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![Photo of Nate Witherbee and Abby Hutchins, PPS music teachers]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1772144698/portlandschoolsorg/tiulzo2qqrvh5zoiz36s/MarchNewsletter1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1772144698/portlandschoolsorg/tiulzo2qqrvh5zoiz36s/MarchNewsletter1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1772144698/portlandschoolsorg/tiulzo2qqrvh5zoiz36s/MarchNewsletter1.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1772144698/portlandschoolsorg/tiulzo2qqrvh5zoiz36s/MarchNewsletter1.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1772144698/portlandschoolsorg/tiulzo2qqrvh5zoiz36s/MarchNewsletter1.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1772144698/portlandschoolsorg/tiulzo2qqrvh5zoiz36s/MarchNewsletter1.png","width":1920}])
Nate Witherbee, music teacher at Portland Arts and Technology High School, and Abby Hutchins, music teacher at Deering and Casco Bay high schools, have been nominated for the Manilow Music Teacher Award, which honors educators who have a passion and dedication to teaching music to students. The two are among 10 Maine music educators vying to be the top vote-getters in an online contest to receive a $10,000 prize—$5,000 in a cash award and $5,000 for instruments for students.
![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.
![graphic for 2026 RISE Award]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1764957787/portlandschoolsorg/portlandschoolsorg/hk1cerapixlp6zrliftb/RISEAWARDgraphic.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1764957787/portlandschoolsorg/portlandschoolsorg/hk1cerapixlp6zrliftb/RISEAWARDgraphic.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1764957787/portlandschoolsorg/portlandschoolsorg/hk1cerapixlp6zrliftb/RISEAWARDgraphic.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1764957787/portlandschoolsorg/portlandschoolsorg/hk1cerapixlp6zrliftb/RISEAWARDgraphic.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1764957787/portlandschoolsorg/portlandschoolsorg/hk1cerapixlp6zrliftb/RISEAWARDgraphic.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1764957787/portlandschoolsorg/portlandschoolsorg/hk1cerapixlp6zrliftb/RISEAWARDgraphic.png","width":1920}])
The Maine Department of Education has announced the top 10 finalists for the 2026 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award. The Portland Public Schools is excited that two of the district’s staff members are among the top 10 finalists for the award, which recognizes exceptional school workforce employees: Liz Meahl and Renee Quattrucci.
![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.
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Ocean Avenue Elementary School, 150 Ocean Ave, Portland, ME 04103, USA
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Ocean Avenue Elementary School, 150 Ocean Ave, Portland, ME 04103, USA