Sunnyside PTSA Weekly Update Wednesday, February 15, 2023
~ Find the latest Messenger newsletter from the SES office here. ~

Hello Sunnyside,

Wow, what an incredible PTSA meeting, chock full of smart feedback from your amazing kids! This week, Principal Eryn asked the 5th graders what they would buy if they had $2,000 to spend on anything they wanted for the school. Their answers were varied, but specific!

– a better playground
– more swings
– more school supplies (so many dried out highlighters!)
– lots more playground balls!

Thanks to all of the parents who have already contributed toward our school fundraising this year. We couldn’t do it without you! Next month, we’ll meet on March 10. Let us know in advance if you’re interested in speaking or being added to the agenda. Thanks again to the amazing Oblique Coffee Roasters team for keeping us caffeinated!

Auburn + Heather, PTSA Co-Presidents

Special Events + Celebrations
SES Pi (π) Day Celebration – Tuesday, March 14
This fun SES tradition has been dormant for a few years, but the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades are bringing it back! On Tuesday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. , all are welcome to join us in the Auditorium for student-led Pi activities, a Pi digit memorization contest for kids, special guest speaker Traci Kiyama (math teacher at Catlin Gabel) and, of course – eating PIE! The event is free and open to all, with a focus on our 3-5 community.
Questions or ideas? Steph Barnhart at stephbarnhart1.
SIGN UP TO BRING PIE OR VOLUNTEER AT THE EVENT: bit.ly/SES-PiDay- Volunteers

Volunteer + Donation Opportunities
Feminist Club and Comic Book Drawing Clubs Need Parent Leaders!
We have some amazing student-led clubs at Sunnyside, but not always enough adults to make them happen. Currently, the Feminist Club is a group of enthusiastic fifth graders who meet on the playground during lunch time. They’d love a designated adult volunteer and a space to meet regularly between 11:50 and 12:15 one time each week. The Comic Book Drawing Club would like to meet after school and is also looking for leadership and a meeting space. If there is an adult interested in helping with either club, propose a day and time that works for you! Contact leslielothamer to get connected.

Donations + Volunteers needed for Community Kitchen cleanup project!
Our wonderful partners at Campfire Columbia after school program is cleaning up, organizing, painting and giving our community kitchen a new life! We are so grateful to them for taking this on as a community service project, and we’re hoping to supply them with everything they need. The team is in need of a few donations, if you are interested in contributing:

– new or gently used paint brushes
– paint (all one color preferably for cabinets)
– rollers, trays, and supplies for painting
– Home Depot gift card
– cabinet and drawer hardware

In addition, if you’d like to help with the project, we are seeking SES volunteers Mondays – Thursdays from 4-5 pm in the SES cafeteria between Feb 21 and March 6! If you’re interested in helping or have questions about how to donate or help, please email Cyric Willard at cwillard.

Time to get registered for READ-A-THON!
READ-A-THON ru ns from Feb 21- March 9th! STARTING TODAY, you can go to MYBOOSTER.COM to sign your kid up to help raise funds during Read-a-thon. It is really easy! PLEASE sign up and share with at least one person.
The first five classes that get 90% or more registered students will get a treat!

See the graphic below or go here to see how to sign up.

READ-A-THON – Calendar:

• Feb 21 READ-A-THON begins. Your student will come home with a packet. The packet has a reading map to keep track of reading and OFFLINE fundraising. This packet is what they will turn in at the end to get credit for reading units. They will also get a bookmark with a reading tracker to help keep track of reading as well. Start collecting pledges. Share your online page to collect funds from friends and family far and wide!
• Feb 22 Carson Ellis visits K-5. Buy a signed copy of Carson’s picture book This Story Is Not About a Kitten which will help raise additional funds for our school.
• Feb 23 Emily Whitman visits 3-8th. Buy a signed copy of Emily’s chapter book, winner of the Oregon Spirit Book Award, The Turning which will help raise additional funds for our school. Also, this is the same day as our Dairy Hill READ-A-THON kickoff fundraiser. Celebrate reading AND eat ice cream! Dairy Hill will donate 10% of all gross sales for the ENTIRE day to SES!
• Feb 24 DRESS UP DAY – Rainbow Day! Dress in as many colors as possible. Be a rainbow!
• Mar 1 Alissa Sallah visits 6-8th. Buy a signed copy of Alissa’s graphic novel Weeaboo which will help raise additional funds for our school.
• Mar 3 DRESS UP DAY – Pajama Day read-in event. Enjoy cozy read-in time during recess.
• Mar 7 Amber J. Keyser visits 6-8th. Buy a signed copy of Amber’s chapter book The Way Back From Broken which will help raise additional funds for our school.
• Mar 9 DRESS UP DAY + FINAL READING DAY – Dress as a Book Character Day
• Mar 13 to 24 TURN IN READING MAP SIGNED BY A PARENT (and any offline donations) to the office.

Thanks so much for your support of our students in their endeavors! Please reach out to Leslie Lothamer at leslielothamer with any questions.

Fundraisers
The SES Spring Auction is coming back, and we’d love your involvement!
Details for our Spring gala are coming together! More information to come at Friday’s PTSA meeting, including our exciting announcement regarding the wonderful venue and date we have locked in. It’s going to be an evening to remember!

So, how can you get involved? Well, the gala is our biggest fundraising event of the year–and it’s put on by SES PTSA’s all-volunteer Spring Gala Committee on behalf of Sunnyside Environmental School Foundation (SESF). The purpose of this event is to raise funds that support FTE school staffing for next year as well as our school’s required contribution to the Fund for PPS, which promotes funding equity across the district. This year’s gala will take place in early May. We are still in need of the following:

• Party Board hosts – many!
• Class Creative Art Projects Coordinator
• Planning Committee Members
• Silent auction donations!

That last bullet point is a biggie: One way every parent can participate in the success of our Spring Gala is by donating to the online silent auction! Reflect on what community connections or resources/talents you might have to contribute and let us know! Some of the things that are most successful are often unique experiences or one-of-a-kind items.

We are looking for things like vacation homes near or far, business vouchers or merchandise, themed gift baskets, local and handmade goods, professional services, and exclusive opportunities. Have an idea you’re not sure about? Ask us and we’ll see how we can make it work! To learn more about each need, sign up for a role, or give us your event ideas, please fill out our Spring Gala Donations Form.

As always, consider donating to Fred Meyer Rewards and change your beneficiary to Sunnyside Environmental School!

Questions, ideas or submissions for future newsletters? Email Heather at tanky34 or Auburn at auburnmarie3

Sunnyside PTSA Weekly Update Wednesday, February 8, 2023


~ Find the latest Messenger newsletter from the SES office here. ~

Hello Sunnyside,

If you haven’t had a chance to join a PTSA meeting, we have one coming up in two days. Join us virtually or in person, this Friday, February 10 at 8:45 am in Room 102! We have loads of exciting items on the agenda, which you can preview here !

Also, if you have a topic you’d like to bring up to the PTSA, join us and you can always bring up your ideas during the New Business portion of our meeting. This is a great way to bring up concerns, questions, or discussions about things that are important to you! Have an idea for an after school club? Come chat with us! And if you can’t make it, not to worry — y ou will get pertinent updates in the weekly PTSA newsletter ! Hope you will join us!

Auburn + Heather, PTSA Co-Presidents

Volunteer Opportunities
Our beloved, annual READ-A-THON begins in less than 2 weeks!
READ-A-THON is super important event for so many reasons:

– supports a love of reading and literacy
– creates opportunities for solidarity and camaraderie in classes and across grade levels
– provides structure where whole community reads together and shares ideas
– exposes our students to different forms of literature
– raises a significant amount of money for our school!

*The money raised through this event pays for place-based learning activities, field studies and other classroom trips! It also funds our sustainability staff (the garden program), our Spring Theater program, music at SES, and a variety of other PTSA funded programs.

READ-A-THON runs from Feb 21- March 9th! The theme this year is ” Celebrate your f R E A Dom “. This is going to be a really fun one with: 5 author visits, 3 dress-ups days, “House Cup,” Locker Library, Got Caught Reading, and more! There will also be prizes for reading, participation and fundraising. Get ready to read!

READ-A-THON – Calendar:

• Feb 15 Online registration for our fundraising platform opens. S ign your kid up to help raise money for our school with our, easy to use, online fundraising platform. The first class in each grade group to get 90% or higher sign-ups will get a prize! More info on how to sign up coming soon .
• Feb 21 READ-A-THON begins. Your student will come home with a packet. The packet has a reading map to keep track of reading and OFFLINE fundraising. This packet is what they will turn in at the end to get credit for reading units. They will also get a bookmark with a reading tracker to help keep track of reading as well. Start collecting pledges. Share your online page to collect funds from friends and family far and wide!
• Feb 22 Carson Ellis visits K-5. Buy a signed copy of Carson’s picture book This Story Is Not About a Kitten which will help raise additional funds for our school.
• Feb 23 Emily Whitman visits 3-8th. Buy a signed copy of Emily’s chapter book, winner of the Oregon Spirit Book Award, The Turning which will help raise additional funds for our school. Also, this is the same day as our Dairy Hill READ-A-THON kickoff fundraiser. Celebrate reading AND eat ice cream! Dairy Hill will donate 10% of all gross sales for the ENTIRE day to SES!
• Feb 24 DRESS UP DAY – Rainbow Day! Dress in as many colors as possible. Be a rainbow!
• Mar 1 Alissa Sallah visits 6-8th. Buy a signed copy of Alissa’s graphic novel Weeaboo which will help raise additional funds for our school.
• Mar 3 DRESS UP DAY – Pajama Day read-in event. Enjoy cozy read-in time during recess.
• Mar 7 Amber J. Keyser visits 6-8th. Buy a signed copy of Amber’s chapter book The Way Back From Broken which will help raise additional funds for our school.
• Mar 9 DRESS UP DAY + FINAL READING DAY – Dress as a Book Character Day
• Mar 13 to 24 TURN IN READING MAP SIGNED BY A PARENT (and any offline donations) to the office.

Thanks so much for your support of our students in their endeavors! Please reach out to Leslie Lothamer at leslielothamer with any questions.

Fundraisers
The SES Spring Auction is coming back, and we’d love your involvement!
Details for our Spring gala are coming together! More information to come at Friday’s PTSA meeting, including our exciting announcement regarding the wonderful venue and date we have locked in. It’s going to be an evening to remember!

So, how can you get involved? Well, the gala is our biggest fundraising event of the year–and it’s put on by SES PTSA’s all-volunteer Spring Gala Committee on behalf of Sunnyside Environmental School Foundation (SESF). The purpose of this event is to raise funds that support FTE school staffing for next year as well as our school’s required contribution to the Fund for PPS, which promotes funding equity across the district. This year’s gala will take place in early May. We are still in need of the following:

• Party Board hosts – many!
• Class Creative Art Projects Coordinator
• Planning Committee Members
• Silent auction donations!

That last bullet point is a biggie: One way every parent can participate in the success of our Spring Gala is by donating to the online silent auction! Reflect on what community connections or resources/talents you might have to contribute and let us know! Some of the things that are most successful are often unique experiences or one-of-a-kind items.

We are looking for things like vacation homes near or far, business vouchers or merchandise, themed gift baskets, local and handmade goods, professional services, and exclusive opportunities. Have an idea you’re not sure about? Ask us and we’ll see how we can make it work! To learn more about each need, sign up for a role, or give us your event ideas, please fill out our Spring Gala Donations Form.

As always, consider donating to Fred Meyer Rewards and change your beneficiary to Sunnyside Environmental School!

Questions, ideas or submissions for future newsletters? Email Heather at tanky34 or Auburn at auburnmarie3

Sunnyside PTSA Weekly Update
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
~ Find the latest Messenger newsletter from the SES office here. ~

Hello Sunnyside!
We are excited to be hosting our next PTSA meeting this ​​ Friday, March 17 in Room 102 at SES at 8:45 am! Join us in person or Virtually! We have soooooo much to talk about, including an exciting and much awaited announcement regarding our spring gala! Drumroll please, friends!

Save the Date!

“In Bloom” PTSA Spring Gala + Auction
Saturday, May 6, 2023
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Revolution Hall’s Show Bar & Patio

EMCEE: Mo Phillips

FEATURING: Live Music by Kris DeeLane & The Hurt

TICKETS: On Sale April 3

Gratefully,
​​Auburn + Heather, PTSA Co-President ​s

Special Events + Celebrations
Pi-Day on Tuesday Night was AMAZING!
SES, you really know how to show up for a Pi Day Party! Thanks to everyone who came, brought pie, wrote or recited Pi digits, and played or facilitated math games! Special thanks to our guest speaker Traci Kiyama, our many volunteers, and to Lauretta Jean’s for donating pies. We had about 120+ attendees, consumed 35+ pies, and celebrated the math hype of sooooo many students who got up there to recite numbers, told jokes, MCed, or played music. We hope you expanded your mind, ate a tasty slice, and enjoyed the community gathering.

Coffee with the Principal is back!
So excited to announce these: Coming next month, dedicated time with Principal Eryn, to hear all about the amazing things happening at SES? Yes please!
SAVE THE DATES!
April 21 and May 19, 8:45-9:45am at SES (Room TBD)

Let’s show Sunnyside TEACHERS our support!
In their contract negotiations, PPS t eachers are demanding smaller class sizes and other important changes that will only improve your child’s education.
This is a difficult battle that can use all the parent and student support it can possibly get! TUESDAYS are for wearing blue!!
Questions? Feel free to reach out to 4th-grade teacher Jeremy Thomas – ​ ​ jtinpdx1975.

Fundraisers
Read-a-thon – That’s a wrap (almost)! ​ ​
Thanks to all of the amazing SES families for being such strong supporters of our school community and for making the Read-A-Thon such a success each year! This year has been amazing as usual with so many amazing author visits, the locker library, dress up days, and soooo much reading! Currently our fundraising efforts for this have gone very well! Online, we are at an estimated profit of around $30,000! This is incredible and the credit all goes to the SES community! If you wanted to contribute, but didn’t get a chance, it’s not too late !! You can still collect pledges through March 24th online. Go to MYBOOSTER.COM or collect them by hand and turn them into the office with your Read-a-thon brochure next week! We also still have some copies of our signed guest author books:

• Amber Keyer’s book: The Way Back from Broken (an emotional journey of wilderness survival and healing)
• Emily Whitman’s book: The Turning (a coming-of-age tale about a selkie boy, winner of the Oregon Spirit Book Award)

Next, have your students turn in their reading map with their ​ TOTAL reading units, and physical pledges (cash or checks made out to the SES PTSA). EVERYONE who turns in their reading map and form to their teacher or the office will get a free ice cream card from Dairy Hill!! So, please make sure to turn it in. It helps us give our prizes for top readers and top reading classrooms too! Lost the brochure? No big deal. To get a new form you can go here: https://www.sesptsa.org/ wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ 2023_brochure_v4.pdf or ask in the library for an already printed one.

As always, consider donating to Fred Meyer Rewards and change your beneficiary to Sunnyside Environmental School!

Questions, ideas or submissions for future newsletters? Email Heather at tanky34 or Auburn a ​t auburnmarie3

Sunnyside PTSA Weekly Update Wednesday, March 8, 2023

~ Find the latest Messenger newsletter from the SES office here. ~

Hello Sunnyside!

We want to give a huge shout-out to all the SES students reading their hearts out to raise money for Sunnyside right now! And how about these amazing author visits? Read-A-Thon is such a beautiful manifestation of all that makes Sunnyside so special and we are abundantly grateful to our fearless leader, Leslie, and the many parent volunteers who have stepped up to make this fundraiser a huge success!

Gratefully,
Auburn + Heather, PTSA Co-Presidents

Special Events + Celebrations

Let’s show Sunnyside TEACHERS our support!
In their contract negotiations, PPS teachers are demanding smaller class sizes and other important changes that will only improve your child’s education.
This is a difficult battle that can use all the parent and student support it can possibly get! TUESDAYS are for wearing blue!!
Questions? Feel free to reach out to 4th-grade teacher Jeremy Thomas – jtinpdx1975.

READ-A-THON – THIS IS THE LAST WEEK of reading and events!

We’ve reached the final week of reading & events for our annual Read-A-Thon! Thursday the 9th is THE FINAL READING DAY! Don’t count any reading units beyond Thursday night, March 9th! Keep collecting pledges both online through mybooster.com and offline, though: You have until March 24th to collect pledges and turn in your forms.

• Collect pledges until March 24th!!! Sign up to do it online (it takes 3 minutes) by going to leslielothamer with any questions.

  SES Pi (π) Day Celebration – NEXT WEEK! Tuesday, MARCH 14

  On Tuesday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. 3rd, 4th and 5th grade families are invited to join us in the Auditorium for student-led Pi activities, a Pi digit memorization contest for kids, special guest speaker Traci Kiyama (math teacher at Catlin Gabel) and, of course – eating PIE!

  PLEASE DONATE PIE(S) IF YOU CAN! SIGN UP: bit.ly/SES-PiDay-Volunteers

  Coffee with the Principal is back!
  SAVE THE DATES:
  April 21 and May 19, 8:45-9:45am, space TBD

  As always, consider donating to Fred Meyer Rewards and change your beneficiary to Sunnyside Environmental School!

  Questions, ideas or submissions for future newsletters? Email Heather at tanky34 or Auburn at auburnmarie3
  

Sunnyside PTSA Weekly Update Wednesday, March 2, 2023

~ Find the latest Messenger newsletter from the SES office here. ~

Hello Sunnyside!

Happy full week back school after a fun, but chaotic couple of SNOW DAYS! We have loads of announcements and activities coming your way. Our next PTSA meeting is Friday, March 17 at 8:45am – join us in person or virtually to learn about all that we have going on!

Gratefully,
Auburn + Heather, PTSA Co-Presidents

Special Events + Celebrations

It’s not too late to sign up for Readathon, happening now!!!! Celebrate your f R E A Dom
Readathon is off to a great start! It’s not too late to sign up to collect pledges from family and friends to raise programs for all of our special SES programs! You’ve seen the Read-A-Thon packets that went home with your student. The packet includes 2 tracking bookmarks, directions to register at mybooster.com and all the information you’ll need for a successful Read-A-Thon. If your student didn’t bring one home you can get another one from the library or download one here. Wednesday Carson Eliis visited K-5 right before the big storm hit! She read her book Du Iz Talk? and spoke to the students about the process of making a book and about her own childhood. It was really special. There are only 2 signed copies of her book, Home, left to purchase. If you want to grab one go here before it’s gone.

Here is what you can do THIS WEEK:

• GO TO THE READ-A-THON webpage to see the FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS and to download a new brochure.
• Go to MYBOOSTER.COM to sign your kid up to help raise money. It is really easy and once you do it will be crazy easy to share their page to help SES!
• Buy books from our guest authors: Carson Ellis, Emily Whitman, Alissa Sallah, & Amber Keyser

Here is the Read-a-thon schedule for WEEK 2 with THREE RESCHEDULED EVENTS from last week:

• RESCHEDULED to Mar 2 – Dairy Hill READ-A-THON kickoff fundraiser. Celebrate reading AND eat ice cream! Dairy Hill will donate 10% of all gross sales for the ENTIRE day to SES!
• Mar 3 – DRESS UP DAY – Pajama Day read-in event. Enjoy cozy read-in time during recess.

GO TO THE READ-A-THON webpage to see the FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS and to download a new brochure.

Thanks so much for your support of our students in their endeavors! Please reach out to Leslie Lothamer at leslielothamer with any questions.

SES Pi (π) Day Celebration – Tuesday, MARCH 14

On Tuesday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. all are welcome to join us in the Auditorium for student-led Pi activities, a Pi digit memorization contest for kids, special guest speaker Traci Kiyama (math teacher at Catlin Gabel) and, of course – eating PIE! The event is free and open to all, with a focus on our 3-5 community.

WE NEED MORE PIES & PIE SERVERS! SIGN UP: bit.ly/SES- PiDay-Volunteers

Volunteer + Donation Opportunities
FEMINIST CLUB and COMIC BOOK DRAWING CLUB Need Parent Leaders!
We have some amazing student-led clubs at Sunnyside, but not always enough adults to make them happen. Currently, the Feminist Club is a group of enthusiastic fifth graders who meet on the playground during lunchtime. They’d love a designated adult volunteer and a space to meet regularly between 11:50 and 12:15 one time each week. The Comic Book Drawing Club would like to meet after school and is also looking for leadership and a meeting space. If there is an adult interested in helping with either club, propose a day and time that works for you! Contact leslielothamerto get connected.

Donations + Volunteers needed for Community Kitchen cleanup project!
Our wonderful partners at Campfire Columbia after-school program is cleaning up, organizing, painting and giving our community kitchen a new life! We are so grateful to them for taking this on as a community service project, and we’re hoping to supply them with everything they need. The team is in need of a few donations, if you are interested in contributing:

– new or gently used paint brushes
– paint (all one color preferably for cabinets)
– rollers, trays, and supplies for painting
– Home Depot gift card
– cabinet and drawer hardware

In addition, if you’d like to help with the project, we are seeking SES volunteers Mondays – Thursdays from 4-5 pm in the SES cafeteria between Feb 21 and March 6! If you’re interested in helping or have questions about how to donate or help, please email Cyric Willard at cwillard.

Fundraisers
Dine out at Laughing Planet on Belmont on March 7!
Yay, our next restaurant fundraiser night is coming up on Tuesday, March 7! Head over to 3320 Belmont Street and eat out for for a great cause! 10% of all sales–including takeout and to-go orders–will go toward Sunnyside PTSA programming!

The Spring Auction is Coming and WE NEED YOU!
Only 10 weeks until our most important fundraiser of the year!! If you’ve been curious about this event and wondered how you can help, this meeting is for you! We will be discussing what is currently in the works and what the plan is moving forward. Here are the three main buckets we’ll be covering:

• Event support for May 6th gala at Revolution Hall
• Class creative arts project coordinators
• Silent auction contributions and item procurement

That last bullet point is a biggie: One way every parent can participate in the success of our Spring Gala is by donating to the online silent auction! Reflect on the community connections or resources/talents you could contribute and let us know! Some of the things that are most successful are often unique experiences or one-of-a-kind items. If you are unable to attend the meeting but want to learn more, sign up for a role, or give us your event ideas, please fill out our Spring Gala Donations Form.

****************************** ****************************** ****************************** ****************************** ****************************** ***

As always, consider donating to Fred Meyer Rewards and change your beneficiary to Sunnyside Environmental School!

Questions, ideas or submissions for future newsletters? Email Heather at tanky34 or Auburn at auburnmarie3

Sunnyside PTSA Weekly Update April 13, 2023 🌻

~ Find the latest Messenger newsletter from the SES office here. ~

Hello Sunnyside!
It is almost impossible to believe that our IN BLOOM Sunnyside auction and gala is only three short weeks away! 🌸 🌹 🌺 🌷 🌼 🌻 If you’re like many busy parents who are overwhelmed by emails and fundraisers and all the things, we totally get it! That’s why we’re sending this reminder and callout to let you know that this is THE event you really don’t want to miss!!

Sunnyside’s annual auction and gala has a rich history and is our most treasured 💎 and important fundraiser of the year! It’s at Revolution Hall , folks! And there is a live band, many great amazing auction items, 🏆 a best-dressed contest, special cocktails and mocktails 🍹 and a really great opportunity to connect with other SES parents and staff! 😎

You can still bid in our online auction starting April 21, make a donation, or consider volunteering!” We need all kinds of helping hands to make this event happen, and you get a FREE ticket if you sign up to help out.

Get tickets now for Saturday, May 6!

💐 "In Bloom" PTSA Spring Gala + Auction

🌹Saturday, May 6, 2023

🌼 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

🌺 Revolution Hall’s Show Bar & Patio

EMCEE: Mo Phillips
FEATURING: Live Music by Kris DeeLane & The Hurt
TICKETS: On Sale HERE!
➡️ We are still accepting more auction items and party board hosts until April 14! Submit your ideas by filling in this donation form.
SES GALA PARTY BOARDS?
What the heck are these anyway? Party Boards are small group parties that you sign up for in person at the Gala. You pay a small price to join the party and100% of your donation goes toward our SES school activities as part of our fundraising revenue. They are a lot of fun, easy to put together and make for great community building. Previous party examples have been D&D Gaming, Steal the Chicken, Movie Night with Gillian, Margaritas, and Music, and more. So if you’ve got an idea, a talent, or a fun idea to share, reach out to Leslie and I for more information. Need a little convincing or to be connected with another to make a board happen, we’ll help you figure it out. Interested but don’t really have an idea? Pick one from this Party Board Ideas list. We’re excited to hear from you!

Leslie leslielothamer
Becky mkoleary.mk

Gratefully,
Auburn + Heather, PTSA Co-Presidents

School Happenings 📅
PTSA MEETING THIS FRIDAY! 💃
Join us this Friday, April 14 at 8:45 am in room 102 for our general monthly PTSA meeting. 4th-grade teacherJeremy Thomas will be there to talk about contract negotiations for teachers, and we’ll hear an update on the In Bloom gala! Bring your coffee mugs, friends! ☕ Huge shoutout to Oblique coffee roasters for keeping us caffeinated. ❤ ❤ Can’t join? Here is a virtual link so you can pop in from home!

BIKE BUS IS BACK!! 🚲 🎉

Grab your helmet, let’s ride together! With the spring weather and longer daylight, we are happy to welcome the Bike Bus back to Sunnyside after Spring Break. Kids are welcome to join each Wednesday morning on their bikes, with or without their grownups – there will be adults leading each route.
Starting Wednesday April 5th.
Meet at 8:20, ride at 8:25.
Meet at:
Taylor & 41st (East)
Pine & 32nd (North)
Salmon & 23rd (West)
Or join in along the way!

Coffee with the Principal
Coming next month, our very first official launch with Principal Eryn! We will get to hear all about the amazing things happening at SES!
April 21 and May 19:, 8:45-9:45am at SES SAVE THE DATES!

School Programming 🏫 🎒
SES PTSA and Portland Drama Club Present: WILLY WONKA! WHEN: April 28th at 7pm AND April 29th at 2 and 5pm
WHERE: SES Auditorium
WHO: Grades 5-8

In the coming weeks, you will hear more about this delightfully fun musical starring 3 dozen performers from grades 5-8! We hope that everyone will come out to support the cast and enjoy a very special show in our very own theatre!
We have oodles of fun VOLUNTEER opportunities ahead! 👱 👋
We need ticket sellers! We will be selling candy, 🍬 🍭 baked goods, 🍪 and flowers 🌻at each show so we need sellers and goodie-makers! Please know that if you sign up to sell tickets 🎟 or goodies ❤ at a show you will also be able to WATCH!

Please sign up for ONE or MANY open slots – https://www.signupgenius. com/go/30E094DACAE2CAAF85- willy1

Sustainability Programming 🌎
Farmer Nathan’s Weekly Update: 👢 🐮 🐣 🐛 🕷 🌿 We are in the gardens full time again! With the last frost date around the corner we are planting all of the seeds we have. The kiddos are so excited to get the potatoes and strawberries into the ground next! Last week, we got all of our fruit trees planted and they were labeled with wooden stakes! Take a walk around and see if you can find all eight trees! – Nathan

Plant Seedling Sale coming May 31!
While it feels like this rain will never end, 🌧 🌈 it will be time to plant our summer gardens soon! 🍅 🍆 Save the date for Wednesday, May 31! Our wonderful SES Sustainability Coordinator, Farmer Nathan Broden, 🐔 🐓 🌱 will be collaborating with the PTSA to hold an after-school seedling sale to help raise funds for the SES school gardening program! Details coming soon!

As always, consider donating to Fred Meyer Rewards and change your beneficiary to Sunnyside Environmental School!
Questions, ideas or submissions for future newsletters? Email Heather at tanky34 or Auburn at auburnmarie3

Sunnyside PTSA Weekly Update Wednesday, April 06, 2023

~ Find the latest Messenger newsletter from the SES office here. ~

Sunnyside families!
We are certainly IN BLOOM right now! Please read below for the incredible Read-a-Thon results, tickets for our Spring Gala (May 6), Party Boards , the return of Bike Bus and so much more!

Our next PTSA meeting will be Friday, April 14th at 8:45am in Room 102. Teacher Jeremy will be joining to discuss what teachers are bargaining for and how you can help support their efforts! Join us for Oblique Coffee (bring your mug!), community, and great conversation about making the school experience better than ever for our kiddos.

See you there!
Heather & Auburn

IN BLOOM! Spring Gala is COMING!!! And we need YOU!!
1. Get Tickets to the Gala on May 6th!
2. Online Auction goes live April 21st. Last day to submit party board (more below) or donation items is April 9th. Email fundraising.
3. Volunteer!!!!

SES GALA PARTY BOARDS
Hey all, with the Gala fast approaching Leslie and I are reaching out about Party Boards. What’s that you say? Party Boards are small group parties that you sign up for in person at the Gala. They are a lot of fun, easy to put together and make for great community building. Previous party examples have been D&D Gaming, Steal the Chicken, Movie Night with Gillian, Margaritas, and Music, and more.

So if you’ve got an idea, a talent, or a fun idea to share, reach out to Leslie and I for more information. Need a little convincing or to be connected with another to make a board happen, we’ll help you figure it out. Interested but don’t really have an idea? Pick one from this Party Board Ideas list.

We’re excited to hear from you! Leslie leslielothamer
Becky mkoleary.mk

SUNNYSIDE FAMILY IN NEED
We have a family who has come forward and asked for support from the Sunnyside community. This family is seriously struggling and could really use any donation – large or small – or a gift card to Fred Meyer’s. If you are able to donate to this anonymous fund, please do so by April14th. You can drop a gift card off with Michelle in the office, or donate via this Venmo. Thank you!

BIKE BUS IS BACK!!

Grab your helmet, let’s ride together! With the spring weather and longer daylight, we are happy to welcome the Bike Bus back to Sunnyside after Spring Break. Kids are welcome to join each Wednesday morning on their bikes, with or without their grownups – there will be adults leading each route.
Starting Wednesday April 5th.
Meet at 8:20, ride at 8:25.
Meet at:
Taylor & 41st (East)
Pine & 32nd (North)
Salmon & 23rd (West)
Or join in along the way!

THE RESULTS ARE IN FOR READ-A-THON 2023!

Holy moly!!! You all rocked this thing! Thank YOU, Sunnyside Community! We made almost $43,000. for our school programs! This is all you! You’re amazing!!

This year was so much fun thanks to all the volunteers that helped me make it happen, Gillian & Becky, you all for sharing with friends and family and OF COURSE our amazing students and teachers for participating in the events, reading and their LOVE for books!!!

The results for top fundraisers, top readers, top classrooms, top grade groups are in as well. We will be delivering prize certificates (and physical prizes) to students very soon. If your student is the recipient of a prize that contains a choice of prizes or gift cards I have emailed you so please check your email and respond ASAP.

Top Fundraising Classrooms:

• K-2 Michelle
• 3-5 Monica
• 6-8 Michael

Top Reading/participation Classrooms:

• K-2 Eric
• 3-5 Asa
• 6-8 Carrie/Mary Gage (tied)

Classroom with the MOST TOTAL reading units: Allye’s K classroom!

Top Fundraisers K-2:

1. Mara Kelly Patterson ($100 @ Kids at Heart and a stuffie)
2. Sam Hutchison ($75 worth of your choice gift cards)
3. Billie Castro ($30 Books with Pictures gift card)
4. Hazel Palochak ($30 Books with Pictures gift card)

Top Fundraisers 3-5:

1. Ramona Ewald (your choice: Nintendo Switch, Great Wolf Lodge (with pass for 2), or custom shoes backpack)
2. Rowan Black ONeal ($75 worth of your choice gift cards)
3. Bennett Lembo ($30 Books with Pictures gift card)
4. Aviva Myint ($30 Books with Pictures gift card)

Top Fundraisers 6-8:

1. Ronan Hill (your choice: Nintendo Switch, Great Wolf Lodge (with pass for 2), or custom shoes backpack)
2. Ames Black ONeal ($75 worth of your choice gift cards)
3. Emma Auger ($30 Books with Pictures gift card)
4. Opal Woodbury ($30 Books with Pictures gift card)

WINNER OF THE SUNNYSIDE HOUSE CUP FOR 2023 IS K-2!

Top 3 readers per grade for the whole school! All will get a $5 Powell’s Gift Card and the top for each grade (bolded names) will also receive a book bundle!

Lily Pritchard, Ben Renfro, Issac Kahn, Isaac Bennett. Paxton Alexander, Billie Castro, Ellis Beebe, Quill Harrison, Theo Hedstrom, Nina Mordarski Stultz, Malachi Voelker, Calder Amderson, Ouray Speelman, Leo Cohen, Rowan Moon Bell, Jackson Habalar, Ada Gwozdziewycz, Ellie Nine, Lenny Henderson, SIta Niemann, Opal Woodbury, Kaya Lancaster, Mara Kelly Patterson, Conlee Hansen & Ruth Hatfield

And, finally, ALL 241 kids who turned in the read-a-thon brochures and/or got donations online will get a free ice cream card from Dairy Hill!!!

I am in awe of y’all and so happy to be part of this community!
Cheers,
Leslie
leslielothamer

Coffee with the Principal is back!
So excited to announce these: Coming next month, dedicated time with Principal Eryn, to hear all about the amazing things happening at SES? SAVE THE DATES!
April 21 and May 19, 8:45-9:45am at SES

As always, consider donating to Fred Meyer Rewards and change your beneficiary to Sunnyside Environmental School!
Questions, ideas or submissions for future newsletters? Email Heather at tanky34 or Auburn at auburnmarie3

Sunnyside PTSA Weekly Update Wednesday, March 22, 2023

~ Find the latest Messenger newsletter from the SES office here. ~

Hello Sunnyside!

Did you know that right before Spring Break is the toughest time of the school year for many teachers? Let’s show our amazing SES teachers our support!

In their contract negotiations, PPS teachers are demanding smaller class sizes and other important changes that will only improve your child’s education! One BIG way you can help is by filling out this PETITION to support educators during the bargaining. And don’t forget, TUESDAYS are for wearing blue!

Questions? Feel free to reach out to 4th-grade teacher Jeremy Thomas – jtinpdx1975. Jeremy will also be joining us at our April 14th General PTSA meeting to talk more about these crucial negotiations. Please SAVE THE DATE and join us!

Gratefully,
Auburn + Heather, PTSA Co-Presidents

Fundraisers

Save the Date!

“In Bloom” PTSA Spring Gala + Auction

Saturday, May 6, 2023

5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Revolution Hall’s Show Bar & Patio

EMCEE : Mo Phillips
FEATURING : Live Music by Kris DeeLane & The Hurt
TICKETS: On Sale April 3

We are still accepting more auction items and party board hosts until April 9! Submit your ideas by filling in this donation form.

Read-a-Thon Wrap-Up!
Y’all are amazing. Thanks for sending your kids to school with so much joy for reading. It really shows!

Please turn in your reading map (with total reading units and adult signature) and any physical pledges (cash or checks made out to the SES PTSA) before Spring Break! Extra forms are in the office, library, or here. EVERYONE who turns in their reading map and form office will get a free ice cream from Dairy Hill!!

We still have a few AMAZING signed books from our guest authors. Help us out by purchasing Emily Whitman’s The Turning, a coming of age story about a selkie boy & his mother OR Amber Keyer’s, The Way Back from Broken, a wilderness survival story about overcoming grief. Thanks! Prize winners will be announced after Spring Break.

Sustainability Programming
Farmer Nathan’s Corner: *NEW Weekly Column!
HAPPY SPRING!!!! We have been busy waking up the gardens from their winter slumber! The cover crop has been tilled in and beds have been worked. We are busy seeding our long season flowers, brassicas, onions, shallots, leeks and chives in the Garden Classroom. We have started transplanting and direct-seeded sugar snap peas. We also made fun forts for the students to climb up out of branches we pruned from the fruit trees. It has been a blast being back in the gardens with the students and we are all loving these sunny days! Also, stay tuned for information coming next week about a Seedling Sale and a Garden Club, both launching later in Spring! Thanks always for letting me do what I love, learning and growing with your kiddos!

– Nathan

School Happenings
Bike Bus is BACK for Spring 2023!

Grab your helmet, let’s ride together! With the spring weather and longer daylight, we are happy to welcome the Bike Bus back to Sunnyside after Spring Break. Kids are welcome to join each Wednesday morning on their bikes, with or without their grownups – there will be adults leading each route.
Starting Wednesday April 5th: Meet at 8:20, ride at 8:25!
Meeting Points:
Taylor & 41st (East)
Pine & 32nd (North)
Salmon & 23rd (West)
Or join in along the way!

PTSA is excited to present: Family Art Night!
As part of our work as a staff, equity team, parent involvement, and site council, there has been an ask for more community events to connect our community with the work we do here in our classrooms around identity, race, justice, and inclusiveness. We are excited to present the first speaker. Please see the linked poster (also embedded below).

Coffee with the Principal is back!
So excited to announce these: Coming next month, dedicated time with Principal Eryn, to hear all about the amazing things happening at SES? SAVE THE DATES!
April 21 and May 19, 8:45-9:45am at SES

As always, consider donating to Fred Meyer Rewards and change your beneficiary to Sunnyside Environmental School!
Questions, ideas or submissions for future newsletters? Email Heather at tanky34 or Auburn at auburnmarie3

Sunnyside PTSA Weekly Update
April 19, 2023 🌻

~ Find the latest Messenger newsletter from the SES office here. ~

Hello Sunnyside! 🌈 🌿 🌟 🌧 🐛

If you missed last week’s PTSA meeting, we heard from Jeremy Thomas, fourth grade teacher at SES, 🍏 🍎 about the ongoing teacher contract negotiations and how you can get involved. This is the first bargaining contract opportunity teachers have had since the pandemic, allowing educators to take an important pause to think about the following questions:

– What is valuable about school? 🌍
– What do kids need? 👦 👧 👸 👶 🕵 👼 💆
– What is working at school and what isn’t working? 🆗 😉 👍 👌

Teachers are focused on building solidarity and unity with parents so they can fill educational gaps and rebuild trust in schools after several challenging years. ❤ So, how can you help?

– Wear Blue on Tuesdays! 💙 👕 👗
– Sign the petition and stay up to date! 🤘 📝

Gratefully,
Auburn + Heather, PTSA Co-Presidents

Fundraising 🏫 🎒
Get tickets NOW for Saturday, May 6! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
ATTENTION PARENTS: YOUR "IN BLOOM" GALA TO-DO LIST:

1. Tickets! May 6 Gala tickets (tiered pricing) are on sale now!
2. Volunteer! We need all kinds of helping hands to make this event happen, and you get a FREE ticket if you sign up to help out. (Just one little shift is all it takes!)
3. Bid in the Auction! The online auction goes live on Friday, April 21 – look out for a detailed email blast when it drops!

All the DEETS:

💐 "In Bloom" PTSA Spring Gala + Auction

🌹 Saturday, May 6, 2023

🌼 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

🌺 Revolution Hall’s Show Bar & Patio

EMCEE : Mo Phillips
FEATURING : Live Music by Kris DeeLane & The Hurt
TICKETS: On Sale HERE!

Help Bring BIPOC Dance and Mural Artist to Sunnyside! 🎭 🎨 💃
Teachers Robin and Iris are hoping to bring in talented local dancer and artist Empwo to Sunnyside Environmental to help lead a group of students in painting a permanent mural to remain at Sunnyside for years to come. Empwo also incorporates break dancing into student activities, and would bring in performances for kindergarten through eight graders to enjoy. If you’d like to donate to Robin and Iris’ Go Fund me Campaign, you can do so here! 💲

School Programming 🏫 🎒

Coffee with the Principal
Join us for our our very first official launch with Principal Eryn this Friday, April 21 from 8:45 to 9:45 am in Room 102. 🏫 😃 Please join us for an intimate chat with Eryn and a chance to hear all about the amazing things happening at SES! We’ll have free coffee for all, thanks to the amazing Oblique coffee roasters, so BYOM! (Bring your own mug, friends.) ☕ ☕ ☕

BIKE BUS IS BACK!! 🚲 🎉

Grab your helmet, let’s ride together! With the spring weather and longer daylight, we are happy to welcome the Bike Bus back to Sunnyside after Spring Break. Kids are welcome to join each Wednesday morning on their bikes, with or without their grownups – there will be adults leading each route.
Starting Wednesday April 5th.
Meet at 8:20, ride at 8:25.
Meet at:
Taylor & 41st (East)
Pine & 32nd (North)
Salmon & 23rd (West)
Or join in along the way!

WILLY WONKA is coming and we need PARENT HELP! 🍭 🍬
In order to make these exciting and enriching opportunities available to our students, we need to do some fundraising to offset the many costs! 💲For Willy Wonka (grades 5-8 production!) that means selling tickets to each of the shows (April 28 and 29), selling concessions, 🍿 baking for our baked goods table, 🍰 and more! Please know that if you sign up to sell tickets or baked goods at one of the three shows, you will also get to watch the performance! 🎭And, yes, your kiddos can certainly help you with your jobs – in fact, we would love the extra hands! Please check out the many shifts still available – starting with before and after school ticket sales next week – and SIGN UP! Thank you! 💟

Sustainability Programming 🌎
Farmer Nathan’s Weekly Update: 👢 🐮 🐣 🐛 🕷 🌿 We are busy planting planting and counting up our votes for the Garden Sticker competition this week! The kiddos worked very hard on the drawings they entered, and counting the votes is way fun! Winner announced next week! – Nathan

Plant Seedling Sale coming May 31!
While it feels like this rain will never end, 🌧 🌈 it will be time to plant our summer gardens soon! 🍅 🍆 Save the date for Wednesday, May 31! Our wonderful SES Sustainability Coordinator, Farmer Nathan Broden, 🐔 🐓 🌱 will be collaborating with the PTSA to hold an after-school seedling sale to help raise funds for the SES school gardening program! Details coming soon!

As always, consider donating to Fred Meyer Rewards and change your beneficiary to Sunnyside Environmental School!

Questions, ideas or submissions for future newsletters? Email Heather at tanky34 or Auburn at auburnmarie3