WHITMAN NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 22ND, 2022
CALENDAR
GREETINGS FROM MS. G
Greetings Whitman Families
We hope your February is going well and we appreciate all of your amazing support each day to make Whitman thrive! Please know that PPS has recently sent out information regarding enrollment and staffing projections for the district for next year. Like the rest of the district, Whitman has seen a drop in enrollment over the past two years and we were bracing for cuts. However, our staffing will remain mostly consistent for the 2022-2023 school year and please stay tuned for more specifics in March’s Newsletter.
There is much to celebrate in February, and Whitman is very proud to celebrate Black History Month! This month we will also be celebrating our 100th day of school as a school community on Friday, February 25th. This is the same day as our assembly and will be a fun filled day of celebration! Students and staff are encouraged to dress 100 years into the future! Students can also bring a stuffed animal to school that day as the February spirit day theme is stuffy animal day!
Our students continue to amaze us each and everyday! Along with the tree planting, students in 5th grade also spent an entire afternoon dedicated to adding a variety of plants to the tree wells. Go 5th Grade! I also want to take a moment to congratulate ALL of our Whitman students and teachers. Our winter assessments show incredible reading growth across the grades! Thank you families for working alongside to support your children at home by reading with them daily as this unified effort is contributing towards such incredible gains in learning!
As Oregon’s weather can be unpredictable, and we are still experiencing some very rainy and cold weather, please be sure to send your child with a coat, and even a change of clothes if you are able. We were outside last week, and it was sunshine one minute then the next it began to hail, and students got soaked! Having a change of clothes, at least some dry socks to change into really helps!
Have you taken the Successful Schools Survey yet? The window is open and we would really appreciate your feedback. The family survey gathers feedback on school fit, school climate, barriers to engagement, and school safety. The survey results help us analyze our school climate and make adjustments to our schoolwide plan. A link to the family survey is posted on this site.
Warmly,
Celina
KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT
WHITMAN PTA
THANK YOU
Whitman PTA/FTW virtual Bingo night was a great success! Students and families had so much fun spending time together playing several rounds of Bingo with one another. Students were so proud and excited to pick up their Bingo prizes the next day at school! Check out some of the pictures!
MEMBERSHIP
Our PTA needs a minimum of 25 members or we will lose our PTA status!
At this time there are less than 10 members.
It is only $10 to sign up with scholarships available.
Membership Post: https://www.facebook.com/216923478741947/posts/1326157324485218/
Link to our FB page: https://m.facebook.com/216923478741947/
Link to our Memberhub page: https://ptawhitman.memberhub.store/
WHITMAN RESOURCE TEAM
Is someone in your family - such as your child, a parent or a grandparent - enrolled in a federal Native American or Alaskan Native recognized tribe? If so, your child's school may be eligible for additional services through the federal Title VI Indian Education Program. This federally funded grant supports hiring Indian Education staff positions and providing services such as culturally responsive curriculum development, family outreach, tutoring, cultural activities and more.
To find out if your child is eligible you can complete this form:
and email it to indianeducation@pps.net.
If you would like a paper copy, just call the school at 503-916-6370 and we can send one home with your child.
COUNSELOR CORNER
SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS SURVEY
Whitman will be conducting the Successful Schools Survey again this year. You will be given a Family Climate Survey online (paper surveys are available as needed) that will allow us to know areas to improve our school climate. This survey allows you to provide your voice and will help us understand your experience at Whitman this year. Please note that the survey window opens to the community on February 14, 2022 and the survey window will close on March 4, 2022. Please be on the lookout for this survey coming to you starting on February 14! Our 3rd-5th grade students will also have an opportunity to have their voice heard. They will take the survey during Library Classes.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
GIRLS ON THE RUN
Girls on the Run participant registration is now open! Girls on the Run is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that focuses on empowering youth through research-based activity and physical activity. An after-school program like no other they seek to provide safe, empowering spaces for the children in our community.
Register your child today for 8 weeks of fun, habit building curriculum! Programming is offered on a sliding scale of $20-$180. The season starts March 21st and ends May 21st with a 5K celebration. Follow this link to learn more: https://www.gotroregon.org/Program-Registration
CLEVELAND CLUSTER - YOUTH BASEBALL & SOFTBALL OPPORTUNITIES
Anyone interested in playing baseball and softball this spring, please see the attached flier on how and where to sign up your child for Spring 2022!
Need Fee Assistance? -Most leagues offer scholarships/fee assistance for families with financial need. Check with your league administrator for details on how to apply. -The "T-Mobile Little League Call Up Grant Program" also provides fee assistance to ensure that every child can play.
How/Where to Sign Up: Cleveland HS Cluster .pdf
MT. SCOTT COMMUNITY CENTER
Mt. Scott Community Center offers "access discounts" for 25%-90% off programming for families in our community! Call or go in and mention the discount to sign up!
Students 10 and older can attend "Teen Force" for FREE with a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. This allows a free pass to the basketball courts, pool, and game room!
Our School Counselor also has FREE passes if interested in checking it out. Reach out to her at jlocarno@pps.net or before or after school.
Mt. Scott Community Center is located at 5530 SE 72nd Ave | 503-823-3183
FROM THE GARDEN
Growing Gardens' Home Gardens program is recruiting for families that would like vegetable gardens in their homes right now! The program offers low-income families garden beds/containers, vegetable seeds, plant starts, soil, resources, and support to start their own garden. The program is free of charge. We also have Spanish-speaking and Vietnamese-speaking community organizers available.
For more information, contact Ms. Cat, the Garden Teacher, at catherine@growing-gardens.org
Cat Phung she/her
Home Gardens North Portland Community Organizer
Youth Grow Kelly and Whitman Garden Educator
SUN
My name is Dulce Lopez. I am the Family resource navigator at whitman and extended day coordinator for SUN. If families need any assistance or have any questions, please contact me with no hesitation. You can reach me at my email, dLopez@impactnw.org or my cell, 503-319-5813.
Hola Familias De Whitman,
Mi nombre es Dulce López, Soy la Navegador De Recursos Familiares de Whitman y Cordinadora de día en SUN. Si algún familiar necesita alguna asistencia con cualquier cosas o alguna pregunta porfavor de contactarme a mi correo electrónico dlopez@impactnw.org o a mi cell 503-319-5813.
SNAPSHOTS OF WHITMAN
QUESTIONS? LET'S STAY IN TOUCH!
Taylor Langeliers, School Secretary | tlangeliers@pps.net | ext. 77582
Dollie Vaughn, Principal's Secretary | dovaughn@pps.net | ext. 77581
School: 503-916-6370 | Fax: 503-916-2684 | Website: https://www.pps.net/whitman