FPE Community Newsletter 04/16/2025
April 16, 2025
Greetings Forest Park Students and Families,
The weather this week has made for glorious recess breaks! Students have enjoyed their daily dose of natural Vitamin D and the beautiful, prodigious, flowers; thanks to our School Beautification Committee (Jenn Colbach, Elisabeth Walter, Lauren Fisher, Devon Flannery Carter). Thanks to the team's guidance and planning, students have had a hand in all the plantings as well! Family members are always welcome to visit and spend a few minutes with me on the playground between 11:20am and 12:45pm daily! Come see all the fun your kids are having each day! With only 40 days left in the school year we have plenty to anticipate these last two weeks of April: Early Release Dismissal next Wednesday (4/23 at 11:50am), Science Fair next Thursday (4/24 at 5:30pm in the gym), and School Clean-up Day a week from Saturday (on 4/26 10am-2pm). We have equally exciting events coming up in May and June, but details will be shared in later newsletters.
Looking Ahead to Next Year: Classroom Placements As we begin thinking about the upcoming school year, I know that many questions and feelings can arise, especially around classroom placements. Over the next couple of months, I’ll be working closely with teachers to thoughtfully create class lists for the year ahead.
We kindly ask that families refrain from making specific teacher or classroom requests. Our team takes great care in creating balanced learning communities that support the academic and social-emotional needs of all students.
That said, if there is specific information you’d like to share about your child’s learning style, strengths, or needs, I welcome your input. Please feel free to send me an email at amartini@pps.net. At the appropriate time, I will share your input with the placement team to ensure your child’s needs are thoughtfully considered.
We truly appreciate your trust in our process and your continued partnership as we work to create the best possible learning environment for all students. Thank you for your understanding as we plan for a successful school year ahead.
OBOB Update! We are proud of our FPE students (Yusuf, Francis, Nolan, Rhett), for representing us in the regionals (image #1) (image #2)
Book Fair It’s almost here! In-person Book Fair dates:
Mon-Thur, April 28 - May 1 in Portables 5 and 6 (facing the field)
• Online shopping dates: April 28 - May 11
• Shopping hours: Monday-Thursday during lunch recess & after school 2:30 - 4:30pm
• Special extended hours: Tuesday, April 29th - 2:30pm - 6:30pm
All book fair purchases will directly benefit Forest Park Elementary. Look out for Teacher’s donation boxes to purchase a book to directly benefit your classroom!
FOFPE School Beautifuication Please join the FOFPE School Beautification Team, FPE Students and Staff next Saturday (4/26) from 10am to 2pm to “spruce up” our Forest Park school site! Check out FOFPE insert for details!
Earthquake and Fire Drill Update We successfully completed our bi-annual earthquake and monthly fire drill today at 10:00 AM under beautiful sunny skies. Students evacuated the building calmly and demonstrated excellent situational awareness throughout the drill.
Following the fire drill, we proceeded to our designated evacuation assembly area on the field. This additional step simulates a scenario in which re-entry to the building is not possible due to an emergency such as an earthquake, fire, gas leak, or other safety concern.
A Reminder for Volunteers and Visitors If you are on campus during a drill or an actual emergency, please evacuate with students and staff to the field. We bring our volunteer and visitor sign-in logs with us, and it is essential that we are able to account for every individual on campus.
Thank you for your continued support in keeping our campus safe and prepared! Here are some earthquake resources for families:
Preparing your family for an earthquake
Earthquake Sanitation Information
Pro tip: The power of a large garbage bag during a disaster, you can transform a large garbage bag into a sun shield or windbreak, a water collector, or a temporary toilet liner.
Earthquake Safety Myth Busting!
Myth: Find a “Triangle of Life,” a “void space,” and shelter there.
Bust: The “Triangle of Life” is a discredited theory that is not supported by scientific evidence.
Get under something solid. Don’t seek what you think might be a “void space.”
The "Triangle of Life" is a misguided earthquake safety concept that suggests that finding possible “void spaces” next to a wall or furniture would offer protection. This approach is considered dangerous and is not supported by scientific evidence, and has been criticized by the American Red Cross and the United States Geological Survey, among other reputable organizations.
The idea assumes buildings will always collapse in a "pancake" fashion, which is rare, especially in modern buildings.
The "triangle of life" focuses on finding void spaces, but this is not a reliable strategy as the direction of shaking and structural aspects of the building make it difficult to predict where these spaces might form.
Moving to the side of furniture during an earthquake exposes individuals to falling debris, which is a greater danger than sheltering under sturdy furniture.
ShakeAlert notifications of an approaching earthquake ShakeAlert detects fast-moving waves through the earth in time to give you a few to tens of seconds warning before the slower, more powerful shockwaves reach you. This could be enough time to take life-saving action. Click here for more information. Go here for how to get notifications on your cell phone.
PPS Emergency Management website
Science Fair We are excited to host our annual FPE Science Fair. As of now, 131 students are registered to present 64 entries. There will be a combination of teams (3-4) and individual presentations. FireWise and other company tables will be on display, along with a food-truck under the covered area. If you are an entrant, make sure to get a raffle ticket, there will be names drawn for prizes! April 24th in the GYM from 5.30pm to 7pm. Science Fair Volunteer Sign-up
Music
HeArt of Portland 2025
Wednesday, April 16
FREE
5th graders from across PPS will be performing in the Honor Choir around 6:45 at The Mark Building on the 4th Floor of the Portland Art Museum. Doors open at 6 pm for family and friends. If you want seats, get there early. Representing Forest Park this year will be AT and Skyler in Ms. Trinchero/Morningstar's class. They have been working hard in and out of school as well as a half day on Saturday! We are very proud of all students who tried out for this limited opportunity and for their hard work! Join us to hear the five songs they have prepared.
Connect to Kindergarten – This Friday! We’re excited to welcome our incoming kindergarten students and their families this Friday, April 18 at 3:00 PM for our Connect to Kindergarten event, held right here on campus.This is a wonderful opportunity to meet our amazing kindergarten teachers, Ms. Werschkul and Ms. Hildebrant, as well as the Principal. Families will also get a chance to tour our beautiful facility, see classrooms, and start building connections with our school community. We can’t wait to meet our newest learners and their families!
Timbers & Thorns Fundraiser to Benefit PPS Tickets are available to purchase for Timbers games (May 10 & 28) and Thorns games (June 15 & 21) for a discounted price when you (staff, students, families, friends) use our special group link to purchase tickets. Plus, the teams will donate $5 for each ticket purchased to The Fund for PPS's Champion PPS Schools! We’re proud to share this opportunity for the whole family to come out and support the best of Portland – our professional soccer teams and our schools! Visit fundforpps.org/champion for more information HERE
Community Information Space
Italicized items are new.
Camps, Classes, & After School Programs:
Portland Parks Teen Nature Team (Saturdays, then weekdays in summer)
VIBE PDX Spring Break & Summer Art & Music Camps (Mar. 3, Mar. 24-28, Jun. 16 - Aug. 29)
USTA Spring Tennis Afterschool Zone at Maplewood (Apr. 8 - May 13)
Portland Parks & Rec Teen Force at SW Community Center
VIBE of Portland Music & Digital Art Classes for Kids
Portland Parks & Rec Environmental Education Nature Field Trips (flyer for teachers)
Other Opportunities:
City of Portland is recruiting for the Community Board for Police Accountability (CBPA)
PCC Women’s Basketball Princess Ball Daddy Daughter Dance (Apr. 5)
AFS Intercultural Programs: Host an Exchange Student
Summer Camps:
PCC Summer Teen Program (schedule online Apr. 25, registration opens May 28)
VIBE PDX East Winds Band Camp (Jul. 21-25, 2025, recorded audition due Jul. 10)
Cognizart 360Arts Summer Camps (Jul. 7-11, 14-18, & 21-25, 2025)
OSU Summer Reading Program (Jun. 14 - Aug. 16, 2025)
PCC Women’s Basketball Daddy Daughter Dance (Apr. 5)
Preschool Programs:
Multnomah Early Childhood Program Peer Preschool Classes
(Spanish) (Vietnamese) (Chinese) (Russian) (Somali) (Korean) (Arabic) (Persian)Portland Parks Preschool 2024-25
Community Events & Information:
Multnomah County: Common Application
City of Portland: 311 Non-Emergency Hotline
(Spanish) (Vietnamese) (Chinese) (Russian) (Somali)
Vaccinations, Health & Wellness:
Parkrose Student Health Center Open during Spring Break
Multnomah County Student Health Center Immunization Catch-Up Reminder
Multnomah County: Free Community Vaccination Clinic (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays)
(English) (Spanish) (Vietnamese) (Chinese) (Russian) (Somali)Multnomah County: Student Health Centers (fliers in English, Russian, Chinese, and Vietnamese):
Thank you, Dr. Martini
