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DEMOS PTSA NEWS
March 2023
What's Happening in March
1/2 - Student FLEX Days
8 - PTSA Meeting, 6:30-8:00pm
8/9 - Student FLEX Days
13 - Senior Celebration Planning Meeting
15 - Site Council
22 - SAT for Juniors
23 - Jefferson Modernization Design Open House, 5-7pm
27-31 - SPRING BREAK (no school)
COMING UP IN APRIL:
BottleDrop Earth Day Give, April 10-22
START SAVING YOUR CANS AND BOTTLES
March PTSA Meeting - HYBRID
At 6:15 we will have some snacks and drinks an opportunity to socialize before the meeting begins at 6:30pm. Come and see what we do and meet other community members.
Everyone is welcome!
This will be a hybrid event. If you would like to join through Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82770408063?pwd=cTBKam5DYUIxaVdpNUREVERFKzNmZz09
Wednesday, Mar 8, 2023, 06:30 PM
Jefferson High School in the CommUnity Room/Blazer Room
Principal Shelton Joins Forces with Jefferson PTSA
Principal Shelton is attending the monthly PTSA meetings and a portion of the meeting is dedicated to Principal Shelton sharing valuable information about what is happening at Jefferson and answering community questions. We are super excited to have him!
At our February meeting . . .
We talked about how to modernize our payment methods for concessions and gear and explore platforms like Venmo.
The rest of the meeting was regular business. Principal Shelton was not able to attend this month's meeting so we don't have a principal's report.
Ww held a Senior Celebration planning meeting following the general meeting.
Coming up in our March Meeting . . .
- Have our fabulous Principal Shelton share what's happening at Jefferson
- Vote on Co-President board position
- Review Teacher Grant Request
- Senior Celebration report back
- Share volunteer opportunities
HOODIE DRIVE
This spring, we would like to host a hoodie drive. We are looking for new and gently used hoodies, zipper sweatshirts, light jackets, and waterproof jackets to keep our students warm and dry this spring. We are accepting donations through March 17th. We will distribute the hoodies and jackets throughout the week of March 20th.
Drop off donations to the main office or student services office at Jefferson.
THANK YOU!
Seeking Alumni for Jefferson Legends Event
Ms. Morlock, Jefferson Librarian, is working on the Jefferson Legacy Project with Ms. Bulow and her US History classes. Part of the unit is having students interview Jefferson alumni on their Jefferson experience. They are looking to recruit at least 25 alumni for the project who are willing to come to Jeff (or meet over Zoom) to be interviewed and recorded. We will add these interviews to the Jefferson Archives along with interviews the last time (pre-Covid) we were able to do the project.
Please feel free to share this with any alum you know.
Thank you!
PTA Clothing Closet, March 6th
More information about this volunteer opportunity:
Please Contact Georgie or Laura: board@demosptsa.org
Jefferson Modernization Info
JHS Design Advisory Group
The Jefferson High School Design Advisory Group will meet about every 6 weeks for approximately 6 months and will include members representing students, teachers, alumni, industry professionals, parents, school programs, potential site and/or capital partners, school administration and a school board representative. This group will be involved in developing the design of the modernized Jefferson High School by providing feedback on design details and options proposed by the project team.
Design Open House
Thursday, March 23rd from 5pm - 7pm
in the Jefferson Cafeteria
For more information, PPS Modernization Website:
Senior Celebration June 2023
Next planning is March 13th at 7:00pm. It will be a virtual meeting. The link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82049710069?pwd=aTY1VG50Z1RFSEYvUWpHNmZWQzZ1Zz09
If you are interested in being involved email: Laura.bullock@demosptsa.org
Get your Demo Gear Here!
We've got a variety of short and long sleeve t-shirts and hoodies.
NEW: Black crewneck sweatshirt and a cute $10 gold t-shirt. We also have many options in an Alumni version.
Check out our online store, link below.
Library Book Drive Continues!
The Jefferson Library received several more books in February.
Thank you for your donations!!
Let's keep it going. Check out the 'button' below for the wishlist.
In December, we held a book drive for the Jefferson library. Ms. Morlock created a pretty awesome book wishlist on Amazon that folks could use to purchase books for the library. The library now has 12 more books to offer students! Twelve isn't a lot but, hey, it is 12 more books than the library had before. Thanks to everyone who donated!
The list of books is in an Amazon wishlist which makes it very convenient for you. However, you can also buy these books locally if you prefer. You can mark the book purchased on the wishlist even if you buy it somewhere else. Another option is gently used books. Maybe you have one or two of these books at home and you would like to gift them to Jefferson.
If you order a book, you can even have it delivered to the school address, attention Ms. Morlock. Or you are welcome to drop it off in the main office.
Link in button below and QR code access to book wishlist. THANK YOU!
Become a Jefferson PTSA Member
All are welcome: parents, care givers, students, staff, alumni, community members. We have tons of opportunities, big and small, to support our students, staff and community!
Standard membership dues are $12.50. Sliding Scale and membership scholarships are also available.
Members must renew their membership every year.
Getting Involved
Here are some descriptions of things we do and ways you can get involved.
PROM
In May, help with set up, chaperoning and clean up. More info to come.
PORTLAND COUNCIL PTA CLOTHING CLOSET
March 6th, 9:30am-1:30pm at Benson HS, currently at the Marshall HS campus. Looking for 5-6 volunteers.
FOOD PANTRY
Every Friday. There is set up, distributing and clean up. The time range is 11:00-3:00 or so. We could use help for all or part of this block of time. This is a very rewarding volunteer opportunity.
STAFF APPRECIATION
Organizing, helping, donate items to staff appreciation events throughout the school year.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Many of the things on this list are a part of Community Engagement like social media, the food pantry, volunteering and the newsletter. In addition, there's membership and guest speakers at meetings and seeking input from the community about what folks want from their PTSA.
BOTTLE DROP FUNDRAISER
Looking for a person or two to oversee this on-going fundraiser. Responsibilities include promoting the fundraiser, periodically ordering and restocking blue bags, coordinating getting blue bags to folks, sometimes picking bags of cans from folks and dropping them off at Bottledrop (although many people drop off their own bags) and coordinating/promoting the fundraisers: Holiday Give in the fall and Earthday Give in the spring where Oregon Bottledrop contributes additional $ for cans collected for a period of time in April.
JEFFERSON SAFETY COMMITTEE
We are looking for a parent representative for the monthly safety meetings, the first Friday of each month. They are held at Jefferson and led by Vice Principal Gregory.
NEWSLETTER
Edit, contribute, manage, and/or collaborate on PTSA monthly newsletter. We are using the platform Smore currently, to create our newsletter.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Manage Facebook page, posting info and events throughout the year. Responding to occasional messages that are sent to our FB page.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATING
Organize information from volunteer surveys. Send out emails seeking volunteers for specific events throughout the year. Help get volunteers signed up for specific events, tasks.
FUNDRAISING
We fundraise through concessions, gear sales, volunteering at events in exchange for a donation to the PTSA, direct donations, restaurants hosting 'Jefferson PTSA' night where a percentage of proceeds go to the PTSA and grant writing. We are always looking for new fundraising opportunities. We are looking for ideas and help with any of these fundraisers.
SENIOR CELEBRATION PLANNING
Help the Senior Celebration Committee plan the event, solicit donations and sponsorships, pick up donations, organize the raffle, plan activities, meet with committee. We start gathering the committee together in November and December and really get planning by January.
TECH SUPPORT
Helping out with the PTSA website, the PTSA online store and the PTSA Google Workspace.
VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM LINK IS BELOW.
Or email: board@demosptsa.org
BOTTLEDROP for Jefferson PTSA
Donate your cans and bottle to the Jefferson PTSA all year long. Get one of our Blue Bags, fill it up and either bring it to us or drop it off at a Bottle Drop location, https://www.bottledropcenters.com/locations/
You can get a Blue Bag by contacting Laura Bullock, board@demosptsa.org or you can pick up a Blue Bag or drop off cans and bottles at the food pantry on Fridays between 12:00 and 3:00.
EARTH DAY GIVE, APRIL 10-22
During this period, bottles and cans donations will be matched by BottleDrop at 20%.
Jefferson PTSA Food Pantry
THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FOLKS AT THE FOOD PANTRY!
Where? At Jefferson, on the N Commercial side of the school *
What? Lots of cooking staples, frozen meats and meat alternatives, prepared meals and sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, snacks, breads, baked goodies and eggs. What we have to offer changes week to week but there is always a great selection. In addition, we often have hygiene products including toilet paper, feminine products, dish and laundry soap, toothbrushes and more. It's an impressive spread.
Want to donate? Drop off on Fridays or https://jefferson-high-ptsa.square.site
* We are set up under the wrestling gym overhang on N Commercial. Look for our blue and gold banner and flags!
Please share with anyone you know who may be experiencing food insecurity.
Everyone is welcome.
About Jefferson PTSA Meetings
Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month. We have snacks and connection at 6:15 with the official meeting beginning at 6:30. If you face the school, the door is on the ground floor to the right of the stairs.
We will meet in the Blazer/CommUnity Room at Jefferson. The entrance is on the N Commercial Ave side of the school. We always have some snacks and drinks.
Everyone in the Jefferson community is welcome to attend the PTSA meetings. PTSA stands for Parent, Teacher, Student Association which doesn't fully describe who we are. Alumni, grandparents, caregivers, SEI, Latino Network, anyone who is part of the Jefferson community is invited. You are encouraged to become a member of the PTSA but it is not a requirement for attending meetings.
Come check us out and see what we're about. The PTSA is here to support the Jefferson students, staff and families. If you are looking for a way to get involved and/or be informed, the PTSA is a great way to do that.
MEETINGS THIS SCHOOL YEAR:
OCTOBER 12TH
NOVEMBER 10TH
DECEMBER 14TH: Social Gathering, no meeting
JANUARY 11TH
FEBRUARY 8TH
MARCH 8TH
APRIL 12TH
MAY 10TH
PTSA Board Members Contact Information
Georgie Honl, Co-President
Jenn Latu, Co-President
Laura Bullock, Treasurer
Barb Fisher, Interim Secretary