In this Edition

The Doctor is In! Message From Dr Berg: Below

All School Spirit Week – Next Week! Below

February Restaurant Night Wednesday 2/12: Below

Odyssey Parents with Incoming Students Next Year – Must Enter Lottery & Attend Info Session: Below

Join Our Class - Disabled: Below

The Green Routine – Lunchroom Revolution & Student Green Team! Below

Odyssey Information Nights – Need Volunteers: Below

It’s Time For It To Go! Volunteer Needed To Remove Items From Library: Below

Wilson High School Regarding PPS Bond Measure: Below

Parenting & Sexuality – Speaker & Discussion: Below

 

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Upcoming Events

Spirit Week – Monday, 2/10 – Friday, 2/15

Special PTA Meeting: Wednesday, 2/12, 6:30pm

February Restaurant Night at Von Ebert Brewing: Wednesday, 2/12 – ALL DAY!

Odyssey Information Session: Thursday, 2/20, 6-7:30 pm

Student Green Team Meeting: Friday 2/28, 2:15-3:30 pm

Odyssey Information Session: Friday, 3/6, 9:00-10:0 am 

Parenting & Sexuality – Speaker & Discussion: Wednesday 3/12, 6:15pm – Hayhurst

 

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The Doctor Is In! Message From Dr Berg

 

Odyssey Families,

As February begins and we start our month long celebration of Black History Month, I would like to take the opportunity to share my own deep appreciation of sense of respect for not only our Black Americans from the past who have contributed so much to our deep tapestry of American History, but also a recognition of all of the recent and current black Americans who are contributors and heroes in our lives.  We of course honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who gave his life for the struggle for Civil Rights.  Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges both stand as heroes for the fight for equality and justice.  I also want to do is recognize the deep and real contributions of the current fighters for justice and heroes of equality.  Barack Obama and his legacy will stand as a man who eloquently and patiently spoke for freedom and equality and whose example I hope to emulate as a barometer of dignity for years to come.  The list is endless and the time is ripe for us to take a moment and recognize and notice and be thankful for the work that has been done by Black Americans both historically and in the present.  I recently found a short video that examines the history of Black History Month and which I found helpful to share with my children and discuss around the dinner table.  That link will be included at the bottom of this message.

What I also want to emphasize is how we have worked as a staff to integrate into our classrooms daily the richness of multicultural perspectives and the value of honoring differing experiences and viewpoints.  All year long, our teachers work as teams to plan lessons, units, and materials that give a voice to those who have historically been underrepresented in school curriculum.  We have asked that while we celebrate February as Black History Month, that we also have a consistent eye and heart towards always valuing and integrating multiple perspectives.  Please reach out to your teacher to ask how they include and honor multiple perspectives and provide a culturally relevant curriculum.  

Thank you,

Eryn Berg

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month/videos/origins-of-black-history-month?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

Dr. Eryn Berg 

Principal, Odyssey K-8

 

“I truly believe the only way we can create global peace is through not only educating our minds, but our hearts and our souls.”

Malala Yousafzai 

 

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All School Spirit Week

(In honor of the completion of the 345 Mahopa Performance)

February 10th-14^th

345 is wrapping up the end of their Mahopa Unit and getting ready to form new teams for the next unit. Let’s celebrate with an all school spirit week! (As always, please make sure that you are following our school’s dress code and making appropriate choices.)

 

Monday: Roll Out Of Bed Day

The 345 is exhausted from Sunday’s Performance! Come to school in your PJs and best bed hair. Brushing your teeth is highly recommended, though!

 

Tuesday: Pattern Day 

Wear your brightest patterned clothing for a day of mismatched fun. Bonus: the more patterns you wear, the better!

 

Wednesday: Favorites Day

Have a favorite t-shirt, pair of shoes, or item you love to wear? Wear your favorite pattern (stripes, polka dots), your favorite team’s gear, your favorite color, and so on! 

 

Thursday: Dress To Impress Day (Captain Speeches)

345 potential captains will give their speeches today, so put on your best outfits! Shine your shoes, iron your best shirt, and come to school looking like a million bucks!

 

Friday: Valentine’s Colors

Wear your favorite Valentine’s colors--reds, pinks, white.  Dress with hearts, cupids, and unicorns!  Come full of your most lovely Valentine spirit!

 

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February Restaurant Night – Wednesday 2/12!

 

We have three restaurant nights left in the year, and we've already raised $2,350 for our school so far! Please join us at Von Ebert Brewing on Wednesday, February 12 for a 15% donation to our school, with flyer or mention of our fundraiser. This fundraiser runs all day, so lunch is an option too, if you happen to be in town that part of the day! Bring friends and colleagues! Von Ebert is a big space, with plenty of parking in the New Seasons structure across the street.

 

Von Ebert Brewing 

131 NW 13th Avenue, Portland 97209

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!! Odyssey Parents With An Incoming Student Next Year!!

Existing Odyssey families receive priority in the lottery, however you will need to attend a parent information meeting and submit an online lottery application. Apply here:  pps.schoolmint.net 

The lottery opens Feb. 5^th and closes March 6^th. 

 

Information Meetings (attend one of the following):
Thursday, February 20^th, 6-7:30 pm

Friday, March 6th, 9:00-10:0 am (This meeting is primarily designed for parents who cannot attend the evening meeting and/or don’t care to have a school tour. Teachers or administration will not be present at the March 6th meeting and there will be no classroom visitation available.) Students are welcome to attend with parents; however, childcare is not provided.

Thank you,

Angela Hoffart

Principal’s Secretary

The Odyssey Program

     at East Sylvan

P:  503.916.6310

F:  503.916.2124

 

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Join Our Class - Calendar Disabled

 

Going forward we will no longer be using Join Our Class for school calendar items or volunteer signups.  You can still access the directory there for those who have registered.  The Odyssey PPS calendar is available here: https://www.pps.net/Page/9151#calendar12600/20200207/month  

 

Thank you,

Katie Hoffman, katie.hoffman@odysseyprogram.org

 

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The Green Routine

Odyssey’s Lunchroom Revolution is in full swing! With the help of parent and student volunteers we have saved approx. 300lbs of food and 600 milk cartons from landfill in just two short, four day weeks! Amazing! We can’t do this without the help of parent volunteers. For just one hour from 11-12, you can see your kid at lunch and do something great for the environment! Won’t you consider “being the change?” SIGN UP HERE FOR OUR LUNCHROOM REVOLUTION.

Is your 3^rd – 8^th grade student interested in being a part of our Student Green Team? With the mentorship of Parent Green Team volunteers, we are inviting earth-loving students to join us in planning Earth Month/Day activities and getting involved in school sustainability initiatives. Beginning this month, the Student Green Team will meet on the last Friday of every month after school for one hour from 2:30-3:30. Parent Green Team Volunteers will meet 345 kids at 2:15pm and provide snacks. Please sign your student up here to participate in the Ody Student Green Team.

Do you have a Bottle Drop Account? Instead of redeeming your recyclable cans and bottles for change, you can donate that change Odyssey. Click here to learn how to donate to Odyssey with your Bottle Drop account! We will also have a Bottle Drop center at school to collect redeemable bottles and cans to raise money for Odyssey sustainability initiatives!

Our Trex Challenge has collected over 100 pounds of soft plastic waste since beginning mid-January. Keep it up! Thank you to our volunteers for collecting our Trex collections!

Odyssey Eco-Events:

·      Lunchroom Revolutions: Collective actions have more impact than individual choices! Help our community collectively make big improvements to our environmental impact through composting and better recycling in our school cafeteria. Follow the link to be a part of our modeling conservation behaviors to the next generation.

·      Friday February 28, 2:15-3:30 Student Green Team Meeting! Your child can join with other earth-loving students to plan Earth Day/Month activities and support campus sustainability initiatives. We will meet in the library, snack provided. Click here to RSVP for your child. 3-8 graders only

 

Weekly Eco-Tip:

Are you a wishful or aspirational recycler? When you have some questionable packaging that you think should be recyclable, but you’re not sure, do you throw it into your curbside blue bin with hope in your heart? I don’t want to squash your optimism, but you are probably doing more harm than good. When unrecyclable things end up in our recycling sort systems, they contaminate the whole batch, causing recyclable items get thrown into the landfill. These contaminants can also injure employees and damage machinery.

Metro has a fun “Recycle or Not” campaign to help you be a better recycler. Take their online quiz to find out how much of a wishful recycler you may or may not be. And remember, when in doubt, throw it out – or just give Metro’s super knowledgeable, master recycler hotline folks a ring. It just takes a moment to get the info you need! AskMetro@oregonmetro.gov or
503-234-3000

 

Don’t be trashy: #reducereuserecycle

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Odyssey Information Nights – Need Volunteers!

Odyssey information events for new K-5 students are quickly approaching and we’ll need your help volunteering to make it a success.  The event dates/times are February 20th 6-7:30pm, and March 6th 9-10am.

There are several volunteer opportunities for you to consider:

• Marketing: Help distribute flyers at your neighborhood coffee shops, community centers, churches, libraries, etc. throughout Portland; spread the word about Odyssey information events on your favorite social media platform, with Facebook and Nextdoor serving as obvious ones.  If you belong to or are networked within an underrepresented community in Portland, your help would be especially appreciated here.

• Event logistics on 2/20 and 3/6: help set up/take down chairs, hand out information packets about the school as guest arrive, help answer questions from prospective new parents and students, and pass out a questionnaire at the end of the events before guests leave. (3-5 volunteers for each event are needed).

If you are able to volunteer for any of these opportunities, please contact me directly

and feel free to reach out with questions. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank You!

Devin McKenna

devinmc@gmail.com

 

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It’s time for it to go!..... 

Looking for someone to haul a medium sized fabric chair from our library and a few other smaller items.  Please contact Angela if you can transport these items to a charitable organization.  Thank you! 

Thank you,

Angela Hoffart

Principal’s Secretary

 

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Message from Wilson High School Regarding Bond Measure

 

Dear Wilson Neighborhood Community,

 

Now is the time to let the PPS School Board know that Wilson, Jefferson, and Cleveland should be included on the 2020 Bond! 

 

A modernized Wilson would provide students with state-of-the-art learning facilities for generations to come.  While much has changed since 1957, Wilson facilities have not.  It is time to ensure that all PPS high schools, including Wilson, Jefferson, and Cleveland, provide students with 21^st century learning opportunities.

 

These are some highlights from preliminary modernization plans for Wilson High School:

• Wilson students will stay in the current building while the new building is constructed. 
• New building will include modernized classrooms, science labs, career-and-technical education spaces, fine and performing arts facilities, athletic facilities, and more.
• The Wilson pool can remain on camps.
• No expenditures are needed for bussing and temporary classrooms - money can be directly invested in the new facilities.
• The 2020 bond will keep the current tax levels unchanged.

 

Please contact PPS School Board members and share this simple message: The time has come to modernize Wilson, Jefferson, and Cleveland.

 

Andrew Scott (Wilson)- anscott@pps.net

Michelle DePass (Jefferson) - mdepass@pps.net

Amy Kohnstamm (Board Chair) - akohnstamm@pps.net

Rita Moore (Vice-Chair) - rmoore5@pps.net

Scott Bailey - sbailey@pps.net

Julia Brim-Edwards - jbrim-edwards@pps.net

Eilidh Lowery (Cleveland) - elowery@pps.net

 

Erica Caldwell

Business Manager
Wilson High School

office:  503-916-5280 Ext 75211
cell:  541-521-8282

ecaldwell@pps.net
http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools/wilson/

Si usted necesita ayuda en traducir este mensaje, llame al 503-916-3582 para español.

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Parenting & Sexuality - Speaker & Discussion: Wednesday, 3/12

 

Odyssey and Hayhurst PTAs will be presenting on March 12 at 6:15pm in the Odyssey auditorium a parent only evening discussion of parenting and sexuality. Our guest speakers, Renee Caballero from Conscious Family Solutions and Nathan Moore will address topics such as gender identity vs. sexuality, terms, statistics, supports, student voices, questions and answers, and resources.  Plus, snacks! 

Dear Odyssey Community,

I am honored to have been chosen as the new Odyssey principal.  Since starting my teaching career in Florida almost twenty five years ago, I have been committed to transformational learning and am excited to move to Odyssey and the embrace of experiential learning.  

I spent the bulk of my teaching career in Brooklyn teaching high school and it was during that time that I was part of forming 9th grade institutes which committed themselves to interdisciplinary learning and team work.  It is with great excitement that I look forward to more of this work at Odyssey.

During my time as an administrator I have served at high school, k-5, and k-8 levels and am looking forward to returning to the k-8 world.  This is truly a journey that I am honored to be on and looking forward to meeting all of you and getting to know the students, teachers, staff, and families.

I grew up here in the PNW and my two sons are enrolled in PPS.  I will have a 7th grader and 9th grader next year and truly understand how important it is that our schools provide opportunities for our children to grow academically and emotionally.  Critical thinking is key and I truly believe that by being self-reflective and choosing empathy and understanding, we can prepare ourselves for engagement in the world around us.  

I am excited to get to know you and please do not hesitate to introduce yourselves and stop by and say hi once we get the new school year up and running.  Looking towards a great year together!

Best,
Dr. Eryn Berg

eberg@pps.net 

In this week's PPS Pulse: Cleveland High School celebrates Black History Month; high schools stage winter/spring plays

Cleveland continued its run atop Portland Interscholastic League wrestling, using its depth and titles in two weight classes to win league’s district tournament for the ninth year in a row. The Warriors piled up 324.5 points at Marshall High School to outdistance runner-up Grant by 93.

Newspapers might be sputtering around the country, but at high schools in Portland Public Schools, the fourth estate isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving. In various formats – printed, online or a combination of both – our budding reporters are telling the stories of their campuses and beyond.

For student actors in Portland Public Schools, years of studying and honing their craft will hit a high point of their time in school: the high school play. Starting this week, our high schools will begin performances of their big winter/spring productions.