Wildcat Newsletter

We hosted the first of 11 school based slot parties last week, tie-dye. This party was offered as part of the fundraising that the Woodlawn PTA did in conjunction with Jazz Night. Thank you to everyone who attended the event and purchased a spot for your child to “play” with Woodlawn staff members. We are looking forward to the other parties. If you missed it, there are still a few after school parties that have space; Decades Dance on 4/2 for 3rd-5th graders, Moana movie party 4/3 for 2nd-3rd graders, and the Glow Dance party at the Village Ballroom on 4/16 for any grade. The slots are $20 (remember it’s a fundraiser) and you can coordinate with Amanda Fesi amanda.fesi@yahoo.com

As a staff, we just completed the annual staffing process for the 2025-26 school year. We knew that there would be cuts, as PPS is looking to trim $40 million dollars from next year's budget. A majority of this comes from current staffing levels across the District, including the District Office and programs. PPS will be reducing contracts and spending, too.

At Woodlawn, we will be downsizing the number of classrooms we have from 14 homerooms to 12. Additionally, we have lost one Reading/Math Interventionist position and will reduce one School Secretary to half time. Our Title 1 budget was reduced by 25% from the current level, which is a nearly $50,000 difference.

All in all, we fared better than some of our neighboring schools. We will be able to maintain many of the services that we currently have and students will not notice much of a difference. As always, we will be watching the numbers of (current) 1st and 3rd graders as these are the grades that currently have 3 classes each and are slated to have 2 in the fall.

We have a superb team dedicated to serving our young Wildcats. Woodlawn School is an amazing place because of your partnership and your confidence in us to support your children. We have lots of THIS school year left and so much more to learn together.

Poetry Slam is next week and our young Wildcats are practicing their stage presence using the microphone during lunch and some of lunch recess. While they are getting this presentation practice, they need to be practicing the poem at home. Please practice with your child. We sent poems home with students who have “signed up” to perform. More to come on that next week.

We are rooting for the Reading Leopards, the Woodlawn OBOB team representing Woodlawn at the Oregon Battle of the Books regional competition this weekend!

Remember that Wednesday, March 19th is an Early Release at 11:50 and it’s Dress Fancy Day!

Mrs. Lopez and Mrs. Tyner

Join us NEXT THURSDAY at Woodlawn for a night of Big Voices and Loud Poems: Hear Us Roar! Dinner will be served at 5:30pm and performances will begin at 6pm, starting with kindergarten and ending with 5th grade.

We have many Wildcats that have signed up to perform this year, and they have been practicing diligently! We need YOUR help with assisting your child in practicing at home. Have them read their poem out loud with a slow, clear voice. They may read it to you or in the mirror. Sometimes it can be helpful to record them and play it back!

Woodlawn Elementary School is excited to welcome cartoonist and former elementary school teacher Aron Nels Steinke. Mr. Steinke will share his newest book Speechless: A Graphic Novel with third, fourth, and fifth grade students. Learn more about Mr. Steinke below:

Aron Nels Steinke is a cartoonist and former elementary school teacher. He began making comics in 2006 with the help of a grant from the Xeric Foundation and never stopped. In 2015 he and his wife Ariel Cohn won the Best Publication for Early Readers Eisner Award for their book The Zoo Box (First Second Books). His wildly popular Mr. Wolf’s Class series (Scholastic/Graphix) follows the adventures of a class of anthropomorphic students and their teacher, who just so happens to be a wolf.

This visit is free to us if we sell enough copies of his newest book Speechless: A Graphic Novel through Green Bean Books. Please consider ordering a signed copy for your family! When ordering through the link below, please:

• Green Bean Books Link:

• https://greenbeanbookspdx.indielite.org/list/speechless-aron-nels-steinke

• Select your child's school under "I would like to pick up this order" at checkout.

• Write your child's teacher's name in the comment box so that the books can be distributed easily.

The deadline for submitting orders is April 3rd.

Take a moment to help your child check all of their favorite reading spots at home for any overdue library books. If we can get the overdue/missing book number down to 20 (from 220) by the end of March we will have a schoolwide reward.

Spring is a great time to hang out with your Woodlawn child during their recess. Shoot hoops, play soccer, kickball or even four square. Relive your favorite childhood games alongside your little. Maybe your business or job is looking for volunteer hours? Spend them with us! Just let the office know and we’ll coordinate a day with you. You need to be a cleared volunteer to help during recess.

We will be offering in-service care at the following locations from 7:30am-5:30pm:

• Alameda

• 2732 NE Fremont
  Portland, OR 97212

• Faubion

• 2930 NE Dekum St
  Portland, OR 97211

• Laurelhurst

• 840 NE 41
  Portland, OR 97232

• Llewellyn

• 6301 SE 14
  Portland, OR 97202

• Beverly Cleary/Fernwood

• 1915 NE 33rd Ave
  Portland, OR 97212

To sign up follow the links below:

Spring Break Registration for any questions please contact Childcare Registration at ccregistration@ymcacw.org or Stephanie Vera at svera@ymcacw.org

Looking to find more community within Woodlawn? The PTA wants to help restart affinity groups! Affinity groups are identity-based spaces where families with a shared background, experience or marginalized identity can connect in an inclusive and supportive environment. Some examples are Black, LGBTQ+, and Latinx affinity spaces. If you're interested, have ideas, or already have an informal gathering and would like better communication and support from the PTA and the school, please reach out to CéShaun Hankins, PTA Vice President, at woodlawnschoolpta@gmail.com Attention "Affinity Group".

Woodlawn Elementary School supports the Portland Public Schools (PPS) Clothing Closet. Our day to volunteer is coming up on Thursday, March 20th, from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, and we need 5-6 volunteers to help! Volunteers will assist students in selecting clothing and sort donations to ensure plenty of choices are available. Parents, grandparents, and community members are all welcome to help make a difference!

Last year, the Clothing Center provided essential items to nearly 1,400 PPS students, thanks to the incredible support of volunteers like you.

If you’re available, sign up here:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49AFA828A4FEC43-55038652-woodlawn

Please Note: The PPS Clothing Closet is located at Marshall High School Campus–3905 SE 91st, Room B-60.

Thank you for supporting our PPS students!