Abernethy News

As we continue to foster a focused learning environment at Abernethy, we kindly remind families that all cell phones and smart watches are to be off and away while at school. While technology has its perks, reducing distractions allows our students to fully engage in their learning and connect with friends. If your child needs to get in touch during the day, our office is here to help!

Any student who has their cell phone or smart watch out or on, or using it while at school will first be given a warning to put it away. If they are seen with it out or on, or using it again, the device will be kept in the office until the end of school. If the device becomes more of a problem and the student is seen with it or using it on a repeated basis, a family member, 21 years or older, will have to come to the office to pick it up.

Thank you for your support in creating a distraction-free school day!

At Abernethy, we believe that every school day is an opportunity for growth and learning! We encourage families to prioritize attendance, as consistent participation helps students develop skills, build friendships, and stay engaged with their studies.

The staff and I have been looking at our attendance data and are noticing that we have a lot of absences! Of course, if your child is not feeling well, please keep them at home to rest and recover. Please follow the guidelines below for when to keep your student home. However, we are seeing a trend of absences related to illness and absences related to vacations.

2021-22 school year:

Illness reports - 1,410

Vacation reports - 1,085

2022-23 school year:

Illness reports - 1,955

Vacation reports - 947

2023-24 school year:

Illness reports - 1,758

Vacation reports - 1,310

2024-25 (month of September only)

Illness reports - 173

Vacation reports - 57

We want your students in school!

We do understand the value in family time and absolutely understand that some events are out of your control, however, did you know that if your student misses 2 days per month of school they are missing 10% of their entire school year? That is only a total of 18 school days!

Thank you for your commitment to making every day count!

We want to make sure that all familes know and understand that unless you go into ParentVue and UNCHECK the box to only receive your student's report card on-line, you will NOT receive a paper report card for your student. We are not trying to sway families into either decision, paper or paperless, we just want to make sure all familes are aware of this new change.

If you have any questions please call the office. We are happy to explain anything and help walk you through the needed steps to do what ever it is you want to receive.

If you missed picture day, or feel that you need to retake your school picture, our picture retake day will be October 17th.

The first round of photos will be shared prior to this October 17th date.

If you have last-minute instructions or messages for your student, please call the office at (503) 916-6190. Do not email the office, as emails may be missed when staff are out. Calling ensures that your message reaches your student promptly. The office will ensure that your student gets a "yellow" note with their end of day change of plans. All notes get passed out to students at 2:00pm. Please try not to call th eoffice after 2:00pm with change of plans unless it is an emergency.

Thank you for your cooperation!

With school in full swing, field trips starting, and Tour de Ladd on the horizon, there are plenty of ways to get involved! Volunteering is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about Abernethy, build community, and enhance your student’s school experience.

Please note that all volunteers are required to complete a PPS background check. If you’re interested in volunteering, please complete the PPS Volunteer Background Check. Background checks are quick and easy, and they’re valid for three years!

Please do not wait until it is too late. Currently background checks are taking 3 - 4 weeks. If you are unsure if your's has expired, please call the office and we can check for you.

Abernethy’s PTA invites you to apply for a mini grant to help make a difference for our school community. If you have an idea that could improve Abernethy and all that is standing in your way is some funding, please let us know! The application deadline is Friday, November 1. Learn more about the process and apply here!.

Donate: Use your corporate match if you have one! https://www.konstella.com/app/school/62226dc1091a1ea101b6924d/donations/6222b33c091a714102b5f221

Bottle Drop

One of the easiest ways to support Abernethy's Physical Education program (and the environment) is by recycling redeemable cans and bottles through the BottleDrop program. Pick up a Bottle Drop bag in the school office, and learn more here: https://www.supportabernethy.org/fundraising/bottledrop

Help with Fundraising Events: We have several fundraisers throughout the year.

Our first fundraiser is Tour de Ladd on October 9.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 8, from 4 PM to 9 PM at Hot Lips Pizza (2211 SE Hawthorne Blvd). Abernethy is partnering with Hot Lips to raise funds for our PTA, and they will donate 15% of all sales to support our school community!

Orders can be placed:

• Online: HOTLIPS Pizza

• Phone: 503-234-9999

• In Person: Grab slices or whole pizzas!

• (Just don’t order through Grubhub, Uber or DoorDash)

Let’s come together, enjoy some delicious pizza (including vegan options), and take a break from cooking dinner while giving back to our kids. Spread the word and bring your friends and family!

Join the PTA today and have a voice in our school community! As a member, you'll gain voting rights on important budget and community decisions. We also currently have one open Board position, Fundraising Chair. Annual dues are just $11 (plus a $2.50 processing fee). Join now and help us reach our goal of a stronger, more engaged community!

If you haven’t already, please connect with our school community on Konstella! This app is essential for all PTA communications and helps you get involved in classroom activities, school events like Tour de Ladd and the Fun Run, and much more. You can also find Abernethy swag, coordinate social events, and participate in our monthly PTA meetings (3rd Thursday, in-person and virtual). Sign up here! Invitation code: IKYCP9

Join us in celebrating International Walk + Roll to School Day, a global event that encourages communities in over 40 countries to walk and roll to school! Since its inception in 1997, this initiative has grown into a movement promoting safe routes to school year-round.

This year, the event takes place October 9, the same day as Tour de Ladd, and we encourage our school community to walk and roll not only that day, but throughout the entire month to foster healthy habits that last all year.

Let’s get moving and make a positive impact together! Stop by the gazebo before and after school to pick up Walk + Roll stickers, reflective shoelaces, pencils, comics, bookmarks, activity sheets, and coloring books!

September marks National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated from September 15 to October 15. It honors all Latino and Hispanic Americans and their contributions to American culture. The anniversaries of many Latin American countries are held on or around September 15 hence why the start of the month starts mid-month. Take time to acknowledge how these communities impact society and foster understanding of their unique heritages.

It also is National Recovery Month which hopes to educate all Americans on the treatment services for those struggling with substance use disorders.

September 4 – Richard Wright’s Birthday

The popular Black American writer wrote some of the most powerful 20th-century novels which exposed the realities of racism in the Deep South where he was born in 1908.

September 11 – Patriot Day

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the worst terrorist attack in American history occurred when four commercial airliners were hijacked by al-Qaeda members. Two crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and another into a field in Pennsylvania.

September 20 – HeForShe

This solidarity movement was first created by the UN to help promote gender equality worldwide.

September 21 – International Day of Peace

This UN day encourages all nations to observe a ceasefire. Each year the UN bell is rung in New York City to inaugurate this nonviolence day.

IInternational Day of Sign Languages – September 23

The International Day of Sign Languages celebrates sign languages as a vital part of linguistic and cultural diversity. This day highlights the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf. It promotes the preservation of sign language and advocates for the rights of deaf people worldwide to have access to education and information in their native sign languages.

Celebrate Bisexuality Day – September 23

Bisexuality Visibility Day is committed to celebrating the bisexual community and its history and achievements. Raise awareness about bisexuality and speak up about misconceptions about the community in the workplace and beyond.

We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

Questions you can ask your students: