DOLPHIN DIGEST 4/2/2026
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.
VOLUNTEER AT ARLETA'S EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
There are so many cool activities at Arleta's annual Earth Day Celebration next week on Friday, April 10th, and you can be part of making them happen. We need parents volunteering at the plant sale and crafting tables, and we need help setting up and taking down the event in the cafeteria. Please click the button below to sign up to volunteer!
ARTS AND LITERACY NIGHT FOOD AND PRIZES VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Arts and Literacy Night is in two weeks! The April 16th, event is one of the biggest Arleta gatherings of the year.
It's a gallery-style event where our kids show off their creativity (and hard work) to the Arleta community. We need some volunteers to help feed the hungry crows and run the prize tables. Please click the link below to pitch in and help out!
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
PUT A ROCK IN THE BUCKET FOR ART NIGHT!
We're doing a very popular rock-painting table at Art & Literacy Night, and we need you to help us collect rocks! Find a cool rock? Have a stash at home? Bring it to the school office and put them in the orange Home Depot bucket in the kid waiting area! Thank you so much for your help!
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 next Thursday, 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!
BOTTLEDROP GIVE IS BACK—RAISE 20% MORE FOR ARLETA DURING BOTTLEDROP EARTH WEEK!
BOTTLEDROP GIVE IS BACK—RAISE 20% MORE FOR ARLETA DURING BOTTLEDROP EARTH WEEK!
From April 15 – 26, drop off your Blue Bags at any BottleDrop bag drop location, and your donations will be matched up to 20% by BottleDrop Give — making your contribution go even further for Arleta students!
Let’s turn bottles and cans into better classrooms and community fun! Grab a Blue Bag at the Arleta office and start collecting today!
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 May. Thank you for helping our First Graders out!
SUN SCHOOL SEEKING SNACKS TO SHARE
SUN School offers an amazing array of enrichment activities for kids: piano, photography, journalism, skateboarding. But kids explore the world best on full stomachs. 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. Our last meeting was last week, and we'll resume in the SUN Spring term, which begins April 13!
FREE SALSA DANCING CLASSES FOR ADULTS STARTS APR 19
Starting April 14 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!
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION - APR 10
Join us for our annual Earth Day & Arbor Day celebration on Friday, April 10 from 2:30–4:00 pm in the Arleta cafeteria!
This fun after school event includes:
- 🌱 Planting seeds to take home and grow,
- 🌸 Flower pounding with Vessel Kitchen Gardens,
- 🐝 Meeting local nature experts from Portland Urban Beekeepers and Hoyt Arboretum,
- 🌿 A Garden club plant sale — take home a plant for your garden!
Kids and families can drop in, explore the activity tables, and learn about bees, trees, gardening, and nature in our community. Feel free to stop by anytime during the event window!
All activities are free to participate in. The only items for sale will be plants from the Garden Club fundraiser. Students must attend with a parent or guardian.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING - APR 14
The next school board meeting is Tuesday, April 14th from 6-9pm, at 501 N Dixon St. Portland, OR 97227. This meeting is open for the public to attend in person up to the capacity of the room and will be streamed live under the provision of ORS 192.670 at: https://www.youtube.com/@ppsboardofeducation/live
Links to Board of Education Information:
- Board of Education Website
- Past Board Meeting Recordings
- Board Meeting Agendas and Materials
- Public Meeting Notices
- Send requests for public comment to publiccomment@pps.net. More information on Public Comment can be found on the Board’s Meeting Protocols and Public Comment web page.
Board Office Staff
- Rosanne Powell – Senior Board Manager (rpowell@pps.net - 503-916-3741)
- Kara Bradshaw - Executive Assistant (kbradshaw@pps.net - 503-916-3741)
SPRING PICTURE DAY - APR 17
Dorian Studios will be coming again to Arleta this year the morning of 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 this 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.
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.
POTATO DOGS AT OBOB REGIONALS ENDS ARLETA OBOB SEASON
“It was a little overwhelming, but fun,” said Potato Dog Linnea Harvey. The girls had a couple of great rounds of pool play and narrowly missed qualifying for next round bracket play.
The larger Arleta season saw impressive levels of enthusiasm, tremendous growth amongst all the participating students as readers and sportspeople, and TWO brand new OBOB teams competed in our Final Four battles - fourth grade Orange Cuties and third grade Book Smashers!!
Congratulations to all the teams who showed up weekly to read, learn, and battle with alacrity. And a huge thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers who helped make this season a success!
SCHOOL YEAR DATE CHANGES REMINDER
As part of the PPS and the teacher's union negotations to deal with the budget deficit, there have been several date changes. Please update your personal calendar:
- April 22nd and May 13th are full days of school (no early release).
- There is no school May 1st (The First Grade Parade is being rescheduled.)
- The school year ends on June 5th (not June 10th).
APRIL IS NATIONAL ARABIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
First celebrated in 2017 as an initiative by the Arab American Foundation that only involved a few states and cities, Arab American Heritage Month gained national recognition in April 2021, when then-President Biden became the first U.S. president to issue a proclamation making the celebration official.
The Arab American community, which today numbers roughly 3.7 million people, has deep historical roots in our country. The first known Arab immigrants arrived in 1527, before the United States was even its own nation, and there have been several waves of immigration into the United States since then. We'll be providing resources in the Dolphin Digest to help explore the rich cultures of the Middle East and the contributions that Arab Americans have made to the US throughout this month!
Read the 2024 Executive Order on National Arabic American Heritage Month by clicking here!
Read a book from this list of elementary-age books to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month!
Explore these suggestions for celebrating Arab American Heritage Month given by the Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative.
Try a dessert! Make halva with your kids after watching this video, here!
Check out the Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon by clicking here.
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 week of March 16-20, we had 92% positive attendance (the same as the week before) and 126 tardies, averaging 25.2 tardies a day (down from 142 tardies, averaging 28.4 tardies a day, for the week prior).
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:
-
Avoid electronics entirely for a more restful evening and a distraction-free morning.
Talk about your child’s classroom routine: what happens first thing, how happy the teacher will be to see them.
Don’t try to do “one more thing”; you’ve done enough!
DOGTOWN BY KATHERINE APPLEGATE AND GENNIFER CHOLDENKO
The New York Times bestseller, Indie bestseller, and Amazon Best Children's Book from beloved authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko and with illustrations by Wallace West, Dogtown is at once an uplifting story and a page-turning adventure, sure to find a forever home in readers’ hearts.
Dogtown is a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have outgrown them.
Chance, a real dog, has been in Dogtown since her owners unwittingly left her with irresponsible dog-sitters who skipped town.
Metal Head is a robot dog who dreams of being back in a real home.
And Mouse is a mouse who has the run of Dogtown, pilfering kibble, and performing clever feats to protect the dogs he loves.
When Chance and Metal Head embark on an adventure to find their forever homes, there is danger, cheese sandwiches, a charging station, and some unexpected kindnesses along the way.
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.
My Nose
It doesn't breath;
It doesn't smell;
It doesn't feel
So very well.
I am discouraged
With my nose:
The only thing it
Does is blows.
Take away its chair.
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 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.
WATCH THE ARTEMIS II MISSION
The manned Artemis II mission, the first manned flight to the moon in 50 years, will test the Orion spacecraft, which is being developed to be capable of sending astronauts to the Moon and is a crucial step toward eventually sending crews on to Mars. The mission launched on April 1st, and you can watch it livestreamed below! All went well today April 2, and Artemis II finished its second orbit and set off for the moon this afternoon, and is expected to reach the moon by Monday, April 6th.
TODAY - FREE FIRST THURSDAY AT THE PORTLAND ART MUSEUM - APR 2
Did you know the Portland Art Museum is the oldest in the Pacific Northwest? The museum has a rich legacy of bringing global and regional art, culture and history to our city.
On the first Thursday of each month, the Portland Art Museum and PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater offer free admission from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free First Thursday tickets can be reserved online one week in advance and are also available at the door.
Portland Art Museum is at 1219 SW Park Ave. in Portland. For more information, visit the museum’s website.
TOMORROW - TWEEN GAMING CLUB - APR 3
Do you like to game? Are you in 4th - 6th grade? If so, join the Woodstock Library gaming club! We'll play video games and board games, talk about games and eat snacks. The next meeting is April 3rd, from 4-5:30pm. Click here to see the Tween Gaming Club on the Woodstock Library website.
TOMORROW - READ TO THE DOGS AT WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - APR 3
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog at Woodstock Library from 4:30-5:30pm on April 3rd. 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 Woodstock Library website.
STORIES OF THE STONE AT LONE FIR CEMETARY - APR 4
The Stories of the Stone Tour an insider’s guide to all of the marvels of Lone Fir Cemetery that are not covered in the Historical Tour. You’ll visit additional structures, historic figures and symbols seen throughout the cemetery. Join them on April 4th, starting at 10am at the Soldiers' Monument, for all the graveyard tea!
The tour is split into north and south sides of the cemetery, which alternate every month. Stories of the Stone takes place on the first Saturday each month at 10 a.m. The tour begins at the Soldiers Monument, located in the center of the cemetery, and will last about 2 hours.
Admission is a suggested donation of $10 and you can reserve a spot in advance online. Space is limited.
HABITAT RESTORATION AT NEW BIRD SANCTUARY - APR 4
Join the Bird Alliance of Oregon on April 4th from 9am-12pm along with Friends of Trees for a community planting event at the new sanctuary site on NE 82nd Ave in East Portland, meeting at 8498 NE Siskiyou St, Portland, OR 97220. We are looking for volunteers to help plant hundreds of native shrubs and trees that will support a future wildlife sanctuary. This space will become home to a new Wildlife Care Center, a nature park, and important habitat for wildlife.
During the event, you’ll work alongside trained crew leaders and staff to plant native species, add mulch around new plantings, and remove invasive plants such as Himalayan blackberry. Participants will also have the opportunity to join guided birding walks to observe the wildlife already using the site and learn more about the exciting plans for the sanctuary and upcoming collaborative projects.
This habitat restoration effort is supported through grants from the Portland Clean Energy Fund and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. Come lend a hand, connect with fellow community members, and be a part of helping to create a thriving space for wildlife and people in East Portland.
Click here to RSVP and let us know you'll be joining us. We welcome youth and student volunteers!
FOSTER-POWELL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MONTHLY COMMUNITY GATHERING - APR 4
Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association hosts monthly community gatherings every third Saturday of the month of a variety of topics and offering a smorgasbörd of trainings.
Please join us for our monthly Community Gathering this Saturday, April 4 from 1-3pm at Holgate Library in Room 1A!
Have you ever wondered:
What exactly is a Neighborhood Association? Is it like an HOA? Is it a government entity? What volunteer opportunities are available? How do you join the board?
These questions and more will be answered during a short presentation: Neighborhood Associations 101. During the presentation we will discuss:
Neighborhood Association basics and history
Upcoming elections of board members
Current projects happening in the Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association
The new temporary street plaza project at SE 72nd & Schiller
🚨 ACTION ITEM: Please fill out this survey to help us schedule the next few Community Gatherings!
SIT AND STITCH AT WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - APR 6
Join your neighbors for a friendly, informal sewing/knitting/crochet/embroidery bee at Woodstock Library on Monday, April 6 from 10:30am-12pm! Bring your own projects and socialize (sew-cialize?) at the library. Click here to see the Sit and Stitch on the Woodstock Library events page.
URBAN GLEANERS FREE FOOD MARKET - APR 7
Find Urban Gleaners Free Food Market each Tuesday afternoon at Mt. Scott Community Center. Urban Gleaners have over 35 sites in the Portland Metro area.
The next Urban Gleaners Free Food Market at Mt. Scott is on Tuesday April 7th from 12:15-1pm. Mt. Scott Park.The market is held on the corner of the park by SE Ellis St & SE 74th Ave. Lottery numbers are handed out at 12:15PM. If you arrive after numbers have been handed out, there is still an opportunity to shop after everyone with a number has gone through, though the quantity and variety of food left at this point varies week to week.
No sign up required to attend. https://urbangleaners.org/free-food-markets/
TWEEN COUNCIL AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 7
Help your librarian choose the best books, movies, comics, programs and events for you and your friends at Holgate Library's Tween Council, Tuesday, April 7th from 4-5pm. 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
ADULT CRAFTERNOON AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 8
Join a make-and-take crafternoon for adults at Holgate Library on Wednesday, April 8th from 1-3pm! Each craft will be selected from the library's craft book collection.
This event is first come, first served.
WOODSTOCK LIBRARY TWEEN COUNCIL - APR 10
Come to Woodstock Library on Friday, April 10th from 4:15-5:15pm and 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. Click here to see the Tween Council meeting on the Woodstock Library website.
FREE "IMPROVE YOUR SOIL" WORKSHOP - APR 11
April 11th | 11am - 4pm at Oromo Church, 8040 SE Woodstock Blvd Sponsored by Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighbohood Association
Join the OSU Extension metro Master Gardener program presenters and learn how you can "Improve Your Soil" to get your garen ready for planting this spring! Partcipants will learn why soil care is key to supporting strong root systems and vigorous growth, along with ways to build and maintain soil that allows their gardens to thrive.
RSVP to join the workshop here: forms.gle/um21jhCRmwy5zKWCA
Find more info about Our Happy Block here: ourhappyblock.com
TINKER CAMP AT HOLGATE LIBRARY - APR 12
You’re an explorer and anthropologist and discover a miniature world that everyone else thought was only imaginary. Come to Holgate Library and enjoy Mini Worlds for Kids with Tinker Camp from 2-5pm on Wednesday April 12th. Create a model of your teeny, tiny world so everyone can see with Tinker Camp, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting STEAM education in your community. Use cool materials and tools to design and build a small scale version of whatever you discovered. Tiny rooms in a teeny house? A pint-sized playground? A miniature amusement park?
All you need to do is bring your BIG tiny-sized ideas! Recommended for kids 8 and up!
Registration opens on March 21.
NEXT FOSTER-POWELL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING - APR 13
The next Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association Meeting is this Monday, April 13 from 6:30-8:30pm.
Join Us In-Person
Where: Mt. Scott Community Center - Multipurpose Room 1, 2nd Floor - 5530 SE 72nd Ave (Map)
At the top of the stairs, turn left or, from the elevator, turn right. Then, it’s the first room on the right. Look for the Foster-Powell sign.
Join Us Virtually
Meeting Link: Zoom link
Dial-in Number: (253) 215- 8782 | Meeting ID: 839 5449 4883 | Passcode: 500305
Event & Elections Announcements
Our meeting this month will be announcement heavy as we enter into nicer weather! Here are a few of those announcements:
Arleta Elementary Bikeapalooza
82nd Avenue of Roses Parade
Schiller & 72nd Street Plaza Mural Design Competition
Summer Soiree
FPNA Annual Board Elections
Discussions and possible board actions
- Vote: Send a letter to PBOT requesting traffic signage on SE 72nd Ave?
- Vote: Present another Land Acknowledgment gift to an Indigenous organization and, if so, how much?
- Vote: Volunteer Appreciation/Social Event proposal - budget of $250 for drink tickets?
- Vote: Reimburse Ryan Sooley $73 for printing and laminating map of Foster-Powell for NA use?
General meetings are always the second Monday of the month from 6:30 – 8:30 PM with the exception of August. Check meeting notices for location. All neighbors are welcome at meetings. Anyone who lives, works, or owns property in Foster-Powell is considered a neighbor.
LEGO CLUB - WOODSTOCK LIBRARY - APR 14
Join us Tuesday, April 14 from 3:30-5pm for a fun and imaginative LEGO building session. We'll provide the building blocks, you bring the creativity! Ideal for grades K-5, but younger and older siblings are welcome. Click here to see Lego Club on the Woodstock Library website.
GRAPHIC NOVEL CLUB - APR 14
Kids in grades 4-5 are invited to come together at Holgate Library on Tuesday, April 14th from 4-5pm and talk about graphic novels and eat snacks! Every meeting includes a short activity related to this month's book. A limited number of books are available for pick up at the library. Click here to see the Graphic Novel club on the Holgate Library website.
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 opens 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!
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.
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 - 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.
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.
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
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.
IMPORTANT TAG PROGRAM DATES
If you had the chance to fill out the TAG Family Survey, we appreciate your input. It you haven’t had a chance to fill out the survey, there is still time. TAG Family Survey This survey is for all PPS families.
The Single Subject Acceleration
Math process application window begins March 1st. This process is open to 2nd - 4th grade students. The process outlined in the PPS administrative directive on acceleration and on the TAG Website, allows students who qualify to accelerate through the next grade level. This is a rigorous process with only 14% of students qualifying for SSA-M in 2024 - 25. It is important to talk with your students' teacher to determine if your student might be a good candidate for SSA-M. Strong candidates are students who have met the standards of their current grade level and are proficient on a paper/pencil assessment administered at schools under the guidance of the TAG Department. The decision to accelerate students is made by the TAG Department, with input from teachers, a variety of district administered assessments and the paper/pencil assessment. The timeline for SSA-M:
March 1 - 31st applications accepted via the TAG Website
April 1 - 30th evaluation process
May 31- family notification
June 1 - 30th appeals process
July 1 - family notification
For questions regarding your student’s potential for SSA-M, please contact your student’s teacher. For questions regarding the SSA-M process, please contact the TAG Department at ppstag@pps.net
Access Academy is an eligibility-based, lottery-only PPS school serving students in PPS who are in need of accelerated learning. It is located at 6318 S. Corbett Avenue. Eligible students may be invited to apply and/or interested families can apply during the lottery window opened yesterday, February 18th and continues through March 15th. Please visit the Access Academy website for more information on the Access Academy Lottery.
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