WHITMAN NEWSLETTER
MARCH 16TH, 2022
CALENDAR
- MARCH 13th: Daylight Savings Begins
- MARCH 18th: SUN Spring Registration Due
- MARCH 21st-25th: SPRING BREAK !!!
GREETINGS FROM MS. G
Dear Families:
We hope this newsletter finds you well as we wind into Spring Break! There have been so many shifts and changes this school year and please know we are very grateful for your strength, resilience and support at Whitman!
Regarding staffing at Whitman, I have been asked by Dr. Esther Omogbehin (Dr. O), who is the Regional Superintendent, to contact her directly regarding any questions about the principal and staffing. Please follow the link to Dr. O’s letter that went out last Friday, March 11.
I am excited to share with you a preview of what will be happening in April once we return from Spring Break! We know that many of you have never set foot in the school and are eager to visit. Therefore, we will be conducting some guided school tours, as well as bringing back our parent community circles. Dates and times will be shared soon so that you are able to sign up and attend.
If you could take a moment to review the attached Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) it would be helpful in order to visit or volunteer at Whitman and other PPS schools. I am always happy to answer any questions, so please do not hesitate to stop me and ask, as well as email or call anytime.
Another change we wanted to share with you is regarding our arrival and dismissal procedure. ALL K-5 students will be able to enter through the main entrance in the front of the school when we return from spring break. Dismissal will remain at the regular designated doors. Please continue to use the red dots to line up!
We are also looking forward to having more events that families will be able to attend. One of our most popular and fun events is Run for Whitman, which will be on April 15 from 1:55-2:55 pm! We had a fun practice round of this in the Fall, and students are now super excited to be cheered on this spring by their families! More info coming soon!
Whitman 4th and 5th graders were very honored to host and welcome Tina Kotek, a leading candidate running for the Governor of Oregon. Tina came to Whitman in response to a letter our students wrote about concerns around education. Students were prepared with questions and represented Whitman with pride!
Lastly, if you have not had a chance to purchase Whitman Gear, please click here - Help support our Whitman Wildcats! Coach Katie is hosting a fundraising event to support school wide events and activities! All proceeds go directly to the student event fund! Get your hoodies and t-shirts today! This link will be open until April 5th (items delivered by April 21st). Thanks for your support!
Have a wonderful and safe Spring Break, and we will see you all soon.
Ms. G
VISIT WITH TINA KOTEK
OMSI EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
As part of the team in the Designing Our Tomorrow: Mobilizing the Next Generation of Engineers project we want to learn how parents are sharing stories of connections between educational activities and their lives to inform families, educators, and researchers.
To do this, we have created a position to hire 3 parents that will work with our team. More specifically, OMSI is looking to hire bilingual (Spanish-English) parents of girls ages 9-14.
We hope to spread the word and find candidates that not only fit the description and availability of the position, but are also interested in this role as a mutually beneficial opportunity to learn as a team with us.
- This position is a special project scheduled for ~3 hours/week.
- This position is expected to start on April 1st, 2022 and end around March 31st, 2023.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Spanish/English bilingual speaking abilities;
- Applicant is age 18 or older;
- Lived experience as a parent/legal guardian of at least one girl between the ages of 9-14;
- Interest or passion in sharing stories of their lived experiences for the purpose of helping others learn.
Link to position: Parent and Guardian Storytelling Ambassador
OnPoint PRIZE
In 2022, the OnPoint Prize For Excellence in Education will award up to $150,000 to local teachers and schools.
Educator of the Year Winners
Three educators, one representing grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12, will each have their mortgage or rent paid for one full year and receive a $2,500 donation to their school for resources and supplies.
Educator of the Year Runners-up
Three educators, one from grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12, will each receive a $5,000 cash award plus an additional $1,500 to their schools for resources and supplies.
Community Builder
Four schools will receive $2,000 for a special project of their choice. A fifth school, selected by community votes, will receive $5,000 for a special project of their choice.
NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED THROUGH APRIL 12, 2022. Click HERE to submit.
SUN SPRING REGISTRATION
Spring SUN Registrations are due Friday March 18th. Please reach out to the SUN Team with any questions.
Laurelee Wells: lwells@impactnw.org | 503-916-6531
Dulce Lopez: dlopez@impactnw.org | 503-319-5813
CHAMPIONS BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL
Hey Whitman Families!
Are you looking for a solution to those early morning shifts? Did you know that Champions opens at 6:30am on school days?
We offer our students a safe, and enriching space to start the day off right. Champions can be creative, socialize, and finish up last night’s homework, and join together for breakfast, all before we head into school.
The Champion’s experience doesn’t stop there either. Our afternoon program is open until 6pm, M-F. Our afternoon program incorporates a mix of structured curriculum, with curious exploration of our student’s current interests.
No matter what part of the day we get to spend together, meeting the social/emotional, and developmental needs of our individual students, is always at the heart of what we do.
If you are interested in learning more about our before and after school programs here at Whitman, give us a call, or visit our website.
Phone: (503)952-6647
Email: ch001371@discoverchampions.
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:
ED 506 Form - Indian Student Eligibility Certification Form for Title VI Indian Education Formula Grant Program 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.
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
FROM ART CLASS
KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT
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