Portland Parents

Professional Development Day

Teacher Planning Day

Veteran’s Day

There’s a new kid in town, err, make that a new kid-friendly cafe in town…

Urban Mamas brings us the story of a newfound love; Sohbet, located in the NorthEast at 27th and Killingsworth.

That’s not too far from my normal routes, and I look forward to trying it out. Maybe with my kids- these sound like exciting and distracting attractions…

1. huge toy area with tons of diversion for the wee ones (diversions include piles of paper, markers, crayons, tinker-toys, duplo, blocks, trucks, and other stuff I’m forgetting)
2. changing table in the restroom. (Oh deity of choice how many places there are that need one of these, and special kudos to those places with changing tables in the Mens room too!)
3. free WiFi

They say it’s better than the Urban Grind, which also has a good sized play area and free wifi- I’m looking forward to a whole lotta field trips.

Portland’s first amber alert ended today as a four year old boy was found safe in a Redding, California gas station.

You may have seen or heard the Amber Alert warnings tonight around five PM. The dynamic road signs and announcements on the radio ended tonight as Jason Martinez Contrera was found safe.

More at the Oregonian.

Portland School District board denied four separate charter school proposals at their board meeting this week.

Citing these charter schools as a threat to the ‘common good,’ Madison teacher Tom Conry discouraged the School Board from approving these charters.

He convinced the School Board that charter schools are part of a shift to privatization of our public schools, turning schools into commodities.

Here’s what I think; it’s not the school that is the commodity, but the education provided to the student. As we look to the future, we need to remember our obligation to our children (I mean that in a broad sense) to educate them and give them the tools to make the best choices given the chances they get.

A charter school leads to privatization only in the sense that schools may be competing with each other for students; and the way they should compete is with quality of service and with the tools they can offer our children.

How can this be a bad thing, where teachers and administrators have to find ways to better their offerings in the face of competition for brain-time?

This, then, is where the threat to the common good lies- in selfishly using legislation to keep the choices we offer our students down, we aggrandize ourselves at the expense of their futures.

Thanks to: Rob Kremer

The folks at Oregon College of Art & Craft say “Why shop at a department store?” Take time to enjoy this alternative holiday experience.

Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping and beat the retail crowds by attending the

Student Sale opening on Friday, November 25 from 7 to 9:30pm. The evening includes a wonderful selection of wine, hors d’oeuvres and live music. A $7.00 admission fee will be charged on the Friday night event only.

Admission on Saturday, November 26 from 10am-5pm and Sunday, November 27 from 10am-4pm are free and open to the public. All proceeds benefit the individual students and the Scholarship Fund at Oregon College of Art & Craft.

Community Cycling Center is currently conducting its annual Holiday Bike Drive, the center’s largest event of the year.

Partnered with over 45 area schools and family service organizations, they’re identifying children with the greatest need. This year’s goal is to provide 1000 kids with their very own bike and helmet.

For many of these kids, this bike they receive is their first ever. By donating bicycles your family no longer uses or hosting a bike donation drive, you can help too. Also, each bike and helmet combo costs about $50 to provide; so they will happily take your cash, too.

Enjoy Portland’s Premier holiday event as you stroll through an indoor forest of fantastically decorated trees, with activities for children and entertainment for everyone!

December 2-4, 10A-4P at the Oregon Convention Center. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children, kids two and under are free.

There will be over 100 trees and displays, boutiques, crafts and visits with Santa. Each of the first 1500 12 and Under kids each day will receive a new bear of their very own.

Thanksgiving Holiday