Irvington Weekly Newsletter

Take a look at all of these Wild Robots! We hope to see them and all of you at the Spaghetti Dinner on Thursday!

We hope you’re planning to attend the Irvington Annual Spaghetti Dinner next Thursday, May 23! Bring the whole family and come to the doors behind the school anytime between 5:30 and 7pm. Grab a green lunch tray and be served by the teachers during this decades-long Irvington tradition.

We need a few volunteers to make the evening run smoothly. From helping set up merchandise to collecting and rinsing green trays in short 30 minute shifts, please see how you can help and sign up here!

We will host our final dinner/meeting for Families of Students of Color on Wednesday, June 5, from 5:30-7:00pm. Even if you've never come to a meeting before, I encourage you to join! Free food and free childcare!

At today's Tea, we talked about the end of the year: how for many students, the transition to summer can bring up lots of emotions, which students may or may not recognize in themselves. School is highly structured and summer frequently isn't, so if you see any atypical behaviors or emotions in the next few weeks (and in the last few weeks of August, leading up to school), it may be because your child is anticipating this change, likely with mixed emotions. One way to support them is by helping them recognize the emotions they're feeling but may not be able to name ("I notice that you're doing X, which you typically don't do; I wonder if it's because you're worried about the end of the school year; is that the case?"). Another way is to help structure summer is some ways. When children (and adults!) know what's coming up or what their day is going to look like, they can spend their brainspace focusing on whatever is in front of them, instead of worrying/wondering about what's coming next.

Lost & Found will be rolled out to the blacktop every Wednesday morning from 8:30-9:00am starting next week until the end of school (5/22, 5/29, 6/5, 6/12). Please note that unclaimed items at the end of the year will be donated.

This is a group for parents and caregivers of students who experience neurodiversity. We meet about once per month to network with other parents and caregivers and discuss such things as the different ways our students’ school experiences take shape, or how to navigate the IEP process. Our interpretation of neurodiversity is comprehensive and includes (but is not limited to) anxiety, autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 20, at drop off (around 9am) in the PTA room 109. If you have questions or would like to know more about this group, email Amy Dachtler at amydachtler@gmail.com.

Students have had opportunities to sign up for the talent show at school, but in case they missed it, you can sign you child up here.

Every May, Portland Public Schools reaches out to families to gather feedback about how schools are doing. All families should have received an email invitation to complete a survey earlier this week, but in case you missed it, you can complete the survey here.

Thank you to everyone who has been able to help serve lunch in the cafeteria so far this school year! We’re in the home stretch - May and June sign ups are now open - CLICK HERE to sign up! Interested in helping out? Start by becoming a PPS-approved volunteer here.

Monday, May 20: Neurodiversity Caregivers Coffee Chat, 9am

Wednesday, May 22: Lost and found at drop off, 8:30am

Thursday, May 23: Annual Spaghetti Dinner, 5:30-7:00pm

Wednesday, May 29: Lost and found at drop off, 8:30am

Wednesday, May 29: Annual talent show, 9am

Thursday, May 30: Auction Volunteer Info Session, 7-9pm, at Steeplejack Brewing

Monday, June 3: PTA general meeting, 5:30-7:30pm

Wednesday, June 5: Final Families of Students of Color dinner/meeting, 5:30-7:00pm

See it all at a glance here: https://www.irvingtonschool.com/