Week 11! It's amazing at Llewellyn!

November 8th, 2024

Thank you for being such a vital part of our school community! In a world that sometimes feels overwhelming, I’m grateful each day for the joyful and supportive space we create together. The smiles, laughter, tears, and collaboration we share in our mission to nurture well-rounded, resilient students bring me deep fulfillment.

As we conclude the first quarter of the school year, please look out for your child’s report card. I also encourage you to sign up for a conference with your child’s teacher to celebrate their achievements and discuss areas for continued growth.

If there’s anything you’d like to discuss, or if you just want to connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to support our community in every way I can.

With gratitude,

Diana Collins

"Principal Collins"

There is NO SCHOOL for students on Monday, November 11th in recognition of Veterans Day.

Breakfast

Lunch

It's that time again! This time the survey is being conducted in the fall instead of the spring. We value all input.

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 November 1 to December 6. We hope to achieve 100% feedback from the community this year.

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 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.

https://surveys.panoramaed.com/portlandor/fall24family

Monday November 25th and Tuesday November 26th are reserved for Parent/Teacher conferences this year! This is the only scheduled time for a one-on-one meeting with your student's teacher. It's vital for your student and their teacher's success throughout the year. If you have not signed up for a time, please make sure to reach out to your student's teacher. You should have received an option to sign up for a time slot by now however there have been some issues with sending links through Synergy and Remind.

If you are in need of any interpretive services during these meetings, please reach out to Kellie at kgrunde@pps.net ASAP. As this is a district wide time for conferences resources are limited. We would love to help ensure that all guardians are welcomed during this time.

Printed Quarter 1 report cards will be coming home with your student(s) today, Friday, November 8th. At the beginning of this academic year, the district set all parents to paperless report cards. If this is OK with you, you will find instructions for how to view your student's report cards moving forward HERE.

If you would like to get a paper report card after this quarter, the same instructions have directions on how to NOT be paperless.

Llewellyn Students and Families!!!

Attendance is so important, it is the foundation to everything we do. When students are gone, teachers, friends, and staff miss them. We are so proud of all our students and families who are getting here on time each and every day. When students are absent, they miss valuable instruction and also social time with peers and school staff. This year we will be celebrating attendance at our monthly assemblies. We will have two Llewellyn start classes each month. These are classes with either the best attendance for K-2 and 3-5, or the most improved attendance.

What you can do to support your child with attendance:

• Set regular bedtime and morning routines.

• Layout clothes and pack backpacks/lunches the night before.

• Don’t let your child stay home unless they are truly sick. Keep in mind stomach aches and headaches may be signs of anxiety.

• If your child feels anxious about going to school, talk to school counselors, teachers, and other support staff to help them feel more comfortable.

• Develop backup plans for getting to school with family members and friends.

• Avoid extended trips during the school year.

• Even if you or your child oversleeps, bring them to school when you can. There is no time that is too late to come!

Please reach out to us if you have any concerns or questions.

Be well.

Kate Knochel

kknochel@pps.net

Topic of the Month

Review zones of regulation with your student at home. Have them do a zone check-in with you. Ask them about any regulation tools that they like using.

Dear Llewellyn Community,

With the holidays and breaks rapidly approaching, we wanted to reach out to families regarding Llewellyn’s Community Care Program. Llewellyn’s Community Care program helps to provide support to families who are needing assistance with food, clothing, and holiday gifts. We are partnering with our PTA and local community agencies to be able to provide these items. Please know that all support is confidential and your family will work directly with your school counselor. This year we are able to provide the following:

• Thanksgiving Break Food Bag

• Winter Break Food Bag

• Winter Holiday Gifts – (1 need and 1 want)

• Spring Break Food Bag

• Clothing Closet Support - The clothing closet is open for counselors to request clothing for families that will be sent to the school. Please let your counselor know if you would like support with clothes.

• Resources near Sellwood
  
  

If you are interested in receiving any of the above listed support, please contact your schools counselor:

Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades - Ms. Brittany; bsill@pps.net

4th and 5th grades - Ms. Kate kknochel@pps.net

As always, please feel free to reach out with any additional questions or concerns as well.

Best,

Your Llewellyn Counseling Team

Brittany Sill-Turner, M.Ed.

Counselor, Llewellyn Elementary School

Portland Public Schools

503.916.6104

Llewellyn's Counseling Website

Counseling Calming Room

We are excited to announce an inspiring opportunity to reimagine the heart of our school—the playground! A dedicated group of parents and community members have come together with a shared goal: to create an inclusive, revitalized space that enhances the power of play for all our students.

Our vision is to build a playground where every child, regardless of their physical or developmental needs, can play, learn, and grow together. But to make this vision a reality, we need your input! We want to hear your ideas on how we can design a space that promotes equality, strengthens social connections, and celebrates the diverse experiences of our wonderful community.

Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey and share your thoughts. Your voice will help shape a playground where every child feels welcome and empowered.

Let’s work together to create something truly special for our children!

Thank you for your time and participation.

Do you have a young one who is age 3-5 by September 1st? Did you know PPS offers a no cost Pre-K program with multiple locations in SE Portland. Applications are being accepted now for next year! Scan the QR code below for more information or visit pps.net/earlylearners.

Calling all Readers! Sign up with your team or learn more about OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books) on the library's website https://sites.google.com/pps.net/llewelynlibrary/library-home

Website news! The district is in the process of switching website providers, please be patient as the website changes daily. We essentially have no control over the website until the process is complete! Please reach out to the office if you have any questions that need clarification.

If you have a last-minute change to your student's end of day plans, please call the office by 2:00PM. After that, it becomes much harder to get a note to teachers before the day ends. PLEASE CALL! We cannot guarantee that emails to the office or teachers will be seen after noon. Thank you for your help in making sure your student gets where they belong after school!

Please feel free to reach out to the office with questions. The office is open between 7:00AM and 3:00PM on school days.

We LOVE volunteers! If you plan to volunteer at Llewellyn at any time, a background check must be completed. This is done at the district level at no cost to you and is good for three years. Please keep in mind that it can take up to 2-3 weeks for the application to be processed, especially at the beginning of the year. Look here for more information, to apply, or to see if your current application is still valid.

PTA Happenings

Our annual wreath fundraiser started this week and will go until November 15th! There are wreaths, garland, swag, and a beautiful centerpiece for your holiday table. Make sure to share with your local family, friends and neighbors (unless you’re willing to deliver :) Pick up day will be December 3rd in the neighborhood. A specific address and time will be given after ordering. You can order from our website at https://llewellyn-pta.squarespace.com/wreath-fundraiser

Our Community Cares Committee is collecting food for our families in need until November 20. There is a sign up on Konstella for shelf stable items and gift cards for the purchase of perishable foods like meats, dairy, and produce. We are collecting for both the Thanksgiving and winter breaks along with supplying food packs over the weekends throughout the year. All food items can be brought to the cafeteria on the stage in the food drive containers. Gift cards should be given to either Mr. Mark or Ms. Kelli in the office.

Our monthly PTA meeting will be November 19 at 7pm in the Llewellyn library. Our guest speaker will be Debbie Conrad from Naturehood PDX. She runs the Mason Bee program here at our school and she will be sharing about how the program will be expanding this year and how our donations are being used. Our principal, Diana Collins, will be updating us on the progress of our playground and discussing a survey to get more feedback from our community. We look forward to seeing you there!

Our family craft night is coming up on December 5 and we are looking for volunteers to host craft tables. You could partner up with another person or make it a group craft table. Whatever you decide, you will need to let us know what your finished product will be and supply all your materials. Look for a sign-up on Konstella and for some more ideas about potential craft ideas.

Save the Dates

11/4-11/15 Wreath Fundraiser

11/1-11/20 Community Cares Food Drive

11/19 PTA Meeting at 7pm in Llewellyn Library

12/5 Family Craft Night

11/11 NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day

11/15 PTA Wreath Fundraiser Ends

11/19 PTA Meeting - 7:00 in the Library

11/20 EARLY RELEASE DAY – School ends at 11:50AM

PTA Community Cares Food Drive Ends

11/25-26 Parent-Teacher Conferences – NO SCHOOL

11/27-29 NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break

12/5 Family Craft Night

12/18 EARLY RELEASE DAY – School ends at 11:50AM

12/21-1/5 NO SCHOOL – Winter Break

1/20 NO SCHOOL - MLK Jr. Day

1/21 PTA Meeting - 7:00 in the Library

1/24 End of Second Quarter

Readathon Begins

1/27 NO SCHOOL – Grading Day

1/28 NO SCHOOL – Teacher Planning Day

1/30 Reading Night