Irvington Weekly Newsletter
November 6, 2026
Book Fair Postponed / OBOB Book Sale
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the in-person book fair scheduled next week needs to be postponed to a later date. We apologize for this change and will aim to bring the Book Fair to Irvington as soon as possible, likely in January! The good news is neighborhood favorite A Children’s Place Bookstore will be at Irvington for an OBOB Book Sale on Tuesday, November 10! Come to room 107 anytime between 2-6pm (2:00-2:30pm is kid-free shopping time) to get ready for OBOB season.* A Children’s Place will donate 10% back to our school.
*Please note, it is not necessary to purchase any or all of the OBOB books in order to participate in the OBOB program. A set is available in each classroom, you may be able to find these books at the public library, and sharing with your teammates is encouraged!
Ruby Bridges Walk-to-School Day on November 13
On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges walked into first grade as the first Black student at an all-white Louisiana school. She faced unthinkable obstacles as school districts in the United States desegregated, and as an adult she has worked to promote tolerance and anti-racist practices.
Schools across the country honor Ruby Bridges with a Ruby Bridges Walk-to-School Day every November 14. (Since that is a Saturday this year, we will honor her on Friday.) This is a way to remember the hardships that Black Americans have faced to receive a public education and celebrate trailblazers like Ruby who worked for equality. We invite you to join us for Ruby Bridges Walk-to-School Day next Friday. Look at the map below to see walking routes in the neighborhood.
Steeplejack Joint Restaurant Day for Irvington and HTMS
Invite your friends and neighbors to show support for our neighborhood public schools! Find good food and community connection at Steeplejack Brewing Co. on Broadway during our joint fundraiser, benefiting Irvington Elementary and Harriet Tubman Middle School next Wednesday, November 11, between 11am and 10pm. Proceeds from the full day will be shared equally by the schools. Steeplejack will donate 10% for all DINE-IN FOOD ORDERS and 15% for BEER ORDERS (whether in-house or to-go). No delivery, 3rd party app, or to-go food orders qualify.
Irvington's Fall Food Drive
Fifth grade Eagles Leaders are putting on a food drive starting Monday, November 9, 2026, through Friday, January 29, 2027. Please check out this flyer to see what items are most needed. If any Irvington families wish to visit school to take needed items, you can contact Ms. Blum (cblum@pps.net or text 971-231-5409) to schedule a time. The donations will be brought to the Oregon Food Bank at the end of each month.
Update from the Village Table
Leaf Raking
Get some exercise and help keep our school grounds clean and safe on Thursday, November 12, at 2:30pm! Rain or shine, join us in clearing all of the leaves off of our campus in anticipation of the city leaf collection. Bring your tools of choice - rakes, wide shovels, tarps, and leaf blowers are best!
Neurodiversity Caregivers Group
This group is for parents and caregivers of students who experience neurodiversity. No IEP or diagnosis is required to join. Once a month, we get together to share stories and support each other as we raise kids who experience the world a little differently. We focus on building relationships, sharing resources, and swapping stories about what it's really like to parent a neuro spicy kid. We also advocate for our kids together, at the school and district level. Our next meeting is Friday, November 13, at 8am after drop off in the PTA room 109.
Green Team Meeting
Join us at Pocket Pub for our monthly Green Team meeting on Thursday, November 12, at 7:30pm! Whether you are a long-time member or brand new, all are welcome and encouraged to attend! We could use some help with upcoming recycling drives, so if you have been thinking about it, now is a great time to join!
November Lunch Servers Needed
The November lunch calendar is live! If you haven’t volunteered at lunch yet, now is a great time to experience one of the many things that makes Irvington so special. It’s a fun, rewarding way to connect with our students and see our school community in action! We still have plenty of open slots, and every volunteer makes a difference. Please consider signing up for a shift before the holiday season! Questions? Contact Betsy Huigens at 503-899-0194.
Movie Night Next Friday
The next Movie Night is scheduled for Friday, November 13. This is a free community event hosted by the PTA, and this time we’ll be showing Super Mario Bros. Movie! See all the details below:
Where: School cafeteria.
When: Friday, November 13. Doors open and disco party at 6:15pm, movie begins at 6:30pm. Use the cafeteria doors behind the school for entry/exit.
Who: Irvington students and their families. Children MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Food and Drink: Free popcorn provided! Please bring your own water bottles filled with water only. Picnic dinners are okay, too. Thank you in advance for cleaning up after yourselves.
Seating: Bring a blanket or camp chair to sit on. Cafeteria tables are also available.
Disco: Enjoy some fun lights, music, and dancing before the show and during a short intermission.
Irvington Community Market <REPEAT>
Join Irvington on Sunday mornings November 15 and December 6 from 10am-12pm for a market highlighting the spirit of our community. There will be trinkets and treasures, pancakes, craft tables, a puppet show, and friends.
Do you have talent or treasure to sell at the market? Share your passion & spark neighborhood joy by hosting your own table. Email michael.benkoski@gmail.com to inquire about reserving a vendor's table. Open to the community at large.
Community Recycling Drive <REPEAT>
Board Member Listening Session on November 9 <REPEAT>
Upcoming Event
Monday, November 9: Board member listening session, 9:30-10:30am
Tuesday, November 10: Book fair POSTPONED
Tuesday, November 10: OBOB book sale, 2-6pm in room 107
Tuesday, November 10: Fall band concert at HTMS, 6:30pm
Wednesday, November 11: No school (Veterans' Day)
Wednesday, November 11: Steeplejack joint restaurant fundraiser night with HTMS, 11am-10pm
Thursday, November 12: Leaf raking party, 2:30-4:30pm
Thursday, November 12: Green Team meeting, 7pm at Pocket Pub
Friday, November 13: Ruby Bridges Walk-to-School Day
Friday, November 13: Neurodiversity caregiver group, 8am
Friday, November 13: Movie Night, 6:15pm
Sunday, November 15: Irvington Community Market and Recycling Drive, 10am-12pm
Monday, November 16: PTA meeting, 5:30pm
Tuesday, November 17: Neighbor leaf pick-up day
Tuesday, November 17: Lost and found, 2:15-2:45pm
Wednesday, November 18: MFI dinner, 5:30-7:00pm
Thursday, November 19: Lost and found, 7:45-8:15am
Thursday, November 19: Sip and spill, 8am on the blacktop
Thursday, November 19: Site Council meeting, 2:45-3:45pm
Friday, November 20: Spirit day (mustaches!)
See it all at a glance here: https://www.irvingtonschool.com/