Maplewood Memo
February 15, 2023
What's in the memo
1. Message from Principal Galloway
2. Save the Date
3. School News
Between Two Maples // Champions // Home Engagement with Katie // OBOB
4. Carnival
5. OBOB
6. Maplewood Auction
7. Foundation
8. PTA
PTA Meetings // Info // Clothing Center // Pizza Schmizza // Fundraising // Yearbooks // Volunteering
9. Nutrition Services
Information // February menus
10. Reading Friends
11. Tag
12. Every Day Labs Attendance Communication Program for the 22-23 School Year
13. News from Staff
Counseling // Library & Technology // Art
14. Health
15. Flyers
Yearbooks // Sports
Principal's Message
Greetings Maplewood Families,
I hope this Memo finds you well. It is a busy time of year at Maplewood! With our mid-year assessments behind us, we are now focused on interventions for kiddos who are not at benchmark, while also meeting the needs of all students in class. If your teacher has requested volunteers to help in the room, please know that your time and efforts do make a difference and are much appreciated!
We had our second site council meeting this past week. HERE are the notes. You will be able to see initial staffing changes here, and also some strategic planning ideas for next year in relation to our new data. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Speaking of reaching out, I have heard there are some families who would like to share some feedback but aren’t sure how to do this. If there is feedback for a teacher, then please do not hesitate to reach out directly to them. If there is a concern with Maplewood systems or specific incidents that you feel would be helpful for me to know, please email me directly at kgalloway@pps.net. Your feedback is very important to me.
One way we collect feedback is through the Successful School Survey. This survey data helps us make critical decisions in our strategic planning at Maplewood. Because of this survey we read books focusing on microaggressions as a school every month, we have a student advisory council, we adopted a new Social/Emotional Curriculum and much more. So, please help us make educated and purposeful decisions for our school by filling out this survey. Thank you!
One more thing to note… our website has been updated by Ibraheem Riad. I am so grateful for his time and work on this as it really captures the spirit of our sweet school. Thank you Ibraheem! Check it out here: https://www.pps.net/maplewood
Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you,
Kit
*"Please click view entire message to read the entire news memo"
Save the Date
Every Tuesday
OHSU Covid Test Returned - Optional
February 17 and February 20
No School
Feb. 21
Pizza Schmizza (9206 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy)
April 15
Maplewood Foundation Auction at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center
(this is an adult-only event)
May 19
Carnival
School News
CHAMPIONS BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Hello Maplewood Parents!
Many of you may have heard about our exciting after school program. We are pleased to announce that Champions is working hard to open up our afternoon waitlist as soon as possible!
Champions wanted to remind parents that we also provide care in the morning from 6:30am until the start of school. Our details about the morning program are as follows:
Before-School:
Hours - 6:30am until breakfast or bell rings
1-2 days: $41 per week
3-5 days: $51 per week
Champions hosts our morning program in a classroom off of the cafeteria and provides engaging materials to help your students wake up and socialize in the morning! We dismiss students that would like breakfast into the Cafeteria at 7:45am. Our teachers walk the kindergarteners to line up with the rest of classes outside at 7:50am. Champions strives to provide care for working families and hope to ease morning drop off for parents. Let Champions help out and play with your students in the mornings. Feel free to contact Champions with any questions you have!
Sincerly,
Megan Swader and Mark Trolan
Email: CH002542@discoverchampions.com
mobile: (971)-230-8431 (ok to text)
Home Engagement with Katie
- Mental Math Car Ride Game Show. Find numbers on the road and make a math game out of it. Speed limit is 65? What's 6+5, 6-5, and 6 x 5? Did you just pass mile marker 165? What's 16-5? What's 1+6+5? If you have multiples - try having them quiz each other!!
Congratulations
Congratulations to Aviel Calev Hirschfield, the Portland hip-hop artist and producer known as GoodbyeCalev. He is a Maplewood parent who just won a Grammy! To learn more, go to https://www.wweek.com/music/2023/02/08/portland-is-home-to-a-producer-who-just-went-to-the-grammys/
Playworks & CGT Schedule
Playworks Invites Families!
Families are invited to join playworks the week of February 27. You are welcome to join your child’s recess and play games with them and with Coach Alex from playworks, or you are also welcome to join the Class Game Time (CGT) when Coach Alex works with just your child’s class to review old games and teach some new ones.
If you would like to join your child at recess, please reference the following times for your visit:
Kinder: 11:40 - 12:00
First: 11:45 - 12:05
Second: 12:10 - 12:30
Fourth: 12:15 - 12:35
Third: 12:40 - 1:00
Fifth: 12:45 - 1:05
CARNIVAL
Calling for volunteers! We can't make this event come to life without help from our amazing parent volunteers! We have great documentation and resources from our previous 2019 committee members to help with planning for this year. If you can help, please email maplewoodptavicepresident@gmail.com.
Oregon Battle of the Books!
We're excited to be starting OBOB battles on February 7th! Battles will be held during 3rd, 4th and 5th grade recess time on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during February. Thank you to all the parent volunteers that will be helping to moderate battles, we're excited to have lots of new faces! The kids have been reading like crazy and they are ready to get things started.
If you are unfamiliar with OBOB here's a brief explanation: OBOB is a state wide reading competition starting in 3rd grade. Kids read from a list of 16 books (8 for 3rd grade) and compete game show style in teams. We have double elimination at Maplewood, meaning everyone will battle at least twice!
Brackets and teams are posted in the front hallway near the library, as is the schedule. If kids are wondering when and where they will battle next they can check with the library, the board in the front hall or check with their teachers. Please remind your child if they are participating that this is a fun competition and we all need to use our best sportsmanship and be gracious winners and losers.
We will not have spectators for the battles but we will keep everyone informed on information for the final battle to be held on Friday February 24th in the gym, time TBD.
If you have any questions regarding OBOB please email the parent OBOB team or Ms. Kordahl in the library.
Your mOBOB team: Andrea B, Dana R, Manda B and Heather J
Maplewood Auction
It's finally here! Time to buy your tickets for the School Fundraising Auction sponsored by the Maplewood Foundation.
To purchase tickets please go to: https://maplewoodfoundation.schoolauction.net/maplewoodauction/.
For more information about the auction please go to http://www.maplewoodfoundation.com/2023-school-auction/.
For questions please email us at maplewoodfoundation@gmail.com.
Foundation
Greetings, Maplewood Community! Your Maplewood Foundation Team has been busy working to plan this year's auction which will take place in April. This is our biggest fundraising event of the year and we have a goal to raise $60,000 to fund two Educational Assistant positions for next school year. This will also be our first time doing an in-person auction since 2019, so it will be a new experience for many!
The auction will take place on the evening of Saturday, April 15th, at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. This will be an adult-only event (yay!!) and is open to folks outside the community. That means you are welcome to invite your family and friends too! And while we are trying to explore options for childcare that may not happen so please begin making plans for someone else to watch your kids that evening (yay!!). We are really excited to come together as a community for a night of drinks, dinner, hopefully dancing, lots of fun and of course, giving!
Seeking Donations for the 2023 Spring Auction
We still need donations for the auction. Do you have a vacation home? We are looking for vacation rentals for the auction. Do you have a service or an item to donate? Can you help us connect with local businesses and vendors to gather donations for the auction? If so, or if you have any questions, please email us at maplewoodfoundation@gmail.com or call or text Jeannette Taylor at 503.901.9813.
Other Ways to Donate
- Monthly recurring donation. A monthly donation is the most convenient and effective way to give to Maplewood. Even small monthly donations make a big impact over time. Set up your monthly recurring donation here.
- One-time contribution. This is a great option for grandparents, extended family, and loving neighbors to support your Maplewood student. Make a one-time contribution here.
- By check. We are happy to receive donations by check made out to Maplewood Foundation and dropped off at the school or mailed to the school at 7452 SW 52nd Ave, Portland, OR 97219.
- Fred Meyer Rewards Program Contribution. If you shop at Fred Meyer and are part of their rewards program, you may designate those reward savings to the Maplewood Foundation. It’s super easy and you can learn more here (sign in and search for Maplewood Foundation or IF500): https://www.fredmeyer.com/i/community/community-rewards.
- BottleDrop Donations. Individuals can donate funds from their BottleDrop account balance to your Give account by logging into their account and using this link or connecting with the Foundation for bag tags.
- Matching employer contribution. Ask your employer if they have a matching program for donations to non-profits. Click here for a list of already participating employers.
PTA
PTA Meetings
Join us at the PTA meeting every month to learn about upcoming projects, events, priorities, and to share your thoughts! PTA Meetings occur the third Tuesday of every month from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Become an Oregon PTA Member; this supports our school and allows you to vote during meetings. (You don't have to be a member to attend meetings, just to vote.) https://www.oregonpta.org/membership
February PTA Meeting
February 21, 6:30pm
Full details and recaps of past meetings at maplewoodpta.com/meetings/
Maplewood PTA
The Maplewood PTA strives to serve our school’s community of teachers, staff, parents, and students. We have lots of amazing things planned this year to support our school!
Stay up to date on events and more
Sign up for the Maplewood PTA email list
Follow Maplewood PTA on Instagram
Pizza Schmizza Dineout - Feb 21
On Tuesday, February 21, the Pizza Schmizza (9206 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy) will donate 15% of ALL dine in and carryout orders between 3 and 9pm to Maplewood! Pizza for dinner on the 21st!
Fundraising to Support Maplewood
Take this brief survey to let us know your preferences about which fundraisers you love (or don't) to help us plan out the 2022-2023 school year!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5XKDL66
Yearbooks
Order your 2022-23 Maplewood Yearbook online at: https://buytheyearbook.com/ (school ID #709537) for $25.00 through April 28, 2023!
Paper order forms are available in the school office for cash and check orders. If you have any questions, please reach out to the PTA's Yearbook Committee at maplewoodpdxyearbook@gmail.com
If you have any questions, please reach out to the PTA's Yearbook Committee at maplewoodpdxyearbook@gmail.com
Volunteer info
We are excited to welcome volunteers into the building and classrooms this year. All volunteers must show proof of vaccination, clear a background check (https://www.pps.net/volunteer), and sign-into the Raptor system located at the main office on arrival and sign-out when leaving campus.
We can’t wait to have you in school with us!
Nutrition Services
PK - 12 SCHOOL MEAL PAYMENTS AND ACCOUNT BALANCES
STUDENT MEAL ACCOUNT BALANCES AND PAYMENTS
The Nutrition Services team is so thankful to see and serve so many students this year. To help communicate meal account balances to families, the Nutrition Services department will start sending notifications and friendly reminders to families whose student’s meal account no longer has funds on it to purchase school meals. Remember, families may apply for free or reduced price meals at any time throughout the school year and must apply every year to maintain eligibility. We recommend that families continuously check their student account balances. All families can check their account balances online with SchoolCafe at any time (and there is no charge to view your accounts). The school kitchen teams and the NS central office is also happy to assist with checking account balances and status.
Families have the following options to pay for school meals:
Pay as you go: Bring cash or check (payable to Portland Public Schools) directly to the cafeteria or school office.
Prepay for meals with cash or check (payable to Portland Public Schools) in the cafeteria*. Funds will be deposited into the student meal account. Purchases will be deducted from the account balance.
Pay with a debit/credit card using SchoolCafe, a secure online meal payment system. NOTE: There is a minimum payment of $15 and a 5% fee per online transaction.
Whitney Ellersick, Senior Director, wellersick@pps.net
TAG
Parent Office Hours with the TAG (Talented and Gifted) Department
Ask questions and receive information related to TAG identification, services, processes, etc.
We will meet on Zoom, 6:00-7:00 PM on 2/22/23, 3/22/23, 4/26/23, and 5/31/23.
TAG OFFICE HOURS
NEW! Parent Office Hours with the TAG Department
The October focus will be the TAG referral process
Our next meeting will be Februray 22, 6:00-7:00 PM
Zoom link for Parent Office Hours with the TAG Department
A list of questions and answers from past meetings are in this FAQ document.
We look forward to seeing you!
News From Staff
Art News - February is Black History Month!
Cityscapes inspired by artist Jacob Lawrence
In our art special we studied Jacob Lawrence who was an African American professor and painter. He illustrated the African American experience using vivid colors set against Black and Brown figures. Lawrence spoke of his style as “dynamic cubism,” although his color palette came from his experience living in Harlem during the 1930’s.
Lawrence used big blocks of bright colors and did not add many details. He would mix all the colors at one time, and then paint using one color at a time. This ensured that, for example, all the greens in a painting would be the exact same shade of green.
When we created our cityscape out of construction paper, we were mimicking his technique. Check them out - they go up and down our hallways! Here is an example of kindergarteners work:
Also happening…
Ms. Weatherill and Ms. Smith teamed up to work on the use of positive language based on the RecessLab’s Use Positive Language.
In PE students brainstormed words and phrases using positive language.
Later, in their art special, grades 2-5 made posters using these words and phrases in
Pop Art style inspired by artist Roy Lichtenstein!
Counselor News
Hello Maplewood families!
First off, thanks for all the love sent my way last week for National School Counseling Week! I feel so lucky to work with this community and appreciate all your support for the work school counselors do in our schools. Thank you!
I am often asked about ways in which the community can help out. Here are a few ways:
* I give out prizes each day to students working on specific goals. If you have little items around the house that could live a second life as a small prize for a kid (think matchbox cars, little fidgets, action figures, fancy pencils, etc.) please send those my way! If you'd like to buy something off Amazon, HERE is a wishlist.
* I coordinate supplying teachers with items for cozy corners where students can work on regulating and taking good care of their feelings. HERE is a list of some items we could use at Maplewood.
* Maplewood has a relationship with Neighborhood House where we provide food for their food pantry and they assemble food boxes for our families over breaks from school where students are not able to access their free meals. You can send students to school with food items (this is a list of most-needed items) to drop in the 2 large white bins at the front of the school.
There is a lot of financial strain on families at this time of year. If your family is struggling financially, feel free to reach out to me at kcunninghamparm@pps.net and get on a confidential list where we connect your student with resources, free items, and vouchers. Also, if there is a need for clothing items, please reach out and we can work on getting needed clothing items for your student.
As always, feel free to reach out with any concerns or needs.
Take care,
Kendall
Library News
Library/Tech News
- If you see a yellow Post-it with a hand drawn heart -- this "love note" is a reminder to find (whatever the number written inside the heart) overdue Maplewood Library books, and put them in the student's backpack right away!
- OBOB is under way. Many thanks to the parent crew running the show. I hear stories of terrific sportsmanship from Maplewood students, winning or losing. Yay!
- ChatGPT, DALL-E -- I've begun looking at this with 4th and 5th graders. Who knows where this all will go, but it's never too soon to start having conversations about values and work ethics...
- Recent book award discussion in most grades: The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/1/winners This is a student favorite and seems to connect with our empathetic students. Take a look at current and past winners!
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
GIRLS ON THE RUN
Hello Maplewood!
When: starts March 7 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2:15-3:45
For Whom: girls in 3rd - 5th grade.
Program Fee: $230 (financial assistance available)
To Register: www.gotroregon.org
Watercolor Class
Watercolor For Kids
Are you looking for an enriching after school art activity for your child? Watercolor For Kids is just that. Art promotes confidence, creativity, and communication. Students will learn sketching and painting skills that they can develop into a lifelong hobby. We’ll explore varying styles and subject matter; and there will be something compelling for everyone. Come join us for the after school watercolor fun.
Spring Session:
Tuesdays, 2:20-3:20
February 28-April 25 (no class spring break week)
8 Weeks, $200
More information and registration at www.watercolorforkids.com