The Cheetah Coalition #38
Weekly Updates from the Atkinson Office — 6/5/26
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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Atkinson Families,
As we come to the end of another school year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your partnership, support, and trust. Atkinson remains a special place because of the people who make up our community. Every day I have had the privilege of watching students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. They have learned new skills, built new friendships, solved problems, created beautiful work, and shown tremendous care for one another. There is much to celebrate, and I am incredibly proud of all that our students and staff have accomplished this year.
As many of you know, staffing across the district has been in flux throughout the spring as schools have worked through budget reductions and staffing adjustments. Atkinson has not been immune to those changes, and some staffing decisions are still being finalized centrally. I know families are eager for information, and I appreciate your patience as this process unfolds. In August, I will communicate our finalized staffing allocation and families will also learn who their child's teacher will be for the 2026–27 school year.
I am excited to share one piece of very good news for next year. Atkinson will be partnering with Grow Portland, a local nonprofit organization that supports schools through hands-on garden education. Grow Portland's mission is to help students build connections to food, nature, and one another through meaningful outdoor learning experiences. Their Garden School program provides monthly lessons that teach environmental science, food systems, stewardship of the natural world, and healthy eating through direct experiences in school gardens. We are thrilled to bring this opportunity to our students next year.
As part of this partnership, we will be looking for parent volunteers to help support garden lessons throughout the year. Volunteers assist with activities, work alongside students, and help create successful outdoor learning experiences. More information about volunteer opportunities will be shared in the fall, and I hope many of you will consider joining us in the garden.
As summer begins, I encourage families to make space for two things that children need deeply: time outdoors and unstructured play. Time outside helps children develop curiosity, confidence, and a connection to the natural world. Unstructured play builds creativity, problem-solving skills, independence, and social-emotional growth in ways that no organized activity can fully replicate. Some of the most important learning children do happens when they are exploring, imagining, creating, and simply being kids.
The school office will close on Friday, June 12. However, if questions arise over the summer, please feel free to email me and I will do my best to help.
Thank you for being part of the Atkinson community. I wish all of you a summer filled with rest, adventure, laughter, and time together with the people you love. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in August.
In service to students,
Debbie Armendariz
Principal
Email: darmenda@pps.net
School phone number: (503) 916-6333
LOST AND FOUND WILL BE DONATED ON THURSDAY, JUNE 11
The office will be open next week between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. You are welcome to come down to look for lost items through Wednesday, June 10. After that, all items will be donated to the PPS Clothing Closet.
PPS PRE-K ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
PPS Pre-K is free to all students and follows the Tools of the Mind curriculum, which focuses on helping young children develop the crucial skills that will prepare them for a lifetime of learning.
Children who will be 3 or 4 on or before September 1, 2026 are eligible for enrollment at the following sites: Boise-Eliot, Clarendon, Creston Annex, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Faubion, Grout, Jason Lee, Kelly Center, Lent, Marysville, Rosa Parks, Sacajawea, Sitton, and Whitman.
Priority Pre-K enrollment is given to:
- Children from families affected by homelessness, incarceration, substance abuse, mental health issues, and domestic violence;
- Migrant and refugee families;
- Children who speak languages other than English;
- Children who experience developmental delays and disabilities;
- Children of teen parents or military families;
- Children living in foster care;
- Children enrolled in a Title VI Indian Education Program or organization.
Even if your family does not meet any of the above criteria, we still encourage you to apply. Applications are available on the PPS website, and you’ll find answers to any questions you might have on the PPS Early Learners page. You can also reach the Pre-K team via email at prekprograms@pps.net and by phone at (971) 706-1806.
KINDERGARTEN PROMOTION
Congratulations all our kindergarten students for completing their first year of elementary school! We are so proud of you!
THIRD GRADE ACTIVITIES
LAST RUNNING CLUB AWARDS OF THE YEAR!
We had another outstanding year of Running Club! Thank you to everyone that participated!
We ran an incredible 3500 miles!
Totals:
67 runners - 1/2 marathon
40 runners - marathon
27 runners - ultra marathon
Winning classroom - 3rd year in a row -- Ms Mady (407 miles)
K-2 CLASSES:
1/2 Marathon
Zayna Elasady
Gael Padilla Ramirez
Clive Humphrey
Marcella Alacid McKernan
Izabelle Simar
Ethan Hillis
Nina Marx
Aaliyah Zarate
Marathon
Arlo Hastings
Ahti Philips
Ultra marathon
Micah McNeil
Arthur Schoonover
Spirit awards
Jonah Hatch (K)
Manuel Morrill-Anaya (1st)
Erik Mendez Garcia (2nd)
Top 3 in each grade
ISC -
3rd Ellie West - 2.17 miles
2nd Charlee Eklund - 5.17 miles
1st - Izabelle Simar - 13.42 miles
Kinder:
3rd Jack Altenhofen - 19.42 miles
2nd Felix Squire - 21.86 miles
1st Camdyn Park - 22.59 miles
1st grade:
3rd Nell Wood - 30.17 miles
(narrowly beat Kai Jenkins - 29.96)
2nd Jane Wood - 31.79 miles
1st Soren Schaub - 44.75 miles
2nd grade:
3rd Arthur Schoonover - 40.92 miles
(narrowly beat out Micah -- 40.07 miles)
2nd Max Abbenhaus - 46.00 miles
1st place Leo Jenkins - 50.15 miles
3-5 CLASSES:
1/2 marathon
Cristian Tino Lindo
Spirit awards
Carter Hase (3rd)
Multi marathon award
5th graders that have run every year at Atkinson (excluding remote/covid year)
5x:
William W
Samara B
Jesse D
Porter H
Jordan C
Emrys E
Walker H
4x:
Cella S
Alex A
Top 3 in each grade:
3rd grade:
3rd - Cyrus Wheatley - 60.67
2nd (8th overall) - Teddy Quiroz - 61.75
1st (2nd overall) - Freddy Wood - 80.76
4th grade:
3rd - Daniel Russell - 7.58 miles
2nd - Enid Haight - 16.00 miles
1st - Frances Collins - 41 miles
5th grade:
3rd place (4th overall) - Elliott Ernst
2nd place (3rd overall) - Jesse Dillard
1st place and 1st overall -- 3rd year in a row - William Wood
Top 10 award winners for this year:
10 - Reese Huseby - 61 miles
9 - Jordan Colligan - 61.5 miles
8 - Teddy Quiroz (3rd) - 61.75 miles
7 - Sebastian Gold - 62. 25 miles
6 - Alex Abbenhaus - 62.92 miles
5 - Samara Barish - 66.59 miles
4 - Elliott Ernst - 71.17 miles
3 - Jesse Dillard - 76.09 miles
2 - Freddy Wood (3rd) - 80.76
1 - William Wood - 80.92 miles
GARDEN CARE THIS SUMMER
Can you take a day or a week and help keep the Atkinson OLG beautiful this summer?
We need volunteers to make sure our kids have delicious produce to taste when they return in the fall. Sign up here to water and pull a few weeds in the Multicultural Garden! And feel free to harvest whatever is ripe when you visit!
Details are included in the link. Email us with any questions at olg@atkinsonpta.org. THANK YOU!
STUDENT HEALTH CENTER SUMMER HOURS
See the attached flyer for information about the student health centers that are open during the summer.
UPCOMING DATES TO KNOW
- Wednesday, June 10 — Last day to pick up lost and found items
- Friday, June 12 — Last day school office is open
HAPPY SUMMER BREAK!!! 😀
- Tuesday, August 4 — Office reopens for 26-27 school year
- Wednesday, August 19 — Connect to Kinder on the playground, 2:45–3:45 p.m.
- Sunday, August 23 — PTA School Grounds Work Party, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Sunday, August 23 — PTA Kinder Meetup on the back lawn, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Sunday, August 23 — PTA Welcome Back Pizza Party on the back lawn, 12:00–2:00 p.m.
- Monday–Friday, August 24–28 — Kinder Ramp-Up
- Wednesday, August 26 — First Day of School for Grades 1–5
- Friday, August 28 — Principal's Coffee in the cafeteria, 8:10 a.m.
- Monday, August 31 — First Official Day of School for Kinder
- Monday, August 31 — Kinder Parent Coffee in the cafeteria, 8:10 a.m.