Scott Family Newsletter

Hola Scotties!

In light of the unthinkable tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend last week, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the deep impact this news has had on all of us. As parents, educators, community members, and Oregonians, processing something like this is incredibly heavy. Over the past several days, I have spent a lot of time thinking about how much I appreciate our school community and all the big and small joys we share together every day. While there is always room for improvement, focusing on what matters most, our children and the brightness they bring to our lives, gives me hope. I encourage you to check in with your kids this week and ask them simple questions: What went well today? What brought you joy? Who was kind to you, and how did you show kindness to someone else?

I also want to reassure you that student and staff safety is always top of mind for us. I met with our building safety team including a representative from the district security team last Friday. During our meeting, we reviewed our safety protocols, looked over the drills we have completed so far this year, and put together a plan for upcoming staff reviews of our emergency procedures to ensure everyone remains prepared and aligned.

Looking ahead, we are officially reaching the end of our first quarter. There will be no school for students next Thursday and Friday, October 29th and 30th, while our teachers spend those days grading and planning for the second quarter. Report cards will be available to view in ParentVue on November 6th, and please note that we will no longer be sending paper copies home. For those of you who will be celebrating Halloween next weekend, I wish you and your family a fun and safe holiday!

Warmly,

Tiana Ahmann

An enormous thank you to our climate team, Cafecito families and all who participated in our Hispanic Heritage Month parade. It was so beautiful to see so many of our diverse cultures being represented and celebrated by our entire school community!

• October 27, PTA and School Board Rightsizing Coffee Talk, 8:15am, Scott Library
• October 29, No School, Quarter 1 Grading Day
• October 30, No School, Teacher Planning Day
• November 2, PTA and School Board Rightsizing Evening Event, 5:30pm Scott School
• November, 6, Popcorn Friday
• November 11, No School, Veterans Day

It's with heartbreak that I add to the family newsletter this week in regards to the Silver Rail elementary school shooting in Bend. It's a parents and educators worst nightmare and this hits too close to home for all of us. As more information unfolds and until then, here's some resources for parents and our response to students today at school. Here's a resource for having difficult conversations in general. From the same website, here are some resources for at home on various topics especially around sleeping and anxiety. Regardless of their age, please have conversations with your kiddos to reiterate they are safe at school and what we do to keep students safe at school. At Scott, we have already practiced one lock-down drill, in the case there is an active threat inside the school. For the past three years, Kindergarteners at Scott have participated in the Sammy Sasquatch lessons to understand why we practice lockdown: locks, lights, out of sight. Our children are resilient and they also are watching how we respond and react. Please take care of yourselves and each other. Please reach out to School counselors Ben Hildner (Mr. H) or Candor Wallace if you have any questions, want additional support or check-ins, or need to partner for anything.

Safety and security continue to be our highest priorities at Scott School. We wanted to share a few reminders and guidelines to help us continue to keep our campus safe and secure for all of our learners, staff, and visitors.

• Campus Security & Arrival/Dismissal Reminders:

  • Waiting Off-Campus: Families and adults picking students up after school need to wait off campus on sidewalks until 2:30 PM.

  • Door Access: If a staff member opens a door for you, please do not hold or open the door for anyone else behind you. Our staff will check in and open the door for each individual to ensure we know exactly who is entering our building.

  • Visitor Check-In & Badges: All visitors inside the building must check in at the front office using our visitor management system and wear a visitor or volunteer badge for the full duration of your visit.

  Additional Campus Safety Protocols:

  • ID Requirement: Please be prepared to present a valid photo ID (such as a driver's license) at the front office whenever you check in or sign a student out early.

  • Student Pick-Up Authorization: Students will only be released to adults listed on their emergency contact forms. If someone else is picking up your child, please notify the office in advance.

  • Traffic & Parking Lot Safety: Please drive slowly through school zones and parking areas, obey designated drop-off/pick-up lanes, and use designated crosswalks at all times. Avoid parking in bus loading zones or blocking driveway lanes.

  • Secured Perimeter: Outside doors remain locked throughout the school day. Please do not attempt to enter through side or rear doors, even if you see students or staff inside.

  Thank you for your continued partnership, vigilance, and cooperation in following these procedures. Working together ensures our students can focus on learning in a safe, welcoming, and secure environment every single day.

  If you have any questions or feedback regarding our safety protocols, please feel free to reach out to the main office.

As the district works through the process of rightsizing and considering school closures, consolidations and restructuring, it is important that our community stakeholders have a voice in the process. I strongly recommend that everyone attend at least one engagement opportunity to share your experiences, thoughts and values related to the rightsizing efforts. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about this process and sharing feedback with Portland Public Schools.

Hello PPS community,

Many of you have submitted questions regarding PPS’s Rightsizing initiative. We have posted updated answers and will continue to update our FAQ page. This is also the place where you can submit additional questions, and we will work to answer those as well.

As we move forward, the Rightsizing web page will be your one-stop place for information, such as opportunities to engage, school board meetings and more.

PPS Communications

A member of our Scott School community has a citrus allergy. We ask that all citrus foods, drinks and products (for example cleaning supplies and lotions) are kept at home at all times. We appreciate your cooperation and support in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all.

• Food Pantry - ongoing dates
• Pie Sale Pickup - Wednesday, October 28
• Popcorn Friday - Friday, November 6