The Cheetah Coalition #28

Para cualquier otro idioma, utilice el botón "Translate" que se encuentra en esta página.

Dear Atkinson parents,

I want to give you an update on our efforts to improve student attendance. This year, approximately 30% of our students have had chronic, severe, or acute absences. This is a nation-wide issue that is broadly seen as one of the many negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been trying to analyze data and have conversations with parents to learn about the root causes of the absences and consider interventions. We've had some limited initial success with that, and I'll be able to share more about that soon. Today, I just want to highlight that most of our students do come to school regularly and have attendance rates (90% and above) that are acceptable, good, or excellent. In the coming days, we will be acknowledging students with attendance rates at or above 90%. Your student may come home with a certificate. We hope you will take the opportunity to celebrate their attendance as a key to learning.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Debbie Armendariz

Principal

Atkinson Elementary School

darmenda@pps.net

REMINDER: We do not provide any supervision after school. Students without a guardian present should follow their after school plans and leave campus immediately. Please be aware that if you give your student permission to linger at Clinton Park, high schoolers may interact with them, and you may not want that.

Student Store — NOW OPEN! The roaming student store is now in its 2nd week. This week the 3rd–5th ISC classroom and all 3rd grade classes participated. Other classes will participate in the coming weeks! Many thanks to families and PTA for contributing to the Student Store. Donations are greatly appreciated. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lilly Williams. The Student Store hours are Thursdays from 1–3 p.m.

PSU Community Counseling Clinic has openings right now for individual (children, teens, adults), couples, and family therapy sessions. These are in-person or virtual and operate on a sliding scale of $5-20/per student. Sessions are provided by PSU counseling students supervised by licensed therapists. Seems like a great low-cost resource for folks that haven't been able to get access to services at school or in the community due to the high need.

More information later.

Congrats to 4th grader, Azalea, for winning the t-shirt design contest for our Run for Atkinson t-shirts this year!

Our lost and found is absolutely overflowing! PLEASE CLAIM YOUR ITEMS BY FRIDAY, APRIL 19. After that, we will donate everything that remains. Lost and found is located in the main lobby. You are welcome to come in and look before school, after morning drop-off, after school, or any other time the building is open!

Please also remember to put your child's name in coats and sweatshirts. We return anything labeled with a name to its owner before we donate.

We are in need of new parent volunteers to serve lunch to students on Thursdays for both first lunch (11:35 a.m.–12 p.m.) and second lunch (12:05–12:30 p.m.) after spring break. Are you willing and able to help us? You get a free lunch and get to see all the adorable children in the lunch line!

Photo of Danette Voytko, Cafeteria Manager, sharing a new recipe at the last Principal Coffee—local rock fish and coleslaw.

The Atkinson PTA is still looking for someone(s) to volunteer to serve as President (or Co-Presidents) next year. Without a President, Atkinson will not have a PTA. The good news is that our PTA Board next year is shaping up to be a very robust and full board—we have a lot of folks who are stepping up to help in a variety of positions that haven't been filled in many years! Which means that the duties that have previously been done by the President will be more distributed. Being PTA President is an amazing way to connect with your school—you will have the opportunity to work with the parents, families, teachers, and staff at Atkinson and to see up close all the many things that make Atkinson such a wonderful school. If you are someone who wants to see the Atkinson PTA continue to support our school, please contact Callie Barish (president@atkinsonpta.org). Elections will be held at the May General Meeting, so the time to act is NOW!

The "HeART of Portland" PPS Arts Showcase is coming April 16–28. See the attached flyer for more information.

An Atkinson student will have a piece of art in the show! The artist is 4th grader, Natasha, and her art piece is a Día de los Muertos Hojalata (tin work fashioned in the Mexican tradition). Congratulations, Natasha!

Join us to celebrate the joy of childhood and to honor future generations with games, music and fun! We are still looking for a few volunteers to help with music, face painting, games, snow cones and balloon animals. If you are available to help, please sign-up here.

In a better-late-than-never effort, we now have a spring basketball option for your 3rd–5th graders! The Atkinson gym has been reserved Monday's from 5–6:30 p.m. We have a seven week season starting next Monday, April 15 and ending Monday, June 7 (no session on 5/27). We've also secured a minimum number of volunteers to run each session, but could use a few more. Interested in K–2? Contact Joseph at josephshockley@gmail.com.

Link to application for participants

Link to volunteer sign up

• Tuesday, April 16 — Harrison Park Middle School Open House, 6 p.m.
  
• Wednesday, April 17 — Amigos Meeting via Zoom, 6:30—7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 23 — Kellogg Middle School Parent Night, 5:30—6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 25 — K-2nd Grade Music Performance, 2 p.m.
• Thursday, April 25 — Dine Out at Pastini on Division
• Friday, April 26 — Día de los Niños, 6–8 p.m.
• Thursday, May 2 — Principal's Coffee in English, 8:50 a.m.
• Friday, May 3 — Principal's Coffee in Spanish, 8:50 a.m.
• Friday, May 3 — Run for Atkinson Fundraiser
• Wednesday, May 22 — 3rd-5th Grade Music Performance, 2 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 4 — Field Day
• Friday, June 7 — Cultural Night, 6–8 p.m.