• Ms. Dalton, Jefferson College and Career Coordinator and Eric Schniewind, out-going PTSA Treasurer, speaking about the PTSA sponsoring college/higher ed scholarships for Jefferson students

• Ms. Jameelah Rasheed from Unite Oregon will speak to us about the BUILD (Build Graduates through Inclusive Leadership Development) Program, supporting parents, of Jefferson students, navigate through college and career readiness
  

• Our Senior Celebration Committee will update us on what is happening behind the scenes with our preparations for this year's Senior Celebration
  

We had guest speakers, Kali Ladd, the Executive Director of KairosPDX School and Winta Yohannes, the Managing Director of Albina Vision Trust and they shared the vision of the Center for Black Student Excellence. The school bond measured that passed in November dedicated $60 million dollars for the creation of the Center. It was an inspiring presentation.

Here is a little information if you missed our meeting (from the PPS School Board Resolution, no. 6150, in support of CBSE):

"Equitable access to public education has long been a key component of the civil rights movement and fight for racial justice. Building on the legacy of advocacy for Black children in Portland, and catalyzed by the social movement for Black Lives, Black Portland community leaders have put forth the concept of the Center for Black Student Excellence (CBSE). This concept endeavors to center the experience, promote opportunities, accelerate outcomes, and celebrate the achievements of Portland’s Black children. This new collective impact effort channels the decades of visionary leadership and culturally responsive and pedagogically sustaining approaches of community-based nonprofits like Self Enhancement, Inc., and KairosPDX, among other Black-led, culturally specific organizations here in Portland. This emerging community-led concept seeks to unify and elevate the educational experience of Portland’s Black children and their families, connecting a constellation of community schools, such as Boise Eliot/ Humboldt Elementary, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Tubman Middle School, and Jefferson High School, and Black-led community-based organizations in the Albina Neighborhood. The CBSE will work with the students, families, and community stakeholders to develop a coherent set of strategies that will positively impact student achievement and outcomes while affirming student identity, and will include promoting and supporting culturally responsive/sustaining teaching and learning, from cradle to career. The CBSE will serve as a living expression of Portland Public Schools' expressed commitment to Black Lives and will help advance PPS’s mission to prepare students to be compassionate critical thinkers, able to collaborate and solve problems, and prepared to lead a more socially just world."

We will continue to share information about the planning for the CBSE as we get it.

“If you know whence you came,

there is really no limit to where you can go.”

- James Baldwin

We'd like to introduce our newest board member, Lori Lyons-Lachman. She will be replacing Eric Schniewind who served as our treasurer for the past two school years and has graciously stayed on this year until we found a new treasurer.

The proud Demo parent of a freshman , Lori is new to the Jefferson HS community. But she is not new to the neighborhood, living just blocks from Jeff for over 20 years. Lori works as a project manager for a local engineering firm and does the bookkeeping for her husband's architectural glass company. She has volunteered at Beach Elementary and Ockley Green and participated in Ockley's site council. We are so excited to welcome our new treasurer. Thank you Lori!

Your can and bottle deposits can now be donated to the Jefferson PTSA to help support the many ways we support students and staff. Get one of our Blue Bags, fill it up and either bring it to us or drop it off at a Bottle Drop location, https://www.bottledropcenters.com/locations/

We have raised almost $200 already!

You can get a Blue Bag by contacting Laura Bullock, president@demosptsa.org or you can pick up a Blue Bag or drop off cans and bottles at the food pantry on Tuesdays and Fridays between 12:00 and 3:00.

• When? Tuesdays and Fridays from 1:00 to 3:00.

• Where? At Jefferson, on the N Commercial side of the school.

• Want to donate? Drop off on Tuesday or Friday or https://jefferson-high-ptsa.square.site

We are now set up under the wrestling gym overhang, still on N Commercial. Look for our blue and gold banner. Please share with anyone you know who may be experiencing any food insecurity.

We meet on the second Wednesday of each month. Everyone is welcome!

Also, if you haven't renewed your membership yet this year, this would be a great time to do it.

Here is the link to join: https://jefferson-high-ptsa.square.site

website: https://www.demosptsa.org

5210 N Kerby Avenue Portland, OR 97217