DOLPHIN DIGEST 3/19/2026
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.
COLLECTING BOOKS TO SWAP AT ART & LITERACY NIGHT
Do you have some once-loved kid books around that don't get the attention they deserve? Let's change that!
From April 9th - 16th, we're collecting gently used, age/school-appropriate books to be donated to the Arleta Book Swap table. During Arts and Literacy Night on April 16th, students and their siblings will have the opportunity to choose a new favorite book to take home.
📚 We encourage kids who donate their books to include a little note for the next reader.
📚 Please limit donations to 1-2 books per child, keeping in mind that it's best to donate only what you would like to take home.
📚 You can drop off your donated books in the basket located outside the main office.
Thank you for helping us share the joy of reading!
KEEP COLLECTING YOUR JAR LIDS FOR FIRST GRADE FLOATS
Calling all recyclers! The first graders will soon be working on creating their floats for the parade and we need all your metal jar lids for the wheels...think sauce jars, pickle jars, jam jars, pepper jars, peanut butter jars, you get the idea. Anything that comes in a glass jar will have a metal lid and we want it!
There will be a tote bag for collection set up at the entrance of the main building or you are also welcome to send them directly to Teacher Katherine. We will continue collecting lids up until May. Thank you for helping our First Graders out!
SUN SCHOOL SEEKING SNACKS TO SHARE
SUN School offers an amazing array of enrichment activity for kids: piano, photography, journalism, skateboarding. But kids explore the world best on full stomaches. SUN School is seeking donations of snacks to help feed kids in the program. Please make sure donations of kid-friendly snacks are healthy and shelf-stable. Donations can be collected in the school office! Thank you so much.
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.
BIPOC LUNCH GROUP ON PAUSE
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. Our last meeting was last week, and we'll resume in the SUN Spring term, which begins April 13!
FREE SALSA DANCING CLASSES FOR ADULTS STARTS APR 19
Starting April 14 and running through May 26, Arleta SUN School will offer weekly salsa lessons for the adults in the Arleta community. Adult Salsa Dance Lessons will be held Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the cafeteria. The entire class series costs $42. No partner is required, and all experience levels are welcome. Please use the link to get registered!
TODAY - BIPOC FAMILY GATHERING - MAR 19
Our next Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Family Gathering is today, March 19, from 5:30-7pm. We’re welcoming students, parents, and guardians. The group offers a safe space to talk, connect, and play. Come join us in the SUN Room, which is located in the main building past the gym. Dinner and kid activities will be provided.
Please RSVP and send any questions to Arleta's SUN Recreational Coordinator, Raina Bilbrew at rbilbrew@pps.net. Please let us know if you would like a translator.
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION - APR 10
Join us for our annual Earth Day & Arbor Day celebration on Friday, April 10 from 2:30–4:00 pm in the Arleta cafeteria!
This fun after school event includes:
- 🌱 Planting seeds to take home and grow,
- 🌸 Flower pounding with Vessel Kitchen Gardens,
- 🐝 Meeting local nature experts from Portland Urban Beekeepers and Hoyt Arboretum,
- 🌿 A Garden club plant sale — take home a plant for your garden!
Kids and families can drop in, explore the activity tables, and learn about bees, trees, gardening, and nature in our community. Feel free to stop by anytime during the event window!
All activities are free to participate in. The only items for sale will be plants from the Garden Club fundraiser. Students must attend with a parent or guardian.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING - APR 14
The next school board meeting is Tuesday, April 14th from 6-9pm, at 501 N Dixon St. Portland, OR 97227. This meeting is open for the public to attend in person up to the capacity of the room 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. More information on Public Comment can be found on the Board’s Meeting Protocols and Public Comment web page.
Board Office Staff
- Rosanne Powell – Senior Board Manager (rpowell@pps.net - 503-916-3741)
- Kara Bradshaw - Executive Assistant (kbradshaw@pps.net - 503-916-3741)
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - FERNGULLY - APR 24
Our final Family Movie Night of the year is this Friday, April 24th, doors opening at 5:30pm and the movie starting at 6pm. In this 1992 animated movie, the magical inhabitants of a rainforest fight to save their home, which is threatened by logging and a polluting force of destruction called Hexxus. Enjoy a cast including Robin Williams, Tim Curry, Christian Slater, Cheech Marin, and Tommy Chong!
Bring camp chairs/blankets for seating. There will be concessions for sale. Students must be accompanied & supervised by an adult.
THANK YOU TO THE PTA CLOTHES CLOSET VOLUNTEERS!
Thank you so much to all the Arleta parents who volunteered for the PPS PTA Clothing closet last Thursday. We had enough last-minute volunteers come to keep the closet open the whole shift.
Arleta PTA volunteer coordinator Lisa Hugelier says, "Sharon who runs the program sent me a message thanking me and saying how much fun she had with all of the volunteers. They were able to catch up on 14 backlogged online orders and assisted 30 kids! I am so proud of our Arleta community!"
WE NEED YOUR HELP NEXT YEAR TO KEEP THE PTA THRIVING
The Arleta PTA is looking for new leaders to bring their enthusiasm and energy to help carry out its mission to support and improve our community. There are lots of ways to get involved, including required board positions and committee chairs. Ready to learn more?
You can:
Review the list of open volunteer positions by clicking here or seeing the graphic below.
Reach out to Arleta PTA secretary Brian Dombeck at bdombe1@gmail.com.
Visit the Arleta PTA's About Us page for more about the PTA in general or get to know our current board members.
We are thrilled to see the new faces that have joined for the year ahead, and are currently still recruiting for many positions at all different commitment levels, including the following positions:
Secretary (currently Brian Dombeck)
Time estimate: ~6 hours/month
Duties: organizing meetings, creating agendas and meeting announcements, taking PTA meeting minutes and submitting previous meeting minutes for approval, keeping the PTA procedure book and bylaws, taking attendance, and checking for quorum during voting.
PTA Treasurer (currently David Bui)
Time Estimate: About 6 hours a month
Duties: Keeping accurate records and submitting financial statements for meetings, coordinating the annual audit and preparing the annual report, filing federal and state tax forms, overseeing proper handling of the PTA's money, and organizing fundraisers.
Event Coordinator Project Manager (currently Megan Dilday and Arley Laman)
To join a team of 2-3 people in events
Time estimate: ~5 hours/month each
Duties: manage the event planning and budgets for a variety of events that the PTA puts on for the school, including the Fall Festival, Winter Bazaar, and End-of-the-Year Jamboree. These events are a really big part of building community at Arleta, and as the person running the show, you’d be making a huge difference by bringing families together.
Roles vary in commitment from an hour a week upwards. The full list of positions we are currently in need of filling can be found here. Come join us build the community we want for our children!
YMCA AFTERSCHOOL CARE SURVEY
To that end, they have created a quick, 6-question survey: Tell Us About Your Childcare Needs – Fill out form
If Arleta families are able to fill this out, it is greatly appreciated.
REGISTRATION FOR KINDERGARTEN IS NOW OPEN!
You can sign up at arleta.pps.net/kindergarten/connect-to-kindergarten
Enrolling early helps us secure the resources and staff our school needs. Click below to download the flyer for details on our upcoming Arleta Kinder Connects and New Student Open House! Thank you!
BEAT THE BELL
For the week of March 9-13, we had 92% positive attendance (down from 93% the week before) and 142 tardies, averaging 28.4 tardies a day (up from 109, averaging 27.25 tardies per day, the short week before).
Looking for some tips to help you get out of the door on time? Check back here each week for ideas.
This week's tips:
-
Avoid electronics entirely for a more restful evening and a distraction-free morning.
Talk about your child’s classroom routine: what happens first thing, how happy the teacher will be to see them.
Don’t try to do “one more thing”; you’ve done enough!
CONNECT THE STARS, BY MARISA DE LOS SANTOS & DAVID TEAGUE
When thirteen-year-olds Aaron and Audrey meet at a wilderness camp in the desert, they think their quirks are enough to prevent them from ever having friends. But as they trek through the challenging and unforgiving landscape, they learn that they each have what it takes to make the other whole.
Luminous and clever, Connect the Stars takes on some hefty topics of the day—bullying, understanding where you fit in, and learning to live with physical and mental challenges—all in a joyous adventure kids will love!
Get The Book
- Click here to borrow the book from Multnomah County Library.
- Buy the book at Powell's Bookstore.
- Buy the audiobook on Libro.fm.
- Buy the book, ebook, or audiobook at Barnes and Noble.
- Purchase the book on Amazon.
What do sweet potatoes wear to bed?
Yammies!
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: April 17 from 3:30-5pm. For more information, email info@kelloggmsptsa.org.
Lane Food Pantry, 7200 SE 60th, in the back parking lot, is open both to school families and the public, every Tuesday from 3:30-5pm, and offers 3-5 days worth of food, including fresh produce, to all comers. Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes early for the safety of the students. The pantry is run in partnership between the SUN program, the Latino Network, and the Oregon Food Bank.
The Equitable Giving Circle provides food boxes, compiled with Black farmers, for BIPOC people in our area and provides home delivery.
Portland Open Bible Community Food Pantry, 3223 SE 92nd Avenue Portland, has an open pantry on Tuesday 4pm-7pm and Thursday 10am-1pm except on federal holidays. Online ordering is open 24 hours per day / 7 days per week (click here to order food online). Walk in, call (503) 442-8228, or visit their website for more information.
PDX Free Fridge is a community based and informed mutual aid effort to increase access to free food and vital supplies by creating a network of independent fridges and pantries in Portland, OR. Go to their website to find a fridge or pantry near you! (Note: this map is out of date, and is currently being updaated.)
Milk Crate Kitchen delivers meals twice a month. To learn more, click here for the Milk Crate Kitchen website.
During these unprecedented times, some local restaurants are stepping in to fill the gap. Click here for a list of local restaurants providing SNAP meals.
To research more resources, go to the Oregon Food Bank Food Finder, Findhelp.org, or the Multnomah County Food Assistance page which has been updated to include resources for folks on SNAP not getting their SNAP payments. Multnomah Education Service District has a document with a list of resources for SNAP beneficiaries, translated into multople languages. To donate food, consider the Portland Food Project, which will pick up shelf-stable food from your home and deliver it to food pantries.
SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE - NOW - MAR 31
Online ordering opens Sunday, March 1, at 9 a.m. and will be available through Sunday, March 31, or until plants sell out. Preordering is required to get plants from the pickup events. There is a $30 minimum order.
The online catalog has more than 100 species of native plants to choose from. You can view the expansive list and easily filter by sunlight and moisture levels as well as read educational profiles to find the right plants for your yard.
During checkout, you will choose your pickup location, day and time in this spring. This year, pickup events are held in parking lots in North, East and Southeast Portland as well as Beaverton.
For more information and to place your order, visit Sparrowhawk Native Plants’ website.
TOMORROW - READ TO THE DOGS - MAR 20
OVERMORROW - BIRDING BY EAR AT POWELL BUTTE - MAR 21
March marks the official start of songbird migration in Portland, and Powell Butte is one of the best places in the city to listen for early arrivals. On this Bird Alliance of Oregon field trip to Powell Butte, on Saturday, March 21, 7:30-10:30am, we’ll focus on developing birding by ear skills while exploring a diverse mosaic of habitats, including Western red cedar–dominated forest, hawthorn shrubland, open meadows, and riparian areas along Johnson Creek. This nature park is an excellent setting for learning how to bird mixed habitats, habitat edges and understand seasonal timing. Click here to see the class and sign up.
READ TO THE DOGS - MAR 21 & MAR 24
Read to therapy dogs at Holgate Library on Saturday, March 21st from 11am-1pm or Tuesday March 24th from 5:30-7:30pm. Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog. For kids and teens. Call 503.988.5123 to register. Click here to see the event on the 21st on the library website. Click here to see the event on the 24th on the library website.
YOZAKURA FESTIVAL EVENTS - MAR 21 & MAR 28
Yozakura Festival celebrates cherry blossoms at Gresham Japanese Garden from March 20-April 4, 2026. From 7 to 11 p.m. every night, visitors witness the ethereal beauty of cherry blossoms illuminated against the night sky. Twelve mature Akebono cherry trees are illuminated with soft lights, creating a mesmerizing ambiance that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Visit the garden's website for more information about the following events.
Saturday, March 21
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Specimen Tree and Shrub Sale and bonsai demonstrations.
6 p.m. Matcha tea demonstration
7:30 p.m. Oregon Koto Kai performs
Saturday, March 28
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Specimen Tree and Shrub Sale and bonsai demonstrations.
6 p.m. Energetic multi-instrument performance and Taiko drum performance by Takohachi Inc.
7:30 p.m. Oregon Koto Kai takes the stage with an ensemble sharing traditional Japanese music through the koto.
On these performance nights, attendees can immerse themselves in the soothing melodies and activities while enjoying traditional sakura snacks for purchase.
The festival is located at the Gresham Japanese Garden, 219A S. Main Ave. Gresham, OR 97030.
FREE SWIM LESSONS AT MT. SCOTT - MAR 23-26
Free Swim Week
Mt. Scott Community Center (5530 SE 72nd Ave) has space in free swim lessons!
- March 23 through March 26
- All levels
- Preschool through Teen
Register in person or by phone (503) 823-3183 today, online registration opened tomorrow Feb 24. Register online here.
URBAN GLEANERS FREE FOOD MARKET - MAR 24
Mt. Scott Park, SE 72nd Ave &, SE Harold St, Portland, OR 97206, USA
No sign up required to attend. Markets are open everyday unless there is a closed date listed.
https://urbangleaners.org/free-food-markets/
ADA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING SERIES - MAR 24
Rights in Practice: Advocating for Your ADA Rights in Disasters
Building on the legal grounding from Training 1, Rights, Readiness & Responsibility: Disability Rights, Law, and Accountability, this workshop focuses on asserting disability rights in all phases of an emergency. We will hold a guided discussion and breakout groups. Participants will practice applying the ADA to several scenarios. Scenarios will include shelters, evacuation, communication access, and recovery services.
Date: March 24
Time: 6-7 PM
CRAFTERNOON FOR ADULTS AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - MAR 25
Join a make-and-take crafternoon on Tuesday, March 25th from 1-3pm at Holgate Library! Each craft will be selected from the library's craft book collection. Click here to see the event on the library website.
This event is first come, first served.
READ TO THE DOGS - MAR 26
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog at Woodstock Library on Thursday, March 26, 3pm-4pm. 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 Woodstock Library website.
PERSONAL SAFETY WORKSHOP AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - MAR 25
Have concerns about your personal safety at home or in the community? Have a youth headed to college this fall? A teen beginning high school? A tween staying home by themselves for the first time?
Come join us on March 25, from 3:30-5:30pm for an Introductory Personal Safety and Self-Defense workshop to learn the empowering skills to help keep yourself and your young ones safe and strong! Snacks provided for all attendees. Click here to register for the event. Click here to see the event on the library website.
WOMEN'S HISTORY TOUR AT LONE FIR CEMETARY - MAR 28
This tour of Lone Fir Cemetery at 10am on Saturday, March 28th highlights the unique stories and roles women filled in the Portland community as Portland transitioned from a frontier town to an early 20th century city. This is a fantastic way to end Women's History Month!
Stop at the gravesites of the prominent founding families (Terwilliger, McLoughlin andMacleay) as well as lesser-known women whose contributions improved the lives of Portlanders.
Women’s Tours are on the fourth Saturday of the month starting at 10 a.m. The tour begins at the Soldiers Monument, located in the center of the cemetery, and will last about 2 hours.
Admission is a suggested donation of $10 and you can reserve a spot in advance online. Space is limited.
FOSTER ROAD HISTORIC WALKING TOUR - MAR 28
FABA and Slabtown Tours are partnering to bring monthly historic tours to Foster Road. Led by expert guide, Dr. March, these tours will highlight Foster’s evolution, unique history, and current mix of eclectic businesses. The next Foster Area Business Association Foster Road Historic Walking Tour is Saturday, March 28 from·4:00 – 5:30pm starting at Kainos Coffee, 5300 SE Foster Rd.
“This bike- and pedestrian-friendly Southeast Portland neighborhood has a character all its own. Expert guide Dr. March has worked with community members and local businesses to highlight a section of Foster Road once served by the Mt. Scott trolley line with the highest concentration of theaters outside of Downtown. Peek into the suburban evolution of fast food culture, preservation efforts, the shift to quality coffee and vegan options. One tour highlight not to be missed is the lovingly restored 1922 Phoenix Pharmacy building. Once the widest road in Portland the neighborhood offers an authentic Portland adventure.”
These historic tours will take place monthly every last Saturday. Tours will begin at Kainos Coffee and last roughly 90 minutes. Learn more and reserve your tickets here: Foster Road – Historic Walking Tour – Slabtown Tours – N & NW Portland Walking Tours.
https://fosterarea.com/events/event/foster-road-historic-walking-tour/
LAST SUNDAY CRAFTING CLUB - MAR 29
Express your creativity with a variety of art and craft projects at Woodstock Library on the last Sunday of every month, from 12pm-2pm! Library staff will provide all materials necessary.
This event is first come first served due to limited space. Click here to see the event on the Woodstock Library Website.
FREE FIRST THURSDAY AT THE PORTLAND ART MUSEUM - APR 2
Did you know the Portland Art Museum is the oldest in the Pacific Northwest? The museum has a rich legacy of bringing global and regional art, culture and history to our city.
On the first Thursday of each month, the Portland Art Museum and PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater offer free admission from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free First Thursday tickets can be reserved online one week in advance and are also available at the door.
Portland Art Museum is at 1219 SW Park Ave. in Portland. For more information, visit the museum’s website.
TWEEN GAMING CLUB - APR 3
Do you like to game? Are you in 4th - 6th grade? If so, join the Woodstock Library gaming club! We'll play video games and board games, talk about games and eat snacks. The next meeting is April 3rd, from 4-5:30pm. Click here to see the Tween Gaming Club on the Woodstock Library websiteb.
READ TO THE DOGS AT WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - APR 3
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog at Woodstock Library from 4:30-5:30pm on April 3rd. 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 Woodstock Library website.
STORIES OF THE STONE AT LONE FIR CEMETARY - APR 4
The Stories of the Stone Tour an insider’s guide to all of the marvels of Lone Fir Cemetery that are not covered in the Historical Tour. You’ll visit additional structures, historic figures and symbols seen throughout the cemetery. Join them on April 4th, starting at 10am at the Soldiers' Monument, for all the graveyard tea!
The tour is split into north and south sides of the cemetery, which alternate every month. Stories of the Stone takes place on the first Saturday each month at 10 a.m. The tour begins at the Soldiers Monument, located in the center of the cemetery, and will last about 2 hours.
Admission is a suggested donation of $10 and you can reserve a spot in advance online. Space is limited.
HABITAT RESTORATION AT NEW BIRD SANCTUARY - APR 4
Join the Bird Alliance of Oregon on April 4th from 9am-12pm along with Friends of Trees for a community planting event at the new sanctuary site on NE 82nd Ave in East Portland, meeting at 8498 NE Siskiyou St, Portland, OR 97220. We are looking for volunteers to help plant hundreds of native shrubs and trees that will support a future wildlife sanctuary. This space will become home to a new Wildlife Care Center, a nature park, and important habitat for wildlife.
During the event, you’ll work alongside trained crew leaders and staff to plant native species, add mulch around new plantings, and remove invasive plants such as Himalayan blackberry. Participants will also have the opportunity to join guided birding walks to observe the wildlife already using the site and learn more about the exciting plans for the sanctuary and upcoming collaborative projects.
This habitat restoration effort is supported through grants from the Portland Clean Energy Fund and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. Come lend a hand, connect with fellow community members, and be a part of helping to create a thriving space for wildlife and people in East Portland.
Click here to RSVP and let us know you'll be joining us. We welcome youth and student volunteers!
SIT AND STITCH AT WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - APR 6
Join your neighbors for a friendly, informal sewing/knitting/crochet/embroidery bee at Woodstock Library on Monday, April 6 from 10:30am-12pm! Bring your own projects and socialize (sew-cialize?) at the library. Click here to see the Sit and Stitch on the Woodstock Library events page.
TWEEN COUNCIL AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 7
Help your librarian choose the best books, movies, comics, programs and events for you and your friends at Holgate Library's Tween Council, Tuesday, April 7th from 4-5pm. 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
ADULT CRAFTERNOON AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 8
Join a make-and-take crafternoon for adults at Holgate Library on Wednesday, April 8th from 1-3pm! Each craft will be selected from the library's craft book collection.
This event is first come, first served.
TINKER CAMP AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 12
You’re an explorer and anthropologist and discover a miniature world that everyone else thought was only imaginary. Come to Holgate Library and enjoy Mini Worlds for Kids with Tinker Camp from 2-5pm on Wednesday April 12th. Create a model of your teeny, tiny world so everyone can see with Tinker Camp, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting STEAM education in your community. Use cool materials and tools to design and build a small scale version of whatever you discovered. Tiny rooms in a teeny house? A pint-sized playground? A miniature amusement park?
All you need to do is bring your BIG tiny-sized ideas! Recommended for kids 8 and up!
Registration opens on March 21.
NEXT FOSTER-POWELL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING - APR 13
The next Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association Meeting is this Monday, April 13 from 6:30-8:30pm.
General meetings are always the second Monday of the month from 6:30 – 8:30 PM with the exception of August. Check meeting notices for location. All neighbors are welcome at meetings. Anyone who lives, works, or owns property in Foster-Powell is considered a neighbor.
LEGO CLUB - WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - APR 14
Join us Tuesday, April 14 from 3:30-5pm for a fun and imaginative LEGO building session. 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 see Lego Club on the Woodstock Library website.
GRAPHIC NOVEL CLUB - APR 14
Kids in grades 4-5 are invited to come together at Holgate Library on Tuesday, April 14th from 4-5pm and 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. Click here to see the Graphic Novel club on the Holgate Library website.
CREATIVE LEARNING: BAMBU 3D PRINTER AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 16
Come to Holgate Library on April 16th to use our 3D printer and get help from staff on creating a project of your choice (subject to time limits). No experience necessary! A selection of colors of PLA will be available for you to use.
Space is limited and registration is required. Registration opens March 26. Click here to RSVP in the 2:15-3:45pm timeframe. Click here to RSVP in the 4pm-5:30pm timeframe.
Children in grades 5 and under must be accompanied by an attentive teen or adult.
OREGON SCHOLASTIC CHESS FOUNDATION STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - APR 17-18
We’re excited to share that the 2026 OSCF State Championship is set for April 17–18 in Seaside and registration is now open!
Full details & registration: https://www.oscf.org/events/oscf-state-championships
State is always one of the highlights of the year: two days of serious chess, ocean air, team spirit, and lots of memories in the making. We hope to see many of you there!
Don’t Forget: Crazy Hat Tradition! Our beloved tradition continues: wear your craziest, wildest, most creative hat on Friday, and you might walk away with a prize. Yes, parents are welcome to join the fun too.
2026 T-Shirt Design Competition
We’re continuing our annual T-shirt design contest and we’d love to see your creativity!
Who can enter? All players are welcome.
Requirements:
• Original hand-drawn artwork
• No AI-assisted designs
• Submit by March 18th at 12:00 PM (noon) by email to oscf@oregonscholasticchessfederation.org
• Email subject line: 2026 T-shirt Design Competition – Player’s Name
All submissions will be reviewed anonymously by an OSCF Board panel.
Prizes:
• 1st Place: $20 Salt & Straw gift card and one free T-shirt featuring the winning design
• 10 Additional Finalists: $5.25 Salt & Straw gift cards
Let your imagination run wild: chess themes, Oregon vibes, creative twists… surprise us!
SPRING FOR ZENGER - APR 25
Zenger Farm is a a nonprofit urban and organic farm that models, promotes and educates about sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, community development and access to good food for all. Join them on Saturday, April 25th, 2026, from 10-2 PM at our annual Spring for Zenger celebration!
Bring the whole family and enjoy Oaxacan Cuisine prepared by Chef Paula of La Cuchara, guided tours, a drop-in volunteer stewardship project, propagation workshops, and more fun farm activities!
This event is FREE and open to the public! Please register by clicking here. Zenger Farm is located at 11741 SE Foster Road • Portland, OR 97266
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
ATTENDING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
The School Board meets regularly at the school district's Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center (Prophet Center), 501 N. Dixon Street, at 6:00 pm on select Tuesdays of each month - and on certain other occasions. Some scheduling changes do occur; if you plan to attend, please see below for the upcoming public meeting notices.
Under the provision of ORS 192.670 all meetings will be live-streamed at http://www.youtube.com/@ppsboardofeducation/live, except for those meetings that fall under the provisions set forth for executive sessions.
To subscribe to email notifications of public meeting notices, email kbradshaw@pps.net to request to be added to the email list. After an email address has been subscribed to the mailing list, a notice of a Public Meeting of the School Board will be sent before each scheduled meeting.
IMPORTANT TAG PROGRAM DATES
If you had the chance to fill out the TAG Family Survey, we appreciate your input. It you haven’t had a chance to fill out the survey, there is still time. TAG Family Survey This survey is for all PPS families.
The Single Subject Acceleration
Math process application window begins March 1st. This process is open to 2nd - 4th grade students. The process outlined in the PPS administrative directive on acceleration and on the TAG Website, allows students who qualify to accelerate through the next grade level. This is a rigorous process with only 14% of students qualifying for SSA-M in 2024 - 25. It is important to talk with your students' teacher to determine if your student might be a good candidate for SSA-M. Strong candidates are students who have met the standards of their current grade level and are proficient on a paper/pencil assessment administered at schools under the guidance of the TAG Department. The decision to accelerate students is made by the TAG Department, with input from teachers, a variety of district administered assessments and the paper/pencil assessment. The timeline for SSA-M:
March 1 - 31st applications accepted via the TAG Website
April 1 - 30th evaluation process
May 31- family notification
June 1 - 30th appeals process
July 1 - family notification
For questions regarding your student’s potential for SSA-M, please contact your student’s teacher. For questions regarding the SSA-M process, please contact the TAG Department at ppstag@pps.net
Access Academy is an eligibility-based, lottery-only PPS school serving students in PPS who are in need of accelerated learning. It is located at 6318 S. Corbett Avenue. Eligible students may be invited to apply and/or interested families can apply during the lottery window opened yesterday, February 18th and continues through March 15th. Please visit the Access Academy website for more information on the Access Academy Lottery.
VACCINE RESOURCES FOR YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH FROM THE DISTRICT
Vaccines play a crucial role in protecting our students from serious illnesses and help keep our community safe. Parents/ Guardians of students who are due to receive vaccines should receive a letter in the mail. Please check if your child’s vaccinations are current, including their recommended flu shot, and contact your medical provider or any of the resources listed below.
Multnomah County Student Health Centers
Multnomah County Vaccination Clinic (English)
Email: ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Website: arletapta.org
Location: 5109 SE 66th Avenue
Phone: 503-916-6330
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArletaElementaryK5