The Cheetah Coalition #18

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Dear Parents,

As you’ve heard me say before, unstructured play is very important for students. At Atkinson, our limited recess duty staff work very hard to provide students with an unstructured time to play with peers. Before winter break, some of the duty staff had been noticing some unsafe situations happening during 3rd-5th grade recess. To create safety without structuring students’ play, they set up zones where students could play ball sports and zones for other activities. One of the goals was to provide safe spaces where students who don’t want to play ball sports don’t have to worry about being hit with balls. We know that even small hits on the head with balls at an early age can make students more vulnerable to concussions.

When we shared the new zones with students after winter break, we got very mixed reactions. Some students were very thankful while some students were very frustrated by the zones. We want you to know that we take students' perspectives seriously, especially at recess. Earlier this week, the student leadership team met and created a survey for 3rd-5th grade students. We will be administering it next week during library time. The student leadership team will review results and come up with alternative solutions. You can help by discussing this with your student and reviewing the following:

• Safety is the first priority and the staff takes this responsibility seriously.

• We need all student voices to be heard.

• The staff at Atkinson listens to them.

• When we don’t like something, we make workable suggestions for improvement (students will be asked to make suggestions in the survey).

• It is okay to disagree with another student. We can disagree and still listen and work towards mutually acceptable solutions.

We thank you for your support and partnership as we take advantage of this great opportunity to listen and learn together.

Debbie Armendariz

Principal

Atkinson Elementary School

darmenda@pps.net

School Main Number: (503) 916-6333

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:

• Tuesday, February 4: Fire/Evacuation Drill

Read more about these drills on the PPS website HERE.

There are two upcoming events (on January 14 and February 10) that will provide an opportunity to learn more about Oregon's education budget, hear from legislators and district leaders and walk away with actions to help with school funding.

Atkinson PTA is looking for 6 volunteers to help out at the Clothing Closet on Thursday, January 16 from 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. to sort donations and help PPS students in need find clothing. Please email volunteer@atkinsonpta.org if you can make it! Also, the next Clothing Closet volunteer date will be March 6 in case you want to mark your calendars now.

On January 21 we will be having our TAG family Night from 6:15–7 p.m. Learn about how students enter and exit the TAG program as well as the services they can access if identified as TAG. This will be a virtual event. Here is the link: https://meet.google.com/eaq-edau-jrz.

The Atkinson Yearbook Cover Art contest is open! Entries are due by Friday, January 24. See the attachment for details.

The Atkinson Talent Show is returning to the Franklin High School auditorium on the evenings of February 4 (Grades K–2) and February 11 (Grades 3–5). Online registration is now open HERE. Paper sign-ups went home this week, and can be returned to the talent show box at the front desk. All sign-ups must be submitted by Friday, January 24.

We are also seeking volunteers to help out at rehearsals and shows. Please SIGN UP HERE if you are interested in being a part of this amazing community event!

Atkinson PTA is having a night at the Blazers on Sunday, March 16. The attached flyer has all the information including the link to purchase discounted tickets! Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through February 17!

Our Lunar New Year celebration will be on Friday, January 31 from 6:30–8 p.m. in the cafeteria. Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities, among others. The festival celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. It is a time to honor our ancestors and spend time with loved ones. Guests are invited to wear red, yellow, gold, or traditional clothing.

There will be:

• 🍚 Vietnamese food from local restaurants: Banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), spring rolls, egg rolls, stir fry noodles, and sweet sticky rice.
• 🦁 A special lion dance performance from White Lotus.
• 🌸 Tons of Lunar New Year arts and crafts (snake finger puppets, Chinese lanterns, cherry blossom tree art).
• 📖 Free AAPI related children's books from Multnomah County Library and SMART reading.
• 🧧 "Pick your own Red Envelope" raffle with prizes from Fly by Jing, Hopscotch, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Portland Nursery, Good Coffee, among many others.
• 🏮Light up the night with lanterns for purchase (pre-sale and day of event).

We’re looking for volunteers to help with this event, if you’re able to support, please sign up here!

Join us on Monday, January 20, at Dick’s Primal Burger, 4905 S.E. Woodstock Blvd. Dick’s Primal Burger is generously donating 15% of all proceeds to the Atkinson PTA -- this includes both lunch and dinner, and both dine in and take out orders from 11 a.m.–9 p.m.. Please note that this does not include third party ordering and delivery services. Tell your family, friends, and neighbors to mark their calendars for January 20 and support our Atkinson community at Dick’s Primal Burger!

Read the latest from the PTA HERE.

• Monday, January 20 — Martin Luther King Jr Day, NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, January 21 — Virtual TAG Family Night, 6:15 — 7 p.m.
• 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
• Wednesday, January 29 — Rehearsal for K-2 Talent Show, 2:30 — 4 p.m.
• Thursday, January 30 — Online with the Principal, 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, January 31 — Principal's Coffee in the Cafeteria, 8:10 — 9:10 a.m.
• Friday, January 31 — Luna New Year Celebration in the Cafeteria, 6:30 — 8 p.m.