April 5, 2019

Dear Markham Families,

Welcome back from spring break!  I hope all of you had a good time doing the things you love with people you love. 

Family Science Night was well attended.  I want to thank our Events Committee led by Mr. Stafford for planning such a fun-filled evening of learning. Our 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th graders did an outstanding job on their science projects.

Many thanks to our PTA’s hospitality.  On Thursday, March 14^th we celebrated national Pi Day with savory and sweet “pies” for the staff.  Delicious!

Way to go Alejandro B. (2^nd grade) and Fatuma A. (5^th grade)!  These two students tied for 1^st on the school Spelling Bee and will represent us at the district Spelling Bee.  We are cheering you on!

A big shout out to the Markham PTA for another successful auction.  Once again funding expectations were exceeded.  Thank you to all who contributed in helping to support each Markham student’s education by increasing access to important opportunities and resources.

Congratulations to our very own Tarra Najafdari!  She is an educational assistant in Ms. Johnson’s kindergarten classroom.  Several staff members nominated her for Classified Employees Week and she was selected as an honoree.  On March 12^th she was acknowledged at the School Board Meeting.

The next Connect to Kindergarten is Thursday, April 25^th from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in our library and is parents only. 

Third quarter report cards will be sent home with students on Friday, April 19^th.

Reminder: Smarter Balanced Assessment has begun for our 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th graders in math and English Language Arts including the 5^th grade Science test. Test make-ups will go from the end of May through the first week in June.

Testing Tips: Send Your Child to School Ready for testing.  A nutritious breakfast fuels up kids and gets them ready for the day. In general, kids who eat breakfast have more energy and do better with testing. Kids who eat breakfast also are less likely to be distracted and complain of stomach aches. You can help boost your child's attention span, concentration, and memory by providing breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein, as well as low in added sugar. If your child is running late, send along fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or half of a peanut butter and banana sandwich.

Kids also need the right amount of sleep to be alert and ready for the day, especially during testing. Most school-age kids need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night. Bedtime difficulties can arise at this age for a variety of reasons. Homework, sports, after-school activities, TVs, computers, and video games, as well as hectic family schedules, can contribute to kids not getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep can cause irritable or hyper types of behavior and might make it difficult for kids to do well at school. It's important to have a consistent       

bedtime routine, especially on school nights. Be sure to leave enough time before bed to allow your child to unwind before lights out and limit stimulating diversions like TV, video games, and Internet access.

Markham had two teams participate in the Regional Destination Imagination (DI) tournament in March.  The Creators took 1^st place in the Technical Challenge. The Creators team made up of 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th graders:  Alexa B., Hero H., Hank L., Oliver D., Caio C., and Lela C.  The Fire-Breathing Gargoyles got 5^th place in the Engineering challenge. Fire-Breathing Gargoyles team made up of 3^rd graders:  Theo K., Aeysha H., Tor A., Kieran K., Andrew W., and Ammar A.  Both teams qualified to go on to the April 6th state tournament in Albany.  Please join me in sending our best to our Markham teams.  Go Creators and Fire-Breathing Gargoyles!  Thank you parent volunteers for keeping this wonderful and impactful experience going for our students. A very nice article was done in the April edition of the SWCommunityConnection Newspaper. To find out more about Destination Imagination, go to Oregondi.org.

The Heart of Portland annual event, thanking Portlanders for their Art Tax contributions by showcasing PPS students’ work, will take place on Tuesday, April 16^th from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM in The Mark Building, Kridel Grand Ballroom; Portland Art Museum.  One of our 5^th graders, Gabriela M’s artwork was chosen as the event poster displaying her Jacob Lawrence piece she created in Ms. Huber’s class.  Everyone is invited to this free event. Nice work Gabriela!

Markham’s Annual Food Drive is Coming!  Starting Tuesday, April 9^th through Friday, April 19^th we will be collecting nonperishable food items in the morning in the cafeteria.  A goal has not been determined as of yet.  When we reach our goal, 5^th graders will determine our spirit day theme to celebrate our success.

April Sharing with Shawn is on Friday the 19^th at 9:00 AM in Rm. 113. Childcare is provided through our SUN School.  Please come join us to get school information and meet other parents in an informal setting.  Friday, May 17^th will be our last Sharing with Shawn for this school year.

The Markham Fun Run is just around the corner.  Pledge forms went home today.  On Friday, April 26^th Markham students will be running for funds to support their education.  Please come on out and cheer the students on. 

Kindergarten    10:10 -10:40               3^rd Grade  1:30-2:00

1^st Grade           9:35-10:05                 4^th Grade  10:45-11:15

2^nd Grade          12:55-1:25                 5^th Grade  2:05-2:35

This schedule may shift slightly depending on the weather.  If it is too wet, students will run in the gym.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the Markham Community.  You are the BEST!  Thank you everyone for how much you believe in and support the children.

Much Gratitude,

Shawn Garnett

Principal