The South Portland community is invited to attend the State of the Schools presentation next week on Monday, January 27 in the South Portland Middle School Multipurpose Room (120 Wescott Road). Join Superintendent Matheney for a collaborative discussion about the triumphs and challenges of the South Portland School District. A Board Workshop on the SPHS Athletic Complex will begin that evening at 5:30 p.m. with the State of the Schools to immediately follow. (Please park in the District Office parking lot and use the nearby entrance for the meeting.) View the agenda online at spsdme.org/schoolboard.
Help shape the future of South Portland! This opportunity is open to applicants ages 16-22 to represent the youth voice on the City's Comprehensive Plan Committee. Apply online by January 29 at https://southportland.gov/371/Boards-Committees.
This past semester, South Portland High School students were able to explore different careers in the Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) Program, including dental hygiene, healthcare, marketing, clothing design, and more. Congrats to all the students who completed their final presentations on their ELOs this week!
SoPo Unite Tip of the Month: Youth Vaping and Nicotine Treatment
Restorative Circle: January 13 at 7 p.m. in the SPHS Learning Commons. All South Portland parents and guardians are invited to share stories, learn more about each other, and strengthen relationships across the community. See the attached flier for more details.
Anna is one of more than 30 students participating in an Extended Learning Opportunity this semester at South Portland High School. Students earn academic credit while gaining hands-on learning experience in a career of interest. Anna has been interning at Jean-Paul Boudreau Dentistry to learn more about careers in dental hygiene. She has had the chance to observe, interact with patients, and gain a better understanding of whether or not this career aligns with her goals and interests.
After reading “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, Ms. Siviski’s high school English class discussed how the book can be read as a fable with a moral at the end. This led students to write their own fables to represent lessons they believe in. With the help of Technology Coach Ms. Davies, students used AI to generate images to pair with their stories. Students shared their fables with third graders at Dyer Elementary yesterday, which also happened to be Mustache Day! Thank you to Dyer Librarian Ms. Anderson for helping to coordinate this time for high schoolers and third graders to come together!
Restorative Circles: 3rd Monday of the Month, 7-8 p.m. at South Portland High School. All South Portland parents and guardians are invited to share stories, learn more about each other, and strengthen relationships across the community. See the attached flier for more details.
The South Portland Music Boosters Present a Night of Hockey with the Maine Mariners: 7:15 p.m. Friday, January 3 at the Cross Insurance Arena. 🏒 Part of the sales will be donated to the Music Boosters, supporting the K-12 music programs in South Portland Schools! Purchase tickets here: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/SPMB (Sale ends December 27)
SPHS Social Worker Althea Turner will be part of a discussion titled "Cannabis Use in Adolescence." Join the Zoom call on Tuesday, December 17 at 6:30 p.m. to learn how cannabis use is impacting Maine youth and what parents can do to help. Register here: bit.ly/MEYouthCannabisUse
SoPo Unite's December Tip of the Month: Know your local health center staff and the many ways they can support teen health
Throwback to a couple weeks ago when the South Portland High School Drama Club saw a performance of "Dear Evan Hanson" at Merrill Auditorium! 🎵 🎶
The Season of Giving is upon us! Shop South Portland apparel and swag now through December 5. Visit https://pws.atlanticsportswear.com/product-cat/south-portland-athletics-grey-black-scarlet-white-2024-2/ to shop the collection on Atlantic Sportswear.
South Portland High School has a unique Extended Learning Opportunity program that allows students to explore their career interests while earning academic credit. Students can participate in internships, job shadows, and research projects while gaining hands-on exposure to careers after high school. Dominick is participating in an internship with Great Falls Construction and will be observing the steps of a large-scale construction project at Hadlock Field from start to finish.
Open Mic Night is back! 🎤 Join us at South Portland High School on Friday, November 22 from 5-7:30 p.m. in the Learning Commons to enjoy music, poetry, and comedy from student performers.
Planting Hope Gardens to spread hope 🌷💛 South Portland High School students started a club called Advocates for Mental Health to encourage more conversations about mental health and normalize help seeking behaviors. Their first project is participating in the Yellow Tulip Project. By planting tulip bulbs in the courtyard at the high school, South Portland Middle School, and the South Portland Police Department, they are creating Hope Gardens that will bloom in the spring.
Scene in South Portland Photo Contest (For ages 18+) 📸 The City of South Portland invites you to submit photographs of scenes that capture the special character of the City and what you'd like to see thrive here in the future. One winning photo will appear on the cover of the City's new Comprehensive Plan—the guiding document for South Portland's future through 2040. Submit online here: www.southportland.gov/722/Scene-in-South-Portland-Photo-Contest
SoPo Unite's November Tip of the Month: Role of Law Enforcement in Prevention
Catch a performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" this weekend, a play about love, dreams, and magic! 🎭 The SPHS Drama Club is performing one hour of Shakespeare tonight at 7 p.m. and Saturday, November 9 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Thank you, South Portland voters, for your support of our $3 million Security and $1 million Facility Improvement school bond referendums.