DOLPHIN DIGEST 12/4/2025
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
Dear Arleta Parents and Caregivers,
Hope you had a wonderful fall break! It’s great to have children back at school rested and ready to learn. Thank you for all the effort that goes into making that happen for us every day! We love and appreciate you, Amazing Arleta Families. 🐬💙
I hope you will take the 2025 Successful Schools Family Survey. Click here to take the family survey! Thank you to our 17 families who have taken the survey so far. Last year we got to 80 families. Can we get to 100 families this year? Our staff uses your feedback via this survey to help us understand your perspectives and choose actions toward our goal of creating a school environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all. We deeply value and want every Arleta family’s voice to inform our survey results and through them, our work on behalf of your child. Click pps.net/successfulschools for more information and here are our Arleta Family SSS Results from last year.
Thank you so much for attending conferences last week: 92.3% of our families had a conference so far! We hope you were able to share, and learn, about your child’s strengths and next steps in learning. It’s not too late to have your conference if last week wasn’t the right time for your family… Please reach out to your child’s teacher to schedule a time. Call our office for help with that connection: 503.916.6330.
Thank you also to all who attended our Honoring Native Land Mural Celebration the Friday before Fall Break. It was really meaningful, and you all had much to do with making that so.
Next up in our community is our Winter Bazaar! We really need volunteers for any amount of time. Click here and see you there!
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: 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 - NEURODIVERGENT FAMILY GATHERING - DEC 4
Please join us for our next Neurodivergent Family Gathering, welcoming students, parents, and guardians today, December 4th from 5:30-7pm in the Arleta cafeteria. The group offers 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 by emailing the Arleta PTA at arletaschoolpta@gmail.com.
ARLETA WINTER BAZAAR - DEC 6
Light up the winter darkness with crafts and community at the Arleta Winter Bazaar! You can peruse the offerings of the creative minds and hands of Arleta students, nibble treats from the greatest of Arleta family kitchens, try your luck at the PTA raffle, and enjoy the start of the winter season!
Arleta's Winter Bazaar is Saturday, December 6th from 11am-2pm in the cafeteria.
FAST TIMES PIZZA & SOFT SERVE DINE-IN FUNDRAISER - DEC 7
SLOW DOWN AT FAST TIMES
Sunday 12/7 • 11 AM–2 AM
624 East Burnside
Slices • Salads • Soft Serve • Pizza • Patio • Pinball
From lunch to late night, 10% of all sales go to Arleta!
LITTER PICK-UP - DEC 11
The Arleta Green Team hosts twice-monthly litter clean ups on second and fourth Thursdays of the month. The only Litter Pick-up in December is on Thursday, December 11 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!
ARLETA SCHOOL BOOKFAIR DEC 15-19
Arleta's Winter Bookfair is coming up soon! It will run from Monday, December 15th to Friday, December 19th. The book fair will be open to the public before school at 7:30am until school starts, then after school until 3:30pm in the library. Students will visit with their class two times during the week when they can shop or make wish lists to bring home. Online orders can be delivered to Arleta for free and 20% of sales benefit the school library.
There won't be any toy-like items, but there will be a beautiful selection of journals, pens, and bookmarks to inspire our young authors. After the Thanksgiving holiday, keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities and a donation link to help us ensure that all of our students are able to take home a new book. And THANK YOU for your continued support for Arleta's library program.
To shop the Arleta Booksale online, click here. Make sure Arleta Elementary receives credit for your purchase by ‘buying’ one of our school’s book fair items from the Book Fair drop down menu. It is free! If you have any questions can be directed to Jennifer Butler-Brown, bookseller, by calling 541-619-3960 or emailing her at Jennifer.butlerbrown@gmail.com.
SHARE A TOY OR A GIFT CARD WITH SEASON OF GIVING
Season of Giving is an annual holiday drive created by the Arleta Inclusion Committee and the Arleta Counseling staff to ensure that all Arleta families can make their winter holidays special for their children. We are looking for toys as well as giftcards/financial donations (drop-off at the office) to achieve that goal from now until December 12th!
Toy Drive: We are seeking donations of new or excellent condition toys to include in the toy drive. Check your kid's room for those forgotten or unused toys, or purchase something from one of our local shops. Toys can be donated at the office.
Gift cards/financial donations: Drop off donations (check, cash, or gift cards to places such as grocery stores) at the office, or donate by Venmo to @TiffanyBlackmonPDX. These donations will be used to provide gift cards to families that they can use for food and necessities over winter break.
You can donate toys and gift cards/funds through December 12. You can find the Season of Giving flyer, translated in other languages as well, here: Season of Giving Flyer.
Families are invited to shop the Share-a-Toy Drive collection the week before winter break, to select toys as holiday gifts. Please email Raina, rbilbrew@pps.net, to set up a time to shop the toy selection. Volunteers will help families shop the toy room by appointment on 12/15 from 8:00-9:00AM and on 12/16 from 1:30-2:30PM and 5:30-6:30PM. Other shopping times can be scheduled with Raina as well. If you cannot make it to shop, please reach out to Raina- an option to select toys from photos can be offered to families who cannot make it in person
GIRLS ON THE RUN SEASON ENDS
Girls on the Run ends their season on a high note this month! We wrapped up our Girls on the Run season and their final 5K is the Turkey Trot on Wednesday night at the International Raceway.
Every year, we get to choose a local organization/business/community member to try to help in a small way. This year, for their community project, our runners chose to make dog toys to donate to the Humane Society, which were delivered (and very happily received) last week. We’re so proud of the girls and what they’ve accomplished!
PORTLAND ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS PARENT SURVEY AND MAILING LIST SIGN UP
We know that contract negotations impact everyone in a school community. We want to shape that impact for the betterment of our students & whole school community. That starts with listening to you! Our students & their families. If you had a magic wand and could transform your school - What would you change & what would you keep?
Answer those two open ended questions to share your vision for the future of our schools. We don't have a magic wand - but we do have each other and we will fight for great public schools for all Portlanders.
BEAT THE BELL
For the week of November 17-21, we had 92% positive attendance (the same as the week before) and 148 tardies (up from 112 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:
- Buddy up with a neighbor family.
-
Eat on the run: toast, dry Eggo, banana, pbj, granola bar.
Place shoes by the door every night; maybe this could be the last thing each night before brushing teeth.
Learn more about the Multnomah Youth Commission's work on this topic. Read the Willamette Week's reporting on PPS's Community Budget Review findings last year on chronic absenteeism. Read KATU's reporting on the topic here.
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WINTER BAZAAR
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.
Set Up, Bake Sale, and Clean-Up volunteers still needed in all slots!
Click the button below to sign up to pitch in and help out at the Arleta Winter Bazaar on December 6th!
WINTER BAZAAR BAKE SALE STILL NEEDS YOUR BEST HOMEMADE TREAT!
Our bake sale table isn't full yet, and we need your treats to make it happen! Sign-up to bring something yummy, giving someone else a holiday treat and raising money for the PTA all at the same time.
VOLUNTEER WITH THE TOY DRIVE
Every year the Arleta PTA Inclusion Committee hosts a toy drive! Arleta families donate gently used or new toys and families in need of a little help this season contact Raina to browse the donations for just the right gifts for the kiddos. You can really help make the season bright by donating a little time to help set up the free toy shop, help photograph toys, and help parents and guardians browse the toys!
The shifts are anywhere from one hour to one-and-a-half hours, and makes a big difference in someone's holiday season! Other holiday volunteer opportunities with the Inclusion Committee are also on the sign-up, so there are lots of ways to make a real difference to the Arleta community this holiday season. We have just a few slots still open on the 15th and 16th of December!
A SNAKE FALLS TO EARTH BY DARCIE LITTLE BADGER - 2022 NEWBERY HONOR BOOK
In this breathaking work of Indigenous futurism, Darcie Little Badger weaves an unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family.
Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She’s always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories.
Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he’s been cast from home. He's found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake.
Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli’s best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven’t been in centuries.
And there are some who will kill to keep them apart.
AWARDS
NEBULA AWARD WINNER
NEWBERY AWARD HONOR
AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD HONOR
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST
Get The Book
- Click here to borrow the book, ebook, or audiobook from Multnomah County Library.
- Listen to the first five chapters for free on YouTube.
- 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!
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!
I Can Be A Tiger
I can't go walking
When they say no,
And I can't go riding
Unless they go.
I can't splash puddles
In my shiny new shoes,
But I can be a tiger
Whenever I choose.
I can't eat peanuts
And I can't eat cake.
I have to go to bed
When they stay awake.
I can't bang windows
And I mustn't tease,
But I can be an elephant
As often as I please.
-Mildred Leigh Anderson
What time does a duck wake up?
At the quack of dawn.
NWCT'S WIZARD OF OZ- NOW THROUGH 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 for $30-$40 (sensory-friendly performances pay what you will). NWCT does participate in Arts for All, which offers $5 tickets to people receiving SNAP benefits.
MILWAUKIE UMBRELLA PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING - DEC 6
Join the Milwaukie holiday tradition of decorating umbrellas and parading through downtown ending with the lighting of the tree on Sat., Dec. 6, 2025.
Here are some details about how the Umbrella Parade works:
- The parade will convene in the South Downtown Plaza near the Post Office at 11222 SE Main St. (Keep in mind that Main St. will be closed from Washington St. south to 21st Ave. for the staging beginning at 12 p.m.)
- Everyone is welcome to decorate an umbrella and participate in the parade. No pre-registration is required.
- The parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. All participants who want to be part of the umbrella decorating contest must arrive by 4:15 p.m. The parade then travels north for four blocks on Main St. ending at historic city hall (10722 SE Main St.) where the tree will be lit around 5:15 p.m. All festivities will conclude at 6 p.m.
- Categories include Most Creative, Most Festive and Most Milwaukie. Upon arrival, look for the sign of the category that you want to be judged in and line up behind the sign. Each category includes prizes for both adults and children. All prizes will be awarded at just before the tree is lit at historic city hall.
- Hot drinks and sweet treats are available for free at historic city hall after the parade.
Win great prizes for best decorated umbrellas! Click here to go to the event page on the Milwaukie city website.
12TH ANNUAL WINTER ESSENTIALS DISTRIBUTION - DEC 7
Join us at Montavilla Community Center for the 12th Annual Winter Weather Essentials Distribution
Hosted by Supporting Our Society
Sunday, December 7 | 11am to 2pm
Montavilla Community Center (8219 NE Glisan St)
This FREE event is open to the public!
Enjoy a shopping-style experience where dignity is honored and no money is exchanged. Come get what you need:
- Coats, hats, gloves
- Socks
- Toiletries
- Sleeping bags
- Miscellaneous winter essentials
First come, first served while supplies last.
$5 SUNDAY AT OMSI - DEC 7
Admission to the museum on the first Sunday of the month is $5 per person.
Tickets for Empirical Theater and Kendall Planetarium shows, tours of the USS Blueback Submarine, as well as select special exhibitions, can also be purchased for $5 per person on OMSI First Sundays.
We anticipate higher traffic on First Sundays and encourage guests to purchase tickets in advance online, particularly with the timed tickets for the feature exhibit.Click here to see the event on OMSI's website.
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!
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).
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.
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