Portland Parents

Do you huddle over the radio first thing in the morning to learn about your school closures? Did you know that PPS closed the west hills elementary schools today? (Skyline, Forest Park, E/W Sylvan)

Don’t forget, you can sign up for instant notifications with the Flash Alert system.

The Youth Pass program lets high schoolers use their student id as a bus pass. You may have heard that this program was to expire at the end of 2011. However, we’ve just learned some great news! Superintendent Carole Smith, Mayor Adams and TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane announced an agreement to keep the Youth Pass program in place for the full school year. Youth Pass provides bus passes to 13,000 students in PPS high schools. For more details see the news story on the PPS web site!

When I started this site, I was unhappy with the amount of information I was able to find about things to do with my kids in our town. I’m still unhappy about it. A few times a month, someone will email me a question about opening up a forum – but I’m pretty reluctant to do that. I don’t have time to keep monitoring it and keep spam shut down there. I’d like a friendly little site where people can talk to one another about deals they find, events they’re going to or just to reach out and get some community.

Do you have an opinion? Should we branch out somewhat? Where are you finding yourself spending your time out here in the internet wilds?

Toy Story 3, winner of Academy Awards® is coming to the ice in the Rose Garden at the end of October!

Inspired by the #1 animated movie of all time, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from the other two films in the series, your favorite characters are skating their little hearts out in seven performances. Catch the heroic action when Buzz, Woodie, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the destructive and adorable kids of SunnySide Daycare! You’ll also see Ken and Lots-o-Huggin’ Bear!

It’s the biggest Toy Story experience ever, including Buzz’s battle with Emperor Zurg and a hoe-down.

We’ve been to a few Disney on Ice productions. They’re always great. The costuming, the figure skaters, the dances and swirls. We’re excited about Toy Story 3. As a father, this movie moved me to tears, and I can’t wait to see how the Disney On Ice team handles it.

It’s playing:

• Thursday, October 27th – 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, October 28th – 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 29th – 12:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 30th – 1:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.

And tickets are $17, $21, $36 and $62 unless you see it on opening night in which case they’ll be $11 each (not valid on premium seating, limit 10 tickets). Tickets are available at the Rose Quarter Box Office, or Safeway/TicketsWest.

Parents probably know what their kids are eating for breakfast and for dinner, but do they know what their children are getting for lunch each day? Typically, kids get about 30% to 50% of their calories while at school, and this year, there’s likely some big changes on the lunch line.

This year, not only are many cafeterias serving more whole grains and fresh vegetables, but also great-tasting flavored milk with fewer calories and less added sugar than in the past. Due to reformulations by the milk industry, on average, school chocolate milk is projected to have just 31 calories more than white milk and 38% less added sugar than five years ago.

Local registered dietitian Ruth Carey is available to discuss these changes and to arm Portland area moms and dads with the facts on how to help their kids
navigate the “new” lunch line. Feel free to visit her website (click on her name).