DOLPHIN DIGEST 11/13/2025
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
"Racism is a grown up disease, let's stop using our kids to spread it." -Ruby Bridges
I hope you'll be able to support your child's participation in our first Arleta "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" this Friday! Walking to school Friday is an opportunity to reflect on and demonstrate our individual and collective commitment to interrupting racism and all forms of bullying. Across the nation, students and families at participating schools walk to school like Ruby Bridges did on November 14, the anniversary of Ruby Bridges' first day of 1st grade at an all white school in New Orleans in 1960. We’re encouraged to wear purple to represent courage, dignity and resilience. By walking to school ourselves and commemorating the historic steps Ruby Bridges took we can show our support for social justice, equity and inclusion.
To clarify, this event is different from the other times we've promoted walking to school: we also participate in "Walk/Roll to school days" but those are for a different purpose. To highlight the cultural and historical significance of this once yearly event, our PTA Inclusion Chair Tiffany Blackmon, who is organizing Arleta's participation, will post up flyers and signs with information and pictures about Ruby Bridges, the day, and other related persons and events along the front sidewalk for us all to view as we arrive at school. If you’re comfortable taking and sharing photos of your children walking, Tiffany would love to have them! Email to tiffanyhblackmon@gmail.com
Warmly,
Lisa
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.
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 (but they have added extra dates for November and December) 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 open for these dates: November 7, 10, 14, 18, 21 & December 2, 5, 9, 12, 15, 19, from 4pm-6pm. 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.
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.
TODAY - ARLETA LITTER PICK-UP - NOV 13
The Arleta Green Team hosts twice-monthly litter clean ups on second and fourth Thursdays of the month. The only Litter Pick-up in November is on Thursday, November 13th from 2:30-3pm.
Please meet at the picnic tables, grab a bucket and grabber, pick-up trash anywhere you see it, and drop off the bucket when you're done. We will take care of the trash. Leave whenever you need. Thank you for helping to keep our school grounds clean and safe for everyone!
TOMORROW - RUBY BRIDGES DAY - NOV 14
Students are invited to walk to school in celebration of Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. The walkways around the school will have information/pictures along them. Students can collect small incentive items for participating in front of the school before heading to class.
Ruby Bridges was 6 years old when she became the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans in 1960. Join us as we walk to school and reflect on Ruby's story together on 11/14. Find more resources for learning about Ruby Bridges and activities such as coloring pages here: Ruby Bridges Resources
For a quick guide for children on who Ruby Bridges is, see this video by Scholastic!
PTA GENERAL MEETING - NOV 17
Come meet other Arleta community members as we go over PTA updates on November 17, from 6-7pm, in the Arleta Library. Topics will include fundraising updates, PTA projects in the works, and a review of the PTA budget & standing rules.
Dinner & childcare will be provided. We hope to see you there!
HONORING NATIVE PEOPLES MURAL CELEBRATION - NOV 21
Please also mark your calendars to join us for our Honoring Native Peoples Mural Celebration the Friday before conferences begin, Nov. 21st at 5 p.m.
Each child in our school will have their radial basket weaving on display, forming the border for our mural. Malcolm Pascua-O’Neill, our Plains Tribe Indigenous Artist, will be present, as will Lisa Jackson, Spotted Elk Oceti Ŝakowiŋ and Sheryl Moren, both former Arleta parents whose visions and efforts over the past four years created the possibility for the prominent indigenous art installation now hanging in our main hallway.
There will be drumming on the stage, and a casual Community Connect in the hallway to view and appreciate the mural. Malcolm will give a short overview of his process and the mural’s meaning. Our mural was also made possible through the contributions by Arleta Families to our Dolphin Dash which takes place each spring. Thank you Arleta Families and Caregivers.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES NOV 24-25
Fall conferences are individual meetings between you and your child's (or children's) teacher(s). Conferences are an excellent time to learn how your child is settling into the school year, what they are finding success with and what they might be struggling with. It's an invaluable opportunity to discuss your child's needs with their teacher. This year, conferences are being held on November 24-25.
Each conference is 25 minutes long, and conferences start at 8am and end at 7:55 pm. Our staff will be at Arleta, but we can provide a virtual link if that’s better for your family. For families with more than one household, we ask you to schedule one conference per child. Students are welcome to join the meeting and individual teachers will share their conference structure through their classroom newsletter.
NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING - DEC 2
The next school board meeting is Tuesday, Dec 2, 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.
RAISE FUNDS FOR ARLETA THROUGH BOTTLEDROP GIVE THIS SEASON
Earn 20% extra on every bag returned from November 15 - December 2.
Drop your filled blue bags at any bag drop location OR bring them to Arleta on Friday morning 11/21 or Monday morning 12/1 and we'll take care of it for you.
** Blue bags with Arleta stickers available in the office **
SIGN UP TO SELL AT THE WINTER BAZAAR
Is your kid creative? Have they been asking for an opportunity to earn some pocket money?
Each year, Arleta School hosts our Winter Bazaar. Kids sell crafts, the PTA hosts a bake sale & raffle, and we all get to hang out in community, while doing a little winter shopping and enjoying each other's creativity and skills!
Tables are available to reserve starting now. If your child wants one, reserve quickly because space runs out fast!
BEAT THE BELL
For the week of Nov 3-7, we had nearly 92% positive attendance (down from 94% the week before) and 109 tardies (up from 80 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.
VOLUNTEER AT THE WINTER BAZAAR ON DEC 6
The Arleta Winter Bazaar is a beloved tradition, because of the parents and families who make it happen! Help transform the cafeteria into a winter wonderland, sell delicious baked goods to raise money for the PTA, or help put everything away at the end of the bazaar.
Click the button below to sign up to pitch in and help out at the Arleta Winter Bazaar on December 6th!
DONATE ITEMS FOR THE WINTER BAZAAR RAFFLE
We need your help to make the raffle extra special! We’re looking for fun and unique items to raffle off—think spa or beauty services, vacation rentals, local craft goodies, and tasty food and beverage treats. If you or someone you know can contribute, we’d love to hear from you!
All donation offers should be sent to Arley Laman at arleyann@me.com.
ARLETA BAKERS UNITE FOR THE WINTER BAKE SALE
Calling all bakers and treat-makers!
We’re gathering delicious goodies for the Arleta Winter Bazaar Bake Sale. Proceeds go directly to supporting PTA-funded programs for our students and staff. Sign up here.
Thanks for spreading sweetness and school spirit!
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).
CELEBRATE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH AS A FAMILY
Each week our newsletter highlights different topics of interest and provides different resources for you to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. This week, let's explore some stories.
Each week this month our newsletter highlights different topics of interest and provide different resources for you to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. The first week's newsletter gave some basic resources and local events. Last week's newsletter explored stories and books. This week, we're celebrating people!
Nonprofits and Nonprofit Leaders in our Community
PSU's Native American Student and Community Center
Future Generations Collaborative
Portland Indigenous Marketplace
Read about the work of one of Skidmore Prize's 2024 winners, Anna-Liza Victory.
See Ecotrust's 2025 Indigenous Leader Awards recipients and their work in the Portland community
Famous Native Americans To Share With Your Kids
Scientists:
Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree.
Anpetu Wastéwin (Ella Cara Deloria), anthropologist whose work became an important foundation for the study of Sioux dialects and culture.
NASA physicist, Fred Begay.
Archeologist Bertha "Birdie" Yewas Parker
Mary Golda Ross, the first Native American aerospace engineer (or watch this segment on her on PBS Newshour).
Surgeon Dr. Lori Arviso Alvord (and check out her book, The Scalpel and the Silver Bear at Multnomah County Library).
Astronaut John Herrington.
Astronaut and veteran Nicole Aunapu Mann.
NASA Engineer Aaron Yazzie.
Inventor and engineer Thomas David Petite.
NASA physicist Jerry C. Elliot who worked on the Apollo 11 mission and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work on Apollo 13.
Artists:
Storyteller and performer Te Ata.
Former National Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo.
Pulitzer Prize Winner Louise Erdrich.
Pulitzer Prize Winner N. Scott Momaday.
Author Tommy Orange.
Poet Alexander Posey.
Physician and author Charles Eastman, who was the reservation doctor at the Battle of Wounded Knee.
Painter Kent Monkman.
Painter Kay Walkingstick.
Actor Wes Studi.
Actor Grahame Greene.
Actress Lily Gladstone.
Actor Jason Momoa.
1950s rocker Link Wray, the composer of the only banned instrumental song in rock history.
Designer Lauren Good Day.
Writer, musician, and librettist Zitkala-Sa (Red Bird), or watch a segment on her work on PBS American Masters.
Ballerina and artistic director, Moscelyne Larkin.
Ballerina Yvonne Chouteau (link includes Chouteau dancing).
Prima ballerina Maria Tallchief.
Prima ballerina Rosella Hightower.
Leaders:
Sioux Chief Sitting Bull.
Nez Perce Chief Joseph.
Shawnee Chief Tecumseh.
Wovoka, the founder of the Ghost Dance.
Queen Lili'uokalani, Hawaii's Last Queen.
Duwamish/Suquamish Chief Seattle.
Hiawatha, who united the Five Nations into the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederation in the 1400s.
The first female chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller.
Ottawa Chief Pontiac.
Former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.
Congresswoman Sharice Davids.
Activist Winona LaDuke.
Child activist Autumn Peltier.
For a different approach, read about photographer Matika Wilbur's work photographing members of every fedrally recognized tribe in the US or wFMT's list of Native American musicians you should know. To learn more about a specific tribe of Native Americans, check out this thorough database! For a deeper dive, locally, read this OPB article from June 2025 on the Portland Tribal Relations office.
MAIZY CHEN'S LAST CHANCE, BY LISA YEE - 2023 NEWBERY HONOR
Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota . . . until now. Her mom’s plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and as Maizy spends more time in Last Chance and at the Golden Palace—the restaurant that’s been in her family for generations—she makes some discoveries.For instance:
- You can tell a LOT about someone by the way they order food.
- People can surprise you. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in disappointing ways.
- And the Golden Palace has secrets…
But the more Maizy discovers, the more questions she has. Like, why are her mom and her grandmother always fighting? Who are the people in the photographs on the office wall? And when she discovers that a beloved family treasure has gone missing—and someone has left a racist note—Maizy decides it’s time to find the answers.
- 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.
- Go to the author's website!
MAKE A PAPER VASE AND FLOWERS
What kind of tree fits in your hand?
A palm tree!
COLLINS GALLERY AT THE MAIN LIBRARY - THE ART OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS, NOW - NOV 30
Sept. 26 - Nov. 30, 2025
Explore how children’s book illustrations come to life in this exhibit highlighting the creative process and varied illustration styles. Featuring sketches, storyboards and final art from a wide range of Oregon illustrators, the show offers a behind-the-scenes look at how ideas evolve into finished images for young readers. Presented by the Oregon chapter of SCBWI (The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators).
The Collins Gallery is used for exhibits created by library personnel or by community members in cooperation with library personnel. Use of space by a community organization does not constitute an endorsement of the organization's beliefs by the library.
Central Library
801 SW 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
503.988.5123
LEGO STOP MOTION ANIMATION SHOWCASE AT MOVIE MADNESS - NOV 15
STOP MOTION ANIMATION SHOWCASE with Bricks & Minifigs
Join us on Saturday, Nov 15 from noon-4pm for an afternoon of LEGO® stop motion animation featuring original films by Bricks & Minifigs animation students and local animators!
To submit your film, send an email to: portland.events@bricksandminifigs.com
Movie Madness is located at 4320 SE Belmont St Portland, OR 97215,
MOVIE MADNESS FREE SCREENING: RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON - NOV 16
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON
Sunday, Nov. 16; 11:30AM
In a realm known as Kumandra, a re-imagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization, a warrior named Raya is determined to find the last dragon.
Tickets available at the counter in-store or by calling (503) 234-4363. Movie Madness is located at 4320 SE Belmont St Portland, OR 97215.
PORTLAND YOUTH PHILHARMONIC - CADENZA SERIES - NOV 16
PYP's Cadenza Series performance is on Sunday, November 16th, at 4pm, in George Fox University's Bauman Auditorium. Click here for tickets!
Three of Portland Youth Philharmonic’s ensembles—Portland Youth String Ensemble, Portland Youth Wind Ensemble, and Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra—join forces for a fall concert that blends youthful spirit with dynamic storytelling.
The program opens with Xinjiang Folk Song Dance of Youth and Haydn’s lively Presto from Symphony No. 1, performed by the Portland Youth String Ensemble under the direction of Inés Voglar Belgique.
Next, the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble, led by Giancarlo Castro D’Addonna, performs a vibrant set that spans centuries and styles, including Mozart’s serene Ave Verum Corpus, Vaughan Williams’s Folk Song Suite, Yukiko Nishimura’s shimmering Winter Milky Way, and Todd Stalter’s rhythmically bold Rephrygeration.
David Hattner and the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra bring the afternoon to a stirring close with Nicole Buetti’s Restless Winds, Mendelssohn’s String Symphony in C Minor, and Giancarlo Castro D’Addonna’s sweeping Journey—a contemporary work that unites all three ensembles in a finale filled with color, energy, and emotion.
READ TO THE DOGS AT THE LIBRARY - NOV 18, 19, & 21
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog from 5:30-7:30pm at the Holgate Library on Tuesday Nov 18 and Wednesday Nov 19, or from 4:30-5:30pm on Friday the 21st at Woodstock Library. The dogs and handlers are from Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Dove Lewis Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams, Paws for Love, and Pet Partners®. For kids and teens. Call 503.988.5123 to register at Holgate Library or Woodstock Click here to be taken to the event for the 18th on the library webpage.
HOLGATE LIBRARY TWEEN COUNCIL - NOV 18
The Holgate Library Tween Council is meeting Tuesday November 18 from 4pm-5pm. 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 be taken to the event on Holgate Library's calendar.
FREE CRAFT NIGHT AT COLLAGE ON DIVISION - NOV 18
Every third Tuesday, collage, the independent craft store at 3701 SE Division St., Portland, OR 97202, has a free craft along from 5-7pm. This month's craft-along is a paper garland!
FREE CONCERT AT THE OLD CHURCH - NOV 19
On the first and third Wednesdays of the month at noon, The Old Church concert hall hosts free Lunchtime Concerts. Built in 1882, The Old Church in downtown Portland is on the National Register of Historic Places. The concert venue hosts events meant to enhance the cultural life of the community and celebrate the building’s historic architecture.
The 2025 season invites audiences to view the show at the venue and from home. Each event will be open to the public, livestreamed on Youtube and broadcast on TV. Each concert program is one hour.
On Wednesday, November 19 at noon Musicorum Medicorum will perform is a trio of doctors by day and musicians by night. The trio consists of a piano, violin, and violoncello/
PROGRAM
J.S. Bach (1685-1750): Concerto in d minor (c.1730), BWV 1043, arranged for piano trio
II. Largo ma non tanto
Ernest Bloch (1880-1959): Three Nocturnes (1924)
I. Andante
II. Andante quieto
III. Tempestoso
Arno Babadjanian (1921-1983): Trio (1952)
I. Largo; Allegro espressivo
II. Andante
III. Allegro vivace
The Old Church is at 1422 SW 11th Ave. in Portland. For more information, visit TOC’s website.
LEGO CLUB AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - NOV 21
Join us for a fun and imaginative LEGO building session from 3:30-4:30 at Holgate Library. We'll provide the building blocks, you bring the creativity! Ideal for grades K-5, but younger and older siblings are welcome. Click here to be taken to the event on the library website.
NWCT'S WIZARD OF OZ - NOV 29 - JAN 4
"We're off to see the Wizard!" Join Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion on a classic adventure through Oz.
Northwest Children's Theatre's "Wizard of Oz" runs Nov 29- January 4, with 3pm and 11:30pm showings. Tickets to all shows at The Judy are general admission and can be purchased here.
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.
TRYON CREEK FREE GUIDED NATURE WALKS
Join Oregon State Park Rangers, volunteer naturalists and a park guide on free nature walks. Explore Tryon Creek’s forest and learn about the plants and animals that call the natural area home.
The activity is geared toward ages 5 through adult, but all ages are welcome. Kids must be accompanied by an adult.
The walks take place every Saturday from 10-11 a.m. and occasionally on Sunday.
Here are the upcoming guided hikes:
- October 11: Ask a Ranger
- October 18: Creepy Creatures
- October 25: Ghosts of Oregon State Parks
- November 1: Mushrooms
- November 8: Owls
- November 15: Fall Scavenger Hunt
No registration is required to participate in the free guided nature walks. Meet at the front of the Nature Center.
Tryon Creek Natural Area is located at 11321 S Terwilliger Blvd. in Portland. For more information, visit Friends of Tryon Creek’s website.
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).
THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN - WHAT IT MEANS FOR SCHOOLS AND HOW TO HELP
The National PTA has put together an action center on their website with steps that you can take to help ensure functioning schools during this time. Click here to go to the National PTA Action Center. Lawmakers have been unable to reach an agreement to fund government programs and operations for the next fiscal year, which led to a shutdown of the federal government that is already beginning to impact school operations and programs serving children across the country. At a time when our education system and families are strained, it is the time to increase, not decrease federal investments in programs like IDEA and Title I that uplift our nation’s families and schools. Take action today and urge Congress to end the government shutdown and reach an agreement that prioritizes our nation's children, families and schools!
NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL HEALTHY LIFESTYLES MONTH
Lets work together to support mental health, physical health and the environment around us! National PTA's Healthy Lifestyles initiative features approachable resources and interactive programs to encourage all pillars of living a healthy lifestyle. And follow National PTA's social media for special tips, insight and more!
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