The Cheetah Coalition #17

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Happy Holidays!

We’ve had some great weeks of learning at Atkinson School. It’s so fun to walk into classrooms and see students working with each other on challenging tasks.

I hope your holiday is filled with rest and the pleasure of your children. It is so important to enjoy them and let them know that they are a joy to us just the way they are. Please make time for them to turn off electronics and engage in unstructured (adult-free) play. This is particularly beneficial when it includes siblings, cousins, or other near-age peers, especially when done outside.

The school will be closed from Saturday, December 21 through Sunday, January 5, with school resuming on Monday, January 6.

The first days back we will be re-teaching classroom routines and common area behavior expectations. The second quarter will end on January 24, so be looking for report cards soon thereafter.

Below is an important message from our PTA president. We want all families to know that your children are safe at school regardless of what is happening politically in the larger world. Specifically, all newcomer families are welcome in the Atkinson community. I remember what it was like to move to a new country, full of hopes and fears. We are committed to providing a place for all children to grow and learn.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your homeroom teacher or me.

In service,

Debbie Armendariz

Principal

Atkinson Elementary School

darmenda@pps.net

School Main Number: (503) 916-6333

Dear Atkinson community,

Thank you for being so incredible. I wanted to take the opportunity before we head off on break to emphasize that the Atkinson PTA is committed to doing whatever it can to support vulnerable members of our community, particularly immigrants that may feel threatened with this change in administration. We see you, we celebrate you, and we can't imagine the anxiety and fear that this election may have caused — we will do whatever we can to ensure that Atkinson is a safe and welcoming place.

We are actively seeking out available local resources and organizing with others to build up a stronger united coalition to serve as a line of defense, as best we can. Please reach out (president@atkinsonpta.org) if there is anything we might be able to do for you. If other community members are aware of anything that we can be doing, let us know. We signed this letter (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D7qHolezPWzN4Is8B4IF_iTYMdeJ_nxIiPicu3YjdMo/edit?tab=t.0) and encourage all to send individual letters to your Board representatives to reiterate how much we care.

With that, let me wish happy holiday season to everyone. It's quite intimidating to step up to serve as something called the "President" of anything, and you have all been so warm, welcoming and supportive — it's made it a joy and maybe some day I'll feel like I know what I'm doing. I hope everyone gets lots of cozy, loving time during this winter break.

Warmly,

Vigdis Bronder Haas

President

Atkinson Elementary PTA

Please see below for upcoming holiday events and resources:

• Annual Christmas Toy Giveaway: Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 10 a.m.–2 p.m. (flyer below)
• Black Santa PDX Events: Friday, November 29–Monday, December 23 registration
• Hermann Colas, Jr. Legacy Scholarship: Apply by February 23, 2025
• Little Ones Playgroup at Friendly House: Saturdays, December 7, 14, 21; 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Livelihood Northwest: Business Development with a Purpose begins Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 4–5 p.m.
• Oregon Zoo Lights: Friday, November 22, 2024–Sunday, January 5, 2025.
• The Christmas Tree Project: Request a FREE decorated Christmas tree.
• The Giving Trees: Delivering FREE Christmas trees, ornaments, lights and stands.
• The Street Trust New Year's Ride: Wednesday, January, 1, 2025 at 12 p.m. register
• Walking Group: National Alliance on Mental Illness EVERY 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 6–8 p.m., Peninsula Park.

We are so proud of our Atkinson Artists! Please support them at an art reception for our featured art students on Tuesday, January 21, from 4–6 p.m.

Congratulations to:

• Gabe, 5th grade
• Jesus, 5th grade
• Emmet, 5th grade
• Guillermo, 5th grade
• Walt, 5th grade
• Genevieve, 1st grade
• Asura, Kinder

All schools are required to instruct and drill students on emergency procedures so that the students can respond to an emergency without confusion or panic. In the coming weeks, we will be conducting the following drills at Atkinson:

• Evacuation Drill on Thursday, January 9

Read more about these drills on the PPS website HERE.

Please note an important change to our attendance process. To enhance our focus on student safety, automated attendance calls through Remind will now begin at 9:30 AM instead of 10:30 AM. To avoid receiving a call, please report your child's absence to the school before 9:30 AM. Thank you for your cooperation.

The Family and Teacher TAG referral window is now open and will remain open until January 10, 2025. The goal of this second referral round is to identify students who may not have been referred during the Fall data-driven referral window. This includes but is not limited to, those students in K-2 who do not participate in MAP and OSAS testing, as well as those in 3-5 for whom computer-based assessments present a roadblock in demonstrating their academic level and need. Families of 2nd grade students who have scored at or above the 95th percentile on the screening assessment for intellectual giftedness (called NNAT) will be notified in January 2025 that their student will be evaluated for TAG identification based on that assessment.

The referral process this year has changed from previous years. Families interested in referring their student for TAG should contact their classroom teacher during this window to discuss their student’s needs. Teachers submitting a referral will complete a reflection about their experience with the student in the classroom and consider several things, including:

• How quickly does this student master new concepts and skills?

• Is the student providing insights and thinking about topics in a way that is different from most students?

• In what ways (if any) does the teacher already need to differentiate for this student to support their success?

Once this reflection is completed, additional work samples and assessment data will be collected before the Atkinson TAG team meets to make a final decision. Once a decision is reached, parents will be informed via email, prior to April 24, 2025.

The TAG website has more information on evaluation and identification, TAG services, and opportunities for parents to provide input and feedback through the TAG Advisory Council (TAGAC).

IMPORTANT DATES:

District Assessment Driven Evaluation & Identification Cycle

• Sept 30 - Jan 16 | Evaluation Process
• Jan 17 | Family Notification

Student, Family & Teacher Evaluation & Identification Cycle

• Dec 9 - Jan 10 | Referral Window
• Feb 3 - April 24 | Evaluation Process
• April 25 | Family Notification

Want an art project over Winter Break? The Atkinson Yearbook Cover Art contest is open! Entries are due January 24. See the attachment for details.

PPS is moving to a new Standards-Based Grading System for all 28 middle schools. The purpose is to provide clearer and more meaningful feedback to students. Some of our middle schools are already using this approach, and research supports its benefits. Our K–5 schools have also made progress in this direction with their report cards.

We invite you to visit our middle grades Standards-Based Grading website at pps.net/sbg. There, you can find updates, resources, timelines, materials, and FAQs.

There will be three family and community engagement events in person and virtually at the Prophet Education Center (501 N. Dixon St.) in the PPS boardroom. We invite all who have current middle grades students or students entering into the middle grades to these presentations where we will provide updates as well as listen to feedback and answer questions.

Family and Community engagement (Virtual and in person):

• February 13, 5:30–7 p.m.
• March 13, 5:30–7 p.m.
• May 8, 5:30–7 p.m.

We believe grades are an important way to communicate with students and families. This new system will make it clearer what students need to do to meet academic expectations.

If you have any questions, please contact Richard Smith at rsmith5@pps.net. Check the website often for updates. We look forward to working with you during this exciting transition.

Need healthcare while schools are closed for Winter Break? The Parkrose Student Health Center will be providing primary and mental health care services from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday December 23 through January 3 (except closed on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25; and New Year's Day, Wednesday January 1). We see all youth ages 5–18 who live or go to school in Multnomah County. You don't have to attend Parkrose High School to receive services. Call 503-988-3392 to schedule an appointment. All other Student Health Centers will be closed.

• December 21–January 5 — Winter Break, NO SCHOOL

• Monday, January 6 — School resumes
• Thursday, January 9 — PTA Meeting in the cafeteria, 6:30–8 p.m.
• Thursday, January 16 — PTA Game Night in the cafeteria, 6–8 p.m.
• Monday, January 20 — Martin Luther King Jr Day, NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, January 21–Friday, January 24 — Spirit Week
• Friday, January 24 — End of Quarter 2
• Monday, January 27 — Teacher Grading Day, NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
• Tuesday, January 28 —Teacher Professional Development Day, NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS