DOLPHIN DIGEST 4/16/2026
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
SAVE YOUR BOOKS TO SWAP AT ARTS AND LITERACY NIGHT
Do you have some once-loved kid books around that don't get the attention they deserve? Let's change that!
Starting today April 9th, through the 16th, we're collecting gently used, age/school-appropriate books to be donated to the Arleta Book Swap table. During Arts and Literacy Night on April 16th, students and their siblings will have the opportunity to choose a new favorite book to take home.
📚 We encourage kids who donate their books to include a little note for the next reader.
📚 Please limit donations to 1-2 books per child, keeping in mind that it's best to donate only what you would like to take home.
📚 You can drop off your donated books in the basket located outside the main office.
Thank you for helping us share the joy of reading!
BRING FOOD FOR TEACHER & STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK!
Teacher Appreciation week is coming up! The full itinerary comes out next week, but we need help to create a staff brunch and dessert bar on Monday, May 4th and Wednesday, May 6th. Can you contribute some sweet or savory treats to help support our amazing staff? Click Here!
ARLETA SPRING BOOK FAIR
Arleta's Spring Book Fair is from May 11-15th this year! Ms. Street splits her time between Arleta and Llewlyn and we always need parents to help set up the book fair and keep the doors open for the kids! Relive your own book fair days by helping students choose their perfect next book. Sign up to volunteer today!
Set up for the book fair is May 8th from 11am-1pm. Packing up the book fair is May 15th from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. The book fair is open from 7:45-3pm (with a break for lunch). Volunteer shifts average about an hour long!
PTA SEEKING DONATIONS FOR ARLETA YEARBOOKS
The Arleta PTA provides a yearbook for every student, every year, so every child can take home the memories of their school year, and donations help us make this possible for the whole school.
Please consider one of the following levels of support:
$15 – Sponsor one student’s yearbook
$45 – Sponsor a small group of students
$150 – Help fund a classroom’s yearbooks
RAISE 20% MORE FOR ARLETA!
BottleDrop Earth Week • April 15–26
Your recycling = more funding for our school!
During Earth Week, BottleDrop will match your donations by up to 20% when you use Blue Bags.
How to help:
- Pick up a Blue Bag at the Arleta office
- Fill it with bottles & cans
- Drop it at any BottleDrop location
Small actions = BIG impact!
Help us turn bottles and cans into better classrooms and community fun!
KEEP COLLECTING YOUR JAR LIDS FOR FIRST GRADE FLOATS
Calling all recyclers! The first graders will soon be working on creating their floats for the parade and we need all your metal jar lids for the wheels...think sauce jars, pickle jars, jam jars, pepper jars, peanut butter jars, you get the idea. Anything that comes in a glass jar will have a metal lid and we want it!
There will be a tote bag for collection set up at the entrance of the main building or you are also welcome to send them directly to Teacher Katherine. We will continue collecting lids up until the end of April. Thank you for helping our First Graders out!
SUN SCHOOL SEEKING SNACKS TO SHARE
SUN School is seeking donations of snacks to help feed kids in the program. Please make sure donations of kid-friendly snacks are healthy and shelf-stable. Donations can be collected in the school office! Thank you so much.
ARLETA FOOD PANTRY, CLOTHES CLOSET, & FAMILY TOILETRIES
Arleta has a small food pantry, clothes closet, and a variety of toiletries available for the use of any Arleta family. To set up an appointment to use the pantry or the closet, please email our SUN School Coordinator, Raina Bilbrew at rbilbrew@pps.net or raina.bilbrew@portlandoregon.gov or call or text her at 971-803-8986.
BIPOC LUNCH GROUP ON PAUSE
The Arleta BIPOC Lunch Group provides students with a welcoming environment to promote cultural awareness, social tolerance, and academic success. It is a safe space for students to gather and be themselves, timed with your child's lunch, and meets weekly on Fridays throughout the SUN School semester.
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.
FREE SALSA DANCING CLASSES FOR ADULTS STARTS APR 14
Starting now and running through May 26, Arleta SUN School will offer weekly salsa lessons for the adults in the Arleta community. Adult Salsa Dance Lessons will be held Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the cafeteria. The entire class series costs $42. No partner is required, and all experience levels are welcome. Please use the link to get registered!
TONIGHT - ARTS & LITERACY NIGHT - APR 16
Arleta's Annual Arts & Literacy Night is tonight, April 16th, from 5:30-7pm. Come to the school for a creative event that's part gallery showing, part fair, and all fun!
At this event you can make stamps, zines, foil statues, and marionettes with your child, enjoy pizza, play Mad Libs, watch an African drumming performance, create bird garlands and fence art projects, paint rocks, and swap books. Most importantly, your child will be able to show you the visual and literary art they've been working hard on all year. Don't miss this incredible event!
TOMORROW - SPRING PICTURE DAY - APR 17
Dorian Studios will be coming again to Arleta this year the morning of Friday, April 17 for an optional picture day. This picture day is an opportunity to have your student’s pictures taken again. These pictures are a bit more unique in that you will be able to choose a background for your student’s picture.
The order forms will be arriving this week if you are interested in having your student’s picture taken again. You may also order online by clicking here. There will be some order options that are only available in the spring, such as key chains and mugs.
These pictures are informal, totally optional, and separate from the class pictures and year book photos we had taken in the fall!
We also need 2 parents to volunteer from 8am-10am to help escort kids back and forth between the photographers and the classroom. Please email Nicole to sign up!
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - FERNGULLY - APR 24
Our final Family Movie Night of the year is next Friday, April 24th, doors opening at 5:30pm and the movie starting at 6pm. In this 1992 animated movie, the magical inhabitants of a rainforest fight to save their home, which is threatened by logging and a polluting force of destruction called Hexxus. Enjoy a cast including Robin Williams, Tim Curry, Christian Slater, Cheech Marin, and Tommy Chong!
Bring camp chairs/blankets for seating. There will be concessions for sale. Students must be accompanied & supervised by an adult.
GAME AND CRAFT NIGHT - APR 30
The PTA Family Engagement Coordinator and SUN are hosting a Game and Craft Night in the Arleta cafeteria on Thursday, April 30th from 5-7pm. Come with the family to play some board games and/or get creative with some crafting. We'll have a variety of games for a wide range of age groups: Apples to Apples, Parcheesi, Chutes and Ladders, Mexican Train Dominoes, etc. People are welcome to bring their own favorites as well and bring them back home at the end of the night! Crafting materials will also be provided for the artsy among us.
You can come and go as you please - whatever time works for your schedule, and light refreshments will be available. We really just want to bring families together in our community space for some family fun and mingling.
NEURODIVERGENT FAMILY GATHERING - MAY 7
The last Neurodivergent Family Gathering is coming up on May 7th - please join us! We'll be meeting in the cafeteria starting at 5:30pm, with dinner provided, and play and socialize until 7:30pm.
ARLETA BIKEAPALOOZA - MAY 8
When: Friday, May 8 • 4:30–6:30 PM
Where: Arleta blacktop
What: A fun, family friendly bike event to get ready for spring riding. We’ll have quick bike safety checks (air, brakes, chain), a simple skills course, karaoke, and more! We’ll wrap up with a short neighborhood group ride, a great way to see how Bike Bus works and build confidence.
Who: Kids and adults of all abilities, whether you ride often, are just getting started, or just curious. No bike? Come anyway!
Hosted by the Arleta Bike Bus in partnership with SUN and the Arleta PTA.
ARLETA THEATRE CLUB GEARING UP FOR NEXT MONTH'S PERFORMANCES
Every spring, hardworking parents and students put on a theatre production in Arleta's auditorium for our general entertainment. This year's production is a devised piece based on Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Director Sarah Johnson says, "Rehearsals have been going great, and we are even ahead of schedule! Kids start each rehearsal with warm-ups, and then we dive right into blocking, acting, singing and dancing. We can't wait to show you what we've been practicing!"
We can't wait to see it!
Join us for a zany ride through history with, "The Excellent Adventure" running May 14th and 15th at 6pm, in the Arleta auditorium.
ALLERGY TIPS FROM NURSE JENNY
Hello everyone! As the seasons change, so do pollen counts. I would like to offer some tips for those who may experience allergy symptoms.
Drink plenty of water. Doing so helps to thin mucus.
Wash face and hands after playing outside to remove pollen.
Wash sheets and pillow cases often.
Discourage scratching of eyes. Use clean, wet compresses for relief of itching instead.
If possible, when temperatures permit, wear a jacket to protect clothes from pollen.
Allergens can worsen asthma symptoms so make sure that your child follows their home maintenance program (antihistamines such as Zyrtec or Claritin) and has access to their rescue inhaler.
Kind Regards,
Nurse Jenny Hefele
SEGC FEEDBACK SURVEY
Portland Public Schools (PPS) is partnering with Dr. Terrance Green and his team to learn about families’ experiences in schools impacted by SEGC changes. Dr. Green and his team have worked with districts to analyze past decisions in order to improve both the process and outcomes. We are interested in learning more about how we implemented these changes and how they have been experienced by families. Your feedback will help us learn from recent changes and will inform the upcoming rightsizing process.
Family/Caregiver Survey
Your feedback will help us understand the experiences, perspectives, and concerns of families impacted by the changes. Please take a moment to share your experiences and insights in the survey linked below.
Please complete this survey by 3:00 PM Friday April 17.
Survey Links:
Your privacy and choice
Participation is completely voluntary. When PPS shares what we learn, we will summarize feedback into overall themes and will not connect comments to individual people or families.
If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Calvert at mcalvert@pps.net.
CELEBRATE MUSIC DURING NATIONAL ARABIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH!
This week for National Arabic American Heritage Month, consider sharing music from the Middle East with your child.
An important concept in much of the music from the region is maqām. Each performance of Arabic classical music is said to be cast in a maqām. Maqām involves scales of notes separated by the half tones and whole tones also found in Western music, as well as by three-quarter and five-quarter tones. Maqām provides motifs (repeated musical phrases) which an improviser or composer consistently returns to and ways to modulate notes that are immediately recognizable to people familiar with the art.
Each maqām scale is built by chaining together two (or in some cases, three) scale fragments or building blocks called a jins (pl. ajnas) Maqām scales are grouped into families. If you're curious to learn more Middle Eastern music theory, click here!
Below are videos of music featuring different instruments that you can explore with your child. To see a more comprehensive but child-friendly list of musical instruments that these videos were pulled from, click here!
This delicately beautiful piece of music in the YouTube video below is played on the Qanun or kanoon, a traditional stringed instrument that’s either played solo or as part of an Arabic music ensemble. Traditionally, it was first used in the Old Assyrian Empire, where it was made of a box of elephant ivory.
In Arabic, qanun means “rules.” It comes from the fact that this instrument usually sets the pace for other instruments in an ensemble.
REGISTRATION FOR KINDERGARTEN IS NOW OPEN!
You can sign up at arleta.pps.net/kindergarten/connect-to-kindergarten
Enrolling early helps us secure the resources and staff our school needs. Click below to download the flyer for details on our upcoming Arleta Kinder Connects and New Student Open House! Thank you!
BEAT THE BELL
For the 4-day week of April 7-10, we had 92% positive attendance (down from 94% the week before) and 101 tardies (the exact same as the 4 day week before), averaging 26 tardies a day. For the 4-day week of March 30-April 2, we had 94% positive attendance (up from 92% the week before) and 104 tardies (averaging 26 tardies a day) which is a higher tardy rate than the 25.2 average the 5-day 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:
- Make a family pledge about attendance and being on time.
-
Give up on pajamas. Let your kid wear school clothes to bed.
Ask kids to check the weather the night before and set out proper jackets/shoes.
FRINDLE, BY ANDREW CLEMENTS
Nicholas Allen has plenty of ideas. Who can forget the time he turned his third-grade classroom into a tropical island, or the times he fooled his teacher by chirping like a blackbird? But now Nick's in fifth grade, and it looks like his days as a troublemaker are over.
Everyone knows that Mrs. Granger, the language arts teacher, has X-ray vision, and nobody gets away with anything in her classroom. To make matters worse, she's also a fanatic about the dictionary, which is hopelessly boring to Nick. But when Nick learns an interesting tidbit about words and where they come from, it inspires his greatest plan yet: to invent a new word. From now on, a pen is no longer a pen — it's a frindle.
Get The Book
- Click here to borrow the book from Multnomah County Library.
- Buy the book at Powell's Bookstore.
- Buy the audiobook on Libro.fm.
- Buy the book, ebook, or audiobook at Barnes and Noble.
- Purchase the book on Amazon.
- See the book on the author's website.
April
The roofs are shining from the rain,
The sparrows twitter as they fly,
And with a windy April grace
The little clouds go by.
Yet the back yards are bare and brown
With one unchanging tree--
I could not be so sure of Spring
Save that it sings in me.
SKEWER SCULPTURES
He knew a shortcut!
One in six children in Oregon and SW Washington face food insecurity. Food insecurity can arise for anyone. Should you need a little help, or you want to give a little help, here is a list of nearby resources.
Search for food pantry by day and time open, using the Portland Free Food Calendar.
Urban Gleaners takes advantage of Oregon's bountiful harvests, making sure they don't go to waste, sharing food through a variety of free markets around the region. You can find those markets on their website. Find a location by clicking here.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 5415 SE Powell Blvd. Hours are on Fridays from 2-5pm and the entrance is in the rear of building. They use a lottery system to give out the initial entry numbers. Those who have arrived by 1:45 pm on Friday will be entered into the lottery. Those who arrive after 1:45pm will be given the next number available.
SVDP Our Lady of Sorrows, 5221 SE Knight street. Referral only. Call Portland Council for food box at 503-235-8431.
Groceries 4 Grout, 4028 SE 34th Ave. This food pantries is hosted every Friday at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church parking lot. The outdoor pantry is shopping-style, available to everyone and we invite people to bring their own bags. Call (503) 235-3977 with inquiries.
The Woodstock Food Pantry 4033 SE Woodstock, provides groceries on Fridays and Saturdays, between 12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. to anyone who needs them. Drive-through or walk-up pantry. Cars – line up and stay in your car. Walkups – line up on the sidewalk.
The Francis Center 6535 SE 82nd provides food boxes Monday through Thursday from 10am -2pm. They ask that people gather one box per month, unless they're homeless, in which case, they can come once a week.
Kellogg Middle School Free Food Market, 3400 SE 69th Ave, is generally open on the 3rd Friday of every month and is open to the public (you do not have to have a student at Kellogg to attend). Please bring your own bag. The Kellogg pantry is next open on: April 17, May 15, & June 5 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 2:30-4pm, 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.
INVITE HOPE: MARCELO FONATANA AND WAVE CONTEMPORARY AT THE COLLINS GALLERY - NOW THROUGH JULY 5
Central Library is transforming into a space for poetic resistance. Marcelo Fontana and Wave Contemporary invite the viewer to see hope as an active power rather than a passive wish. Eighteen artists will create small and shareable acts of hope displayed in the Collins Gallery. The title for the exhibition, Invite Hope, comes from a Maya Angelou quote: “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.”
The Collins Gallery, at the top floor of the Central Library, is used for exhibits created by library personnel or by community members in cooperation with library personnel. Use of space by a community organization does not constitute an endorsement of the organization's beliefs by the library.
Central Library
801 SW 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
503.988.5123
CREATIVE LEARNING: BAMBU 3D PRINTER AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 16
Come to Holgate Library on April 16th to use our 3D printer and get help from staff on creating a project of your choice (subject to time limits). No experience necessary! A selection of colors of PLA will be available for you to use.
Space is limited and registration is required. Registration opened March 26. Click here to RSVP in the 2:15-3:45pm timeframe. Click here to RSVP in the 4pm-5:30pm timeframe.
Children in grades 5 and under must be accompanied by an attentive teen or adult.
READ TO THE DOGS AT WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - APR 17
Come to Woodstock Library on Friday April 17th from 3-4pm and improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog. The dogs and handlers are from Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Dove Lewis Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams, Paws for Love, and Pet Partners®.
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!
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION AT THE OREGON GARDEN - APR 18
Earth Day at The Oregon Garden is a free day of celebrating our planet! Guests of all ages are invited to grow their environmental stewardship by visiting with environmentally-conscious exhibitors, engaging in educational activities and exploring the Garden!
Admission to Earth Day at The Oregon Garden is free!
Activities
- Monmouth Taiko Drumming Association
- Interactive Life-size Orca Whale – courtesy of City of Salem – Public Works
- PDX Critters – Interact with animals!
- Pinecone Birdfeeder Craft Workshop
- Spark Photobooth
Panel Schedule
Panels all day long courtesy of Sustainable Silverton!
10:00 AM: Agriculture panel: “Local and Resilient Food Chains”
11:00 AM: “Oregon White Oaks in Silverton” – Eric Hammond
1:00 PM: “Sustainable Silverton Coalition” – Board
2:00 PM: “Solar Panels and the Circular Economy”
Parking
- On Site: $10
- Members always park free.
- Complimentary Park and Walk lots available at Silverton Senior Center and Robert Frost Elementary.
If you haven’t been, this is the ideal time to visit this Oregon attraction. The 80-acre botanical garden feature more than 20 specialty gardens showcasing the diverse botanical beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
The Oregon Garden is at 879 W Main St. in Silverton.
Click here for more details about Earth Day at the Oregon Garden!
FREE COMPOST FROM THE CITY OF PORTLAND - APR 18-19
In the fall, PBOT collects leaves from city streets and converts the debris into high-quality compost. In celebration of Earth Day, PBOT gives away all of this built up compost. And the best part? It’s completely free.
From April 18-19, 2026, you can pick up free compost at the Sunderland Maintenance Yard, 9325 NE Sunderland Avenue. The event is open each day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There is no limit to the amount of compost you can take. If you have an open-bed vehicle, PBOT will load the compost for you. If you want to bag your own, bring a shovel and bags. Click here to see the event on the City of Portland website.
INTERCAMBIO LANGUAGE EXCHANGE - APR 18
Intercambio / Language Exchange
Sat Apr 18
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Woodstock Library
Practique inglés o español y ayude a los demás que están aprendiendo en un ambiente amable. Los participantes hablan la mitad del tiempo en inglés y la otra en español. Están bienvenidos los principiantes.
Practice English or Spanish and help other learners in a friendly atmosphere. Participants speak half the time in English and half in Spanish. Beginners welcome.
WOODSTOCK LIBRARY SIT AND STITCH - APR 20
Join your neighbors on Monday, April 20th 10:30am-12pm at Woodstock Library for a friendly, informal sewing/knitting/crochet/embroidery bee! Bring your own projects and socialize (sew-cialize?) at the library. Click here to see this event on the Woodstock Library website.
MT SCOTT NEIGHBOR SOCIAL HOUR - APR 21
Join the Mt. Scott/Arleta Neigbhorhood Association on Tuesday, April 21⋅5:00 – 6:00pm and meet your neighbors at a rotating neighborhood establishment. Check each month for the current location.
Click here to see more events on the Mt. Scott/Arleta Neighborhood Association newsletter.
RESIN PENDANT MAKING - FREE CLASS AT collage - APRIL 21
Every third Tuesday of the month, collage on Division has a free craft night, all materials provided. Join them Tuesday, April 21st from 5-7pm and make necklace pendants with resin! You can find collage at 3701 SE Division St. and you can call them at (503) 477-8804.
TWEEN COUNCIL AT WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - APR 24
Fri Apr 24
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Woodstock Library
Help your librarian choose the best books, movies, comics, programs and events for you and your friends. Have fun working on special projects, making new friends, and creating the perfect library for you! This is a volunteer position and snacks will be provided. For kids ages 9-12.
READ TO THE DOGS AT WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - APR 24
Fri Apr 24
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Woodstock Library
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog. For kids and teens. Call 503.988.5123 to register.
ARLETA TRIANGLE WORK PARTY - APR 25
Make a good place better with your neighbors! The Arteta Triangle summer work parties are back for the season. Meet at the Arleta Triangle to help weed, paint, and support the community. Gloves, tools, and drinks provided. The work parties meet on the last Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. throughout the summer. On days with excessive heat warnings, the work parties start and end times each move to an hour earlier. The Arleta Triangle Square is located at 5961-5999 SE 72nd Ave, 97206.
If you’ve ever walked or driven through the intersection of SE 72nd & Woodstock Boulevard, you noticed an unusual street pattern. A wide, sweeping curved road creates a triangular island of land. On that space are trees and plants as well as a decorative wall with a canopy.
If you’re like me, you passed this spot and wondered, “Who is in charge of this space?”
The answer is you are. And now is the time to help make it even better. You are invited to join in. We’re working with a landscape planner this year to make the landscape more resilient and beautiful. Work parties on the site are also planned for every last Saturday of the month starting in April, through at least September. Help plant, maintain, or give guidance to the future of this site!
SPRING FOR ZENGER - APR 25
Zenger Farm is a a nonprofit urban and organic farm that models, promotes and educates about sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, community development and access to good food for all. Join them on Saturday, April 25th, 2026, from 10-2 PM at our annual Spring for Zenger celebration!
Bring the whole family and enjoy Oaxacan Cuisine prepared by Chef Paula of La Cuchara, guided tours, a drop-in volunteer stewardship project, propagation workshops, and more fun farm activities!
This event is FREE and open to the public! Please register by clicking here. Zenger Farm is located at 11741 SE Foster Road • Portland, OR 97266
OPEN NATURE CLASSROOM EARTH DAY - APR 25
- Saturday, April 25, 2026
- 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
- Friends of Tryon Creek11321 South Terwilliger BoulevardPortland, OR, 97219United States (map)
On Saturday April 25th, join Friends of Tryon Creek in our Nature Classroom space. Open for parents and children visiting the park to come and experience nature-themed arts and crafts, and learn about animals, plants, fungi, and water. Kids can interact, learn together, and make new friends.
Free public event. No Registration is required.
Future Open Classroom Events: May 30: Natural Ink
READ TO THE DOGS AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 25
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog at Holgate Library on Saturday, April 25th from 11am-1pm. For kids and teens. Call 503.988.5123 to register.
INTERCAMBIO LANGUAGE EXCHANGE - APR 25
Intercambio / Language Exchange
Sat Apr 25
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Woodstock Library
Practique inglés o español y ayude a los demás que están aprendiendo en un ambiente amable. Los participantes hablan la mitad del tiempo en inglés y la otra en español. Están bienvenidos los principiantes.
Practice English or Spanish and help other learners in a friendly atmosphere. Participants speak half the time in English and half in Spanish. Beginners welcome.
LAST SUNDAY CRAFTING CLUB AT WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - APR 26
Join us at Woodstock Library on Sunday, April 26th from 12-2pm and express your creativity with a variety of art and craft projects! Library staff will provide all materials necessary.
This event is first come first served due to limited space.
INTRO TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 26
Join us on Sunday, Apr 26 join us from 3:30 - 5:30pm at the Holgate Library for Intro to Digital Photography! This introductory course is designed for absolute beginners and those looking to move beyond automatic camera settings. Participants will learn the fundamental technical and creative principles that underpin great photography. Over the the course, we will demystify the core functions of a camera and explore how to use light, composition, and exposure controls to capture compelling images. Click here to see the photography class on the Holgate Library website.
ECOS DEL SUR AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 28
Disfrute de los sonidos de Ecos del Sur mientras interpretan música folclórica de América Central y del Sur, en Biblioteca Holgate, martes, 28 de Abril, desde 6:30-7pm. Vea el calendario a la página de la biblioteca.
Enjoy the sounds of Ecos del Sur as they perform folk music from Central and South America at Holgate Library, Tuesday April 28th from 6:30-7:30pm. See the event on the library website.
CREATIVE LEARNING: BAMBU 3D PRINTER AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 30
Come to Holgate Library on April 30th from 4-5:30pm to use our 3D printer and get help from staff on creating a project of your choice (subject to time limits). No experience necessary! A selection of colors of PLA will be available for you to use.
Space is limited and registration is required. Click here to register.
Children in grades 5 and under must be accompanied by an attentive teen or adult. Click here to see the event on the Holgate Library website.
READ TO THE DOGS AT WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - MAY 1
Fri May 1
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Woodstock Library
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog. The dogs and handlers are from Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Dove Lewis Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams, Paws for Love, and Pet Partners®.
INDIGENOUS CULTURE DAY AT TRYON CREEK STATE PARK - MAY 2
- Saturday, May 2, 2026
- 9:00 AM 2:00 PM
- Friends of Tryon Creek11321 South Terwilliger BoulevardPortland, OR, 97219, United States (map)
Culture Day is a celebration of the reclamation of traditional lands for Indigenous Peoples that provides an accurate cultural experience for the whole community. This free, all-ages event offers the chance to listen and learn from Indigenous educators in the culturally rich land now known as Tryon Creek State Natural Area.
In its 8th year, this annual event is our Tryon Land Acknowledgement in action.
In a short forest walk, participants can go from the Nature Center and surrounding trails to see first-hand the traditional lifeways of Northwest Tribes. Indigenous leaders and educators will share a variety of traditional lifeways such as cordage and bag making, carving, Chinook Wawa language, basketry, first foods, and dentalium beads.
Culture Day Activities
Open Ceremony
Cultural Lifeways Community education tables
Guided Plant hike
Salmon Bake (samples)
Storytime
Door Prizes!
YOGA+ART+STORIES FOR KIDS - MAY 2
Sat May 2
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Woodstock Library
Yoga + Art + Stories ignites children's creativity, enhances their well-being, and fosters a love for self-expression through the fusion of yoga and art. Through a series of engaging stories, playful yoga poses and art activities that correspond to the themes of the stories, this unique program promotes physical development, emotional well-being, and cognitive growth. Led by Lauren Danner from Sculpted Lotus Yoga.
HOLGATE LIBRARY TWEEN COUNCIL - MAY 5
Tue May 5
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Holgate Library
Help your librarian choose the best books, movies, comics, programs and events for you and your friends. Have fun working on special projects, making new friends, and creating the perfect library for you! This is a volunteer position and snacks will be provided. For kids ages in grades 4-6
READ TO THE DOGS AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - MAY 5
Tue May 5
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Holgate Library
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog. For kids and teens. Call 503.988.5123 to register.
MT SCOTT-ARLETA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING - MAY 6
The next Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association (MSANA) General & Board Meeting is Wednesday, May 6th, from 6:30-8:30pm. This is a hybrid meeting, in-person with remote viewing option.
In-Person: 72Foster Community Room (5005 SE 72nd Ave)
Remote Zoom Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/3Oq59jZ
View the Meeting Agenda
Read Past Meeting Minutes
Agenda Item Submission:
To add an item to the agenda, email the details to the Chair at least two weeks before the meeting. Clearly state what you want the association to do.
CREATIVE LEARNING: INTRO TO 3D PRINTING - MAY 7
Creative Learning: Intro to 3D Printing
Thu May 7
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Holgate Library
Learn to prepare an existing model for 3D printing on one of the library's Bambu P2S printers, then start experimenting with 3D modeling. All materials will be provided.
Space is limited and registration is required. Registration opens April 16.
READ TO THE DOGS - MAY 9
Sat May 9
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Holgate Library
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog. For kids and teens. Call 503.988.5123 to register.
MULAN DRUM TEAM - MAY 9
Sat May 9
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Holgate Library
The Mulan Drum Team is an all-women drumming group comprised of community members from diverse backgrounds. The sound of their drums is entrancing, powerful, and impactful, echoing the beauty and strength of Chinese women and contributing to the celebration of Chinese culture in our community.
KEIKI STORIES WITH HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB - MAY 12
AANHPI: Keiki Stories with Hawaiian Civic Club
Tue May 12
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Holgate Library
Join a ʻAha Lāhui O ʻOlekona, Hawaiian Civic Club of Oregon & SW Washington, for an hour of stories and crafts celebrating Native Hawaiian culture and traditions!
This program is intended for children up to six years old with their grown ups.
Made possible by The National Endowment for the Humanities Fund of The Library Foundation.
CRAFTERNOON FOR ADULTS - MAY 13
Wed May 13
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Holgate Library
Join a make-and-take crafternoon! Each craft will be selected from the library's craft book collection.
This event is first come, first served.
PORTLAND SIDEWALK JOY MAP - ANYTIME
Take a self-guided tour of local creations using the PDX Sidewalk Joy Map. This map showcases fun, interactive neighborhood galleries, exchanges and displays.
The map has more than 100 community joy spots throughout the city. All of these projects created by homeowners exist to bring a bit of whimsy and inspiration to the community.
These displays are viewable from front yards, curbside gardens, alleyways, side yards and sides of buildings.
The map shows a description, image and the location of each display. There’s also Instagram handles so you can follow your favorite Joy Map creators.
All locations on the map are free to enjoy, but you may want to bring quarters for the Super Awesome Prizes vending machine or pay for a pottery piece at the Poetry Pottery Box. View the map.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY CULTURAL PASSES
The Multnomah County Library has cultural passes to allow free admission to select cultural institutions around Portland. To check out a cultural pass from the library and see the list of institution, please click the button below.
ARTS FOR ALL TICKETS
Anyone who gets food relief through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and has the Oregon Trail Card or Washington State Quest Card qualifies to purchase $5 tickets to theatre, arts, and culture events around Portland through the Arts for All program.
Arts For All envisions a community where everyone—regardless of financial resources—can experience and enjoy arts and culture.
Over a decade ago, Arts For All was founded by dedicated arts leaders to ensure Oregon Trail Card/SNAP recipients could access specific arts events for just $5 per ticket.
Click here to be taken to the Arts for All Website and to purchase tickets. I
ATTENDING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
The School Board meets regularly at the school district's Dr. Matthew Prophet Education Center (Prophet Center), 501 N. Dixon Street, at 6:00 pm on select Tuesdays of each month - and on certain other occasions. Some scheduling changes do occur; if you plan to attend, please see below for the upcoming public meeting notices.
Under the provision of ORS 192.670 all meetings will be live-streamed at http://www.youtube.com/@ppsboardofeducation/live, except for those meetings that fall under the provisions set forth for executive sessions.
To subscribe to email notifications of public meeting notices, email kbradshaw@pps.net to request to be added to the email list. After an email address has been subscribed to the mailing list, a notice of a Public Meeting of the School Board will be sent before each scheduled meeting.
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