SES Messenger

Dear Sunnyside Community,

These past two days middle school staff and 8th grade students have been at the 4-H center in Salem for the 8th grade retreat. This is a time where 8th graders spend two days and an overnight learning about their 8th grade portfolio and requirements and start their 8th grade speeches and just generally bond as an 8th grade community. The students spend the days in classes with a little rec time and special karaoke session thrown in for good measure. The special time that they get to spend together really helps cement the 8th grade togetherness as they move towards the end of the year and get ready for high school. Sunnyside is able to offer these extraordinary activities and events because of the support of you and our teachers and in this season where cuts are being made across the district, it makes me feel even more protective of our unique program and all of the important people that make it happen. Sunnyside truly grows students from the inside out so that by the time they graduate, they have been able to see the journey from self-identity to their place in the world and how they can help influence the wider world and community.

For another example of this, please watch the testimony from last week's Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission where our students went and gave testimony and advocated on behalf of the Orcas. It's just yet another example of how our students show up and the power of an education that is community centered.

Thanks for all you do! Hopefully everyone will get some sun and much needed rest this weekend.

Eryn

• Mon, Feb 26. Last day for Read-A-Thon pledges / Read-A-Thon brochure is due
  

• Tues, Feb 27. K-5 Open House for new families. 6-7p

• Fri, Mar 8: NO SCHOOL for SES only

• Sat, Mar 9, 6pm: SES MS Musical [Note corrected date and time]

• Sun, Mar 10, 2pm: SES MS Musical [Note corrected date and time]

• Fri-Sun, Mar 15-17: Cowbell Cheese Catalina Fundraiser

• Tue-Thu, Mar 19-21: MS mini-classes

• Wed, Mar 20, 8:45am: SES PTSA meeting: SES room 102

• Mar 25 - Mar 29 - NO SCHOOL. Spring Break

THREE MORE DAYS to finish collecting pledges! Reading brochures and offline pledges (cash or check made out to SES PTSA) are due to the office by 3pm on Monday, Feb. 26. Online fundraising also closes at 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, February 26. Whether there is one more friend or family member you could text, or you haven’t made your own donation yet, every little bit counts towards our goal - we TRULY appreciate all the amazing reading and fundraising that this community has done this year.

50 State Challenge! Wouldn’t it be cool if we got a donation from all 50 states? Do you know anyone in these missing states you could ask to chip in even $5 or $10? Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming.

And why stop with the US? We’ve even had donors as far as Ireland, Guam, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom! AMAZING to see support for our school pour in from all around the globe.

HELP NEEDED: Monday after school, we could use some volunteers to help us count reading units and physical donations. Sign up to help here.

Thanks for a great 2024 Read-A-Thon. Let’s finish strong and keep our programs growing!

We are thrilled to partner with the Portland Drama Club for our next middle school musical! Come cheer on this hardworking team of spooky characters! There will be two shows at Sunnyside: March 9 (6pm) and March 10th (2pm)! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased HERE! Get them now before they sell out!

We will need dozens of volunteers to make this event a success! Please sign up to sell tickets, arrange flowers, bake, sell baked goods, and usher! Grab your volunteer slot(s) HERE!

See you at the show!

Our annual SES Foundation Auction opens April 2 & the Gala is Friday, April 12! The funds we raise support staffing costs at SES. Current needs:

• Prize Donations: Submit auction donations HERE.

• Party Board Hosts: Learn more & submit ideas HERE. We have 6 amazing ones already, but we’d like at least 6 more!

Ideas you want to toss around? Please contact Justine Reimnitz (justinereimnitz@gmail.com) and Jessica Maeder (jessicamaeder@gmail.com) with questions.

Go eat yummy, healthy burritos, bowls and more on Tuesday, March 5th at Laughing Planet's Belmont location and support Sunnyside! All day, 10% of sales will go to SES. Mark your calendars and check out the MENU!

Calling all SES 8th graders! We need student volunteers to work a shift at SES parent-owned Cowbell Cheese Shop and support our fundraiser on March 16th and 17th. During this fundraiser, Cowbell Cheese will donate 20% of sales to the SES 8th Grade Marine Biology Catalina Trip! Students will be working in shifts of two hours, with four students per shift. They will run the register (mostly scanning), hand out cheese samples, and talk about the cheese to customers in line. No experience required, so SIGN UP HERE and help us raise funds! Cowbell Cheese Shop is Located in the Rinella Produce Building, 231 SE Alder St.

Sunnyside 8th Graders are silkscreening NEW student-created designs, and we want to UPCYCLE! Printed apparel will be available for purchase at The Addams Family Musical on March 9th & 10th. There is no guarantee you will be able to find your exact donated item, but maybe! Please bring in donations by Monday 2/26:

• BLANK

• Light colored

• New or Used (clean)

• Cotton or Cotton/poly blend (no rayon)

• T-shirts or Crewneck Sweatshirts

• Hoodies (no front pockets!)

Calling all queer identifying families and students...let's create some community and get to know one another! Please join us for a potluck at a home in the Sunnyside neighborhood on Thursday, March 7th (no school the next day!) at 6 pm! Bring the whole family. If you are interested in joining, please fill out this form and we will be in touch with the address and additional details very soon! Can't wait to get to know our rad community better!

Hey Sunnyside families! Join us for Westwind Family Camp, Friday April 5 - Sunday April 7! Nestled between the Salmon River and the Pacific Ocean, Westwind offers a delightful blend of beach, forest, and riverscapes, where one can enjoy hiking, beachcombing, tidepooling, or more laid back pursuits like reading a good book, playing board games or doing puzzles. A great place to bond with other families and kids, the SES Westwind weekend is a 20+ year tradition. $135 / person covers heated, lit lodging in the camp's cabins and 5 meals. Sign up here: 2024 SES Westwind Family Camp

Dear SES families,

For many years it has been a tradition in the SES middle school to invite parents, guardians and community members to teach mini-classes. This is a time when we draw on the expertise and interests of our school community to teach an enrichment course to our middle school students who are excited and passionate about the topic. We've had parents from all grade levels offer to teach courses. Some examples of past classes are: woodworking, sewing, computer programming, trail running, history of radio, purse/wallet making, poetry, watercolor, yoga, chess and card games, and movie making.

This year our mini-classes will take place on three mornings:

• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, March 19-21 from 9-11:15am

We look forward to providing our students with a range of offerings to choose from. If you are available, but undecided on what class to teach, we can help. If you have a class in mind, we look forward to learning what your class will be. We are happy to welcome you in whatever capacity your busy life allows.

If you will be joining us during our mini-classes, please ensure you have a current background check on file, then complete this form.

The Franklin High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is thrilled to welcome you to the community. We are here to help you and your child acclimate to their life as a Lightning! The PTSA helps fund everything from classroom computer upgrades to school-wide celebrations. We also invite guest speakers to all of our general meetings to make sure FHS families are well-informed on topics ranging from student forecasting to state funding.

But the PTSA also NEEDS NEW MEMBERS FOR 2024-25 – FHS general enthusiasts, of course, and also members of the board. PTSA is a great way to plug into your child’s school and be of service in your community! To remain an active chapter, the Board MUST have a TREASURER for the upcoming school year. The other open Board positions are Vice-President, President-Elect and Co-Volunteer Coordinator.

For more information, contact: Joy Poole, presfhsptsa@gmail.com

Join your classmates and walk, run, scooter, or bike to school every Wednesday! Studies show that active transportation to school keeps kids and families fit, reduces traffic and air pollution, and even helps kids learn.

Bike Bus: Meet at 8:20, roll out at 8:25, every Wednesday morning from these meeting spots.

• SE 26th and Pine- join in anywhere along Pine from 26th to 33rd!

• SE 23rd and Salmon- join in anywhere along Salmon!

• SE 41st & Lincoln, continuing to 41st & Taylor- join in anywhere along the way!

Can’t walk or roll the whole way to school? That’s ok! The benefits of walking or biking to school apply even if you drive part of the way! You’re welcome to park and join a bike bus at any meetup point, or along a route. Or consider parking 2-4 blocks from school and walking the rest of the way, which encourages active transportation and cuts down on air pollution from idling of vehicles near our school!

If you need any gear (bike lock, helmet, etc) please be in touch! Parents interested in active transportation, please join the Family Biking social group on Konstella or message 2nd grade parent Alida Cantor (alidacantor@gmail.com or on Konstella).

• Portland Metro Fire Camp for Women (Portland Jun. 21-23, Sherwood Jul. 12-14) (NEW)

• Sign up to chaperone Middle School field study

• Apply for Free/Reduced Meals - NEW Oregon expanded income guidelines

• Sign up to support Christina at lunch

• SES current volunteer needs

• Konstella - One stop shop for parent information (PTSA)

• 2023-2024 Back to School Ask

• SES attendance form: English | Español

• Sunnyside School Page

• SES PTSA website | After school activities at SES

• SchoolPay | SchoolCafé

• Communicable disease protocol - aka when should I keep my child home from school?

• MESD head lice resources and information