The Sabin Star

As we approach the winter holidays, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible growth we've witnessed in our students this year. From the excitement in the classroom to the curiosity and creativity in the arts, it's clear that our students are thriving. Each day, they show us what it means to be curious, resilient, and kind—traits that will serve them well both in school and in life.

This season is also a time to celebrate the strength of our community. Our school family—students, staff, and families—continues to grow stronger together. Whether through collaboration in the classroom, the support of our wonderful parent volunteers, or the shared joy in our school events, the love and care we have for one another are what truly make Sabin a special place.

As we look ahead to the new year, I am filled with optimism for what the future holds. We remain deeply committed to fostering an environment where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed—where equity is not just an ideal, but a practice woven into the fabric of everything we do. We believe that joy is an essential part of the learning process, and we will continue to create spaces where our students can explore, dream, and thrive with a sense of wonder.

On behalf of the entire Sabin staff, I wish each of you a restful, joyful, and peaceful holiday season. May this time be one of warmth and connection, and may we all return in the new year ready to continue our journey of growth, collaboration, and learning.

With gratitude and joy,

Michael Diltz

Proud Principal

We absolutely love the presence and brilliance of your students each day. Thank you for entrusting them to our care. We would like to share a few mathematical facts with you. Over the course of the year:

• A pickup from school 15 minutes early once a week results in an equivalent of 3 lost learning days at school for students,
• An arrival to school 15 minutes early once a week without an adult present results in the equivalent of a full lost work day for the staff member who has to then supervise them off of the clock.
• A teacher who receives a phone call consistently during a school day results in one lost learning day for students, or prep time for teachers. (Ask any teacher - prep time is comparable to gold!)
• A student calling a parent from the office once a week for a forgotten water bottle, lunch, jacket, etc. results in 3 lost learning days at school. Consider: They have to leave class, reach you, and either wait for you or leave class again when you arrive.
• A late pickup once a week, if our data continues to trend, results in anywhere from 3 days to 6 days of lost work time for staff.

Your principals understand, as parents of PPS students ourselves. We would like to help you develop routines to maximize learning time for your student and work time for the staff who love them. Please keep the following points in mind henceforth:

• First bell is at 7:55am, and the second bell is at 8:00am. There is no outside supervision in the morning. There are also no students in the building before 7:45am. Teachers must have their time to prepare all the wonderful things your child will do for the day, let's protect this time by not bringing children inside early. Students who wish to eat breakfast may go to the cafeteria at 7:45am eat, and then go back out to line up with their class.
• School is out at 2:30 PM. Learning is happening in our school literally from bell to bell, in each and every class! It is a joy to see. Please do not pick up your child from school between the hours of 1:30 and 2:30 out of convenience. We understand the trickiness of scheduling appointments and other obligations, yet we will do this to maintain learning time for students, and work/break times for our hardworking office staff. If it is not a true emergency, we will not be calling your child out of class.
• If your child forgets their water bottle, we have brand new spares! If they forget their jacket and it is cold, we have a robust clothing closet with plenty clean, sturdy clothes, hoodies, and jackets. If your child forgets lunch, the cafeteria selection is fresh, colorful, high variety, caters to special dietary needs, and delicious. Especially pizza day. If your child forgets a library book or homework, they will remember to bring it next time. Again, as your principals are parents of multiple kids and are teachers ourselves, we know that solving every small problem robs children of resilience, problem solving, self-management, and natural learning. We will not accept forgotten items unless they are medically necessary or an arrangement has been made with the office. They will still eat, drink, play, be warm, and be loved - and learn!
• We love communication with teachers, as you are your child's best resource and advocate. Even if you feel fussy - please reach out and fuss! We will listen. However, teachers are contractually granted 24 hours notice of a requested meeting or visit. Please schedule your discussion times with teachers whenever possible. As for administrators, emailing us is the best way to reach us. We may not respond instantly, but we will. We have your back!
• Please make your pickup arrangements prior to your child's attendance, and be sure everyone who is involved knows them. Teachers' student duties end at 2:40, and office staff are doing clerical work. Principals are typically in the meetings we can't conduct during the day due to having so much fun and JOY with your students! If you are going to consistently be early or late, please make arrangement

Again, we understand emergencies and unforeseen circumstances, but let's work together to curb the school disruptions that occur due to planning, communication, or convenience needs. We are partners and will help you in any way if circumstances are extenuating. As always, reach out to us at mdiltz@pps.net, kvawter@pps.net, lmartin@pps.net, hmaharry@pps.net, or ajablonski@pps.net. Thank you for your cooperation as we seek to give the MOST to your child's learning experience at Sabin.

Sincerely,

Sabin Administrative and Office Staff

Michael Diltz - Principal

Katy Vawter - Assistant Principal

Lori Martin - Principal Admin Assistant

Heather Maharry - School Admin Assistant

Anna Jablonski- School Counselor

As we head into the colder months, be prepared for winter weather.

Find out about closures and delays:

• PPS will send text alerts to families, students and PPS staff who have opted in to receive SMS text alerts on their cell phones. If you are a parent or guardian, a student or a PPS staff member, you can opt in to receive texts by texting YES to 68453.
• An automated phone call is sent to affected families.
• The District has a Twitter feed to relay closure, delay and emergency information. Follow @PPSConnect.
• Information also is posted on the PPS website and submitted to the media.
• Snow routes and alternative stops will be called for AM or PM or both depending upon the road conditions or weather forecast. Additional District announcements could come out throughout the day as the weather is monitored.

Delays and closures: The District has two options in the event of bad weather; Delay school openings for two hours or close the schools altogether. Before deciding which to do, District officials consult with local meteorologists, city transportation officials and PPS transportation staff in the field.

Late Start: If a two hour late start decision is implemented and for example your bell time is 8:00 AM, your scheduled late start time would be 10:00 AM.

Individual school decisions: The District may close or delay schools at higher elevations while keeping schools at lower elevations open. For example, Skyline, West Sylvan and Forest Park might open two hours late with all other schools opening on time.

Makeup days: The Board of Education has built into the calendar up to five replacement days in the event of school closures.

What do you do in case of an emergency?

Sabin has regular practice sessions and emergency drills in case of emergency situations, so students and staff will know what to do. In the event of an emergency, you can follow district plans by downloading the Emergency Management app, My EOP.

Emergency planning at home:

The district encourages all staff and student families to have a family plan in place in case of emergencies.

Dear Elementary and K-8 Families, Please note an important change to our attendance process. To enhance our focus on student safety, automated attendance calls through Remind will now begin at 9:30 AM instead of 10:30 AM. To avoid receiving a call, please report your child's absence to the school before 9:15 AM. Thank you for your cooperation. -PPS

Dear PPS Middle Grades families,

PPS is moving to a new Standards-Based Grading System for all 28 middle schools. The purpose is to provide clearer and more meaningful feedback to students. Some of our middle schools are already using this approach, and research supports its benefits. Our K-5 schools have also made progress in this direction with their report cards.

We invite you to visit our middle grades Standards-Based Grading website at pps.net/sbg. There, you can find updates, resources, timelines, materials, and FAQs.

Family and Community engagement (Virtual and in person)

February 13, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

March 13, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

May 8, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

There will be three family and community engagement events in person and virtually at the Prophet Education Center (501 N. Dixon St.) in the PPS boardroom. We invite all who have current middle grades students or students entering into the middle grades to these presentations where we will provide updates as well as listen to feedback and answer questions.

We believe grades are an important way to communicate with students and families. This new system will make it clearer what students need to do to meet academic expectations.

If you have any questions, please contact Richard Smith at rsmith5@pps.net. Check the website often for updates. We look forward to working with you during this exciting transition.

--

Join the PPS Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)!

Parents and Students: We need YOU to be part of a new committee that will help lead the distribution of philanthropic dollars raised through The Fund for PPS.

We are excited to announce the formation of the PPS Board of Education’s new Parent Advisory Committee (PAC): Distribution of Donations for Staffing. There is just over $1 million to allocate for the 2025-2026 school year, and we need representatives from all PPS clusters to serve on the committee plus two high school students.

Apply before Dec. 21: You can learn more and apply at https://www.pps.net/Page/22782. Thank you!

Deadline extended to December 16th!

The Successful Schools Survey gathers student, staff, and family feedback

Please take the survey and give us useful feedback for improving our school practices. We'd love to know what is working well, as well as areas for revision or improvement.

Español | Tiếng Việt | 中文 | Русский | Soomaali

Did you know about our family math tool?

PPS features the i‑Ready Classroom Mathematics Family Center

• Purpose: Provides resources for families to support and encourage their child’s mathematical success

• When to Use It: Families can access the website at any time throughout the year.

• Where to Find It: ReadyClassroomCentral.com/FamilyCenter

Check it out today for information on what your student is learning.

December Talking Circle newsletter

The Talking Circle newsletter from the Indian Education program is out for December. You may view it out at the link provided. If you believe your student may qualify for Indian Education, check out the department here.

Vaccines play a crucial role in protecting our students from serious illnesses and help keep our community safe. Parents/ Guardians of students who are due to receive vaccines should receive a letter in the mail. Please check if your child’s vaccinations are current, including their recommended flu shot, and contact your medical provider or any of the resources listed below.

Multnomah County Student Health Centers

OHSU Wellness Center

Multnomah County Vaccination Clinic (English)

Clínica Comunitaria de Vacunación Gratuita (Spanish)

Student Health Center Winter Break 2024

Need healthcare while schools are closed for Winter Break?

The Parkrose Student Health Center will be providing primary and mental health care services from 8:45 am to 4:45 pm Monday through Friday Dec. 23 through Jan. 3 (except closed on Christmas Day Wednesday Dec. 25 and on New Year's Day Wednesday Jan. 1, 20204). We see all youth ages 5-18 who live or go to school in Multnomah County. You don't have to attend Parkrose High School to receive services. Call 503-988-3392 to schedule an appointment. All other Student Health Centers will be closed.

~

Student Health Center Vacaciones de invierno 2024

¿Necesita servicios de atención médica durante las vacaciones de invierno?

El Student Health Center de Parkrose High School estará abierto de lunes a viernes, del 23 de diciembre al 1 de enero, para todos los servicios de atención médica (a excepción del día de Navidad, miércoles 25 de diciembre, y el miércoles 1ero de enero, estaremos cerrados). Abierto a todos los jóvenes del Multnomah County de 5 a 18 años. Sin ningun costo para usted. Lo veremos con o sin seguro médico. Llame al 503-988-3392 para hacer una cita. Todos los demás Student Health Centers cerrados.

The winter holidays are a time to share with family and friends. Chances are good you have a lot of activities planned together, and maybe even will host guests at your house overnight.

Not all of your guests may know much about Autism. If that is the case, you may sometimes run into clashes between your family’s expectations and your Autistic child’s needs or behaviors. Below are some tips that can help you prevent or navigate those clashes.

1. Have a clear schedule prepared in advance

The holidays bring disruptions in routines, as does the presence of guests. You can try to mitigate the effects of those disruptions by making sure that you have a clear, concrete schedule for the holidays.

Try to get that schedule ready weeks ahead of time, and ensure that everybody is on the same page and has time to prepare. You can also politely ask your guests to try and stick with the schedule, rather than improvising a lot once they arrive.

2. Alert guests to sensory challenges

During the holidays, we delight in the sights, sounds, flavors and scents of the season. But some of those sensory experiences may be overwhelming to your child. For example, some Autistic children may be overwhelmed by bright, flashing lights, or by scented candles or certain foods.

Telling guests about these challenges in advance gives them the opportunity to avoid unnecessarily triggering your Autistic child with overwhelming sensations. They might, for instance, decide to bring a different food, or skip gifting everyone scented candles.

3. Explain your child’s personal boundaries

If your child has a hard time with certain aspects of social interaction, you can help them set boundaries with your relatives.

Maybe your child does not do well with eye contact, or has extreme touch sensitivity. You can explain to relatives before they come over that if your child is not looking them in the eye, it is not personal; they just cannot handle eye contact. Or, you can ask them to refrain from hugging your child, if your child feels overwhelmed by hugs.

You can explain that there are alternative ways to show affection, and share examples of some of your child’s preferences.

4. Discuss communication differences

If there are differences in how your child communicates that your neurotypical relatives might be confused by, explaining them in advance could help manage their expectations.

For instance, if your child tends to be very direct, your relatives might assume they are being rude. But if you explain that is not their intention, your relatives may be less likely to take offense at something your child says.

5. Do not allow relatives to tell you how to parent your child

Hopefully, your relatives and friends will be understanding and supportive of your family, including the accommodations you make for your Autistic child.

In some cases though, people who do not understand can become rude, and attempt to tell you how to parent your own child (i.e. telling you that a meltdown is “just a temper tantrum,” and to “put your foot down about it”).

You do not need to put up with this type of behavior, much less indulge it. Social pressures in some families can get to be intense during the holidays. That is especially the case if it comes from your own parents. But it is okay to flat-out tell your relatives in these cases that they do not understand the situation, and that you will parent your child as you deem appropriate.

6. Advocate for your Autistic child

When setting expectations and maintaining boundaries during the winter holidays, remember that your Autistic child may not be able to advocate for themselves, especially if they are very young.

As their parent, you may need to be the one to stand up for their needs, and ensure that they get to enjoy the holidays as much as their neurotypical relatives.

While it will involve some extra work, it will pay off. Your extended family will come away with a better understanding of Autism, and you will have increased your bond with your Autistic child.

Dinner and reading at the base of Mt. Readmore!

Food will be provided.

Wednesday, Jan 22 from 5:30-7:30pm

Check out the PTA Mt. Readmore page to learn more about the event! https://www.sabinpta.com/mt-readmore

Calculating the temperature, time for correct release date.

Would you like to contribute to Sabin school, but are short on time to volunteer? Consider purchasing an item for delivery from the Sabin ES Amazon Wish List! This is a list of frequently necessary items - snacks, clothing, and health items - that are in high demand at school. (We are currently very short on larger clothing sizes for grades 4 & 5 who need a change of clothes.)

Thanks for supporting our Sabin Stars.

Find the latest 5th grade Newsletter here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o48o4ICqXNQzzL7vo06l5grZswvgb22Q2P9oB85BM0g/edit?tab=t.0

5th grade Socratic Seminar

Biking to school!

Find Ms. Cahill's latest Newsletter here: https://sites.google.com/pps.net/mscahillsfourthgrade/home

Parents of 3rd Grade Boys-

We are seeking to start a Sabin Stars basketball team for 3rd grade boys through Portland Parks and Recreation Golden Ball league and wanted to send out a notice for anyone interested. All the information on Golden Ball can be found here: https://www.portland.gov/parks/sports/goldenball

Basics of the league/season:

Seven games played on Saturdays, January 18 through March 1, 2025. The league is divided into two halves, the first 3 weeks, followed by a realignment if necessary, and no break between halves. Games are played at various Portland Public Schools and Parks Community Centers. Game sites may vary from the first half to the second half.

I have submitted the paperwork to register the team with Portland Parks and Recreation but there is no guarantee of us getting a team in Goldenball if there are too many teams. We should be notified by the PP&R around the end of November. If we are lucky we will be able to practice at Sabin.

Next steps and Cost:

We already have 5 students interested in playing and at least two other parents interested in helping coach. We are seeking a total of 10 players on a first-come, first serve basis. If we have more than 10 total we may want to start a second team so that kids can all get playing time.

I was a coach of my daughter’s team at Sabin for a few years and found the league and overall experience to be great for the kids and enjoyable as a parent.

There is a cost of $450/team for the season along with cost of basic jerseys but don’t want cost to be an impediment to joining the team for any kid. Please reach out if you have any questions about the fees or waiving the cost.

Sabin Stars Basketball is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all its educational and employment activities. The District prohibits discrimination based on perceived or actual race; national or ethnic origin; color; sex; religion; age; sexual orientation; gender expression or identity; pregnancy; marital status; veteran’s status; familial status; economic status or source of income; mental or physical disability or perceived disability; or military service.

Please text, call or email me if you are interested or have any questions at (503) 307-1137 or dmoryc@americanrivers.org.

David Moryc

Father of Felix Moryc,

Mrs. Ward’s 3rd Grade Class

• What makes you happy?
• If you could change one thing in the world to make it a better place what would you choose?
• If you were a creature of the sea what would you be and why?

JAN 6th - First day back from Winter Break

JAN 8th - Welcome Back Dance 6pm - 7pm

JAN 13 - Dine out for Sabin @ Steeplejack

JAN 22 - Mt. Readmore Kickoff

Please send any content you would like included to jvillanuevavillarrea@pps.net