DOLPHIN DIGEST 3/5/2026
Weekly Newsletter by Arleta School and Arleta PTA
WELCOME TO ARLETA'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!
We’re so glad to have you as part of our school community!
This weekly newsletter is developed and sent in partnership between school administration and the PTA. If you have information you'd like shared in the newsletter, please email it to ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com. Keep scrolling for the latest.
INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge Portland rests on traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla and many other Tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River. #HonorNativeLand https://youtu.be/ETOhNzBsiKA
FREE BREAKFAST/LUNCH FOR ALL STUDENTS
We have breakfast available for all Arleta students at no cost. Please join us!
The doors open at 7:45 and students eat in the cafeteria. Students are dismissed to class at 7:58 in order to be ready to learn at 8:00. Kindergarteners are walked to class by a staff member.
Remember, the cafeteria is supervised at 7:45, but no other areas on campus are. If you drop your student off for breakfast, please make sure they head directly to the cafeteria. Parents are welcome to hang out in the cafeteria while their students eat breakfast.
ARLETA DAY AT THE PTA CLOTHES CLOSET - MAR 12
We're one week away from Arleta's day to run the PPS Clothing Closet at Marshall High School. It's a critical resource for the community, now more than ever, and we really need your help. Two hours or so is all it takes, and it's such a fun way to make a big difference in a child's life.
We really need your help on March 12, 9:30am-1:30pm. We need 6-8 volunteers per shift. Please consider helping our community out by volunteering some of your time. Sign up here! You can also see a KATU news article about the impact of the clothes closet here!
WE NEED YOUR JAR LIDS FOR FIRST GRADE FLOATS
Calling all recyclers! First grade is collecting metal lids of all sizes. Think sauce jars, pickle jars, jam jars, pepper jars, peanut butter jars, you get the idea…anything that comes in a glass jar will have a metal lid and we want it! The First Graders will soon be working on creating their floats for the parade and we need those lids for the wheels.
There will be a tote bag for collection set up at the entrance of the main building or you are also welcome to send them directly to Teacher Katherine. We will continue collecting lids up until May. Thank you for helping our First Graders out!
SUN SPRING SEMESTER REGISTRATION OPENS MAR 13
Registration forms for the spring semester for our SUN afterschool program will go home in Friday folders next week, on March 13th. Keep your eyes peeled, and don't forget to turn them into the office by March 20th.
FREE SALSA DANCING CLASSES FOR ADULTS
Arleta SUN School offers weekly salsa lessons for the adults in the Arleta community. Adult Salsa Dance Lessons are held Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the cafeteria. These sessions are free for the Arleta community, and childcare will be provided. No partner is required, and all experience levels are welcome. This will be the final free session of the school year. Please use the link to get registered!
BIPOC LUNCH GROUP
The Arleta BIPOC Lunch Group provides students with a welcoming environment to promote cultural awareness, social tolerance, and academic success. It is a safe space for students to gather and be themselves, timed with your child's lunch, and meets weekly on Fridays throughout the SUN School semester.
Please click the button below to register your student for participation. Attendance is not mandatory every Friday, but once students sign in, they are expected to remain with the group for the duration of their scheduled lunch or recess period. Ms. Raina will retrieve the children from their recess and escort them to Room 32., then return them to the cafeteria for the teachers once BIPOC Lunch Group ends.
BIKE MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS - MAR 13
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will be hosting a Bike Maintenance Workshop at Arleta on March 13th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The session will take place in the cafeteria and will offer helpful tips and information on bike repair and maintenance. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes for hands-on activities. Registration is available through this link.
ARLETA FOOD PANTRY, CLOTHES CLOSET, & FAMILY TOILETRIES
Arleta has a small food pantry, clothes closet, and a variety of toiletries available for the use of any Arleta family. To set up an appointment to use the pantry or the closet, please email our SUN School Coordinator, Raina Bilbrew at rbilbrew@pps.net or raina.bilbrew@portlandoregon.gov or call or text her at 971-803-8986.
NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING - MAR 10
The next school board meeting is Tuesday, March 10, from 6-9pm at the Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center 501 N Dixon St. Portland, OR 97227. As always, a recording will be up on their YouTube channel. Click here to see directions, the meeting agenda, and a link to the YouTube recording.
Requests to provide public comment can be made via email to publiccomment@pps.net or by calling the Board Office at 503-916-3741. Requests should include:
- Full name
- Pronouns
- Topic (required)
- Meeting requested (date and title)
- School community
- Phone number and whether text communication is okay
- Whether you are a student
- Whether you plan to attend in person or virtually
Requests must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
BIPOC FAMILY GATHERING - MAR 19
Our next Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Family Gathering is Thursday March 19, from 5:30-7pm, we’re welcoming students, parents, and guardians. The group offers a safe space to talk, connect, and play. Come join us in the SUN Room, which is located in the main building past the gym. Dinner and kid activities will be provided.
Please RSVP and send any questions to Arleta's SUN Recreational Coordinator, Raina Bilbrew at rbilbrew@pps.net. Please let us know if you would like a translator.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ARLETA'S CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES!
You feed our kids; you get them to school; you help them learn when they're having trouble; you keep their building safe, clean, functioning and warm in the winter, cool in the summer; you keep Arleta going.
Thank you so much for all you do, every day, to make Arleta the school that it is. Thank you to: Nicole, Halima, Candice, Elise, Adrian, Ev, Denise, Angela, Mac, Justin, Jules, Brent, Dawei, and Keith! We are because you are!
THE POTATO DOGS ARE GOING TO REGIONALS!
Arleta's ultimate OBOB competition resulted in a tight match between The Potato Dogs and The Brilliant Bookheads, with a single question as the deciding factor. The Potato Dogs won 40 to 35, and are headed to the OBOB regionals. We're all rooting for you, Potato Dogs!
Regionals will be held at Benson High School on March 14th (stay tuned for the time). Come root for Arleta at regionals!
Thank you to all the parents, and Ms. Street, who put in so much work organizing and running OBOB this year.
OBOB Books for the 2026-27 school year have been announced and starting next week we'll begin featuring an OBOB book of the week in the Dolphin Digest, including links for borrowing the book from the library, purchasing it from a variety of booksellers, and education resources!
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ARLETA ALUM FAMILY
Thank you so much to every Arleta community member who Venmoed Sheryl Moren to support a struggling Arleta alum family. The family wrote this is response.
"I hope this message finds the community well. In the great spirit of the community, I want to write a quick thank you message expressing my greatest gratitude to the generosity the Arleta community has shown through helping my family in these difficult times. I do a lot of community advocacy and never thought I would live to witness the struggles I've seen and am now living through. However, I am so grateful to the Arleta community and families for showing us so much support and love.
At the moment, we’re still dealing with homelessness. The financial support has helped me alleviate some of the burden of being on the streets. I can't thank you everyone enough. When I first left the reservation to show my daughter more opportunity in life, Arleta was our first school we attended. The point of sharing our little story with you is that Arleta has always been our first family out here off the reservation.
We can't thank you enough for all your support and understanding our struggle, and supporting in any way you can. Understanding the saying “no one should be homeless on stolen land”, Arleta families understood that and helped as soon as they knew my situation. For that I'm so grateful."
PPS LOOKING FOR STUDENT JOURNALISTS
If you are a young writer with a strong voice and an important story to tell, this post is for you!
The PPS Communications team is looking for new ways to involve students in telling the stories of our students, staff, and schools. We want to highlight more student perspectives and elevate student-created content across PPS social media, our website, newsletters, and other platforms.
If you’ve written a positive, blog-style news or feature story about a person, school, or program connected to PPS, please consider submitting it to the Communications team for publication.
Previously published stories are absolutely welcome. Our intention is to give students larger platforms, more visibility, a wider audience, and crucial, real-world experience. We need a new generation of writers now more than ever.
Email your story to commsteam@pps.net today!
BEAT THE BELL
For the week of February 23-27, we had 94% positive attendance (up from 91% the week before) and 151 tardies (up from 104 tardies the short week before).
Looking for some tips to help you get out of the door on time? Check back here each week for ideas.
This week's tips:
- Start your morning with a calm song & hugs.
-
Have kids make up a name or saying for interruptions & distractions that can set you back: “That’s a dinosaur!” “No turtles today!” “Oh, molasses!”
Don’t hit the snooze button!
OTHER WORDS FOR HOME, BY JASMINE WARGA - 2020 NEWBERY HONOR BOOK
Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind her, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her home town start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives.
At first, everything in America seems too fast and too loud. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven’t quite prepared her for starting school in the U.S. –and her new label of “Middle Eastern,” an identity she’s never known before. But this life also brings unexpected surprises—there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude might just try out for. Maybe America, too, is a place where Jude can be seen as she really is.
This lyrical, life-affirming story is about losing and finding home, and most importantly, finding yourself.
Get The Book
- Click here to borrow the book from Multnomah County Library.
- Buy the book at Powell's Bookstore.
- Buy the book, ebook, or audiobook at Barnes and Noble.
- Purchase the book on Amazon.
- Read a review of the book on NPR.
- See the author's website.
Miss. T.
It's a very odd thing--
As odd as can be--
That whatever Miss T. eats
Turns into Miss T.;
Porridge and apples,
Mince, muffins and mutton,
Jam, junket, jumbles--
Not a rap, not a button
It matters; the moment
They're out of her plate
Though shared by Miss. Butcher
And sour Mr. Bate;
Tiny and cheerful,
And neat as can be,
Whatever Miss. T. eats
Turns into Miss. T.
What makes music on your hair?
A headband.
One in six children in Oregon and SW Washington face food insecurity. Food insecurity can arise for anyone. Should you need a little help, or you want to give a little help, here is a list of nearby resources.
Search for food pantry by day and time open, using the Portland Free Food Calendar.
Urban Gleaners takes advantage of Oregon's bountiful harvests, making sure they don't go to waste, sharing food through a variety of free markets around the region. You can find those markets on their website. Find a location by clicking here.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 5415 SE Powell Blvd. Hours are on Fridays from 2-5pm and the entrance is in the rear of building. They use a lottery system to give out the initial entry numbers. Those who have arrived by 1:45 pm on Friday will be entered into the lottery. Those who arrive after 1:45pm will be given the next number available.
SVDP Our Lady of Sorrows, 5221 SE Knight street. Referral only. Call Portland Council for food box at 503-235-8431.
Groceries 4 Grout, 4028 SE 34th Ave. This food pantries is hosted every Friday at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church parking lot. The outdoor pantry is shopping-style, available to everyone and we invite people to bring their own bags. Call (503) 235-3977 with inquiries.
The Woodstock Food Pantry 4033 SE Woodstock, provides groceries on Fridays and Saturdays, between 12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. to anyone who needs them. Drive-through or walk-up pantry. Cars – line up and stay in your car. Walkups – line up on the sidewalk.
The Francis Center 6535 SE 82nd provides food boxes Monday through Thursday from 10am -2pm. They ask that people gather one box per month, unless they're homeless, in which case, they can come once a week.
Kellogg Middle School Free Food Market, 3400 SE 69th Ave, is generally open on the 3rd Friday of every month and is open to the public (you do not have to have a student at Kellogg to attend). Please bring your own bag. The Kellogg pantry is next open on: February 27 from 3:30-5pm. For more information, email info@kelloggmsptsa.org.
Lane Food Pantry, 7200 SE 60th, in the back parking lot, is open both to school families and the public, every Tuesday from 3:30-5pm, and offers 3-5 days worth of food, including fresh produce, to all comers. Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes early for the safety of the students. The pantry is run in partnership between the SUN program, the Latino Network, and the Oregon Food Bank.
The Equitable Giving Circle provides food boxes, compiled with Black farmers, for BIPOC people in our area and provides home delivery.
Portland Open Bible Community Food Pantry, 3223 SE 92nd Avenue Portland, has an open pantry on Tuesday 4pm-7pm and Thursday 10am-1pm except on federal holidays. Online ordering is open 24 hours per day / 7 days per week (click here to order food online). Walk in, call (503) 442-8228, or visit their website for more information.
PDX Free Fridge is a community based and informed mutual aid effort to increase access to free food and vital supplies by creating a network of independent fridges and pantries in Portland, OR. Go to their website to find a fridge or pantry near you! (Note: this map is out of date, and is currently being updaated.)
Milk Crate Kitchen delivers meals twice a month. To learn more, click here for the Milk Crate Kitchen website.
During these unprecedented times, some local restaurants are stepping in to fill the gap. Click here for a list of local restaurants providing SNAP meals.
To research more resources, go to the Oregon Food Bank Food Finder, Findhelp.org, or the Multnomah County Food Assistance page which has been updated to include resources for folks on SNAP not getting their SNAP payments. Multnomah Education Service District has a document with a list of resources for SNAP beneficiaries, translated into multople languages. To donate food, consider the Portland Food Project, which will pick up shelf-stable food from your home and deliver it to food pantries.
SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE - NOW - MAR 31
Online ordering opens Sunday, March 1, at 9 a.m. and will be available through Sunday, March 31, or until plants sell out. Preordering is required to get plants from the pickup events. There is a $30 minimum order.
The online catalog has more than 100 species of native plants to choose from. You can view the expansive list and easily filter by sunlight and moisture levels as well as read educational profiles to find the right plants for your yard.
During checkout, you will choose your pickup location, day and time in this spring. This year, pickup events are held in parking lots in North, East and Southeast Portland as well as Beaverton.
For more information and to place your order, visit Sparrowhawk Native Plants’ website.
LUNAR NEW YEAR PARADE - MAR 7
The Lunar New Year Dragon Dance Parade and Celebration is organized in collaboration with the Oregon Historical Society and numerous community partners. The festivities include lion dancers, drummers, and a 150-foot dragon to lead the parade from the Portland Chinatown Museum, through the China Gate and downtown Portland on SW Third Avenue, and up to the Oregon Historical Society for a joyous conclusion. The parade is on March 7th and begins at 10 am. Click here for event page.
OWL FEST AT TRYON CREEK PARK - MAR 7
Owl Fest is Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is open to all ages and free to attend.
Tryon Creek State Natural Area has five species of owls that call the protected forest home. The Great-horned, Barred, Western Screech, Northern Saw-Whet and Northern Pygmy find ideal conditions to nest in the large forested area that offers food and a place to raise their young.
The owls are such a beloved sight at the natural area that Friends of Tryon Creek have an event all about these birds of prey. Head to the forest to learn more about owls and admire the incredible forest they call home.
Tryon Creek Natural Area is located at 11321 S Terwilliger Blvd. in Portland. Parking is $10. For more information about Owl Fest, visit Friends of Tryon Creek’s website.
FOSTER-POWELL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING - MAR 9
The next Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association Meeting is this Monday, March 9, from 6:30-8:30pm.
In-person: Mt. Scott Community Center (map)
Virtual: Zoom link Dial-in Number: (253) 215- 8782 | Meeting ID: 839 5449 4883 | Passcode: 500305
Bill Cunningham from Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) will be presenting information on and answering questions about the City’s long-term goals for Foster-Powell. Topics will include:
Comprehensive Plan Urban Design Framework: Focusing on designations in the Foster-Powell neighborhood:
72nd Avenue’s designation as a City Greenway,
72nd Avenue Parkway’s designation as a “heritage parkway,” and the
Heart of Foster Neighborhood Center and the Foster “civic corridor”.
Zoning in the neighborhood
Discussions and possible board actions
- Vote: Ryan Sooley would like to be considered for Communications Chair.
- Vote: Free up previously designated funds for in-person location costs.
- Vote: Do we want to form a planning committee for Volunteer Appreciation event?
- Vote: Do we want to form a planning committee for Summer Soiree?
General meetings are always the second Monday of the month from 6:30 – 8:30 PM with the exception of August. Check meeting notices for location. All neighbors are welcome at meetings. Anyone who lives, works, or owns property in Foster-Powell is considered a neighbor.
GRAPHIC NOVEL CLUB - MAR 10
Kids in grades 4-5 are invited to talk about graphic novels and eat snacks at Holgate Library from 4-5pm on March 10th! Every meeting includes a short activity related to this month's book. A limited number of books are available for pick up at the library. Click here to see the event on the library website.
READ TO THE DOGS - MAR 10
Reading to therapy dogs is back at Holgate Library on March 10th from 5:30-7:30pm. Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog. For kids and teens. Call 503.988.5123 to register. Click here to see the event on the library website.
TAX BASICS WORKSHOP AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - MAR 10
Taxes can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be!
Join us at Holgate Library for a workshop Tuesday, March 10 from 6:30-7:30 with MFS CASH Oregon to help you understand the basics of taxes for self-employment and gig work, and free tax help you may qualify for. Click here to see the event on the library website.
CRAFTERNOON FOR ADULTS AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - MAR 11
Join a make-and-take crafternoon at Holgate Library on Wednesday, Mar 11 from 1-3pm! Each craft will be selected from the library's craft book collection. See the event on the library website, here.
This event is first come, first served.
CREATIVE LEARNING WITH BAMBU 3-D PRINTER AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - MAR 12
Use a 3D printer and get help from staff on creating a project of your choice (subject to time limits). No experience necessary! A selection of colors of PLA will be available for you to use.
Space is limited and registration is required. Registration opens February 19. Click here to register for the 2:15-3:45pm session. Click here to register for the 4-5:30pm session.
Children in grades 5 and under must be accompanied by an attentive teen or adult.
JUSTICE KETANJI JACKSON LIVE WITH EVERYBODY READS - MAR 12
Everybody Reads is a community-wide project that promotes shared reading, discussion and creative engagement around a single book. This year's program pick is Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson' memoir Lovely One. Click here to reserve a copy of the book (libraries often also have copies for you to keep, so check your local library branch).
From January through March, join your community at libraries for events around the book. Attend programs about history, the law and civic engagement. Celebrate the themes of Lovely One with creative activities like musical performance and art-making. Click here to see a calendar of Everybody Reads events.
Click here to buy tickets to see Justice Jackson discuss her autobiography live with Literary Arts and ask her questions, on Thursday March 12 from 7:30-9:30pm, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (tickets $35-$85).
YOU TOO CAN CRAFT: CROCHET GRANNY SQUARES - MAR 17
Crocheted granny squares have a long history and can be used to make many things. In this class at Holgate Library on Tuesday, March 17 from 3:30-5pm, you will learn how to make a basic granny square. Project ideas for using these and where to find other patterns will be shared too. Click here to register for the granny square making class.
Materials will be provided but feel free to bring your own. Click here to see the event on the library website.
HOLGATE LIBRARY TWEEN COUNCIL - MAR 17
Come to the Holgate Library on Tuesday, March 17th from 4-5pm and help your librarian choose the best books, movies, comics, programs and events for you and your friends. Have fun working on special projects, making new friends, and creating the perfect library for you! This is a volunteer position and snacks will be provided. For kids ages in grades 4-6. Click here to see the event on the Holgate Library website.
FREE CRAFT NIGHT AT collage ON DIVISION - MAR 17
Every third Tuesday of the month, collage on Division has a free craft night, all materials provided. Join them Tuesday, March 17th from 5-7pm and make fruit and vegetable patches from wool felt! You can find collage at 3701 SE Division St. and you can call them at (503) 477-8804.
READ TO THE DOGS - MAR 21 & MAR 24
Read to therapy dogs at Holgate Library on Saturday, March 21st from 11am-1pm or Tuesday March 24th from 5:30-7:30pm. Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog. For kids and teens. Call 503.988.5123 to register. Click here to see the event on the 21st on the library website. Click here to see the event on the 24th on the library website.
FREE SWIM LESSONS AT MT. SCOTT - MAR 23-26
Free Swim Week
Mt. Scott Community Center (5530 SE 72nd Ave) has space in free swim lessons!
- March 23 through March 26
- All levels
- Preschool through Teen
Register in person or by phone (503) 823-3183 today, online registration opened tomorrow Feb 24. Register online here.
ADA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING SERIES - MAR 24
Rights in Practice: Advocating for Your ADA Rights in Disasters
Building on the legal grounding from Training 1, Rights, Readiness & Responsibility: Disability Rights, Law, and Accountability, this workshop focuses on asserting disability rights in all phases of an emergency. We will hold a guided discussion and breakout groups. Participants will practice applying the ADA to several scenarios. Scenarios will include shelters, evacuation, communication access, and recovery services.
Date: March 24
Time: 6-7 PM
CRAFTERNOON FOR ADULTS AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - MAR 25
Join a make-and-take crafternoon on Tuesday, March 25th from 1-3pm at Holgate Library! Each craft will be selected from the library's craft book collection. Click here to see the event on the library website.
This event is first come, first served.
PERSONAL SAFETY WORKSHOP AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - MAR 25
Have concerns about your personal safety at home or in the community? Have a youth headed to college this fall? A teen beginning high school? A tween staying home by themselves for the first time?
Come join us on March 25, from 3:30-5:30pm for an Introductory Personal Safety and Self-Defense workshop to learn the empowering skills to help keep yourself and your young ones safe and strong! Snacks provided for all attendees. Click here to register for the event. Click here to see the event on the library website.
PORTLAND SIDEWALK JOY MAP - ANYTIME
Take a self-guided tour of local creations using the PDX Sidewalk Joy Map. This map showcases fun, interactive neighborhood galleries, exchanges and displays.
The map has more than 100 community joy spots throughout the city. All of these projects created by homeowners exist to bring a bit of whimsy and inspiration to the community.
These displays are viewable from front yards, curbside gardens, alleyways, side yards and sides of buildings.
The map shows a description, image and the location of each display. There’s also Instagram handles so you can follow your favorite Joy Map creators.
All locations on the map are free to enjoy, but you may want to bring quarters for the Super Awesome Prizes vending machine or pay for a pottery piece at the Poetry Pottery Box. View the map.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY CULTURAL PASSES
The Multnomah County Library has cultural passes to allow free admission to select cultural institutions around Portland. To check out a cultural pass from the library and see the list of institution, please click the button below.
ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS
Anyone who gets food relief through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and has the Oregon Trail Card or Washington State Quest Card qualifies to purchase $5 tickets to theatre, arts, and culture events around Portland through the Arts for All program.
Arts For All envisions a community where everyone—regardless of financial resources—can experience and enjoy arts and culture.
Over a decade ago, Arts For All was founded by dedicated arts leaders to ensure Oregon Trail Card/SNAP recipients could access specific arts events for just $5 per ticket.
Click here to be taken to the Arts for All Website and to purchase tickets. I
OREGON SCHOLASTIC CHESS FOUNDATION STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - APR 17-18
We’re excited to share that the 2026 OSCF State Championship is set for April 17–18 in Seaside and registration is now open!
Full details & registration: https://www.oscf.org/events/oscf-state-championships
State is always one of the highlights of the year: two days of serious chess, ocean air, team spirit, and lots of memories in the making. We hope to see many of you there!
Don’t Forget: Crazy Hat Tradition! Our beloved tradition continues: wear your craziest, wildest, most creative hat on Friday, and you might walk away with a prize. Yes, parents are welcome to join the fun too.
2026 T-Shirt Design Competition
We’re continuing our annual T-shirt design contest and we’d love to see your creativity!
Who can enter? All players are welcome.
Requirements:
• Original hand-drawn artwork
• No AI-assisted designs
• Submit by March 18th at 12:00 PM (noon) by email to oscf@oregonscholasticchessfederation.org
• Email subject line: 2026 T-shirt Design Competition – Player’s Name
All submissions will be reviewed anonymously by an OSCF Board panel.
Prizes:
• 1st Place: $20 Salt & Straw gift card and one free T-shirt featuring the winning design
• 10 Additional Finalists: $5.25 Salt & Straw gift cards
Let your imagination run wild: chess themes, Oregon vibes, creative twists… surprise us!
ATTENDING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
The School Board meets regularly at the school district's Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center (Prophet Center), 501 N. Dixon Street, at 6:00 pm on select Tuesdays of each month - and on certain other occasions. Some scheduling changes do occur; if you plan to attend, please see below for the upcoming public meeting notices.
Under the provision of ORS 192.670 all meetings will be live-streamed at http://www.youtube.com/@ppsboardofeducation/live, except for those meetings that fall under the provisions set forth for executive sessions.
To subscribe to email notifications of public meeting notices, email kbradshaw@pps.net to request to be added to the email list. After an email address has been subscribed to the mailing list, a notice of a Public Meeting of the School Board will be sent before each scheduled meeting.
IMPORTANT TAG PROGRAM DATES
If you had the chance to fill out the TAG Family Survey, we appreciate your input. It you haven’t had a chance to fill out the survey, there is still time. TAG Family Survey This survey is for all PPS families.
The Single Subject Acceleration
Math process application window begins March 1st. This process is open to 2nd - 4th grade students. The process outlined in the PPS administrative directive on acceleration and on the TAG Website, allows students who qualify to accelerate through the next grade level. This is a rigorous process with only 14% of students qualifying for SSA-M in 2024 - 25. It is important to talk with your students' teacher to determine if your student might be a good candidate for SSA-M. Strong candidates are students who have met the standards of their current grade level and are proficient on a paper/pencil assessment administered at schools under the guidance of the TAG Department. The decision to accelerate students is made by the TAG Department, with input from teachers, a variety of district administered assessments and the paper/pencil assessment. The timeline for SSA-M:
March 1 - 31st applications accepted via the TAG Website
April 1 - 30th evaluation process
May 31- family notification
June 1 - 30th appeals process
July 1 - family notification
For questions regarding your student’s potential for SSA-M, please contact your student’s teacher. For questions regarding the SSA-M process, please contact the TAG Department at ppstag@pps.net
Access Academy is an eligibility-based, lottery-only PPS school serving students in PPS who are in need of accelerated learning. It is located at 6318 S. Corbett Avenue. Eligible students may be invited to apply and/or interested families can apply during the lottery window opened yesterday, February 18th and continues through March 15th. Please visit the Access Academy website for more information on the Access Academy Lottery.
VACCINE RESOURCES FOR YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH FROM THE DISTRICT
Vaccines play a crucial role in protecting our students from serious illnesses and help keep our community safe. Parents/ Guardians of students who are due to receive vaccines should receive a letter in the mail. Please check if your child’s vaccinations are current, including their recommended flu shot, and contact your medical provider or any of the resources listed below.
Multnomah County Student Health Centers
Multnomah County Vaccination Clinic (English)
Email: ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Website: arletapta.org
Location: 5109 SE 66th Avenue
Phone: 503-916-6330
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArletaElementaryK5