Winterhaven PTSA Update – March 12, 2017

Facebook: click here or search for “Parents of Winterhaven...”

Get added to the PTSA Email list: admin@winterhavenschool.org

Announcements for the PTSA update: admin@winterhavenschool.org

PTSA supported events & dates

• • Tues Mar 14 Dine out for Winterhaven: Pizzicato. Details below.

  • Mon March 20 Community PTSA Meeting 6:30-8pm Facilitated discussion on Diversity, with Mr. Sandilands

  • Sun March 19 Shamrock Run, details below

  • Thurs March 23 Last day for IRCO donation drive

  • Tues April 3 Coffee Chat t 8:45-9:30am in the Library

  • April 10-21 Winterhaven Clothing Drive for the PTA Clothing Center

  • Tues April 11 MAC Attack Sponsor Sheets

  • Fri April 14 MAC Attack Run

  • Sat April 22 March for Science, Earth Day

  • Mon April 24 PTSA clothing Center Volunteer date 9:30-1pm

From The PTSA President

Dear Winterhaven Community,

This past week, we experienced a passionate exchange over email, sparked by a heartfelt message from Marisha Childs about her daughter’s uncomfortable experiences in the classroom. In the process, I heard other similar stories of inappropriate communications between students. As an initial response, you can see our PTSA letter of support here.

I also heard concerns about the use of the parent email list as a forum for this conversation. Email is an imperfect medium for communications on sensitive topics, and at that moment, we had no other forum to engage the community on this issue. Thank you all for your valuable feedback, and for your support moving forward. I want to share two concrete actions we are taking:

First, we invite you to come to the PTSA Community Meeting on Monday, March 20^th at 6:30 for a facilitated discussion on diversity at our school and in our community, and the role of parents, students and teachers in making a safe and supportive environment for our kids. Mr. Sandilands will be there to talk about what the school is currently doing to address diversity issues, especially hurtful speech and behavior among students, and share his thoughts on how students and parents can help. We will also have an outside facilitator to help guide us in listening to different views, talking constructively about issues, and taking collective action to support diversity, inclusion and cultural enrichment at Winterhaven.

Second, in response to feedback on the use of email list, we are reestablishing the community discussion forum, separate from email, so that parents may opt out, or choose to participate in online discussion on the many important topics that relate to our school community. See below for details.

Submitted by: Alan Scott, PTSA Board President

Communications update

All this email activity has revealed the wonderful range of voices we have here in our community, and provided encouragement about how we can all come together. It also presents an opportunity to review email policies; many folks have expressed an appreciation for the forum; others complained that it is not the right forum and it is overwhelming to have these abundant conversations here; others still have asked to be removed from the group list or removed themselves.

This year our community made a tremendous shift as we went from a single-person managing and controlling all our email to a google-backed system that allows each user to be responsible for their own participation, providing for more email list and forwarding flexibility. It was a big change for many, particularly those not technologically inclined. You all did fantastically well!! We are grateful you embraced it and did your best to get subscribed. Here’s what’s next:

1. A separate email list for conversation: The former email system had a specific list for conversations. It seemed like a lot to bring that along initially, as we needed to keep it simple. That said, we are a commuter school and email is the connection mode this community has demonstrated to prefer. Now is an appropriate time to revitalize that conversation list.

I’ve already created the new conversation list. (chatter@winterhavenschool.org). I am going to preemptively add each of you on this PTSA_All list to it. Look for my email to initialize the list later tonight. At the bottom there will be instructions for unsubscribing, but if you have any troubles at all in doing so, please don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Also as a reminder, our Facebook forum has an active following and many conversation threads. If you enjoy conversations, I ask that you consider joining it (search for “Parents of Winterhaven”).

2. We ask you to understand the purpose of this PTSA_all email list. It is critical to conducting the business of the PTSA. It one of the few very effective avenues we have to announce key initiatives -- from events that support our kids to fundraising to sorely needed volunteers. We need to ensure this list is read and that we don’t lose a.single.subscriber. We need you all on board. Everyone is equally important.

I am reminded of our survey last year where it became clear too much email was sent and folks reported they weren’t reading it. We’ve been working towards a standard of not exceeding an email a day, with a few exceptions and kinks working out. It’s has not been an easy transition. Not for the entire PTSA who is so tremendously dependent on email in order to be successful. And certainly not for me to be in the position of managing that. In the end, we hope that you find we are trying to be more respectful of your time.

3. FAQ: In all of this, some really insightful and wise questions have been asked. I’m going to handle those in an FAQ. which will be posted and maintained here on our site. If you are one of those people who asked questions about this list, or wanted to know about that email you sent – look here for answers! (hoping to post this later tonight...).

Thanks again for all your support.

Submitted by: Tamairah Boleyn, PTSA Board Communications Chair

announcements & Events

MAC Attack Time! This is how we pay for our AWESOME, FABULOUS, CREATIVE Art Coordinator, Sharon Hatrack. Nicole will be sending out an email this week with details and sponsor sheets will be coming soon but here are some dates to keep in mind now:

Sponsor sheet due: April 11 Date of Run: April 14

Collection Period: April 15-26 Money due: April 27

The Immigrant and Refugee Donation Drive – through March 23 - Every quarter, we have parent and teacher run interest classes. This quarter, as part of our Community Awareness elective run by Winterhaven parents, we are organizing a donation drive, collecting donations for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). We as students believe that it is crucial for our community to help and provide support for immigrant and refugee families. We believe that everyone has the right and obligation to take part in their community and its actions, including kids. As 6, 7, and 8 graders, we are trying to take action and help families who may not be as lucky and well off as we are. So, if you have the time and ability to donate these necessities to families in need we ask you to do so and join us in our search for equality. If you have any questions, please email our teachers and fellow Winterhaven parents Kristin Doherty or Beth Nelson at kristinwdoherty@yahoo.com and benelsonhill@gmail.com.

Look for donations drop spot in the front entry way of the school. Donations we recommend include: Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Shampoo, Conditioner, Deodorant, Bars of soap, Razors, Shaving cream, Nail clippers and file, Tweezers, Feminine hygiene products, Toilet paper.

PTA Clothing Center Volunteer Opportunity – Winterhaven's next volunteer date at the Portland Council PTA Clothing Center is Monday, April 24th from 9:30 - 1:00 pm. If you are able to help on this day, it is always much appreciated. This is always a really rewarding experience - for many kids, this is their only chance to get new clothes for the season. As a volunteer you can help families "shop" for clothes or sort through donations--whichever you are most comfortable with. If you have the flexibility in your schedule, please consider volunteering. If you cannot commit to the full 3.5 hours, you can take a 1-2 hour slot, but we need the equivalent of 5-6 adults in the space for the full 3.5 hour commitment. The Clothing Closet is located at Marshall High School: 3905 SE 91st Ave, Portland, OR 97266.Please email Rebekah Folsom (rsatz@yahoo.com) or Kristin Doherty (kristinwdoherty@yahoo.com) to sign up.

The PTSA's annual The Wealth of Winterhaven Silent Auction will be on May 19th this year! Very soon we will be seeking donations from the Winterhaven community. We hope you will join us under the trees on the night of the school carnival, and help us make this our best year yet! Questions? Contact Heather Dickinson 503.754.7100.

Get Involved

Find our volunteer sign up page at http://www.winterhavenschool.org/volunteer, or email volunteer@winterhavenschool.org for more info:

• Call for PTSA Board Members! Do you want to get more involved and make a difference in your child's world here at Winterhaven? Do you want to have a say in how the PTSA board allocates our budget, or how events or volunteers are run? If so then we want YOU! PTSA board elections are in May. To join us, please contact any board member, or email President Alan Scott directly. alanscott3604@gmail.com

• Call for a Volunteer Coordinator! We are so grateful for the service of Kari Key, but her term of service is almost over. Are you interested in getting involved and meeting our awesome community of parents? What's more fun than organizing our Field of Fun? How about being our chief popsicle giver-outer (MAC Attack)? Maybe you have a friend you'd like to share this job with? If you are interested in this paramount role (especially that part about popsicles) please contact karijkey@gmail.com or Alan Scott alanscott3604@gmail.com

• Lost and Found needs YOU: A HUGE thank you goes out to Rebekah for her leadership in lunchbox diving and garment retrieval. I am guessing most of us parents have benefitted from her efforts at one time or another. (Not to mention how she's kept pests away -seriously- why do you think she started this?) Now we are hoping for some awesome volunteers to give her hand. Five minutes, one day a week – If just a couple of parents (or students?) spent just a few minutes, one day a week at the school hanging up 3 jackets, rinsing out one lunchpail, or throwing out one bag of leftover food, we could give her a break. This is the shortest volunteer job you could ask for - and SO NEEDED!! Contact Rebekah at rsatz@yahoo.com

PTSA Wins

So you all know, we raised $1000!! THANK YOU! all for coming out to our Dine-Out-For-Winterhaven night at Nostrana last month. That’s about TWICE what we have raised at other events, so nice work! We also wanted to give a shout out to Nostrana who ponied up about $300 more than we brought in and offered to do this event ANNUALLY because they believe in our public schools. So look out for this special event EVERY year moving forward.

PTSA supported events and dates 

• Tues Feb 21 Nostrana Dine Out for Winterhaven, details below
• Tues Feb 28 Coffee Chat at 8:45-9:30am in the Library: Know thy Food/running a food coop & CISV International travel program
• Mon March 20 Community PTSA Meeting 6:30-8pm
• Sun March 19 Shamrock Run, details below
• Tues April 3 Coffee Chat t 8:45-9:30am in the Library: Sharon Hatrack re Art at Winterhaven
• Fri April 14 MAC Attack Run
• Sat April 22 March for Science, Earth Day

From the PTSA President 

Dear Winterhaven Community,

Fundraising update

Sponsor sheet due: April 11

Date of Run: April 14

Collection Period: April 15-26

Money due: April 27

Announcements & Events 

Get Involved  

• Parents Needed for Middle School Interest Classes March 3, 10, 17 and 24 - 8:30-10:10am. We have SO MANY fun ideas if you could spare your time to make them a reality. For example, Ms. Dixon needs a spray-hose tunnel built for MAC attack - wouldn't that be the most fun project to creatively build with a group of kids?!?!? We also have some ready-to-go curricula, including a Social Justice course, the ever-popular Hunger Games, a closet of art projects, musical instruments, scripts for Mock Trial, and the kids ALWAYS clamor for more FOOD / COOKING classes, or PLEASE bring your own ideas and creative skills. Contact Barb Fisher or Rebekah Folsom barb@fisherbusiness.net / rsatz@yahoo.com

• Call for a Volunteer Coordinator! We are so grateful for the service of Kari Key, but her term of service is almost over. Are you interested in getting involved and meeting our awesome community of parents? What's more fun than organizing our Field of Fun? How about being our chief popsicle giver-outer (MAC Attack)? Maybe you have a friend you'd like to share this job with? If you are interested in this paramount role (especially that part about popsicles) please contact karijkey@gmail.com or Alan Scottalanscott3604@gmail.com
• Lost and Found needs YOU: A HUGE thank you goes out to Rebekah for her leadership in lunchbox diving and garment retrieval. I am guessing most of us parents have benefitted from her efforts at one time or another. (Not to mention how she's kept pests away -seriously- why do you think she started this?) Now we are hoping for some awesome volunteers to give her hand. Five minutes, one day a week – If just a couple of parents (or students?) spent just a few minutes, one day a week at the school hanging up 3 jackets, rinsing out one lunchpail, or throwing out one bag of leftover food, we could give her a break. This is the shortest volunteer job you could ask for - and SO NEEDED!! Contact Rebekah at rsatz@yahoo.com
• Calling all Web Designers: Wouldn't you love to see our PTSA website go from OK to Amazing? Web designers, you know who you are. Email admin@winterhavenschool.org if you'd like to take our Google site to the next level!

PTSA Wins

 

Science Fair!

The Science Fair Team wants to send a big thank you out to all the volunteers that helped make this year’s all school science fair a big success! We had more than 70 judges help us with the preliminary screening and final judging of this year’s 180 5th-8th grade posters. Every poster was reviewed three times and the five finalists  at each grade level were further reviewed and interviewed by a panel of at least 5 judges. It sounds like our new digital screening process was a hit and it definitely made reviewing posters fun! Congratulations to all our winners and good luck as they move on to Intel’s Science Expo this spring. 

As with any big event, we have a long list of thank yous! Thanks to our middle school science teachers, Jay Dyer, Jason Giles and William Thompson for pushing our students projects to completion despite all those snow days and for assisting throughout the judging process. Special thanks to Kasey Hersey for coordinating the food logistics throughout the week of science fair and during final judging and making sure that everything ran smoothly. Thanks to the 5th-8th grade families that contributed food for our judges, and to the 7th and 8th grade students that stayed after school to assist with childcare. And finally, thanks to Nancy in the office for all her help with printing labels and certificates. 

As was so expertly stated by 5th grader Jennings Ehnes, “This was the best science fair yet!”  and we couldn’t have done it without the help of the Winterhaven community!

Thank you again, so much, for your contribution!

Jen Schramm

Science Fair Coordinator

Congratulations winners!

8th Grade

1st place: No electricity needed by L. Norris

2nd place: E.Coli poops out in the light by O Kane

3rd place: To grow or not to grow by E Yarris and R Bufton

1st place: Cones Make it Louder! by Micah Powch

2nd place: Hot vs Cold by Liam Taylor

3rd place: Classroom commotion by Lorenzo Segura

1st place: Cleaning Coins by Luke Schoessler

2nd place: Sunflowers and sunlight by Esme Illing

3rd place: How many seeds in a pumpkin by Diego Hernandez

Winterhaven PTSA Update – January 7, 2016

Facebook: click here or search for “Parents of Winterhaven...”

Get added to the PTSA Email list: admin@winterhavenschool.org

PTSA supported events & dates

• Wed Jan 11 Variety Show rehearsal 3-5pm

• Wed Jan 11 Por Que No – Dine out for Winterhaven (details below)

• Thurs Jan 12 Variety Show evening performance 6:30-8pm

• Thurs Jan 12 Black History 101 Mobile Museum in Winterhaven’s Library (details below)

• Fri Jan 13 Variety Show in-school performance 1-2:30pm

• Fri Jan 13 Middle School Interest Classes begin 8:30-10:10am (through 2/17)

• Fri Jan 20 Elementary Interest Classes begin 2-3pm (through 2/17)

• Mon Jan 23 PTSA Community Meeting/Winterhaven Arts (details below) 6:30-8:30

• Mon-Wed Jan 23-26 Science Fair Judging (details and times below)

• Thurs Jan 26 K–8 Science Fair (details below) 5:00 - 7:00 pm

• Tues Jan 31 Coffee Chat Neighbors for Clean Air Update (rescheduled) 8:45-9:30am

• Tues Feb 28 Coffee Chat Upcoming changes to PE requirements in PPS 8:45-9:30am

  
  

From The PTSA President

Dear Winterhaven Community,

Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed a pleasant winter break.

I am excited to share that many of you heard the call and supported the pledge drive during the year end matching campaign. Thanks to the generosity of the Winterhaven community, we met the year end matching goal and came close to meeting the goal for the drive. A special thanks to Fundraising Chair, Nicole Cordan for leading this successful effort, and to the anonymous Winterhaven family that put up the $7,500 match. It is not too late to pledge, so we can still accept donations by check in the office or with a credit card or paypal on the PTSA website. (http://www.winterhavenschool.org/ptsa/fundraising)

We have a busy month coming up with the Variety Show and the Science Fair, and the recently added Black History 101 Mobile Museum – as well as the PTSA Community Meeting. We have an exciting agenda for this meeting featuring a conversation with our own Sharon Hatrak on the integration of art into the curriculum as our kids advance through the grades. Also including the latest news from our Principal; a chance to talk with Representative Rob Nosse (Oregon House Dist. 42) before the 2017 legislative session; and a guest presentation on keeping our kids safe with the Be SMART program by Kathy Beckley from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Look forward to seeing you there!  

Alan Scott

Announcements & Events

Black History 101 Mobile Museum For the past 20 years, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum has acquired thousands of original artifacts of Black memorabilia that date from slavery to Hip Hop culture. The Black History 101 Mobile Museum travels to colleges, universities, K-12 schools, conferences, and cultural events across the country and this week it is coming to Winterhaven! Watch for more details from Marisha Childs as she gets them finalized. It is slated to be in the library this Thursday for classes to visit. We are hoping it will also be available before the variety show for families to check it out after school.

Variety Show! - Come one, come all, to the all-school Variety Show! If you haven’t seen our kids perform their hearts out before, you are in for an ENORMOUS TREAT! Singing! Dancing! Comedy! MUSE Band! Gymnastics! And all from the talents of our own students! When? Thursday evening, January 12, 6:30-8pm or Friday January 13, 1-2:30pm. Don’t miss it!!

Dine out for Winterhaven - Mark your calendar!

January 11^th: Por Que No? - 4635 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland Oregon – Come eat and drink here and Winterhaven will receive 15% of the total profit for the WHOLE DAY with a cap at $500. And gift cards count toward that goal. So buy a card for a later meal too! Can't make? No worries! Email Nicole Cordan rcordan@pewtrusts.org, leave a check in the office for her, and she can pick up a gift card for you! Can you say YUM??

February TBD: Nostrana - 1401 SE Morrison, Portland Oregon – Yep, you read that right. Portland’s #1 rated restaurant by The Oregonian is doing a fundraiser for us in February. We haven’t gotten a fix on the ! Join the Winterhaven Team for the annual Shamrock run. If we get enough participants we can raise PTSA funds while keeping our bodies moving! The event is on Sunday March 19, 2017 and register for team 8705. Contactmarisha.childs@gmail.com

Does your employer offer matching funds? Do you work for one of the biggies like Intel, Nike, Adidas or Standard Insurance? All of these employers offer matching funds for their employee donations (pledge drive and otherwise) to our school. It’s typically pretty easy to participate, so we hope you do! Please contact Nicole Cordan at rcordan@pewtrusts.org to get your employer set up to match your generous gifts. We have already found that some of the big employers had our tax info wrong, so we weren’t getting the match you all thought we were. So, double check that number before sending in your match – our Tax ID number is 93-6039299.   Find fellow employees who can help you here on our website: https://sites.google.com/a/winterhavenschool.org/home/ptsa/fundraising/ways-to-donate/employermatchingfunds

Get Involved

Find our volunteer sign up page at http://www.winterhavenschool.org/volunteer, or email volunteer@winterhavenschool.org for more info:

• Volunteers needed for the Variety Show We still need assistance with the dress rehearsal and performances. You can sign up for one or more spots depending on your availability. Please take a moment to check out the sign up online at: http://signup.com/go/vQhUg7
• Elementary and Middle School Interest Class Helpers We have some wonderful classes for our students for the next session that begins in January. Middle school session starts 1/13 (8:30-10:10 am) and Elementary school on 1/20 (2-3pm). Session dates are 1/13 (MS only), 1/20, 2/3, 2/10 & 2/17. We really need a few Parent Helpers to join our teachers. This session’s classes include some amazing opportunities like sword fighting, mask making, intricate puzzles, Yearbook, no-cook cooking and more! This is a really fun way to interact with our students. If you can’t make a commitment to all 4 or 5 classes, even helping with one session would be wonderful - please consider contributing your time! Contact Erin Taylor erinlynett.taylor@gmail.com for elementary classes, and Barb Fisher or Rebekah Folsom barb@fisherbusiness.net/ rsatz@yahoo.com for middle school.
• Winterhaven’s signature event, the All School Science Fair, is rapidly approaching! While I know that all of our kids produce the BEST projects, we need your helping in finding the BEST OF THE BEST 5^th – 8^th grade scientists to represent our program at Intel’s NW Science Expo this year. That means we need volunteer judges (and MANY of them)! In hopes of making this process easier for you, we’ve created a simplified (low in jargon) scorecard for preliminary judging and split judging by grade over the week before the Science Fair. The five best scoring authors from each grade will be invited to present their posters to experienced judges, on Jan 26^th with awards for the top 3 boards and honorable mentions to be announced at the Science Fair. For the initial screening, we will need volunteers (no science background or experience needed) on Jan 23, 24 & 25 (5-8pm) and Jan 26 (1-3 pm). For the final judging, we will need an additional set of volunteers (science background and/or science fair experience preferred) on Jan 26 from 3-6 pm. You don’t have to be a middle school parent to volunteer! If you’re interested, we want your help! Contact Jennifer Schramm (schramm.jennifer@gmail.com) with questions.
• Lost and Found needs YOU: Five minutes, one day a week!! If each parent spent just a few minutes, one day a week at the school hanging up 3 jackets, rinsing out one lunchpail, or throwing out one bag of leftover food, we would never have a stinky lost and found again! This is the shortest volunteer job you could ask for - and SO NEEDED!! contact Rebekah at rsatz@yahoo.com
• Calling all Web Designers: Wouldn't you love to see our PTSA website go from OK to Amazing? Web designers, you know who you are. Email admin@winterhavenschool.org if you'd like to take our Google site to the next level!

PTSA Wins!

Matching Fund for Pledge Drive: THANK YOU!!!! You amazingly generous, fantastic, wonderful community. You all did it! You completed our pledge drive matching fund! You raised $7500 and matched our anonymous donor dollar for dollar! So our kids now have $15,000 where they had $0. Nice work team!!! Super humbled to be a part of this amazing community – Nicole (mom of Sophia Michael, 6th grade, and constant pesterer of fundraising). (We are just wrapping up the drive, but it’s not too late to make your donation.)

Book Sale: Thank you to all who made our WH book fair a big success! We earned $475 worth of new books for our library. We couldn’t have done it without the awesome volunteers or all of you who purchased books. Thanks also to Wallace Books for being our book supplier and to Michelle McCann and Trackers NW for financially supporting our book fair. And a very special thanks to the organizers - Kristin Doherty, Julie Young & Heather Dickinson! See you all next December for the book fair!

Community Service Update:  Thanks to the community for addressing BOTH of our back-to-back community service donations to the Willamette Center and to Portland Food Project! - The staff at Willamette Center was incredibly grateful for the two carloads of toiletries, games, towels, and other donations we provided, and Mary Solnett gathered 150lbs of food for the Portland Food project that were delivered to a school pantry in East county that put together holiday food boxes for families in need!! A wonderful way to spread the spirit of giving and light at the end of a bleak year, and the shelter and pantry were SO GRATEFUL! Thank you, Winterhaven families!!

Safety and Preparedness

How long did it take everyone in your family to get home in the December snowstorm? The recent snowstorm that resulted in cars abandoned and hours of travel for many to get home is a good reminder to increase preparedness for your family!

Where were you today at 10 a.m.? 2 p.m.?

If a major earthquake happened at those times, you could not drive, and public transportation was down, how long would it have taken you to get to school to pick up your child(ren)?

How long would it take you from school to walk home?

Would you have basic supplies to get you to school and get your child(ren) home (e.g. water, food, warmth, light)?

The PTSA Safety Committee and Winterhaven School has partnered to do their best to stockpile supplies for survival needs: first aid, water, food*, shelter and sanitation for students for at least 24 hours. Have you prepared? Ideally, you have a basic emergency travel pack in your car(s), workplace, or home (or all three!).

Now that we are through the holidays, please take a little time to think about your needs and plan for your family. In the school information packet at the beginning of the year, there was a family emergency planning form to help you think through a family plan. Are your supplies ready too? For more information: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/46475?

*Note: emergency food at school contains no nuts. If your child has a food allergy that is life threatening or creates severe health consequences, and you want to talk about your child’s food needs in an emergency, please contact the Safety Committee chair, Amy Rees at kateamy@comcast.net.

Get added to the PTSA Email list: admin@winterhavenschool.org

PTSA SUPPORTED EVENTS & DATES

• Mon Nov 28 last day for Chinook Book purchases (details below)

• Tues Nov 29 Coffee Chat 8:45-9:30 Neighbors for Clean Air Update

• Wed Nov 30 Last day to donate to Willamette Center (details below)

• Mon-Tues Dec 5-6 Dine out for Winterhaven at Pastini (details below)

• Fri Jan 13 Next Interest class term begins (thru 2/17)

• Mon Jan 23 PTSA Community Meeting, topic TBD, 6:30-8:30

• Sun March 19 Shamrock Run (details below)

FROM THE PTSA PRESIDENT

Dear Winterhaven Community,

I was pleased yesterday to share the following statement from your PTSA board, and touched by the positive feedback we received. Thank you all for sharing our collective commitment to an inclusive, welcoming and safe school community. I also want to thank Kristin Teigen for initiating this action and the entire board for putting your passionate support behind it

It is evident that this election has brought out strong feelings across the nation. Immediately following the election, we started to become aware of a disturbing rise in hate speech and acts all across the country, including most shockingly, within schools. Both teachers and students have been harassed and bullied on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation and religion.

The Winterhaven PTSA is deeply alarmed by these acts, and we denounce them. We will always strive to support our community, honor difference and celebrate diversity. We know that our children will grow and learn better in a community that always celebrates exactly who they are, without fear, and that our teachers will continue to thrive in their work when they know they are supported. We know that we’re part of a larger community, and will work to stand for respect and justice in all we do.

We will continue to pursue, and expand these values. The PTSA wants to reiterate that Winterhaven strives to be safe, welcoming, and inclusive place for all students. Please know, students, parents, teachers and staff, that we will always have your back.

Sincerely,

Your Winterhaven PTSA Board

With Thanksgiving this week and the season of giving ahead, I am grateful for the generous spirit of the Winterhaven Community. The initial response to the artist in residence funding for the the 8th Grade Rock Opera has been fantastic, as has support building for the Pledge Drive. Thank you to all those who have already, or will respond to the call in the coming weeks.

I also offer a final thank you to James Avison and Ian Levear, for joining us at the community meeting last week with a great overview of the approach to math at Winterhaven from kindergarten through 8th grade.

I wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving.

Alan Scott

INITIATIVES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Staff Holiday Gift Fund – At this time of year, please take a moment to contribute to our Holiday gift fund to thank the hardworking staff and non-homeroom faculty whose dedication touches our children's lives in such a big way, but who typically don't receive the same holiday gifts, cards, and other appreciation throughout the year as our homeroom teachers – key difference makers like Ms. Dixon, Sharon Hatrak, Eugene our singing custodian, Lori Williams, or our wonderful Librarian GeorgeAnne. When every family puts a few dollars into the fund, we typically are able to get every member of the extended staff and non-homeroom faculty a small token of appreciation from the families at the school. Please leave cash or a check made out to Rebekah Folsom / Winterhaven PTSA in an envelope kept with Nancy in the office or send money by PayPal (https://www.paypal.me/rsatz).

Dine out for Winterhaven - Mark your calendar! This next month – December 5^th and 6^th – we have a Dine Out for Winterhaven at Pastini’s on Division (2027 SE Division Street, Portland Oregon). Bring the family, have a lovely meal, drink a nice bottle of wine, and let Pastini’s give Winterhaven 50% of proceeds that come in that WHOLE DAY. You NEED to mention WINTERHAVEN when you’re there, but come on, that’s Fantastini!!! Portland is filled with wonderful family oriented restaurants that are willing to contribute to our school. We try to partner with one restaurant each month to help raise money for our children. Save the dinner dates of 1/11, 3/14 and find our entire schedule here on the site. 

Community Service, Shelter Donations – We'll are having a short-term drive for the Willamette Center, a newly opened shelter for women and their partners. This shelter is located very close to Winterhaven, and is the only shelter in this area. They are in urgent need of the following items: towels, clean socks and underwear, seasonal adult-sized clothing, non-perishable snacks like granola bars, hygiene items, kitchenware, books, board games, puzzles, DVD’s. We will be receiving items from this Friday until Wednesday November 30th in a collection bin in the school's front hall. Please let me know If you have any questions! Thanks! amyleelacks@gmail.com

Amazon Smile – Are you doing any holiday shopping online? Did you know that every time you buy on Amazon, you can prompt Amazon to donate to our school?! It is super easy.All you need to do is to remember to go to AmazonSmile.com instead of Amazon. When first visiting AmazonSmile, you will be prompted to select a charitable organization. Chose Winterhaven PTSA. Here’s a link to get you there fast - https://smile.amazon.com/ch/93-6039299. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization. That can REALLY add up fast

Support for the Rock Opera A super HUGE thank you to all of you who jumped in to give to ensure that we are able to have the 8^th Grade Rock Opera! WOW you all are super generous. We are already 66% of the way to our goal. Let’s make one final push to make sure our 8^th graders get this amazing opportunity! Here's where you can get the full details, including how to donate.

Chinook books – Do you have one yet? We are almost 95% of our way toward our budgeted goal!! FANTASTIC! If just 10 families bought an app or a book, we’d make our goal. That’s just too close to fail. Our cutoff date is MONDAY, November 28^th so you have until then to let me know (rcordan@pewtrusts.org). Let’s do this!

Shamrock Run! Join the Winterhaven Team for the annual Shamrock run. If we get enough participants we can raise PTSA funds while keeping our bodies moving! The event is on Sunday March 19, 2017 and register for team 8705. Contact marisha.childs@gmail.com

Variety Show: The annual Winterhaven Variety Show is happening this January. It can be a busy time of year, so we wanted to encourage students to start preparing their act now so that they can be ready for auditions the week after winter break. The Variety Show gives us a way to showcase creative and interesting things that the students enjoy doing. As always, we are looking for a VARIETY of acts to be in the show. Music, dance, comedy, skits, athletics, speech, novelty, magic...just to name a few.

OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED – We need you! 

Find our volunteer sign up page at http://www.winterhavenschool.org/volunteer, or email volunteer@winterhavenschool.org for more info:

• Interest classes We are looking ahead to the New Year to arrange some wonderful classes for our students for the next session that begins in January (1/13, 1/20, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17). If you have never had a chance to teach an interest class before, now is the time! It is a really fun way to interact with the students and to bring some of your own interests/talents to the school. Here's some ideas of classes that our students would really dig;... knot tying, map reading, compass reading and maybe bit of Geo-Caching?? Maybe you love a particular game- Forbidden Island, Ticket to Ride, Settlers Of Catan… students would love time to learn and play a game. Art, music, dance, might be other areas that you have experience. Possible topics are endless! Sometimes it’s fun to team up with a friend to teach a class together, or tag-team a class if you can’t make a commitment to all 5 classes. I would love to talk with you. Please contact us erinlynett.taylor@gmail.com, barb@fisherbusiness.net, rsatz@yahoo.com

• Lost and Found needs YOU: Five minutes, one day a week!! If each parent spent just a few minutes, one day a week at the school hanging up 3 jackets, rinsing out one lunchpail, or throwing out one bag of leftover food, we would never have a stinky lost and found again! This is the shortest volunteer job you could ask for - and SO NEEDED!! contact rsatz@yahoo.com

• Calling all Web Designers: Wouldn't you love to see our PTSA website go from OK to Amazing? Web designers, you know who you are. Please email admin@winterhavenschool.org if you'd like to be the person to take us to the next level!

• Cultural enrichment: Do you have knowledge of cultural experiences/ceremonies that you'd be willing to share/teach kiddos at our school? Dia de los muertos? Dusshera? Ashura? Mashujja? United Nations Day? You name it, I'm interested in speaking with you to expand the minds of our kiddos. Be it a virtual world trip with a tasting table potluck, our community deserves to see the world beyond Portland. Also, we could use a few fab parents to help us bring these super fun and educational experiences to life.Please contact marisha.childs@gmail.com

• Community Events: Are you a party planner extraordinaire? Do you like to plan events? Community Events Coordinator needed: Partner with the PTSA Volunteer Chair to support several key events throughout the year like the Spring Carnival. If you are interested, please contact Kari Key at volunteer@winterhavenschool.org for more info.

• Variety Show Helpers: The annual Winterhaven Variety Show is coming up this January. We will be sending out some more information in a few weeks, but if you are interested in helping with auditions, stage crew, lights & sound, etc. we would love to hear from you. Most of the events happen after school and in the evening hours, so it's a great opportunity to help outside of school hours. Please email Kari at karijkey@gmail.com if you would like to be involved.

This awesome community raised almost $600 at our Dine Out for Winterhaven at Pizzicato last month. Hurray for pizza! Hurray for all of you who dined out! We've also passed our halfway point on the Pledge Drive – Yippie! (So happy to do this instead of selling wrapping paper and cookie dough!) Our eternal gratitude goes to Nicole Cordan for tirelessly leading our fundraising efforts.

PTSA supported events & dates

• Fri Oct 28 – Next Electives session started (details below)

• Tues Nov 1 Dine out for Winterhaven at Pizzicato (details below)

• Wed-Thurs Nov 9-10 Parent teacher conferences

• Mon Nov 14 – PTSA community meeting, featuring Winterhaven Math Overview– 6:30-8pm

  
  

  From The PTSA President

  It was great to see so many of you recently at the Fall Frolic. What a great turnout for such a fun event. I want to offer a gigantic thank you to Julie Young for once again orchestrating it all, and gratitude to all the volunteers who helped make it happen.

  We had great participation and lively discussion at the last PTSA community meeting focused on our science program with Ms. Sexton and Mr. Dyer. I am looking forward to the next one on Monday, November 14th where Mr. Avison and Mr. Levear will lead a similar conversation on the arc of mathematics our kids experience from kindergarten through 8th grade. This meeting will also feature Kristin Doherty, Winterhaven parent and volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, introducing the SMART framework to help parents and adults prevent child gun deaths and injuries - come hear what it's all about and learn how to help keep your child safe.

  Final, a BIG thank you to all the families who have already contributed to the Pledge Drive. These contributions allow our teachers to offer field trips and other special programs and activities to our kids, fund the elementary and middle school electives treasured by our youngsters, make Battle of the Books books more accessible to participants, improve our emergency preparedness and so much more. If you have not yet pledged, there is still time to do so and take advantage of the 2016 tax deduction. Contributions large and small are welcome through the Donate button on our website or by dropping a check to Winterhaven PTSA at the office. Thank you!

  Alan Scott

  
  
  

  initiatives & announcements

  Dine out for Winterhaven - Mark your calendar! Our first one is November 1 at Pizzicato – Dough for Dollars at 1630 SE Bybee Blvd, Portland Oregon - We get 20% of ALL SALES from open to close ALL day!!!  THIS IS COMING RIGHT UP!! This year, kids get to enter a contest to have their favorite pizza on the menu for that night. ( mail with more details shortly). Portland is filled with wonderful family oriented restaurants that are also willing to contribute to our school. We try to partner with one restaurant each month to help raise money for our children. Save the dinner dates of 12/5-6, 1/11, 3/14 and find our entire schedule here on the site. (https://sites.google.com/a/winterhavenschool.org/home/ptsa/fundraising/ways-to-donate)

  Amazon Smile – Did you know that every time you buy on Amazon, you can prompt Amazon to donate to our school?! It is super easy. All you need to do is to remember to go to AmazonSmile.com instead of Amazon. When first visiting AmazonSmile, you will be prompted to select a charitable organization. Chose Winterhaven PTSA. Here’s a link to get you there fast - https://smile.amazon.com/ch/93-6039299. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization. That can REALLY add up fast

  Variety Show: The annual Winterhaven Variety Show is happening this January. It can be a busy time of year, so we wanted to encourage students to start preparing their act now so that they can be ready for auditions the week after winter break. The Variety Show gives us a way to showcase creative and interesting things that the students enjoy doing. As always, we are looking for a VARIETY of acts to be in the show. Music, dance, comedy, skits, athletics, speech, novelty, magic...just to name a few.

  Box Tops raise money! – Lots of companies have joined the Box Tops program – Cascadia Farms; Zip Lock; General Mills products; Annie’s Organics; Nature Valley – the list goes on and on. In fact, here’s a link to the full list of products - http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products. Look for a coupon like the one below; clip it; and stuff it into the bag hanging on the PTSA bulletin board outside the School Office. It’s easy. And it works!

  Winterhaven Directory The Winterhaven parent directory DRAFT is available now – Please review your information to make sure it was correctly transcribed before we finalize the directory for the school year. This directory is tied to the winterhaven domain, and in order to view / comment on this directory, you must be logged in to Google using your winterhavenschool.org user id. If you don't know your password (or user ID which is typically firstname.lastname@winterhavenschool.org), you will need to send a request to reset it or request it through admin@winterhavenschool.org. Your directory information is (hopefully) on each tab for the grade in which you have a child attending Winterhaven at this site address http://tinyurl.com/hob5x6s. It is comment only in Google Sheets in order to prevent anybody else from editing your personal information. Any parent who opted out of the directory on the PTSA Communication Permission Form has had their information redacted.

  Chinook books – Do you have one yet? They are an important part of the PTSA’s fundraising efforts and a great investment. Half of the cost goes directly to support our kids and their teachers, by using just a few coupons at local businesses you likely already patronize, you can recoup the full cost of the book, and then you can use the rest of the book to discover and enjoy new experiences while supporting local businesses and organizations. The books pay for themselves and it is a win-win! How cool is that? Books ($22), Apps ($15), and combo packs (a book and an app for $30 - it's the best deal!). To purchase, contact Nicole Cordan at Rcordan@pewtrusts.org. (Or you can post a paypal payment on the site http://www.winterhavenschool.org/ptsa/fundraising and then email.)

  Shamrock Run! Join the Winterhaven Team for the annual Shamrock run. If we get enough participants we can raise PTSA funds while keeping our bodies moving! The event is on Sunday March 19, 2017 and register for team 8705. Contact marisha.childs@gmail.com.

  
  
  

  OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED – We need You!

  Find our volunteer sign up page at http://www.winterhavenschool.org/volunteer, or email volunteer@winterhavenschool.org for more info:

  
  
  

  • Parent elective helpers needed Friday mornings this autumn! Middle School electives run 10/28, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9 & 12/16 from 8:30-10:10 am. We need helper parents to support our awesome teachers in classes like Multicultural Foods! Holiday Crafts! Variety Show! Classic movies! Yearbook! Improv Theater! If you have an extra hour or two on Friday mornings, we would love your assistance!!

  • Calling all Web Designers: Wouldn't you love to see our PTSA website go from OK to Amazing? Web designers, you know who you are. Please email admin@winterhavenschool.org if you'd like to be the person to take us to the next level!

  • Conference Meals for Teachers: During Parent-Teacher Conferences Nov 9 and 10th, our wonderful teachers go from morning to night to talk with us all. They barely have enough time breathe, much less eat. Providing some food during the long hours of conferences is a great way to show just how much we appreciate them. We've divided the dishes up into manageable parts, together we can provide amazing, convenient meals for them. If you need to bring food earlier than indicated on the sign up, please feel free to do so. Visit this sign up link to help with food for our teachers: http://signup.com/go/Aj5iPt

  • Variety Show Helpers: The annual Winterhaven Variety Show is coming up this January. We will be sending out some more information in a few weeks, but if you are interested in helping with auditions, stage crew, lights & sound, etc. we would love to hear from you. Most of the events happen after school and in the evening hours, so it's a great opportunity to help outside of school hours. Please email Kari at karijkey@gmail.com if you would like to be involved.

  • Cultural enrichment: Do you have knowledge of cultural experiences/ceremonies that you'd be willing to share/teach kiddos at our school? Dia de los muertos? Dusshera? Ashura? Mashujja? United Nations Day? You name it, I'm interested in speaking with you to expand the minds of our kiddos. Be it a virtual world trip with a tasting table potluck, our community deserves to see the world beyond Portland. Also, we could use a few fab parents to help us bring these super fun and educational experiences to life. Please contact marisha.childs@gmail.com

  • Community Events: Community Events Coordinator needed: Partner with the PTSA Volunteer Chair to support several key events throughout the year, including coordinating childcare for PTSA Community meetings, and organizing volunteers for Move-Up day and the Spring Carnival. If you are interested, please contact Kari Key at volunteer@winterhavenschool.org for more info.

  • Lost and Found needs YOU: Five minutes, one day a week!! If each parent spent just a few minutes, one day a week at the school hanging up 3 jackets, rinsing out one lunchpail, or throwing out one bag of leftover food, we would never have a stinky lost and found again! This is the shortest volunteer job you could ask for - and SO NEEDED!!

  accomplishments & Updates

  Native Garden Make-over! Volunteers planted dozens of native plant species, pruned shrubs, moved five cubic yards of compost, and restored the native area around the driveway. Thank you to all of our awesome community members who came together and gave our native garden some love. A big thanks to Cindy Hayford for delivering the plants and to Fawn Lengvinis for organizing! It takes a village to raise a forest. Your work is going to give our kids a great year of exploration.