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![PayPAMS Online Payments End Dec. 31]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1696525585/portlandschoolsorg/ltb2bhcnlaqwyym6frj5/PPSNewsImage_3.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1696525585/portlandschoolsorg/ltb2bhcnlaqwyym6frj5/PPSNewsImage_3.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1696525585/portlandschoolsorg/ltb2bhcnlaqwyym6frj5/PPSNewsImage_3.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1696525585/portlandschoolsorg/ltb2bhcnlaqwyym6frj5/PPSNewsImage_3.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1696525585/portlandschoolsorg/ltb2bhcnlaqwyym6frj5/PPSNewsImage_3.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1696525585/portlandschoolsorg/ltb2bhcnlaqwyym6frj5/PPSNewsImage_3.png","width":1920}])
School meals continue to be free of charge but for students that purchase extras such as drinks and chips, families should be aware that the Portland Public Schools Food Service is transitioning to a new payment software in the spring of 2026 — and the current payment software, PayPAMS, will no longer be taking online payments for students’ meal accounts after December 31, 2025. The system will still be available for students to be able to deposit cash or checks at their schools.
![Invitation graphic for Board Inauguration 2025]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1765408250/portlandschoolsorg/aawyyl4yg1ypepkeaiaz/BudgetBoardSlides_Templatespptx17.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1765408250/portlandschoolsorg/aawyyl4yg1ypepkeaiaz/BudgetBoardSlides_Templatespptx17.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1765408250/portlandschoolsorg/aawyyl4yg1ypepkeaiaz/BudgetBoardSlides_Templatespptx17.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1765408250/portlandschoolsorg/aawyyl4yg1ypepkeaiaz/BudgetBoardSlides_Templatespptx17.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1765408250/portlandschoolsorg/aawyyl4yg1ypepkeaiaz/BudgetBoardSlides_Templatespptx17.png","width":1280}])
Three returning Board of Public Education members and four student representatives were sworn in at the Board’s Inauguration Ceremony on Dec. 9. The Board also voted formally to elect current Board Chair Sarah Lentz and current Board Vice Chair Abusana "Micky" Bondo to continue on in those roles for 2025-2026. At a caucus on Nov. 25, the Board had informally indicated they would again support Lentz and Bondo as Board chair and vice chair for the coming year.
![Supt. Letter Rejecting Hateful Rhetoric]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1714656896/portlandschoolsorg/z1uuf1rp22fs9zqaxhcv/PPSLogoBlue.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1714656896/portlandschoolsorg/z1uuf1rp22fs9zqaxhcv/PPSLogoBlue.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1714656896/portlandschoolsorg/z1uuf1rp22fs9zqaxhcv/PPSLogoBlue.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1714656896/portlandschoolsorg/z1uuf1rp22fs9zqaxhcv/PPSLogoBlue.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1714656896/portlandschoolsorg/z1uuf1rp22fs9zqaxhcv/PPSLogoBlue.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1714656896/portlandschoolsorg/z1uuf1rp22fs9zqaxhcv/PPSLogoBlue.png","width":1920}])
On Dec. 3, Portland Public Schools Superintendent Ryan Scallon sent a letter to the PPS community disagreeing with recent hateful rhetoric regarding immigrants and specifically the Somali community. The superintendent reiterated the district's support for all students, staff and community members. Read the letter:
![Invitation graphic for Board Inauguration 2025]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1764696912/portlandschoolsorg/eyqvikutw9nvl1vyogzy/BoardInaugurationSetforDec9.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1764696912/portlandschoolsorg/eyqvikutw9nvl1vyogzy/BoardInaugurationSetforDec9.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1764696912/portlandschoolsorg/eyqvikutw9nvl1vyogzy/BoardInaugurationSetforDec9.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1764696912/portlandschoolsorg/eyqvikutw9nvl1vyogzy/BoardInaugurationSetforDec9.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1764696912/portlandschoolsorg/eyqvikutw9nvl1vyogzy/BoardInaugurationSetforDec9.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1764696912/portlandschoolsorg/eyqvikutw9nvl1vyogzy/BoardInaugurationSetforDec9.png","width":1920}])
Three returning members and four student representatives will be sworn in at the Portland Board of Public Education Inauguration on Dec. 9. The Board also will vote to elect a new chair and vice chair for the coming year. At its Nov. 25 meeting, the Board informally decided to support having current Board Chair Sarah Lentz and current Board Vice Chair Abusana "Micky" Bondo continue on in those roles for 2025-2026.
![graphic of Thanksgiving Day Game, Nov. 27, 2025]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1763588473/portlandschoolsorg/drnopohae9mrl4fzz6f0/ThanksgivingDayFootballGame2025.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1763588473/portlandschoolsorg/drnopohae9mrl4fzz6f0/ThanksgivingDayFootballGame2025.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1763588473/portlandschoolsorg/drnopohae9mrl4fzz6f0/ThanksgivingDayFootballGame2025.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1763588473/portlandschoolsorg/drnopohae9mrl4fzz6f0/ThanksgivingDayFootballGame2025.jpg","width":1200}])
The 113th Thanksgiving Day football game between Portland and Deering high schools will take place at Memorial Field at Deering High School on Thursday, Nov. 27, with a 10 a.m. kickoff. The community is encouraged to come out to support our students and — new this year — to also bring a food donation for the Preble Street Food Pantry. Not only will that help local hungry families, but ticket prices will be reduced to $1 for each fan donating a food item.
![Photo of two Rowe fifth-graders making their robot squirrel light up and move.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1764699093/portlandschoolsorg/dhycod7rgfrv0wq0tf54/RoweStudentsRobotsCometoLife.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1764699093/portlandschoolsorg/dhycod7rgfrv0wq0tf54/RoweStudentsRobotsCometoLife.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1764699093/portlandschoolsorg/dhycod7rgfrv0wq0tf54/RoweStudentsRobotsCometoLife.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1764699093/portlandschoolsorg/dhycod7rgfrv0wq0tf54/RoweStudentsRobotsCometoLife.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1764699093/portlandschoolsorg/dhycod7rgfrv0wq0tf54/RoweStudentsRobotsCometoLife.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1764699093/portlandschoolsorg/dhycod7rgfrv0wq0tf54/RoweStudentsRobotsCometoLife.png","width":1920}])
Nov. 7 marked the culmination of a four-day STEAM lesson for Rowe Elementary School fifth-graders and they had a big task before them: Make the robot creatures they had created “come to life” with lights, motion and sound. Their “Robot Petting Zoo” lesson was an example of the hands-on opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art, and math that the Portland Public Schools provides for elementary students through its Mobile Makerspace.
![Three Board Members Re-elected]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1696525756/portlandschoolsorg/jrpwtxbmxx9tkesoq3yz/PPSNewsImage_5.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1696525756/portlandschoolsorg/jrpwtxbmxx9tkesoq3yz/PPSNewsImage_5.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1696525756/portlandschoolsorg/jrpwtxbmxx9tkesoq3yz/PPSNewsImage_5.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1696525756/portlandschoolsorg/jrpwtxbmxx9tkesoq3yz/PPSNewsImage_5.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1696525756/portlandschoolsorg/jrpwtxbmxx9tkesoq3yz/PPSNewsImage_5.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1696525756/portlandschoolsorg/jrpwtxbmxx9tkesoq3yz/PPSNewsImage_5.png","width":1920}])
Three current Board of Public Education members whose seats were up for election Nov. 4 have each won new three-year terms. They faced no opposition on the ballot.Board members Sarah Lentz and Jayne Sawtelle were returned to their at-large seats, and Board member Julianne Opperman was re-elected to her District 3 seat.