Skyline K-8
April 12, 2019
Principal's Message
Skyline K-8 Community,
Happy Friday! This morning we had a fire drill first thing and all of the students did an amazing job! Also, in case you did not know, today is “Fist-Bump Friday” at Skyline K-8. J Ask your child what that means….everyone who rides the bus or entered through the side gym doors should know what you are talking about.
On Tuesday, our Literacy Coach, Jenny Smith, came to Skyline and led our staff meeting, providing professional development on “Looking at Informative Writing Across the K-5 Continuum.” The objective was to: “Examine Writing Standards 2 and 8 to Create a K-5 Articulation for Informational Writing and Note Taking.” Jenny has been an amazing support to our staff this year, leading several staff meetings and professional development opportunities during the school day as we shift our practice to standards based learning and proficiency here at Skyline K-8.
Thank you to Allison Couch for subbing this week on Wednesday and Thursday. The Multi-Tiered Systems Support Training was amazing and will help support our work at Skyline K-8. As a district, we are shifting from schools that are autonomous to a system that is consistent with district-wide with assessments, materials, and content maps to ensure all students meet the standards in all content areas. We will continue this work, making sure that all decisions are made based on what is best for students. I am committed to ensuring the success of all students here at Skyline K-8.
Have a nice, relaxing weekend.
BG
Upcoming Events
April 12- K-5 Report Cards sent home (Middle School report cards mailed)
April 15- Yearbook Order Deadline
April 15-18- Used Book Sale
April 15-19 / 22-26 / 29- May 3- State Testing
April 18- PTA Meeting
6 pm
May 1- STEM NIght
6-8 pm
May 2- Flower/ Plant Pick-Up
May 3- Kids Night Out
5-10 pm
May 16- CAP/ Exhibition Night
May 17- Move for the Arts
May 28- PTA Meeting
6 pm
May 30- Foundation Meeting
7 pm
May 31- Skyline Carnival
Skyline Yearbook On Sale
Order your Skyline Yearbook! Deadline for ordering is April 15!
The web address is YBPay.lifetouch.com. The yearbook ID code that you will need to enter is 12899019.
Project Community Care
Saturday, August 25
Project Community Care will be on Saturday, August 25. Since school starts on Wednesday, August 28, we will have Project Community Care the Saturday before school starts.
Counselor's Corner
This week, Skyline classes participated in a school-wide behavior expectation round robin. During the round robin, students traveled around the school to reinforce what it means to be “Safe, Respectful, Responsible, and IB” at Skyline. Parents can help by discussing what those behaviors mean at school. As a staff, we are dedicated to ensuring that Skyline is a safe and fun learning environment for everyone.
Today, some of our students participated in the student-led national “Day of Silence.” Students take a vow of silence to draw attention to the harassment and bullying of LGBTQ+ students. Guidance lessons for the past few weeks have been focused on the action of empathy and compassion. It is heartening to see Skyline students show their compassion during “Day of Silence.”
Next Friday, family groups will meet to finalize our group names, movements, and chants for Move For the Arts. Students will be receiving their fundraising packets. Let's make this the most successful Move For the Arts ever!
Have a wonderful week,
Amy Gervais
School Counselor
IB Corner
This month we are focusing on our Learner Profile of being REFLECTIVE staff and students. To be REFLECTIVE:
“We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development”
Our next IB assembly will be on May 3rd at 8:45 am. Please keep a look out for your REFLECTIVE students!
Melissa Dunn
IB Coordinator/Instructional Specialist/
TAG Facilitator/Testing Coordinator
503-916-5212
Testing
On April 15 our 4-5 students and Middle School students will begin their 2019 OSAS, state testing. 4th and 5th grade students will be testing from 9:30 - 10:30 Monday through Friday. As this is not a timed test, students can take all the time that they need. If students do not finish there will be finish up times in the later weeks. As we know testing can be stressful for some students however, the staff works very hard to support the students with frequent breaks, and a comfortable testing environments. The overall day is structured to take into account the time students are testing. There are also many things families can do at home to help support their students. Please encourage a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks.
This year, the middle school teachers have designed a testing schedule for the 2 weeks that they will be testing. The middle school students have traditionally tested in their Language Arts and Math class, causing a loss of instruction in just those two classes. This year, we are trying to minimize the loss of instruction in all classes by creating a testing period. Middle school students will have their testing period from 12:23 - 1:50 during the 2 weeks that they will be testing. All classes will be shortened to accommodate this extra period, but all students will have all classes every day. The testing weeks for Middle School will be:
ELA - April 15 - 19
Math - May 6 - 10
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Melissa Dunn
IB Coordinator/Instructional Specialist/
TAG Facilitator/Testing Coordinator
503-916-5212
TAG Information
The Department of Talented and Gifted, TAG is hosting an OMSI Family night at the OMSI on April 22nd, from 6-8 p.m. There are only 450 slots so come early. The PIXAR exhibit is $4.00, the museum is free. This event should be very fun, so come out enjoy a night at the OMSI!
Department of Talented and Gifted
Portland Public Schools
Melissa Dunn
IB Coordinator/Instructional Specialist/
TAG Facilitator/Testing Coordinator
503-916-5212
Library
April is National Poetry Month. Students will explore different forms of poetry along with the use of figurative language in writing. We will check out some fun technology in creating our own poems, such as readwritethink.org and Little Bird Tales.
19 for 2019 Reading Challenge (January 28- May 1)
Donations:
If you would like to donate a 2019/20 OBOB book to the library for next year, please click on the link. Thank you for your support!
Class Library Schedule
K/ Porter- Friday (1 book)
1/ Sammons- Friday (1 book)
2-3/ Arias- Monday/Tuesday
2-3 Teacher Tom- Wednesday/Thursday
4-5/ Griffith- Monday/ Thursday
4-5/ Melton- Wednesday/Friday
4-5/ Nagel- Tuesday/ Wednesday
Middle School visits the library as needed for check-out.
Skyline Music
Recycled Orchestra! Music Instrument DIY
Starting Tuesday, April 15
Music Room Inquiry Project
Grades 2,3,4,5
Your student will build an instrument at school and then collaborate with an ensemble to create and perform a song for the class.
We were inspired by the
Landfillharmonic in Paraguay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdVmq7sLTsQ&t=1111s
Materials needed by:
Tuesday, April 16: Melton
Wednesday, April 17: Griffith, Myers & Arias
Thursday, April 18: Nagel
Used Book Sale
Skyline’s Used Book Sale, one of the most rewarding fundraisers we do, is right around the corner! Kids will have the opportunity to purchase used books, games and more for $1 or less! Proceeds from this sale support our school library and PTA.
SALE SCHEDULE
- Monday, April 15 - 8:15 a.m. - 6 p.m. Shop early for best selection!
- Tuesday, April 16 through Thursday, April 18 - 8:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PLEASE VOLUNTEER
We can't do this without your help. Please sign up for a volunteer shift or two, here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e49a9ac2ea75-skyline
If the times on the signup don't work for you, we're flexible & would love your help (just make a note in the comment section when you sign up).
Thanks, Skyline!
QUESTIONS? Email Amber Anderson (ajwestlund@msn.com) or Liz Ascher (leezard85@yahoo.com), 2019 Used Book Sale Chairs
Move for the Arts
Our annual Move for the Arts FUNdraiser and field day are right around the corner. FUNdraising forms will be coming home after April 19 and field day is May 17. We are reaching out to families with business connections who would be able to help contribute. In particular, we are looking for support of a large number of small prizes for attaining fundraising levels. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution of in-kind items. If you are interested in business sponsorship, please let us know at fpstudioschool@gmail.com. We would be happy to discuss what would work for you.
Because of the generosity of Skyline families for our fundraising efforts, our annual Move for the Arts FUNdraiser, we are able to fund both our visual art program and field day event with this single effort. Community support from businesses provides fundraising prizes, volunteers for our event and services, such as photography and sponsorship. Your support is vitally important, and we are so grateful to you.
PTA Connection
PTA Meeting & Officer Elections
Thursday, April 18
6 p.m.
Library
We’ve a diverse list of important issues to cover at this month’s PTA meeting---our penultimate of the school year! Here are just some reasons to join us and make your voice heard:
- We’ll hear an auction recap!
- We’ll be voting on next year’s auction budget. We want to hear from you, whether or not you attended or skipped this year’s auction. (Remember, only dues-paying members can vote.)
- We’ll discuss the decision to unblend. I’ve invited a couple people from PPS to discuss the district’s decision and answer questions. Many want to know why the decision was made, and if there are data to support it. Do you? Please come. Your voice is important.
- We’ll be discussing and voting on the purchase of a new cart of chrome books.
- We’ll be voting in new executive PTA Board members! Abbey Poizer has been nominated for the position of Volunteer Coordinator. No one has been nominated as Vice-President, as of yet. What are you waiting for? Join the cast of Skyline’s PTA Board!
- We’ll discuss emergency preparedness at Skyline and next steps.
- We’ll talk education funding shortfalls. Kevin Sullivan, field director of Our Oregon, will talk about the funding crisis, what’s happening in Salem, and what action we can take.
- And much, much more!
Check out the agenda, here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vl-FfR4lApaO8ZYozAk64pKsZ9_8iScPQDBwuswZiY/edit?usp=sharing
RSVP for FREE childcare and pizza for the kids by sending an email to me at: skylineschoolpta@gmail.com.
Do you have an item you would like discussed at a PTA meeting? Please submit your agenda items to me via email at least three days’ before the scheduled meeting (skylineschoolpta@gmail.com). Please know, though, that you are still welcome to bring any issue to the membership’s attention at any meeting. Depending on the depth of discussion, or if a vote is needed, an issue may need to be tabled to the next meeting.
Until next Thursday!
Warmly, Clarissa Kearns Skyline PTA President
Wednesday, May 1
6-8 p.m.
Gym & Cafeteria
Family STEM Night is about a month away! There will be 20+ hands-on activities in the gym thanks to an awesome group of Skyline parents and Intel volunteers. We’ll have activities for all ages and grades. Parents and guardians are asked to accompany their kids from activity to activity, experiencing and learning about science, technology, engineering, and math, together.
And, don’t worry about feeding your kids beforehand! We’ll have a potluck dinner in the cafeteria throughout the evening.
Please sign up to bring a food item to share, or to help before, during or after the event, here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c44a9a92aa2f85-family
Join Facebook
Staff Appreciation Snacks Sign Up
Skyline Foundation
The auction was an amazing success, but we’re not done yet! It’s time to get those matching donations!
Take a look at your auction receipt. If you see a cash contribution or a paddle raise amount, you can get that money matched!
Here is a list of employers that we know match charitable donations:
Intel
Baird Foundation
Nike
Legit Script
Tektronix
Planar Systems
Daimler Pacific Corp
Wells Fargo
Kennedy Jenks Consultants
If your employer matches donations and is NOT on this list, please reach out to the Foundation (erena.friedrich@yahoo.com) and let us know.
Skyline parents who work for Intel or Nike please note that you have until June 14th to submit your receipts for the matching donation!
If possible, please have your employer send the matching donation to the Skyline PTA.
We hope you had fun at the auction. Thank you SO MUCH for giving generously!
Sincerely,
Your friendly neighborhood Foundation
Summer Soccer Camp @ Skyline!
Summer Soccer Camp @ Skyline!
Registration for summer camp the week of June 24-28 with Challenger Sports is OPEN! Challenger has revamped its camp to incorporate the best coaching methodologies and practices from England, Brazil, Spain, the US and France. You are in for a treat!
The half day program for ages 5-14 will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., with an optional afternoon program. The Tiny Tykes program for preschoolers and incoming kindergartners will run from 8-9 a.m.
Please forward this email to friends and family. This camp is open to everyone, not just those who attend Skyline or live in the immediate area.
Please email Michael Smith of Challenger Sports at: msmith@challengersports.com, with questions!
Yours in soccer,
Clarissa Kearns, Skyline Soccer Club President
Avid4 Adventure
Avid4 Adventure summer camps teach K – 7th graders of all levels to climb, paddle, bike, hike and thrive in the outdoors. With help from our time-tested curriculum and experienced instructors, we give campers solid outdoors skills and character-shaping confidence they can use at camp and beyond, launching them into a lifetime of empowering adventure.
Camps will run weekly from June – August at the Catlin Gabel School, 8825 SW Barnes Road, Portland, OR 97225.
Learn more and sign up at Avid4.com, call 720-249-2412 or email info@avid4.com.