Dear Maplewood families,
We have made it to October! Sadly, I have heard from many of you about how challenging it is to have your child do school from home. This distance learning is hard for everyone. I want to remind you all as we are in these unprecedented times to remember some advice that a colleague shared with me....PRACTICE is the point… NOT PERFECTION.
A little practice each day is what builds connections in the brain. IT’S SCIENCE.
SOME is better than NONE. If you feel the need to shorten the assignments GO FOR IT! 5 minutes of reading is better than none… AND WAY BETTER than an argument over finishing 45 minutes of reading. If a kid doesn’t feel like they can do the whole time. HAVE THEM SET A GOAL of what they think they can do. Then work toward shifting the goals as they get more comfortable.
COMMIT TO AN AMOUNT of LEARNING TIME… And use a TIMER. Set an amount of time that will be dedicated to each learning domain… (READING WRITING MATH…etc.). If its 10 min, that’s better than none. If its 30… Great… 60min… you get a pass to go to 4th grade. ;) Let the timer be the “bad guy.” If kids are part of the goal setting, they will be more likely to commit to it. Once you set those goals… MAKE THEM PUBLIC… PUT THEM UP on the fridge, or pin them to the wall.
THE TEACHER’S ASSIGNMENT MIGHT BE TERRIBLE!!! If so, practice SOMETHING ELSE! Teachers are trying to prepare for 25, 30 or more students. They are setting out a GIANT BUFFET of learning. If something doesn’t work for your child then do something else… PLEASE. Teachers won’t be disappointed. They’d rather have kids feel proud of what they’ve done than feel like they’ve just done what they were told.
When the going gets tough, TAKE ANOTHER BREAK! If there’s a hang-up over something school related, help your child to walk away, cool down, and come back to the problem later. Exercise and breathing help.
Each day, TURN IN WHATEVER GETS COMPLETED! That is all… Hang in there and take care of yourselves!
TAG Information Night
We have scheduled the TAG Information Night for Oct 7th at 6:00. This is for any parents that want to learn more about TAG or have questions about TAG testing. Look for the invite coming soon.
Fall MAP Testing
In case you had not heard-the district is holding off on MAP Testing for the fall!!
Lunch Bunch Opportunities:
Lunch Bunches run by our school counselor, Kendall Cunningham, start Monday! This will be a fun opportunity for kids to visit online with their peers.
Go to Google Meet, type in CunninghamMW , and join in the fun!
Mondays, Kindergarten and 1st grade students, 11:30-12:00
Wednesdays, 2nd-3rd grade students, 11:30-12:00
Thursdays, 4th-5th grade students, 12:20-12:50
Support Groups for Students & Adults!
Parent & Caregiver Support Group: Parenting during the pandemic and navigating distance learning has brought on a host of new challenges. This caregiver support group will offer a space to process these experiences, build community, and share coping skills.
This will be a weekly group cofacilitated by our school counselor (Kendall) and social worker (Avy). Please email Kendall to be placed on our interest list and get more details.
Support Groups for Students:
We will also be hosting a variety of groups for students focused on specific topics. These groups will meet weekly for 8 weeks and focus on building skills, resiliency, and friendships.
Please reach out to Avy Harris (rharris@pps.net) for more information or to place your child on an interest list for one of the following groups:
Grief/bereavement
Coping skills for anxiety
Parental separation
Gender-expansive and LGBTQIA+ student group
Building social confidence and anti-bullying friendship group
Kendall Cunningham
Maplewood Elementary School Counselor
Attendance:
If you need to contact the office for Attendance, please Email attendance issues as we are working remotely to your child's teacher and the 2 Secretaries:
sriley@pps.net & mbelgrav@pps.net
Reading Friends:
The Maplewood Reading Friends are still looking for volunteers to read with students during the 2020-2021 school year. This is in preparation for the possibility that in person classes resume. There may also be a solution that would allow for remote reading to take place, though this is not assured.
The Reading Friend volunteer works with individual readers outside the classroom (e.g. in the library) to help grow their confidence in reading out loud/more fluently. The readers get a say in which books they read and usually enjoy the attention they receive. This is a fun experience designed to demonstrate the joy of reading for reading’s sake, not because it was assigned.
The time obligation will be an orientation of approximately an hour, and then 30 minutes once a week with the students. For scheduling coordination, the session is the same day and time each week. A roster of substitutes is also maintained for those who could take a last-minute assignment when another Reading Friend volunteer is unable to make the session.
The program usually kicks-off around Thanksgiving, though it is of course unknown at this point. Please fill out the form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B58LS6Qto sign up to be a volunteer.
Please direct any questions to Alden Lewis at maplewoodrf@gmail.com.
Foundation:
Our Community Strong! Campaign starts next week, October 5-11th. All participants in the campaign receive a yard sign. We can’t wait to see the impact of our collective efforts when we take a stroll through our neighborhood. This campaign raises money for staff support at Maplewood. Share this with your neighbors, family, and company!
Please head to our Community Strong! page for more information on how you can support our school.
Thank you, Maplewood Foundation
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MEAL BENEFITS
While meals are served at no cost to children ages 1-18 at several Portland Public School sites through December, there are several benefits for eligible families to submit a meal application this school year.
To ensure eligible students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals continue to receive meals at no cost for the entire school year (past December)
Families approved for free and reduced-price meals may be eligible to receive future potential government assistance such as Pandemic EBT benefits.
Families may be eligible for other benefits such as school related fee reduction or waivers, low cost internet and health coverage.
Families have the following options to submit a meal application:
1. Online at www.schoolcafe.com/pps.
2. Print, complete and mail back a paper meal application (https://www.pps.net/Page/2464) to PPS Nutrition Services, 501 N. Dixon St., Portland, OR 97227.
3. Request a paper meal application be mailed home from mealbenefits@pps.net or call 503.916.3402.
Families do not need to submit a meal application if any of the following apply:
A meal application has been submitted and approved for the 2020-21 school year.
The household received a 2020-21 Direct Certification Approval letter.
All students in the household attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school (list located online: https://www.pps.net/Page/2088) where students eat meals at no cost.
The household does not meet the Oregon Expanded Income Guidelines
For meal benefits related questions, please call 503.916.3402 or email mealbenefits@pps.net.
Whitney Ellersick, Senior Director, Nutrition Services x63276 wellersi@pps.net
CHILD CARE UPDATE
In addition to community child care programs that are available citywide, seven partner organizations will offer licensed child care in 11 PPS schools during Comprehensive Distance Learning.
The programs will be phased in starting next week:
Sept. 28: Beach, Creston, King, Rigler
Oct. 5: Hayhurst, James John, MLC, Vestal, Winterhaven
Oct. 12: Irvington, Lent To register for child care, click on the flyer below.
Information below is included on the flyer. English | Español | Tiếng Việt | 中文 | Русский | Soomaal
Child care programs
Accept children ages 5 - 12.
Enroll no more than 30-40 students per school.
Set aside 50% of the slots for families qualifying for state subsidies. Low rates last for one year if subsidy is approved by Oct. 31, 2020. State subsidy application is here.
Enroll PPS students and children of PPS employees regardless of which school children are enrolled in.
Follow strict licensing guidelines including stable cohorts, face coverings, hand hygiene, routine cleaning and sanitation, parent drop-off/pick-up outside of the school building.
SUN site managers, coordinators and community agents have been trained to support families in accessing child care, whether in a PPS building or in the community. In addition, child care staff have been trained on supporting students during distance learning.
For more information, visit the PPS Child Care website. Nancy Hauth, Student Success Program Manager, Early Learning 503-828-6378 nhauth@pps.ne
Is your family struggling financially?
During this challenging time, we know many families are struggling to get by. If you have financial need, please contact Kendall Cunningham (kcunninghamparm@pps.net), school counselor, to get added to a confidential list that will help direct resources and opportunities to your student.
PTA is also offering free memberships to families with financial need. Please contact Kendall to get connected with a free membership.
PPS Multilingual Family Line The PPS Multilingual Family Line is a service for parents or guardians (in all PPSsupported languages) to communicate with schools regarding meals, tech help for online classes, special instruction, talking to your teacher, COVID resources and information, etc.
Please call these numbers:
Español: 503-916-3582 中文：503-916-3585 Tiếng Việt: 503-916-3584 Soomaali: 503-916-3586 Русский: 503-916-3583
We hope you take advantage of the resources above if you have any questions about the learning technology your student will soon be using. We are here to help.
News From PTA:
WILLAMETTE PIES FUNDRAISER
Please find enclosed the orders form, and information about the delicious handmade Willamette pies. Please fill out your order and send back to Maplewoodvolcoord@gmail.com before October 4th. Pies will be delivered to your doors on October 27th!!
Dear Maplewood parents: We want to hear everyone’s voices regardless of ability to pay the PTA membership dues. Therefore, if you would like to become a PTA member but are not in a financial position to pay, please reach out to Kendall Cunningham, our school’s counselor, at kcunninghamparm@pps.net and we will make sure the fees are covered on your behalf to become a PTA member for Maplewood!
(All requests will remain anonymous.)
Yours truly,
Your 2020-21 PTA Board Presidents: Jackie Haddon & Erika Robles-Jones
Vice-Presidents: Kari Martin & Emma Rawnsley
Secretary: Maureen Bayer
Treasurers: Dean Smith & Jamie May
Volunteer Coordinator: Magali Lewis
MEMBRESÍA DE LA PTA
Estimados padres de familia de Maplewood: Queremos escuchar las voces de todos, independientemente de su capacidad para pagar las cuotas de membresía de la PTA. Por lo tanto, si desea convertirse en miembro de la PTA pero no está en condiciones financieras para pagar las cuotas, comuníquese con Kendall Cunningham, la consejera de nuestra escuela, en kcunninghamparm@pps.net indicándolo y nos aseguraremos de que el pago de la membresía esté cubierta en su nombre para convertirse en miembro de la PTA de Maplewood. (Todas las solicitudes permanecerán anónimas).
Atentamente,
Su junta de la PTA 2020-21 Presidentes: Jackie Haddon y Erika Robles-Jones Vicepresidentes: Kari Martin y Emma Rawnsley Secretaria: Maureen Bayer
Tesoreros: Dean Smith y Jamie May Coordinadora de voluntarios: Magali Lewis
Visit Maplewood PTA to become a PTA member, to donate, to have a say in funding decisions and PTA events, and to get involved!
SWAG/SPIRIT WEAR
The Maplewood Elementary Swag/Spirit Wear sale is on! Orders can be placed and paid for online now through September 30th.
Feel free to contact Michelle Stevens or Heather Jones with any questions!
Full details and link to order: http://maplewoodpta.com/swag/
Sincerely,
Maplewood PTA Co-Presidents
Erika Robles-Jones and Jackie Haddon
Upcoming events/dates:
Oct 7: Virtual Parent TAG meeting 6:00pm Oct 9:
Statewide Inservice – NO SCHOOL
