DOLPHIN DIGEST 2/12/2026
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.
Happy Black History Month! With love, appreciation and regard for our Black students, families, staff and community today, this month and every day of the year.
It was fun to see our students have so much fun together learning and sharing within such a culturally engaging experience! One of our 5th graders, Naliyah, when asked what she’s enjoying about the residency, responded, “It is hard, but once you get it, you get it.” Thank you Naliyah, thank you Community Curriculum Events Team, and thank you Arleta students!
Warmly,
Lisa
ARLETA CLOTHING CLOSET DAY - MAR 12
The PPS PTA Clothing Center operates at the Marshall High School Campus (3905 SE 91st Ave). The Center serves over 2000 students each school year, providing them with clothing and shoes so that they can feel good about attending school. It relies on volunteers to help organize the clothing, as well as, to help families "shop" for what they need.
Arleta is assigned two days throughout the school year to manage the Clothing Center. Our first one was in October and our second is coming up on Thursday, March 12 from 9:30-1:30. If you are available to volunteer for ANY of this time (even it it's just an hour), please sign up for a slot.
While there are two 2 hour time slots, if you have different hours that work better for your schedule within operating hours, just sign up for one of the slots and make a note of what time you actually plan on being there. Also, if you plan on being there the entire day, please sign up for both time slots.
It is truly a rewarding and fun experience! Thank you for considering!
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
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
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. 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!!
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.
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.
NEURODIVERGENT FAMILY GATHERING - FEB 19
Our next Neurodivergent Family Gathering is Thursday, February 19th from 5:30-7pm in the Arleta cafeteria. The group offers students, parents, and guardians. a safe space to talk, connect, and play. Come join us the cafeteria. Pizza dinner and kid activities will be provided. Please let us know if you would like a translator.
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!
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 February 18th - March 15th. Please visit the Access Academy website for more information on the Access Academy Lottery.
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, starting February 2-27, 2026.
So start looking for those lost books at home, and let's see how many books can get returned!
CELEBRATE INGENUITY DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
From the ice cream scoop, the tricycle, and juicers to GPS, color monitors, and blood banks, Black scientists, engineers, and creators have shaped our daily lives. Help your kids learn about the many things around them that were made by Black inventors. Can your kids find these items on the bulletin board in the cafeteria? You can do a scavenger hunt at home for items created by Black inventors by downloading this Google Doc.
This list is organized by the inventor's birthdate where possible (since many inventors had multiple inventions) and by the date of the patent when not possible.
A Brief History of Black Inventors
1722-1827
Peake invented a handmill to grind corn, using two round stones about 19 inches in diameter. Before him, people used a mortar and pestle to grind corn at home.
1731-1806
Self-taught on a borrowed pocket watch, Banneker invented an early version of the wall clock (complete with little gong). His first prototype kept perfect time for forty years. Banneker, a landowner and astronomy enthusiast, predicted his first solar eclipse in 1789. He wrote one of the first accurate almanacs in modern history. He said of the reviews of his almanac, "“I am annoyed to find that the subject of my race is so much stressed. The work is either correct or it is not. In this case, I believe it to be perfect.” Having never traveled more than ten miles from home, at the age of 60 he joined his neighbor who was engaged by the federal government and helped survey and map out Washington D.C. and published his correspondence with Thomas Jefferson advocating for African American self agency.
September 2, 1766- March 4, 1842
In the late 1700s Forten, a veteran of the Revolutionary War and owning a boat loft, experimented with sails and developed a large sail better able to maneuver and pick up high speeds, as well as a sail hoist. His inventions earned him a fortune and he became a noted philanthropist.
1791-1856
Jennings was the first Black man to receive a patent in the US, in 1820, when he invented a process for dry-cleaning delicate clothing, which he called "dry scouring".
1823-1890
Throughout history a mop was a bundle of rags or yarn tied to a pole. In 1893 Stewart patented the first mop head that could be unscrewed from the base handle and a lever attached to the head that would ring out water without a person getting their hands wet with dirty floor water.
1824- November 29, 1916
From 1879-82, Joseph R. Winter, an African American Shawnee inventor, invented a ladder that mounts on to a fire engine (as opposed to a ladder they had to carry around with them).
1830-1904
Benjamin Boardley, working as an assistant in the Department of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at the United States Naval Academy developed the first steam engine for a ship, but was not allowed to patent his invention because he was a slave. He sold the rights to his invention to purchase his freedom.
1832-1904
From 1887-92 Sarah Boone redesigned the portable ironing board to include a contoured shape and larger surface to make it easier to iron a whole garment, and collapsible legs to make it easier to store.
February 5, 1834-?
In 1888, Cherry invented and patented the tricycle for improved posture and safety over the bike. In 1895 Cherry, witnessing accidents with streetcars, invented the fender: a metal plate attached to the front of the street car to absorb shock in collisions.
1836-1916
In the 1880s Eglin designed the first clothes ringer, a device that used two rollers to squeeze the water out of laundry.
May 18, 1838- May 7, 1918
Alexander Miles realized, while riding an elevator with his daughter, that manually opening elevator doors were dangerous, and in 1887 devised and patented an automated system for opening elevator doors.
August 12, 1838- August 10, 1914
In 1890, Purvis invented and patented the little reservoir of ink in modern fountain pens (which is also the basis for ballpoint pens).
1838-1914
In 1896, DeLeon invented a steam table "cooking device" that kept food warm without an open flame. The table featured several compartments, each with their own heating element, and it's the foundation of the school cafeteria, today!
1843-1905
In 1892 Scotron improved on curtain rods by inventing a fastening and adjusting device for the ends of curtain rods made to be quickly and conveniently detached from the window whenever desired...the modern adjustable curtain rod. He also invented ornamental pole tips to go with them.
May 2, 1844- October 10, 1929
Attended college in Scotland during the Civil War but could not get work as an engineer in the US. His dangerous job applying oil to these axles and bearings prompted him in 1872 to create a device that used steam pressure to automatically lubricate train axels and bearings. In 1892 Elijah McCoy invented a portable ironing board. In 1899 Elijah McCoy invented the first lawn sprinkler. In 1916 McCoy patented a graphite lubricator. Graphite and oil mixed together gummed up less in superhot engines than oil only.
?-?
In 1845 Hawkins invented an improved gridiron for home cooking, an invention that became
the basis for oven racks, allowing food to be cooked at different heat levels at the same time.
September 15, 1846- August 21, 1910
Before Grant, golfers would build a small mound of sand under a golfball, and then hit the golfball. Grant, a Harvard graduated dentist born to parents who had been enslaved, invented the golf tee in 1899. He was also the first Black professor at Harvard. Grant also invented and patented a prosthetic device he called the oblate palate, worn by cleft palate patients to help them speak and eat more normally.
September 4, 1848-December 11, 1928
Latimer invented the carbon filament in incandescent lightbulbs so that the lightbulb didn't burn out in just a few days, turning it from a high-end novelty, into an everyday essential item. In 1886 Latimer invented an early air conditioning unit.
March 29, 1849- May 10, 1921
In 1881 and 1887, Beard invented two new double-blade plows: one that adjusted the width between the blades, and one in which you could adjust the angle of the blades.
Beard lost a leg coupling railroad cars together manually, and developed and patented several automated systems, including the Jenny Coupler. His inventions prompted federal legislation to mandated automatic couplers on railroad cars, passed the same year his invention was patented.
1851-1923
In 1890, Browne invented a sewage backflow trap, keeping sewer water from backing up and flowing into homes people's homes.
June 22 1855- June 3, 1936
In the late 1800s, Dickinson, who designed and built organs, invented a roller mechanism for player pianos with forward and reverse modes, still used in player pianos today.
1855-April 8, 1905
Living in a small apartment at the time, in 1885 Goode patented her invention of a folding cabinet bed that could be tucked away in a roll-top cabinet that looked like a desk. She was one of the first African American women to receive a patent.
April 23, 1856- January 30th, 1910
Invented a steam boiler furnace for trains in 1884. Invented an electromechanical brake for trains in 1887. Invented the Induction Telegraph System so people could send messages from this train in 1887, allowing engineers to alert other trains when they were close and preventing accidents.
1857-1934
Downing invented the "street letter box" so that people didn't have to walk all the way to the post office to get their mail! He holds five postal-related patents.
Feb 8, 1860- April 25, 1940
In 1897 Ray patented the long-handle dustpan with a metal collection box at the end. His design has not been improved upon in 130 years.
Emancipation Proclamation - September 22, 1862
Juneteenth - June 19, 1865 (Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect in Texas.)
1865-?
In 1896, Brooks designed the street sweeper with a series of broom-like brushes pushing trash and debris to the side of the road, as well as dust-proof collection bags for his street sweeper. He also invented a hole punch that collected circular pieces of paper instead of letting them fall, for punching tickets.
September 4, 1866- May 6, 1919
Working in a hotel in Pittsburg in the 1800s, he developed the first ice cream scoop and patented it in 1897.
October 26, 1873- December 8, 1956
In 1903, Dammond created a electric track circuit signaling system that improved manually operated signals, using lights and sound to attract the engineer's attention. Three years later, he patented the "Safety System for Operating Railroads" which controlled the movement of trains by signalling the condition of the track ahead.
March 4, 1877(9)- July 27, 1963
Garrett Morgan's first patent, in 1901, was for a sewing belt fastener, making sewing machines at the time more efficient. In 1912, Morgan invented a safety helmet to protect the wearer from smoke and ammonia, introducing his "Breathing Device" which became known as the gas mask. He and volunteers then used it to descend into the gas-filled tunnel beneath Lake Erie to rescue workers after the Cleveland Waterworks explosion on 25 July 1916. When Garrett Morgan was in his fifties, traffic lights only had two signals: stop and go. The sudden changes, without warning, lead to accidents. Morgan, while in a car with his father and brother, saw a terrible accident between a car and horse drawn carriage, and invented the first 3-light traffic light in 1923.
June 1, 1878- August 5, 1955
In 1889 Martin improved upon the concept for a door latch by devising a latching mechanism without a bevel to close a door, so that the latch couldn't be forced open.
October 2, 1878- January 22, 1963
Spikes, nearly blind at the time, invented an automatic brake for buses and trucks in 1962 that applied the brakes when sensing an obstacle. This was quickly adopted for school buses across the nation.
?-?
In 1884, Johnson invented the rotary (2-chamber) egg beater. “If it is desired to beat up a limited quantity of eggs, batter, or other ingredients…the lower cylinder is applied, the result being a thorough mixing of the ingredients,” Johnson wrote in the patent description. And when the quantity was on the larger side, the other chamber of the mixer kicked in to increase the capacity of the “double-action” machine.
1885?-?
Newman, a hair dresser and deeply involved suffragette, in 1898 patented a revolutionary hair brush with evenly spaced bristles, synthetic bristles (stiffer than natural bristles), slots to contain hair and dirt, and a removable compartment for easy cleaning. Before her, hair brushes had soft, bunched up bristles of natural materials. Modern hairbrushes are based on her design.
1889-1931
John Lee Love invented the portable pencil sharpener (before Love, most people used pen knives to sharpen pencils).
?-?
In 1890 McCree took fire escapes primarily available for commercial buildings and adapted them to homes, making fire escapes that could easily attach to windowsills and using winches to extend the wood and rope ladder. Modern residential fire escapes are still based on his design.
May 17, 1893- February 21, 1961
1920s-In the late 1920s Frederick McKinley Jones designed a series of devices for the movie industry which adapted silent movie projectors to use talking movie stock and invented a system to synchronise sound with motion pictures. In 1938, on a bet, Frederick McKinley Jones designed a portable air-cooling unit, creating the first refrigerated truck and allowing fresh food to be transported all over the country without spoiling, allowing blood transfusions to be transported saving lives, and founding the company Thermo King. He holds more than 60 patents in all.
June 20, 1894- January 2, 1971
In the first half of the 20th century, Lloyd Hall amassed 60 patents for preservatives and methods to keep food from spoiling, and proved that spices do not preserve food.
1895-?
In 1919, Alice Parker designed and patented the first central heating furnace that used natural gas, decreasing the risk of fires and drew cool air down into the furnace using a heat exchanger delivering warm air through the home. Subsequent central heating inventions were based on her initial idea and design. However, very little information about Parker has been preserved.
?-?
In 1896, White invented the lemon juicer, complete with container attachment to collect the juice.
April 11, 1899- April 19, 1975
During WWII Julian used soya proteins to create AeroFoam, which extinguished gasoline and oil fires, saving Navy sailors during the war. Julian used soya to synthesize testosterone, progesterone, and cortisone, all used in many medical treatments today.
May 30, 1900- March 4, 1989
Parsons developed and patented four iron alloys that paved the way for the development of stainless steel, and was Duriron's chief metallurgist and lab manager, overseeing a laboratory fully staffed by Black employees.
June 3, 1904- April 1, 1950
Drew invented a way to separate blood from plasma so that blood donations could be stored long-term and organized the first blood bank.
1911-1992
Hawkins invented a plastic sheath to go over telephone wires (replacing lead) to protect them from the elements.
May 17, 1912- January 13, 2006
Coming from a long line of inventors, Kenner holds the most patents of any Black woman and was always inventing from early childhood on (when she was six she attempted to invent a self-oiling hinge, and put a sponge on the tip of umbrellas to catch rain water). While she is most famous for inventing the sanitary belt, you use other objects she thought up every day, without knowing it! After her sister developed MS, in 1976 she invented a tray and carrier pocket for walkers. In 1980 Kenner invented a toilet paper holder commonly used in public bathrooms today that feeds the toilet paper through a slot so that the end is always accessible.
?-?
Tired of hand-squeezing fruit to make juice, in 1916 Turner invented the first home fruit press, which pushed fruit into an opening and cut it in half, shifting the fruit between different plates until it was juiced. It is the basic design behind automatic home juicers today.
October 30, 1922-February 2, 1999
Brown was a nurse working late nights in Queens, NY. The home security system she invented used peepholes, a camera, monitors, a two-way microphone, and an alarm button all of which became the foundation for modern home security systems.
September 26, 1929- November 20, 1998
Gourdine held 30 patents for inventions, including for air monitors and allergen filtration systems we use today as well as the Incineraid, in 1987, for removing smoke from burning buildings. He also holds patents for heating and cooling systems
?-?
In 1931, Thornton patented his invention of an early answering machine which attached to the phone, recorded voice messages from callers, and time stamped them. It also allowed the telephone owner to record his own message for callers to hear.
(October 27, 1930-2026)
Mathematician Gladys West was hired in 1956 by the U.S. Naval Proving Ground, a weapons laboratory. One of her first major projects was the Naval Ordinance Research Calculator (NORC) to determine the movements of Pluto in relation to Neptune. In 1978 she was named project manager of Seasat, the first project to demonstrate that satellites could usefully observe oceanic data. West and her team created GEOSAT, a satellite programmed to create models of the earth's surface and this program allows GPS to make accurate calculations of any place on Earth. She retired in 1998.
February 10, 1931-Present
In 1962 with Gerhard Sessler, West invented the foil electret microphone, capturing sound in electrical signals produced on thin sheets of polymer film metal coated on one side. Ninety percent of microphones that are manufactured use this design.
1940-Present
Molecular Physicist George Alcorn holds 8 patents but his most important one is the X-ray spectrometer which allows us to see the chemical compositions of stars and artifacts, find planets, and develop new medical treatments.
March 2, 1957- Present
As Chief Engineer at IBM, Dean was involved in creating the first color monitor and led the team that created the first gigahertz chip.
December 4, 1959- September 15, 2007
In 1987 Weatherby improved on existing bleach-based dishwasher detergents that used dyes that stained dishes and dishwashers, by creating a lemon-scented bleach-based formulation that didn't stain. It's now known as Cascade.
For science experiments you can do with your kids that help explore the discoveries that Black scientists made, click here!
BEAT THE BELL
For the week of February 2-6, we had 92% positive attendance (same as the short week before) and 149 tardies (up from 79 tardies 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:
- Choose clothes and shoes the night before, lay them out in same place.
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Walk by a special place before school; go by the chicken house!
At a quiet time, ask if anything about school is scary or upsetting. Follow up with teacher or Lisa.
A WISH IN THE DARK, BY CHRISTINE SOONTORNVAT - NEWBERY HONOR BOOK 2021
A boy on the run. A girl determined to find him. A compelling fantasy looks at issues of privilege, protest, and justice.
All light in Chattana is created by one man — the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city. For Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, the magical lights represent freedom, and he dreams of the day he will be able to walk among them. But when Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars. The wealthy dine and dance under bright orb light, while the poor toil away in darkness. Worst of all, Pong’s prison tattoo marks him as a fugitive who can never be truly free.
Nok, the prison warden’s perfect daughter, is bent on tracking Pong down and restoring her family’s good name. But as Nok hunts Pong through the alleys and canals of Chattana, she uncovers secrets that make her question the truths she has always held dear. Set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world, Christina Soontornvat’s twist on Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a dazzling, fast-paced adventure that explores the difference between law and justice — and asks whether one child can shine a light in the dark.
Get The Book
- Click here to borrow the book, ebook, or audiobook from Multnomah County Library.
- Buy the book at Powell's Bookstore.
- Buy the book, ebook, or audiobook at Barnes and Noble.
- Purchase the book on Amazon.
- 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 now through February 20th. Click here to read their book recommendation criteria.
Arleta's OBOB finals are on Tuesday Mar 3, 2026 ⋅ 2:30pm – 4pm.
Sonnet
My heart be brave, and do not falter so,
Nor utter more that deep, despairing wail.
Thy way is very dark and drear I know,
But do not let thy strength and courage fail;
For certain as the raven-winged night
Is followed by the bright and blushing morn,
Thy coming morrow will be clear and bright;
’Tis darkest when the night is furthest worn.
Look up, and out, beyond, surrounding clouds,
And do not in thine own gross darkness grope,
Rise up, and casting off thy hind’ring shrouds,
Cling thou to this, and ever inspiring hope:
Tho’ thick the battle and tho’ fierce the fight,
There is a power making for the right.
MAKE A GEES BEND QUILT COLLAGE
For the art project, you will need six sheets of construction paper or cardstock of different colors and a glue stick!
(Image Credit: Housetop Variation by Loretta Pettway. Photo by Steve Pitkin/Pitkin Studio, courtey of Souls Grown Deep Foundation.)
What did one plate say to the other plate?
Lunch is on me!
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.
PETE THE CAT MUSICAL - NOW THROUGH FEB 15
Back by Popular Demand, Northwest Children’s Theater Presents
“Pete the Cat”, a Live Rock Musical!
Script & lyrics by Sarah Hammond, music by Will Aronson
Based on the “Pete the Cat” series of books by Kimberly and James Dean
Get ready for a rockin’ good time as Northwest Children’s Theater (NWCT) brings back its wildly popular live rock musical, Pete the Cat, for a brand-new run at The Judy in downtown Portland. Running from January 31 through February 15, 2026 this encore production follows last year’s near sell-out success and features the original cast returning to the stage.
Based on the beloved “Pete the Cat” book series, the musical celebrates the playful energy, creativity, and cool attitude of the ever-chill cat Pete, along with his best buddy Jimmy. As Pete helps Jimmy embrace the power of imagination, families will experience a joyful, visually vibrant show that highlights the whimsical world of Pete the Cat.
Click here to purchase tickets on NWCT's website.
If you receive SNAP benefits, you can purchase up to four $5 Arts for All tickets to NWCT shows. Arts for All tickets can be reserved beginning two weeks in advance of each production and must be purchased over the phone or in person at the Box Office. For closing weekend performances, Arts for All tickets are only available for purchase via walk-up at the Box Office one hour prior to the start of the performance. To check availability, please email us at info@nwcts.org with your preferred show dates and times or call the Box Office at 503-222-2190, option 1.
Important: NWCT’s Box Office is currently staffed on weekends and other show days. If you call during the week, please leave a message and we will call you back as quickly as possible. We check Box Office emails and phone messages daily.
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!
PORTLAND WINTER LIGHT FESTIVAL - NOW THROUGH FEB 14
Since 2016, Portland Winter Light Festival has been an annual tradition of arts installations and events all around the city during the gloomiest time of the year! The Portland Winter Light Festival is coming February 6-14, filling the city for nine evenings with free light-based art, performances, and moments of wonder.
Ready to dive in? Explore programs, plan your route, check schedules, and discover how to be part of the glow. View the art listings and map here. Or, click here to see the performances schedule. See the theme for this year's festival, here. And look at images from past festival, here.
READ TO THE DOGS AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - FEB 14
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog at Holgate Library on Saturday Feb 14 from 11am-1pm. This event is for or kids and teens.
Call 503.988.5123 to register. 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 Holgate Library website.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ONLINE CLASS - SEED SAVING - FEB 17
Saving seeds is one of the most meaningful ways gardeners can deepen their connection to the land, their food, and the generations who came before them. Join us as seed saver and educator Briana Smorstad, of Seed Savers Exchange, highlights the why and how of saving seeds from your home garden, with Seed Stewardship in the Garden on Tuesday, February 17, from 5-6pm, online. (Google Calendar ICS) Click here to register for the free class.
Whether you’re hoping to save money on seeds, select plants with traits you love, or preserve varieties with personal or cultural significance, seed saving is a powerful and accessible practice. Briana will cover the basics of growing plants for seed, harvesting seeds at the right time, and storing them so they remain viable for future seasons.
This presentation will also explore the broader impact of seed saving, from strengthening local resilience to protecting our shared garden heritage. Gardeners will leave with practical skills, increased confidence, and a deeper appreciation for seeds as living links between past, present, and future.
Click here to see more about the class on their website. Or, click here to see a full list of their free online classes.
YOU TOO CAN CRAFT - CROCHET HEADBANDS - FEB 17
Come to Holgate LIbrary on Tuesday, February 17 from 3:30-5pm and learn how to make a crocheted headband. There will be instruction in the basic stitches needed to complete this simple project.
Yarn and crochet hooks will be provided or bring your own. Click here to register for the class.
LUNAR NEW YEAR AT LAN SU GARDEN - FEB 17
Save the date: February 17, 2026
Lan Su is home to the most iconic Lunar New Year celebration in the Pacific Northwest! Explore the garden adorned with dazzling lantern sculptures from China and take part in interactive cultural activities that bring the celebration to life. It’s a must-see both day and night!
LAST SUNDAY CRAFTING CLUB FOR ADULTS - FEB 22
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Express your creativity with a variety of art and craft projects. All materials provided! Space is limited; this program is intended for adults. Click here to go to the event on the Woodstock Library website.
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.
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
MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY EVERYBODY READS 2025-26
Everybody Reads is a community-wide project that promotes shared reading, discussion and creative engagement around a single book. This year's program pick is Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson' memoir Lovely One. Click here to reserve a copy of the book (libraries often also have copies for you to keep, so check your local library branch).
From January through March, join your community at libraries for events around the book. Attend programs about history, the law and civic engagement. Celebrate the themes of Lovely One with creative activities like musical performance and art-making. Click here to see a calendar of Everybody Reads events.
Click here to buy tickets to see Justice Jackson discuss her autobiography live with Literary Arts and ask her questions, on Thursday March 12 from 7:30-9:30pm, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (tickets $35-$85).
RESOURCES FOR DISCUSSING VIOLENCE AND RACISM WITH YOUR CHILDREN FROM EMBRACERACE
The nonprofit EmbraceRace has put together a list of helpful resources for growing violence affecting children in our community. They write:
"The truth is as adults and caregivers we can’t 100% guarantee safety for kids. But we can let them know with our words and actions that we will do everything we can to protect them and help them thrive. We can acknowledge hard realities and provide tools for resilience, healing and community. We can create, with kids, a positive vision of the world we want to live in and take steps to get there – running when we can, walking when we must."
Action Guides & Articles
How to talk to kids after incidents of mass violence
by Anatasia Kim, PhD7 Ways to Highlight Resistance Efforts When Discussing Oppression with Children
by Mia BirdsongSame/Same/Different: How to Build an Inclusive Kindergarten
by Madeleine Rogin
Webinar Videos
Managing Racial Stress and Teaching Kids to Do the Same
with Drs. Riana Elyse Anderson and Shawn C.T. Jones
Teaching and Learning About Race: Fantastic Practice in the Early Years
with Victor Bradley and Verónica ReynosoTeaching and Learning About Race: Fantastic Practice in Late Elementary School
with Drs. Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn and Onnie RogersUsing Books to Engage Young Children in Talk about Race & Justice
with Tandem, Partners in Early Learning
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