Abernethy News

Good morning Abernethy Community,

I am happy to report that this week we are off to a great start with no excessive high temperatures, threat of any high temperatures, bad air quality or even the possibility of anything weather related! I will even take whatever rain we may get today with open arms! We are all business in the building and love it!

I am looking forward to seeing all our parents, caregivers and/or guardians next week at our Back to School/ Curriculum night. This is a night where the teachers plan on sharing all the exciting content that they are going to be teaching this year as well as sharing their classroom space, their schedules, routines, methods of communication and all other related information that you need to know in order to have a successful year! As this night is intended for adults, we understand that finding childcare can be difficult. Please know that our goal is to have all families attend, and if childcare is an issue, please bring your student. The only expectation would be that they stay with you. They can listen to all the fun information the teachers have to share as well! You will find the schedule for the night below in our Back To School/ Curriculum Night announcement.

It was with all good intentions that we submitted our Family Handbook - 2024-25 Calendar, last May in hopes that it would be ready to hand out this August. However, we were not so lucky. Part of the cuts that PPS made last was to what was known as our "print shop". Following all new guidance and direction, the new format became too backed up and our order was not filled, nor were we given an estimated time of fulfillment.

We are attaching the online version here. If you would like a printed copy, please let the office know and we will send home a printed copy.

Details: Show your Abernethy Elementary community spirit with your very own yard/window sign!

Pay $10 which covers the cost of your yard sign and use this opportunity to donate a bit extra to support the PTA and kick off the year strong! Follow this link to purchase your sign online: Purchase Sign

You can pick up your sign after school all next week at the covered gazebo or email liz.dome@supportabernethy.org to arrange a time to pick up your sign. We will also be selling them then as well. (Please note that in person sales will accept cash and checks only.)

We support the school and broader community in many different ways and would love your participation in guiding that process.

Link to join PTA: https://www.oregonpta.org/membership/joinnow/16880

Classroom Leads: Classroom leads work with teachers to help find volunteers for class-specific events, and several classes still need leads. Sign up on Konstella under Committees.

Programs and Events: Enjoy gardening? Biking? Advocacy? Yearbook? From programs to events, we have many volunteer opportunities. Sign up on Konstella under Committees or in the Calendar.

Monday, Sept. 16, 2024: Volunteer to staff the PPS Clothing Center at Marshall High School! The Center serves over 2000 students each school year, providing them with clothing and shoes so that they can feel good about attending school. Please refer to the Konstella sign up sheet to volunteer.

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.

When: Starting Wed, Aug 28 7:25am-7:50am

Where: Abernethy Elementary School

We'll be starting up both Wednesday Abernethy Bike Bus Routes on the first week of the school year!

This is a consistent, fun and safe way for kids and parents to bike together to school. We find that it builds student confidence, builds social skills, gets exercise and reduces traffic. For many families it transforms the trip to school into an event to anticipate and enjoy.

- Choose either the Lincoln-Harrison or Clinton Route (see attached flyer map and times)

- We need adult volunteers to help organize & keep kids safe from cars. Join our Volunteer Bike Bus Leader WhatsApp Group. No previous group riding experience required.

SAFETY

• Helmets required!
• If your child does not already ride to school on their own, please plan on biking with us for the first rides to make sure they can bike safely in a group.
• At road crossings where we'll stop the group to gather, post up adult and make sure cars wait while we cross en masse.
• Please ride behind the Bike Bus Driver-- the one with the speaker playing the tunes.
• 
  

No bike bus home-- you can team up with families on your block to get small groups of kids home. If you're interested in consistently organizing & leading a larger bike bus home, let us know.

Questions? Concerns? Let us know! -Aaron & Jake (Abernethy parents & kids-on-bikes enthusiasts)

Aaron: 650-390-3405

Jake: 503-489-9567

• September 19th & 20th - School Pictures
• September 19th - PTA Meeting - 6:30pm
• September 25th - Early Release - Students released at 11:50am
• September 26th - Back To School Night - 5:30 - 7:00pm

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.

Definition: We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

K-2 Definition: We are curious. We ask questions. We love to learn.

Questions you can ask your students:

• What does it mean to be an inquirer?

• Do you have any good inquiry skills you can use?

• How do you know when you were being an inquirer?

• How does being an inquirer help you throughout school?