunity for our students.

Annnnnd ALSO on Friday the 13th our OCP program got to go up into the Portland Head Light! WHAAAAAT?!?!?!?! What an amazing opportunity for our students. Pictures below. Hey OCP team, thanks for making this incredible opportunity happen for our students, and next time I want to go!

I'd be remiss if I didn't say thank you to our great transportation department for making all of these moving parts work. Thank you Stacey Taylor and Mike Nalli for your support!

Finally, the Football team put down a SOLID effort to beat (formerly) undefeated Kennebunk High School on Friday. Congrats! #RIOTPRIDE

We had a great conference night this past Thursday, and we have more this Thursday. Sign up using the link below.

Saturday night was also excellent. As a former Band Director, I LOVED going to the Marching Band's Home show. In fact, I was so enthralled that I forgot to take a picture! The students did a fantastic job and Mr. Skeffington was celebrated for 30 years at SPHS.

Remember we have an early release on Wednesday, October 18th. Students dismissed at 11:55. Here is the schedule.

Finally, it is NWEA time again. We'll be following this schedule on Thursday, October 19th and Friday, October 20th. Everyone reports directly to Homebase on the 19th, and on the 20th, 10th graders report to Homebase, while the 9th, 11th, and 12th graders report directly to the Auditorium for an assembly.

Take care and be well,

Scott Tombleson (He/Him/His - What is this?)

Principal - South Portland High School

Holiday Assistance: South Portland families who need help for the holidays are encouraged to apply for holiday gifts through the community based South Portland Toy Drive. Families should complete the Holiday Gift application by Nov 1. Please connect with your School Counselor if you need help with this application process.

Volunteering Opportunities: Are you looking to volunteer or donate items to the holiday efforts? If so, please check out the winter volunteer and donation opportunities listed here. Contact Bryna Latham (lathambr@spsdme.org) with questions about these opportunities, or check the SPSD Volunteering page with general questions about volunteering.

Free Winter Coats: South Portland Police Department is sponsoring "Cop a Free Coat" during the Trunk or Treat event at the South Portland Community Center on Oct 28, from 11-3 (while supplies last). See this flier for more information: English, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Arabic.

If you would like to help supply the athletics office with donations, check out their Amazon Wishlist.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2XJNL2RAOLICL/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2#

Happy October!

This month, in addition to celebrating Hispanic Heritage, we take time to look at and celebrate the history and achievements of the LGBT community.

Some background, from the official website of LGBT History Month:

In 1994, Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history, and gathered other teachers and community leaders. They selected October because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (October 11), occur that month.

LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images and other resources.

If you'd like to learn more about this year's LGBT Icons, please visit the LGBT History Month Icons page.

Additionally, the LC has created a resource guide as a starting off point for learning all about LGBT History, so please check that out here.

Cheers,

Mr. Brough

Though Free Breakfast and Lunch (including a second serving of certain items) is provided every day for every student, there are other items available for purchase. For these items, SPSD has the My School Bucks Meal Accounts.

Download Today: https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/msb-app

• Oct 22: Fiddleicious - 2pm

• Oct 25: 7/8 Grade Band Concert - 7pm

• Oct 27 - 28: Portland Ballet will be presenting two shows: Tales by Poe - Friday 7pm and 2pm, and Thrills and Chills (for a younger crowd) - 10am Sat

• Nov 3 -5: The SPHS Drama Club presents: Will Peter meet Alice? A mash-up retelling of the Peter Pan and Alice and Wonderland Stories - Fri 7pm, Sat 2pm & 7pm, Sunday 2pm
  

South Portland High School is partnered with Greater Portland Health to provide a School Based Health Center (SBHC) and a School Based Dental Clinic

The School Based Health Center offers a variety of healthcare services to students directly in schools. This allows for easy access and scheduling for healthcare & saves time for student and parents/guardians.

Services offered include:

1. Primary medical Health Services, Sports Physicals, Treatment of Minor illnesses, Management of Chronic conditions, Vaccines, and Family Planning services. Behavioral Healthcare.

2. Dental cleanings, fluoride and sealants.

School staff will coordinate with the School Based Health Center team to connect students to care.

All students must have an enrollment signed by a parent/guardian (if less than 18 years old) in order to be seen in the clinic by a medical provider or behavioral health provider. Return your enrollment form to the School Nurse.

We welcome ALL students to enroll in the SBHC, even if they have a primary care provider elsewhere. We coordinate care with Primary Care Providers while providing easy to access services within school.

Please see the school nurse for an enrollment form to the School Based Health Clinic and Dental Clinic.

We are pleased to announce the opening of the Virtual NSLI-Y Winter 2024 application.

Virtual NSLI-Y Winter '24 Application Now Available!

Deadline to Apply: Monday, October 23, 2023, 4 PM US Eastern Time

Virtual NSLI-Y, a program of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, provides U.S. high school students with beginner-level foreign language and culture experience. Eligible U.S. high school students can apply to study beginner Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Russian, or Turkish. Selected finalists will receive a merit scholarship to study the language and associated culture(s) in live, online classes with peers from across the U.S.!

We encourage interested students and parents to review our webinar for general information. You can also check out our Frequently Asked Questions, Eligibility & Participation Requirements, and Application Timeline for more details.

Virtual NSLI-Y program participants who meet eligibility requirements may still apply for NSLI-Y overseas summer and academic year programs.

In addition to our webinar and website, you can visit the NSLI-Y Facebook, Instagram, and NSLI-Y Interactive site to learn from past participants’ experiences and engage with our team.

Have further questions?

Email us at virtualnsliy@americancouncils.org

Call us at 202-833-7522

Virtual NSLI-Y administrators strongly encourage applicants to ask any questions and submit the application well in advance of the deadline. Any technical problems with the application form should be reported to virtualnsliy@americancouncils.org. NSLI-Y and American Councils for International Education bear no responsibility for data transmission problems in submitting the application.

• October 18th - Early Release, 11:55am
• October 19th - NWEA for 10th Graders and Extended Hombase for 9th, 11th, and 12th graders
• October 20th - NWEA for 10th Graders and Assembly in Auditorium for 9th, 11th, and 12th graders
• November 10th - Veterans Day (Observed), No school
• November 21st - Early Release
• November 22nd-24th - Thanksgiving Break