Dear Vernon Families and Friends,

A big shoutout to Miss Lyndsey and our outstanding MYP student MCs for hosting yet another inspiring IB assembly this month, spotlighting our October IB Learner Profile theme: Open-Mindedness.

In our October IB assembly, we delved into the theme of the month, "Open-Mindedness," which encourages us to appreciate not only our own cultures, values, and traditions but also those of others. Open-mindedness is about actively listening to diverse viewpoints and using these experiences to foster personal growth.

During this assembly, we were privileged to hear from Violet Hafez, a 5th grader at Vernon, who passionately shared the significance of Indigenous Peoples Day, observed on October 9th. Violet, a proud member of the Tohono O'odham Nation, enlightened us on the importance of honoring the indigenous peoples of America who have inhabited this land for thousands of years. Her inspiring words reminded us of the significance of celebrating Native culture, history, and traditions, as well as emphasizing our shared responsibility to treat Mother Earth with kindness.

In another exciting event on Tuesday, we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Jorge Cham, a distinguished author and Ph.D. engineer who was born in Panama. Dr. Cham engaged with our 3rd-8th graders and shared his remarkable story, particularly focusing on "Oliver's Big Universe." His presentation not only included fascinating insights into our universe but also sprinkled in humor to describe its origins. Dr. Cham's visit served as a wonderful reminder to celebrate the extraordinary contributions made by Hispanic Americans during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Lastly, a friendly reminder: there is no school this Friday. We wish you all a fantastic weekend.

Vernon Proud!

Ben Keefer

bkeefer@pps.net

Principal

School Office Hours

7:30am – 4:30pm – School Office Hours

Attendance email

vernonattendance@pps.net

Please fill out attached form if you are interested in SUN school at Vernon this Fall.

SUN will run October 23rd - December 14th

Questions? Reach out to ...

Tatiana Andre

tatianab@selfenhancement.org

3920 N. Kerby Ave. Portland, OR 97227

10/30 Monday - Pajama Day - wear those cozy clothes, robes & slippers

10/31 Tuesday - Costume Day - make sure it is school appropriate -no scary costumes, weapons, or face coverings please

11/1 Wednesday - Thorns Day - Wear red and black, Thorns gear, or a Thorns button to celebrate our Portland's soccer team!

11/2 Thursday - Color Wars - wear your grade colors

• K-2 Students Wear Red & Orange
• 3-5 Students Wear Yellow & Green
• 6-8 Students Wear Blue & Purple

Fun For The Owls Pledges

Fun For The Owls Pledge Reminder: Wednesday Nov. 1st is the final day for Fun For The Owl Pledges! Pledge sheets can be dropped off with teachers or at the PTA lock box in the office. They can also be made online at www.vernonpta.org/fun-for-the-owls. Thanks to everyone. Every little bit counts!

Reach out to the classroom teacher if you have questions or need to schedule an alternative time.

Open-mindedness gives students the ability to:

• embrace different points of view
• listen to and consider the perspectives of others before making a decision
• understand new ideas and experiences broaden their mind and challenge their thinking
• understand mistakes or failure leads to a deeper understanding
• be eager to learn new things and build on existing knowledge, even if it challenges existing views
• be honest, understanding they don’t know everything and can admit it
• know the first answer is not always correct and search for alternatives before settling on an answer
• be an effective team player and collaborator
• be fair and objective, building trust with others
• handle constructive feedback, understanding they learn from their mistakes.