SES Messenger
April 26, 2024
School News (NEW)
Sunnyside Community,
Thank you so much for another wonderful week. It was so great seeing so many families at our student led conferences. This is such a great opportunity for students to feel autonomy about their own learning and to be able to "show off" how much they have learned. This is an extra event that our teachers have taken on because they see how much it matters to our students to be able to show their families through their academic journeys. We believe that our children owning and being proud of their own learning is vital to their success and it was such an enjoyable experience seeing their proud faces.
I wanted to give a huge shout out to our very own Nathan. Our plant sale was a huge success and we were able to avoid most of our spring showers and sell so many plants. Nathan is such an important part of our community and his enthusiasm, expertise, and genuine love for what he does shines through to all of us.
Thank you all!
Dr. Berg
Upcoming Dates
- Fri, Apr 26, 3pm: SES PTSA Plant Sale
Fri, Apr 26: MS marine biology trip permission forms and family contributions due
Mon-Fri, May 6-10: SES Staff Appreciation Week
Mon-Fri, May 13-17 - Middle School Marine Biology Trips
Tues, May 21, 5-10pm: Bagdad Pub (not including theater) SES restaurant fundraiser
Tues, May 21, 6-7pm: Connect to Kindergarten
Mon, May 27: Memorial Day. No School
Tue, Jun 4, 11am-11pm: SES restaurant fundraiser at Straight from NY (Belmont only)
Wed, Jun 12, 8:45am: SES PTSA meeting: SES room 102
Thu, Jun 13, 6-8pm: SES 8th grade promotion (at Franklin High School)
Fri, Jun 14, 8:45-10: SES 5th grade promotion (in the auditorium)
Fri, Jun 14: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Fri, Jun 24, 6-8pm: Middle School end-of-year dance
PTSA News
PTSA OPEN POSITIONS FOR 2024-25
Are you interested in getting more involved with Sunnyside and playing a meaningful role in the fundraising efforts of our beloved school? The SES PTSA has open executive board positions! Co-President, Treasurer, and 2-3 Members-at-large are all open/renewing positions. Please reach out to Steph (stephbarnhart1@gmail.com) and Heather (tanky34@gmail.com) to learn more. In addition to the board positions, we invite you to consider other open volunteer roles and are always open to proposals about new ways you can offer time and talent to SES!
PTSA Open Position Descriptions HERE.
On May 22 at 8:45 am, we will hold our final PTSA meeting of the year. This meeting is focused on PTSA elections and voting to approve the 2024-2025 budget. PLUS special guest State Representative Rob Nosse will be joining us. This is an important one and we hope many of you will join us and make your voices heard!
Marine Bio Payments & Forms DUE
Meet up for parents and caregivers of neurodivergent students (NEW)
Are you a parent or guardian looking to connect with other Sunnyside families with neurodivergent students? So are we! Our last meetup of the 23-24 school year will be Friday, May 3 @ 9 a.m. at 3405 SE Stark Street. Please email kelleymhutch@gmail.com to RSVP, ask questions or, if you cannot attend but are interested in learning more, please email to connect for future meet ups.
Parent's night out, TAKE TWO (NEW)
Need a date night? Parent’s Night Out (TAKE TWO) is where SES 8th grade students (with adult support) will be offering babysitting Friday, May 3 from 5:00-8:00PM at Sunnyside! There will be a cheese pizza dinner and MANY activities provided. The cost is a sliding scale of $30-50 per student. Please sign up by texting Julianne (and SES parent and PPS teacher) at 503-939-5673 with your student/s name and grade/s. Thanks for supporting our students! See all the details here.
May 8 is National Bike and Roll to School Day! (NEW)
And the month of May is Bike Month! Join your classmates and walk, run, scooter, or bike to school as much as you can all month! Studies show that active transportation to school keeps kids and families fit, reduces traffic and air pollution, and even helps kids learn.
On Wednesday, May 8, to celebrate Bike and Roll to School Day, we’ll have prizes in the morning for ALL students! Instead of bike bus, we invite everyone to bike/scoot/roll/walk with your family, friends, or neighbors, and meet at the sunflower street mural at Yamhill & 33rd at 8:30 (no matter what direction you are coming from). We’ll bike/roll the last blocks to school as a big group, and give out prizes when we get to school!
Can’t walk or roll the whole way to school? That’s ok! The benefits of walking or biking to school apply even if you drive part of the way. By parking a few blocks from school and walking the rest of the way, you can participate in active transportation and cut down on air pollution from idling of vehicles near our school!
Lost and Found - get it now before it's gone (NEW)
Please come check the lost and found. We will be bagging it up and donating it on Tuesday of next week. There is a ton of coats and sweatshirts, lunch bags, water bottles etc. Are you missing something?
Planning Help Needed for Staff Appreciation Week (SAW)
We need someone to step up and help run Staff Appreciation week activities and gifts. This is a fun and IMPORTANT job that helps our beloved staff members feel our love and appreciation! Emily, SAW lead, needs someone to bounce ideas off of and help plan meals, gift cards and other goings on. SAW takes place May 6-10, but help planning is needed now. If you can help out, please connect with Emily Lillywhite on Konstella or email her at emilylillywhite@gmail.com ASAP.
Camp Fire Summer Programming
Camp Fire summer registration is now open! They are offering 6 weeks of summer camp starting on June 24th! The last day of Summer Day Camp will be on August 2nd. More information found HERE.
8th grade speeches have begun
Each year as our SES 8th graders prepare to leave for high school, they must complete a portfolio of assignments designed to help them think both retrospectively, prospectively and introspectively. One of those assignments is a speech that talks about something they believe.
On Tuesdays and Fridays during middle school morning meeting, 8th graders are delivering these speeches, starting at 8:45am.
You can find the schedule of speeches here. The schedule does change, so please be sure to check for updates regularly if there's someone you really want to see. (Note: No one is allowed to exit or enter the auditorium when a speech is in progress; please show up on time.)
Dine Out for SES: McMenamins Bagdad Pub - Tuesday, May 21st
Save the Date! Our wonderful neighbors, McMenamins Bagdad Pub (restaurant only, not including theater), will donate 50% of ALL SALES TO SUNNYSIDE on May 21st, 5pm-10pm!! This is huge - spread the word! Dine in or take out. Check out the menu HERE!
Fliers and Community Links
- Portland Art Museum Miller Family Free Day: Sun, April 28, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (NEW)
- New to Portland Ride: East Neighborhoods, April 30
- CampOUT is a Queer Youth Empowerment camp located in the Laurelhurst neighborhood serving LGBTQIA+ middle school youth. More details HERE
Websites to Know
Apply for Free/Reduced Meals - NEW Oregon expanded income guidelines
Konstella - One stop shop for parent information (PTSA)
Communicable disease protocol - aka when should I keep my child home from school?