01/26/23 School Messenger
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~~ The latest PTSA newsletter is found here. ~~

• School News (NEW)
• Upcoming Dates
• Websites to Know
• Fliers and community links (NEW)
• Help PPS make informed decisions about climate and culture (NEW)
• Notice of statewide tests and opt-out form (NEW)
• Reminder: Clean, dry athletic shoes for P.E.
• Join us at the SES Westwind Family Camp Weekend!
• Invitation to dance at Franklin High School
• Seeking Feedback on the PPS Budget
• Portland Art Museum Free Day
• Art Room wish list
• Meet up for parents and caregivers of neurodivergent students
• SES PTSA News (NEW)

School News (NEW)
Hello Sunnyside Community,

It was a short but fun-filled week as we celebrated the last week of the semester with spirit week. We had a ton of fun and creative costumes and it was always a hoot to see staff join in the fun.

As we head into next semester I hope that you take a moment this weekend to breathe and celebrate the successes of half a year into school. Sunnyside has been so joy-filled this year with all of the ways in which we have been able to touch base with our roots and the new ways of celebrating as well. Thanks to our staff, students, parents and our PTSA, we have been able to fund and go on our many field trips and bring in guest speakers and performers. We are looking forward to a joy-filled spring.

In gratitude,
Eryn and Alix

Upcoming Dates
View the full SES calendar here.

Websites to Know

• Sign up to support Christina at lunch
• SES current volunteer needs
• 2022-2023 Back to School Ask
• SES attendance form: English | Español
• Sunnyside School Page
• SES PTSA website | SES PTSA newsletters | After school activities at SES
• SchoolPay | SchoolCafé
• MESD head lice resources and information
• PPS self-screening tool

Fliers and community links (NEW)

• Southeast Portland Little League: Registration open through February 15 (NEW)
• Benson Tech Youth Project: Winter Sports Clinics 2023 English | Spanish
• Vibe of Portland: East Winds Summer Band Camp
• Oregon State University STEM Academy Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering, and Math: English | Spanish
• Multnomah County February School Immunization Clinics: English | Spanish | Chinese | Somali | Russian | Vietnamese | Ukrainian
• Multnomah County Free Community Vaccination Clinic: English | Spanish
• Multnomah County Student Health Center: Vaccination Outreach
• Vibe of Portland: No-School Art Workshops (Jan & Feb)
• Vibe of Portland: Winter Music Classes
• Vibe of Portland: Studio Classes Begin Soon

Help PPS make informed decisions about climate and culture (NEW)
Portland Public Schools has begun its annual Successful Schools Survey, which allows them to gather data to make informed decisions about school climate and culture.

Four segments of the PPS community will take part in the anonymous survey:

1. Students in grades 3-2 will cover teacher-student relationships, sense of belonging, school safety and climate, engagement, cultural awareness, and diversity and inclusion.
2. All PPS families will cover school fit, school climate, barriers to engagement, and school safety.
3. All PPS staff will cover school climate, relationships, educating students, growth  mindset, staff-family relationships, and school safety.
4. All PPS building leaders will cover school climate, staff-family relationships, district leadership relationships, overall district engagement, professional learning, feedback and coaching, and staff engagement.

Students will be provided the link, access code and time during the school day to complete the survey. Families will receive links to the survey. Staff and school leaders will receive a link to their respective surveys. Paper copies will be made available upon request.

For more information on the survey, please visit https://www.pps.net/sss2023.

Notice of statewide tests and opt-out form (NEW)
As required by the Oregon Department of Education, the PPS Research, Assessment, and Accountability Department is providing the 30 Day Notice and Opt Out Form. The notice is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian and Somali on the PPS Research, Assessment, and Accountability website.

Reminder: Clean, dry athletic shoes for P.E.
Please send an extra pair of clean, dry athletic shoes with students to store at school for P.E. We’re seeing a lot of students wearing rain boots or soaking wet athletic shoes. Thank you.

Join us at the SES Westwind Family Camp Weekend!
SES Family Camp at Camp Westwind registration is open!

When: April 7 - 9, 2023
Cost: $110 / person includes food and heated cabin lodging at Camp Westwind, a beautiful forest camp located on the coast just north of Lincoln City. Camp is open to all Sunnyside families, staff, alumni, friends and family. Registration is first come, first served.

We are also looking for volunteer help! People with first aid certifications, help plan our weekend, and who are willing to help promote the weekend, especially among the K-5 families, are most welcome to join in the planning! Sign up today!

Invitation to dance at Franklin High School
Sonia Kellermann and the Dance at Franklin Council extend an invitation to students of Franklin High School feeder schools to participate in their Day of Dance on Friday January 27th from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and to Franklin’s Spring show, Arts Alive, taking place April 21-29. You can learn more about Franklin’s dance program by visiting www.danceatfranklin.org, by watching this video, or by viewing this flier.

Seeking Feedback on the PPS Budget
The PPS Budget Info Session is a great opportunity to learn more and provide feedback about PPS funds, Board goals, and the district’s strategic plan and targeted investments. Because PPS has limited resources, feedback from families helps inform investment planning, including preparing for the Oregon Department of Education’s Aligning for Student Success initiative.

• Check out the video presentation of the PPS Budget Info Session here (Includes ASL)
• Complete the budget survey to provide your feedback.
• Use this list of investment descriptions to help you with the survey.

Contact Jordan Cooper with any questions pertaining to the survey: jcooper1@pps.net.

Portland Art Museum Free Day
On February 19 from 10am – 5pm, enjoy free admission in celebration of the special exhibitions special exhibitions Dakota Modern: The Art of Oscar Howe and Jeffrey Gibson’s They Come From Fire and To Name An Other. Learn more here.

Art Room wish list
Hello Amazing Sunnyside Community: The Art room has a short wish list of donations we are looking for:

• We would love some Spin Art Machines (something like this). 
• We would love more simple hole punchers and the cool shape ones too.
• Any fancier markers with brush tips like these or chisel tips like these.
• Stickers!
• We are problem-solving how to hang up more Artwork in the hallways because tape doesn't work and there aren't enough cork strips. Do you have a hanging idea (or would you donate to buy some to install)?

Items may be brought to the office, or you can donate through SchoolPay. Thanks for considering.
Sending positivity, Indigo

SES PTSA News (NEW)

The latest PTSA newsletter is found here, and includes information about the following:

• Supporting Sunnyside teachers, 
• Volunteering for the PTSA, 
• Read-A-Thon,
• Our Spring Auction,
• … and more!

All PTSA newsletters are found here.

The Catalina Island Marine Biology Trip is the culmination of our middle school curriculum. It takes place on Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California and involves travel by airplane, bus and ferry. The dates this year are May 15th-19th 2023.

Dear 6th graders and new Middle School Students,

Welcome to Sunnyside Environmental Middle School!
Youʼre invited to 6th Grade and New Middle Schoolers Welcome Day 
Tuesday, August 23rd 10am-12pm 
NOTE: This event is for students only

On this Welcome Day, all 6th grade students and any new Middle Schoolers will learn about the ins and outs of what it’s like to be a middle schooler at Sunnyside. Together, with our middle school leaders and counselors, we’ll get to know each other and our school through activities. Students will leave the session feeling comfortable about life in middle school, having made new connections, and excited to start school on August 30th.

A little about Sunnyside Environmental Middle School:
There are 7 Middle School CORE classrooms, each made up of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students together.

• Core: Social Studies (Grades 6-8, Thematic - Ocean, River, Forest, Mountain)
• Math: 6th-Grade Math, 7th-Grade Math/Compacted Math, 8th-grade Math/Compacted Math
• Core Elective: 6th grade school skills, 7th-8th grade Spanish 1-2 (receive HS Credit)
• Elective Wheel: PE, Art, Media/Library, Science Lab. 

An example of Middle School Schedule: (This is subject to change based on guidelines)

• 8:45 School begins
• 8:45-9:15 Morning Meeting whole middle school in the auditorium every Monday and Friday.
• 9:20-10:20 Specials or CORE (Specials are Media, Science Enrichment, PE, Art/Environmental Justice elective)
• 10:25-11:25 Specials or CORE (Specials are Media, Science Enrichment, PE, Art/Environmental Justice elective)
• 11:30-12:05 lunch and recess entire MS
• 12:10-1:05 CORE
• 1:10-3:15 6th Grade Math/School Skills and Community (6th grade only, 2 hour afternoon block)

Other things to look forward to in 6th grade:

• Gardening
• K-5 Buddies
• Service Learning
• Outdoor School (dates TBD)
• MS Dances
• Overnight trip in the spring

We are very excited for the upcoming school year. This yearʼs middle school includes a truly great mix of 6th, 7th and 8th graders.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Rebecca Johnson rjohnson10@pps.net
SES middle school counselor 

Dear Sunnyside Community,

As many of you know, we are heading into fall and to the rainy season. I have worked with the Sunnyside Safety Team to update our indoor lunch plan to adhere to the latest guidelines.

I have made sure that we have six feet apart in the school cafeteria, in the hallway, and in the auditorium for students to eat inside if necessary. In addition, I have two air filters running in each of these spaces, fans, and windows/doors open. We will have lunch volunteers who will be helping to supervise these spaces and we can make available spaces outside for students to sit if you do not want your student eating inside. Please note, if you do not want your student inside, please let them know that they need to choose on their own to go outside and eat under the supervision of the volunteers. With the amount of supervision that is needed by school personnel, we cannot track individual requests and students will need to choose to go outside on their own. If you choose to pick your student up because it is raining, please do so by 11:00 AM so that school staff can all help supervise lunch and recess as needed.

I will try to watch the rain and if we can go outside and eat without it pouring, we will do so. Please use your best judgement as a parent to decide whether or not to pick your child up. Please send your child in warm and rain appropriate gear.

If you have further questions or questions about our COVID safety plan, please reference the COVID presentation and the Back to School Night Presentation. Both are attached below.

I know that there are many concerns about COVID and safety in our schools. Please rest assured that I consider those concerns when making a plan and any instances or reports of COVID exposure will be investigated and reported to our team of nurses at the MESD and appropriate notifications will be made.

In partnership,
Dr. Eryn Berg
Principal, Sunnyside Environmental School
https://www.pps.net/sunnyside
Sunnyside BTSN slides
She/ Hers/ They (Why?)

Every corner of my heart loves you

In a field of fields you are the largest field
In a field of moons you are the most moons

~ Anis Mojgani
  The Piano Farm

Hello families!

We look forward to seeing you all tonight at Back to School Night (virtually). Classroom teachers have emailed you their zoom or google meet links; here's a reminder of the schedule:

• 6pm: All School Welcome Via Zoom-Alix and Eryn
  https://pps-net.zoom.us/j/82127272256?pwd=VkhUbDBsSWJZVlJCQzBFVXB5SlZuUT09
  
• 6:15-6:45pm: Grades K-2 meet with your student’s teacher
  
  
• 6:45-7:15pm: Grades 3-5 meet with your student’s teacher
  
  
• 7:15-7:45pm: Middle School classes meet with your student’s core teacher

Specialists:

• PE: meet.google.com/ttv-nwcv-ufo
  6:30-7:00 for Middle School, 7:00-7:30 for K-5
  
  
• Art: meet.google.com/kdp-dunn-rmm
  6:30-7:00 for Middle School, 7:15-7:45 for K-5
  
  
• Library: meet.google.com MEET CODE: sunnysidereads
  6:30-7:00 for Middle School, 7:15-7:45 will be for K-5 

SPED staff: https://meet.google.com/dzb-bnjn-eoe
6:30 - 7:45
Adrianne / Eva / Ellen / Megan

Counselors: https://meet.google.com/fjv-yecw-bci

• Grades 3-5 6:20 - 6:45
• Middle School 6:50 - 7:15
• Grades 1-2 7:20 - 7:45

Can't wait to see you soon!
Alix and Eryn

Dear PPS Community,

Saturday night, gunshots were fired outside of a district-wide basketball tournament held at Franklin High School. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured and the suspect is now in custody, but if you have any information about the incident please call 503-823-3333 or utilize the SafeOregon tipline.

Dear PPS Families, 

As we prepare for the winter sports season, we want to share a few reminders for our spectators.  

Dear families, students, and colleagues,

It has been a joy to visit learning spaces over the past four months and see our students reengaged in their classroom learning and school activities. I am pleased to observe our students interacting with peers and diving into new curriculum materials. 

This has been a very productive time for Portland Public Schools. My appreciation to all the dedicated Team PPS members who work everyday to make our school system better and stronger.

Dear PPS Community,

Every single person in Portland Public Schools believes that our learning spaces must be safe, stable, and secure, and that we have a shared responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of the students under our care. We recognize that recent events, both locally and nationally, have rattled our community.

Superintendent Guerrero issued a broader statement about gun violence and its impacts on our schools, but we also want to explain how we both keep schools safe, and keep you informed.