DOLPHIN DIGEST 9/5/2024

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តើអ្នកត្រូវការបកប្រែទេ? ចុចលើតំណ "បកប្រែ" នៅផ្នែកខាងលើ។

ትርጉም ይፈልጋሉ? ከላይ ያለውን "መተርጎም" የሚለውን አገናኝ ጠቅ ያድርጉ.

We’re so glad to have you as part of our school community!

This weekly newsletter is developed and sent in partnership between school administration and the PTA. If you have information you'd like shared in the newsletter, please email it to ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com. Keep scrolling for the latest.

We acknowledge Portland rests on traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla and many other Tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. #HonorNativeLand https://youtu.be/ETOhNzBsiKA

• Sept 5: CANCELLED BY PPS DUE TO HEAT: Neurodivergent Family Gathering
  

• Sept 6: Fundraiser for Arleta at St. Francis Ice Cream, 12-10pm, 4515 SE 63rd

• Sept 10: School Board Meeting at 6pm.

• Sept 12: Litter Pickup: 2:15pm-2:45pm

• Sept 12: SUN Registration Night + pizza, 4:45-5:30 in the cafeteria

• Sept 12: Back2School Night with SUN, ESL and TAG Family Night, 5:30-7pm

• Sept 12-Oct 31: Dolphin Drive Fundraiser

• Sept 15-Oct 15: National Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month

• Sept 16: SUN registration forms go home

• Sept 17: Dine-in at Pizzeria Otto, 11am-9pm, 7122 SE 72nd

• Sept 19: Popsicles with the PTA, 6-7pm, on the playground

• Sept 20: SUN registration forms due back

• Sept 24: School Board Special Meeting at 6pm.

• Sept 25: Early Release 11:50am

• Sept 26: Picture Day

Arleta School Calendar

Updated PPS District Calendars:

English language PPS District Calendar 2024-25

Spanish language PPS District Calendar 2024-25

Vietnamese language PPS District Calendar 2024-25

Next Thursday evening, September 12th is Back to School Night! As our motto says, “I am because we are.” Please join us! It will really benefit your child to see their family and school staff connecting about the year ahead.

Ms. Raina will be hosting her SUN Information Session (and dinner! All are welcome) at 4:45 in the cafeteria. Then our “Community Connect” begins out front at 5:30. This is a casual “meet and greet” where families can connect with teachers and staff at tables on the grass or mingling-- including Support teachers, Specials teachers and our community partners (SUN, YMCA, PTA).

To prepare for Back2School Night (B2SN), this week or early next week, your child’s teacher will share some Back to School Slides” with you through Remind to provide the grade level content, program and schedule for the school year. Please preview these slides before next Thursday’s event to receive the content portion of the evening ahead of time. The purpose for looking at the slides before B2SN is so you can come with questions ready, enabling our staff to prioritize our interactions around what you most want or need to know.

(Please make sure you’ve downloaded the Remind app and are receiving school messages including these important slides from your child’s teacher. Remind or email are the only ways we are sending messages this year (School Messenger, the way we sent the Dolphin Digest last year, is gone.)

I’ll give a short address and introduce staff on the front steps at 5:50, then our two classroom “open house” sessions begin at 6:05 and 6:35. After the all school portion teachers will go to their classrooms, I’ll share a bit more information then families can visit classroom(s): we’ll have two sessions at 6:05-6:30 and 6:35- 7, so families with two or more children can visit both classrooms. Families with three or more Arleta children, if you can bring more than one adult, you could divide up and attend more sessions. In classrooms there might be an activity to do with your child, a community circle for families to meet each other, or students may share some art or other ways the classroom community is coming together.

It’s incredibly powerful for children to experience their parent or caregiver connecting with their school where they spend so much of their time and where we all share the goal that they learn and thrive. We want to connect, listen to and learn from you as much as we have information to share so we’ve designed the evening with that goal in the forefront.

If you won’t be able to attend, please look at the slides your teacher will send (or find them on our website starting early next week) and reach out to your child’s teacher or any other staff if you have questions or input. Thank you for your partnership in helping us achieve our goal-- to create a school culture where every student’s voice is affirmed and elevated and where they feel a sense of belonging and deep engagement in their learning.

Sincerely,

Lisa

Our beloved PE teacher Ms. Williams has accepted a new position.

Ms. William writes, "It's with two feelings at the same time, I share that I've accepted a position in the Health/PE department at Molalla High School so that I may work in my new hometown. I hold Arleta dear to my heart and feel so fortunate to have been a small part of the greatness here. The Arleta community has touched my life and the lives of my children, who attended Arleta for six years, and we will cherish our wonderful memories."

We will miss Ms. Williams dearly; she has brought so much skill, joy, and care to our students as their PE/Wellness Teacher through daily classes and meaningful events such as our community fundraiser, the Dolphin Dash, and facilitating fun, inclusive Field Days. Kianne also served on and brought important perspectives to our Climate Team and our Site Council the past two years. I'm grateful Kianne has been helping with recruitment and was able to support several days of transition for our current long term substitute PE/Wellness teacher Hannah Grossi. The permanent position is posted and I will keep you updated as there is further information to share, but for now, Ms. Hannah is doing an amazing job teaching our students using the same resources and program elements Ms. Williams has used. Very best wishes to you Ms. Williams, and thank you for all you've given and brought to Arleta. And, warmest welcome in your new role in our Arleta community, to Ms. Hannah! (Ms. Hannah is also an Arleta parent of a 1st and a 2nd grader).

PPS has cancelled all after school activities today due to the heat, so the Neurodivergent Family Gathering won't be happening tonight. The PTA will work on rescheduling the gathering and share a new date soon. Currently, the next one is scheduled for November 14.

The Neurodivergent Family Gathering offers a safe space to talk, connect, and play. We welcome anyone interested to join the gatherings.

Translated flyers here.

The PTA Staff Appreciation Committee welcomed back our wonderful teachers and staff by stocking their fridge with bubbly waters and cold, sweet treats. We really do appreciate all they do for our school!

Why not celebrate the start of school and raise money for Arleta at the same time? On Friday, September 6th from noon to 10pm, St. Francis Ice Cream shop will be hosting a fundraiser for Arleta PTA. Head over to this Arleta family-owned business and get some of their delicious ice cream, all while supporting our school! Huge thanks to the Mello family for hosting this fundraiser!!

Translated flyers here.

Here's a handy checklist to get your family prepared for the school year! Click the links below or the image to download your own copy.

• Follow Arleta PTA on Facebook and Instagram
• Bookmark arletapta.org and pps.net/arleta
• Become a PTA member or renew your membership (it's free)!
• Complete a background check to be a volunteer.
• Save the office number in your contacts 503-916-6330
• Get the Remind App on Android or Apple and set up your notification preferences. Click here for PPS tutorials on using Remind.
• Download the Konstella app on Apple or Android, our new PTA communication tool. The invitation code is Fh3W5B. Click here to visit to Konstella website.
• Stock up on blue Bottle Drop bags to help us fundraise- email ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com or check with the school office.

The counselors at Arleta welcome back students and families! The counseling team and SUN would like to invite you to fill out our yearly Community Needs Survey. When you complete the form, all responses are kept confidential and someone from the team will be in touch!

English Language Survey

Spanish Language Survey

The next PPS school board meeting is September 10th, at 6pm at the Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center, located at 501 N. Dixon St, Portland, OR 97227. The agenda includes a resolution on Hispanic Heritage Month, the 2024-25 agreement between the District Council of Unions and the school district, and more. Please see the September agenda by clicking here.

Our next Litter Pick-up is on September 12th at 2:30pm to 3:00pm. We'll be meeting at green picnic tables out front. Grab a bucket & grabber and help us keep Arleta shining! Drop off supplies when you're done. We will take care of the trash.

Litter Pick-ups are at 2:30 pm on the 2nd Thursday, and at 8 am on the 4th Thursday of each month to pick up trash on campus.

Interested in leading Litter Clean-ups around Arleta? This is an easy, low key way to make a consistent and noticeable difference at the school. Currently, clean ups occur 2 times a month and last about 30-45 min. Help is available and you could customize the dates and times to fit your schedule! Please contact Tracy at tehulla@gmail.com if interested!

Don't forget to come early for Back2School Night, eat pizza, and register your kids for SUN School, from 4:45-5:30 in the Cafeteria!

Mr. Cooke has a DonorsChoose project to get snacks for his students. If you're able to contribute, this is a tax-deductible donation - https://www.donorschoose.org/project/food-for-hungry-kids/8708156/

Our annual Dolphin Drive gives our school much needed resources, and helps make our community special! Packets giving you more information about the Dolphin Drive will come home next week, so keep on the look-out for that!

Let's soak up the last days of summer and enjoy meeting fellow parents and classmates! Come out on Thursday, September 19th from 6-7pm for popsicles on the playground.

The PTA wants to do things differently this year. Rather than "business" meetings, we want to focus on fun, family activities that kids and grownups will enjoy! We'll still have some things to vote on occasionally, but we'll keep that to very minimal time. This first gathering will be for fun, no business! Hope to see you there!

Translated flyers here

We are looking for 2-3 volunteers each day from 10:45am to 12:30pm to help monitor the playground and assist in the lunch room. This is a fun way to get to know the students and staff!

Volunteers need to have passed a PPS background check. Visit the PPS website to start your application and screening process. (Once approved, your application is good for three years).

Sign up by clicking the button below!

Ms. Street is looking for volunteers all year long to help in the library. With budget cuts to staff time across programs, the library is no exception. Ms. Street is asking for help to maintain the library space and to create displays. if either of those activities appeal to you, please reach out to Ms. Street at tstreet@pps.net.

As you're out shopping for school supplies, if you can add any of these items to your list for our special education classroom, it would be greatly appreciated! These can be dropped off in the office to go to the SPED class:

• Goldfish crackers (individually wrapped packages)
• Microwave popcorn
• Black sharpies
• Fat whiteboard markers
• Ticonderoga pencils
• Kleenex
• Sanitizing wipes
• Composite notebooks
• Pocket folders (for students to take home school work)

Read the welcome letter from the PTA

The Arleta PTA is a collaboration of parents, caregivers and school staff aimed to provide opportunities to build connections and positive, shared, and memorable experiences by supporting and hosting events and programs throughout the year. Check out the poster below for all the ways the PTA supports our school! Everyone is encouraged to get involved in anyway that is meaningful to you. Translated posters here

Konstella is a new communication tool built for school groups that the Arleta PTA has started using for our school. Other local schools that use it rave about it! We hope it will make it easier to keep families informed about school activities and allow them to communicate directly with each other and groups that they join.

Konstella can do all of this in the language of your choice: join social and parent groups, sign up to volunteer, see newsletters and announcements, join committees, get event reminders and classroom communications, file and photo sharing, see calendar of events, send private and group messages, access the parent and teacher directory, view information on your cell phone or computer.

Download the Konstella app today! The app is available for iOS (iphones) and Android. Once downloaded, click Register, enter the invitation code FH3W5B, then tap Join in the email you get.

Want to know who is in your child’s class? Sign up on Konstella and choose your child’s teacher when you register. As families join, you’ll have access to the complete class list so encourage your parent friends to do the same. If you have any troubles or questions, feel free to reach out to our school’s Konstella Admin, Lisa Hugelier, lisa.hugelier@gmail.com

Cell phones and smart devices are a big distraction for learning, and we ask that parents work with their students to keep them at home. Please review our Cell phones, Smartphones and Smartwatches Policy that is outlined in our Family Handbook.

"Cell phones and smartphones must be in your student’s backpack or locker during school hours (including breakfast and lunch, 7:45 - 2:30). The Arleta office is open during school days and can be reached at 503-916-6330. We welcome your calls to notify students of time-sensitive information, like a change in pick-up plan. Smartwatches (Gizmo, Gabb, Apple Watch) are allowed to be worn during the school day as long as they do not become distractions, in the judgment of the classroom teacher.

If a student does not follow the above policy, the teacher will remove and hold the device at their locked closet until the end of the day at which point it will be returned with the expectation the student will have learned. If a student resists this consequence or breaks the policy twice, the phone will be held in the office for the parent to pick up, and the student will no longer be allowed to have their phone at school. Any families who would request an exception to the rule at this point will request a meeting with the child’s teacher, principal, child and family, purpose being to discuss the need for the exception and to create and sign a contract with the child’s teacher and principal agreeing that they will check the device into the office before school and pick it up after the final bell."

Arleta SUN Community School provides a FREE after-school program that promotes student success by extending the school day through enrichment activities and academic support. SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) also provides adult classes & workshops and fun family events. Community schools serve as mini “community centers” by keeping a public building open & active during after-school hours, and bringing youth & family opportunities directly to the neighborhood. It’s an alternative way for you and the local community to connect via the school! SUN is not a childcare program. Portland Parks & Recreation manages the Arleta SUN program.

Our SUN School Coordinator Raina Bilbrew is wonderful as so many of you already know! In addition to coordinating the various aspects of our after school program, she collaborates with and deeply supports our staff, supports students within the school day, serves on Arleta Site Council, runs an intentionally designated SUN Community Space in Room 4, and collaborates with our PTA Inclusion Committee. Ms. Raina and Ms. Sheryl Moren, Inclusion Committee co-chair, host our BIPOC Affinity Space. To contact Raina directly: raina.bilbrew@portlandoregon.gov or 503-916-6332.

SUN orientation, pizza, and registration will begin on Back to School night on Sept. 12th, at 4:45. Fall term starts Oct. 7.

Arleta has a small food pantry and clothes closet available for the use of any Arleta family. To set up an appointment to use the pantry or the closet, please email our SUN School Coordinator, Raina Bilbrew at rbilbrew@pps.net or raina.bilbrew@portlandoregon.gov or call or text her at 971-803-8986.

We'd love to invite everyone in the Arleta community to become a PTA member for free! Joining the PTA is a great way to connect with others, support projects and programs that support our students, and amplifies your voice in issues that impact our school.

Signing up only takes a couple minutes - https://arletapta.memberhub.com/store (one free membership per household, additional memberships are $10)

Help turn your BottleDrop dollars into Arleta School PTA grant dollars, staff appreciation, free school events, affinity club support, and so much more. There are two ways to participate (both of which are completely FREE to you!): you can pick up a PTA blue bag from the main office or school events or donate funds from your individual BottleDrop account.

Get your Arleta spirit wear! Shop online 24/7 and have your items shipped to your home anytime! There are t-shirts, hoodies, tanks, mugs, and more. Check out the online store here: https://arletaschool.threadless.com/

Show your LOVE for Arleta and purchase your We ♥ Arleta yard sign now! Order yours today to show off your school spirit and support the Green Team!

https://arletapta.memberhub.com/store/items/625149

Arleta PTA participates in the Fred Meyer Community Rewards

By linking your Fred Meyer Rewards card to the Arleta PTA and scanning your rewards card when you shop, a percentage of your purchase goes to the PTA. Sign up here. (And you'll still get your cash back rewards!)

Email: ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Website: arletapta.org
Location: 5109 SE 66th Avenue
Phone: 503-916-6330
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArletaElementaryK5

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arletaelementaryK5/

PPS District policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation. BP 1.801.020. Not all outside groups comply with the District’s non-discrimination policy. Families are strongly encouraged to review all materials closely.