DOLPHIN DIGEST 2/5/2026
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.
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 use this link 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.
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.
PTA General Meeting - FEB 9
Come meet other Arleta community members as we go over PTA updates on February 9th, from 6-7pm, in the Arleta Library. Topics will include Dolphin Dash & Teacher Grant purchases updates, Learning Landscapes tree maintenance project update, vote in the 2025/26 Arleta PTA Nominating Committee, and review marketing plans for PTA roles and this year's connection to kindergarten events.
To help make participation easier, childcare and dinner will be provided. While we encourage in-person attendance, a remote option via Zoom will also be available (link will be sent out the week before). The meeting is open to all, though only current PTA members may vote.
We hope to see you there!
PTA Membership
Head to the Arleta PTA Store to sign up!
Note: This year state and national PTA dues went up by $1 each (now $11.50). To keep things fair and accessible, we will continue covering one membership per household. We suggest a $15 donation if you can—it helps cover dues and keeps our budget strong for events and programs.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING - FEB 10
The next school board meeting is Tuesday, February 10 from 6pm-9pm at the Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center (Prophet Center), 501 N Dixon St. Portland, OR 97227.
This meeting is open for the public to attend in person up to the capacity of the Boardroom and will be streamed live under the provision of ORS 192.670 at: https://www.youtube.com/@ppsboardofeducation/live
Links to Board of Education Information:
- Board of Education Website
- Past Board Meeting Recordings
- Board Meeting Agendas and Materials
- Public Meeting Notices
Send requests for public comment to publiccomment@pps.net.
NEURODIVERGENT FAMILY GATHERING - FEB 19
Our next Neurodivergent Family Gathering is Thursday, February 19th from 5:30-7pm in the Arleta cafeteria. The group offers students, parents, and guardians. a safe space to talk, connect, and play. Come join us the cafeteria. Pizza dinner and kid activities will be provided. Please let us know if you would like a translator.
CONNECT TO KINDERGARTEN NIGHT - FEB 26
If you know any families with incoming kindergartners, please invite them by sharing the flyer below or picking up a paper copy at the school office. Thank you!
FIND YOUR MISSING ARLETA LIBRARY BOOK
The Arleta Library is currently missing a few unreturned books. Throughout February, the PTA is hosting a missing book drive. For each missing book returned, students can choose one small prize from the prize bin in the office, starting February 2-27, 2026.
So start looking for those lost books at home, and let's see how many books can get returned!
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH
This month is Black History Month! This week, let's celebrate Black History Month by diving into local history and resources. Here are sixteen things that you can do to explore local Black history and support the local Black community!
Download the Albina Soul Walk. To get started, go to 2125 N. Vancouver Ave. and either stream or download the walk! To read an OPB article about the creation of the tour click here.
Take part in the Historic Black Williams Project (A walking tour) by clicking here.
Join this city-wide scavenger hunt of local Black history!
See photos of Black Portlanders through the decades, including photos on the bulletin board across from the office, by visiting Albina Community Archive online.
View the extensive Multnomah County Library online gallery Our Story, featuring the history of Black Portland including many personal photos throughout the last century.
Read about the new gallery for Black art at the Portland Art Museum by clicking here.
Scroll through Portland: The Lost City of Jazz, a piece by the Black Music Project and see famous jazz musicians who visited Portland during the Golden Age of Jazz.
Search through Portland State University's Special Collections relating to Black History in Portland and Oregon.
Buy from Mercatus's Black Owned Portland Business Directory.
Read Oregon Encyclopedia's entry on Black People in Oregon.
Buy food from Black-owned farms, go to the Oregon portion of the Black Farmers Index, clicking here.
Read Oregon Encyclopedia's entry A Look Back at Portland Jazz: When the Join Was Jumpin'.
Check out The Albina Music Trust.
Celebrate Black History Month with Multnomah County Library's month of celebrations.
See this list of programming celebrating Black History Month on our local classical music station, All Classical FM.
Attend one of these Oregon Black Pioneers events!
MISSING SOMETHING IMPORTANT? ARLETA MAY HAVE IT!
I have been cleaning and organizing the Main Office. I found some valuable items. If anyone owns or knows someone looking for these items, please let the Main Office know.
Thank you kindly,
Halima
BEAT THE BELL
For the short week of January 28-30, we had 92% positive attendance (up from 90% the week before) and 79 tardies (down from 101 tardies the week before, though the week before had an extra day of school that last week did not).
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:
- Pre-load the toothbrush the night before.
-
Grab a school breakfast even if you ate at home.
Put special events (pajama day, field trips, etc.) on calendar; help kids find it on the calendar the night before.
PPS BUDGET CUTS IN THE NEWS
Consider reading this Willamette Week article that breaks down the upcoming proposed budget cuts to the Portland Public Schools 2026-27 budget. The budget deficit cuts will include blending grades in more classes and eliminating 110 positions across elementary and middle schools, especially support positions like interventionists for students and teaching coaches for teachers.
ARLETA CLOTHING CLOSET DAY - MAR 12
The PPS PTA Clothing Center operates at the Marshall High School Campus (3905 SE 91st Ave). The Center serves over 2000 students each school year, providing them with clothing and shoes so that they can feel good about attending school. It relies on volunteers to help organize the clothing, as well as, to help families "shop" for what they need.
Arleta is assigned two days throughout the school year to manage the Clothing Center. Our first one was in October and our second is coming up on Thursday, March 12 from 9:30-1:30. If you are available to volunteer for ANY of this time (even it it's just an hour), please sign up for a slot.
While there are two 2 hour time slots, if you have different hours that work better for your schedule within operating hours, just sign up for one of the slots and make a note of what time you actually plan on being there. Also, if you plan on being there the entire day, please sign up for both time slots.
It is truly a rewarding and fun experience! Thank you for considering!
BE A LUNCHTIME VOLUNTEER
We are looking for volunteers each day to help monitor recess and lunch. This is a fun way to get to know the students and staff! It's not a long time commitment as you can volunteer for just your kiddos recess or lunch or at any that your schedule allows. See the lunch and recess breakdown below.
Can you commit to one day a week, or an occasional lunch time?
K-1 recess 10:50-11:00 lunch 11:05-11:20
2-3 recess 11:05-11:20 lunch 11:25-11:40
4-5 lunch 12:05-12:20 recess 12:20-12:35
Please check in with the office when you arrive for a badge and further instructions.
Volunteers need to have passed a PPS background check and be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Visit the PPS website to start your application and screening process. (Once approved, your application is good for three years).
WE DREAM OF SPACE BY ERIN ENTRADA KELLY - NEWBERY HONOR BOOK 2021
Cash, Fitch, and Bird Nelson Thomas are three siblings in seventh grade together in Park, Delaware. In 1986, as the country waits expectantly for the launch of the space shuttle Challenger, they each struggle with their own personal anxieties. Cash, who loves basketball but has a newly broken wrist, is in danger of failing seventh grade for the second time. Fitch spends every afternoon playing Major Havoc at the arcade on Main and wrestles with an explosive temper that he doesn’t understand. And Bird, his twelve-year-old twin, dreams of being NASA’s first female shuttle commander, but feels like she’s disappearing.
Get The Book
- Click here to borrow the book, ebook, or audiobook 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 in the School Library Journal.
GOT A CHILD IN OBOB?
Click here to borrow any OBOB book from Multnomah County Library, or you can order them from Powells Bookstore (OBOB books are now 20% off at Powell's)!
Would you like to recommend a book for next year's OBOB list? Submit your recommendation here now through February 20th. Click here to read their book recommendation criteria.
Arleta's OBOB finals are on Tuesday Mar 3, 2026 ⋅ 2:30pm – 4pm.
Keziah
I have a secret place to go
Not anyone may know
And sometimes when the wind is rough
I cannot get there fast enough
And sometimes when my mother
Is scolding my big brother
My secret place, it seems to me,
Is quite the only place to be.
What did the volcano say to his wife?
I lava you.
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.
SE PORTLAND LITTLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION OPEN
Southeast Portland Little League (SEPLL) is a nonprofit dedicated to providing baseball and softball opportunities for youth ages 4-16 in a fun, inclusive environment. We welcome players of all skill levels and focus on skill development, teamwork, and fair play. Community is at the heart of SEPLL. By giving kids a place to learn, grow, and connect, we’re building a stronger community—on and off the field.
Registration is now open for Spring teams. Click here to learn more and to register!
TODAY - FREE FIRST THURSDAY AT THE PORTLAND ART MUSEUM - FEB 5
Join us for Free First Thursday on February 5th from 10am-7pm at the Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park Ave) featuring screenings and programs from the Cascade Festival of African Films. This event kicks off the festival’s month-long celebration across Portland and honors its 36th anniversary as the longest-running African film festival in the Pacific Northwest. Experience powerful storytelling, artist voices, and community dialogue across multiple museum spaces.
Free Day Highlights (schedule coming soon):
- Finley Studio: A painting activity with artist Jeremy Okai Davis, who was included in the previous PAM exhibition Black Artists of Oregon and has a piece on view now in Black Printmakers.
- Finley Studio: An African (Mali) sculpture activity facilitated by the organization Ko Falen, making butterflies, dragonflies and flowers out of recycled aluminum cans.
- 4th floor Northwest Gallery: Community conversation and storytelling sessions with members of the African diaspora, held in To Gather Your Leaving.
- Black Art and Experiences Galleries: Music by DJ Reese Bowes.
- Whitsell Auditorium: Short films curated by the Cascade Festival of African Films.
Free First Thursday tickets can be reserved online one week in advance and are also available at the door. Tickets to Free First Thursday programs at the Tomorrow Theater are available online.
PETE THE CAT, THE MUSICAL - NOW-FEB 15
Back by Popular Demand, Northwest Children’s Theater Presents
“Pete the Cat”, a Live Rock Musical!
Script & lyrics by Sarah Hammond, music by Will Aronson
Based on the “Pete the Cat” series of books by Kimberly and James Dean
Get ready for a rockin’ good time as Northwest Children’s Theater (NWCT) brings back its wildly popular live rock musical, Pete the Cat, for a brand-new run at The Judy in downtown Portland. Running from January 31 through February 15, 2026 this encore production follows last year’s near sell-out success and features the original cast returning to the stage.
Based on the beloved “Pete the Cat” book series, the musical celebrates the playful energy, creativity, and cool attitude of the ever-chill cat Pete, along with his best buddy Jimmy. As Pete helps Jimmy embrace the power of imagination, families will experience a joyful, visually vibrant show that highlights the whimsical world of Pete the Cat.
Click here to purchase tickets on NWCT's website.
If you receive SNAP benefits, you can purchase up to four $5 Arts for All tickets to NWCT shows. Arts for All tickets can be reserved beginning two weeks in advance of each production and must be purchased over the phone or in person at the Box Office. For closing weekend performances, Arts for All tickets are only available for purchase via walk-up at the Box Office one hour prior to the start of the performance. To check availability, please email us at info@nwcts.org with your preferred show dates and times or call the Box Office at 503-222-2190, option 1.
Important: NWCT’s Box Office is currently staffed on weekends and other show days. If you call during the week, please leave a message and we will call you back as quickly as possible. We check Box Office emails and phone messages daily.
PORTLAND WINTER LIGHT FESTIVAL - FEB 6-14
Since 2016, Portland Winter Light Festival has been an annual tradition of arts installations and events all around the city during the gloomiest time of the year! The Portland Winter Light Festival is coming February 6-14, filling the city for nine evenings with free light-based art, performances, and moments of wonder.
Ready to dive in? Explore programs, plan your route, check schedules, and discover how to be part of the glow. View the art listings and map here. Or, click here to see the performances schedule. See the theme for this year's festival, here. And look at images from past festival, here.
PUZZLE EXCHANGE - FEB 7
Do you love puzzles? Portland Puzzle Exchange hosts monthly events for you to meet fellow puzzle enthusiasts, swap ones you’ve finished and pick up new-to-you puzzles. This event takes place on the first Saturday of the month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Matt Dishman Community Center, 77 NE Knott St. in Portland.
Bring puzzles you’ve completed and exchange them for others. Once you’ve completed a puzzle, bring it back and exchange it again.
For first-time puzzles, the front table hosts will check them in. Returning puzzles can be dropped off directly onto any of the trading tables.
Organizers ask that puzzles missing pieces be donated or recycled.
For more information, visit Portland Puzzle Exchange’s website.
FPNA COMMUNITY GATHERING: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND MUTUAL AID - FEB 7
Connect with your Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association board members, neighbors and friends at FPNA’s monthly community gathering at Holgate Library. This month, we will be hosting an Emergency Preparedness presentation from our neighborhood NET group. We will also be discussing the mutual aid chat group effort as well. Hope to see everyone there!
Saturday, Feb 7
1 to 3 p.m.
Holgate Library, community room 1A
GOATS AT YOUR LIBRARY - FEB 7
Come meet some adorable goats at your library, on Saturday Feb 7th from 2-3pm at Woodstock Library! In this informal experience, Kat from Goat it! will be sharing fun goat facts.
This event is first come, first served. Click here for details on the event website.
FOSTER-POWELL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEETING - FEB 9
The next Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association Meeting is this Monday, February 9th, from 6:30-8:30pm at Mt. Scott Community Center - Multipurpose Room 1, 2nd Floor - 5530 SE 72nd Ave (Map) At the top of the stairs, turn left or, from the elevator, turn right. Then, it’s the first room on the right. Look for the Foster-Powell sign. Or, join us virtually at this Zoom link or using the dial-up number (253) 215- 8782, Meeting ID: 839 5449 4883 | Passcode: 500305. Click here for the meeting agenda.
General meetings are always the second Monday of the month from 6:30 – 8:30 PM with the exception of August. All neighbors are welcome at meetings. Anyone who lives, works, or owns property in Foster-Powell is considered a neighbor.
If you would like to have a topic added to the agenda for an upcoming meeting, please contact us at least two weeks prior. We publish the meeting agenda one week before and once the agenda is set there are no additions made.
GRADES 4-5 GRAPHIC NOVEL CLUB - FEB 10
Join us from 4-5pm at the Holgate Library for Graphic Novel Club! Kids in grades 4-5 are invited to talk about graphic novels and eat snacks! 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.
FREE, ALL-AGES PORCHLIGHT DANCE PARTY - FEB 10
The Old Church is participating in the Portland Winter Light Festival with a sculpture by Sebastian Porter, and we're hosting a FREE, all-ages, outdoor dance party on February 10th from 5-7:30pm at our location (1422 SW 11th) to celebrate! Wear your glow gear and be the light show under the porte cochère out front of TOC! Beats by DJ Anjali and The Incredible Kid!
DJ Anjali and The Incredible Kid will bring the heat, inviting kids, grown-ups, families, and friends to dance, bounce, and warm up together under the winter lights. Expect a night of motion, joy, and shared energy, driven by global beats, playful movement, and a strong sense of community. Wear your glow gear and be the light show!
Come hungry: local favorite Parking Wok will be on site selling hot, flavorful street food – perfect fuel for dancing and staying cozy all evening. TOC’s bar will be open too, with Missionary Chocolate Truffles, Farina cookies, and beverages for both the over-21 and under-21 crowd.
READ TO THE DOGS AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - FEB 10 & FEB 14
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog at Holgate Library on Wednesday Feb 10 from 5:30-7:30pm or on Saturday Feb 14 from 11am-1pm. This event is for or kids and teens.
Call 503.988.5123 to register. The dogs and handlers are from Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Dove Lewis Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams, Paws for Love, and Pet Partners®. Click here to see the event on the Holgate Library website.
LEND AND MEND WEDNESDAY - FEB 11
Lend & Mend Repair Cafes are now operating during open tool library hours (6pm-8pm) on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month. Drop in with clothing or other fabric items you would like to repair for FREE hands-on instruction and materials in creatively repairing holes, torn seams, and other common flaws in fiber goods by hand. Mending experts and novices are invited to drop in and join these repair party as supporting volunteers, as well.
This is not a drop-off repair service. Participants may expect to observe, learn and engage in the repairs.
Location
Green Lents Community Tool Library
9215 SE Ramona St. | Portland, OR 97266
MULTNOMAH COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ONLINE CLASS - SEED SAVING - FEB 17
Saving seeds is one of the most meaningful ways gardeners can deepen their connection to the land, their food, and the generations who came before them. Join us as seed saver and educator Briana Smorstad, of Seed Savers Exchange, highlights the why and how of saving seeds from your home garden, with Seed Stewardship in the Garden on Tuesday, February 17, from 5-6pm, online. (Google Calendar ICS) Click here to register for the free class.
Whether you’re hoping to save money on seeds, select plants with traits you love, or preserve varieties with personal or cultural significance, seed saving is a powerful and accessible practice. Briana will cover the basics of growing plants for seed, harvesting seeds at the right time, and storing them so they remain viable for future seasons.
This presentation will also explore the broader impact of seed saving, from strengthening local resilience to protecting our shared garden heritage. Gardeners will leave with practical skills, increased confidence, and a deeper appreciation for seeds as living links between past, present, and future.
Click here to see more about the class on their website. Or, click here to see a full list of their free online classes.
YOU TOO CAN CRAFT - CROCHET HEADBANDS - FEB 17
Come to Holgate LIbrary on Tuesday, February 17 from 3:30-5pm and learn how to make a crocheted headband. There will be instruction in the basic stitches needed to complete this simple project.
Yarn and crochet hooks will be provided or bring your own. Click here to register for the class.
LUNAR NEW YEAR AT LAN SU GARDEN - FEB 17
Save the date: February 17, 2026
Lan Su is home to the most iconic Lunar New Year celebration in the Pacific Northwest! Explore the garden adorned with dazzling lantern sculptures from China and take part in interactive cultural activities that bring the celebration to life. It’s a must-see both day and night!
LAST SUNDAY CRAFTING CLUB FOR ADULTS - FEB 22
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Express your creativity with a variety of art and craft projects. All materials provided! Space is limited; this program is intended for adults. Click here to go to the event on the Woodstock Library website.
ADA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING SERIES NEXT VIRTUAL TRAINING - FEB 26
Rights, Readiness & Responsibility: Disability Rights, Law, and Accountability
This training focuses on the Americans with Disabilities Act and emergency preparedness. Participants will learn what disabled people are legally entitled to during disasters. The training spans across all phases of an emergency: preparedness, response, and recovery. We will focus on what access looks like when rights are upheld.
Date: February 26
Time: 6-7 PM
KELLOGG MIDDLE SCHOOL FREE FOOD PANTRY - FEB 27
The pantry is moving! They will be located in a new space between the cafeteria and the gym. They will still be open for shopping on Fridays from 4-6 PM.
The school pantry is currently in need of the following items, and donations can be left at the Kellogg office during school hours:
- Pasta and sauce
- Cereal
- Tortillas
- Long grain white rice
- Dried beans (especially black and pinto)
- Shelf stable milk, dairy and plant-based
- Canned fruit, applesauce
- Refried beans
- Jam and jelly
- Packaged snacks
Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated, and can be made here. Thank you for your support!
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.
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
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
MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY EVERYBODY READS 2025-26
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).
RESOURCES FOR DISCUSSING VIOLENCE AND RACISM WITH YOUR CHILDREN FROM EMBRACERACE
The nonprofit EmbraceRace has put together a list of helpful resources for growing violence affecting children in our community. They write:
"The truth is as adults and caregivers we can’t 100% guarantee safety for kids. But we can let them know with our words and actions that we will do everything we can to protect them and help them thrive. We can acknowledge hard realities and provide tools for resilience, healing and community. We can create, with kids, a positive vision of the world we want to live in and take steps to get there – running when we can, walking when we must."
Action Guides & Articles
How to talk to kids after incidents of mass violence
by Anatasia Kim, PhD7 Ways to Highlight Resistance Efforts When Discussing Oppression with Children
by Mia BirdsongSame/Same/Different: How to Build an Inclusive Kindergarten
by Madeleine Rogin
Webinar Videos
Managing Racial Stress and Teaching Kids to Do the Same
with Drs. Riana Elyse Anderson and Shawn C.T. Jones
Teaching and Learning About Race: Fantastic Practice in the Early Years
with Victor Bradley and Verónica ReynosoTeaching and Learning About Race: Fantastic Practice in Late Elementary School
with Drs. Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn and Onnie RogersUsing Books to Engage Young Children in Talk about Race & Justice
with Tandem, Partners in Early Learning
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.
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