SES Messenger

Dear Sunnyside Community,

Whew! What a great first week. I was so excited to meet our new 6th grade students and our new kindergartners. In addition, we have some new students scattered throughout other grades as well. What a delight it is to welcome new families to our school.

As my own son enters his Senior year, I am reminded of all the new beginnings that each school year brings. It also goes way too fast and they grow up so quickly. As parents you get to witness your hearts walking around outside your bodies, growing up, growing older, and becoming who they eventually will be. We are privileged to be part of this process here at Sunnyside.

We only have two bells this year, one at 8:45 and one at 3:30. Please make sure that you drop your child off at 8:40 and please be here promptly at 3:15 for K-5 students, and have an after school plan starting at 3:30 for middle school students. We are so glad to be back!

Thank you.

Eryn

• Mon, Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
• Tue, Sep 3: First full day of Kindergarten
• Fri, Sept 6: PTSA Watermelon Social. 3pm-4pm
• Tues - Wed, Sept 17-18: School Picture Days.
• Fri, Sep 20: PTSA meeting: 8:45 - 10am.
• Sat, Sep 21, 11am-9pm: Dine out for SES: HOTLIPS Pizza on Hawthorne
• Wed, Sept 25: PPS early release day. School dismiss at 12:45
• Wed, Sept 25: SES Back to school night. 6pm-8pm

Is your child staying home? Sick or on vacation? You can call the office and report it on the attendance line OR use this online FORM. Please bookmark this form for ease.

Hello families,

Back to school packets have been handed out to teachers and will be making their way home in backpacks soon. Links to packets can be found here -

Elementary School

Middle School

Homework for caregivers - Please fill out and return the student medical form, walking field trip form and cell phone contract (for grades 5-8) as soon as possible.

• Join PTSA! Our first General Meeting is Friday, Sept. 20 at 8:45 a.m. Meetings are open to all and we’d love to see you there. Write to us at board@sesptsa.org with questions or to request an Agenda item.

• Get Involved! Come to our Watermelon Social on Friday, Sept. 6 on the playground after school. Learn about our events & committees, and meet people.

• Music! Field Studies! Garden! Please support our Back To School Ask. We cannot run these SES programs without financial support from families.

• Connect on Konstella! Use Konstella for parent directory, classroom announcements, event calendar, volunteer sign ups, parent interest groups like “carpool connections,” or “outdoors & hiking,” grade-specific meet ups and more.

Join us at SES PTSA’s version of an Involvement Fair, formerly known as “Popsicles on the Playground.” Come have a tasty watermelon treat (no plastic waste, no food dyes!), meet other parents, & learn more about the many events throughout the year and how to plug in. Friday, September 6 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Watermelon for all, provided by PTSA in partnership with Rubinette Produce!

Hey all, I'm Maia Hixon, fellow SES parent and this year’s Class Family Representative Coordinator. Each year, we ask that two adults share the role of Classroom Family Representative (aka Class Reps or Room Parents). Typical duties of this shared role include: Sending a simple, weekly Konstella message communicating classroom goings-on, liaising with teachers to make sure they have enough family support for class activities, and showing the love during Staff Appreciation Week. It’s an easy way to get to know both your kiddo’s teacher and classroom community better. (And if you’re new, I can teach you all you need to know!) Please reach out to me on Konstella if you’re interested or if you have any questions. Email is ok too: maiapaia@gmail.com. And know that all the teachers and the community at large will super appreciate it. Thanks!

We are thrilled to present this year’s partnership with Portland Drama Club! Students in this after school program will put on a fantastic musical, Alice in Wonderland.

If the cost is a barrier to your family, please apply for a full or partial scholarship. PDC offers up to 50% scholarships to those in need and the PTSA sells tickets and concessions each year to make full scholarships available for those who need them.

• To apply for up to a 50% scholarship fill out the PDC request form.

• To apply for a full scholarship apply for the 50% scholarship from PDC (above) AND also email fundraising@sesptsa.org.

Registration is now open and details about this wonderful 5th-8th grade experience can be found HERE! Spots are limited so grab yours while you still can!

Our amazing Nutrition Services staff, Christina, needs help at lunch. Sign up to volunteer a lot or a little HERE: bit.ly/SES-LUNCH-24-25. IMPORTANT: SES Volunteers must follow all PPS guidelines including check in procedures, safety, and background checks. Learn more and get verified: www.pps.net/volunteer.

There are so many amazing Eco initiatives involving SES students, staff, and parents - this new Volunteer role is perfect for folks who can wrangle, coordinate, and help execute. The primary need is to work with our students and teachers to promote waste reduction and sustainability efforts school-wide. May also help with: Bottle Recycling for SES, No Idling Campaigns, Tiny Forest projects, SES Sustainability Fair, School-wide Recycling Efforts, various garden projects, deeping partnerships with community entities like Ridwell, Repair PDX, etc…..sky’s the limit, but we need someone passionate about the Earth to take this by the reins! We’d love for a SES Team to attend Eco Schools Network fall trainings in October. Contact stephbarnhart1@gmail.com for more info or to join the committee.

Amazing Sunnyside Community,

Our health room is running low on changes of clothes for our littles and could use some donations. If you have any new or (gently) used, good condition undies, pants/shorts (soft/stretchy fabric, elastic waist preferred), socks in kids small or medium sizes that you no longer need, please drop them off in the front office and we would be so grateful.

Thank you!

Registration for fall after school enrichment activities is now open! These on-site classes will start right after school, extending after-care for enrolled students. This year’s fall offerings include Adventures in Spanish, Chess Club, DJ Aspen’s Workshop, Electronic Music Club, Lego Robotics, Yoga Playgrounds and Portland Drama Club. Full details and links can be found on the SES PTSA website at www.sesptsa.org/after-school-activities.

• Coming soon

• SES PTSA Back-to-School Ask

• 2024-2025 Attendance Form

• Sign up to support Christina at lunch
  

• Konstella - One stop shop for parent information (PTSA)
  

• Sunnyside School Page

• SES PTSA website | After school activities at SES

• SchoolPay | Remind

• Communicable disease protocol - AKA when should I keep my child home from school?

• MESD head lice resources and information