DOLPHIN DIGEST 1/22/2026
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 LAUNCHES
The Arleta BIPOC Lunch Group began last week on Friday January 16.
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.
ARLETA AUDITIONS JAN 29 - 30
This year's Arleta School play is "The Excellent Adventure", an original Arleta musical production that's a fun take on "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure"! Enjoy history, '80s nostalgia, and chaos with the Arleta theatre troupe!
Sound like fun? Come audition for the play on January 29th and 30th, 5:30-7pm in the school auditorium. Click the button below for a pdf version of the audition form or pick up a paper copy in the school office next week!
Here are the important dates to know:
Questions? Email sarah.lisa.armstrong@gmail.com!Audition Forms Available in Office: Jan 12
Auditions: Jan 29 & 30, 5:30-7pm (you need only attend one night).
Rehearsals: Feb 9 - May 13 (Mondays and Wednesdays).
Performances: May 14 & 15 (Mandatory)
ARLETA FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - JAN 30
Enjoy the new year in community, and come to Arleta Movie Night, on Friday, January 30th! We're showing Disney's "The Princess and the Frog"! Inspired in part by E.D. Baker's book "The Frog Princess" follow Tiana as her dream of opening her own restaurant takes her on an adventure of mistaken identities, metamorphosis, and magic.
Doors open at 5:30 pm and the movie starts at 6 pm. Bring picnic chairs and blankets to set up in the cafeteria for your own comfort. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times during the movie night.
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.
DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER AT BAR CARLO - FEB 10
Our next Arleta PTA Dine-Out fundraiser is at Bar Carlo (6433 SE Foster Road) on Feb 10. Stop by from 7am-3pm, when 10% of all their sales go to support the Arleta School community!
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.
PPS TAG News
SURVEY
Are you unclear about TAG in PPS? Here is a chance to let PPS know how to better share TAG information. The Portland Public Schools Talented and Gifted (TAG) Department wants your feedback. Please take a moment to complete the TAG Family Survey. Your student does not have to be identified as TAG to complete the survey: we want everyone's opinion. This survey will help PPS better understand the experiences of families with students identified as TAG.
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 15th 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 February 18th - March 15th. Please visit the Access Academy website for more information on the Access Academy Lottery.
SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT ASSOCIATION (SPTSA) RELAUNCH
Parent volunteers are working with the Oregon PTA to relaunch the PPS Special Education Parent/Teacher/Student Association (SPTSA). This will be a district wide PTSA for special ed parents, teachers, and students. Some of their new goals include:
- Advocacy; working with Oregon PTA on legislative issues related to SpEd
- Social events and connection for families
- IEP training/workshops
- Sensory friendly events (movies, OMSI, etc)
- Scholarships for students; mini grants for teachers
If you're interested in being part of its reformation, please fill out this Google Document. Or, email pps.septsa@gmail.com with questions!
I BELONG STUDENT ART EXHIBIT ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
Oregon PTA is excited to celebrate the art, identity, and belonging of all children and teens across Oregon. We invite K–12 students statewide to submit original artwork for a special exhibition at the 2026 Oregon PTA Convention, taking place in April 2026 in Clackamas.
Inspired by National PTA’s Reflections theme, “I Belong”, this exhibition will honor the power of creativity, student voice, and artistic expression.
We are looking for submissions from a diverse range of artists from K-12 schools that showcase the creativity of our students. Students can use a variety of art forms, such as visual arts, literature, photography, music composition, dance choreography, or film production, to reflect on any and all ways they feel a sense of belonging.
With this exhibition, Oregon PTA hopes to shine a light on how powerful and essential belonging is for all of us—especially for the children and teens growing up in today’s world.
Students, PTAs, or communities can submit art electronically through this form, or please contact us to submit physical artwork. Artwork should be submitted by February 3rd, 2026.
We also call on all PTAs and school communities to hold their own “I belong” art exhibition this year. Official Reflections posters from National PTA are available for pick-up at the Oregon PTA office in SE Portland (please email office@oregonpta.org to schedule an appointment). Digital resources are also available at https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections/startyourprogram.
If you are interested in helping us celebrate our artists or for any questions, please reach out to us at reflections@oregonpta.org.
Your art belongs, and so do you!
Rules
- Each entry must be the original work of a student at a school in Oregon.
- We recommend that artwork in various art forms stay within the parameters set by National PTA for the official Reflections program here.
- While we are aligning with the National PTA Reflections theme, Oregon PTA is currently not participating in the official National PTA Reflections contest.
- We intend to display a wide variety of submitted artwork; the final decision about the display of any art at the Oregon PTA convention is at the discretion of the Oregon PTA.
- Ownership in any submission shall remain the property of the entrant, but entry into this program constitutes entrant’s irrevocable permission and consent that PTA may display, copy, reproduce, enhance, print, sublicense, publish, distribute and create derivative works for PTA purposes. PTA is not responsible for lost or damaged entries.
- Submission of entry into the PTA Reflections program constitutes acceptance of all rules and conditions.
MISSING SOMETHING IMPORTANT? ARLETA'S OFFICE 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 week of Jan 12-16, we had 92% positive attendance (the same as 92% the week before) and 130 tardies (the same as 130 tardies the week before).
Starting January 28th we'll be adding a bell at 7:58 to help remind students to hurry on over to class.
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:
- Get to bed on time, including grown-ups!
-
Fill backpack the night before, set by door
To get sluggish kids moving, try dance music
WE STILL NEED FIVE MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PLANT TREES TOMORROW!
Arleta has partnered with Learning Landscapes, a division of Portland's Department of Urban Forestry, to plant 23 new trees around our campus! We need volunteers on Friday, January 23rd, from 8:30-11:30am to help plant trees. They will provide materials, gloves, snacks, and coffee. Our fifth grade classrooms will be joining us in planting trees!
Many schools in the district are considered heat islands and this program aims to create as much new shade canopy as possible, while providing an educational experience for students. This program is fully funded by the City of Portland; Arleta Elementary was an eligible priority!
A full team of professional planners and contractors have been working with the district to create our site map with a highly considered selection process. We trust their decisions are informed. In addition to planting next Friday, there will be a second phase of independent work where they will remove and update trees in our playground and parking lot. This program will also be providing follow-up maintenance, watering and care to insure greater success for all these new trees!
With continued effort, we are hoping to initiate a third phase in collaboration with additional organizations that could hopefully include asphalt removal in selected areas of our blacktop.
Please join us for tree planting if you'd like to participate! We could use all the extra hands we can get! We're about five volunteers shy of where we'd like to be, so come join us and help make the grounds safer and more comfortable for our kids!
BOX: HENRY BROWN MAILS HIMSELF TO FREEDOM, BY CAROLE BOSTON WEATHERFORD
What have I to fear?
My master broke every promise to me.
I lost my beloved wife and our dear children.
All, sold South. Neither my time nor my body is mine.
The breath of life is all I have to lose.
And bondage is suffocating me.
Henry Brown wrote that long before he came to be known as Box, he “entered the world a slave.” He was put to work as a child and passed down from one generation to the next — as property. When he was an adult, his wife and children were sold away from him out of spite. Henry Brown watched as his family left bound in chains, headed to the deeper South. What more could be taken from him? But then hope — and help — came in the form of the Underground Railroad. Escape!
In stanzas of six lines each, each line representing one side of a box, celebrated poet Carole Boston Weatherford powerfully narrates Henry Brown’s story of how he came to send himself in a box from slavery to freedom. Strikingly illustrated in rich hues and patterns by artist Michele Wood, Box is augmented with historical records and an introductory excerpt from Henry’s own writing as well as a time line, notes from the author and illustrator, and a bibliography.
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 National Georgraphic article about the history of Henry Brown.
- Hear the author read from the book.
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.
OBOB practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2:30pm to 4:30pm starting Jan 13, through to Thursday Feb 19. OBOB will be run through SUN this year. All players need to be registered for the OBOB Tuesday/Thursday SUN session to be able to participate.
OBOB is also entirely volunteer-run, which means that we need caregiver volunteers to step in weekly to support the kids on their battle journeys. If you have the capacity to help, please immediately complete a background check through Portland Parks & Rec.
GRANDPA DROPPED HIS GLASSES
Grandpa dropped his glasses once
In a pot of dye,
And when he put them on again
He saw a purple sky.
Purple fires were rising up
From a purple hill,
Men were grinding purple cider
At a purple mill.
Purple Adeline was playing
With a purple doll;
Little purple dragon flies
Were crawling up the wall.
And at the supper-table
He got crazy as a loon
From eating purple apple dumplings
With a purple spoon.
What do you call a laughing motorcycle?
A Yamahahaha
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: 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.
MAKE VALENTINES FOR SENIORS - NOW THROUGH JAN 24
Valentines for Seniors 2026 is underway!
@positivechargepdx invites you to help spread love and kindness by creating handmade Valentine cards that will be distributed to local seniors through Meals on Wheels. There are several easy ways to participate:
- Join one of our special MLK Weekend card-making events (details on our website)
- Make Valentines at home and drop them off in advance at one of our community drop-off locations (listed on our website)
- Join our community card-making event on January 24 (1–3 PM)
Event details, drop-off locations, and card guidelines can be found here:
PICTURING THE NORTHWEST: PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE JOHN WILSON SPECIAL COLLECTION - COLLINS GALLERY - NOW - JAN 26
Dec. 6, 2025 - Jan. 26, 2026
Multnomah County Library's special collections hold a treasure trove of images that reflect the people, places and history of our region. This showcase features three centuries of Northwestern perspectives, from a sweeping photo of Portland taken in 1867 to insightful prints created by Indigenous artists in 2014.
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
FIND YOUR HEART IN HAPPY VALLEY SCAVENGER HUNT - JAN 5 - 30
It’s time to put your treasure-hunting skills to the test with a fun, winter adventure around Happy Valley! Each week, a glass heart (replica) will be hidden somewhere in the city: think parks, around local businesses, or other key points of interest.
Clues to its location will drop every Monday at 10am, starting January 5th, on Happy Valley Parks and Recreation social media channels and website.
Be the first to find the replica heart and bring it to City Hall to claim the real deal a one-of-a-kind, handmade glass heart created by local artist Sweet Lomy Art
Get ready to crack the clues, explore Happy Valley, and join in on the fun. Let the hunt begin!
For more info please visit: hv.city/treasure-hunt
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!
OPEN CRAFT EVENT HOSTED BY THE CRAFTY CREW - JAN 28
Bring your crafts and friends and join us at Holgate Library from 1-3pm on Monday, January 28th! Crafty Crew is a community of crafters who share a love of creating using a variety of mediums - knitting, crochet, beading, embroidery, collage, ceramics and more. See the event on the library website.
GROWING BLUEBERRIES - JAN 28
“Let’s Grow Together” webinars are produced by 10-Minute University™, Clackamas County Master Gardener Association, with a focus on healthy plants, nutritious food, beauty, and biodiversity.
Everyone knows blueberries are delicious parcels of antioxidants, but how many are aware that blueberry plants can live and bear fruit for decades?
This session reveals best practices developed through decades of research by Oregon State University scientists. Topics include how to select among different varieties, soil preparation, planting techniques and cultural practices (fertilizing, watering and pruning), pest and disease problems, and how to manage them.
The presentation is led by Jane Collier, an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener and instructor for the award-winning 10-Minute University™ Program. Teaching gardening classes since 2006, she has produced numerous instructional videos available at https://cmastergardeners.org/10-minute-university/
Jane brings both home gardening and blueberry farming experience to her engaging presentations.
This online seminar is free with advance registration. Can’t attend live? Register for the session, and you will receive a recording link two days after the class.
*Counts as one hour metro area Master Gardener continuing garden education credit.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
STUDENT AND ADULT REPRESENTATIVES NEEDED FOR PAC FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF DONATIONS FOR STAFFING
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 PPS Schools. Learn More at Strategic Partnerships / Parent Advisory Committee (PAC): Distribution of Donations for Staffing. Meetings will be online/virtual.
Here is the proposed meeting schedule:
2026 PAC Meeting Schedule (Proposed)
Wednesday, January 14
5:00-6:00 PM
Wednesday, February 11
5:00-6:00 PM
Wednesday, March 11
5:00-6:00 PM
Wednesday, April 8
5:00-6:00 PM
Wednesday, May 13
5:00-6:00 PM
Wednesday, June 10
5:00-6:00 PM
Thank you to those who have already applied, and you will hear from us soon; however, we still need more representatives. Please 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.
STUDENT APPLICATION- Seeking two high school student representatives.
GET INVOLVED! BECOME A SCHOOL LIASON!
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!
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