DOLPHIN DIGEST 5/17/2024
Community Newsletter by Arleta School & Arleta PTA
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WELCOME TO ARLETA'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!
We’re so glad to have you as part of our school community!
This weekly newsletter is developed and sent in partnership between school administration and the PTA. If you have information you'd like shared in the newsletter, please email it to ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com. Keep scrolling for the latest.
INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge Portland rests on traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla and many other Tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. #HonorNativeLand https://youtu.be/ETOhNzBsiKA
MAY IS AANHPI & MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- May: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage & Mental Health Awareness Month
- May 6-31: Successful Schools Survey
- May 23: Litter Clean Up, 8am, at the picnic tables
- May 23 & 24: Arleta Theater Presents: The Jungle Book - get your tickets now!
- May 27: NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day Holiday
- May 28-31: Spring Book Fair - volunteers needed
- May 30: Neurodivergent Family Social, 5:30pm, in the cafeteria
- May 31: Field Day for Students: volunteers needed
- Jun 6: Arleta Family Picnic, 5-7pm, Arleta Playground
- Jun 13: 5th Grade Family Party to Celebrate Promotion! 5-7 p.m.
- Jun 14: Last Day of School
- Jun 14: 5th grade Promotion Ceremony led by Arleta 5th Grade Staff, 8:15-9am & All School Clap Out, 2:15pm
*Litter Pick Up with the Green Team every 2nd Thursday at 2:15, and 4th Thursday at 8am at the picnic tables
Updated PPS District Calendars:
English language PPS District Calendar 2023-24
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
Hello Arleta Families,
Our staff is so filled up from all the sweetness and care last week! Here are some notes of appreciation for our community.
A simultaneous request! Everything you can do to get your child to school right before 8 (so they’re in class ready to start the school day by the 8:00 bell) and to help your child stay focused on school and learning is greatly appreciated! Across the grades, children get a little unsettled this time of year with looming changes to their schedules and circumstances, whether they’re changes that are looked forward to, changes there is some anxiety around, and/or everywhere in-between.
I hope as many families as possible are able to miss or make it quickly through the viruses going around. We’re all washing hands a lot but we’ve had lots of staff and student illness the past few weeks. Stay healthy!
For any absences that you can possibly avoid or postpone (appointments, vacation days etc.) -- I’ve heard a few teacher teams talking about the impact of student absences and tardies recently. When one or more students miss the concepts taught, the partner work begun or concluded, the work time on assignments, or even just when students come in late, finding a way to keep things going for students who were present and simultaneously catching students up is quite challenging. Everything you can do to have students here every day on time is so appreciated.
A reminder our Site Council self-nomination for parents and caregivers is open though Tuesday, May 28. Here is the link, and here is the link to the Dolphin Digest with more on Site Councils.
Have a great weekend!
Lisa
NEWS & EVENTS
GET YOUR TICKETS TO SEE THE JUNGLE BOOK - MAY 23 & 24
The Arleta Theater Club has been working hard on their spring performance, The Jungle Book! The student cast & crew (over 40 Arleta students!) are excited to present their work to our community on Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24 at 6pm. Doors to the school will open at 5:15, and the auditorium doors will open at 5:30pm. Concessions, flowers, and merchandise will be available for purchase.
Get your tickets today! https://arletapta.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true
Can't make it in person? Tune in for the live streaming and subscribe to the Arleta Theater Club YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ArletaTheaterClub/streams
NEW! ARLETA FAMILY PICNIC - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - JUNE 6
Time to party like it's the end of the school year!
Arleta Community,
You all are invited to Arleta's End of Year Picnic hosted by the PTA. Join us on Thursday, June 6th on the Arleta playground from 5pm to 7pm. There will be free food, shaved ice, bouncy houses, karaoke and more!
We need volunteer help to make this event happen, please sign up and bring the fun
There are many different volunteer options so read carefully and make sure you sign up for what suits you best. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4BA5A92FA2F58-49711030-endofthe#/
Calling Photographers! We would love to have a few people at events that can take photos to be used for next year's yearbook or PTA website. Please contact us if this sounds fun for you at ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com
We encourage you to bring chairs, blankets and refillable water bottles (there will be no single serve plastic water bottles available)
Please note, picnic food service will start at 5:15pm
NEW! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FIELD DAY - MAY 31
Field Day this year is scheduled for Friday, May 31. We will run grades 3 - 5 in the morning (before lunch) and grades K - 2 in the afternoon (after lunch). Kianne Williams (Physical Education Specialist) is running Field Day and needs volunteers for the morning from 8 - 11 and/or the afternoon from 12:00 - 2:30. *Morning volunteers are especially needed because some 5th graders will be helping out with the afternoon activities. Please fill out this form if you can volunteer: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wSOBgY8TiL5YzcvbwMxsKY5yXYu_xTn_xJC3J6J16aI/viewform?edit_requested=true. Don't forget, volunteers need to have a PPS background check on file.
BONUS! Volunteers will not only get to see their students being physically active in a variety of ways and displaying their good sportspersonship, but also get to see several teachers try their luck in the dunk tank!
UPDATED! SPRING BOOK FAIR - MAY 28-31 - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Our Spring Book Fair is approaching fast and we need volunteers to make it happen! With few librarian hours at Arleta this year, we need additional adult volunteers to pull off the book fair. Please check out the sign up and find a shift you can sign up for: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C4EAEA72AA0FC1-49455928-arleta#/
We can't do it without you! Email Ms. Street at tstreet@pps.net with questions.
NEW! EARLY KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION PROGRAM
The Early Kindergarten Transition (EKT) is a three-week summer program to help you and your child have a great start to school.
Students meet every morning.
Parents/caregivers meet twice a week
Child care for siblings available during parent/caregiver sessions.
Free breakfast and lunch, books, and school supplies
For questions, email Kindergarten@pps.net
Check it out: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Io9qAwy_Hnrks4Q5ObsL2dOcP8TcA4I6AdGSQNJGu4Q/edit#slide=id.g11528bb660e_0_34
Incoming kindergarten students must be enrolled in kindergarten at Arleta in order to apply for EKT.
NEW! YEARBOOKS ARE COMING!
NEW! WELCOME TO OUR 2024-2025 PTA BOARD!
On Tuesday, May 14, the PTA held their last meeting of the year and welcomed in our new board for the 2024-25 school year. Many thanks to our new and continuing board members for leading our fun events and activities, highlighting inclusion and diversity in all our work, celebrating our teachers and staff, fundraising, communicating, and generally supporting our wonderful school!
We'd also like to thank our outgoing Vice President, Erin Frank; Garden Club lead, Melissa Hugeback; Green Team lead, Tracy Hulleman; Events Leads, Leslie Nordella, Grace Kim and Jillian Sevick; and Fundraising Lead, Alison Harding. Your contributions this year have been significant, and we appreciate all the time and energy you put into making Arleta stronger than ever!!
It's not too late to get involved! We still need your help — The PTA is looking for a Green Team leader to help boost sustainable, eco-friendly efforts at the school. We could also use additional helping hands for Events, Fundraising, and Inclusion. Reach out to artletaschoolpta@gmail.com to connect!
NEW! SPECIAL THANKS TO OUTGOING PTA PRESIDENT, CARRIE BOWERS
Carrie Bowers has led the PTA as president for the last two years, and as co-president the two years before that. Carrie's last PTA meeting as president was on Tuesday, but her work isn't over! Carrie will be helping our new co-presidents with a smooth transition, and taking over as Fundraising Coordinator next year.
Carrie has volunteered 1000s of hours for Arleta and helped to lead our PTA through COVID, hybrid school, PPS SE Rebalancing, as well as build our board to be bigger than ever. Thank you Carrie for all you've done for Arleta! We're glad to have you for one more year!!
NEW! THANK YOU WALK+ROLL PARTICIPANTS
Thank you to all the students that walked and rolled to school on May 8! Walking, biking, skating and scooting to school is such a healthy way to start the day, and we want to encourage more of our families to use these modes of transportation whenever possible!
Here are the results of our Walk+Roll to School raffle:
1st Place for the Scooter is Agnes from Ms. Doyle's 4/5 class
2nd Place for the Bike Bell is River from Ms. Williams' 1st grade class
3rd Place for the cool stickers is Connor from Noah's 3rd grade class
UPDATED! 5TH GRADE PROMOTION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Calling anyone who loves and/or supports an Arleta 5th grader!
Planning for the 5th grade promotion is kicking off and we would like to send these amazing students out with style! Are you interested in helping plan this special celebration for our upcoming graduates? We could use your help! Please email Tracy at tehulla@gmail.com or Erin at erin@erinfrank.com to share any ideas, suggestions or interest in volunteering! Thank you!
Save the Dates!
5th Grade Celebration- 5th grade students and their families are invited to celebrate their upcoming graduation with food, music and activities on Thursday, June 13th from 5-7pm at Arleta in the cafeteria and outdoors in the field. Details Coming soon!
5th Grade Promotion Ceremony - Promotion Ceremony led by Arleta 5th Grade Staff, 8:15-9am & All School Clap Out, 2:15pm
NEURODIVERGENT FAMILY SOCIAL - MAY 30
We're excited for our neurodivergent community members to gather one last time before summer starts. We welcome fellow ND parents, guardians, and students. The group offers a safe space to talk, connect, and play. Come celebrate one another on Thursday, May 30th from 5:30-7pm in the cafeteria and playground. Waterplay, weather permitting. Pizza dinner will be provided!
FIRST GRADE PARADE - AN ARLETA TRADITION
The time-honored Arleta tradition known as the 1st Grade parade took place last Friday!
Royal Rosarians from the Portland Rose Festival and the Kellogg Middle School Band joined the procession of 1st graders walking their floats among the throngs of students, staff and families members cheering them on!
Thank you to our 1st grade teachers, Ms. Williams and Teacher Katherine, as well as the caregivers who volunteered their time to make this a fun and meaningful event!
UPDATED! SUPPORT MS. BIDNEY'S DONORSCHOOSE PROJECT
Mr. Cooke's Donorschoose project was funded in record time, now let's help Ms. Bidney's project get funded! Ms. Bidney is requesting support for a new DonorsChoose project: "Books, Pencils, and other Stuff - Help me give my students books, pencils, pencil sharpeners, hooks for headphones, and pretty paper."
Check out the project here:: https://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?school=88261
NEW! TEACHER LEVY RENEWAL IS ON YOUR MAY BALLOT
The Teacher Levy Measure 26-246 is on your May ballot. This levy supports important local school funding: if it doesn’t pass we lose 650 PPS teaching positions, including 5 at Arleta, in the fall. Ballots are due May 21!
- Preserves Over 650 Teaching Positions
- Maintains Current Levy Tax Rate – 0% Increase
- Funds Teaching Positions - Not Administration
NEW! ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION FUNDING
On Tuesday, a new organization called Families for Equity in Schools held a town hall for parents, educators and others to meet with legislators and candidates to talk about the importance of fully funded schools. There was a great turnout, and some recommended quick actions that we can all take to increase advocacy for school funding. Check out the actions you can take to support fully funded schools.
TAKE THE SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL SURVEY THROUGH MAY 31
The Successful Schools Survey is an opportunity for students, staff, and families to provide important feedback on their school environments, learning experiences, and sense of well-being and safety at school.
The survey is conducted once every school year to provide timely information to schools, district leadership, and the community, allowing us to make informed decisions about school climate and culture. This year, the survey window is open May 6-31.
You can complete the Successful Schools Survey online using the link provided below. Please complete one survey per household. If you have more than one student at PPS, we ask that you complete the survey considering the experiences of your eldest child.
The survey will take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Somali, Vietnamese and Chinese.
https://surveys.panoramaed.com/portlandor/familyspring24/surveys
For more information about the Successful Schools Survey, please go to pps.net/sss2024.
UPDATED! SEEKING READER BOARD SUPPORT FOR NEXT YEAR
A wonderful parent volunteer has stepped up to help with the newsletter next year, and then lead it in 2025-26 - thank you Katy Liljeholm!
We are still looking for someone who can help change the reader board, or take it over completely next year. This would be great for a grown to do right after drop off, right before pick up, or anytime they have availability. Check off "Change a Reader Board" from your bucket list and sign up for this fun gig! If you're interested in learning more, please email melissasircy@gmail.com
GARDEN OPPORTUNITIES
VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED!
The Arleta Garden Team is seeking a few PARENT VOLUNTEERS to help assist with the SCHOOL GARDEN through the spring. We need helpers with availability any TUESDAYS in April and May, during school hours, to help support our student groups as we lead them through hands-on experience in the school garden. Volunteers must have a background check completed. Let us know if you need assistance with this.
Please reach out to Adinah D’Andrea or Melissa Hugeback with questions and for scheduling.
HOST AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT THIS SUMMER
Bring the world home this summer: Host an international student for 2-4 weeks! A local nonprofit is seeking hosts for Japanese high school students (7/11-25) and college students from various countries (8/11-31, 8/18-9/7, 8/18-9/14). Hosting an international student is a great way to make international friends, learn about a new culture, and have fun! Students will have weekday classes and activities at PSU (commuting on public transit) and look forward to spending evenings and weekends experiencing American culture and practicing their English with their host. Hosts receive orientation materials, 24/7 support, and a small stipend. ACES is a PNW nonprofit that has been connecting families and students since 1995. Learn more at acescollegehomestay.org or apply online. Follow ACES on Instagram or Facebook. Questions? Contact emily@exploretheworld.org or (503) 673-6898.
SUMMER CAMP RESOURCES
Summer Acceleration Academy has decided to use Arleta as a summer site hub. This will include Arleta students and 3 other PPS schools, due to those sites being closed for construction/repair this summer. Unfortunately, because of the lack of space, SUN will not be able to offer summer programming.
Other options: here is a link for all other summer programming being offered through Portland Parks
PPR Registration opens 5/16/24 for sessions 6/26-7/28
PPR Registration opens 6/21/24 for sessions 7/31-8/25
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED DURING LUNCH & RECESS
An updated sign up sheet for lunch volunteers is available! We are looking for two volunteers each day from 10:45am to 12:30pm to help monitor the playground and assist in the lunch room. This is a fun way to get to know the students and staff! Can you commit to one day a week, or an occasional lunch time?
Check out the sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4BA5A92FA2F58-47051724-lunch
MIDDLE SCHOOL TRANSITION RESOURCES
Here are some helpful resources for our rising 6th graders and families to prepare for middle school. These resources will be updated frequently, so please check back in weekly!
Families should have received communication from the PPS Enrollment and Transfer office regarding your student's assigned middle school. Below is information about 5th grade visits, school tours, and other transition resources provided by each school.
Kellogg Middle School: Kellogg 6th Grade Rising Visit
Concluded Thursday, April 11, 2024
Lane Middle School:
6th Grade Rising Visits: Concluded Thursday, April 11, 2024
Individual Family Tours: June, TBD
Hosford Middle School "Fly Up Events:"
Back to School Picnic (TBD): Meet with students and families before school starts
Jumpstart Day (TBD): Start middle school with a day for 6th grade only
Please reach out to Hosford 6th grade counselor Sahjo Brown (sbrown3@pps.net) if you would like to learn more about these events!"
Harrison Park Middle School: Info to come soon
Feel free to reach out to Ms. Aud who will be supporting 5th graders in the spring with preparing for middle school. If you have any questions related to your child's school assignment, please reach out to the Enrollment and Transfer Office.
SUN NEWS & RESOURCES
SUN IS LOOKING FOR CHILDREN'S SHOE DONATIONS
The SUN Clothing Closet is looking for children's shoe donations! The sizes we need the most are Little Kid (4 to 8 years) and Big Kid (8-12 years). Please drop off donations any time after school on Wednesdays and Fridays in Room 4. Feel free to contact Kylie Halland at kylie.halland@portlandoregon.gov or at (503) 260-0507 for any questions.
UPDATED HOURS FOR SUN CLOTHING CLOSET AND FOOD PANTRY
The SUN Clothing Closet and Food Pantry is open Tuesdays, 12:45pm-7:15pm; Wednesdays, 1:30pm-7:30pm; and Fridays, 10:00am-5:00pm. Email kylie.halland@portlandoregon.gov or raina.bilbrew@portlandoregon.gov to check other availability.
EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT ARLETA PTA
JOIN THE PTA FOR FREE
We'd love to invite everyone in the Arleta community to become a PTA member for free! Joining the PTA is a great way to connect with others, support projects and programs that support our students, and amplifies your voice in issues that impact our school.
Signing up only takes a couple minutes - https://arletapta.memberhub.com/store (one free membership per household, additional memberships are $10)
ARLETA SPIRIT WEAR AVAILABLE ONLINE 24/7
Get your Arleta spirit wear! Shop online 24/7 and have your items shipped to your home anytime! There are t-shirts, hoodies, tanks, mugs, and more. Check out the online store here: https://arletaschool.threadless.com/
PTA IS COLLECTING BOTTLES & CANS
ARLETA YARD SIGNS AVAILABLE!
LINK YOUR FRED MEYER REWARDS CARD TO SUPPORT ARLETA
Arleta PTA participates in the Fred Meyer Community Rewards
By linking your Fred Meyer Rewards card to the Arleta PTA and scanning your rewards card when you shop, a percentage of your purchase goes to the PTA. Sign up here. (And you'll still get your cash back rewards!)
PPS & COMMUNITY RESOURCES
COMMUNITY FLYERS
- City of Portland 311 Non-Emergency Hotline
COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
Preschool Programs:
Multnomah Early Childhood Program Peer Preschool Classes
(Spanish) (Vietnamese) (Chinese) (Russian) (Somali) (Korean) (Arabic) (Persian)Portland Parks Preschool 2024-25
STAY CONNECTED
Email: ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Website: arletapta.org
Location: 5109 SE 66th Avenue
Phone: 503-916-6330
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArletaElementaryK5