DOLPHIN DIGEST 2/26/2026
Weekly Newsletter by Arleta School and Arleta PTA
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តើអ្នកត្រូវការបកប្រែទេ? ចុចលើតំណ "បកប្រែ" នៅផ្នែកខាងលើ។
ትርጉም ይፈልጋሉ? ከላይ ያለውን "መተርጎም" የሚለውን አገናኝ ጠቅ ያድርጉ.
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
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
FEB 1-28: Black History Month
TODAY: FEB 26: Kindergarten/Arleta Information Night, 5:30-6:30pm, auditorium (enter at front door, new families will be shown the way to the auditorium).
FEB 28: Arleta Book Club Meeting (The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt), 12-1:30pm, Arleta Library
- Mar 1-12: Buy your Pi(e) Day Raffle tickets
MAR 2: NO SCHOOL.
MAR 3: Arleta OBOB School Tournament.
MAR 3: Arleta Book Club Meeting (The Anxioous Generation, by Jonathan Haidt), 7-8:30pm, Arleta Library. (May attend by Zoom.)
MAR 5: SUN School Showcase/End of Winter Term, 4-5pm, Auditorium (enter on SE 66th).
MAR 8: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
MAR 8: Dine-Out at Pieper Cafe, 8am-12pm, 6504 SE Foster Rd
MAR 11: EARLY RELEASE, 11:50 AM.
MAR 12: Arleta's Day at the PPS/PTA Clothing Closet, 9:30am-1:30pm, 3905 SE 91st Ave.
MAR 12: K-2 Music Showcase.
MAR 13: SUN School Spring Semester Registration Opens.
MAR 13: Bike Maintenance Workshop 4-6pm, Arleta Cafeteria. Click here to register.
MAR 14: Arleta Pi(e) Day Raffle Draw.
MAR 19: BIPOC Family Gathering, 5:30-7pm, SUN Rm 4.
MAR 20: SUN Spring Semester Registration Forms Are Due (turn in at office).
MAR 24-28: SPRING BREAK.
English language PPS District Yearly Calendar
Sign in to ParentSquare************ Sign in to Konstella************ Sign in to Parentvue
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.
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Thank you Ms. Raina, for leading Our Black Student Union within SUN School, and the connections and learning you create for students. In BSU students have been learning about Black history and how it contributes to our lives today. BSU leaders will share their learning at the next SUN Showcase next week, Thursday, March 5 at 4 p.m.
Thank you Katy and Anders Liljeholm for the captivating displays you hang in our entry and cafeteria every month! This week during lunchtime some students shared their thoughts and appreciations about our beautiful bulletin board display “A History of Black Creativity” ~
I think it’s wonderful. I like the way the stars look. I also like all the details.
I like how everything‘s creative and the pictures that show what’s on the inside.
I like the picture of the elevator and learning about it. (Automated elevator doors, invented by Alexander Miles after he rode an elevator with manual doors with his young daughter.)
Thank you to those who came together for our first Arleta Book Club Monday evening! The power of making time to create community and connection together, no matter how busy we are, is unmatched. Please join for our next gathering this Saturday, 12-1:30 p.m. Childcare and light refreshments provided. Arleta Library.
Thank you for your wonderful children. They love talking to you and playing with you! I sometimes ask students when they need a little motivation, “What’s something special you like to do with your family, that we could see if they could do with you if you work really hard on this goal?” So many kids answer with a specific kind of board game they love to play with you!
Our first Arleta Incoming Kindergarten and New Student Connect is tomorrow evening, Feb. 26, 5:30-6:30. We’ll talk about kindergarten and school routines in the auditorium then families, kids and staff can talk and play in a kindergarten classroom. Childcare will be provided in the gym- thank you SUN! Please spread the word to anyone you know with school age children: we’ll have a special focus on kindergarten but also welcome children of all ages. If you have ideas about good places to hang up our incoming families flyer in the neighborhood, suggestions of community members who could help promote our school, or if you’d be willing to go share about our school at the Mt. Scott - Arleta Neighborhood Association, please call the office and let us know! Thank you, Arleta Community, for making our school so vibrant and special!
Warmly,
Lisa
VOLUNTEER AND DONATION OPPORTUNITIES SPOTLIGHT
ARLETA DAY AT THE PTA CLOTHES CLOSET - MAR 12
Each year, all the PTAs in the city take turns to operate a clothing closet that provides warm, good quality clothes to kids who otherwise struggle to access that. Each PTA is assigned two days a year to operate a clothes closet serving thousands of students.
This fall, Arleta was unable to operate the clothes closet for a full day.
This spring, we have had one generous person sign up to operate the closet for half of Arleta's shift.
We really need your help on March 12, 9:30am-1:30pm. We need 6-8 volunteers per shift. Please consider helping our community out by volunteering some of your time. Sign up here! You can also see a KATU news article about the impact of the clothes closet here!
ARLETA'S SIXTH ANNAUL PI(E) DAY RAFFLE NEEDS PIE!
It’s Arleta’s 6th Annual Pi(e) Day Raffle and we need your pie donations to make it deliciously successful!
Donations can be:
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A regular pie
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A hand pie
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A store-bought pie
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A gift card to a pie place
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Or even a gift card for a pizza pie
Last chance to donate a PIE - Raffle goes live this Sunday, 3/1
Tickets go on sale March 1
Winners announced on 3/14 — Pi(e) Day!
Pies to be enjoyed the week following
Questions?
Email arletaptafundraiserchair@gmail.com
WE NEED YOUR JAR LIDS FOR FIRST GRADE FLOATS
Calling all recyclers! First grade is collecting metal lids of all sizes. 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! The First Graders will soon be working on creating their floats for the parade and we need those lids for the wheels.
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!
COMMUNITY AID FOR A BELOVED ARLETA ALUMN
Hello Arleta Community! An Arleta-community family who wish to remain anonymous are facing multiple extreme hardships at once. This family is a part of our community and the kind of family that, in the past, helped other families in need. Now they need help of their own.
They are a single-parent family and became homeless mid-Jan when their landlord was deported by ICE and the landlords' family had to sell that rental property immediately. They are currently couch-surfing. Then, this family's car broke down and they are currently without transportation. This is creating a barrier for mom's work, as we can all understand. Finally, the mother has a new medical issue that will most likely lead to further financial, time-related, and overall hardships for years to come.
Again, they wish to remain anonymous but our former -parent and -Inclusion Chair Sheryl Moren is a trusted friend and is taking up the mantle of collecting funds to help this family in their time of need. We've been blown away by the generous donations so far, and are so grateful to the Arleta community for stepping in and stepping up. We're doing one more week of donation collection and Sheryl is collecting money via Venmo at @Sheryl-Moren. Her Venmo QR code is above. If anyone has a lead on a car or affordable housing, please reach out to Sheryl at sha_r_@hotmail.com. Thank you all!!
SUN NEWS AND RESOURCES
FREE SALSA DANCING CLASSES FOR ADULTS
Arleta SUN School offers weekly salsa lessons for the adults in the Arleta community. Adult Salsa Dance Lessons are held Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the cafeteria. These sessions are free for the Arleta community, and childcare will be provided. No partner is required, and all experience levels are welcome. This will be the final free session of the school year. Please use the link to get registered!
BIPOC LUNCH GROUP
The Arleta BIPOC Lunch Group provides students with a welcoming environment to promote cultural awareness, social tolerance, and academic success. It is a safe space for students to gather and be themselves, timed with your child's lunch, and meets weekly on Fridays throughout the SUN School semester.
Please click the button below 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.
BIKE MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS - MAR 13
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will be hosting a Bike Maintenance Workshop at Arleta on March 13th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The session will take place in the cafeteria and will offer helpful tips and information on bike repair and maintenance. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes for hands-on activities. Registration is available through this link.
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 EVENTS
TODAY - CONNECT TO KINDERGARTEN NIGHT - FEB 26
If you know any families with incoming kindergartners, please invite them by sharing the flyer below or picking up a paper copy at the school office. Thank you!
NEXT ARLETA BOOK CLUB - FEB 28
Arleta's first book club, including staff, parents and teachers launches this month! In November, people could sign up for the book club with this Google Form. The next meeting for the book club will be held on Saturday, February 28 from 12-1:30pm and the final meeting on Tuesday, March 3, from 7-8:30pm (with a Zoom link available for the third meeting). To participate in the book club you need only attend one meeting. All meetings will be in the Arleta Library.
PI(E) DAY RAFFLE OPENS - MAR 1
Who wouldn't love the chance to win delicious pie? Purchase your tickets (before March 14), support our school, and increase the amount of pie you get to put in your belly with one fell swoop by purchasing tickets, starting this Sunday, March 1 (the link will be shared through Konstella). Thank you for supporting the Arleta PTA!
DINE OUT AT PIEPER CAFE - MAR 8
Pieper Cafe Dine-In Fundraiser
Sunday, 3/8 • 8 AM – 12 PM
Enjoy coffee, tea & light food like panini & soups in a cheerful cafe with arcade games!
20% of all sales support Arleta.
6504 SE Foster Rd Portland, OR 97206
NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING - MAR 10
The next school board meeting is Tuesday, March 10, from 6-9pm at the Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center 501 N Dixon St. Portland, OR 97227. As always, a recording will be up on their YouTube channel. Click here to see directions, the meeting agenda, and a link to the YouTube recording.
Requests to provide public comment can be made via email to publiccomment@pps.net or by calling the Board Office at 503-916-3741. Requests should include:
- Full name
- Pronouns
- Topic (required)
- Meeting requested (date and title)
- School community
- Phone number and whether text communication is okay
- Whether you are a student
- Whether you plan to attend in person or virtually
Requests must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
ARLETA NEWS
FIND YOUR MISSING ARLETA LIBRARY BOOK
The Arleta Library is currently missing a few unreturned books. Throughout February, the PTA is hosting a missing book drive. For each missing book returned, students can choose one small prize from the prize bin in the office, and tomorrow is the last day to do it!
So start looking for those lost books at home, and let's see how many books can get returned!
CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH MUSIC
This month is Black History Month! This week, let's celebrate dancers and musicians by exploring the works of some amazing artists who you might not know abou
Dorothy Donegan trained as a classical concert pianist, but as a black woman found concert hall doors shut, and so turned to jazz. Her incredible artistry is on full display in this video, a brief two-and-a-half minute performance on the Ed Sullivan show.
Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, performing from the 1950s through the 2010s was an inspiration for many famous blues and rock guitarists, persevering through racism and sexism to hone her craft into firy art. Here she is performing “Back in Business”!
Actor and tap dancer Dulé Hill created a documentary series, The Express Way, with PBS that explores innovations in modern tap as he travels around the country. Check out PBS's preview of the series below! And, you can click here to see the full series on the PBS app.
George Walker, born in 1922, was the first African American composer to win a Pulitzer Prize (for the composition "Lilacs", in 1996, based on Walt Whitman's writings on Abraham Lincoln's death). A graduate of Oberlin College in Ohio he was something of a reluctant student, but an incredibly prolific composer with over 90 compositions to his name. Below, the Colorado Symphony performed Walker's most popular piece, "Lyric for Strings", with a performance by the Colorado Ballet, during the first year of the pandemic.
Want something closer to home? Check out this week's Willamette Week article about the new installations at Portland Art Museum's Black Art and Experiences (BAE) Galleries.
FIND YOUR MISSING COAT AT THE ARLETA LOST AND FOUND
BEAT THE BELL
For the 4-day week of February 17-20, we had 91% positive attendance (down from 92% the last two weeks before) and 104 tardies (up from 99 tardies 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:
- Start your morning with a calm song & hugs.
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Have kids make up a name or saying for interruptions & distractions that can set you back: “That’s a dinosaur!” “No turtles today!” “Oh, molasses!”
Don’t hit the snooze button!
NEWBERY BOOK OF THE WEEK
GENESIS BEGINS AGAIN, BY ALICIA D. WILLIAMS - 2020 NEWBERY HONOR BOOK
There are ninety-six reasons why thirteen-year-old Genesis dislikes herself. She knows the exact number because she keeps a list:
- Because her family is always being put out of their house.
- Because her dad has a gambling problem. And maybe a drinking problem too.
- Because Genesis knows this is all her fault.
- Because she wasn’t born looking like Mama.
- Because she is too black.
Genesis is determined to fix her family, and she’s willing to try anything to do so…even if it means harming herself in the process. But when Genesis starts to find a thing or two she actually likes about herself, she discovers that changing her own attitude is the first step in helping change others.
Get The Book
- Click here to borrow the book from Multnomah County Library.
- Buy the book at Powell's Bookstore.
- Buy the book, ebook, or audiobook at Barnes and Noble.
- Purchase the book on Amazon.
- Read a review of the book on The Children's Book Review.
- Read novel study suggestions for the book on 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)!
Arleta's OBOB finals are on Tuesday Mar 3, 2026 ⋅ 2:30pm – 4pm.
Poetry Corner
Each week we feature a poem from literature that you can share with your kids. Poems are quick ways to practice literacy and work like little packages of thoughts and feelings that explore the world in new ways.
This week, for a poem, we are featuring a fragment from an essay in James Baldwin's book, "Nothing Personal" (1964). Baldwin's prose is very poetic to be fair, and the excerpt works as a prose poem on its own.
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For nothing is fixed, forever and forever and forever it is not fixed; the earth is always shifting the light is always changing, the sea does not cease to grind down rock. Generations do not cease to be born, and we are responsible to them because we are the only witnesses they have.
The sea rises, the light fails, lovers cling to each other, and children cling to us. The moment we cease to hold each other, the moment we break faith with one another, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out.
James Baldwin
Let's Make Art!
CLEMENTINE'S ZINNIAS
JOKE OF THE WEEK
If a math teacher had four apples in one hand and five apples in the other hand, what would they have all together?
Really big hands!
FOOD PANTRIES AND RESOURCES
One in six children in Oregon and SW Washington face food insecurity. Food insecurity can arise for anyone. Should you need a little help, or you want to give a little help, here is a list of nearby resources.
Search for food pantry by day and time open, using the Portland Free Food Calendar.
Urban Gleaners takes advantage of Oregon's bountiful harvests, making sure they don't go to waste, sharing food through a variety of free markets around the region. You can find those markets on their website. Find a location by clicking here.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 5415 SE Powell Blvd. Hours are on Fridays from 2-5pm and the entrance is in the rear of building. They use a lottery system to give out the initial entry numbers. Those who have arrived by 1:45 pm on Friday will be entered into the lottery. Those who arrive after 1:45pm will be given the next number available.
SVDP Our Lady of Sorrows, 5221 SE Knight street. Referral only. Call Portland Council for food box at 503-235-8431.
Groceries 4 Grout, 4028 SE 34th Ave. This food pantries is hosted every Friday at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church parking lot. The outdoor pantry is shopping-style, available to everyone and we invite people to bring their own bags. Call (503) 235-3977 with inquiries.
The Woodstock Food Pantry 4033 SE Woodstock, provides groceries on Fridays and Saturdays, between 12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. to anyone who needs them. Drive-through or walk-up pantry. Cars – line up and stay in your car. Walkups – line up on the sidewalk.
The Francis Center 6535 SE 82nd provides food boxes Monday through Thursday from 10am -2pm. They ask that people gather one box per month, unless they're homeless, in which case, they can come once a week.
Kellogg Middle School Free Food Market, 3400 SE 69th Ave, is generally open on the 3rd Friday of every month and is open to the public (you do not have to have a student at Kellogg to attend). Please bring your own bag. The Kellogg pantry is next open on: February 27 from 3:30-5pm. For more information, email info@kelloggmsptsa.org.
Lane Food Pantry, 7200 SE 60th, in the back parking lot, is open both to school families and the public, every Tuesday from 3:30-5pm, and offers 3-5 days worth of food, including fresh produce, to all comers. Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes early for the safety of the students. The pantry is run in partnership between the SUN program, the Latino Network, and the Oregon Food Bank.
The Equitable Giving Circle provides food boxes, compiled with Black farmers, for BIPOC people in our area and provides home delivery.
Portland Open Bible Community Food Pantry, 3223 SE 92nd Avenue Portland, has an open pantry on Tuesday 4pm-7pm and Thursday 10am-1pm except on federal holidays. Online ordering is open 24 hours per day / 7 days per week (click here to order food online). Walk in, call (503) 442-8228, or visit their website for more information.
PDX Free Fridge is a community based and informed mutual aid effort to increase access to free food and vital supplies by creating a network of independent fridges and pantries in Portland, OR. Go to their website to find a fridge or pantry near you! (Note: this map is out of date, and is currently being updaated.)
Milk Crate Kitchen delivers meals twice a month. To learn more, click here for the Milk Crate Kitchen website.
During these unprecedented times, some local restaurants are stepping in to fill the gap. Click here for a list of local restaurants providing SNAP meals.
To research more resources, go to the Oregon Food Bank Food Finder, Findhelp.org, or the Multnomah County Food Assistance page which has been updated to include resources for folks on SNAP not getting their SNAP payments. Multnomah Education Service District has a document with a list of resources for SNAP beneficiaries, translated into multople languages. To donate food, consider the Portland Food Project, which will pick up shelf-stable food from your home and deliver it to food pantries.
In The Community
We're so lucky to live in a vibrantly active community. This section contains family-friendly events, mostly free or low-cost, that you can do with your kids to explore, learn, and create memories, as well as resources for a little help when you need it.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR AT A GLANCE
NOW - FEB 28: Registration open for SE Portland Little League.
NOW - MAR 1: Registration open for Southeast Soccer Club.
TODAY: FEB 26: Rights, Readiness & Responsibility: Disability Rights, Law, and Accountability, 6-7pm, virtual training.
TOMORROW: FEB 27: Kellogg Middle School Free Food Pantry, 3:30-5pm, 3400 SE 69th Ave. You do not have to have a student at Kellogg to use the food pantry.
FEB 28: Ending the Stigma: NAMI Young Adult Mental Health Event, 1-3pm, Mt. Tabor Hall PCC, 2305 SE 82nd Ave.
FEB 28: Black Affinity Group's Mother/Son Dance, 6pm (doors open 5:30pm) at Kellogg Middle School, 3400 SE 69th Ave. Email thebagpdx@gmail.com with questions or call 971-319-1194.
MAR 7: Lunar New Year Parade, starting at 10am, Chinatown to SW 3rd Ave, and up to the Oregon Historical Society.
MAR 7: Tending Day at the Living Seed Library, includes seed exchanges, tool sharpening (bring your blunt garden tools), and landscaping education, 10am-3pm, Learning Gardens Lab, 6745 SE 60th Ave.
MAR 9: Foster Powell Neighborhood Association Meeting, 6:30-8:30, location, at Mt. Scott Community Center (map) but you can attend by Zoom, Zoom linke here, Dial-in Number: (253) 215- 8782 | Meeting ID: 839 5449 4883 | Passcode: 500305.
MAR 12: Justice Ketanji Jackson Live with Literary Arts and Everybody Reads Multnomah County, 7:30-9:30pm, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (tickets $35-$85).
MAR 14: Black Affinity Group's Get Ready, Stay Ready, 10:30am-2:30pm, SE Uplift, 3534 SE Main Street.
MAR 23-26: Free Swim Lessons at Mt. Scott Community Center. 5530 SE 72nd Ave. Register online here.
MAR 24: Rights in Practice: Advocating for Your ADA Rights in Disasters, 6-7pm, virtual training.
APR 17-18: Oregon Scholastic Chess Foundation State Championships, Seaside, Oregon Full details & registration: https://www.oscf.org/events/oscf-state-championships
ONGOING EVENTS AND RESOURCES:
- Find affordable music classes for your Arleta student at PPR on this website.
- NAMI Multnomah County Parent Support Group (virtual meetings), 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 4pm-5:15. Click here to see the support groups on their website. Click here to sign up to receive notifications for the support group meetings.
- Arts for All $5 tickets for SNAP beneficiaries.
- Borrow a Cultural Pass from Multnomah County Library.
- Multnomah County Library Everybody Reads 2026, Supreme Court Justice Justice Ketanji Jackson.
- Portland Sidewalk Joy Map: View the map.
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!
ADA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING SERIES NEXT VIRTUAL TRAINING - FEB 26
Rights, Readiness & Responsibility: Disability Rights, Law, and Accountability
This training focuses on the Americans with Disabilities Act and emergency preparedness. Participants will learn what disabled people are legally entitled to during disasters. The training spans across all phases of an emergency: preparedness, response, and recovery. We will focus on what access looks like when rights are upheld.
Date: February 26
Time: 6-7 PM
KELLOGG MIDDLE SCHOOL FREE FOOD PANTRY - FEB 27
The pantry is moving! They will be located in a new space between the cafeteria and the gym. They will still be open for shopping on Fridays from 4-6 PM.
The school pantry is currently in need of the following items, and donations can be left at the Kellogg office during school hours:
- Pasta and sauce
- Cereal
- Tortillas
- Long grain white rice
- Dried beans (especially black and pinto)
- Shelf stable milk, dairy and plant-based
- Canned fruit, applesauce
- Refried beans
- Jam and jelly
- Packaged snacks
Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated, and can be made here. Thank you for your support!
LUNAR NEW YEAR PARADE - MAR 7
The Lunar New Year Dragon Dance Parade and Celebration is organized in collaboration with the Oregon Historical Society and numerous community partners. The festivities include lion dancers, drummers, and a 150-foot dragon to lead the parade from the Portland Chinatown Museum, through the China Gate and downtown Portland on SW Third Avenue, and up to the Oregon Historical Society for a joyous conclusion. The parade is on March 7th and begins at 10 am. Click here for event page.
FOSTER-POWELL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING - MAR 9
The next Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association Meeting is this Monday, March 9, from 6:30-8:30pm. In-person the meeting is held at Mt. Scott Community Center (map) but you can attend by Zoom, Zoom linke here, Dial-in Number: (253) 215- 8782 | Meeting ID: 839 5449 4883 | Passcode: 500305
Bill Cunningham from Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) will be presenting information on and answering questions about the City’s long-term goals for Foster-Powell. Topics will include:
Comprehensive Plan Urban Design Framework: Focusing on designations in the Foster-Powell neighborhood:
72nd Avenue’s designation as a City Greenway,
72nd Avenue Parkway’s designation as a “heritage parkway,” and the
Heart of Foster Neighborhood Center and the Foster “civic corridor”.
Zoning in the neighborhood
Discussions and possible board actions
- Vote: Ryan Sooley would like to be considered for Communications Chair.
- Vote: Free up previously designated funds for in-person location costs.
- Vote: Do we want to form a planning committee for Volunteer Appreciation event?
- Vote: Do we want to form a planning committee for Summer Soiree?
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.
JUSTICE KETANJI JACKSON LIVE WITH EVERYBODY READS - MAR 12
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).
NW DISABILITY SUPPORT FLING AND SING - MAR
Join Northwest Disability Support on Sunday, March 22, from 10:30am-1:30pm at Oaks Park Dance Pavillion for a joyful community gathering celebrating connection, creativity, and belonging. This community drop-in event welcomes families and friends experiencing disability to come together through:
- Arts & crafts
- Music, singing, and dancing
- Community connection and play
Come as you are — stay as long (or as little) as works for your family. Light snacks, pizza lunch, and refreshments will be provided.
All ways of participating are welcome! Click here for tickets.
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.
ADA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING SERIES - MAR 24
Rights in Practice: Advocating for Your ADA Rights in Disasters
Building on the legal grounding from Training 1, Rights, Readiness & Responsibility: Disability Rights, Law, and Accountability, this workshop focuses on asserting disability rights in all phases of an emergency. We will hold a guided discussion and breakout groups. Participants will practice applying the ADA to several scenarios. Scenarios will include shelters, evacuation, communication access, and recovery services.
Date: March 24
Time: 6-7 PM
PORTLAND SIDEWALK JOY MAP - ANYTIME
Take a self-guided tour of local creations using the PDX Sidewalk Joy Map. This map showcases fun, interactive neighborhood galleries, exchanges and displays.
The map has more than 100 community joy spots throughout the city. All of these projects created by homeowners exist to bring a bit of whimsy and inspiration to the community.
These displays are viewable from front yards, curbside gardens, alleyways, side yards and sides of buildings.
The map shows a description, image and the location of each display. There’s also Instagram handles so you can follow your favorite Joy Map creators.
All locations on the map are free to enjoy, but you may want to bring quarters for the Super Awesome Prizes vending machine or pay for a pottery piece at the Poetry Pottery Box. View the map.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY CULTURAL PASSES
The Multnomah County Library has cultural passes to allow free admission to select cultural institutions around Portland. To check out a cultural pass from the library and see the list of institution, please click the button below.
ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS
Anyone who gets food relief through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and has the Oregon Trail Card or Washington State Quest Card qualifies to purchase $5 tickets to theatre, arts, and culture events around Portland through the Arts for All program.
Arts For All envisions a community where everyone—regardless of financial resources—can experience and enjoy arts and culture.
Over a decade ago, Arts For All was founded by dedicated arts leaders to ensure Oregon Trail Card/SNAP recipients could access specific arts events for just $5 per ticket.
Click here to be taken to the Arts for All Website and to purchase tickets. I
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!
OREGON AND NATIONAL PTA RESOURCES
PPS RESOURCES
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.
FREE HEALTHCARE FOR STUDENTS
Anyone ages 5-18 can get care at any of our Student Health Centers. Young people can visit a Student Health Center even if they don't attend the school where it's located.
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)
Visitors, adult staff and partners working at a Portland Public School can purchase school meals. Click here to purchase a meal.
EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT ARLETA PTA
USE INVITATION CODE FH3W5B TO JOIN KONSTELLA
Email Lisa Hugelier lisa.hugelier@gmail.com with questions.
STAY CONNECTED
Email: ArletaSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Website: arletapta.org
Location: 5109 SE 66th Avenue
Phone: 503-916-6330
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArletaElementaryK5
