5601 N. Yale St.•Portland, OR 97203•Ph 503-916-6244•Fx 503-916-2605
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Hello Astor Families!
There are a couple of great events coming up prior to the start of school that we want you to know about.
Connect to Kindergarten
August 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 - Link with information is here
Join Astor Staff and other Astor Kindergarten students and families as we visit together prior to the start of the school year. You'll be able to see the kinder classrooms and take part in an outside scavenger hunt. Hope to see you there!
Project Community Care Day
August 27th from 9am to 12pm - Link with information is here
Please join us for Project Community Care Day, an annual tradition and a wonderful opportunity to help beautify our school grounds to be held on Saturday, August 27th, from 9am to 12pm. We encourage you to bring your gardening gloves and tools and refillable water bottle. Students are welcome to join you and we’ll just ask that you supervise your own child. We look forward to seeing you Saturday, August 27th, 9 am to 12 pm!
Astor’s 2nd Annual Warm Welcome!
August 29th from 4:30pm to 6pm - Link with information is here
This event on campus will allow for our students and families to meet, see the entrance that they should come to at the start of each day, and pick up their back to school packets and Middle School schedules and supply lists. Additionally, many of our teachers will be at this event and it's a great time to connect with them prior to the start of the school year. Families may arrive at the school at a time that works for them between 4:30pm and 6pm on August 29th.
Hello Astor Families,
Classroom/homeroom teacher notifications went out today for all 1st through 8th graders! If you did not receive this information or you have multiple children in the same grade level, then please reach out to the office tomorrow at 503-916-6244. The office hours are from 7:30 to 4 daily. Our office is closed today, but open Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Kindergarten families will receive a phone call over the next week regarding your child's teacher, school start date, and parent-teacher meeting time/day.
All families can find our welcome back letter for the 22-23 school year here - https://bit.ly/22-23Astorwelcomeletter
We have so many exciting events coming up this month! You can find information on them in the last Astor Connection here - https://www.smore.com/rwy4z
Have a wonderful rest of the summer and we hope to see you at our first school-wide event, Project Community Care Day on August 27th from 9am to 12pm.
Warmly,
Blake Robertson
Principal @ Astor
Our community partner, the Coalition of Black Men, invites boys in grades 6-8 to join their DREAM BIGGER Mentoring Program.
What: This program provides academic support, mentoring, cultural enrichment and personal development to our young men!
When: Begins September 28th
Every Tuesday from 1:45 - 2:30 pm
Where: Room 63 (portable 3)
How do I join?: Scan the QR code on the flyer below or visit https://forms.gle/F3RA3/1Q8ePn2aGV97
Questions?: Contact mentoring@cobmportland.org
Dear Astor Families and University Park Community,
I'm excited to join you all for a third year at Astor. I’m a school leader focused on racial equity, and I’m committed to creating welcoming spaces for students and families. I strongly believe that all children deserve an exceptional education that is personalized to their individual needs while preparing them to graduate from college. For many of our students, Astor is the first step in this journey.
I have worked for the last 16 years in Portland Public Schools, first as a paraeducator, then as a teacher, and now as a school leader. I’ve taught throughout the district, including at SEI, Beverly Cleary, Astor, and Ockley Green. For the last four years, I was the Assistant Principal at Jason Lee. Prior to moving to Portland, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Fiji Islands with my wife, Miranda. I’m also an Astor parent and have two daughters who attend our school and have loved their experiences so far.
Finally, I have an open-door policy; please bring concerns to me at any time. I know that I will approach every situation striving to do what is best for students and putting students first.
Warmly,
Principal Robertson
brobertson@pps.net
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.
Astor students will learn to be compassionate critical thinkers, able to collaborate and solve problems, and be prepared to lead a more socially just world.
The Mission of Astor K-8 School is to educate, inspire, challenge and empower our students to reach their highest potential. In partnership with our families and community members, we are committed to daily excellence in a kind, inclusive, and supportive environment that values equity, individuality, collaboration, and creativity. Our students strive to be compassionate, responsible, critical thinkers who bring positive changes to our world throughout their lifetimes.
We all belong at Astor. We honor diversity, celebrate differences, and seek to understand all perspectives. We strive to be an inclusive, safe, and respectful school community.
We all belong at Astor, and together we are stronger.