It's tax time again, and W-2s for staff will be mailed home and available in the iPortal by the end of January. Please take a few moments to log in to the system and make sure your mailing address and other personal information is current. Thank you for your continued support and welcome to 2015!

As the job market has improved, our District has seen its substitute pool shrink. Substitutes are vital to our system as they bring expertise and continuity to schools when our staff members are ill or attending trainings. We have a need for substitutes of all types - from teachers to classroom assistants to custodians - so please consider applying today! Visit the EMS Sub Desk to learn more or to fill out an application.  

The Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce has extended its nomination deadline for the 10th annual Crystal Apple Excellence in Education Awards. If you had a staff member in mind for the award but ran out of time to nominate them, you now have a few more days to get the paperwork completed. Nominations are now due to Shelly Olsen (503-726-2145) at the Chamber by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14.  Click here for more information on the Crystal Apple Awards and click here for the nomination packet.

Portland State University has received a three-year, $1 million grant to provide targeted science professional development to elementary teachers. The award was made by ODE as part of their federally-funded Title IIB Math-Science Partnership Program. The project will operate out of the Portland Metro STEM Partnership and will train 70 elementary teachers to serve as instructional specialists during the implementation of Oregon's Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). It will also provide science content instruction for supporting the implementation of NGSS to over 300 elementary teachers.  

Applicants must have three or more years of teaching experience, be committed to participating for all three years of the program, and have their administrator's support. Deadline is January 30, 2015. Click here to learn more and click here for the application. 

The Hillsboro Schools Foundation (HSF) is once again offering grants for innovative curricula, programs, or projects. The grant proposal process will be in three steps: 1) one-page abstract; 2) full grant proposal to those invited; and 3) completion report. Grant requests are for the 2015-16 school year.  

This year, HSF is offering two types of grants: Tier 1 grants will range from $10,000-$15,000 (two will be awarded); and Tier 2 grants will be for up to $5,000. A total of $50,000 will be awarded. Abstracts are due to Robanne Johnston (503-701-9010) by midnight on Wednesday, February 4. The invitation letter, grant abstract form, and scoring rubric are all available on the Staff Grants page of the website.