In this Edition
Message From Dr Berg & Tea with Dr B 10/16: Below
Odyssey Equity Survey Due SATURDAY 10/10! Below
Virtual Learning Tips Via Google Meet on 10/12: Below
Must Verify Student Information: Below
Robocalls Regarding Your Student's Absence: Below
Direct Giving Commitment Form Due ASAP: Below & Attached
School Directory – Submit ASAP: Below
Nutrition Service – Meals Update: Below
Odyssey Weekend Food Bag Program: Below & Attached
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Upcoming Events
Odyssey Equity Survey Due! Saturday 10/10
Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Monday, 10/12
Tea with Dr B: Friday, 10/16, 2pm
Virtual Learning Tips for Caregivers and Families: Monday, 10/12, 6 – 6:45pm
School Directory Submission Due: ASAP
Direct Giving Commitment Form Due: ASAP
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Message From Dr Berg
Hello Odyssey Families,
Monday is Indigenous Peoples' Day which is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. As a way to honor those caretakers of the land that we currently reside on, I want to acknowledge that 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, so please join me in our acknowledgement of the land we find ourselves on in Portland. I also would ask that if you have the time that you
visit the website for Painted Sky website. This is the company that came and worked with our 345 cluster last year to teach them about traditional dance and movement and emphasize the cultural importance of engagement and support of our indigenous community.
Please join me
next Friday for our first "Tea with Dr. B" at 2:00 PM on
10/16.
This is a time to connect with other parents and Dr. Berg to chat and relax. I will be drinking a cup of Yogi Tea with a positive message attached to it like
always. Invite as follows:
Eryn Berg is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Tea with Dr. B
Time: Oct 16, 2020 02:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://pps-net.zoom.us/j/83807073653?pwd=K25GZmZwWUJqNmJNQ25zd00wWjgvUT09
Meeting ID: 838 0707 3653
Passcode: 991254
Finally, next Thursday October 15th at 10:15 AM is the Great Shakeout. This is usually the day where the entire school holds an earthquake drill together at 10:15 and in class the teacher goes over earthquake preparedness and procedure with the students. This year because we are in virtual learning, I am asking that
all families complete an earthquake drill at home on the 15th of October.
Here is the link to the webpage with many resources for kids and
families. I know that earthquakes can be scary for students, so please
approach this as a family in the way that is best for your kids. I have
taught my children where the earthquake emergency bag is and what the emergency plan is. At school we always practice drop, cover, and hold on and then wait for directions from a trusted adult about next steps. Here is the link
for the resources and our school is registered already, so please participate
in the way that works best for your family!
I know that we are all working our best to meet the needs of this virtual environment. I know that you also received the news that PPS will be virtual until at least January 28th. We are in for a long haul. Please take care of
yourselves and your student and give yourself and your student frequent
breaks. I know our teachers are working diligently to try and engage with
the students during the day and then leave them free in the evening to get
offline and get outside.
Thanks for all your support,
Dr. Berg
Principal, Odyssey
Program
She/ Hers/ They (Why?)
“The opposite of racist isn't 'not racist.' It is 'anti-racist.' What's the
difference? One endorses either the idea of a racial hierarchy as a racist, or
racial equality as an anti-racist. One either believes problems are rooted in
groups of people, as a racist, or locates the roots of problems in power and
policies, as an anti-racist. One either allows racial inequities to persevere,
as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an anti-racist. There is no
in-between safe space of 'not racist.”
― Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist
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Odyssey Equity
Survey Due Saturday October 10! And Opportunity to Learn
Last call for your participation in the 1st annual Odyssey Equity Survey! Your
experiences and ideas are important to our planning process. Help provide a
snapshot of where we are as a community.
Add your voice to the conversation:
- Complete
the Odyssey Equity Survey: Link
to survey (open through Oct. 10)
- Sign
up for the equity team's email list. Link
to Google form sign-up
We've had 115 respondents, with a goal of 150. Thank you for helping us continuously improve.
Also, I invite you to join me in attending this free talk next week (Wednesday, 11am -12pm PST) to further our understanding of equity in government policy: "Why denouncing white supremacy creates safety, security, and racial equity"
- Stephanie Yao Long, Odyssey equity team facilitator
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Virtual Learning Tips for Caregivers and Families Via Google Meet
Come and join us Mon. Oct. 12th from 6:00-6:45.
Your Odyssey Counseling Dept. will present resources that help to foster a positive virtual learning experience.
Bring your questions and we will brainstorm possible solutions that address your family's needs.
If you are unable to attend, the session will be recorded for future viewing.
Please use the Google Meet Nickname: virtuallearning4u
We are excited to see you,
Stephanie Cox, School Counselor
Ryan Dicker, QMHP
Wendi Williams, School Counseling Intern
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Verify Student Information
Dear Odyssey Parents,
I know we have all been really busy trying to keep up with new distance learning tools, etc. But I need to ask for your assistance to get your student's registration information verified.
Please Verify your student's registration information (such as your contact info, emergency contacts, etc.): This is now online via ParentVUE. Please take a moment to log in, verify your student's information/make changes, and submit the verification. Here's the link to TeacherVUE: https://www.pps.net/Page/2341 . Your user ID would be your email address. If you haven't activated your ParentVUE account in past years, please email me at ahoffart@pps.net . I can activate your account and get you rolling! :-)
Thank you,
Angela Hoffart
Principal's Secretary
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Robocalls Regarding Your Student's Absence
Robocalls regarding absences are sent out the day after an absence occurs. For example, if your child was absent on a Friday, you will receive a call the following Monday, if absent on Thursday you will receive a call Friday. This is due to the attendance procedures during distance learning. Teachers have until the following morning to report attendance for the previous day.
Thank you,
Angela Hoffart
Principal's Secretary
Odyssey Program @ East Sylvan School
P: 503-916-6310
F: 503-916-2124
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Direct Giving Commitment Form Due ASAP
Odyssey Families,
Please read the attached letter regarding Direct Giving for the first semester of the 2020/2021 school year. We are asking that families fill out the Direct Giving commitment form online as soon as possible to allow PTA to better plan how to support students and teachers.
Ben Riggsby, Caleb (8)
Direct Giving Coordinator
directgiving@odysseyprogram.org
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School Directory – Submit ASAP!
Our need for community is even stronger while our children learn at a distance. The school directory is a lifeline for Odyssey families to communicate with each other and set up virtual or real interactions for their students. Please click here to complete the Directory Google Form for your family. If you do not wish to be listed in the directory, you can simply answer "no" to the second question on the survey and you'll be done! We hope to hear everyone!
Thanks for your participation.
Genevieve
genevieve.fu@odysseyprogram.org
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Nutrition Services – Meal Update
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:
- Online at www.schoolcafe.com/pps.
- 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.
- 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
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PTA Meeting
Hello Odyssey Community!
Thank you so much for the great turnout at the PTA Meeting and presentation by Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee.
We look forward to "seeing you" at the next PTA meeting on Monday Nov. 2nd at 6:30pm. So great to see so many familiar faces last night, can’t wait for next time!
A huge shout out to Katie Hoffman for running our “mission control” Zoom meeting with all of the bells and whistles and drafting this email with all of these beautiful links attached... so appreciated!
Warmly,
Katie Dill
PTA President
Mother of Dragons![🐉]()
AMalia-8th, Nora-6th, Everett-4th, Judah-2nd
Katie.dill@odysseyprogram.org
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Odyssey Weekend Food Bag Program Sign-Up
Weekend Food Bags are available for families in need. This is a joint effort between Take Action Inc, Vermont Hills Church, Odyssey PTA, Hayhurst PTA, and the Ainsworth PTA.
Due to the school building closure we will be providing food bags every other week. If your family would like to receive a food bag every other week, please fill out the attached form and return to the Odyssey Office as soon as possible. Providing information on the number of people in your family will help us to continue to receive grants to fund our program. We value your privacy and the information that you provide below will remain confidential.
Please contact Stephanie Cox, School Counselor, at scox@pps.net with any questions. If your family has dietary restrictions, please let Stephanie know.
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