SES Messenger

Hello Sunnyside Community,

For a short week, this week was full of joy and learning. First of all, our second graders in Heather's class got to do free swimming lessons. This is a new program that only a few 2nd grade classes got to participate in, and Sunnyside was lucky enough to offer this program to Heather's class. For a great article about the program, see here.

This week we also had several middle school classes and other grades on field trips. Becca was out sick, so I got the chance to take her class to a play. It was definitely a learning experience for me and our students did so well and were the only middle school at the play. I would recommend seeing What the Constitution Means to Me at the Armory if you get a chance. It is definitely for middle school age and up, and there are a few Patrick Swayze jokes that only the adults laughed at, which made it even better. Other classes went to the World Forestry Center, the Sandy River Delta, and to visit the exhibits at the Lloyd Center. Today our 5th graders went to Newmark Theater to see The Lightning Thief and the rest of us enjoyed a warmer weather day while wearing our pajamas and celebrating Read-a-Thon by snuggling up and reading some books today.

We are glad to be back in the swing of things with field trips, plays, and the Riparian Festival right around the corner.

Just a reminder that there is no supervision before school or after as we are busy getting prepped for the day. Students are not allowed to enter the building before 8:30 and at 8:30 it is only to go to breakfast in the cafeteria.

Also, we want to welcome Emily Lillywhite to our teaching community as she is joining us as a part time librarian teaching our middle school classes while Gilian goes on study leave for the rest of the year. We are thrilled to have her.

Thank you for all you do to be part of our community.

Eryn

• Fri, Feb 2. Read-a-thon dress up day. PAJAMA DAY!

• Fri, Feb 2. Middle School Dance. 6p-8p

• Sat, Feb 3. RESCHEDULED. Where is my Cat: Musical. 6p

• Sun, Feb 4. RESCHEDULED. Where is my Cat: Musical. 3p

• Sun, Feb 4. RESCHEDULED. Where is my Cat. Musical. 6p

• Thurs, Feb 8. RESCHEDULED. Riparian Festival. 5:30 - 7:30p

• Fri, Feb 9. Read-a-thon dress up day. DRESS LIKE YOUR FAVORITE BOOK CHARACTER

• Mon, Feb 12. Read-a-thon dress up day. BEDAZZLED DAY

• Mon. Feb 19. Make up day. School in session.

• Thur-Fri, Feb 22-23 - 8th Grade Retreat

• Tues, Feb 27. K-5 Open House for new families. 6-7p

Our annual Read-A-Thon 2024 is in full swing! Now through February 12, we reward our students for reading as many minutes as they can, have a ton of fun, and raise some serious money for our school.

This is the PTSA’s top-fundraiser each year. We are counting on YOU to share this fundraiser with family and friends to help raise money! It is really, really important for SES and helps us keep all the programs that make our school special. The money raised pays for place-based learning activities, equitable access to field studies and classroom trips, our sustainability staff (garden teacher), music, and a variety of other PTSA funded programs here.

Ask your students about the author visits that happened this week, the fab decor in the hallways, their brochures and tracking bookmarks that went home this week, and what they are doing to celebrate reading at school.

Please take action today:

• Register your student(s) online to collect pledges (every little bit counts and online is so easy)!

• Purchase copies of signed books from our visiting authors (limited copies available)!

• View the full event schedule HERE.

Contact Leslie Lothamer with any questions: leslielothamer@gmail.com.

Join us Thursday, February 8 from 5:30-7:30pm for the SES Riparian Festival, celebrating our students' work studying forests, rivers, oceans and mountains. The Riparian Festival will have activities for all ages. All of the third grade through middle school classrooms will be open for touring, so you can see what the students have been learning. Even if you don't have a student in grades 3-8, it is worth checking out what is to come.

In addition, there will be a wonderful homemade lasagna dinner in the cafeteria, treats and sweets, as well as a hot chocolate station near the portables. We will finish up the evening with a full school sing along in the auditorium at 7:15pm.

We are asking families to donate lasagna and baked goods (cookies, brownies, etc.) for the dinner that night, as well as people to help serve it up and then clean up afterwards. In addition, please bring your own plates and eating utensils, to cut down on time volunteers will need to spend washing up.

Suggested donation for each dinner is $5. If you can help out either by donating a lasagna or your time, please sign up here.

Hello Adults!

Students will begin learning to jump rope in PE class and I need your help! For the week of February 5th-9th students will be doing long jump rope and Kindergarten through 2nd grade are not yet able to turn the jump ropes for each other. Will you consider coming in to twirl a jump rope so that they can get lots of practice? Please see the link below to sign up for a time slot.

Thank you for making this lesson possible and reach out if you have questions!

-Iris

February 7 is Winter Walk and Roll to School Day! Put on your snow or rain boots and join your classmates to walk, run, scooter, or bike to school and get a prize! Walk or roll on your own, with your friends and neighbors, or by joining a Bike Bus.

Bike Buses will start up again on Feb 7! Meet at 8:20, roll out at 8:25, every Wednesday morning from these meeting spots.

• SE 26th and Pine- join in anywhere along Pine from 26th to 33rd!

• SE 23rd and Salmon- join in anywhere along Salmon!

• SE 41st & Lincoln, continuing to 41st & Taylor- join in anywhere along the way!

If you need a bike lock or helmet, please be in touch! Parents interested in biking and active transportation, please join the Family Biking social group on Konstella or message 2nd grade parent Alida Cantor (alidacantor@gmail.com or on Konstella).

Hey Sunnyside families! Join us for Westwind Family Camp, Friday April 5 - Sunday April 7! Nestled between the Salmon River and the Pacific Ocean, Westwind offers a delightful blend of beach, forest, and riverscapes, where one can enjoy hiking, beachcombing, tidepooling, or more laid back pursuits like reading a good book, playing board games or doing puzzles. A great place to bond with other families and kids, the SES Westwind weekend is a 20+ year tradition. $135 / person covers heated, lit lodging in the camp's cabins and 5 meals. Sign up here: 2024 SES Westwind Family Camp

Celebrate LGBTQ2SIA+ youth and allies at the Portland Art Museum! Experience Africa Fashion and Black Artists of Oregon. Manifest your superhero within with comic artist Rupert Kinnard. Join a drag workshop with performance artist Carla Rossi. Speak your truth at the open mic with MC TW. Make art, make friends, and have fun! All ages welcome—grade school through college—plus GSA/QSA advisors and other supportive adults. Admission is FREE! Info and registration at portlandartmuseum.org/event/power-up.

We just closed out the second quarter of middle school art classes. The students chose the work they were most proud of for our final gallery share. See the Google folder to enjoy.

In the Elementary classes, we are busy making hallway decorations for ReadAThon!

Our Art Room wish list has been consolidated on an Amazon wish list. Any donations are greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to seeing you in the Art room during the Riparian Festival on Feb. 8th and/or the Power Up event- Celebrate LGBTQ2SIA+ youth and allies at the Portland Art Museum on Feb. 9th! Free entry to the museum.

Sending positivity, Indigo

National School Counseling Week 2024 strives to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. This week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. A small gesture can go a long way in validating the work that school counselors do every day. Please take a moment to thank our school counselors, Alison Gemperle and Rebecca Johnson!

Our annual Auction opens April 2 & the Gala is Friday, April 12! Current needs:

• Prize Donations: Submit auction donations HERE.

• Party Board Hosts: Learn more & submit ideas HERE.

• Class Auction Project Coordinators For: Heather T., Levia, Asa, Jeremy, Mary Gage, Carrie, Becca, Aaron. LAST CALL FOR COORDINATORS. Projects finished by March 22.

Join the party planning or solicitation committee: come to our next meeting on Thursday, February 15 at 4:00 p.m.! Please contact Justine Reimnitz (justinereimnitz@gmail.com) and Jessica Maeder (jessicamaeder@gmail.com) with questions.

At the January 9th school board meeting, we presented the proposed draft 2024-2025 school year calendar. Our new contract with the Portland Association of Teachers led to several shifts between this year's calendar and next year's calendar. We wanted to make you aware of that and share the proposed calendar. If you have questions or comments regarding our proposed calendar, we invite you to share them with us by visiting https://www.pps.net/contact

Portland Public Schools (PPS) is embarking on a path to reach net-zero emissions. Decarbonizing the district will improve community health and comfort, resiliency, and student learning outcomes while lowering operating costs and reducing our carbon footprint. Working with a diverse team led by PAE Consulting Engineers, Oh Planning and Design, New Buildings Institute, and Ameresco, PPS is developing a district-wide decarbonization road map.

WE WANT YOUR INPUT!
Please join PPS and our decarbonization team to provide your feedback! There will be five in-person sessions, and one virtual session for interactive and collaborative feedback. There is also an option to provide input through an online survey.

Find more details and learn how to volunteer here.

The Sunnyside Neighborhood Association has launched a new column in the Sunnyside Newsletter called Critics' Corner, where a Sunnyside student writes a book or film review or a review of a Sunnyside restaurant, shop, or bubble tea spot. We're even open to book or movie reviews. We are eager for young voices and young writers, so please encourage your kids to submit ideas for reviews! Send ideas to Hannah Wallace at hannahmwallace@gmail.com.

Hey SES! You might have seen the new No Idling signs around school parking spots. Please consider the fuel your engine burns while idling at drop off or pick up on the SES campus, and whenever possible, curb those emissions! Exhaust has a noticeable impact on the air quality of our sidewalks and overall school community - thanks for doing your part to stop idling. Look for more ways to get involved in our No Idling Campaign soon, and learn more HERE.

• If your child is missing vaccines, it's time to catch up! (Exclusion day is Feb. 21st)
  Vaccines keep your child healthy and protected from serious diseases. They are required by law for all children in schools, preschools and child care facilities. Parents will be sent a letter if their child’s vaccination records are incomplete. To avoid missing school or child care, get your child up to date on their vaccinations as soon as possible. Make a vaccine appointment now, as there may be a long wait.
  

• Si a su hijo le faltan vacunas, ¡es el momento de ponerse al día!
  Las vacunas mantienen a su hijo saludable y protegido de las enfermedades graves. La ley exige que los niños que asistan a la escuela, al preescolar y a la guardería tengan las vacunas al día. Los padres recibirán una carta si los registros de vacunas de sus hijos están incompletos. Para evitar perder días de escuela o guardería, póngase al día con las vacunas de su hijo lo antes posible. Programe una cita para las vacunas ahora, puede haber una espera larga.

One of SES's field study partners, Sandy River Delta Park, invites families to volunteer for their restoration project on either January 27 or February 11 from 9am-12 noon. Click on the appropriate link below to register:

• Saturday, January 27, 9am - noon
• Sunday, February 11, 9am - noon

In Partnership with the Confluence Project, volunteers will plant trees to enhance habitat and improve the water quality of the Sandy River. Pre-registration is required.

• All ages and abilities are welcome. Let us know if you need accommodations to participate.

• Youth age 15 + may volunteer without an adult present.

• Accessibility: Project site is 20-25 minute walk on a packed dirt trail that can be muddy.
• Provided: Planting gloves, shovels, snacks and warm beverages.
• What to wear: Long sleeves, pants, sturdy sneakers or boots. Dress for the weather: extra layers are helpful.
• What to bring: Water bottle, sun/raingear.
• Directions: A reminder email with directions and parking info will be sent 3 days before the event.
• Questions? Please contact Samantha Dumont at 503-939-7381 or sdumont@estuarypartnership.org

Schedule:

9:00 AM - Check in and hike into site

9:20 AM - Introductions, project orientation, safety

9:30 AM - Planting native trees and shrubs (taking personal breaks when needed)

11:40 PM - Wrap up and hike back to parking area

12:00 PM - End of event

Eat tacos and support SES! January 31 is Sunnyside day at ¿Por Qué No? Taqueria (Hawthorne location) and 10% of all sales will directly support SES. Mark your calendars and check out their menu HERE!

Show your pride for LGBTQIA2S+ kids, staff, & families! The main goal of these items is to represent a community of affirmation, togetherness, and celebration while supporting the QSA (Queer Student Alliance) Group at Sunnyside! ORDER RAINBOW HERE!

We also have new kiddo and adult merch to support Sunnyside’s amazing programs! Check out these wonderful new student-made designs! SES earns 30% on every order - ORDER RIVERS HERE!

• Portland Parks Preschool 2024-25 (NEW)
  Portland Parks & Recreation is holding a registration lottery for its Educational Preschool program for the 2024-25 school year. Interested families can apply now through February 21 to be included in the lottery.
  
• VIBE of Portland Music & Digital Art Classes for Kids
• Multnomah County Free Community Vaccination Clinic (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays)
  English | Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese | Russian | Somali

• Sign up to chaperone Middle School field study

• Apply for Free/Reduced Meals - NEW Oregon expanded income guidelines

• Sign up to support Christina at lunch

• SES current volunteer needs

• Konstella - One stop shop for parent information (PTSA)

• 2023-2024 Back to School Ask

• SES attendance form: English | Español

• Sunnyside School Page

• SES PTSA website | After school activities at SES

• SchoolPay | SchoolCafé

• Communicable disease protocol - aka when should I keep my child home from school?

• MESD head lice resources and information