Dragon Tales

I want to start this week's newsletter with a huge thank you to our amazing PTSA! They have been hard at work helping raise money that directly benefits our students and teachers. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. They have also done a remarkable job of celebrating the hard work of our teachers and non-instructional staff through an amazing Staff Appreciation week and a lunch every Tuesday during the month of May. These little moments of recognition go a long way, especially during the busiest time of year.

As I shared in last week's newsletter, the next two weeks will be busy. Students will have final projects and assessments and teachers will be setting clear deadlines for the last day work can be turned in. Additionally, our 8th graders will working hard on their capstone projects. Please check in with your student about what upcoming work they have for their classes.

We have our last Late Start of the school year this coming Tuesday. On June 3rd, school will start at 9:30am. Doors for breakfast will open at 9:15am. Students not wanting breakfast can enter the main doors at 9:23am. The first bell will ring at 9:30am.

Congratulations on your accomplishment of helping your child get, stumble or swoosh to the promotion to high school! We are so proud and sad that this is happening. We are honored to have spent so many hours with your lovely children to see them flourish.

Things to know about the da Vinci Promotion:

When: Wednesday, June 11th, 2025

Where: Benson High School Auditorium. Walk in via entrance at the corner of NE 12th and NE Irving. Parking is on your own.

Time: 6pm-8pm, Students arrive to BHS the auditorium at 5:30pm and will leave straight out the street entrance with families once promoted.

What: You can bring flowers, no balloons or confetti allowed in the newly remodeled auditorium.

How many: 5 guests allowed per student (this is due to space limitations)

Students: Do not bring anything as there will not be a place to store your belongings.

We still need 6 to make it a full dozen.

Thank you to those who have volunteered to help with field day. It makes it so much more fun with family volunteers. Miss Heather, our climate specialist, still needs 6 or more volunteers to run activities. Some examples are: face painting, temporary tattoos, egg race, caterpillar race, sidewalk chalk, and otter pop snacks for snacks. If you are interested in helping it would be from 1:30-4:00 on June 12th.

Please email Heather at hnelson1@pps.net and say, "I want to be part of the field day dozen." Leave a phone number that she could reach you with and she will call and ask about what activity you would like to run.

The activities are fully stocked and organized. You just need to bring your positive outlook on life and sunscreen.

Say Cheese and order your copy of the 2024-2025 da Vinci Yearbook for your student. Not only does it contain the Photo Day pictures of all the students, it also has candid shots of the varying different events and productions that have shaped this fantastic school year! It's a favority activity for students to sign one anothers yearbooks on the last day of school.

Your donation will help cover the costs to produce the yearbooks and to ensure every student receives one of these to treasure! Funds raised beyond the production cost will be used for Yearbook Class materials and equipment to build the program.

The suggested donation amount is $20.00. Donate more or less, however you are able.

To celebrate their time at da Vinci Arts, before moving onto their respective high schools, we will be taking our 8th graders on a fun-filled day to Oaks Park on Thursday, June 5th this year!!

With less funds to help cover the cost of the admission ride bracelets and buses, we are requesting a $30 fee for each student. We want all students to attend. If you are able and feel led to sponsor other students to attend the event, your generosity is greatly appreciated! If this fee request poses a hardship please reach out to Jennifer to request accommodations (jehoward@pps.net).

Art will be displayed on the main floor and in the main gallery outside the main office. Writers will read from their chapbooks in room 204 at 5:30. Please come out and support our artists! Please consider bringing refreshments!

Notifications to students and families who are not eligible to attend Oaks Park and Field Day are being sent if a student becomes ineligible. As a reminder, all students would be eligible for these events by having less than 13 tardies between May 1st and the end of the year and by not attaining a Stage 2/3 referral during that time period.

The Junior Rose Parade is Wednesday, June 5th from 1-3pm. We will still need families to excuse their students, and to sign them out, to attend the parade. If you wish to have your student leave early, and on their own, please send written communication to BOTH jehoward@pps.net and sdibble@pps.net. Once students leave, they are not to return for the remainder of the day.

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 final screening for the year will be Out of My Mind on Saturday June 7th at Roosevelt High School. Please help us spread the word!

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)

• 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)

Summer Camps:

• OSU Summer Reading Program (Jun. 14 - Aug. 16, 2025)

• VIBE PDX Summer Art Camps, various locations & dates (Jun. 16 - Aug. 20)

• VIBE PDX Art in Motion: Animal Moves & Moods (Jun. 16-20, 23-27, Jul. 14-18)

• VIBE PDX Clarinet Camp (Jul. 7-11)

• Cognizart 360Arts Summer Camps (Jul. 7-11, 14-18, & 21-25, 2025)

• VIBE PDX East Winds Band Camp (Jul. 21-25)

• VIBE PDX East Winds Band Camp (Jul. 21-25, 2025, recorded audition due Jul. 10)