DOLPHIN DIGEST 10/16/2025
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
TODAY - BIPOC FAMILY GATHERING - OCT 16
On October 16, 5:30-7pm, we’re excited to have our first Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Family Gathering of this academic year, 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.
TODAY - DINE-IN AT HENRY HIGGINS BOILED BAGELS - OCT 16
Dine-In Fundraiser @ Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels (Foster Location)
Thursday, October 16 | 7 AM – 3 PM
15% of all sales donated to Arleta Elementary! Grab a morning bagel, lunch, or snack + support our students. Dine-in, take-out, gift cards — everything counts!
Eat local. Support local kids. Indulge in Portland’s best bagels!
www.hhboiledbagels.com
TOMORROW - ARLETA FAMILY COSTUME EXCHANGE - OCT 17
It's just about time for our annual Arleta Costume and Athletic Equipment Exchange. Each year, families donate gently used costumes and athletic equipment they're no longer using.
Someone's something old-and-never-used could be just what you're looking for, and something that you never use anymore could be just what someone else needs!
On October 17th, come to the school between 2-3:30pm to search for new costume treasures!
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ARLETA FALL FESTIVAL - OCT 24
This is no trick: get ready for the Arleta Fall Festival, always a treat! The Arleta Fall Festival is Friday, October 24th from 6–8 PM in the annex. Look forward to a fun-filled evening as we celebrate the best of the fall season! Join us for: A lively dance party, costumes & games, festive decorations and plenty of snacks.
The Fall Festival always takes a community of parents to make this happen! Sign up to donate a yummy treat to the bake sale, or sign up to volunteer at the event itself!
¿POR QUÉ NO? DINE OUT FUNDRAISER - NOV 5
Wednesday, November 5 • 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
4635 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97215
Join us for a delicious day out at ¿Por Qué No? Taqueria — the sunniest place in Portland! Enjoy lunch, dinner, or happy hour (Monday–Friday, 2:30–5:00 PM) while supporting our school.
Dine in, take out, grab a gift card, or order catering — 10% of all sales all day go directly to Arleta! Both locations offer indoor and heated, covered outdoor dining, plus open-air seating.
Let’s taco ’bout supporting our school!
PICTURE RETAKE DAY - NOV 12
Did Picture Day find your child making a weird face? Someone not happy with what they were wearing? Never fear, you can get a do-over!
Picture Retake Day Picture is the morning of November 12th. You can place an order for retakes starting October 22nd. Click here to order retakes, or go to DorianStudio.com and type "Arleta Elementary" in the search bar. You may need your student's ID number. You can access that by logging into ParentVUE or by calling the office.
We will also have order forms available in the office.
OBOB Team Registration Opens Oct 24
Oregon Battle of the Books is a friendly reading comprehension trivia competition for grades 3-5. Create your own team of 2-5 players, or just sign up and we will help you form a team! Teams will read the 16 books from the 2025-26 OBOB list.
Read as much as you can from the official list of 16 awesome titles from various genres, or divide up the books between yourself and your teammates and work together to read the list (for instance, each child on a team of four reads four of the books)!
Teams require a parent/guardian coach. Choose a team name. Make a team logo. You can even make team t-shirts if you like! Practice recall and memorization, then come battle it out in a lively and encouraging Q&A trivia competition in the library! Pool Play will be held during school hours for our 2025-26 season.
Teams will be matched against each other and answer specific trivia questions about the books. The tournament will begin in January, with battles being held during school hours. Prior to this, we will have optional practice battles and optional after school open library time. Our final championship battles will be scheduled for late February, after school, well in advance. All finalized dates TBD.
How do I get on a team? Find other Arleta students in 3rd-5th grade that are interested in participating and sign up as a team.
● If you want to participate but aren’t sure who you can be on a team with, tell your parents, your teacher or our librarian, and they will help you.
● Registration will begin October 24th. Registration will run for a month and will officially close November 30th. It can take time to commit and form teams so get started right away!
● Return your registration form to your teacher or to the librarian.
Find the official list of titles and other resources at: www.oregonbattleofthebooks.org
Below is a full list of the OBOB books for Grades 3-5 2025-26. Click on the links (or the images below) to borrow them from Multnomah County Library, or you can order them from Powells Bookstore!
MS. HANNAH RECOGNIZED IN PORTLAND BUREAU TRANSPORTATION NEWSLETTER
In the program, Safe Routes to School, PBOT staff train PE teachers to lead this curriculum, which uses games and movement to teach safe walking skills.
Ms. Hannah told the PBOT staff, "“It was a huge success and the students loved it. It was very fun to see the kids so engaged in the activities!”
BEAT THE BELL
Last week, Arleta had a 95% attendance rate (up from 92% the week before) and 103 tardies (less than the 113 tardies the 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:
Make sure everything your kid needs for the day is right by the door the night before.
- Designate turns in the bathroom in the morning, set a timer for fairness.
- Get kids an old-fashioned alarm clock for their room. Set it across the room. Practice using it.
FALL FESTIVAL BAKE SALE - WE NEED YOU!
We’re eeeerily close to having a full table of treats — just 4 more baked goods needed!
Sign up today to help sweeten the celebration.
VOLUNTEER AT THE FALL FESTIVAL
The Fall Festival is October 24th. We need volunteers to help with setup, running stations, and cleanup.
Without enough volunteers, we will have to cancel the festival.
It truly takes a village to make it happen, so please sign up today!
We need volunteers to:
- help set up the decorations and tables
- greet people at the door,
- take half hour shifts selling concessions,
- pass out goody bags, and
- help clean up at the end of the night.
DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE YOU CAN MAKE IN THE PTA
BE AN ARLETA PARENT LIASON TO THE FUND FOR PPS
The nonprofit organization The Fund for PPS has launched a campaign called Champion PPS Schools to make collective impact with fundraised dollars. In the 2025-26 school year Champion donated $930,000 across the district for high impact tutoring in grades K-3, math supports for grade 9, and food pantries in 20 PPS community schools.
Learn More in our 2024-2025 Annual Report posted at fundforpps.org!
We need people from each school community to act as liaisons -- points of contact -- to The Fund for PPS. We want to hear what's going on at your school and how to engage your school community. Join us to expand the network of "Champions" and help us build a districtwide community focused on improving the academic experience for our kids and expanding fundraising so Champion PPS Schools can continue to invest in our schools and students! Thank You!
THE MANY ASSASSINATIONS OF SAMIR, SELLER OF DREAMS BY DANIEL NAYERI - 2024 NEWBERY HONOR
A new all-ages adventure tale from Printz Medal Winner, Daniel Nayeri
This is the tale of an exciting journey along the Silk Road with a young Monk and his newfound guardian, Samir, a larger than life character and the so-called “Seller of Dreams”. The man is a scammer; his biggest skill being the ability to talk his way into getting what he wants. While that talking did save Monkey’s life, it has left a lot of people furious with Samir— furious enough to hire assassins. Monkey decides to try and save Samir from the attempts on his life—as a way to pay off his debt! If he can save Samir six times, he’ll be a free man...but will they all survive that long?
For fans of The Little Prince and Salman Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories.
★ 2024 Newbery Honor Award
★ NPR Best of the Year
★ Booklist Best of the Year
★ School Library Journal Best of the Year
★ Chicago Public Library Best of the Year
★ Evanston Library Best of the Year
★ kirkus best of the year
★ Wall Street Journal best of the year
- 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.
- Go to the author's website!
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.
TOMORROW - FREE FOOD MARKET AT KELLOGG MIDDLE SCHOOL - OCT 17
Shopping at the Free Food Market at Kellogg Middle School is simple: the food is free, available to everyone (you do not need to have a student attending Kellogg) and there is no ID or proof-of-residence required. Simply bring boxes or bags to Kellogg Middle School, 3400 SE 60th Avenue, from 3:30-5pm on Friday, October 17!
TOMORROW - PAT & PIRC ICE RESPONSE NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK TRAINING - OCT 17 & OCT 23
In the face of escalating ICE activity in our communities and potential national guard showing up in our neighborhoods, Together Lab and the Portland Association of Teachers are bringing together trusted faith communities, schools, residents and small businesses at the neighborhood level to be better prepared and more resilient. In coordination with regional and statewide groups like PIRC (Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition).
We know the most resilient communities are those with the strongest relationships. And that our neighborhoods thrive when we know each other and our stories, when we trust each other and care for one another. When we don't allow someone on the other side of the country to tell our story for us. And right now, we need our neighbors more than ever.
Open to the public:
- Monday: 10/13/2025 at Harrison Park Middle School; 5-7pm
- Friday: 10/17/2025 at Ockley Green Middle School; 5-7pm
- Thursday: 10/23/2025 at Jackson Middle School; 5-7pm
Food, Interpretation, & Childcare will be available - Please RSVP so we can meet our communities needs.
NURTURING A POSITIVE IDENTITY IN LATINO/A CHILDREN - OCT 30
On Thursday, October 30th, from 4 - 6pm, join Embrace Race for a 2 hour virtual workshop to learn, share, and ask questions about nurturing a positive identity for Latino/a children!
How do I support my Latino/a child to have a strong and joyful sense of self, in light of our current social and political climate?
What action steps and strategies can I take as a parent, educator, family member, or caregiver?
What conversations can I have with my Latino/a child to nurture their identity?
Join us for a 2-hour workshop as we explore these topics together and spend time asking questions, sharing stories, and practicing relevant skills. This workshop is for any caregiver that plays a meaningful role with a Latino/a child or children, either at home, in the classroom, or other spaces. Parents, guardians, educators, and all caregivers welcome!
The workshop will be led by Brittany Del Rosario, Mirna Mejia, and Tamara Montes de Oca. Brittany identifies as a Puerto Rican and Cuban Latina/x American and has worked as a high school English teacher, a trainer and coordinator for anti-racism training for children and families, and is a facilitator for EmbraceRace. Mirna identifies as a Salvadoran Latina/x American and has worked in early childhood education, higher education, and in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Mirna is a facilitator for EmbraceRace. Tamara identifies as Mexican American Latina/e/x and is EmbraceRace's Senior Communications Associate. Tamara is a visual storyteller with a mission to utilize social media as a tool to promote social justice and activism.
Registration is $75. We offer a sliding scale, starting at $25, along with scholarship for those in need.
**Email earlychildhood@embracerace.org for scholarships.
**Please note that this workshop will be offered in English. We hope to offer this workshop in Spanish at a later date!
FULLY FUND OUR SCHOOLS FORUM - NOV 6
November 6, 2025, 6 pm
Fully Fund Our Schools Forum (working title)
@ Sunnyside Elementary, 3421 SE Salmon St, Portland, OR 97214
Co-hosted by Community and Parents for Public Schools (CPPS) and Sunnyside ES Advocacy Parent Group
Agenda: Gather with our lawmakers and educational leaders, convene with fellow community members to learn how we can work towards supporting our students and public schools.
On behalf of the Community and Parents for Public Schools board, thank you for your engagement and interest to work to support our public schools together! Please reach out if you have any questions or if you are interested in a leadership role.
Email: cpps@cppsportland.org
Phone: (503) 220-0577
Website: https://cppsportland.org/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/cppsportland/
FREE FIRST THURSDAY AT PORTLAND ART MUSEUM - NOV 6
On the first Thursday of each month, the Portland Art Museum and PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater offer free admission from 10am-7pm. The museum brings global and regional art, culture and history to our city.
The museum also offers quarterly free admission day, usually on Sunday. Another way to get free admission to the museum is through Bank of America’s Museums on Us program. You can also get two free tickets from the Multnomah County Library Discovery Pass.
Children 17 and under always receive free admission along with veterans and active-duty military.
SEEKING PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The PAC is a committee that reports to the PPS Board of Education, and makes a recommendation on how to spend privately fundraised dollars from The Fund for PPS’s Champion Schools. Learn More at Strategic Partnerships / Parent Advisory Committee (PAC): Distribution of Donations for Staffing. Please apply by October 24, 2025, to serve on this committee. Thank You!
Click on the appropriate link below and complete the brief application if you are interested in serving on this committee:
ADULT APPLICATION- Seeking one parent/caregiver from each of the following schools or the feeder schools to: Franklin, Lincoln, McDaniel and Roosevelt.
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.
Email: ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Website: arletapta.org
Location: 5109 SE 66th Avenue
Phone: 503-916-6330
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArletaElementaryK5