Maplewood School

Principal’s Newsletter

October 28, 2020

Dear Maplewood Families,

Happy Halloween!  Please stay safe celebrating Halloween during the pandemic. I’m guessing there will be a lot of creative masks this year that serve two purposes.

I know I’m stating the obvious but next week will be a big week as Tuesday, November 3^rd is Election Day.  Many of our teachers have been doing lessons on voting and how elections work in our country.  This is also a great opportunity for you to talk with your children about the importance of participating in elections as citizens.  My oldest son got to vote this year for the first time!  He felt very proud to take part in the election.

Election Day-The district has provided an in-depth election toolkit that covers a variety of topics.  Keep an eye out for that communication.  PPS leaders are hoping for things to be peaceful in our community on the day of the election and the days that follow, yet they are aware that Portland has seen a lot of unrest recently and are preparing for the possibility of buildings perhaps being targeted by protests.

 

INFORMATION & ACTION REQUIRED - ONLY IF You have NOT completed your Yearly PvueVerification online.

• Online Yearly Verification via ParentVUE deadline is October 31, 2020.
• Beginning on November 1, 2020, if parents have not submitted the online Yearly Verification, they will receive the following message upon login:
• The Yearly Verification process must be complete to continue.  
•  This is a hard stop to log in to ParentVUE. The only options for the parent are to click Begin Yearly Verification or Logout.
• The ParentVUE flyer, along with Yearly Verification resources, can be found on the ParentVUE/StudentVUE Information district website.

• If you have questions about your Online yearly verification contact sriley@pps.net. 

 

Counseling Office:

Toolbox is launching!  We are using our Climate team this year (Nikki, William, Liberty, Jessica, and myself) to support our Toolbox efforts.  At our first meeting, we came up with a sequence for staff to use.  

*A great, short video for teachers and parent/guardians about Toolbox (safe youtube link provided):  https://video.link/w/gg6rb

 

For students:

*An introduction to Toolbox for 3rd-5th graders, bonus is that the kids speak with Australian accents!  

https://video.link/w/2s6rb

* This is a great toolbox poster and Kendall has color copies if you want to email her.

* Kendall made this short video to explain What Toolbox is for families and students.

* This is a short video Kendall made on what the tools are- more for the younger students.

Kendall will be visiting classrooms for a total of 6 lessons each that will help support Toolbox.  She is currently visiting K-1 and then will do 2nd-3rd in January and then 4th-5th in March.  As a school, we reinforce Toolbox through our think sheets and also our Check In/Check Out intervention. 

In the past, we have done monthly assemblies to support students learning the Toolbox tools.   Feel free to reach out for any Toolbox support.  Also, feel free to give any feedback  on this to our Climate Committee (Nikki, Liberty, William, Jessica, and Kendall).  

Helping Hands

Hello Maplewood Community!

Helping Hands will be assembling food boxes to distribute to Maplewood families for use over the Thanksgiving break.  We would love your help on this!  How can you help?  

We are accepting food donations tomorrow through November 10th at the following locations:

Maplewood Main Entrance during book distribution:  Wednesday Nov. 4th from 3-5:30, Tuesday Nov. 10th from 3-5:30

6730 SW 62nd Place, Billeter home, please leave by door

Starting Nov. 3rd:  8150 SW 41st Avenue, Rainka home, please leave by the door. 

Please fill in your name on this Google doc to show what you can provide. If you have them, we could also use any paper grocery bags or medium-sized boxes.  You can drop these off with your food donation. 

Thanks for your support!
Helping Hands CommitteeJosh Billeter, Shari Rainka, Kendall Cunningham

Kendall Cunningham

Maplewood Elementary School Counselor

971-378-0434

Check out my website here for videos, resources, and info on our program at Maplewood!

Office Hours each Thursday from 2:30-3:30 Click here for link

Counseling Request Google Form

 

Text Alerts:

New KG and 1-5th Grade Families;

Get text alerts from your school: Text YES to 68453 to stay connected to your school. 

School Messenger sends Emergency and school messages directly to your phone. You may text STOP to discontinue the messages.

In the past families text YES to school messenger when I meet them during in person registration. 

As in person registration is not occurring I am requesting families complete this step at this time.

Thank you.

 

*Hangout Chat Access Closed for Students

Due to families’ concerns with large groups of students using Hangouts Chat unsupervised, Hangouts Chat was turned off for students. Google is still planning to deprecate Hangouts Chat, but the timeline is unknown. Students can now access Google Chat at chat.google.com and it is recommended that staff also move to this platform where there is more functionality.

We did not know that staff would lose their Hangouts Chat groups, but you should be able to that content by searching within Gmail. All chat in Google Chat is archived. Please look for an official communication with more information in the next coming weeks.

Kevin Crotchett, Director of Learning Technologies, OTIS
971-220-8006     kevinc@pps.net

Youth Resource APP Now Available

We are very excited to share that we now have an app on the app store for PPS youth resources.  

The app shares critical information around COVID-19 resources, Safe Oregon Tip line, Youth Line for suicidal ideation and mental health crisis, and many additional resources for youth and their families.  

During our many discussions with high school students last year, they all reported that an app which can be downloaded on their phone would be the best way to provide needed support.  With the help of the REAHL (Recovery, Education and Action for Healthy Living) team, and the Student Success and Health department, we were able to make this a reality for our PPS students.  Please download the app and share with everyone you know.  

Brenda Martinek, Chief of Student Support Services
bmartinek@pps.net 

PDX Assist Application for $500 Visa Card Assistance

Please visit the City of Portland's pdxassist.com for an online application for $500 Visa Cards to Portland households impacted by Covid-19. To qualify a household's income must be below 80% median income and need assistance. The application will open Tuesday, October 27 at 9am, and again on Friday, October 30 at 1pm. The first 1400 applicants will be awarded each day. 

Robyn Faraone, School Partnerships Manager, Office of Strategic Partnerships and Engagements
rfaraone@pps.net

 

Foundation Updates:

Dine-out: November 5th

Mod Pizza - 12196 SW Scholls Ferry Rd, Tigard, OR 97223

All day! Take out, delivery, and pick-up apply. 

To place your order visit MOD Pizza's online order website. Use the coupon code of "GR166272M" and 20% of your meal’s price will be donated back to Maplewood Foundation.

We are in the planning process for the annual spring auction. This event will be a family friendly virtual event!!

If you would like to help us - we would love your support!

Do you have a vacation home? We are looking for vacation rentals for the virtual live auction. 

Do you have a service or an item to donate? We are interested!!

Email us - Maplewoodfoundation@gmail.com

 

Maplewood Coffee

Maplewood Coffee and Tea Halloween Themed Dinner To Go  Maplewood Coffee is donating All proceeds to benefit Maplewood PTA! Thursday October 29th  $35 for 2 Order online by Wednesday, October 28th

 

Order Here

 

Maplewood in Motion

Virtual event October 30 - November 1st!   

Maplewood in Motion, Virtual Fun Event, October 30-November 1st!

Would you like to have a place to go when it's raining, wet or even want a bit of shade in the hot summer?

Let's make Maplewood marvelous and get our covered blacktop built!
Over three days, move your body - run, bike, jump, skip hop... collect some pledges and have some fun. Everyone must register: kids, parents, friends, siblings, and adults.

• Adult registration is $30.
• Child registration is FREE! Please register TODAY,move that body and go get some pledges! 

Some of our local businesses are offering amazing discounts to participants!  Please support them and get a delicious treat the weekend of October 30th.

You MUST mention you are a part of Maplewood in Motion.

Please email ericandkarimartin@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. Links for forms are below:   Registration Form    Use one for each participant. Use the payment link below to pay for adult registration.     Pledge Sheet   Please print and keep track of your pledges!     Payment Link   Use this link to pay for adult registration, make a donation, help sponsor the event, and to pay for pledges (a place to write in participant's name is at check out)

 Local Businesses Supporting Maplewood in Motion

Maplewood Coffee

Maplewood Coffee & Tea - 5206 SW Custer St, Portland, OR 97219
Maplewood in Motion participants - Free fresh baked cookie!
Fri/Sat/Sun: 8 AM - 2 PM

Driftwood Coffee

Driftwood Coffee - 4604 SW Vermont St
$.50 off Adult Coffees & FREE kids Hot Chocolate
Fri/Sat/Sun: 8 AM - 1 PM

Sunny’s Legendary Yogurt

Sunny’s Legendary Yogurt - 4397 SW Vermont Street
20 % off!

Fri: 12 PM - 10 PM
Sat: 11 AM - 10 PM
Sun: 11 AM - 9 PM

Spielman Bagels & Coffee

Spielman Bagels - 7713 SW Capitol Hwy
15% off discount to all participants 
 Fri/Sat/Sun:  7 AM - 2 PM 

Village Coffee Multnomah

Village Coffee Multnomah - 7781 SW Capitol Highway
$.50 off latte and FREE kids hot chocolate
Fri: 6:30 AM - 5 PM
Sat/Sun: 7 AM - 5 PM

 

Book pick-up dates:

10/28 7:15-9 & 3-5:30 Families A-L

11/4 7:15-9 & 3-5:30 Families M-Z

*11/10 7:15-9 & 3-5:30 Families A-L (not 11/11 which is Veterans Day)

11/18 7:15-9 & 3-5:30 Families M-Z

*11/24 7:15-9 & 3-5:30 Families Families A-L (not 11/25, building closed)

 

Upcoming events/dates: 

Oct. 31    Halloween

Nov. 01   Daylight savings ends – Turn clocks back one hour          

Nov. 05   End Of Quarter

Nov. 06   Teacher Planning Day – No School

Nov. 11   Veteran’s Day -  No School

Nov. 14   Diwali

Nov. 23-24    Conferences

Nov. 25   No School

Nov. 26   Thanksgiving

Nov. 27   No School