Happy Spring Break!

SPRING BREAK NEXT WEEK!!

NO SCHOOL - 3/26 THRU 3/30

PARENT INVOLVEMENT SURVEY - Want to have your opinion count? Your voice heard? The Office of Student, Family and School Support, in conjunction with Community & Parents for Public Schools (CPPS), is conducting a Parent Involvement Survey. CPPS is an organization made up of parent volunteers throughout the District who care about parent involvement. Information gathered from this survey will help shape future policies and programs concerning parent involvement in Portland Public Schools. All parents are encouraged to take the survey, no matter how involved you are! We hope to gather a wide range of opinions from many different voices. Take the survey on-line at http://www.cppsportland.org and have your opinions really count. If you don't have access to the Internet or wish to take the survey in a language other than English, stop by the school office and pick up a paper copy of the survey (available in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, or Vietnamese). Completed surveys should be returned to the school office by April 13, 2007.

APRIL 12 IS A SCHOOL DAY FOR MAPLEWOOD, but not for other cluster schools - This is one of the days this year when our Trimester Calendar means that we are in session, but the quarterly schools have a planning day.

PROJECT SECOND WIND - We reached our Project Second Wind goal…and then some! In one week we collected 995 pounds of food and $97.10 (which is enough to buy 582 pounds of food). This brings our total “pounds” collected to 1,577!!! Thank you to our Student Council and parent volunteers Kath Axline and Theresa Fowler for helping with the annual food drive, and a big thank you to our generous students, families, and staff. The food and money collected will go a long way in helping fight hunger in our state! Jenny Morgan, Character Education Specialist

WALK/BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY COMING APRIL 11 - Keep this date on your calendar, when you and your children will be encouraged to walk or bike to school that day. There will be ideas and help, such as signs, on best routes to come to school, that will encourage us to be as physically active, and to keep carbon burning, at a low level that day. More specifics will come out after Spring Break.

LIFESKILL OF THE MONTH PERSERVERANCE - We have begun to study the LIFESKILL of Perseverance. The development of the LIFESKILL of Perseverance in childhood is critical because it is the basis for curiosity, determination, stamina, steadfastness, and academic achievement. Some ways that we will learn about this LIFESKILL include setting short- and long-term goals and reading stories about people in history or characters in fiction that have persevered. As this study begins, you can review some stories with your child about when he/she was a baby – stories that show how he/she persevered then to master an important skill plus some examples of ways your child perseveres now. Also share times in your life that this LIFESKILL has supported what you were doing. You can also brainstorm ideas for problem solving when your child seems “stumped” about what to do next.

CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK MINUTES AVAILABLE - We have now finished four public meetings around the core curriculum framework. We have promised the participants that the minutes will be available at the schools. To view the minutes, you may see a copy in Maplewood’s office, or visit the website http://www.otl.pps.k12.or.us/.docs/pg/11907. You can click on this and you can download the minutes from these meetings. Thanks and call me if you have any other questions. BrendaGustafson, Sr. Communication Officer, 916-3155, bgustafs@pps.k12.or.us

PARENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE - Parents for Public Schools is hosting its 6th annual conference on Saturday, April 21, from 8 am to 12:30 pm at Benson High School. Come network with parents from across the District, learn how others schools are increasing parent involvement, and get ideas you can bring back to your school! At the end of the morning, dialogue with PPS superintendent Vicki Phillips about what support parents need to help their children succeed. Co-sponsored by Portland Public Schools & the Portland Schools Foundation, this event is free. Childcare and translation services are available. Register On-line at http://www.cppsportland.org starting April 1 or contact CPPS at 503/220-0577.

Upcoming Events:

Mar 23 - Report Cards Come Home!

Mar 26-30 - SPRING BREAK

Apr 11 - Walk/Bike to School Day

Apr 12 - “Mask Works” Imago Theatre @ 1:00 pm

Apr 12 - PTA Meeting A 6:30 pm

Apr 13 - NO SCHOOL – Professional Development Day

Apr 14 - Plant Sale

Apr 16 - “Windows to the World” Will Hornyak Storyteller@ 9:00 am

Apr 24 - Run for the PLAYGROUND!

Apr 27/28 - Bookbaggers

May 4 - Legacy Leaf Painting @6:00 pm Cafeteria

Spring Will Be Here - Spirit Week Next Week!

NO SCHOOL FRIDAY - REMINDER: Maplewood students do NOT attend school Friday, as we are on a Trimester schedule and have a Teacher Planning Day. The rest of the Wilson Cluster Schools are on a quarterly system (except for Capitol Hill), so those schools will have students, but not Maplewood.

MAPLEWOOD WEEK STARTS THIS MONDAY WITH PAJAMA DAY! - Our Spirit Week will have people wearing Pajamas to school, and getting Maple Bars on Monday. Students and staff will be allowed to wear their pajamas that day, if they chose to; it will also be the traditional day that students/staff will be served a maple bar baked good. Mark your calendars for Tuesday being Good Deed Day and Maplewood Skate Night. Do a Good Deed and bring in something for a Towel Collection. Roller Skating is at Oaks Park from 6:30 to 8:30 pm; siblings and friends are welcome – we have the place to ourselves! The admission with proceeds going to Maplewood PTA. Wednesday is Maplewood Wear Day. Everyone is encouraged to wear clothing that displays Maplewood’s name on it (it can be hand designed as well as a commercially printed shirt, if you like). Be sure to Dress Up on Thursday in your best dress up clothes. Friday will have people wearing Hats to school. So be sure to wear your favorite or silliest hat that day!

PORTLAND METRO CONCERT BAND GIVES MAPLEWOOD ANOTHER FREE CONCERT: MONDAY, MARCH 19 AT 10:00 A.M. – For the last several years, this accomplished group has donated their time to give our students a free concert, giving them “up front and close” a fine taste of concert band tradition; some of our students will again be performing with them in our gym. You are invited to attend as well!

AFTER-SCHOOL DRAMA WORKSHOP AT MAPLEWOOD THIS SPRING - Short Plays and Skits for Grades K-2. Tuesdays, April 17th-June 5th from 2:20-3:20 p.m. $85 per student. Students work with pantomime, short skits, storytelling and theatre games to learn acting skills. Registration forms were sent home, will be coming home again after Spring Break, or available for pick-up in the office. Register by Friday, April 13^th. For more information, call The Young Players at 503.624.7499 or http://www.theyoungplayers.com/

ROBERT GRAY MIDDLE SCHOOL'S 5TH GRADE PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT - Will be on April 26th, 7:00 P.M., Robert Gray Cafeteria, 5505 S.W. 23rd Avenue (off of S.W. 25th & Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy). Visit classrooms, meet the Sixth Grade Team, and find out about next year’s program! (503) 916-5676

SUNDBOM’S MOVING TO SWEDEN YARD SALE!!

7501 SW 51^ST Avenue(directly behind the portable building at Maplewood)

For Maplewood families only: Thursday, March 22 from 2:30-5:00pm

Open to general public: Friday, March 23^rd from 10am to 5pm; Saturday, March 24^th from 10am to 4pm; Sunday, March 25^th from 10am to 4 pm

25% of the total sales will go to Maplewood Elementary School, the playground fund or where it’s most needed!!

DO THE DOUBLE WHAMMY!! AN IDEA FROM A PTA MEMBER:

Here is an easy way to add money to our school PTA and Foundation funds. Though Albertson’s does not participate in our Scrip program, they do have their own school support program tied to their Preferred Card. Make sure your Preferred Card is linked to Maplewood. We will get a contribution each time you make a purchase with your Preferred Card.

Washington Mutual started their WaMoola for Schools program a few years ago. If you bank with WAMU, make sure your debit card is signed up and linked to Maplewood.

When you purchase groceries at Albertson’s with your Preferred Card and pay with your WAMU debit card, you have just scored a double whammy for Maplewood. Both companies contribute from one shopping trip!

Sandy Hunnicutt, PTA Member

READ-ALOUD-ATHON PLEDGE SHEETS - Please return Read-Aloud-Athon pledges by Monday, March 19TH. Prizes will be awarded on Monday, April 2nd. Thank you for your support of Maplewood. Lynn Barkley, Coordinator

Upcoming Events:

Mar 16 - Teacher Planning Day – NO SCHOOL

Mar 19-23 - Maplewood Spirit Week!

Mar 19 - Portland Metro Concert Band at 10:00 a.m.

Mar 19 - Pajama Day and Maple Bar Day

Mar 20 - Do a Good Deed Day and Skate Night

Mar 21 - Maplewood Wear Day

Mar 22 - Dress Up Day

Mar 23 - Hat Day

Mar 23 - Report Cards Come Home!

Mar 26-30 - SPRING BREAK

March 2nd Principal Notes

PROJECT SECOND WIND - Each month thousands of children in our state receive emergency food assistance through Oregon Food Bank Network. Project Second Wind gives students an important opportunity to aid their peers and learn about the issue of hunger. March 5 – 9^th, Student Council member are assisting their classes with collecting food and money for Project Second Wind. For every $1 donated, Oregon Food Bank can collect and distribute 6 pounds of food that has a $7 value and funds programs that address the root causes of hunger. Or you can help by donating needed food items like tuna, pasta, rice, canned beans, and canned fruit. Let’s make this year’s food drive a huge success!!

GARDEN COMITTE MEETING - The Garden Committee will meet Wed., March 7, at 7 p.m. in the library. Come and find out spring plans for the gardens (and teachers' ideas for the classroom beds). Green and brown thumbs alike welcome!

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN! - Save the date and buy your tickets: Robert Gray Middle School students will present "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" on May 17 at 6:30PM, May 18 at 7:00PM, and May 19 at 7:00PM. This wonderful musical is made possible by a grant from the PPS Foundation's First Octave Fund and the RGMS PTA. The musical is appropriate for all ages. Tickets are $5 for students, $7 for adults, or $20 for a family pack (up to 5 people). We highly recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance as seating is limited. Please e-mail Rosemary Schwimmer at rjschwimmer@comcast.net or call her at (503) 484-6921 to place your order.

REMINDER - MAPLEWOOD'S ANNUAL READ-ALOUD-ATHON THURSDAY, MARCH 8TH, AT 9 a.m. - Maplewood's Annual Read-Aloud-Athon will be held Thursday morning, March 8th, at 9 a.m. Students will read for 15 minutes and volunteers will tally the number of pages each student read and record the number on the pledge sheet. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENT BRINGS THEIR PLEDGE FORM TO SCHOOL NEXT THURSDAY, MARCH 8TH. If you have misplaced your pledge form you can: (1) pick-up a pledge form in the Maplewood office, or (2) email Lynn Barkley at lynn1122@earthlink.net and she will send you a pledge form, or (3) just write the name of your student and their sponsor(s) and the pledge amounts on a piece of paper and have your student bring it to school on Thursday, March 8th. Remember, all the money we raise will be used to help Maplewood. Thank you for your support.

BOOKS, TOYS, AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE – The SW Community Center, Clare Hogan, Merri Hansen (former Maplewood students) and PSU students are gathering donated items for the Portland Rescue Mission, Women’s and Children’s Shelter, and the Police Activities League. Please bring donated items (which can be things like toys, household goods, etc.) to Maplewood and put in the bin in the hall just inside the main doors or drop off at the SWCC. They will be collecting donations through March 9^th. Thank you!!

TWO ADDITIONAL DAYS IN JUNE – Please adjust your calendar, as the School Board has now made June 15^th the last day.

MAPLEWOOD ARBORETUM TREE CARE CLASS ON TUESDAY MAY 8^TH FROM 7:00 TO 8:30 PM - Your help is needed to care for the 16 newly planted trees at Maplewood Elementary School. Planted in Spring of 2006 these 16 trees need to be watered by the community this summer. We will be organizing the watering schedule as well as re-staking, mulching and labeling the trees on May 8^th. Please sign up to help tree care for these unique trees. Contact Maplewood Neighborhood Tree Liaison, Vittoria Palazzi, at 503-452-8154 for more information.

Upcoming Events:

Mar 5-9 - Project 2^nd Wind Food Drive

Mar 8 - Read-Aloud-Athon – AM, All Grades

Mar 8 - PTA Meeting – 6:15 pm

Mar 11 - Daylight Saving Time Begins

Mar 15 - Grading Period Ends

Mar 16 - Teacher Planning Day – NO SCHOOL

Mar 17 - St. Patrick’s Day

Mar 19-23 - Maplewood Spirit Week!

Mar 23 - Elementary/Middle School Transfer Deadline

Mar 26-30 - SPRING BREAK!