Abernethy News

I hope you all enjoyed your past Saturday and Sunday!

I am happy to report that this week we have 5 days of school, however, one of those days we do have an Early Release.

Please note that Wednesday, November 20th will be our Early Release. Students will be dismissed at 11:50am.

It was so nice to see our 3rd grade students perform tonight! They brought so many smiles to their families! I want to send a big THANK YOU to Ms. Devicq, our music teacher, who has been working with our 3rd graders to make tonight happen!

As we wrap up November, and get ready to enter into December, I wanted to remind everyone that the December holiday season brings many different meanings to our Abernethy community and families. For some it is a time with family and friends, for others it can be a time of stress while trying to meet demands coming in all directions. For some it can also be a time when we really feel the loss of those who may be missing in our holiday traditions, at our dinner tables, and overall in our celebrations. This can also be a time when families experience the incredibly high cost food and the impact it has on their holiday season.

Each year, our Abernethy community has come together to support families during this extended winter break and the holidays. As we offer this every year, we also know that inflation and especially the rising cost of food has greatly impacted some of our families, so supporting one another as a community is just as important as ever. This is why we are pulling together and hoping to collect donations of gift cards (Fred Meyer, Target, Walmart) and new winter clothes (sweatshirts, sweats, long sleeve shirts and pants).

If you would like to donate a gift card, of any amount, please either bring the gift card into the office, or you can send it with your student in an envelope and have them bring it to the office. If you happen to see myself, Mrs. Dunn, or Jenny Morgan at morning drop off or afternoon pick up, you can always pass it on that way. We will be collecting all donations and then delivering them to our families the week before we leave for Winter Break.

If you have any additional questions about needed items, please contact Jenny Morgan at jmorgan1@pps.net 503-679-4799.

If you are a family who is finding a need for assistance of any kind, please complete this google form.

Please don't forget to sign up for your time with your student's teacher.

Click the button below to see the newsletter with all the teacher conference links in it.

Here is our schedule for our Book Fair!

Nov. 20, Wednesday afternoon Ms. Nowak will be setting up the book fair in room 2. Teachers will be able to come and select some books for families to purchase for their classroom, if families would like to.All teacher books will be on a table near the cash register with teacher name cards

Nov. 21, 22, Thursday and Friday all Library classes will be able to visit the book fair. The book fair will be open for parents from 8am-3pm. Students will be able to create their wish list during their library time.

Thursday Class LIbrary Times:

• 8:05 - Hartmann
• 8:50 - Eichman
• 10:20 - Springgate
• 11:40 - Teacher Carla
• 1:00 - Hurner
• 1:45 - Lannigan

Friday Library Times:

• 8:05 - Hutchison
• 8:50 - Day
• 10:20 - Shah
• 11:40 - Teacher Debi
• 1:00 - Siri
• 1:45 - Bielman

Nov. 25, 26 Conference days, Ms. Nowak will have the book fair open from 8am-8pm for families to visit before or after their conference.

In the meantime, you can set up your child's profile and add money to their electronic wallet. Cash is also welcome, so please don't hesitate to send your child with cash if you prefer. If you send cash: Please send a note with your child to specify if you would like change sent home or if you'd like to donate the remaining cash to purchase books for other students/classrooms. Also, please be on the lookout for emails from classroom teachers. They might create classroom wish lists where you can sign up to purchase specific books for the classrooms.

Interested in volunteering? There are many different types of volunteer positions you can sign up for, including:

1. Opening the bookshop for teachers to have a private viewing of all the books before the kids.

2. Working with the kids (especially the kindergarteners through third graders) to help them write their Book Wishlist! This is not a cashier position, this is similar to a "shopper" role helping kids find books that they are interested in.

3. Being a cashier. This will require handling cash, credit cards, and electronic wallets.

If you would like to sign up for a shift when your child/children are shopping, keep a lookout on Konstella for the list of times.

If you are not on Konstella, and want to volunteer to help, please email Ms. Nowak at cnowak@pps.net for sign up times.

Our 2024 Annual Appeal – Abernethy’s most critical fundraiser – is running now through Friday, December 13. We need your support to reach our $40,000 goal!

All donations directly benefit Abernethy and fund key resources for our students and teachers, including:

• Literacy support

• Classroom books and materials

• Field trips and special events

• Grounds improvements

• Opportunities for families in need

How You Can Help:

• Donate online: Quick, secure, and easy! You’ll get a tax receipt and can set up monthly donations.

• Donate by cash or check: Use the green envelope brought home by your student last week, or mail it to the Abernethy office (2421 SE Orange Ave, Portland, OR 97214). Make checks payable to “Abernethy PTA” and include your student’s name and grade.

Maximize Your Impact:

• Monthly donations: Set up recurring gifts to spread your donation out over the year.

• Employer matching: Many employers match employee donations.

• Family support: Ask grandparents and extended family to contribute.

Prize Drawing:

Each week, we’ll hold a prize drawing for a gift card to a local business. Donate today for more chances to win!

Thank you for helping make Abernethy an even better place for our kids!

When: Thursday, November 21, 6:30 pm – 8 pm
Where: Abernethy Auditorium (Free childcare is available in the cafeteria.)
Virtual Option: Zoom

All families are invited to attend the PTA General Meeting! In-person attendance is preferred, but you can join virtually if that works best for you. The meeting is hybrid, meaning PTA members can vote, ask questions, and participate whether they’re in-person or online.

Important: Only PTA members may vote on motions. If you’d like to have a voice in PTA decisions, including the budget and other important matters, please become a PTA member by 6:30 pm on Tuesday, November 19. You can join the PTA here.

We hope to see you there!

A huge thanks to the 40+ kids and adults who came out on Sunday to plant 600+ flower bulbs – tulips, daffodils, crocus and more – in front of the school and all around the playground/Birch Street side of campus. These flowers will help us celebrate Abernethy’s 100th next year and will return each spring! The teams finished the bulb planting so quickly that we were able to tackle a Ms. Morgan-led trash cleanup school-wide, and some much needed cleaning in the garden. Anyone want some sunchokes??

If anyone happened to go home with this yellow-handled trowel, which has “30550” written on it and a chipped tip, please connect with Meredith Barrett to return it. We borrowed it from the SE Portland Tool Library and want to make sure it gets home! Thanks.

Our teachers and staff loved having their lunch and recess duties covered last month, so let’s keep the momentum going! Sign up to volunteer for a lunch/recess duty shift in December, and give our kids’ hardworking teachers and staff members a well-deserved break.

Choose a Date:

• Friday, December 6th

• Friday, December 13th

How to Sign Up:

• Select your preferred date and sign up for a shift here!

• Check in 5 minutes before your scheduled start time in the front office to receive instructions on where to go for your assigned job.

Thank you for your support in helping make lunch and recess a smooth and enjoyable time for everyone!

We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

K-2 Definition: We listen to other people and respect their ideas. We see different solutions and strategies. We learn about our own culture and the culture of others.

Video to explain Open-Mindedness

IB Open-Minded