Irvington Weekly Newsletter

We look forward to our last week of 2023 next week! Please remember to email Karen in the front office (kcalabrese@pps.net) if your child will be out then; it will help teachers plan if they know who will be here and who will be absent.

Check out our fifth graders in a live Q&A with PBS quiz host Kelsey Starks!

Mark your calendars - our school's annual auction will be Saturday, April 27, at neighborhood spot Steeplejack Brewery! Every dollar raised funds critical services for our school, including free field trips, free school and classroom supplies, community events, literacy support, and much more!

Want to get involved? Contact co-chairs Gillian Herring and Laura Westwood at auction@irvingtonschool.com for more information.

Over break, consider visiting Portland's BIPOC Book Fair (flyer here). ALL families are welcome, and all children will receive a free book while supplies last.

Our Site Council is taking a look at SOAR (our positive behavior intervention and support system) this year and wants to get feedback from students, families, and staff. We'd like to hear what you like and don't like about our school values through this survey. No questions are required; just answer the ones that speak to you! To find the quick survey, click here.

A Clothing Drive to benefit the PPS Clothing Center is coming soon after winter break, January 8-12. Start saving donation-worthy clothing sizes newborn through 4X to fit babies up to high school students (more details on what is accepted here)! NEW underwear is also needed. We will need extra hands to sort, wash and deliver clothing. Please sign up here if you can help out!

This second Movie Night of the year is happening in just a few hours! A free community event hosted by the PTA, this time we’ll be showing Elemental. See all the details below:

• Where: School Cafeteria

• When: Friday, December 15. Doors open and disco party at 6pm, movie begins at 6:30pm. Use the cafeteria doors behind the school for entry/exit.

• Who: Irvington students and their families! Children MUST be accompanied by an adult.

• Food and Drink: Free popcorn provided! Please bring your own water bottles filled with water only. Picnic dinners are okay, too. Thank you in advance for cleaning up after yourselves.

• Seating: Bring a blanket or camp chair to sit on. Cafeteria tables are also available.

• Disco: Enjoy some fun lights, music and dancing before the show and during a short intermission.

The PTA has surveyed Irvington Staff about their likes and preferences for future Teacher & Staff Appreciation days and, in case you could use the info as well, you can find the results on the PTA website! This information will continue to be updated and accessible throughout the year.

If you are a parent or caregiver of an Irvington student who identifies as neurodiverse, we are having a coffee chat in the PTA room on Tuesday, December 19, after drop off (around 9am). This is an inclusive group with a broad definition of neurodiversity. If you're interested in this group and wondering if it's for you, come chat with us over coffee and find out. Contact Amy Dachtler at amydachtler@gmail.com with any questions.

We have rescheduled our next Families of Students of Color (FOSOC) potluck for Monday, December 18, 5:30-7:00. Bring a dish...or not! We plan to talk about culturally-specific events, so please try to attend if you want to be a part of the conversation.

Friday, December 15: Movie night, 6pm

Monday, December 18: Families of students of color potluck, 5:30-7:00pm

Tuesday, December 19: Parents of neurodiverse students coffee chat, 9am

Friday, December 22: Last day before winter break

Tuesday, January 2: First day back from winter break

See it all at a glance here: https://www.irvingtonschool.com/