SES Messenger
December 1, 2023
School News (NEW)
Dear Sunnyside Families,
It is so wonderful having students and teachers back in the building this week. Without the joy and laughter of this wonderful extended Sunnyside family, it was just quiet hallways and we missed you all.
I know there are many questions about the added back days and teacher conferences. Conferences will be held January 11th and 12th from 4-7pm and teachers will also be reaching out via their class newsletters to share additional times with families that they can attend a conference. Please note that teachers are being given about half the scheduled time for conferences for makeup, so please be patient as we try to catch up on communication with families. School will be held the first week of winter break, the 18-22nd of December. If your child will be absent any/all days that week, please fill out this form.
I wanted to let you know that a leaking steam pipe on the second floor damaged both some ceiling tiles and one of our library walls. Your students may report a noticeable smell, but we want to reassure you that our environmental health and safety team have confirmed that the damage poses no health or safety issues.
Out of an abundance of caution, we’ve closed the library to staff and students today – but we want to assure you that our risk assessment team has determined that there is no health risk.
A PPS facilities team will be in our building this weekend to address these issues. Workers will fill the crack in the leaking pipe and encase it with a specialized sealing bracket to prevent further deterioration. The impacted ceiling tiles and sheet rock will also be replaced, as soon as possible.
Thank you all for all your support and encouragement for our teachers and staff last month. We truly feel that Sunnyside is a special place that is made better through all of us coming together to support the learning and growth of our students.
In gratitude,
Eryn & Melodie
Upcoming Dates
Tues, Dec 5, 6p-7p. Middle School Lottery Open House for new families.
Wed, Dec 6, 6p-8p. Discover Franklin. Open house.
Fri, Dec 8, 3:30 - 6:30p. Winter craft fair.
Wed, Dec 13, 6-7:30p. Benson family info night. TENTATIVE DATE. Please check Benson's website
Thurs, Dec 14, 6:30p. Cleveland High School info night. Flier attached below.
Mon - Fri. Dec 25 - Jan 2 - Winter Break. NO SCHOOL
Wed, Jan 17, 8:45-10a. PTSA meeting, room 102
DO NOT BLOCK CROSSWALKS! SAFETY CONCERN
PTSA News! (NEW)
It is SO GOOD TO BE BACK. We are excited for next week’s Winter Craft Fair (we still need volunteer support, please sign up!), our upcoming drama programs and so much more!
We missed an entire month of togetherness, so please join us for a jam-packed PTSA meeting on Wednesday, December 13 at 8:45 a.m. We’ll be chatting about all the FUNraising events we have to look forward to this spring. If there’s something you’d like to see on our agenda, please reach out to board@sesptsa.org or write Steph Barnhart and Heather de Michele on Konstella.
SES Winter Craft Fair: Friday, Dec. 8, 3:30-6pm in Auditorium & Cafeteria! (NEW)
Are you ready to be DAZZLED?! Nearly 70 youth and adult crafters from the Sunnyside community are working hard to build their inventories and prepare their craft booths! Expect handmade jewelry, terrariums, ceramics, toys, candies, fiber arts, silkscreening and SO MUCH MORE! The craft fair is free to attend, and PTSA will be selling: baked goods, hot cocoa, pizza, and face painting (proceeds to Sunnyside).
Everyone is welcome so please tell your neighbors, family, and friends to come on down!
WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS! Please check out the many ways you can support this event by volunteering to sell baked goods, help artists set up, decorate, make hot cocoa, and so much more! Sign up HERE!
Families helping families: The annual SES Circle of Giving (NEW)
Can you help a Sunnyside family this holiday season? Our holiday Circle of Giving is live and can be found here. Due to the reduction in school days this fall, this year we will be providing families with gift cards they can use as they see fit, rather than providing specific requested gifts. To participate as a donor:
- Use the SignUp Genius form to donate a gift card. You will be prompted for your name and email when you sign up, but your responses will not be visible to other families.
- Return your gift card to the SES office no later than Thursday, December 7.
SES will mail gift cards to families the week of December 11. The Circle of Giving is a confidential process. Cash donations will be used toward families' utility bills.
The Addams Family: MS Musical Spots Still Open! Sign up by Friday, Dec. 8 (NEW)
Hey MS Families! Registration is still open for our spring musical with Portland Drama Club: The Addams' Family! It is going to be an extremely fun show and we are only about half full right now. Portland Drama Club offers 25% and 50% scholarships if needed! Talk to your kid about it and sign up TODAY.
Who: SES students grades 6th-8th
When: Rehearsals will be held Wednesdays and Fridays 3:15-5:30 pm, January 5 - March 9 in the
auditorium. Shows will be Friday March 8 at 6:30 pm and Saturday March 9 at 2:00 pm.
Cost: $400, with partial & full scholarships still available
More details and registration at https://www.portlanddramaclub.org/ses. Questions?… email leslielothamer@gmail.com.
“Where Is My Cat? An Adventure Through Space” – 1-5 Musical Performance
THE SHOW MUST GO ON! Due to the month-long strike and missing so many practices we’ve had to move the 1-5 musical, Where Is My Cat -- An Adventure Through Space! New show dates: January 12th and 13th. 7pm on the 12th and 3pm & 6pm on the 13th.
Tickets will go on sale after winter break. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve come up with. It’s MAGIC!
Meal Train & Love for our Michelle Schaefle!
Our beloved business manager, heart of the SES office, and long-time caretaker of our school community, Michelle Schaefle, is having a double-knee replacement next week. Now, it is our turn to take care of her! Please help us support her and her family at this time, by contributing to a Meal Train, or posting words of encouragement and love during her recovery. We will miss Michelle terribly while she is out and wish her a smooth recovery! Meal Train Sign Up HERE.
Enroll your Family for 2024 Health Coverage by January 15, 2024 (NEW)
Individuals and families will have the opportunity to enroll in, renew, or change their health insurance plan for 2024 during the upcoming Marketplace health insurance open enrollment period, which is Nov. 1, 2023 through Jan. 15, 2024. Open enrollment is the only time when anyone who is not offered coverage from a job or a public program like the Oregon Health Plan or Medicare can enroll in health coverage through OregonHealthCare.gov, often with financial help.
Trained community groups, Tribal health organizations and insurance agents are available to help Oregonians enroll in coverage through the Marketplace during open enrollment. There is no cost for their services. Many of them offer services in multiple languages. These “Enrollment Assisters” also can help people transition to private health coverage if they have experienced a qualifying life event. This includes people who are losing Oregon Health Plan benefits as the state works to renew each of its current members. Click this link to find an Enrollment Assister near you and who speaks your preferred language.
Discover Franklin: Wednesday, December 6, 6-8pm
This year Franklin High School welcomes SES 8th graders to attend their DISCOVER FRANKLIN event on Wednesday, December 6th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This is the event in which Franklin High School invites current 8th graders and families to tour the school and learn about the transition to high school, academics, and activities. Please email Middle School Counselor Alison Gemperle at algemperle@pps.net with any questions.
Bridging the Gap: Cleveland HS Info night. December, 14, 6pm
Hello from the Art Room (NEW)
We are getting back into the swing of things and making lots of cool art -Chalk pastel abstracts to music, a collaborative robot drawing project, and positive affirmation posters.
Our wish list for December is- Alphabet stencils- link
Geometric stencils- link
Posca paint pens- link the 24 set is the cheapest per pen but we would happily receive a smaller set link
Sending positivity, Indigo
Still looking for authors or illustrators! We want YOU!
(or your friend or family member) to be on a Sunnyside Community Book Panel for READ-A-THON!
We’d love to get a variety of community members, parents, grandparents, aunt/uncles, etc to be on a Sunnyside Book Panel for Read-a-thon this year. We’re looking for authors or illustrators of ANY type of books (even ones for grown-ups) OR if you know someone who is, send them our way!
The gig would be easy and fun. We will have the panel on stage and they will briefly discuss who they are and what they do and then we’d have a moderator to ask questions and get questions from the crowd for the panel members to answer. The presentation will be held on a date chosen by the panel and our school between Jan 29th- Feb 12th. Please contact Leslie, Read-a-thon Chair at leslielothamer@gmail.com and let’s talk about books!
Kickstart the NEW YEAR with New After School Activities (NEW)
Registration is now OPEN for after school enrichment activities offered onsite at Sunnyside Environmental School starting in January. Incredible opportunities include yoga, lego robotics, chess, Spanish and even an electronic music club. Classes start right after school and spaces are limited, so don’t wait to register for your spot. Additional information and registration details can be found at https://www.sesptsa.org/after-school-activities/.
🧤🧣❄️ Join Us for The Sunnyside Shower Project Winter Clothing Drive! ❄️🧤🧣
Winter is fast approaching, and we need your help to ensure that everyone in our community stays warm and comfortable during the colder months. The Sunnyside Shower Project is excited to announce our upcoming Winter Clothing Drive, and we invite you to be a part of it.
Donation Drop Off Details:
Location: Sunnyside Methodist Church/ The Groves (Basement entrance on the 35th Ave.)
Address: 3520 SE Yamhill St, Portland, OR
Date: Saturday, Dec. 9th, 10:00 a.m.-1p.m.
Items We Will Be Accepting:
New or lightly worn socks
New underwear
Long underwear
T-shirts, both short and long-sleeved
Pants, jeans, and sweatpants
Sweaters and sweatshirts
Raincoats/winter coats
Warm hats, gloves, scarves, and belts
Boots and sneakers
Tarps, tents, sleeping bags
Please Note: We kindly ask that you do not donate children's clothing or dressy/formal clothing.
Your contributions will make a significant difference in the lives of those in need in our community. By providing warm winter gear, you are helping to ensure that everyone stays cozy and safe during the chilly season.
Got questions or need more information? Reach out to Diana at dianadeumling@gmail.com. She will be happy to assist you with any queries you may have.
Let's come together as a community to spread warmth and love this winter. Your generosity is greatly appreciated! Thank you for being a part of The Sunnyside Shower Project Winter Clothing Drive.
MugsyClicks yearbook photo choice
The deadline to change photos taken by MugsyClicks and used in the PPS system is January 19, 2024. (This is also the same photo that will be used in any yearbooks that use students' PPS photos.)
To update your students' yearbook photo, please follow these instructions:
- Login to your MugsyClicks.com account. (You might need to create an account first.)
- Choose your favorite image from this year’s portraits*.
- Click the Yearbook Indicator (small blue circle) on your selected image.
* If your student had a reshoot, please email kcannistra@pps.net and indicate which photo should be used.
Portland Art Museum - Family Free Days (NEW)
Upcoming Miller Family Free Days
December 10, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Enjoy free admission all day in celebration of the Portland Art Museum’s 131st birthday! Visit special exhibitions Africa Fashion, Black Artists of Oregon, and Throughlines: Connections in the Collection. Free admission tickets can be reserved online beginning December 6. A limited number of tickets will also be available for walk-in visitors on December 10.
Fliers and Community Links (NEW)
Websites to Know
Apply for Free/Reduced Meals - NEW Oregon expanded income guidelines
Konstella - One stop shop for parent information (PTSA)
Communicable disease protocol - aka when should I keep my child home from school?