DOLPHIN DIGEST 8/14/20
Community Newsletter for Arleta School
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ការបកប្រែដែលអាចរកបានចុះទៅខាងក្រោមនៃព្រឹត្តិប័ត្រព័ត៌មានហើយចុចលើប៊ូតុងបកប្រែ។
ການແປພາສາທີ່ມີຢູ່ລົງໄປທາງລຸ່ມຂອງຈົດຫມາຍຂ່າວແລະຄລິກໃສ່ປຸ່ມແປພາສາ.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- Aug. 10: Secretaries & Administrators return to work
- Sept. 2: First Day of school for 1st-8th grades
- Sept. 7: Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL HORN
Dear Arleta Families,
There is a lot of information here today. Sorry for all the text but I want you to know as much as is possible as it becomes available.
The PPS Communications Department sent a notice to all families in the district about a week ago that has information about how the year will begin and look. This is a link to that announcement https://www.pps.net/fall2020 In short, all students will be engaging in distance learning until at least November 5 for this school year and there will be a “soft start” between September 2-11 to allow students and parents to connect individually with teachers and the online learning platforms to be used this year. Many questions remain but below you will see as much information as I have about several topics.
Chromebooks and Hot Spots for WiFi Access
In order to access the online learning this year students will need to have access to the internet and some sort of computer. Last spring’s experience taught us that tablets and smartphones were not adequate. Many students borrowed a Chromebook from PPS last spring and still have it. Some students do not have a device at this point and will need to borrow one now. Some students will also need support to access the internet. IF YOU NEED A CHROMEBOOK OR ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, please call the school at (503) 916-6330. You will probably need to leave a message since the secretaries are not in the building yet. Please indicate the student’s name, grade and whether you need a Chromebook, access to the internet or both. Someone will reach out to you.
School Supplies
A common list for all students is being developed by the central office and will be available next week.
Remind
Remind is a tool teachers and others from the school district will be using again this year to communicate with families. If you get a message from Remind it is legitimate and not a phishing attempt. This is a link to more information about Remind https://www.pps.net/Page/15513
Soft Start Sept. 2-11
The first day for students is September 2. Teachers and the central office staff are still working out details of the schedule but this will be an opportunity for teachers to connect individually with students/families and assure that everyone is familiar with the learning platforms. There will be a virtual orientation offered during the week of September 2 to learn more about the learning platforms specifically for parents/guardians. More information will be coming out next week.
Kindergarten
Details are still being discussed, but students will be provided small chunks of live/synchronous instruction each day via Google Meet, mostly in small groups and not all in one sitting. Students will receive synchronous small group instruction in math or reading every day. Asynchronous learning and practice will also be provided each day through Seesaw. Arleta will be hosting a virtual “meet and greet” session for kindergarten families before September 2. Details to follow.
Daily Schedule for Learning
Details about this are still being negotiated but there are some things to share. Learning will be a combination of synchronous (live) instruction and asynchronous (without a teacher) learning. Student attendance will be taken this year. K-5 will be using Seesaw as a learning platform and 6-12 will be using a new tool called Canvas. Google Meet will be used for meeting purposes. More information about schedules and daily minutes for both synchronous and asynchronous learning are expected early next week. The expectations will be the same across the district and differentiated for the various grades.
Class Lists
Class lists will be finalized after teachers return on August 27 and shared with families immediately following the final list development.
Nutrition Services
Starting September 2nd, the Nutrition Services department plans to have 35 schools operating with grab and go meal services. Each site will serve 3-5pm outside for walk up or drive thru on Mondays and Wednesdays. Arleta will not be one of these sites.
For families who are not enrolled in one of the 35 schools, or unable to get to the school to pick up food, PPS will offer meal deliveries to family homes. Deliveries are made possible by the transportation department. Meal delivery schedules are still being determined and will depend on the demand for the service. School meals will be free to those enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school (Arleta is not a CEP school), or for students who are eligible for free or reduced priced meals. If a family is not eligible for free meals, each breakfast will cost $1.50 and each lunch will cost $2.90. There is no delivery fee. Payments can be made online - SchoolCafe.com or checks can be mailed to PPS Nutrition Services at 501 N Dixon Street, Portland, Oregon 97227.
Families must reapply for meal benefits (free and reduced eligibility) every year. New this year! Eligibility for free meals has been expanded through the state of Oregon - please check to see if you may be eligible! Eligibility for free/reduced price school meals may also help families with other fee reductions or waivers -
· Science lab fees
· College application fees
· Summer school fees
· Comcast or other cable/internet services
· Field trips
· Supplemental food and nutrition benefits (when available)
Staffing Update
We continue to make progress with our hiring for the school year. I’ll provide a complete list next week but here is some new information since the last update. Sharon Mendels was slated to return to Arleta from a leave of absence but instead she will be teaching at Creative Science this year. Caprial Sides filled in for Sharon last year and I am pleased to say that Caprial has been hired to teach second grade.
Audrienne Manansala has been hired as one of our two counselors. Tara Littrell will be teaching our Grade 3-5 Social Emotional Skills classroom. Jose Amor will be joining Ms. Sollman in teaching math at Arleta for grades 7 and 8, and Alexander Lenon will be joining us as a 7/8 Social Studies teacher. I will have more to say about each of them next week, as well as our other teachers about to be hired but we warmly welcome them all.
Additionally, Special Education teacher Chris Richman has transferred to Franklin High School, Special Education teacher Cliff Vogel has transferred to Madison High School, and Music Teacher Gavi Patterson has transferred to Sellwood Middle School. Please join me in thanking Sharon, Chris, Cliff and Gavi for their dedication to the Arleta community. They will be missed and their new schools are lucky to have them. Here is a short message from Gavi -
“It has been my great privilege to teach at Arleta for the past seven years. I could not imagine a more vibrant, caring, and compassionate group of students, families, and colleagues; although I am excited by the opportunity to teach band at Sellwood, I will dearly miss the incredible Arleta community. Thank you so much for everything you have done to support the music program at Arleta - take care and best wishes in the upcoming school year!” -Mr. Patterson
Once again, I apologize for such a dense message but there is a lot to share. These are unsettled times for all of us but I am really excited to be working with such a dedicated staff and community. I’m confident that we may not have a lot of great answers yet but we have a lot of great people. Everyone is dedicated to doing what is in the best interests of our children and we will do it well. Please call me at school (503) 916-6330 or email me jhorn@pps.com if there is anything you need.
John Horn
Arleta School Principal
MESSAGE FROM THE PTA BOARD
In these crazy times, some days are better than others. There was definitely a bright spot on July 29th, when the Arleta community came out in force in support of Black Lives Matter. It was truly heartwarming to see so many families, teachers, staff and neighbors join the protest at 67th & Foster. Below are a few of the great photographs from that night taken by Arleta parent Kate Ward. Head over to our Facebook page @ArletaK8 to see the entire album. We'd love to see your photos and hear about your experience. Comment on the Facebook post to share what you thought about the protest (whether you were there or not), any other ways you'd like to engage as a community and add your pictures.
Families continue to meet at the same spot every night from 7 - 8, so keep showing up! There is another family-friendly vigil and march happening this Saturday, Aug. 15 at 4pm in Mt. Scott Park (this event is organized by a group of BIPOC and white mamas in the neighborhood).
Hang in there! If you'd like to talk with another parent, ask questions or share ideas, please email us at ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com or message us on Facebook @ArletaK8
FROM THE PTA INCLUSION COMMITTEE
If we bring our superpowers together, imagine the amazing things we can accomplish in support of our students! That is the hope for the PTA! The PTA Inclusion Committee will be actively working this year to listen and make changes to ensure that all our families feel welcome as part of the school community and in joining the PTA to collectively combine our superpowers.
Art contributed by Paula Kuka, @common_wild
COMING SOON: AN INCLUSIVITY SURVEY FOR FAMILIES
Please look for a survey to be sent out in the next few weeks seeking your input and ideas. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the survey!
ARLETA ONLINE SPIRIT WEAR STORE IS OPEN!
BIG NEWS!!
Arleta School now has an online spirit wear store! Shop for your Arleta logo wear 24/7 and have your items shipped to your home. We have t-shirts, hoodies, tanks, mugs and more, with other options coming soon! Check out the new store here: https://arletaschool.threadless.com/
STOCK UP FOR SUMMER READING - ONLINE BOOK FAIR THROUGH SEPT 4
In order to bring affordable books to our community during this time, Arleta has partnered with Scholastic Books to hold an online book fair now through Sept. 4.
Orders are delivered right to your doorstep. You can take advantage of FREE SHIPPING with at least $25 or more of books in your order. There are tons of books, games, toys and more! Check out the online store, share this link with friends and family! - https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=arletaelementaryschool
If you wish to make a donation to buy books for students, please click this link -
https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/Arleta-School-Book-Fair-Spring-2020/SdOhaaA
KINDER REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Click here to access this information translated into the 5 supported languages
Paper registration packets are available in multiple languages at meal sites
The PPS website has a TON information and resources to support families during the covid-19 pandemic and beyond - visit this website https://www.pps.net/Page/15080
FREE BREAKFAST & LUNCH FOR STUDENTS THROUGH SUMMER
The Nutrition Services department is serving meals through August 21st. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to any PPS student and any children in the community ages 1-18, Monday through Thursday. Meals for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are provided on Thursdays. Children do not need to be present to pickup the meals. Meals will be available for pickup from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at these locations: https://www.pps.net/Page/15080
Urban Gleaners is also distributing food from 12-2pm on Tuesdays at Mt. Scott and Thursdays at Lent through August 27th. http://urbangleaners.org/need-food/
STUDENT HEALTH
The Parkrose Student Health Center is open during school closures and summer break for health care needs. Phone, video, and in-person appointments are available to all Multnomah County youth ages 5-18. Call 503-988-3392 for an appointment. Translation services are also available. For more information, visit us at https://multco.us/health/student-health-centers. Stay connected via Facebook and Instagram.
PTA IS COLLECTING CANS & BOTTLES
AMAZON WISH LIST FOR TEACHERS & STAFF
Throughout the school year, supplies are consumed and new needs arise. That’s why Arleta now has an Amazon Wish List of items added by teachers and staff. Please consider adding an item or two when you do your regular Amazon shopping. And when you use Amazon Smile and link your Amazon account to Arleta School PTA, Amazon will also donate 0.5% of your total purchase (at no additional cost to you)! Questions – email ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Link to Wish List is: https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3S713LRBVHEI6
And instructions can be found here: http://www.arletapta.org/ways-to-help---join.html
NO COST WAYS TO SUPPORT ARLETA
The Arleta PTA participates in THREE no-cost shopping rewards programs - Fred Meyer Community Rewards, AmazonSmile and Bottle Drop.
1. By linking your Fred Meyer Rewards card to the Arleta PTA and scanning your rewards card when you shop, a percentage of your purchase goes to the PTA. Sign up here. (And you'll still get your cash back rewards!)
2. Amazon has a similar program, called AmazonSmile. Select "Arleta School PTA" as your charitable organization to receive donations when you shop Amazon. Once you sign up, just go to smile.amazon.com to do your usual Amazon shopping. While there is no app, you can create a shortcut on your phone by going to smile.amazon.com in your browser, tap the Share button, then tap Add to Homescreen.
3. Donate your redeemable cans and bottles to Arleta through Bottle Drop. Email arletabottledrop@gmail.com to request some blue bags. (Arleta pays a fee for the bags, so let's fill them to the top!)
STAY CONNECTED!
Like and follow the Arleta School and Families United Facebook page, check out the arletapta.org website for news and updates or email us anytime arletaschoolpta@gmail.com
CONTACT US!
Email: ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Website: arletapta.org
Location: 5109 SE 66th Avenue
Phone: 503-916-6330
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArletaK8/