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Welcome Peninsula Panther Students and Families!

We hope you’ve had a joyful and restful summer. We are excited to welcome both new and returning èßäÊÓƵ and families to the 2025–2026 èßäÊÓƵ year!

Last year, during the 2024–2025 èßäÊÓƵ year, our incoming 5th graders, Site Council parents, and staff came together to reflect on who we are as a community. Together, we distilled our shared identity into seven core values that define us as Peninsula Panthers.

This year, we look forward to deepening this work by defining, sharing and celebrating these values with our broader community.

We are eager to learn, grow, and thrive alongside you once again. 

11:50 a.m. Early Release Wednesdays: 8 times per year (9/17, 10/22, 12/10, 1/14, 2/11, 3/11, 4/22, 5/13) 

September 29th: 2nd & 3rd Grade Dental Sealants

October 7th: Picture Day

October 9th: 2nd grade field trip to Whitaker Ponds

October 10th: No School

Link to PPS District Calendar

Email student absences to Sara Solomon (ssolomon@pps.net) or call/leave a message on the attendance line at 503-916-5275.

Learn more about Oregon law on student absences .

Our community enjoys bringing their canine companions to èßäÊÓƵ grounds during hours when èßäÊÓƵ and after-èßäÊÓƵ programs are not using the facilities.

Unfortunately, those sneaky canines manage to poop on our field and create some stinky situations for èßäÊÓƵ and staff. 

We have decided to form a poop patrol!  for details and to sign up for a shift.
Our shoes and noses thank you in advance for doing your part.

Blue Bags: The Peninsula PTA has a “blue bag” fundraiser through the Oregon Bottle Drop. Just grab a blue bag, fill it up with cans and return to your nearest bottle drop redemption center, located in Delta Park or the St. John’s Safeway.  You can also make an easy donation to the Peninsula PTA by transferring funds from your personal “green bag” account to the Peninsula PTA account onlne. Pick up blue bags at the front office or on the porch at the bright yellow house across from the kindergarten pick up on Halleck, or the Mayfly Kenton. Thanks!

Congratulations to Lincoln High School èßäÊÓƵ Richard Deng and Coral Platt! Both were awarded National Merit Scholarships of $2,500 toward their college studies.

They were chosen from more than 15,000 finalists nationwide. Richard plans to pursue a career in politics and Coral is looking at a future in the legal sector.

Two exceptional PPS educators, Ricardo Barber and Hang Jones, were recently named OnPoint Educators of the Year for 2025.

As part of this prestigious honor, both teachers will have their rent or mortgage paid for an entire year, and their èßäÊÓƵs also receive a $2,500 donation. 

Ricardo Barber teaches third grade at Faubion, and Hang Jones serves as a social worker at Marysville Elementary. 

The OnPoint Prize for Excellence in Education celebrates educators who embrace innovative teaching techniques that ignite enthusiasm in their èßäÊÓƵ. 

Congratulations to Ricardo Barber and Hang Jones! And thank you both for everything you do to make a difference in the lives our èßäÊÓƵ.

The assignment their teacher gave them was simple – make a short film that begins with a phone call and ends with someone hanging up. Benson first-year èßäÊÓƵ Dylan Martinez-Torres and Dariel Soriano Zamora ran it all the way to a small city populated by two very big and rather iconic monsters – Godzilla and Hedora.

The result, Sorry, Wrong Number, is one of the more than 90 films entered into the annual Best of PPS Film Festival. The festival is a celebration of exceptional student filmmaking that includes a showcase at the historic Hollywood Theatre. 

The fourth annual installment of the festival took place on May 21 and included a screening of 13 standout films. The films came from all over PPS and ran the gamut from Dylan and Dariel’s monster short to documentaries, film noir, and broadcast journalism. 

If you are a passionate student or community member that wants to make a difference at PPS, apply to join the Climate Crisis Response Committee! This is a committee that reports to the PPS Board of Education.

On the committee you will learn about how PPS is making progress towards our climate justice and sustainability policies, provide input and recommendations to the PPS Board on how to better support PPS staff as we advance these policy goals, and connect with other passionate members of our PPS community from diverse backgrounds, knowledge areas, and lived experiences.

No previous professional experience in climate change or sustainability required! Students can apply . Community members can apply .

Deadline to apply: June 6.