The Sabin Star
April 2023 Volume #1 Issue #4
A Message from the Assistant Principal
by Michael Diltz
As we prepare for the end of our second year leading Sabin I have much to reflect on. I have been blessed to be able to serve Sabin for many years as a librarian, technology teacher, math specialist and now as assistant principal. Engaging with this community is not only my honor professionally but also a part of my personal mission to ensure that the Sabin school community and neighborhood is a strong, welcoming and equitable place for each and every student and family. As many of you know, like many of my colleagues, this is also where my family and I live…making our work inextricably linked to our personal community. And I LOVE it that way.
As school leaders we are committed to ensuring that not only are the needs of our students of color and their families met, but also that our daily work and decision making prioritizes their needs. The great news is that when we make decisions that benefit our students of color, all students benefit. This is a case of abundance not deficit because there is not a finite amount of care and love available to give to our students and community. Students get what they need to find success and achieve academic and social-emotional growth and that must be afforded to every single student. But what does decision making look like when ensuring equity and prioritizing these needs?
I use a very specific set of questions to help ensure that I, a white male in a leadership position, arrive at the response and decision that maintains our commitment to racial equity and results in more equitable outcomes. It doesn’t matter whether these are small decisions, policies, programs or practices, they all go through the same set of questions. I have found that there is no better way to improve my ability to stay committed and centered on equity than to consistently apply these questions to my work:
Who are the racial/ethnic groups affected by this policy, program, practice or decision? And what are the potential impacts on these groups?
Does this policy, program, practice or decision ignore or worsen existing disparities or produce other unintended consequences?
How have you intentionally involved stakeholders who are also members of the communities affected by this policy, program, practice or decision? Can you validate your assessments in (1) and (2)?
What are the barriers to more equitable outcomes?
How will you mitigate the negative impacts and address the barriers identified above?
Prioritizing the needs of our students of color means better outcomes for every student in our care and that means a more just and equitable future for our community and all who are impacted by our amazing, equity-minded students.
Lunch time friendships are the best
Mrs. Braia's 4th grade class trip to the Oregon Historical Society
Sabin Sun Basketball team
Office Space
Did you know that our office has snacks available throughout the day? Sometimes a student needs a little snack boost, but many times students come for the snack and stay for the hug, the kind word, the encouragement or the friendly listener. The snack is often secondary to the attention a student may need at the moment. We are seeking healthy snack donations. The most popular snacks we need are:
- Nutri-grain bars (strawberry, apple, grape)
- Salted pretzels
Drop donations by the office or send them with your student. Thank you.
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As the weather gets nicer, more students and families will choose to stay and play on the grounds before and after school. Remember that the building is only open from 8:00 to 3:30. Staff cannot admit students and families into the building to use the restroom or water fountains, check the lost & found, or pick up non-essential forgotten items.
If you are enjoying the grounds or play equipment, have a plan for restroom breaks: use the bathroom before leaving the school building, walk home, or possibly visit a nearby friend's house with permission. Students can get a drink after class, or bring a filled reusable water bottle. Forgotten items can be picked up the following day.
Students who are participating in on-site SUN activities after school should reach out to the SUN office with any requests after regular school hours. Happy Spring, enjoy the weather!
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Oregon Health Plan (OHP) eligibility renewals
If you or your student get health coverage through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), it’s critical that you update your contact information. Starting April 1, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) started reviewing and determining member eligibility for OHP. OHP coverage renewed automatically during the last three years, but federally enhanced Medicaid coverage ended at the end of March. While most people will continue to qualify for existing benefits, OHA is required to review eligibility for all OHP members by mid-2024. Oregon has taken steps to keep as many people covered with medical insurance as possible during this transition.
To make sure your family retains access to care, including mental health & chemical dependency treatment, make sure your contact information is up-to-date and review any notices you receive which will tell you what you need to do to keep benefits. The fastest way OHP members can provide an update is by going to benefits.oregon.gov and logging into their ONE account. Other options for updating contact information also can be found on the web here.
If someone is no longer eligible, their OHP benefits will continue for another 60 days. OHA will help members transition to other coverage by providing information. This may include information about financial help available for Marketplace health plans.
Students can continue to obtain no-cost healthcare at Multnomah County-sponsored Student Health Centers and the OHSU-sponsored Benson Wellness Center, regardless of insurance status.
Student Health Center Appointments Available! Call today.
Parents, if you are having trouble getting your student in to see their pediatrician, consider the Student Health Center. It's just like having a doctor's office at school. Available services include preventative care, cold and flu treatment, non-emergency injuries, reproductive health, immunizations, basic lab services, and more. Student Health Centers will see students with or without insurance and there are no co-pays and no out-of-pocket costs. To find a Student Health Center near you, click here and here.
Thank you so much!
Ms. Lori & Ms. Heather
K-2 Recess conga line
3-5 Lunch time recess fun with Mr. Ronnie
Writers share their stories
PTA Corner
LOST AND FOUND EXTRAVAGANZA
Missing a jacket (or 3), water bottle, hat, umbrella or...left shoe?
It may be in the Sabin Lost and Found. Come by Friday May 5 after school to pick-up lost items and enjoy a popsicle with fellow Sabin caregivers.
Family STEAM Night Planning Team
Want to help make our STEAM Night May 25 a success? We are looking for parent volunteers for this exciting and very well attended event. Please email sabinptapresident@gmail.com
Volunteer May 1 for the PPS Clothing Center
Ever heard of the PPS Clothing Center? Located at Marshall (Benson) Campus, this is a welcoming and fun place where families can “shop” (for free) for everything from shoes to prom dresses! Monday, May 1st from 9:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. is Sabin's day to send 5-6 volunteers to help kids receive clothing and sort donations. We need volunteers! To sign up for the May 1 shift, please email the coordinator, Sharon Meigh-Chang at 503.293.0783 or ptaclothingcenter@comcast.net.
Upload Yearbook photos
You can submit photos of students, staff and school activities at this google drive link.
Sabin's Online Bid-off
Volunteers are needed to help help reaching out to local businesses for donations. To volunteer please email sabinptapresident@gmail.com.
Thanks for all you do,
Jenny D., Eliz R. and the PTA board
Who Doesn't Like a Good Dance Party?
IB Trait for April: Knowledgeable
Sabin Student Leadership
Sabin Leadership
4th and 5 th grade leadership want to make you laugh!!!
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To run away from KFC!!!!
Not only have we been joking with each other we also have been helping out with fun events at Sabin
including:
-Raffle for Fun Friday which was winning a free recess with Ms. Moller and a special treat.
-Store organizing for the student store
-Making IB videos for our assemblies (included here is our Inquirere IB video)
-And we have helped with ideas for the mystery bags for the Fun Friday raffle drawing!
We are looking forward to more fun events, setting an example of being a leader, and inspiring students
to become their own leaders �� We are especially looking forward to our Talent show at the end of the year !
Wellness Wing
Welcome to the Wellness Wing! We are here to support you and your family with a variety of things including: mental health, parenting, in school support with academics, behavior, emotions, and community resources/supports etc.
You can contact us by calling the school or emailing us directly. We look forward to hearing your questions, thoughts, ideas, and feedback.
We are here for you :)
Erika Moller - School Counselor emoller1@pps.net
Janessa Willie - School Social Worker jwillie@pps.net
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! We hope that as we enter a very busy, yet exciting part of the year, that you and your family can be reminded of ways to reconnect with yourself and each other!
This Month’s Theme: Look Around, Look Within
Take some time to look around and make note of your surroundings, and look within to see how they might be affecting you.
The only way to enjoy life to the fullest and experience all its wonders is if we take care of ourselves, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Don’t shy away from talking about what’s plaguing you because it might not be your fault, no matter how much society tells you otherwise.
Keys To Observing Mental Health Awareness Month (click the link for more ideas and suggestions)
Take care of yourself
Life has numerous ups and downs. Some are solvable but others not so much. When your mental health acts up, seek the right treatment and make yourself better because, after all, life has much more to offer than just pain and suffering.Take care of your loved ones
Check up on your friends and family. Many times, all people need is a shoulder to cry on and/or an ear to listen. Support and encourage those around you.Talk about mental health
One of the best ways to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month is by talking about it with your peers. The more you talk about it, the more normalized it will become. This is one of the aims of the month as the stigma attached to mental health has led to countless delays in treatment AND research on the matter.
Sometimes all you need is a hug and a sunny day.
Friends celebrate an academic victory. Thanks to Dawn Ray our incredible ELD teacher.
Everyone can lend a hand. How many recess balls can you carry?
Meet the Sabin Staff: Students interview Mr. Ronnie
GAME TIME!😜
This month's game is about earthquake preparedness. Play as a survivor of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. Learn how to access clean water, find shelter and much more. Play the game as a family and talk about the many what ifs of emergency preparedness. Ready to play?
⛰️CASCADIA 9.0🗻
Dinner Table Questions
If you had a magical tree that grew any food you wanted, what would you grow?
What is the funniest thing you have ever seen?
If you could carve a block of ice, what you make?
Dia del Niño: Woodburn High school Mariachi Band and musical chairs
Latinx Student Award Winners
☕Join Principal Lathan
for coffee and conversation
May 12 @ 8:45am in our Family Resource Center☕
Coming Up...
- 4/28 Dia Del Niño Assembly (families welcome) @1pm
- 4/28 Plant Sale 3-5pm
- 4/28 Latinx Family Night 5:30-7pm
- 5/1 Tubman Transition Meeting
- 5/8 - 5/12 Teacher Appreciation Week
- 5/8 SES parent meeting @ 6pm
- 5/10 4th grade field trip to Bonneville Dam
- 5/12 Coffee with Principal Lathan
- 5/17 Spring Talent Show
- 5/17 PTA meeting @ 6:30pm
- 5/19 4th grade field trip to Newmark theatre
- 5/23 5th grade Tubman Middle School visit
- 5/24 BBPAC meeting @6pm
- 5/26 IB Assembly: Ib Trait: Knowledgeable
- 6/5 Pride Week begins
- 6/14 Last Day of School
Future Architects
Questions? Comments? Community events? Donations?
Contact Assistant Principal Michael Diltz at mdiltz@pps.net