SES Messenger

This week I was able to give Sunnyside staff a more detailed staffing update. I wanted to share with the community as well. As you know, staffing is a tumultuous process and this staffing season has been grim with cuts across the district. Here is a link to the PPS Budget Update.

We have lost some staffing in the form of secretarial support both in office and our field study secretarial support. The district staffs Sunnyside for only 1.5 people and expects that we can run the office with that staff. Obviously we also have some additional field study secretarial support that we have always relied on to make our program work. We have also lost our book clerk and the Restorative Justice Coordinator position has been cut across the district. This is a huge loss to Sunnyside. In addition we have lost a piece of counseling. I don't want to understate how important these people are and I will be asking our foundation to continue to fundraise so that we can run our program as close to what we have been as possible.

In addition, they allocate K-8 staffing in two ways: K-5 is teachers in classrooms of which we are keeping all staff and we retain our instructional coach and our counselor.

MS staffing is allocated in a general pot and we are expected to meet our requirements with that number. We are currently staffed at 7 core with MS science and math and some middle school support for field study (Tara). We have lost .1 of counseling support which I also hope to retain through foundation support. We will still have our middle school specials.

Unless something changes, staff are all keeping their current assignment. Sometimes last minute grade changes happen which is why we do not release class lists until late August when teachers return.

I have spoken with the PTSA about continuing to advocate for staffing at the state and district level and as we move into the spring, We value all of our staff here at Sunnyside and want to continue to run and value a program that is unique and important to all of us.

Please come to the auction and help us raise the funds we need to cover staff costs! I wish as a principal I never needed to ask for financial support, but here we are needing to gather together and fundraise for our school.

In gratitude,

Dr. Berg

• Fri, Mar 8: NO SCHOOL for SES only
  

• Sat, Mar 9, 6pm: SES MS Musical [Note corrected date and time]

• Sun, Mar 10, 2pm: SES MS Musical [Note corrected date and time]

• Fri-Sun, Mar 15-17: Cowbell Cheese Catalina Fundraiser

• Tue-Thu, Mar 19-21: MS mini-classes

• Wed, Mar 20, 8:45am: SES PTSA meeting: SES room 102

• Mar 25 - Mar 29 - NO SCHOOL. Spring Break

• Thu, Apr 4: End of quarter

• Fri, Apr 5: NO SCHOOL (professional development day)

• Fri-Sun, Apr 5-7: SES Westwind Family Weekend

• Mon, Apr 8: School in session (makeup day)

• Fri, Apr 12: SES Foundation Auction

SES Community…You are amazing! You showed us your support and we feel it. You all rocked this thing! THANK YOU! We raised approximately $38,000 for our school's programs, and that was because of all of you!

We had a few people wanting to still submit pledges, and since our Booster site is now closed, we’ve created an item in our Square store to submit money from any remaining pledges.

Top reading and fundraising winners will be announced next week. Plus, everyone who turned in their brochure will be entered into a raffle to win some cool prizes.

This year was so much fun thanks to all the volunteers that helped me make it happen, from the people who made the BEAUTIFUL hallway decorations, to those who helped decorate the school, to pledge counters, to our authors that visited to share their humor and wisdom, to the SES office team, to Nathan for his plant & garden contributions, to Gillian & Becky for co-hosting this event, to all of you for sharing with friends and family, AND OF COURSE our amazing students and teachers for participating in the events, reading and their LOVE for books!!!

We are thrilled to partner with the Portland Drama Club for our next middle school musical! Come cheer on this hardworking team of spooky characters! There will be two shows at Sunnyside: Saturday, March 9 (6pm) and Sunday, March 10th (2pm)! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased HERE! Get them now before they sell out!

WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS to sell tickets, arrange flowers, bake, sell baked goods, and usher! Grab your volunteer slot(s) HERE! See you at the show!

*Poster Artwork by Sita Niemann

Our annual SES Foundation Auction opens April 2 & the Gala is Friday, April 12! The funds we raise support staffing costs at SES. Current needs:

• Prize Donations: Submit auction donations HERE.

• Party Board Hosts: Learn more & submit ideas HERE. We have 6 amazing ones already, but we’d like at least 6 more!

Ideas you want to toss around? Please contact Justine Reimnitz (justinereimnitz@gmail.com) and Jessica Maeder (jessicamaeder@gmail.com) with questions.

Does anyone have a two drawer locking file cabinet collecting dust at their house? One of our 5th grade classrooms could use one and we are hoping to reuse and recycle. Please contact Jenny in the office at jethomas@pps.net.

Garden ask: We are hoping to get donations of green outdoor paint to refresh our raised beds. If anyone has any paint they are not using we would take it. Please contact Jenny in the office at jethomas@pps.net.

Go eat yummy, healthy burritos, bowls and more on Tuesday, March 5th at Laughing Planet's Belmont location and support Sunnyside! All day, 10% of sales will go to SES. Mark your calendars and check out the MENU!

Eat Cheese for Catalina! Shop at SES parent-owned Cowbell Cheese on March 15th–17th and support the 8th Grade Marine Biology Trip to Catalina Island! Cowbell Cheese Shop is an importer and distributor of specialty foods, with a focus on traditional European and American artisan cheese. During this special weekend, Cowbell will donate 20% of their sales toward the 8th grade trip.

BONUS: SES 8th graders will be working the counter and handing out samples at the shop! Come through and tell your friends and family! 8th graders can SIGN UP to work a shift and help raise funds! Cowbell Cheese is Located in the Rinella Produce Building, 231 SE Alder St.

Calling all queer identifying families and students...let's create some community and get to know one another! Please join us for a potluck at a home in the Sunnyside neighborhood on Thursday, March 7th (no school the next day!) at 6 pm! Bring the whole family. If you are interested in joining, please fill out this form and we will be in touch with the address and additional details very soon! Can't wait to get to know our rad community better!

The PTSA will be selling student-designed and silk-screened shirts at The Addams Family Musical! Proceeds will benefit the 8th Grade Marine Biology Trip to Catalina Island.

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

Dear SES families,

For many years it has been a tradition in the SES middle school to invite parents, guardians and community members to teach mini-classes. This is a time when we draw on the expertise and interests of our school community to teach an enrichment course to our middle school students who are excited and passionate about the topic. We've had parents from all grade levels offer to teach courses. Some examples of past classes are: woodworking, sewing, computer programming, trail running, history of radio, purse/wallet making, poetry, watercolor, yoga, chess and card games, and movie making.

This year our mini-classes will take place on three mornings:

• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, March 19-21 from 9-11:15am

We look forward to providing our students with a range of offerings to choose from. If you are available, but undecided on what class to teach, we can help. If you have a class in mind, we look forward to learning what your class will be. We are happy to welcome you in whatever capacity your busy life allows.

If you will be joining us during our mini-classes, please ensure you have a current background check on file, then complete this form.

The Franklin High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is thrilled to welcome you to the community. We are here to help you and your child acclimate to their life as a Lightning! The PTSA helps fund everything from classroom computer upgrades to school-wide celebrations. We also invite guest speakers to all of our general meetings to make sure FHS families are well-informed on topics ranging from student forecasting to state funding.

But the PTSA also NEEDS NEW MEMBERS FOR 2024-25 – FHS general enthusiasts, of course, and also members of the board. PTSA is a great way to plug into your child’s school and be of service in your community! To remain an active chapter, the Board MUST have a TREASURER for the upcoming school year. The other open Board positions are Vice-President, President-Elect and Co-Volunteer Coordinator.

For more information, contact: Joy Poole, presfhsptsa@gmail.com

Join your classmates and walk, run, scooter, or bike to school every Wednesday! Studies show that active transportation to school keeps kids and families fit, reduces traffic and air pollution, and even helps kids learn.

Bike Bus: 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!

Can’t walk or roll the whole way to school? That’s ok! The benefits of walking or biking to school apply even if you drive part of the way! You’re welcome to park and join a bike bus at any meetup point, or along a route. Or consider parking 2-4 blocks from school and walking the rest of the way, which encourages active transportation and cuts down on air pollution from idling of vehicles near our school!

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

PPS is working to make our buildings more climate friendly by lowering emissions and increasing health and comfort. To figure out how to prioritize this work, we need your help!

We're asking families, students, and teachers from the Franklin and Cleveland clusters to join us for public listening/input sessions on the district's decarbonization planning. We want to find out what and how we should prioritize this work to help give students and teachers the best possible experience they can have each day in PPS schools. Everyone from the community is invited to join for these 60 minute meetings.

• March 18, 5:30-6:30 PM -- Franklin High School, Room M-223, for all schools in the Franklin and Cleveland clusters (all are welcome)

• You can also attend the Lincoln High School meeting on March 19, 5:30-6:30 PM @ Lincoln HS (Rm. 148 in the Library) if that date works better for you.

Please RSVP here.

If you have any questions, please email decarbonization@pps.net. If you cannot attend in person, you can also submit feedback through this online form.

At PPS, 90% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from our buildings! This is an amazing opportunity for the district to be part of a green future and to make our buildings more sustainable and comfortable for our community.

We appreciate you participating.

Thanks so much,

The PPS decarb team

• Portland Metro Fire Camp for Women (Portland Jun. 21-23, Sherwood Jul. 12-14)

• 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