Grout Family Newsletter
September 15, 2024
Integrity * Mindfulness * Compassion * Inclusion * Perseverance
Looking Ahead...
Sept. 17 - PTA Back to School Picnic (outside), 5:00 & First General Meeting (cafeteria), 7:00
Sept. 19--Picture Day!
Sept. 25--Early Release at 11:50 am
Sept. 26--Back to School Night, 5-7 pm
Sept. 30--SUN school begins (info coming soon!)
A message from Principal Self
Dear Families,
On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, we will be hosting our first Site Council meeting of the year. The Site Council is a group of family/caregivers, staff, and administrators who are interested in school improvement, academic achievement, professional development, and family engagement. During this first meeting we will organize our membership, set objectives for Site Council, and look at the beginning of the year information and school demographic data.
Site Council meetings will be held in Room 105 from 4:30 - 5:30 pm on:
September 18, 2024
October 30, 2024
February 5, 2024
April 9, 2024
June 4, 2024
Everyone is welcome. Please join us. If you have any questions, please reach out to Denise at dself@pps.net. If you need support to attend, such as interpreters or child care, please contact Denise.
Move-A-Thon, Friday, September 27th
Grout is bringing back its annual fundraiser in the form of a Move-A-Thon to raise money for enrichment programming for each grade level. Our goal is to raise $12,000 ($2,000 per grade) for teachers to use for art/STEAM/enrichment programming offered through Arts for Learning NW (www.artsforlearningnw.org). Students will walk, jog or dance around the track in the Great Grout Move-a-Thon! Every lap around the track will help raise more money. Donations can be made by scanning the QR code below or going to the following website. Donations can be made to each grade in a lump sum or pledged per lap.
https://app.99pledges.com/fund/grout2024
A classroom party will be awarded to the grade that completes the most laps! And if we reach our fundraising goal of $12,000 - Principle Self has a VERY special surprise!
Volunteers Needed!
This fun event is dependent on volunteers to help run the activity, encourage students, and keep the excitement alive. A link to volunteer sign-ups will be available next week in this newsletter. All volunteers must have a current background check (https://www.pps.net/volunteer). We hope to see you there! Thank you!
Drills and Safety
During the first month of school, we are required to conduct a fire drill each week. Students have been doing an excellent job exiting the building quickly and safely. After this first month, we will hold fire drills monthly. In addition, we take time each month to practice other types of drills that require different responses. Please see the list below:
September = Lockdown
October = Earthquake
November = Secure the Perimeter
January = Team Response
March = Lockdown
April = Earthquake
LOCKDOWN: A lockdown is used in the instance of a threat inside the school building. During these drills, students stay secure in their classrooms until the threat is no longer present.
EARTHQUAKE: In the event of an earthquake, students "Duck, Cover, & Hold On." During an earthquake drill, students practice keeping their bodies safe under a table or desk. Once the all clear is given, students practice exiting the building in an orderly way.
SECURE THE PERIMETER: Secure the Perimeter is used if there is a threat outside of the school. During these drills, all school doors are locked, students are brought inside the building, and everyone remains inside the building conducting business as usual until the outside threat is no longer present.
TEAM RESPONSE: A team response is used if there is an injury or other medical event inside the building with a child or staff member. During team response, students remain in classrooms until emergency responders have left the premises.
Our first Lockdown Drill is scheduled for Tuesday, September 24. Our students will be prepared with age appropriate lessons that are trauma informed and delivered by Ms. Staples (our school counselor) or the classroom teacher. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Volunteer in the Library
Hey Everyone!
I am seeking volunteers to help shelve and organize the library this year. Ideally 2-3 people that can consistently be once a week. It is a great opportunity to check out the collection we have and see the kids if you come during the day :)
Please email me at ahazen@pps.net if you are interested.
Thank you,
Alicia
Pre-K Early Learners
The Prek Early Learners Program is still accepting applications for our two classrooms at Grout Head Start. Students need to live in PPS Boundaries, be 3 years old by September 1st and meet income eligibility requirements. Please use the following QR Code to complete an application for enrollment for this year. Contact us at PreKPrograms@pps.net if you have questions!
Help to spread the word, please share with family and friends who have preschool age children.
Please join us for a PPS movie night!
PPS is hosting a series of events that focus on Belonging, Equity & Inclusive Practices where we will screen powerful, award winning documentaries that will stir, provoke, and challenge each of us about what is possible in the systems we create for our children with disabilities. Staff, Parents, Community are all invited. The first screening will be Forget Me Not, on September 25th 6:00 PM at McDaniel High School. Our Roles, Our Work, Our Children!
Forget Me Not is a moving story about 3-year-old Emilio whose family finds itself embroiled in a challenge all too common for children with disabilities: that of securing the right to an inclusive education. Filmmaker Olivier and his wife, Hilda, turn the camera on themselves and their child as they navigate an often frustrating system on their way toward ensuring that their son gets the education he needs and deserves.
Staff, families, community members are all invited. We hope to see you there!
PTA News!!!
First General meeting
All are welcome to attend Grout PTA's First General meeting on September 17th at 6pm in the Grout auditorium. We look forward to seeing you there.
PTA membership:
While meetings are open to all, only PTA members are able to vote at General meetings. You can pay your dues here:
The total cost of an annual membership is $10.00 plus fees*scholarships are available. Please email groutpta@gmail.com
Volunteer with the PTA:
Come to the first meeting and hear about this year's volunteer opportunities.
District Approved Community Resources
Camps, Classes, & After School Programs:
Maplewood Tennis After School Zone (Oct. 8 - Nov. 19)
Portland Parks & Recreation Environmental Education Nature Field Trips (flyer for teachers)
VIBE of Portland Music & Digital Art Classes for Kids
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:
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):
If you have any questions, please reference the Promoting Events and Activities in PPS Schools webpage, the 2020-21 Update on Flier Distribution for Non-Governmental Organizations, or contact Ryan Vandehey at rvandehey@pps.net.