Principal Mobile Update
June 1st, 2020
Monday
This past week has been very stressful for every community, and especially the Black Community. On top of the CORVID-19 and joblessness, America has now witnessed the death of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, at the hands of a white police officer, which has sparked the recent outrage from the American public. The wounds of America's historically, systemic, racism have to been reopened. As an African American Female, with Black relatives, husband, brothers, nephews, uncles, and cousins that are at risk of being victims of police brutality, this has been a challenging time for me.
I personally believe that every human being has the potential to be great. And, we have many great individuals in our Beaumont community that have consistently shared their love and resources with the Beaumont student population. As we weather this storm, I ask that you stand in solidarity with the Black Community to speak up against racism and police brutality. Please remember to focus on anti-racist practices, grace, compassion, and social justice for all communities of color that experience mistreatment and racism on a daily basis. Compassion and a willingness to understand others by speaking up for justice is the only way our society will heal.
We may not know what each individual is experiencing in these trying times. However, my hope is that each of us will hold ourselves accountable to speak up for injustices when we see it. I wish the best for each family as we transition through these tough times. At Beaumont, we care about our students and their families. Please reach out to us if you feel that there is something that we can assist you with.
May you all experience peace in the coming weeks as we end the school year. I know that the teachers will do their best to support students academically and emotionally as they engage with students.
Please find the links below for resources that allow adults and students to understand the history of racism:
Little, Brown Publishers
https://www.lbyr.com/titles/jason-reynolds/stamped-racism-antiracism-and-you/9780316453707/
Time article
https://time.com/5650322/jason-reynolds-ibram-kendi-stamped-young-adult/
Trevor Noah Interview
Ibram Kendi Teaching Tolerance
Ibram Kendi speaking on his book Stamped From the Beginning
If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor - Desmond Tutu
Best Regards and Be well,
Harriette
Portfolios Due Date June 10th
8th GRADE PROMOTION
POSTERS
A Beaumont teacher should have hand-delivered a promotion poster for display at your home. Please display your poster in a prominent place such as an exterior window or on the refrigerator door.
2020 Promotion Video
Although this promotion isn't quite the same as a typical promotion, we still want to celebrate each one of you. The leadership team has created a virtual promotion platform that will replace the brick and mortar promotion. This website featured and launched on the Beaumont Website on June 11th.
We recommend sitting down to watch the promotion video to the right as a family and then exploring the rest of the website to add messages and see what our Beaumont teachers have to say.
In this video, you will see video messages from Ms. Vimegnon, Mr. Eltagonde, and Ms. Arnold. Additionally, the reading of each student’s name will be accompanied by a virtual certificate and image. Following the promotion, we will continue the celebration with a Reverse Parade. Details and safety measures are listed below.
Reverse Parade
We can't do a traditional promotion where you walk the stage, but we can do a reverse parade. Come to drive-by Beaumont as your teachers wave signs while appropriately social distancing.
Why not a car parade of teachers and students with a parade route? This is a great question. However, due to the large geographic area our boundaries cover, it is problematic and potentially unsafe for us to do so. Plus, having the reverse parade at Beaumont creates a more equitable experience for our entire community.
DETAILS
When: Thursday, June 11th from 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Where: Teachers will be lining the Fremont side of the building between 42nd and the visitor parking lot.
Advised Route: We encourage families to drive by the building from east to west and to seat promoting students on the passenger side of vehicles so they will be able to see staff and signs.
Safety Measures
Teachers will wear masks and will be standing at least six feet apart along the Fremont side of Beaumont.
Students and families should remain in their cars and follow the rules of the road.
Please do not pull over, stop, or drive slower than the posted speed limit.
Beaumont parking lots are closed to families.
Students and families attending the parade on foot should use the sidewalk on the south side of Fremont to help maintain appropriate distancing. Please use crosswalks appropriately.
At no point should any students or families congregate in groups or walk by teachers.
The reverse parade will shut down if all safety measures are not followed.
Thank you all for all that you have done to support both your promoting student and the Beaumont community.
Food Support for Families
As our community deals with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, we want to make Portland Public Schools families aware of a state benefit to help pay for food. The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or P-EBT, is available to help families offset the cost of meals that would have been consumed at school. It is administered by the Oregon Department of Human Services.
The P-EBT benefit is available to families with a student who qualifies for free or reduced-price meals and any student enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school. For those families:
Households who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Association Program (SNAP), which offers food benefits to eligible, low-income individuals and families, will have benefits automatically deposited to their existing EBT accounts. There is no additional paperwork to submit to receive P-EBT benefits.
Households who currently qualify for free or reduced-price meals or attend a CEP school will receive an Oregon Trail Card in the mail along with instructions on how to activate or refuse benefits. There is no additional paperwork to submit to receive P-EBT benefits.
For families not currently eligible and seeking benefits:
Households financially impacted by COVID-19 may qualify for SNAP. See the program’s website to learn more.
Families who have experienced income loss may now be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Apply online at pps.net/nutrition.
For assistance with submitting a meal application, please contact the PPS Meal Benefits Office: mealbenefits@pps.net or 503-916-3402.
For Pandemic-EBT questions, please contact the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Quarter 4 Feedback
Distance learning marks will not adversely affect student placement in the 2020-21 school year.
In the 4th quarter of 2019-20 school year, Portland Public Schools converted to distance learning to reduce the spread of COVID-19 virus during the global pandemic. The teachers and administrators of PPS recognize that not all families had the same access to distance learning opportunities. Applying an equity lens, this 4th quarter report card was developed by acknowledging that students were working in circumstances beyond their control.
Distance learning prioritized care, connection, and continuity of learning for all students. Teachers focused on, maintaining connections with students, delivering innovative instruction, and ensuring that all learners had the opportunity to succeed and were not penalized by the extended school closure.
Key for Distance Learning Marks
Evidence of Participation
The student participated in distance learning or communicated an alternate plan to the student's classroom teacher or building administrator.
No evidence of participation
The student did not participate in distance learning to the best of the teacher’s knowledge.
District staff made all efforts possible to contact the student and family. Many factors affected families' abilities to participate in distance learning. PPS teachers, administrators, and staff assume families made every effort possible to assure their students' well-being and continue their learning as best as possible during this period.
Opportunity For TAG Students
The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for high-performing 7th-grade students with financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for the school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities.
Program Experience
Educational advisers support Young Scholars to maximize high school experiences and to go on to thrive at the nation’s top-performing colleges. Our programming and support may include:
- Identifying an appropriately rigorous high school.
- Engaging in four-year planning and goal-setting.
- Funding for academic and extracurricular opportunities, such as music and art lessons, supplemental academic classes, and technology.
- Annual summer programs, including two required Young Scholar programs.
- Year-round Young Scholars community programming.
- Networking opportunities with a high-achieving peer community.
For more information, please click on the link below.
Summer Writing Workshop
Welcome, Young Writers, incoming grades 6-9! Join us for an exciting time of writing, talking, reading—and more writing!
In these workshops, students will turn their notebooks to a new page. They will locate the stories they carry, take risks in writing, learn to turn memory into fiction, fiction into poetry. They will write to a wide variety of prompts while honing skills through craft lessons that build both language dexterity and knowledge of genres.
Students will join an OWP writing instructor with 5-10 other students in their age group. After reading and discussing prompts, students will write online. During class time, learners will also use digital video conferencing to share their writing with other students and the instructor to get live feedback and support in their writing.
Session Dates & Details
Monday-Friday, June 15-19 - or - Monday-Friday, June 22-26
Please note: Participation will require access to a computer, internet, and the Zoom application (free)
$175, $100 for free or reduced lunch students (verified by school)
Scholarship funding is available for students of color. Please contact Linda Christensen at lmc@lclark.edu if your student qualifies for this scholarship.
Online Registration:
Writing the College and Scholarship Essay
Applying for college or a scholarship? Interested in developing the skills you need to write a college essay that stands out from the crowd?
Get a head start and sign up for Writing the College and Scholarship Essay, a week-long summer workshop. At the end of the week, you will have revised drafts of two college/scholarship essays. These sections will be kept smaller (5-10) in order to provide more individual guidance.
• Read and analyze successful college and scholarship essays
• Perfect your personal style
• Write sentences that stick out
• Draft, revise, edit, and share a college essay that will get you noticed by schools
Utilizing Zoom, students will receive live daily instruction in a group setting as well as one-on-one time with instructors for layered writing support each day.
Past Participants have said…
“I was extremely thankful to have a solid start to my essay going into the college application season. I applied to ten schools and was accepted into seven.” - Participant
“Thanks so much for teaching my son! I loved the essays he wrote and would absolutely recommend the program.” - Parent
Monday-Friday, June 15-19, 9 a.m.-noon - or - Monday-Friday, June 22-26, 9 a.m.-noon
Please note: Participation will require access to a computer, internet, and the Zoom application (free)
$175, $100 for free or reduced lunch students (verified by school)
Scholarship funding is available for students of color. Please contact Linda Christensen at lmc@lclark.edu if your student qualifies for this scholarship.
Online Registration:
“My daughter, who was in the writing workshop for 6th and 7th graders, raved about her teacher. She learned a lot and enjoyed herself. Thank you!” - Parent of past participant
OREGON WRITING PROJECT at Lewis & Clark College
Scholarships for Students of Color based on a GoFundMe Campaign
Contact Linda Christensen For Scholarship Information
Contact
Email: vimegnon@pps.net
Website: pps.net/Beaumont
Location: 4043 Northeast Fremont Street, Portland, OR, USA
Phone: 503-916-5610
Twitter: @vimegnon5
If you have not yet ordered your yearbook, there is still time! Simply log in SchoolPay to purchase.
For those wondering about when yearbooks will be available, the printer has experienced delays due to the COVID-19 crisis. We will continue to update those who have ordered the books when they have been delivered and arrange for pick up.