LEWIS ELEMENTARY NEWS

• Thursday, 10/22 (2:30 PM – 3:30 PM) – Superintendent Visit: Superintendent Dr. Armstrong and Board Member Stephanie Englesman will visit Lewis.

• If you have a question for Superintendent Armstrong, please submit it here. Questions will be submitted in advance so she can come prepared with answers.

• Following Q&A, there will be time for community testimony to share what makes Lewis special to your family. Please let us know if you plan on attending so we can ensure to have adequate seating. RSVP

Note: The evening meeting previously scheduled with district administration for 10/21 has been canceled.

Despite the ongoing rightsizing conversations, our school days at Lewis remain focused, consistent, and centered on your children's learning. Yesterday, we hosted a Learning Walk for district administrators to highlight the exceptional teaching happening in our classrooms every day. The visiting team focused on student engagement, classroom culture, and rigorous assignments aligned with state standards. I wish our educators could have been in the room during the debrief to hear the overwhelming praise for their hard work.

In community,

Principal Davis

Dear PPS Community,

As Portland Public Schools continues exploring the proposed Rightsizing scenarios, we invite students, families, educators and community members to participate in upcoming conversations, ask questions and share their perspectives.

Over the next two weeks, PPS is offering several opportunities to engage, including new School Impact Conversations focused on schools identified for potential closure or reconfiguration.

NEW: School Impact Conversations

Superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong will connect with school communities directly impacted by the proposed Rightsizing scenarios. These regional conversations provide an opportunity for families, students and staff to ask questions, share their perspectives and discuss what the proposed changes could mean for their schools.

Community Voice: Special Education Families

Thursday October 15, 2026

Kellogg Middle School | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Flyer | RSVP Form |

Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese | Russian | Somali

Board of Education Community Connection

Saturday, October 17, 2026

McDaniel High School | 11:00am - 2:00pm

Flyer | RSVP Form |

Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese | Russian | Somal

Latinx Community Conversation in Spanish

Monday, October 19, 2026

Hosford Middle School | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Flyer | English | RSVP Form

Board of Education School Board Meeting

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Dr. Prophet Education Center

Webpage | Watch Live | Messaging Guidanc

Community Voice: Black Family Conversation

Thursday October 22, 2026

McDaniel High School | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Flyer | RSVP Form

Saturday, October 24th

Southeast Region | 9:00–11:00 AM

Cleveland at Marshall High School

For: Buckman, Creston, Lewis, Marysville, Sellwood, Woodmere, Sunnyside Environmental and Bridger Creative Science

Stay Connected

Your voice is an important part of the Rightsizing process. We encourage families to attend the conversations most relevant to their school communities and stay informed as the district continues exploring the proposed scenarios.

Visit the PPS Rightsizing webpage for the latest information, scenario materials and engagement opportunities.

Duniway PTA is hosting our state representative, Mark Gamba, for conversation in their cafeteria on Friday, Oct. 23, 8 to 9 am in their cafeteria. This is a critical opportunity to speak with one of our elected officials directly about how the state funds K-12 schools like Lewis.

Learn more and RSVP: https://luma.com/xgox9h2v

Advocating for Lewis

Many thanks to all who attended last Wednesday’s conversation with Ms. Davis. Our community has activated – flyering at the farmers market, decorating our fence, emailing the school board, researching about other school closures, and more.

Thanks to each of you who has taken some action in the last eight days. And – there is more to do.

We recognize that individuals may choose to advocate more broadly than just for Lewis, but we want to support whatever advocacy you are able to do for Lewis. We will soon have a comprehensive update to our website that will offer Lewis-specific background information you can draw from. We will soon add template emails, talking points, and other resources. Please stay tuned, and thanks for your patience getting our ducks in a row.

Next week, we have two critical opportunities to directly advocate to decisionmakers:

• board members Eddie Wang and Michelle DePass on Monday at 2:30

• Superintendent Armstrong and board member Stephanie Engelsman on Thursday at 2:30

In both settings, community members will have an opportunity to visit with these leaders about our school community – to ask questions, share perspective, and raise concerns.

We know the passion many of you feel for the cause – be that Lewis, or other schools, or the broader concept of closing schools. As possible, our hope is that we can come together as a community during next week’s visits and represent our school community with grace, respect, and pride.

Thursday, October 15th - 🌎Bottle drop pick up 7:45-8:15am/ 🚨The Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill/Sellwood MS PTA meeting 7-8pm

Friday, October 16th - 🍿 Popcorn Friday

Saturday, October 17th - 🍎 Harvest Party 9-11am

Monday, October 19th - Eddie Wang & Michelle DePass Visit 2:30/Site Council Meeting

Wednesday, October 21st - 🕐Early Release @11:50am / Lewis Dines out @Dairy Hill Ice Cream 1-9pm

Thursday, October 22nd - Spirit Day-Lewis Gear💬Dr. Armstrong Visit 2:30-3:30

Friday, October 23rd - 🎃Trunk or Treat Event 5-7pm

Wednesday, October 28th - Lewis Dines Out @Double Mountain

Thursday, October 29th - 🚫NO School for students (Grading Day)

Friday, October 30th - 🚫NO School for students (Planning Day)

It's time for our Yearbook Cover Coloring Contest! Teachers will be handing out the templates this week. Submissions are due November 13th and can be returned to teachers or the front office. 5th grade will vote on the top submissions and pick the winner for the cover. All artwork submitted will be displayed for students and parents to admire.

Yearbook photos needed! If you take photos at school events or while volunteering we would love to include them in the yearbook! Photos can be added to the folder for the teacher's room or event here, Lewis Yearbook 2026-2027 - Google Drive and are due by April 1, 2027. If you have trouble adding photos to the drive, contact Marisa Torres at marisaelena@ymail.com

It’s been great to have the kids back in the library! I’ve enjoyed seeing what books they are interested in this year.

📚What Students Are Learning in October

Lots to do in October! October 4th - 10th is National Banned Books Week, a week for libraries to celebrate the freedom to read. In the Lewis Library we talk about the importance of intellectual freedom; the freedom to choose what we want to learn and read about. October also ends Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15th- Oct. 15th) and we’ll celebrate by reading a story by a Hispanic author/illustrator. We’ll wrap up with Halloween stories.

• Kindergarteners will also learn about good manners in the library (and in general, hopefully!), and what a call number is.

• 1st/2nd graders will also learn about call numbers and the Patricia Gallagher Picture Book awards.

• 3rd-5th graders will enjoy an Author Visit from Rosanne Parry, and learn about asking the right kind of questi

You can always find the latest dates and times for upcoming events at lewispta.org/calendar

Jogathon Goal Exceeded, and -- Photos!

Thanks to our amazing students for their effort, and for all who donated. We've raised nearly $3,000 more than our fundraising goal -- money that will support a variety of activities throughout the year.

We've put together this photo album of the kids running and tried to catch all classes, all kids, while removing kids who can't be photographed. If there are any issues we've missed, please email communications@lewispta.org.

Trunk-or-Treat Next Friday (Oct. 23) – 5pm - 7pm – Rain or shine!

With Halloween approaching, it’s time for Lewis’s annual trunk-or-treat! We hope you’ll consider decorating your trunk, but there’s multiple ways to get involved. You can…

Donate Candy! Please help us keep trunks full of candy by feeding our candy monster, Sweet Tooth, when you drop off your kiddo in the morning. Sweet Tooth will be at the main entrance every morning leading up to 10/23.

Volunteer! While the decorated trunks and candy are the main attraction, we’ve packed the evening with fun activities for the whole family. It takes a village to put on trunk-or-treat, and many of the shifts are short. Please sign up here.

Invite your neighbors! Especially those with young kids who will join our community in the coming years.

Host a Trunk! This is the heart of the event! Sign up to decorate your car trunk and hand out candy. The Lewis community’s Halloween creativity never ceases to amaze, year after year. Please sign up here.

Thank you for your support! We look forward to seeing all the creative costumes and decorated trunks!

Questions? Email fallfun@lewispta.org

We have a new Lewis Dines Out! to add to your green family calendar: Lewis Dines Out! @ Dairy Hill Ice Cream Sellwood on Wednesday, October 21, 1pm-9pm.

10% of all sales from that day are heading back to Lewis so celebrate the October early release day with a cone or two of Dairy Hill ice cream in Sellwood.

Every Thursday morning before school, you can drop off your empty bottles and cans near the main entrance. Blue bags are available in the Free Little Library by the main entrance. Funds go directly to the Lewis PTA. Questions: Maria Ethridge, bottledrop@lewispta.org

If you are interested in volunteering in the school, help chaperone a field trip, or participate in a school event please make sure to submit your background check: https://www.pps.net/volunteer