Bridlemile Friday Flyer

3/19: Early Release- School Day ends at 11:50am

3/24-28: SPRING BREAK!

4/4: Grading day, No students at school

4/7: Teacher Professional Development/Planning day, No students at school

4/10: S.T.E.A.M Night 6:00pm-7:30pm

Dear Bridlemile Families,

Portland Public Schools is experiencing a significant $40 million budget gap, and I wanted to share with you the impacts to our school’s staffing. 👉👉👉

In the past, Bridlemile Foundation’s fundraising went directly to supporting Bridlemile’s staffing needs. Below, I have shared the positions we were able to build back when we’ve had reductions in the past. While we continue to have Bridlemile Foundation, school foundations can no longer fundraise to support staffing needs.

Last year, The Fund for PPS launched the new districtwide model for fundraising for staffing. This is the only method to donate towards additional PPS staff positions (also commonly referred to as FTE/Full-Time Equivalent). Dollars raised for Champion PPS Schools will be allocated districtwide through a formula developed by the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC): Distribution of Donations for Staffing and approved by the PPS Board of Education. For more information, please visit the committee's webpage on pps.net.

As Superintendent Armstrong indicated, we are at the beginning of this budget process. I encourage you to write to our state legislators and advocate for the resources our schools need. I have shared the PPS Advocacy Toolkit as well.

Our focus remains on providing a joyful, safe and supportive learning environment for every student. Thank you for being part of our school family—I am grateful for your partnership and support.

Sincerely,
Katherine

khu@pps.net

971-202-8555

The Portland Public Schools Board of Education has approved next year’s 2025-26 District Calendar. Here is a short list of a few important dates:

• August 26, 2025: first day of class for most PPS students

• August 27, 2025: first day of class for students in grades 7-8 and 10-11 at comprehensive middle schools and high schools

• August 26-29, 2025: Kindergarten “Ramp Up”

• September 2, 2025: first day of class for Kindergarteners

• September 4, 2025: first day of class for PreK students

• December 22, 2025-January 2, 2026: Winter break

• March 23-27, 2026: Spring break

For more information, view the full 2025-26 calendar (available in all of our supported languages).

Come to Bridlemile’s open house night and have your Beagle show you around! Classrooms will display current S(cience)T(echnology)E(ngineering) A(rts) M(ath) projects. Visit throughout the school, meet staff, catch up with friends, enjoy a pizza dinner generously provided by PTA.

Ida B. Wells High School Physics students (some Bridlemile alums!) will host science exhibits at this event as well!

Beagles, get ready to show off your creativity and spirit! To lead us into spring break next week, we are hosting a schoolwide spirit week with the following themes:

💙 Monday: Pajama Day

💙 Tuesday: Wear your Favorite Color

💙 Wednesday: Sports Day

💙 Thursday: What do you want to be when you grow up?

💙 Friday: Bridlemile Gear or Bridlemile Colors Blue and Yellow

The 3rd grade ElectroSharks will be representing Bridlemile at the OBOB Region 4A Tournament on Saturday, March 15th. Good luck Everett, Hayes, Ronan, Sylvan, and Tyson! We are cheering for you!

Here are some Bridlemile Library facts!

The library has over 10,000 books in its collection...picture books, fiction, nonfiction, biographies and graphic novels. The average age of all the books is 20 years old- that's old for nonfiction! We are constantly adding and deleting books to try and get it as current as possible and filled with clean usable books our students want to read. We have 484 active patrons with 757 books currently checked out.

You can see what your student has checked out by having them log into pps.net and visit the Bridlemile website. Then choose Library from the menu bar and then Destiny Discover.

We have a NEW Book Wish List hosted by the book vendor, Bound to Stay Bound. You can search our Wish List or choose a family favorite to buy for the library. You even have the option to add a donor plate and donate a book in honor of a child's birthday, special occasion, or a staff member! All books will be shipped to our school processed and ready to be added to the shelves!

Visit https://www.btsb.com/sosl/bridlemileelementary or scan the QR code above! Thanks for supporting the library!

Interested in a volunteer spot? We are looking for a lunch line volunteer to support food service. It would be an hour, from 10:30am-11:30am, most likely helping serve food or help the line. You would check in with Ms. Shannon, our Nutrition Lead. Volunteers will need to have all PPS volunteer information completed. Schedules change and we understand: if you sign up and can no longer make it, please let Bridlemile office know. Please sign up at:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FABA828A0FAC34-51591454-lunch#/

Bridlemile Garden Newsletter- March 2025

We wanted to highlight that next month we have two Earth Day events to support Grow Portland - we hope you'll join us and spread the word :)

• Earth Day Celebration at Irvington School (1320 NE Brazee St, Portland, OR 97212) on Saturday April 19, from 11am-1pm. This is a free event open to everyone and will include refreshments, family-friendly nature crafts and time in the garden.

• McMenamins Chapel Pub is hosting a fundraiser for Grow Portland on Earth Day, April 22, 5-10pm! Come eat with us at Chapel Pub (430 N Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97217) and McMenamins will donate 50% of the proceeds to Grow Portland!

Thanks,

Djamila

--

Djamila Moore (she/her), MA Science Education

Education Director

This week’s PTA Newsletter includes details about:

• PTA Meeting (3/18)

• PPS Early Release (3/19)

• Freaky Friday Pre-Orders (due by 3/20)

• Ida B. Wells Youth Spring Flag Football (4/6-5/11)

• Pedalheads $25 Promo with $25 Giveback to Bridlemile

• D-Bat Spring Break Camps & Clinics (Grades 1-8)

• Saturday Academy’s Days Off STEAM Program (Grades K-5)

Read the newsletter here.

ROSES ARE RED

VIOLETS ARE BLUE

DID YOU GET YOUR PRE-ORDER IN YET?

JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER FOR YOU!

**LAST WEEK TO PRE-ORDER AT A DISCOUNT, GET YOUR ORDERS IN BY THURSDAY, MARCH 20TH**

T-Shirts

$15 for kids T-shirts

Wristbands

$20 for unlimited play on most carnival games and outdoor attractions

($25 for a wristband after 3/20)

*a few activities and treats require tickets

Tickets

$5 for 20 tickets

($10 for 20 tickets after 3/20)

No wristband No problem, tickets can be used for all games & activities

Order here: **Freaky Friday 2025** OR SCAN THE QR CODE

for ordering support & questions e-mail: freakyfriday@bridlemileschool.org

Items will be delivered to students April 14th or 15th

Bid for Bridlemile! Support Our School Community.

Our ONLINE Raffle is officially underway!

The Bridlemile Foundation’s Annual Auction has been a long-standing tradition that brings our community together to support our students and staff. Bid for Bridlemile- our ONLINE ONLY Auction will begin on April 8th, however the CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE Raffle is officially live. GET TICKETS HERE: https://auctria.events/bridlemile2025.

Starting April 8th: The online platform will feature a silent auction, raffle tickets, ‘paddle raise’/flat donation, classroom art projects, and Beagle Socials—all to benefit our school. Bid for Bridlemile will take place April 8–13.

As many of you know, the Foundation has previously helped fund staff positions, such as our academic interventionist, more hours for our second guidance counselor, and technology teacher.

However, new rules from Portland Public Schools (PPS) eliminate the Foundation’s ability to continue this support beyond the current school year. As a flexible nonprofit, the Foundation is able to pivot and respond to other pressing school needs, ensuring we continue to enhance the educational experience for our students.

This year’s Bid for Bridlemile auction proceeds will aim to fund Capital Improvements within the school and Technology Improvements, including 1:1 Chromebooks for K-2 students.

Bridlemile Elementary depends on the generosity of our community to provide programs and resources beyond what PPS can fund. In fact, Bridlemile is the third-lowest funded elementary school in the PPS district based on dollars per student (pg. 4-5 of PPS’s 2024-2025 Proposed Budget). Donations to the Foundation provide critical support to keep our school strong and our students thriving.

Thank you for your continued support of Bridlemile and we cannot wait for you to see all the amazing items we have in store for you!

• PCC Women’s Basketball Princess Ball Daddy Daughter Dance (Apr. 5)

• AFS Intercultural Programs: Host an Exchange Student

Questions, comments or feedback about this newsletter? Email us at

Bridlemile-Office@pps.net.