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Household Income Data Form

Help ensure that all students continue to receive free meals by completing the form electronically! Check your inbox for a personalized link.

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Bus Drop-Off Procedures for Pre-K, Kindergarteners & Students With Specialized Needs

The Portland Public Schools is committed to the safety of all students not only at school, but also when they are being transported to and from school. Read the steps that will be taken to ensure students’ safety.

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Attendance Awareness

Did you know missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder for elementary school students to learn to read?

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View Our Calendar

Our calendar contains upcoming events, holidays, and early release reminders!

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Letter from Principal

The latest message from our principal includes exciting updates and information.

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Lyseth Elementary Calendar

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News/Announcements

Lyseth News

Catch up on the latest school news and events.

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Board Inauguration Held Dec. 5

One returning Board member, two new members and six student representatives were sworn in at the Portland Board of Public Education’s Dec. 5 Inauguration ceremony. The Board also voted for Sarah Lentz to serve for the second time in a row be the Board’s new chair for the coming year and for Abusana “Micky” Bondo to again be vice chair for a second year.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Board Inauguration Held Dec. 5
Snow Day Plans 2023-2024

It's the time of year in Maine to expect snow storms and other types of inclement weather events. In advance of the changes in the weather, Superintendent Ryan Scallon presented the Portland Public Schools' snow day plans for the 2023-2024 school year to the Board of Public Education meeting at its Nov. 14 meeting. Here are the details:

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Snow Day Plans 2023-2024
Board Chair, Vice Chair Chosen at Caucus

At its Nov. 14 meeting, the Portland Board of Public Education held a caucus to take an informal vote to select new leaders for the coming year. The Board unanimously chose current Board Chair Sarah Lentz to lead the Board again and also unanimously endorsed current Vice Chair Micky Bondo to continue in that role for the next year.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Board Chair, Vice Chair Chosen at Caucus
PPS Educators Awarded FPPS Grants

The Foundation for Portland Public Schools (FPPS) announced Oct. 31 that it is awarding $64,299 to Portland Public Schools staff members through the FPPS Equity and Innovation Grant program. Seventy-three teachers, ed techs, librarians, and other staff members will receive up to $1,250 each for classroom resources and experiences such as robotics clubs, purchasing math manipulatives, attending concerts, or bringing in guest lecturers. These grants will benefit thousands of students from preK through Portland Adult Education in 16 schools across the district. This year is the 15th year of the Equity and Innovation Grants Program.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PPS Educators Awarded FPPS Grants
Wabanaki Studies & Black History Update

An update on the progress that the Portland Public Schools is making on developing and implementing a Wabanaki Studies curriculum and a Local Black History curriculum was presented at the Board of Public Education's Sept. 19 meeting. Both curricula are essential to help students gain an accurate, full and inclusive history of their state and nation. Both curricula also offer opportunities for interdisciplinary learning across all content areas, not just social studies.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Wabanaki Studies & Black History Update
Super Principal Sara Gips Goodall

October is National Principals Month and the Portland Public Schools is taking this opportunity to shine a spotlight on our principals, who are super. We celebrate and appreciate them not only this month but always! To showcase them, we have asked our principals to answer five questions about themselves and their leadership role. We also asked what superpower they'd like to have to aid in their jobs. We're featuring each principal individually during this month. Read on to learn more about Super Principal Sara Gips Goodall of Lyseth Elementary School.

  • Lyseth Elementary School
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Super Principal Sara Gips Goodall
Parent U: Left to Their Own Devices

How can we support and guide our kids safely through the challenges of the “digital wilderness”? During a Portland Public Schools Parent University session titled “Left to Their Own Devices,” and scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, we’ll look at some reasons behind this difficult-to-navigate journey for parents and how to support media balance and well-being.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Parent U: Left to Their Own Devices
Bus Contingency Letter

On Sept. 28, the district sent a letter to families and staff about plans for managing a potential shortage of bus drivers due to illness this school year, as COVID, the flu and RSV circulate in our community. If you missed the communication, it is shared here.

  • Elementary Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Bus Contingency Letter
Answers to P-EBT Card Questions

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has begun mailing out Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) cards to Maine families, and some parents are understandably reaching out with questions. Here are some answers.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Answers to P-EBT Card Questions
Food Service Announcement

The Portland Public Schools is participating in Special Provision II and Community Eligible Provision for the 2023-2024 school year. This alternative is referred to as Provision II and CEP.  All students enrolled in all of Portland’s public schools except the Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) may participate in the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program at no charge. Household applications are not required to receive free meals this school year but forms similar to applications may be distributed by the school and the district to collect household income data for other programs that require this information, such as Federal Title programs.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Food Service Announcement
Custodians' 'Welcome Back' Is Poetical

Portland Public Schools Custodial Supervisor Steve Reed has written a poem to send a welcome back message from custodians for the 2023-2024 school year. “I thought that it might give teachers and other staff some insight into how we feel about them and our students,” Reed said.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Custodians' 'Welcome Back' Is Poetical
Leader Wins Black Excellence Award

Julia Hazel, the district’s director of BIPOC career pathways and leadership development, is a recipient of the 2023 Maine Black Excellence Awards, presented by The Third Place on Aug. 13. Hazel received the Compass Career Award, which recognizes individuals who accomplish a standout achievement in their workplace or sector. 

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Leader Wins Black Excellence Award
New leaders at Central Office, DHS

At its Aug. 1 meeting, the Board of Public Education approved the appointments of Halima Noor as assistant principal of Deering High School and Scott Walker as assistant principal at Portland High School. The Board was also introduced to two newly hired Central Office administrators: Dr. Angela Atkinson Duina, executive director of elementary schools and Matthew Powers, director of data and analytics.

  • Deering High School
  • Elementary Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about New leaders at Central Office, DHS
Public Feedback Invited on ESEA application

The Portland Public Schools accepts funding through the Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA) of 1965. As part of ESEA, the district is required to provide reasonable opportunity for public comment on the consolidated application and consider such comment prior to the submission of the application. Portland is accepting public comment on the ESEA application through July 25, 2023. Click here for a description of proposed programming. Click here to share your thoughts about the application’s goals and priorities.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Public Feedback Invited on ESEA application
Change Made to 2023-2024 Calendar

At its June 20 meeting, the Board of Public Education approved an adjustment to the 2023-2024 school year calendar that makes Tuesday, Sept. 5, a day for staff training and moves the first day of school for students in grades 1-12 to Wednesday, Sept. 6. That day will be a full day of school, not an early release day.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Change Made to 2023-2024 Calendar
ESOL Expertise for All Educators Endorsed

The Board of Public Education has unanimously approved a resolution that directs the superintendent to establish a program for all non-ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) educators to acquire some form of an ESOL credential to better serve the district’s growing number of multilingual students. The vote took place at the Board’s June 20 meeting.

The program would be phased in, with substantial progress expected over the next four years, the resolution states. It also says that the Board pledges to provide “the resources and support necessary to ensure all educators in PPS have or acquire some form of an ESOL credential, certification, or micro-credential.” Details on how the program will function in practice remain to be worked out collaboratively with educators.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about ESOL Expertise for All Educators Endorsed
Summer Meals Start In June!

The Portland Public Schools will be operating various summer meal sites across the city of Portland this summer. Meals and times will be posted at sites and maps have been distributed to students at school.  School Sites will begin operation on June 26, 2023 or July 5, 2023 and continue through August 4, 2023, and some through August 11, 2023, Monday- Friday. Community sites will operate from June 26, 2023 to August 18, 2023, Monday –Friday.

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about Summer Meals Start In June!
PPS to Join in Pride Parade June 17

As an inclusive, welcoming school district, the Portland Public Schools will participate in the Pride Portland! Parade on Saturday, June 17.

“As has become our tradition, the Portland Public Schools will join in the parade to celebrate our LGBTQ+ staff, students, families and other partners and all their contributions to our schools and community,” said Interim Co-Superintendents Melea Nalli and Aaron Townsend. “Unfortunately, there have been an unprecedented number of bills targeting LGTBQ+ rights throughout the U.S. this year. It is important that our district participates to reiterate our commitment to supporting our PPS LGBTQ+ community.  We will once again have a float entry in the parade – a yellow school bus! – and we invite staff, students, families and other supporters to join us in marching.”

  • Elementary Schools
  • High Schools
  • Middle Schools
  • Portland Adult Education
  • Portland Public Schools
Read More about PPS to Join in Pride Parade June 17

Testimonials

What students, parents and faculty have to say about our school.

“I am repeatedly impressed with the level of my daughter's academics...the quality of the teachers is remarkable."

  • PPS Parent

"I'm proud to work for an educational system that constantly tries to improve and values everyone."

  • PPS Faculty

Lyseth Elementary at a Glance

Facts About Our School

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469

Students Enrolled

Our students come from a wide variety of culturally rich backgrounds. We believe that learning in diverse groups prepares students to thrive.

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15

Languages Spoken by Students

Top 10 most spoken languages in the district includes: English, Somali, Arabic, Lingala, Khmer, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Vietnamese and Kinyarwanda.

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44%

Free and Reduced Lunch

Free-and-reduced lunch paperwork is low due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal and state funding has enabled every student to receive free meals without requiring income verification.

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