Happy Thursday all! This week has zipped right by; please remember there is NO SCHOOL Friday!

This week brought both rainy, wet weather and clear, sunny weather. Please make sure your student has jacket/hat options for outside recess...we try to go outside as much as possible, even when it is a little wet.

Looking for a Volunteer/s- We are looking for someone who could use a paint striper to re-paint our parking lots. If you are interested, please email me:)

Getting to school on time, ready to go! Just a reminder, Vestal starts at 8:00...this means when the 8:00 bell rings we want to have classes ready to start their learning. We want to support our students positive school habits early, so please try your best to get your student here before 8:00. Students may come in the door starting at 7:40 if they want to go to breakfast OR brain dance! Students can come head right to their classrooms starting at 7:53.

(Just FYI, teachers are required to be at work by 7:45. Per their contract, they have until 7:53 before being expected to greet students.)

Social Justice Note-

This week at our staff meeting, we all studied the new mission statement and realized there is a lot of depth to it!

Take a look at our mission statement-

MISSION

Vestal students develop and use academic, social and emotional skills and practices that create a caring, constructive, perceptive school community.

Students as critical thinkers will be equipped to thrive in a diverse society and to honor the ways in which they are alike and different from others.

Students will be able to recognize the biases that exist in society and to develop and articulate their own values.

Students will be able to advocate and act for a more socially just community and world. Students and teachers place emphasis on student voices in the learning environment.

Thanks so much for trusting us with your amazing children,

Sabrina Flamoe

sflamoe@pps.net

PTA Notes

Pie Fundraiser

Thanks to everyone who turned in their pie fundraiser order forms last week. Remember to make plans to pick up your pies between 2pm and 3pm on Monday, October 22.

Walking School Buses

It was great to see so many families walking and biking to school on Wednesday. We are still looking for families interested in setting up Walking School Buses. If you would like to learn more, please send us an email at vestalelementarypta@gmail.com 

Children’s Book Harvest at Vestal & Access Oct. 10 - Nov. 9

Got books?

We’re partnering with the Children’s Book Bank and ACCESS Academy  for a book drive. If you have books  at home that your children

 have outgrown, please send them to school with your student through November 9. There will be collection boxes in every classroom.

The Children’s Book Bank needs new and gently used children’s books appropriate for babies and toddlers as well as for elementary school students. All engaging titles in good condition for these ages are welcome, but the greatest need is for:

• Board
• books, read-aloud
• books, and picture
• books
• Early reader and easy chapter
• books
• Non-fiction picture
• books
• Books in Spanish and
• books featuring
• children of color

(Please no discarded library books or class sets, outdated books, coloring or activity books, dictionaries, encyclopedias or textbooks.)

The Children's Book Bank provides books to thousands of children in our community who might not otherwise have books at home.

Books gathered during the Children’s Book Harvest are cleaned, restored to like-new condition, and carefully curated for distribution to local families. Picture books are thoughtfully bundled to help Head Start families build regular reading habits. Books for school-aged children are sorted by grade level and given each spring to high needs schools for distribution at free books fairs. Thousands of books also find their way into homes via food pantries, community health care clinics, and youth camps.

For more information about the Children’s Book Bank, please visit their website at

childrensbookbank.org.

Hello all, I am writing this on the very last day of school...so hard to believe! This year has been wonderful and so darn quick! I have so loved getting to know your children and you! I am already looking forward to the fall when we get to welcome everyone back to school, but at the next grade level!

Next year will be very exciting...we will be working this summer to clarify our social justice plan, but be assured we will be ready to teach your students about the concept of justice, noticing injustice, researching, taking local action, and reflecting on the process to see what kind of impact our Vestal community can have on our larger Portland community. We will be working with our current partners such as IRCO, EarthArtAg, SUN, Playworks, etc. and will be inviting others to partner with us and we move forward! Some ideas for new partners include School Law Project, RiverKeepers, and the PSU Art department.

Due to ACCESS coming to co-locate with us we have gotten some promises from the district about supports and resources. For example, our .8 PE teacher will be moved up to full time, we will be adding a DRAMA teacher (YES!) to take advantage of our gorgeous auditorium and a full time additional coach to support our work around positive behavior supports and restorative justice practices.

So again, as we wrap up know that we are already planning on making next year at Vestal even better and brighter!

I wish you all the most joyful summer,

Sabrina Flamoe

sflamoe@pps.net

PTA News

This is our last update for the school year. We hope to see you this summer on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 pm for kickball.  PTA will meet in July and August to plan for the upcoming school year.  Meetings will be on July 3 and August 7 from 8 to 9:30am at Vestal.  Also note that the PTA Vice President and Treasurer positions are open.  Please contact us at vestalelementarypta@gmail.com if you are interested in joining the board.

Support Vestal Parent

Lindsey Burns is a Vestal parent and super volunteer for PTA and in her daughter, Ashley's, classroom. Lindsey was diagnosed with a brain tumor in September 2013.

She assists with fundraising for the National Brain Tumor Society to help support the millions of men, women, and children who are fighting to find a cure. During the Montavilla Street Fair on Sunday, July 29, Lindsey will will have a booth with fun activities from 10am to 5pm. You can support a Vestal family and millions of others fighting for their lives. Actives include face painting, and balloon animals from 10 am - 12 pm, bake sale and raffle tickets that can be purchased ahead or onsite. 50 percent of raffle sales go to the winner and the other 50 percent goes to the National Brain Tumor Society. Raffle tickets are $1 or six for $5 - a great way to increase your chances of the jackpot! You do not need to be present to win the raffle which will take place on

Sunday, August 5th at the National Brain Tumor Society Walk. Vestal also will have a booth at the Street Fair. We hope to see you there!

Garden Coordinator Needs Your Help!

Are you interested in helping care for the Vestal garden this summer?  Volunteers are needed to take on one week of watering over the summer break. Volunteers are welcome to harvest whatever is ready during their week!  Please contact Garden Educator Melia Chase at melia@earthartag.org.

The Free Garden Produce Stand will be open from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm on the following Wednesdays: July 11, July 18, July 25 and August 1.  Veggies and herbs from the Vestal School Garden will be available for families to take home. Stop by the stand outside the school garden after EKT or SUN Summer Camps to pick up fresh produce.

SUN Program

Early Kindergarten Transition (EKT)

Hello Vestal community-

Tomorrow is Field Day! Yeah...remind your kiddos to wear blue and yellow and good shoes!It promises to be a super fun day!

Our 6th-8th grade will also have an opportunity to work with some PSU students tomorrow afternoon around Social Justice and the Arts; we are hoping this will be engaging and meaningful for them.

Next week...hard to believe but it really is the last week of the school year! Last day is June 8th:)

You have likely all received communication from PPS by now about the vote to house ACCESS at Vestal for grades 1-5. Some of our staff and students had questions about this news, so I will share some questions and answers that came up and ask you to share what you feel is appropriate with your own child/ren.

Will ACCESS have the same rules as we do? Yes, we are welcoming them into our school and community, just like when you welcome someone to your house, they will follow our guidelines (and we will teach our guidelines to them). They are PPS students, too!

Can we go into their part of the building? YES, just like this year you will be expected to be where your classroom and learning is taking place, but if you need to walk through the ACCESS hallways on your way some where, it is no problem!

I heard they will have music and we won't, is this true? Actually no. As of right now, neither Vestal have Music BUT we are asking the district to pay for a drama OR music teacher for both schools to enjoy.

I heard ACCESS kids are smarter than we are, are they? Oh my goodness. Everyone is smart in different ways; all people, no matter their age have strengths and weaknesses. For example, I (Ms. Flamoe) struggle with math, being organized, and making schedules, BUT I am pretty good with reading and writing and making friends. Everyone has strengths and everyone has weaknesses. This is true for all Vestal students and all ACCESS students...again, we are PPS students!

Will Vestal be more crowded? No. We will gain about as many ACCESS students as we will lose middle school students.

OK- so no student asked this next one, but adults did- What about Headstart?

I have been told that PPS communications, in conjunction with the Headstart offices, will be sending out information about plans for Headstart. I have been told that facilities would not have been able to have our classrooms and bathrooms prepared for Headstart in the Fall regardless of thi sdecsion. I have asked for assurances from PPS district folks that ALL families that have registered for Headstart at Vestal will be taken care of and communicated with soon.

Ok, as I get more information I will share!

With hope, Sabrina Flamoe

sflamoe@pps.net

PTA Newss

 Melia Garden Coordinator needs your help

Summer Watering and Maintenance in the Vestal School Garden

Interested in helping in the garden this summer?  Volunteers are needed to take on a week of watering over the break.  Volunteers are welcome to harvest whatever is ready during their week!  Please contact Garden Educator Melia Chase at melia@earthartag.org  Thank you!"

"Free Garden Produce Stand!

Wednesdays, 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, and 8/1, from 11:45 am - 12:45 pm. Veggies and herbs from the Vestal school garden will be available for families to take home.  Stop by the stand outside the school garden after EKT or SUN Summer Camp to pick up fresh produce and check out the summertime garden!"

SUN Program

SUN Summer registrations went out this week to all K-5 students. If you didn’t receive one, you can pick one up by the SUN bulletin board outside the main office, or contact Ryan, SUN Site Manager at ryanm@irco.org. Included is information on an awesome overnight camping trip sponsored and lead by Oregon Zoo. The trip is open to current 2^nd-4^th graders and will be July 31^st at Oxbow Park. Oregon Zoo provides all necessary equipment and a few chaperones are needed. Contact Ryan for more information.

 Ryan will be visiting middle school classrooms next week to talk about opportunities for summer volunteers for the SUN Summer program.

 Early Kindergarten Transition

EKT (Early Kindergarten Transition) is accepting applications through the end of the school year. The EKT program is for incoming kindergartners and includes a twice-weekly meeting for parents/caregivers.

PTA News

PTA Meeting Tuesday, June 5 at 8:15am

Please join us for our final meeting of the school year on Tuesday in the Teacher's Lounge.  A primary topic of discussion will be the upcoming co-location of ACCESS Academy at Vestal.  We want to hear your thoughts and concerns as we work with the District and ACCESS to prepare for a successful transition and school year.  We anticipate that Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer will be in attendance.

PTA Summer Kickball

Join us for family kickball every Wednesday throughout the summer from 6:30 to 7:30 at the Vestal playground.  This is a great way to meet other Vestal families and make our community stronger!

Hello all- Happy Beautiful May evening!

Wow, this week has been really busy...lots of field trips as well as extra special projects happening all around school. The next two weeks promise to be just as busy!

We will try to keep the school day as routine and structured as possible as the excitement of the end of a school year continues. Please help remind your student that school still is primary and there is still a lot of learning to be done!

Peace!

Sabrina Flamoe

sflamoe@pps.net

PTA News

PTA Meeting and Officers

Join us for the next PTA Meeting on Tuesday, June 5 at 8:15am in the Teacher's Lounge. It's our last meeting of the school year so we'll be looking for new PTA Officers. Current vacancies include Vice President and Treasurer.  If you are interested, please send us an email at vestalelementarypta@gmail.com or simply join us at the meeting!

 A special thanks to Nancy Murphy who has served as PTA Treasurer for the last year. While stepping down as PTA Treasurer, Nancy says she will continue to focus her energy on the many volunteer activities she undertakes and coordinates for Vestal. Thank you, Nancy!

 Box Top Roundup!

PTA is collecting box tops until Friday, May 25th.  Please bring your box tops to your student's classroom or the main office, Thank you for your continued support of Vestal's programs, field trips and special projects!

 8th Grade Fundraiser

8th-graders continue to collect cans and bottles to raise funds for their end of year trip. Please bring in your cans and bottles to support their efforts. 

 SUN Program

SUN Summer registrations went out this week to all K-5 students. If you didn’t receive one, you can pick one up by the SUN bulletin board outside the main office, or contact Ryan, SUN Site Manager at ryanm@irco.org. Included is information on an awesome overnight camping trip sponsored and lead by Oregon Zoo. The trip is open to current 2^nd-4^th graders and will be July 31^st at Oxbow Park. Oregon Zoo provides all necessary equipment and a few chaperones are needed. Contact Ryan for more information.

Ryan will be visiting middle school classrooms next week to talk about opportunities for summer volunteers for the SUN Summer program.

Early Kindergarten Transition

EKT (Early Kindergarten Transition) is accepting applications through the end of the school year. The EKT program is for incoming kindergartners and includes a twice-weekly meeting for parents/caregivers.

PPS Pulse: PTA Clothing Closet continues to provide for students; Mayor Wheeler helps students walk and bike to school

Art teachers in Portland Public Schools don’t just teach – many are artists in their own right. Four PPS teachers were among the 30 educators from Oregon selected to have their work displayed at the “Teachers as Artists – After the Demo” exhibition currently on display at the Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, Wash.

Since 1963, the PTA Clothing Closet has operated out of Portland Public Schools and is legendary among other West Coast PTAs for its organization and number of students it clothes each year.  Last year the Clothing Closet served over 1,600 students, and those numbers climb higher as families face financial crises. 

Portland Public Schools will join thousands of other school districts in the United States in participating in the Great Shakeout, a national earthquake preparedness event on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 10:18 a.m.