Sunnyside Environmental School

02/03/23 School Messenger
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~~ The latest PTSA newsletter is found here. ~~

• School News (NEW)
• Upcoming Dates
• Websites to Know
• Fliers and community links
• Jump rope help in K-2 P.E. (NEW)
• Help PPS make informed decisions about climate and culture
• Notice of statewide tests and opt-out form
• Join us at the SES Westwind Family Camp Weekend!
• Art Room wish list
• SES PTSA News (NEW)

School News (NEW)
Good afternoon, Sunnyside,

As always, when we are made aware of harm done in our community, we want to share with you and offer the opportunity to talk with your students about it. There have been several instances lately of students commenting on the hair of their peers and on the hair of our kids of color. In addition, there have been instances of students touching each other's hair and/or putting things in each other's hair. As a parent said, “our unexamined actions reinforce harm.” We need to understand that touching others without permission is not ok. People of color often have their hair touched and white counterparts think nothing of it. This video is an entryway to further discussions that many teachers have used. Thank you to those who take a moment to examine our actions so we can stop doing harm.

This week you received the budget message from our superintendent. Sunnyside is a unique school with unique budgeting needs and our budget will remain similar to this year though there are some changes. Unfortunately, our middle school music position is no longer funded and we will be losing music at the middle school level. We will be receiving funding for a 1.0 Instructional Coach (all schools in the district receive this funding). In addition, all schools will receive a one year grant from COVID Relief Funds to use to support our school improvement goals. Of course we still depend on our foundation to fund our support positions here at the school and we deeply appreciate all our parents and community does to support Sunnyside. We will send more information about staffing and budget as we get closer to spring. 

Thanks for all you do to support Sunnyside. 
Eryn

Upcoming Dates
View the full SES calendar here.

Websites to Know

• Sign up to support Christina at lunch
• SES current volunteer needs
• 2022-2023 Back to School Ask
• SES attendance form: English | Español
• Sunnyside School Page
• SES PTSA website | SES PTSA newsletters | After school activities at SES
• SchoolPay | SchoolCafé
• MESD head lice resources and information
• PPS self-screening tool

Fliers and community links

• Southeast Portland Little League: Registration open through February 15

Jump rope help in K-2 P.E. (NEW)
Iris needs some help next week in P.E. for grades K-2. Having adult volunteers come in to help twirl the long jump ropes is essential to having these younger students learn how to jump rope! Visit the signup sheet here, and please note that there are signup slots for each of the six K-2nd grade classes. Thank you!!

Help PPS make informed decisions about climate and culture
Portland Public Schools has begun its annual Successful Schools Survey, which allows them to gather data to make informed decisions about school climate and culture.

Four segments of the PPS community will take part in the anonymous survey:

1. Students in grades 3-2 will cover teacher-student relationships, sense of belonging, school safety and climate, engagement, cultural awareness, and diversity and inclusion.
2. All PPS families will cover school fit, school climate, barriers to engagement, and school safety.
3. All PPS staff will cover school climate, relationships, educating students, growth  mindset, staff-family relationships, and school safety.
4. All PPS building leaders will cover school climate, staff-family relationships, district leadership relationships, overall district engagement, professional learning, feedback and coaching, and staff engagement.

Students will be provided the link, access code and time during the school day to complete the survey. Families will receive links to the survey. Staff and school leaders will receive a link to their respective surveys. Paper copies will be made available upon request.

For more information on the survey, please visit https://www.pps.net/sss2023.

Notice of statewide tests and opt-out form
As required by the Oregon Department of Education, the PPS Research, Assessment, and Accountability Department is providing the 30 Day Notice and Opt Out Form. The notice is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian and Somali on the PPS Research, Assessment, and Accountability website.

Join us at the SES Westwind Family Camp Weekend!
SES Family Camp at Camp Westwind registration is open!

When: April 7 - 9, 2023
Cost: $110 / person includes food and heated cabin lodging at Camp Westwind, a beautiful forest camp located on the coast just north of Lincoln City. Camp is open to all Sunnyside families, staff, alumni, friends and family. Registration is first come, first served.

We are also looking for volunteer help! People with first aid certifications, help plan our weekend, and who are willing to help promote the weekend, especially among the K-5 families, are most welcome to join in the planning! Sign up today!

Art Room wish list
Hello Amazing Sunnyside Community: The Art room has a short wish list of donations we are looking for:

• We would love some Spin Art Machines (something like this). 
• We would love more simple hole punchers and the cool shape ones too.
• Stickers!

Items may be brought to the office, or you can donate through SchoolPay. Thanks for considering.
Sending positivity, Indigo

SES PTSA News (NEW)

The latest PTSA newsletter is found here, and includes information about the following:

• Our upcoming PTSA meeting,  
• Read-A-Thon,
• Our Spring Auction,
• … and more!

All PTSA newsletters are found here.