WHITMAN ELEMENTERY NEWSLETTER
2021
JUNE - Welcome Summer!
From the Principals
Dear Whitman Community
This is our last newsletter of the 2020-2021 school year and what a year it has been! We are so grateful for your partnership this year in supporting our students through brand new online learning, hybrid learning, and a pandemic. We have all learned a lot and are looking forward to a return to some normalcy in the future. Our hope for you is a joyous and revitalizing summer!
If you are a 5th grade family or are not returning to Whitman next year for some reason, please return your Chromebooks and chargers to the office. You can email Dollie, lovaughn@pps.net or call 503-916-6370 to set up a time. You can also bring them on the last day of school if you are in hybrid. If you have lost or misplaced your Chromebook and/or charger, please just let us know.
We look forward to seeing you next year!
Warmly,
Stephanie Murdock and Celina Garrido
From the Office
Fond farewell to principal's secretary, Nadia Sanchez! She is taking a position at Sacajawea Head Start. We are excited for her and glad she is still part of the PPS community. Best wishes!!
Happy Retirement, Mr. Ramsey!
After 23 years with the Whitman family, I am retiring at the end of this school year. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with our wonderful students and families for so long, You have all given me such joy, and I know that our students will continue to have exciting opportunities with the awesome Whitman staff. I am looking forward to playing more accordion, and to traveling with my lovely wife as we begin this new chapter in our lives. Thank you for all the laughter and love.
Mr. Ramsey
Kindergarten
To register for Kindergarten online, visit www.pps.net/kinderenroll - current PPS Preschool students DO NOT need to register for Kindergarten as they will automatically rollover for the new school year at their home school. If you move or choose a different school, adjustments will be made in September.
If you have questions, please contact Dollie, lovaughn@pps.net, through June 22.
From Our 5th Graders
5th Grade Promotion - Congratulations!
Hello 5th Grade Families,
First we would like to say how thankful we are to work with your students and families and how proud we are of all that they have accomplished despite the challenges of the past year. Your students are resilient, hard workers, caring, and have engaged well each day in Comprehensive Distance Learning to Limited In Person Instruction and now in a Hybrid model. Even though we are unable to celebrate their achievements in our favored traditional ways, we still want to make their transition to middle school meaningful and special in the best way possible.
We would like to invite you to a 5th grade Promotion Ceremony to celebrate your students completion of the 5th grade at Whitman and to recognize this important milestone as each student completes their elementary experience.
Information about the Drive Through Ceremony
The Ceremony will be drive through style in the Whitman parking lot. It will be on Friday June 11, 2021 from 11am-noon. Fifth grade students and their families will enter through the west entry to the lot like normal and drive around the loop while staff cheer, balloons wave and music plays. At the back of the lot, families will have an opportunity to get out of their cars one family at a time to take a family picture by our celebration backdrop. Fifth graders will also receive their certificates from their teacher at this time. Then families will return to their cars and finish driving out of the parking lot.
Safety Guidelines for Event
We are asking that only one family at a time exit their car for pictures and certificates. We will have staff members helping with this. Thank you for wearing face masks as they are required and continuing to practice social distancing. At the time of planning, we have to keep each gathering to less than 100 per event and outside which is why it is a drive through promotion.
We will have a table set up by the picture area to provide masks and sanitizer as required by ODE protocols and the Governor's Ready School, Safe Learners Guidelines if you do not have them with you. Our school events are being monitored by the PPS Health and Safety Team following the School Event Safety Plan application process.
We look forward to celebrating with you on June 11th!
Warmly,
Melissa Ortiz, Michelle Sterner, Stephanie Murdock, Celina Garrido and all of the Whitman Staff
From the Counselor
As mentioned previously, this year the PPS counseling curriculum will include anti-racist/anti bias lessons. Anti-racist work means acknowledging that racist beliefs and structures are pervasive in all aspects of our lives—from education to housing to climate change—and then actively doing work to tear down those beliefs and structures. This important learning aligns with our district’s vision for our students in creating transformative racial equity leaders. Click here to learn more about the district’s vision. I am very proud of the discussions our students have been having during our lesson times together. We started with exploring individual identity and culture, next we learned about our similarities and differences and celebrated our communities diversity. Then we learned about race and racism and next up we will learn about change makers and social justice fighters. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you would like to hear more about this important lesson topics at jlocarno@pps.net or 916-6370
From the Garden
The Whitman Garden Needs You!
The Whitman Garden is looking for families to help out this summer. Come help us water and weed in the garden this summer, and we will also keep you updated on when different harvests are ready so you can take home fresh garden produce. We will loan you the tools and gloves needed. Fill out this google form for more information: https://forms.gle/Qb5pYsnB3XhsDBK89
There are still openings to get your hours in for Project Sparrow before the school year ends. If you are interested, openings are Saturday mornings and you can fill out this form to sign up: https://forms.gle/zcRDcjh4tE7kYVFU8
Happy Gardening!
From SPARROWS
Thank you for a great year! Please enjoy the Article: Whitman End-Year Article. Have a happy summer.
Digital Tools/Digital Toolkit Summer Access
Students will have access to most PPS Digital Toolkit applications during the summer. Students who enroll in summer school may notice changes in some applications once summer school begins. Most PPS Digital Toolkit applications will remain active until the end of July. Applications may be temporarily unavailable at the beginning of August as PPS shifts to the 2021-2022 school year.
My.PPS will replace CLEVER portal in August 2021
PPS will be moving from Clever to using My.PPS (my.pps.net) as a district-wide portal. Students using QR Clever badges to log in to Chromebooks will no longer be able to use their Clever badge once the change to My.PPS is complete. Students will need their PPS username and password to log in to their Chromebooks until they are issued a new Quickcard (QR code) at the start of school.
Please note that during the summer months, teachers are not active inside the digital tools and applications. Parents should be aware of what students are doing online. Parents may find the Securly application and digital and civic literacy resources helpful.
Champions Summer Camps
Champions Summer Camps are filling up fast and we know why!
This summer we have a BRAND NEW PROGRAM specifically designed for kids who have survived a year like no other!
Champions has built a Summer of Fun!!
We will be living out and leveling up in daily ADVENTURE and FUN that is just like a Screen Time Game – but without the screen!
Limited Space – Sign up Soon! Links are below!
Enroll for the following Champions programs. Click to enroll or learn more:
Our focus on Life Skills, Building Community, and Hands-On Learning will help combat Summer Learning Loss and keep your child healthy, happy, and having FUN, giving you peace of mind during the workday.
As Summer explorers, students will travel through THREE THEMES! Land of Eternal Summer, Innovator Island, and Wayfinder Waters.
What do you think the fun will me in each area? Experiments, Maker Spaces, Sports and Games…..we cannot wait to show you! On Day One of Land of Eternal Summer, your child will receive an Explorer Map and Guide, and will create their very own Avatar.
They will collect stamps and “Brain Booster” stickers as they explore through the map! Students will be engaged in their own learning, have fun with friends AND build confidence to embrace the new school year.
Stephanie Balke
Field Coach
(503)915-3063FROM THE LIBRARY
Beginning June 1st, all Whitman library materials are due back to school. Please return your Let's Get Reading book bags and any checked out books that you can find. You can bring them in during hybrid learning, after school on Wednesdays, or knock on my window during school and hand them through. I understand that this has been a challenging time during the pandemic, and I'm going easy on fines for lost books.
Thanks for helping to keep our kids reading and getting lots of books into their hands!
Mrs. Butler
FROM MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY
All PPS students now have an account with Multnomah County Library! This will give students access to books, movies, eBooks, databases and all the other great resources they offer. There are no late fees for students. If you already have a MCL library card, you are all set. If you do not, your login is 01 + your student ID number (your lunch number). Example: 0198765432 and your password is your birthdate. Example: April 2, 2020 would be 04022020. Follow the prompts for how to set up your account when you log in. If you do not know your student's ID#, please email Grace Butler at gbutler@pps.net. MCL website with more info: Library Connect
Reading colors your world! Explore a world of science and art activities with the Summer Reading game.
Read for fun and prizes this summer. Babies, kids and teens can play the Summer Reading game by starting a daily reading habit. In addition, the library will have lots of fun interactive virtual performances, storytelling, and arts and crafts for kids and families. It all kicks off June 16.
Kids of all ages can play online or on paper.
How to play
- Starting June 16, come to the library and pick up a gameboard or sign up online.
- Mark one space for each day you read or listen to a book, or do any of the fun activities, between June 16 and August 31, 2021.
- Each time you mark at least 15 days (they don’t have to be in a row!), come to the library to receive a prize. If you play on paper, fill out one of the cards on your gameboard and bring it with you.
- Once you’ve read 45 days total, you’ve completed the game! Come to the library (if you play on paper, bring your last card) on or after July 30 to receive a T-shirt (while supplies last) and an entry in the Grand Prize drawing for your age level.
- Claim your prizes by August 31, 2021.
The Summer Reading program is supported by gifts to The Library Foundation.
I'll have gameboards available for Whitman students soon. Wear your t-shirt to school in the Fall and I'll have a prize for you too!
Mrs. Butler
FROM THE DISTRICT
PANDEMIC EBT BENEFITS
Dear PPS Families:
While meals are served at no cost to children ages 1-18 at several Portland Public School sites this year, there are several benefits for eligible families to submit a meal application this school year.
- Families approved for free and reduced-price meals may be eligible to receive future potential government assistance such as Pandemic EBT benefits (*please note that Oregon has not been approved yet for expanded Pandemic EBT benefits; we will alert families when we learn more and if it is approved).
- Families may be eligible for other benefits such as school related fee reduction or waivers, low cost internet and health coverage.
Families do not need to submit a meal application if any of the following apply:
- All students in the household attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school (list located online: https://www.pps.net/Page/2088) where students eat meals at no cost.
- A meal application has already been submitted and approved for the 2020-21 school year.
- The household received a 2020-21 Direct Certification Approval letter.
- The household does not meet the 2020-21 Federal Income Guidelines
Eligible families who would like to submit a meal application have the following options:
- Online at www.schoolcafe.com/pps.
- Print, complete and mail back a paper meal application (https://www.pps.net/Page/2464) to PPS Nutrition Services, 501 N. Dixon St., Portland, OR 97227.
- Request a paper meal application be mailed home from mealbenefits@pps.net or call 503.916.3402.
For meal benefits related questions, please email mealbenefits@pps.net or call 503.916.3402.
Sincerely,
Whitney Ellersick, Sr. Director Nutrition Services, wellersi@pps.net