Upcoming Events:

• May 16 – Two Hour Late Start
• May 18 – PTSA Carnival – 5 pm to 8 pm
• May 23 – 3-5 Spring Concert – 6:30 to 7:00 pm

On Thursday morning- May 17th- the sixth graders will be assembling in front of the school as we prepare to depart for Newport. The bulk of the street parking in front of the school will be occupied by our fleet of parent drivers. Please consider using the drive through or allow time to park a bit further away and walk.

Thanks- Mr. Giles

Counselor’s Corner - Hey everyone.

There are two big pieces in motion for counseling at Winterhaven right now.  The first is Sex Ed for K-6 (and half of 7th and 8th as well, taught by the extraordinary Ms. Ferguson and Mr. Dyer, who taught the other half of kids first semester)  If you are curious, the website for the K-5 curriculum is http://advocatesforyouth.org/3rs-curric-lessonplans and the website for 6th is http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/CHILDREN/MFMC/Pages/Curriculum.aspx  These lessons are to keep us in compliance with Erin’s Law.

The other big event is state testing for 3rd-8th grade.  Please try to have your kiddo rested, fed and focused for the days your class is testing.  Well, every day. If you could also please remind them that this is just another tool to measure their learning and that we all love and value them regardless of what a number on a screen shows.  They mean more as humans than any computer algorithm can express. Giving them a gentle reminder to have them take their time and do their best would be helpful as well. Kids who don’t finish in the class time given will meet with me and can take as long as they need to get it done.  

Our weekly question(s) is(are) dealing with testing.  One of the big challenges we have faced historically with standardized testing is making the testing relevant and valid for people from diverse backgrounds. For example, the SAT infamously used to have questions about polo, a sport that few outside of the very wealthy have any experience with.  How do we determine what skills and knowledge are essential and needed to measure learning? How do we make sure that those questions are representative of and accessible by people from diverse backgrounds? These are likely more middle school-adult questions. A grade school equivalent might ask how much of the testing depended on what they learned in class and how much needed outside experience?  Are those needed experiences something everyone in class would have?

Cliff Shaw
School Counselor
Winterhaven School

Yearbooks – If your family is in need of a scholarship for a yearbook, please contact Nancy in the office.

PTSA will be hosting a CPR/First Aid Training class by Cascade Training at school on Monday June 4th and Wednesday June 6th from 6:00-9:30pm.  

Please email sheryl.eckrich@winterhavenschool.org if you are interested in participating.  The cost is $72.00-$85.00 plus $20 for the book and scholarships are available through PTSA.  (The price goes down the more people we have signed up.)  Kids 10 years old and up can participate, and we need 10 participants to hold the class at school.  If this time doesn't work for you but you are interested in this training, they have offered this discounted rate to us all summer long at any of their classes around town.  See their website for more details.   http://www.cascadetraining.com 

The path around our park is maintained by Portland Parks and Recreation and is need of repair.  If you have 5 minutes to spare, please consider the following 2 actions: 

1)  Submit a "maintenance observation" to PP&R via the following link.  (Our park is called Brooklyn School Park)  http://www.parkscanpdx.org/send-observation 2)  Email commissioner Amanda Fritz: Amanda@portlandoregon.gov and let her know that our path is hazardous and needs to be repaired ASAP.

For those of you interested in volunteering at recess here is a link to a sign up sheet.  Its a great way to get those 10,000 steps in and have some fun too!  If you prefer not to sign up, or have an unexpected free lunch hour to spare, no problem, just show up and sign in at the office with Nancy.  

http://signup.com/go/EYmMLvE

Winterhaven Carnival and Auction - It’s time to celebrate and have fun at our annual Winterhaven Carnival + Auction!

What: Winterhaven Carnival + Auction

When: Friday, May 18th, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

CARNIVAL!

Loads of fun for everyone.

Free - Carnival games, sno-cones, popcorn, face painting, balloon artist, bouncy house, inflatable slide (for K-4) and obstacle course (5-8).

Available for nominal cost - Pizza and salad, cupcake walk, and a dunk tank where kids can soak their favorite teachers!

SILENT AUCTION!

A big thank you to our wonderful Winterhaven community for all the support this year. We have one more big fundraiser -- our annual Silent Auction that takes place at the Carnival. There are so many amazing donations this year! We’ll be promoting various auction items in the coming days! You’ll be able to bid on items including:

• Pips and Bounce party
• $1,500 worth of orthodontia from Dr. Lathrop in Sellwood
• Wine tasting packages from Archery Summit, Domaine Serene, Ponzi, and Elk Cove Vineyard
• Camps this summer at Steve and Kates, EG Robotics, and Willowbrook Arts
• $1,400 from PDX Sliders
• Vacation homes, dinner gift cards, and many more!

GOLDEN TICKETS!

Do you have the Golden Ticket? New this year! If you have the Golden Ticket, you will get to choose any item on the tables at the auction! You must be present to win. Advance online tickets are available by the pair - 2 tickets for $100. Day of auction tickets will be $100 each. Get your Golden Tickets today and support Winterhaven!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We are still looking for some helpers for the Auction and Carnival! Sign up today! If everyone pitches in it makes such an awesome event for the kids! Thank you so much for your help!

Get ready for a fun-filled time. We’ll see you all there!

Questions?

Carnival - contact Kristin Doherty, kristinwdoherty@yahoo.com

Auction - contact Mari Greenly, marigreenly@gmail.com

Lost and Found Clean-out – Please stop by the Lost and Found area and check for any clothing or lunch containers that may belong in your home.  Our next clean-out will be May 11.

Weekly Information must be submitted by the end of the work day on the Tuesday before you wish to have it included in the newsletter.  We only publish information that directly relates to our school and our students.  If you wish to place something in the weekly, please email it to Nancy Cooper at ncooper1@pps.net