Hello Vestal families-

Happy somewhat sunny Saturday! My apologies for this being so late. I try to send out on Thursday...and if not, then by Friday, but here we are on Saturday.

Last week I shared that there had been some mixed messages from the state about school returning. I do not have much clarity to offer yet, but there is a new possibility. Limited In Person Instruction (LIPI) has been in the news this week, including at the school board meeting. I’d like to try to clarify what this means for PPS. From what I know, about 10 schools, including Vestal, have been chosen for phase 1 of LIPI. The reason Vestal was chosen is that we already have on site daycare through the YMCA. 

LIPI is a VERY small start...for example, 8-12 students with one teacher for two days a week, two hours a day classroom time. Each of the 10 schools has been asked to create our own LIPI plan. All teachers have been asked if they would like to volunteer to teach LIPI. (Volunteer, but yes they’d get paid). Our team at Vestal has been struggling with the social justice aspects of LIPI...it is a complex issue with various angles and frankly not a ton of direction.

As of this moment, we are still deep in planning possibilities. I was waiting to write this letter until I had more information, but I am not at that place yet. So, I am sharing what LIPI within PPS is and that we are working on it...more to come.

I am sure this is a bit frustrating to hear. My best advice is to stay focused with your kiddos on CDL and what they are presently doing! We do have a strong CDL program in place; our teachers and students are truly doing amazing work.

Once we do have an approved LIPI plan it will likely impact a very small group of students ( like I said, 8-12 students) to begin. I will share as we know more. Questions are welcome!

Upcoming Events-

• NO SCHOOL Monday MLK Jr.

• Our amazing PTA has planned a great local action (see below!)

• FRIDAY Pick Up- Next Friday, 1/22 we will have a little free store of jackets and other supplies (Toothpaste, shampoo, ect.) out for anyone who needs anything!

2021 continues to bring unprecedented times, events, and actions. We wish you safety and health...and the reminder to breathe and enjoy the simple joys our children bring us!

• My recent kid joy was my own 17 year coming to the realization (and sharing it with us over dinner) that he has learned just because someone is older and speaks with confidence, it does not mean he should necessarily take their advice...especially if they are under 30. Ha!

With hope and peace,

Sabrina Flamoe

sflamoe@pps.net

Hello Vestal families-

Welcome back to our first week of school for the year 2021. It has been delightful to see your children back in class, smiling, happy to see their friends, and learning! 

There have been some mixed messages about a potential return to the building and I want to try and clarify. Gov. Brown came out on Dec. 23rd saying she was letting go of state wide metrics and giving the control to each district to decide plans for return to school. She did say she hoped schools would be back in February.. Stating February has led to confusion, as some people have heard this as “we are going back to school in Feb.” and this is not accurate for PPS and Vestal.

Portland Public Schools, our district, has said that school will not resume until all adults that work in schools have the opportunity to be vaccinated. As we know, vaccinations in Oregon, and the nation, are behind schedule. So, for now we stay focused on learning from home. As the district makes more decisions and concrete plans,. We will definitely let you know.

It is frustrating to many, myself included, that the return to school date remains unknown...but I keep reminding myself, “Of course it is frustrating, this is a global pandemic that is not yet under control…” I remain hopeful that this is a once in a lifetime event and we will make it through by continuing to support one another.

Upcoming Events- BRAND NEW SUPPLIES!!!!

• Tomorrow’s pick up day is a special one! We have a grocery bag full of wonderful, brand new school supplies for every child! The bag is full and HEAVY as it includes a whole ream of paper, many art supplies, math manipulatives, and a fun cool indoor squishy ball! Please plan ahead for the heaviness of the bags!

• Packet Pick UP...2-4 Please come if you can!

• Because of the school supplies, we will NOT give out library books tomorrow...we are in short supply, so PLEASE return any library books you are done with so we have enough to share next week!

Monday’s Memorial Celebration in honor of Lola and William Stiles

• Please come to the playground at any time on Monday to visit the playground and tie a ribbon in honor of Lola and William next to the new, beautiful playground sign.

• There is NOT a SET TIME for this event as we cannot gather together.

• We are hoping many people can come throughout the day so they can play on the new playground when it is not crowded.

• Please use masks, social distancing, and hand sanitizer (will be available)

2021 continues to bring unprecedented times, events, and actions. We wish you safety and health...and the reminder to breathe and enjoy the simple joys our children bring us!

With hope and peace,

Sabrina Flamoe

sflamoe@pps.net

Hello Vestal Community-

Today I sit down to write this as I try to process the historical and scary events of yesterday. I have been thinking about how we help kids process and respond to yesterday’s events and I keep coming back to, “This has NEVER happened in the United States before...this is truly unprecedented.”

As I listen to the news and read from various sources, I am aware that our nation will be processing what led to this violent attack on our nation’s capital and how people responded to the riot for a long time. 

For the immediate, I harken to one of my heroes. Fred Rogers, and his reminder that we need to listen to kids and we reassure them that we will always listen to them, and we look to the helpers. We can also talk to our kids about who is helping. 

We can  be honest with our kids about how strange and scary and different this is...our  kids have been hearing a lot of that from us over the whole past year, but I think it is very powerful to be honest and vulnerable with our kids, saying, “Wow, this is a lot of information...I am not even sure I can answer all of your questions, but we can learn together…” “Yes, this is a strange and scary time in our country, let’s keep talking about it…” WHILE making sure the news is not on constantly and kids have protected space away. 

Overall, I remain hopeful that as our kids learn and experience so much of the current challenges, they will not forget and will grow into adults that believe in hope, and change, and justice, and democracy.

In hope, Sabrina Flamoe

sflamoe@pps.net

Some resources  I hope that may be helpful…

• How to Process a Scary Day for the Nation with your Kids

https://laist.com/2021/01/06/how_to_process_a_scary_day_for_the_nation_with_your_kids.php

• Seven lessons from Mr. Rogers

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_lessons_from_mister_rogers_That_can_help_americans_be_neighbors_again

• PBS Newshour- Teaching Resource (this was shared with teachers today)

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/daily-videos/classroom-resource-insurrection-at-the-u-s-capitol/

Hello wonderful Vestal Community! Lots of notes today...

Mr True Update- We are so thankful to report the Mr. Michel True, our beloved counselor, is at home resting and recovering. If you would like to make him a card or note, please bring it on Friday Pick Up (2-4). We know he will LOVE being surrounded by warm healing thoughts from Vestal. We will also have a big poster for everyone to sign...a big 'hug' from our community!

Hip Hop Nutcracker- It is almost here! Tomorrow at 9:30 our school community will view the Hip Hop Nutcracker as whole community...but each from our homes! (families members more than welcome!) A suggestion from the director- "At the perfomance, encourage students to pay close attention to the movement, lighting, costumes,and music. Ask them what they are hoping to see? Ask them- What do you notice about the lighting? How does the music make you feel? What is the vibe of the performance?

I remember being very confused as kid when I saw the Nutcracker...you might want to remind your child that most of the show is a DREAM:)

Library Books- This week is  A-H for library book pick up and  please  returns bags if you are done with them Unsubscribe

Graduation rates for the 2019-2020 academic year were released today with impressive results for Portland Public Schools, whose high school seniors achieved an 83.7% graduation rate, the highest since adopting a four-year cohort model in 2010 and slightly higher than the 2019-20 statewide rate of 82.6%. 

Dear PPS Students, Families and Colleagues,

Today we celebrate and honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a hero of mine. As his influence is seen and felt in the ongoing movement for racial justice, I want to share this video created by the Boise-Eliot/Humboldt Elementary School community. They found a creative way to unify their voices to bring us a unique reading of Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech of 1963, originally delivered to a crowd of almost a quarter million people at the March for Jobs and Freedom in Washington D.C. I think you will enjoy this collaboratively produced presentation of Dr. King’s words brought to life by a new generation of change-makers for justice at PPS.

Dear PPS Families,

We are so grateful to our educators and our community who have continued to support our students through these times of transition this year. The presidential election and its fallout, especially the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, have been disturbing and unsettling for all of us, and the feeling of unease continues as next week’s inauguration of Joe Biden nears. We know it can be an especially difficult time for our students and we remain optimistic about the power of democracy and education as they try to make sense of the events and issues.

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has issued adapted versions of its annual reports for every school and school district, including Portland Public Schools. The 2019-20 reports do not include data on statewide assessments, class size or attendance. That data is typically included but was not gatherable because classes were conducted online starting in March during the COVID-19 pandemic.