Whitman Family Newsletter
February 2, 2024
A Message From Our Principal
Hello Families!
We have been taking our mid-year assessments these past few weeks and we have been excited to see our students making growth! Thank you for your continued commitment to bringing your children to school each day and supporting their education–as families your support is so beneficial!
We will be having a family meeting on Thursday, February 15 from 6:00 - 7:00 to share some of our mid-year data and also get your input as families on what our priorities should be for the 24-25 school year. Spanish and Vietnamese interpretation will be available! We hope to see you there!
We will be having a family celebration in honor of Black History Month on February 29th from 6:00 - 7:30–we hope to see you and your family at this event as well!
Sincerely,
Ms. Thompson
Upcoming Events
Winter Walk + Roll to School
Event Information
Walk + Roll to School
Winter Walk + Roll to School Day is February 7th! Walk or Roll to school on this day and earn hot chocolate and prizes!
If you ride the bus, ask your family if you can join one of the walking school buses. Meet a Whitman staff member at 8:15am at one of these locations to join a walking school bus for the morning:
- SE Harney and 75th Place
- SE 72nd and Henderson
- SE 62nd and Flavel
When?
Wednesday, Feb 7, 2024, 08:15 AM
Where?
Whitman Elementary School, Southeast Flavel Street, Portland, OR, USA
Power Up!
Event Information
Power Up!
Celebrate LGBTQ2SIA+ youth and allies at the Portland Art Museum! Experience Africa Fashion and Black Artists of Oregon. Manifest your superhero within with comic artist Rupert Kinnard. Join a drag workshop with performance artist Carla Rossi. Speak your truth at the open mic with MC TW. Make art, make friends, and have fun! All ages welcome—grade school through college— plus GSA/QSA advisors and other supportive adults. Admission is FREE! Info and registration at portlandartmuseum.org/event/power-up.
When?
Friday, Feb 9, 2024, 4:30-7:30PM
Where?
Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave
Green Thumbs Volunteer Event
Event Information
Green Thumbs Volunteer Event
We will be replacing some of the plants and trees on our playground on Saturday, 3/16 from 10:00 - 1:00! A volunteer sign-up for this event is in the office–please let us know if you are able to attend!
When?
Saturday, Mar 16, 2024, 10:00AM-1:00PM
Where?
Whitman Elementary School, Southeast Flavel Street, Portland, OR, USA
Announcements
Vaccination Exclusion Day Notice
Dear Parent/Guardian,
PPS is required to ensure that all students are up to date on all school-required immunizations, or have a signed medical exemption letter signed by a licensed physician or a non-medical exemption, by Wednesday, February 21, 2024 (“Exclusion Day”). Immunizations are required by state law for children and students in attendance at public and private schools, preschools, childcare facilities and Head Start programs in Oregon.
On February 7th, the Multnomah County Health Department (MCHD) will mail a notification letter to all students who are due to receive one or more required vaccinations or who do not have a record of immunization. Students who do not have all their school-required vaccines or a qualifying exemption by Exclusion Day will not be allowed to attend school until their immunizations are up-to-date.
What to do if you get a letter
Call your school if you have already provided your child’s immunization record to the school and verify whether the school has a copy on file.
If your student needs updated vaccinations, get your child immunized right away. You can schedule an appointment with your child’s regular health care provider, or with:
One of the MCHD Student Health Centers. Benson High School students can call the Benson Wellness Center (OHSU).
The MCHD Immunization Clinic at 619 NW 6th Avenue, Room 150, Portland, OR. This Clinic occurs every Tuesday and Thursday 9am - 4pm, and Friday 10am - 5pm. Call 503-988-4724 for an appointment.
Bring to your child’s appointment the Certificate of Immunization Status Form that was included with the letter you received from MCHD. This Form will let the provider know what vaccinations your student still needs. If you misplace the CIS Form you received in the mail, you can request another copy from your child’s school).
Once your student has received their required vaccines, sign the completed immunization form and turn it in to your child’s school.
Thank you for keeping your student and their classmates safe, in school, and ready to learn!
Statewide Assessment Opt-Out Notice
Dear PPS families,
As required by the Oregon Department of Education, we are providing you with the 30 Day Notice and Opt Out Form for Statewide Assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The notice is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian and Somali on the PPS Research, Assessment, and Accountability website.
Statewide testing is part of our balanced assessment system that offers all students, especially historically underserved students, opportunities to demonstrate their progress. Information provided by student assessments is critical in helping us determine district and school priorities for improving student learning.
If you have questions, please contact your school office.
Thank you,
PPS Research, Assessment, and Accountability Department
Health Notification
Dear Families and Students,
We are so glad to have you back at school! We also wanted to remind you about actions you can take to stay healthy so you can stay in class and be ready to learn:
Illness: Please keep your child home when they have symptoms that may exclude them from school.
Student health conditions: Please update the school and nurse if there has been any change in your student's health condition during the time of the strike.
Student medications: Please replenish medications that your student may need to receive during the school day. Also, remember to pick up your student’s expired medications from the school.
State-required vaccines/immunizations: Ensure your student is up-to-date on all school-required immunizations. Students who do not provide proper immunization documentation by February 21, 2024 will be excluded from school. Primary care providers - including Student Health Centers and Multnomah County Health Department - provide no- to low-cost vaccinations to students.
Access to health care: Multnomah County Student Health Centers and the Benson Wellness Center remain open during regular hours. Student Health Centers are a great place for students to receive sports physicals, well-child visits, school immunizations (shots), COVID-19 testing, vaccines & boosters, mental/behavioral health, age-appropriate reproductive services, routine lab tests, and prescription refills.
Health care coverage/insurance: People of any age or immigration status may be eligible for full Oregon Health Plan (OHP) benefits. OHP is Oregon's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program. Click here to learn more about eligibility, and to apply or report changes online. OregonHealthCare.gov.
Impact NW Mobile Clinic
Impact NW will have a mobile clinic at their Dancing Tree location every Tuesday from 11-3pm. To sign up, email Claudia Cedeno, Family Resource Supervisor.
Services provided:
- Physical exams
- Chronic disease diagnosis/management
- Reproductive health
- Pregnancy testing
- Behavioral health referrals
- Vaccinations
- Select onsite lab testing
- Connection to OHP
- limited prescription dispensing
- COMING SOON: Dental!!!
24-25 School Year Calendar Feedback Notice
At the January 9th school board meeting, we presented the proposed draft 2024-2025 school year calendar. Our new contract with the Portland Association of Teachers led to several shifts between this year's calendar and next year's calendar. We wanted to make you aware of that and share the proposed calendar: 24-25 School Calendar Draft. If you have questions or comments regarding our proposed calendar, we invite you to share them with us by visiting https://www.pps.net/contact
Thanks for reading!
Whitman Contacts
Whitman
ATTENDANCE TEXT LINE: (971) 225-7402
Heather Thompson, Principal: hethompson@pps.net
Taylor Langeliers, Principal's Secretary: tlangeliers@pps.net
Reggie Nock, School Secretary: rnock@pps.net
Nicole Costello, Social Worker: ncostello@pps.net
Jenny Locarno, Counselor: jlocarno@pps.net
Head Start
Tania Garcia, Community Agent: tgarcia@pps.net
Laura Rosales, Teacher: lrosales@pps.net
Chelsea Clyde, Teacher: cclyde@pps.net
SUN
Nicole Williams, SUN Manager: nwilliams@impactnw.org
Dulce Lopez, Family Resource Navigator: dlopez@impactnw.org (se habla español)