Portland Parents

Nike is sponsoring a 5K walk/run that gets money for our local schools physical education programs. It’s June 7th and the entry fee is $20 ( until May 28 ). Fifteen of this goes to your chosen school and the other five is a tee-shirt fee. There’s also a 1K walk option recommended for kids under 12. All kids will get a participation medal and a gift bag.

Sounds like a great way to get some exercise and to support our schools’ physical education programs?

More information and signup.

As a follow up to the Tinkering School post recently, it was brought to our attention that the Tinkering School was also written up by the openeducation.net staff; openeducation.net link.

Bob Compton, an Indianapolis venture-capitalist-turned-filmmaker, has produced a controversial new documentary called “2 Million Minutes” that looks at how American education falls short in today’s global economy.

What I saw in the K-12 schools absolutely shocked me in both India and China. … I became very concerned about the competitiveness of my own daughters’ education. ( Bob Compton on Good Morning America )

Sounds like the film is an interesting look, but it does have its critics.
source

A.K.A. Science (All Kids are Scientists) is a fun, hands-on after school science program for children in grades K-8. Our playful, yet structured activities encourage observation of the world through exploration, and help dispel the myth that science is difficult or uninteresting.

Classes meet once a week for one hour, in eight week sessions. The small classes (11-15 students) are taught by schoolteachers, parents, and other volunteers who receive complete training in each subject.

Our next semester begins in April, with students studying Weather and Natural Disasters. Please check the website for more information!

And congratulations to Shelley Clark!

The Wells Fargo Celebrity Spelling Bee held on Thursday, January 31st raised a total of $189,000 in vital funding for Schoolhouse Supplies, the award-winning Free Store for teachers in Portland. More than 500 guests gathered to watch Mayor Potter, James Jones, Stephanie Stricklen and other Portland celebrities spell their way to the top. All participants gave it a great effort, but it was 14-year-old Shelley Clark, the ’06 and ’07 Portland Tribune/Comcast Regional Spelling Bee Champion, that out-spelled Stephanie Schneiderman of Dirty Martini with the winning word “eupepsia” and took home the championship trophy.

The Schoolhouse Supplies site!

Portland Public Schools is having a celebration highlighting more than 100 schools, their staff, students and programs! It’s Feb 2, from 1 to 5 PM and at the Expo Center.

Highlights include: Neighborhood school information and resources, student performances, enrollment, transfer information, the transition years and an art exhibition!

The Montessori Institute Northwest is hosting a Parent Education Series
“Positive Parenting: What You Can do as a Parent” presented by Ginni Sackett.
February 13, 20, 27, 2008 from 6:30-8:30pm. Come to one or all.

Visit their website for details or call 503.963.8992.

Some people have asked me about getting their kids more contact with other kids their age and getting them involved in some “socialization” processes.

I read an interesting article on this topic recently.

If you homeschool in Portland, how do you help your kid get “friends their age?”

Did you know we ( Portland ) had a free store for PPS teachers? It’s called “Schoolhouse Supplies!” They’re having a month-long supply drive in August, and you’re invited to the kick-off party. ( August 1, 11AM-2PM Unitus Plaza, 1300 SW 6th Avenue map)

Guests of all ages can enjoy live bands, sweet treats, cool prizes, coloring contests, face painting, and more! All donations collected at this event and throughout the drive will be used to stock the free store for teachers at Schoolhouse Supplies.

What do they want? Well, of course they’ll take all school supplies, but they especially need Lined loose leaf paper, markers, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, pencils, spiral notebooks, glue sticks, bottled glue, scissors, rulers, and pencil sharpeners.

You can also drop your supply donations at the following Portland businesses: AAA Oregon, Fred Meyer, Columbia Sportswear, Jantzen Beach Super Center, OnPoint Credit Union, Unitus Community Credit Union, US Bank, or directly at Schoolhouse Supplies (2735 NE 82nd Avenue).

Already?

Her task here’s not even half-started!

She’s been here for about two years, the product of a long search. In fact, if I remember correctly, she almost didn’t take the job but had to be convinced with some extra money and benefits. And now, just after she announces some swooping changes to the school structure, she’s leaving for the Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation.

I can’t say as I blame her, it’s a pretty large honor to work for them. But I do believe she’s leaving her work incomplete.