FAQ

Student meals can be purchased through the SchoolCafe app. You can find additional information here: https://www.pps.net/departments/nutrition-services/purchasing-school-meals

There is a "Jump Start" day for 6th Graders at the start of the school year in August to give students time for guided tours, small group instruction, and time to get acquainted with the school building, teachers, and their classmates. 6th Graders will have the first day alone, and then all students (6th, 7th, and 8th Grades) will come to school the following day. All students will have opportunities to practice their schedule, go to their classes, practice lunch routines, find their lockers, and learn about safety and school expectations.

District calendars for the full year can be viewed here.

West Sylvan Main Office: 503.916.5690 (8:30AM - 4:30PM on school days)

For partial day attendance notifications and bus change requests, please send an email to westsylvanoffice@pps.net

Your first option is to stop by the main office and pick-up the forms and speak with the administrative assistants about procedures. Your second option is to download the forms off of the Portland Public Schools website. Additionally, you will need to bring two documents proving residency (i.e. lease agreement, mortgage papers, a utility bill, etc.), passport or birth certificate for proof of age and immunization records for the students being registered. 

We do not have Staff available to give guided tours currently.  Tours for in-district transfers and incoming 5th graders are conducted during our open houses in late August and late Spring.

Ninety-five percent of our students travel to school via school buses. Families are also welcome to carpool and self-transport.  Please plan ahead for traffic delays when driving your scholars to campus. Information about the Transportation Department can be accessed at: https://www.pps.net/departments/transportation/transportation

What You Can Wear
We want every student to feel safe, comfortable, and ready to learn. Here’s what’s allowed at school:
• You must wear clothing that includes a shirt and pants, shorts, or a skirt (or something similar), plus shoes.
• Clothes must have fabric on the front and sides.
• Your private parts and undergarments, including buttocks, must be fully covered with non-see-through fabric (waistbands are okay to show).
• Hats and headwear are okay as long as your face and eyes are visible to staff. Hoodies must also keep faces and ears
visible.
• Your clothing and shoes should be appropriate for your school day, including PE, science labs, or shop
classes, where safety matters.
• Some classes may require special gear, like uniforms or safety equipment.

What You Can't Wear
To help keep school a respectful and safe space for everyone, the following is not allowed:
• Clothing that shows or promotes alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or drugs
• Clothing with nudity, sexual content, or vulgar/inappropriate language
• Clothing with hate speech or images that target groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or other protected groups
• Gang-related clothing or symbols
• Clothing that includes profanity
• Anything that threatens the health or safety of others

If clothing ever becomes a safety concern, we’ll follow our usual school policies and approach it with respect and consistency.

PPS Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Discipline Handbook

If the problem is in a particular class, please feel free to contact that teacher directly (see Staff emails). There are grade-specific Counselors who are happy to provide additional support to students and families. Ricky Almeida (6th Grade for 2025-26) ralmeida@pps.net, Kandice Abney (7th Grade for 2025-26) kaabney@pps.net, Rebecca Cohen (8th Grade for 2025-26) rcohen@pps.net.

Middle school can be a very difficult time of transition. Many students and their families find themselves facing new social development challenges as well as identity and self-concept growth. If you suspect that your child, or one of their friends, is engaging in behavior that puts them (or others) at risk, please contact the school counselors. They are here to offer support and guidance as well as to advocate on your behalf in seeking out additional resources. You can find their email contact information on the general staff listing.