Hello Vestal! Wow, what a gorgeous week of sunshine we are having! This week has felt like we are definately in the flow of learning both at school and at home! We are really hopeful that your students are taking advantage of some of the on line learning that is available...like PE, Library, ART, and lessons with Mr. True! Check your child's class page for times and links!

The students are truly do an amazing job with mask wearing, social distancing, and hand sanitizing! One thing that came up this week was a question about masks...please read below-

There was a question about "vented" masks.  Here is the language from OHA regarding these masks... For purposes of these FAQs the following definitions apply: • “Face covering” means a cloth, polypropylene, paper or other face covering that covers the nose and the mouth and that rests snugly above the nose, below the mouth, and on the sides of the face.  

The following are not face coverings because they allow droplets to be released: a covering that incorporates a valve that is designed to facilitate easy exhalation, mesh masks, lace masks or other coverings with openings, holes, visible gaps in the design or material, or vents. 

• “Mask” means a medical grade mask. • “Face shield” means a clear plastic shield that covers the forehead, extends below the chin, and wraps around the sides of the face.

Conclusion: Vented masks do not adequately prevent droplets from being exhaled and are therefore not allowed.  

We have masks at school for any student that needs one!

In other news-

Tomorrow is Friday pick up for all CDL (at homelearners). Please come pick up your packet from 12:00-2:45.

In person learners will get your packet tomorrow in class.

Food is served Friday afternoons 2:15-3:30.

We will have picture day this Spring...May 7th...watch for details soon!

Last night was our first Connect to Kindergarten and it was terrific! We will have another on May 13th from 6-7pm...link will be shared closer to the date!

Remember, every Friday is Vestal Spirit Day...feel free to wear your Vestal gear or anything with messages for social justice, love and hope!

Peace, 

Sabrina Flamoe

sflamoe@pps.net

Hello all, happy Thursday evening!

Wow, this week has been different than any other...we had our at home learners and our in person learners start this week with their teachers! Obviously there was some transition...going from the whole class on line to only half on line OR actually coming in person, getting used to the health screening, walking 6 feet apart, sitting six feet apart, wearing masks, lots of hand sanitizing...it has all taken some getting used to! However, in the conversations I have had with teachers and kids, we are all getting used to this new way of doing school!

A few notes...

* Now that are getting used to school, kids have a day off! Friday is a teacher work day for completing 3rd quarter report cards!

* Packet Pick up will happen tomorrow from 1:00-2:45 right outside the Portable by the backstop.

* Help beautify Vestal's property!

Bring your kids & your tools this Friday, April 9 anytime between 9-1 to pull weeds, rake leaves, or pick up trash! If you'd like to help Ms Deniston & Mr Swehla prepare the outdoor classroom in the SE corner near the portables, check in there & see if they can use your help. Please bring your own gloves, tools, trash bags & water bottles. We hope to see you there!!

* We are thankful for each and every one of you!

Peace,

Sabrina Flamoe

sflamoe@pps.net

Hello Vestal Community! Happy Sunny Thursday...and happy April!

Please note...

* Kindergarten and 1st grade and our K2 ISC (Ms. Monica's class) class start TOMORROW!!! We ready to welcome these little ones and have a practice day before all kids come on Monday!

*  2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and our 3-5ICS (Ian's class)

* The school bus will be driving routes tomorrow (you may have already seen them drive by!). Only get on tomorrow if you are in Kindergarten or 1st grade OR if it is your special K2ISC bus!

* Food pick ups will be available tomorrow and every school day from 2:00-3:30!

* During school hours, no one can drive on our playground. You can park in the side parking lot. If you want to drop your student off, you can pull up on Everett St. and drop off...but you cannot PARK kere. If you need to park and walk your student to the door, you will want to park in the side parking lot!

* Walking School Bus--- 

The PTA is working to arrange a "walking school bus" system to support families in getting their kids to and from school for in-person learning. The idea is that students will walk to and from school with a parent/guardian chaperone, picking up and dropping off other students along the way.

If you are interested in joining a walking route, or if you have any questions, please email the PTA at vestalelementarypta@gmail.com with the following information:

• your child(ren)'s name and grade
• your address
• which days they would be joining (to and/or from school)
• whether an adult in your family would be available to chaperone the group some days

* Just a reminder that all stduents in grades 1-5 should bring their chrome book with them to school! Students are also welcome to bring a FULL water bottle and a backpack!

We are sooooooo excited to have the rthymn of school again...it won't be quite the same BUT it will be wonderful...whether you are leanring from home OR school!

If you have questions...please ask!

Sabrina Flamoe

sflamoe@pps.net

Hello Vestal Community...I know I am sending mahny emails lately, but this event cannot go unaddressed,

especially as we are a school that is always learning about how to be a school communtiy

that stands for justice.

As many of you know in the last weeks there has been increasing violence and hate speech

directed at the Asian-American communities in major cities in the US, including Portland.

Recently, here in Portland there have been rocks thrown through Asian-American-owned

businesses along the Jade Corridor and there have been violent attacks against members of the

Asian American community at bus stops and on Trimet. Although this behavior is not new, it

has escalated due to the COVID pandemic and the false “blame” for the pandemic being put on

the Asian and Asian American communities.

This week's horrific violent killing of Asian women in Atlanta is yet another stark and terrible 

reminder of the impact of gun violence...and whether or not this is determined to be a hate crime

 based on race, the hurt caused to other people is hurt to all of us.

At Vestal we want to be clear that we stand against anti-Asian speech and acts of

violence. As a school for Social Justice,  we recognize the value and importance of each 

member of our school community and want to affirm that our school and our community will not 

tolerate anti-Asian statements or acts. We encourage our students, families and community 

members to report any hate speech or acts of violence to the police, and to assert that violence 

and hate against any of us is violence and hate against all of us. If you or your students hear of 

or experience any hurtful language at school or within the school community, please let Ms. 

Flamoe or Mr. Wilebski immediately so we can take action to stop it.

We want to encourage you to have conversations at home with your students to talk about bias

and hate. Specifically, we see how comments and actions that blame a group of people 

for events in the world hurt individuals and our entire community. As a school, we have taught 

our students to be UPSTANDERS instead of a BYSTANDER and encourage all of our students 

to tell a trusted adult when they see or hear anything that hurts another member of our community. 

We believe in individual identity, community diversity, and taking local action for social justice. 

We stand together.

In Peace and with Hope,

Sabrina Flamoe and Jeff Wilebski

Vestal Administration

The PPS Youth Transition Program, in collaboration with Community Services Network, DePaul Industries, Meadowlark and Easter Seals of Oregon, is pleased to host a Virtual Special Education & Transition Resource Fair on April 27 and 28 from 6-8 p.m. Participants will receive information and valuable resources from a variety of local community agencies that provide support and services for students while in high school and beyond. 

Portland Public Schools is thrilled to announce the availability of $10 million to support partners who provide summer safety and enrichment programming for students this summer. 

Dear PPS Community,

As we continue welcoming our students to hybrid in-person learning, today we want to share a new resource that is available to you. For this project, we ReImagine a Digital Experience – an experience that is easy to navigate, multilingual, user-friendly and welcoming for ALL.

Dear PPS Families,

We have been working hard to put the finishing touches on the safe return of students to our schools for hybrid learning, and are excited to see students in grades 6-8 starting next week! For families whose students will participate in hybrid instruction, we have included information and reminders to help you prepare for the first days of in-person learning this school year.