School facts: Chief Joseph

2409 N SARATOGA
Portland, OR 97217

View a map of the surrounding area

Phone: 503-916-6255
Fax: 503-916-2618
E-mail: jgalati@pps.k12.or.us

School-created web pages: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools/chiefjoseph/

School-brochure: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/profiles/brochure/Chief Joseph.pdf

Grade levels: PK-5
Principal: Joseph G Galati

Chief Joseph Jazz Band, Weekly Chess Club sponsored by Chess for Success, Science/Garden Club, Weekly Fitness Club,grades K-2nd & 3rd-5th art classes and cooking club.

One-to-one reading tutoring sponsored by Portland Reading Foundation Endesha Foundation provides reading instructors from the NW Reading Clinic, SMART program and FEED program with Portland State University.
Chess for Success

Full-time physical education specialist works with students.
Music and art are incorporated into daily classroom activities. The school ranks very high each year in the Run for the Arts jog-a-thon to raise funds for arts programs.
Chief Joseph classrooms integrate technology.
Special education services are available for students who qualify.
Chief Joseph is a student-centered learning environment that works in partnership with families to help all children learn.
A Kelso Coach Peer Conflict Resolution program is used throughout the building to help students resolve small conflicts.
Skills for School Success student organization and study skills program is part of the K-5th curriculum.
A PC computer lab is available to classrooms thanks to teacher grants and parental support.
The school uses the Tools for Citizenship and Life Program that teaches students the five lifelong guidelines of trustworthiness, truthfulness, active listening, no put-downs and personal best, along with 18 lifeskills to guide students, individually and in groups, to an understanding of personal and social behaviors that will enable them to do their best.

Chief Joseph received an ecology award for excellence in recycling from Weyerhaeuser Co. Additionally a community garden is woven into instruction.
School-wide emphasis on developing student writing skills. Each student has a 60-minute daily writing block.
Upper-grade Peer Tutors have lower-grade "buddies" for reading and activities.
Open Court Reading Program used in grades 1st-5th. All students participate in a two-hour reading block with small group instruction for 60 minutes of that time.
Chief Joseph staff focus on basic skills. The goal for all students is to be fluent at reading by 3rd grade.
Investigations Math Program used in all classrooms. Each student has at least a 60-minute math block.
Support materials used to ensure the learning needs of all students are addressed.

15 classroom teachers, 1 PE teacher, 1 part-time music teacher, 1 part-time Lifeskills Counselor, 1 part-time media specialist, 1 full-time Special Education Learning Center teacher, 2 full-time basic skills teachers and several special education para-educators.
Team approach to building student self-esteem.
Ongoing staff development.

Family involvement is the key to successful students at Chief Joseph School. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the classrooms and serve on the various school committees.
A weekly school newsletter informs parents about school activities. A yearly parent calendar/handbook is provided to all families.
Chief Joseph has an active PTA, Local School Advisory Committee (LSAC) and site council.
Family Bar-b-que/Open House, Grandparents Day, Family Activity Nights and conferences bring teachers and parents together.

University of Portland and Portland State University students work with Chief Joseph students.
One-to-One Works tutoring program provides staff instruction and tutoring for students not at benchmark. Tutoring is also provided by the NW Reading Clinic.
Chief Joseph is located adjacent to Arbor Lodge Park.
Chief Joseph features visiting authors, family nights, a school garden and student recognition assemblies.
SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) program provides 60 adult readers weekly for grades K-3rd.

Report cards and AYP Scores
Oregon Department of Education school report cards