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Superintendent's Update

August 2026

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Superintendent'sUpdateAugust 2026

Centennial School District | August 2026 Centennial School District | August 2026

Dear Centennial Colleagues, Students, Families and Community,

As summer enters its final weeks, we are looking forward to welcoming students, families and staff back for the 2026-27 school year. Across Centennial, our teams are preparing our schools and classrooms for a great start and another year of learning, growth and connection.

Back to School Webpage

To help families have a smooth start, the District has created a Back to School Webpage with key dates, school supply lists, transportation and school meal information, and other important resources. Whether you are a returning family or new to Centennial, this is your one-stop hub for everything you need as the first day approaches. Click the link below for more details:

2026-27 Back to School Webpage

As we approach the first day of school, I'm grateful for all the work underway across Centennial to welcome our students. This month's update highlights some of that work and the people behind it.

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Welcome to our New Patrick Lynch Elementary Principal! Welcome to our New Patrick Lynch Elementary Principal!

Ruth Tucker has been selected as the next Principal of Patrick Lynch Elementary School, and began her role on July 1, 2026.


Ms. Tucker brings more than 25 years of experience as a teacher, instructional leader, district administrator, and principal, with a deep commitment to student voice, family partnership, belonging, and equitable outcomes for all learners. She most recently served as Principal of William Walker Elementary School in the Beaverton School District, where she led efforts to strengthen student attendance and build a culture focused on continuous learning and growth. Her leadership emphasized meaningful engagement with students, staff, and families.


Prior to her work in Beaverton, Ms. Tucker served as Principal of Milwaukie El Puente Elementary School in the North Clackamas School District, where she successfully brought together dual language and traditional educational programs into a unified school community while supporting inclusive practices for multilingual learners and students receiving specialized services. She also served as Assistant Director of PK-12 Dual Language and World Language Programs for Portland Public Schools, overseeing district-wide initiatives and supporting curriculum development, program improvement, and educator recruitment efforts.


Earlier in her career, Ms. Tucker served as both Principal and Assistant Principal in Portland Public Schools and spent more than a decade as a Spanish immersion teacher. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her ability to build strong relationships, foster collaborative cultures, and support high-quality instruction that meets the needs of diverse learners. Her leadership is grounded in relational trust, student-centered decision making, and the belief that every student deserves to be known, valued, and supported to achieve their full potential.

2026-2027 Academic Calendar 2026-2027 Academic Calendar

Don't forget to check the 2026-2027 Academic Calendar for important dates, including holidays and no-school days. Here are some important highlights:


  • School starts on Wednesday, September 2 for Grades 1-12. This will be on a 1-hour late start schedule. Please see communications from your elementary school with more information about the staggered start dates for Kindergarten. PreK starts on Tuesday, September 8.
  • All District schools will be closed on Monday, September 7 for the Labor Day holiday.
  • Our schools will now be following a semester schedule, rather than trimesters. Semester 1 starts on September 2, and Semester 2 starts on January 26.
  • Conference dates may be different for some schools than previous years. Your student's school will provide details about conferences closer to those dates.
2026-2027 Academic Calendar Website
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Report to Our Community Report to Our Community

Recently, copies of the most recent Report to Our Community were mailed to all residents of the Centennial School District boundary area. You can also view a digital version of this latest edition in English, Spanish, and Russian at https://www.csd28j.org/communityreport.


This summer's edition features updates on our ongoing literacy work, our Profile of a Centennial Graduate pilots, and our long-range facilities planning work. We also highlight the role that arts education plays in student belonging and engagement. These featured topics bring to life just a few of the many examples of how Roadmap '27 continues to shape our District's focus.

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Preparing to Start our School Year Preparing to Start our School Year

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During the month of August, administrators and staff across the District dedicate significant time to learning, collaboration, and planning for the school year ahead. This work ensures that all school teams are focused on intentional implementation for the final year of our Roadmap '27 strategic plan goals, and ready for the arrival of our students in September.


We started this month strong with a three-day retreat for our administrators focused on strengthening instructional leadership and preparing for the year ahead. Administrators deepened their understanding of effective instructional practices and considered how leaders can support their implementation across schools.

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Our District's Office Team "Kick-Off" meeting brought together staff from all of our school offices as well as various district-level departments, providing an important opportunity for connection and learning. School office teams reflected on the ways their roles influence the focus areas of academics, belonging, engagement, and attendance in our schools, and how the work they do is an essential component of the experiences of students and families in our buildings. School teams also met with staff from various operational departments, receiving critical updates on the systems that are essential for keeping our school offices functioning effectively.

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New Licensed Staff Orientation welcomed educators who are new to Centennial and provided an opportunity to learn more about our District, our students, and the priorities that guide our work. Staff explored Centennial’s mission, vision, and equity commitment, Profile of a Graduate, and Roadmap ‘27, while also engaging in professional learning focused on creating classroom environments where students feel valued, capable, and ready to learn.
These are just a few examples of all of the important work happening as we prepare for the quickly approaching school year. The meetings, retreats, and orientations happening throughout the month of August create an important foundation for the school year ahead and contribute to the ongoing learning and professional development of our staff. Additionally, staff have opportunities to build relationships across schools and departments, creating greater alignment as we all work to support the achievement and well-being of each Centennial student.
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Summer 2026 Construction Projects Summer 2026 Construction Projects

During the summer we have the opportunity to complete major construction projects without disrupting student learning. These annual projects are critical investments in our schools, expanding the longevity of our facilities and improving the functionality of our buildings and outdoor areas.


This year's summer projects include:


  • Powell Butte Elementary: Renovation of the library and 12 classrooms; HVAC replacement
  • Pleasant Valley Elementary: Improving playground drainage
  • Parklane and Patrick Lynch: Upgraded outlets
  • Centennial Middle School: New outdoor play and enrichment area
  • Oliver Middle School: Parking lot paving
New pavement in the parking area in front of a school building
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Parking lot paving underway at OMS

Construction vehicles completing ground leveling work near a school building
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Work continues on the new outdoor play area at CMS

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Playground improvement work in progress at Pleasant Valley

James Owens
Centennial School District Superintendent
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