PDX Parent November 2022

FEATURES

Drawing it Out

A look at what worked — and what didn’t — during Portland Public Schools’ boundary redrawing and enrollment balancing process for Southeast elementary and middle schools.

By Jade Chan.

Snow

Wanna go walking (or skiing or sledding or tubing) in a winter wonderland? Check out our winter adventuring

featuring more than 20 spots to play in the snow!

By Erin J. Bernard.

DEPARTMENTS

Editor’s

Kids’ books from Portland Book Festival authors; sobering new statistics on Oregon’s student proficiency rates; and good news for kids on the Oregon Health Plan.

Family

Hollywood’s family-friendly Pono Brew Labs brings an Aloha vibe to the brewpub experience.

By Denise Castañon.

Bubbles, Mozart, a veterans’ parade, holiday lights and so much more!

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Setting Boundaries

Before becoming a parent, I didn’t realize how big a part of my life my children’s school would become. It is a hub for my family; we’ve made innumerable memories there and found friends, volunteer opportunities and community. I’ve advocated strongly for the school on several occasions. And that’s how one of our feature articles came about.

I assigned Drawing It Out on page 10 after several exhausting months following the Portland Public Schools’ Southeast Guiding Coalition (SEGC) — a volunteer group comprising parents, educators and community members — tasked with working with PPS to balance and improve enrollment at 17 Southeast elementary and middle schools. One of those schools is where my own kids, ages 10 and 7, attend and have been taught by truly excellent educators. I understand the need for PPS to redraw the boundaries in Portland. One of the primary goals was undoubtedly crucial: Making sure kids get equitable resources no matter the school they attend. I grasp that it’s an extremely complicated process, and that not everyone gets exactly what they want. But from my standpoint as a parent in Southeast, the execution did not play out well. At times it felt like my kids’ school was pitted against neighboring schools. And that’s a pretty lousy feeling.

Reporter Jade Chan found I was not the only parent to feel that way. Parent volunteers who served on the SEGC had a lot of feedback about the process. After reading the article, I hope parents will now have a better understanding of the process — so when the boundary works starts for high schools, more parents, caregivers and community members will get involved. And I hope the voices of SEGC reps who talked to Chan will resonate with district officials so that going forward they will strive to listen to coalition representatives to make the enrollment balancing process more equitable. Portland’s got great students, teachers and parents who all deserve a fair outcome. And since finding the right school for your kids (your whole family really!) is so important, we produce an annual Education Guide, page 17. For parents who are considering options beyond their neighborhood schools, our guide is an incredible resource. You’ll find information about local private schools, language immersion programs, preschools and much more.

for the long days and short years

PDX Parent P.O. Box 13660 Portland, OR 97213-0660

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Editor

Denise Castañon, 503-922-0893 denise.castanon@pdxparent.com

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Tiffany Hill tiffany.hill@pdxparent.com

Art Director

Tiffany Howard tiffany.howard@pdxparent.com

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Accountant

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PDX Parent is published monthly (except July) by Northwest Parent, LLC., and is copyright 2021 Northwest Parent, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

ON OUR COVER

Photographer Michal McCamman fell in love with photography as a 12-year-old and now sees her camera almost like a sketchpad — something with the ability to document the day-to-day moments of her family’s life. She’s also the volunteer editor of the Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School’s yearbook and our cover shot is one she took at the school. Her two oldest sons graduated from the school and her youngest son is in 6th grade there. “When kids sit down with their yearbooks and see themselves along with their friends printed on a page and reflect on and remember their year, I think it gives them a more concrete sense of time and place and validates the importance of their education at our school,” she says. “They realize it is important enough that we document it.” She also took the photo on the internal cover of our Education Guide on page 17. Get in touch with her at michal.mccamman@gmail.com.

PDX Parent is distributed free of charge throughout the Portland, OR / Vancouver, WA metropolitan area.

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Although every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of published material, Northwest Parent, LLC., and its agents and employees cannot be held responsible for the use or misuse of any information contained herein. The contents of PDX Parent and its website are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or treatment.

Welcome back to checkups for kids.

If your child has missed out on health care over the past few years, our providers are ready to welcome them back. Well-child visits, screenings, immunizations, teeth cleanings, youth mental health and more. Best of all, if you’re a CareOregon member, it’s free.

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Bookshelf: Blue Ribbon books

This fall, Kim Tano and Madeline Shier, the children’s book buyers at Powell’s City of Books, spotlight the talents of some of Portland’s award-winning children’s authors as a reminder that the Portland Book Festival is on Saturday, November 5. Find more info about the festival at: literary-arts.org/PBF. Look for these titles at the Burnside, Hawthorne or Cedar Hills Powell’s locations, or order online at powells.com.

Every Bird a Prince by Jenn Reese

Portland local Reese — a master of middle-grade literary fantasy — follows her Oregon Book Awardwinning A Game of Fox & Squirrels with a gorgeous meditation on gender identity and sexuality, set against the backdrop of a quest to save the fantastical forest kingdom hidden in preteen Eren’s local woods. For ages 10 and up. $17.99.

Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland

Ireland’s third alt-historical fantasy for ages 13 and up (following her award-winning Dread Nation duology) puts a magical spin on socioeconomic and racial inequities of the late 1930s. When young Black mage Laura joins the Bureau of the Arcane’s Conservation Corps, she’s sent to examine a site of magical Blight — and uncovers a magical working reminiscent of those done in the past to kill Black mages for their power. $18.99.

Amah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Greanias, illustrated by Tracy Subisak

Amah Faraway, illustrated by Portland artist Tracy Subisak, tells the story of granddaughter Kylie visiting her grandmother in faraway Taiwan. When Kylie explores Taipei, the night markets, family banquets and hot springs, she embraces the unfamiliar culture, food, language and customs along with her kind grandmother. And when Kylie returns to San Francisco, video chats with her Amah mean so much more. Perfect for ages 3 and up. $18.99.

Invisible by Chrstina Diaz Gonzalez, illustrated by Gabriella Epstein

In Invisible, Sara, Dayara, Miguel, Nico and Jorge are five very different Spanishspeaking students forced to complete their middle school’s community service hours together — but they may have more in common than they realize. This Breakfast Club-inspired graphic novel has text in both Spanish and English for a unique and educational reading experience. Perfect for ages 8 and up. $12.99.

Playlist: Singin’ the Blues

Into the Little Blue House, the fifth album for children by Chicago duo Wendy and DB (Wendy Morgan and Darryl “DB” Boggs), delivers the truly excellent combo of world-class Blues musicianship and kid-friendly lyrics. Morgan and Boggs’ vocals masterfully compliment each other: She’s cool silk to his rich, warm velvet tones. Just about every track on the album is a treat, but superb guest vocals from Ivy Ford on Women of the Blues and Time to Shine make those two songs stand out. Don’t miss Feel Holler; it’s part history lesson, part social-emotional learning. And the duo’s Blues cover of If I Had a Hammer is probably one of the best versions of the old song that’s around. Find out more at wendyanddb.com — Denise Castañon

HARPERCOLLINS

BLOOMSBURY

SCHOLASTIC

MACMILLAN

Chalkboard: The Gap Widens

PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT PROFICIENCY BY DISTRICT

Sobering statistics released in September from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) show a sizable drop in student proficiency of reading and writing and mathematics from pre-pandemic levels. And students from groups who typically scored below the state average — like Black and Latinx students and those living in poverty — saw even greater dips below the average. Only 43.6% of all Oregon students across all grades met proficiency levels in English language arts. And when looking at all grades, only 24.3% of Black students, 26.9 % Latinx students, and 21.1% of homeless students ranked proficient in reading and writing. In math, less than a third of Oregon students met proficiency levels for their grades. Only 12.9% of Black students, 15.1% of Latinx students and 10.8% of homeless students ranked as proficient.

In the David Douglas, Beaverton, Lake Oswego and Reynolds school districts, the percentage of total students proficient in reading and writing also dropped about 10

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced ground-breaking measures to help Oregon families access health care, food, housing and more through Medicaid. The state filed waivers and won approval with the federal government to make changes to the state’s Medicaid program, the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). After the pandemic-induced public health emergency officially ends, all children up to age 6 who qualify for and enroll in OHP will now be continuously enrolled. Those 6 and older, will also be continuously enrolled for two years, versus the pre-pandemic one-year enrollments.

percent from the 2018-2019 school year. In Portland Public Schools (PPS), the percentage of students proficient in English language arts dropped as well, but not nearly as sharply. In the 2018-19 school year, 58% of students ranked as proficient and in the 2021-22 school year, 54.7% ranked proficient. David Douglas, Beaverton, Lake Oswego and Reynolds saw similar drops in math proficiency. And again PPS students' proficiency saw only small dips, down to 43.8% in 2021-22 versus 45.8% in 2018-19.

“The assessment results are a call to action for Oregon to keep advancing the programs we know meet our students’ needs,” ODE Director Colt Gill says. “As expected, the pandemic had an impact on learning in Oregon and across the country. Thanks to lawmakers passing the Student Success Act, and the agency’s implementation of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund, additional mental health and wellbeing supports, summer learning and other crucial programs providing engaging instruction and boosting mental health have been implemented.” — D.C.

The state of Oregon also filed and won approval of a Medicaid waiver that allows Oregon to use OHP funds for housing, utilities and food for homeless people and those at-risk of homelessness. Oregon is the first state along with Massachusetts where food and housing will be treated as a Medicaid benefit.

And finally, Medicaid can now cover air conditioners, air filters and temporary housing for medically vulnerable people on OHP who are impacted by things such as wildfire smoke or extreme heat. These waivers come with $1.1 billion in funding from the federal government and a $500 million state investment over five years. OHA intends to start implementation in 2024, but continuous OHP coverage for children younger than 6 will start as soon as the public health emergency ends. Find out more at oregon.gov/oha/HSD/Medicaid-Policy/Pages/Changes.aspx. — D.C.

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Ask Dr. Baynham

Q: My kid wants to try out for his school’s basketball team. Why is it necessary for kids playing in school sports to undergo a physical?

A: The sports physical is a little different than a well visit, but equally important. It also provides an opportunity to update vaccines and check in on mental health. While a yearly well visit is comprehensive, the sports physical adds a detailed family history to look for risk factors of sudden cardiac death, athletes at increased risk of certain injuries, and females at risk of developing female athlete triad, a syndrome involving disordered eating, irregular menstrual cycles and eventually osteoporosis.

Most athletes are cleared at the visit, but some may need a screening EKG or a visit with a pediatric cardiologist if risk factors are identified. The sports physical is best done with

Gear Guide: Tip-top Hats

Keep your kiddo cuddly warm with one of these cozy and adorably cute winter hats.

Holiday Sweater Knit Beanie by Hanna Andersson

Embrace winter with this cute and festive cottonknit hat. The best part: From baby to grown-ups, it comes in sizes to fit the whole family. $40. At hannaandersson.com.

the pediatrician, as this is the provider who likely knows your family and child’s health history best.

It’s recommended to have a sports physical done six to eight weeks before the start of the season so that there is time to complete any additional follow ups. The best way to stay on top of this is to ask your pediatrician to complete the sports physical during the yearly well exam. Then, when sports season rolls around, instead of fumbling the forms you’ll have time to practice your touchdown dance or take a victory lap. Game on!

Pediatrician, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and mom of two, Allison Baynham, M.D., knows what it takes to raise healthy, resilient children. Come bond, share your struggles and team with her for great care at Metropolitan Pediatrics in Tigard.

Navy Check Pom Beanie by Blueberry Hill

Big checks and a big pom pom make this hat extra cute on little heads! In baby to preschooler sizes. $32. At Black Wagon, 3964 N Mississippi Ave. and blackwagon.com

Animal Print Beanie by JK Girls

Let your kid’s inner cat roar with these adorable cheetah-print hats from a Black-mom-owned, Portland-based company. The organic cotton/acrylic blend yarn is oh-so-soft. Fits ages 3 and older. Available in several colors. $10. At jk-girls.com.

Waffle Knit Pixie Hat by Rylee + Cru

From the seed stitch to the pom pom to the chin ties, the sweet details on this classic baby hat set it apart. In baby and toddler sizes. Available in two colors. $37.99. At the Bull and the Bee, 7044 SE Milwaukie Ave. and bullandbeebaby.com. — D.C.

HANNA

ANDERSSON

BLUEBERRY

HILL

JK GIRLS

GAIL PARK

Sometimes it’s the small things that make life so sweet. Pack up the kids and head to these Portland-area bakeries for a pick-me-up in the form of delightfully tasty baked goods.

1. Oyatsupan Bakers (pictured right) These Japanese baked goodies not only taste delicious, but they are also adorable. This Beaverton bakeshop is a favorite of the PDX Parent staff and their families, including the chocolate coronet — with googly eyes! — Japanese-style cheesecake and custardfilled buns. Oyatsupan.com 2. Ken’s Artisan Bakery is legendary in these parts for its simultaneously crusty and springy loaves of bread, but the cookies, canelé pastries and the sandwiches are kid-approved pleasers. Kensartisan.com. 3. Craving a croissant? Then Twisted is the bakery for you. From traditional butter or chocolate croissants, to seasonal flavors of the trendy cruffin — a cross between a croissant and a muffin — there’s doughy goodness that appeals to everyone. Bonus: There are now two locations of Twisted, the original spot in Northeast on Broadway and the newer Sellwood-Moreland location. Twistedcroissant.com. 4. Two words: French macarons. Find these bite-size treats at JinJu Patisserie on North Williams — and many more almost-too-pretty-to-eat pastries. Jinjupatisserie. com 5. Billed at the “craziest cookie shop in town,” PDX Cookie Co. in Montavilla lives up to the hype with its big mouth cookies that are stuffed, layered, chocolate-dipped and more. Get ready for the ultimate sugar rush. Pdxcookieco.com. — Tiffany Hill

BAKERIES

Looking for more local treats? Visit pdxparent.com/restaurant-holiday-treats for more sweet tooth inspo!

DENISE CASTAÑON

DRAWING IT OUT

BY JADE CHAN

Southeast Portland schools are on the verge of major change.

And with change, especially when it involves kids, comes a broad range of emotions. In 2020, Portland Public Schools (PPS) announced its charge to begin the massive challenge of balancing enrollment and school programming, starting with Portland’s most populous quadrant. The Enrollment and Program Balancing (EPB) process garnered plenty of strong feelings and thoughts among parents and community members on how it went and how it can work better in the future. These changes are just the beginning of boundary shifts across PPS, with the next phase addressing high school enrollments after PPS hires a new deputy superintendent.

PPS’ original plan was to convert K-8 schools in Southeast to K-5 elementary schools and 6-8 comprehensive middle schools. Their intention was to support equitable programming (such as robust middle school offerings for all PPS students) and address under- and over-enrollment in these schools.

The process involved two phases, with Phase 1 intended to determine which schools would feed into Kellogg Middle School and convert Harrison Park K-8 to a middle school, and Phase 2 was to adjust boundaries for PK-5 schools. Along the way, the goalposts shifted: Phase 1 ended up addressing only Kellogg’s enrollment and bumped Harrison Park’s

conversion to Phase 2, which also shifted to finding a new home for Harrison Park’s K-5 and increasing enrollment at Lane Middle School.

Families whose kids attend Arleta, Creston, Lent and Marysville elementary schools were the first to feel the effects of this multifaceted process. In January 2021, the PPS Board of Education approved the conversion of these four schools from K-8s to K-5s, as well as moving the schools’ students in grades 6-8 to Kellogg.

This past May, almost a year and a half later, the board approved additional sweeping changes to attendance areas in Southeast Portland schools. These changes affected 17 elementary and middle schools, two dual language immersion (DLI) programs at six of those schools, and, most important, thousands of students and their families for years to come. See “Does Your School Face Changes?” on page 14 for more details.

Some families welcome these changes that PPS believes will strengthen Southeast schools, but others question why these changes have to be made while we are still emerging from a pandemic. And some appreciate that the process involved PPS families from start to finish while others feel disillusioned and disappointed after two years of trying to determine how to best serve all students.

CONVENING THE SOUTHEAST GUIDING COALITION

In spring 2020, PPS convened more than 30 parents, 18 principals, and two high school students to form the Southeast Guiding Coalition (SEGC). The volunteer group, which devoted more than 50 hours to meetings alone, was tasked with reviewing boundary change and program relocation options, listening to community feedback, and crafting a recommendation that then Deputy Superintendent Claire Hertz would use to draft her recommendation to the board.

During Phase 2, the coalition, which saw some turnover and the addition of a few community members, was given weighty tasks, including centering racial equity and social justice, along with middle school redesign and balanced enrollment. Starting in May 2021, and over the course of about seven months, they met 19 times, pored over large amounts of data, reviewed 15 proposals, and considered community feedback.

In the end, the SEGC did not reach a consensus. Sixteen members — a majority of the coalition — submitted a dissenting opinion explaining that the final proposal didn’t meet the board’s own goals of balancing middle school enrollment, adding that PPS stifled them from considering other key options.

We recap the (often contentious) boundary redrawing and enrollment balancing process for Portland Public Schools’ Southeast elementary and middle schools. Volunteer participants share their experiences and ideas for how the process can run more smoothly and equitably when the district turns to the next phase: balancing high school enrollments.

dissenters wrote, “This has created a limited framework for the entire process which prioritized protecting the most affluent, predominantly white schools in Southeast Portland, and placed the burden of disruption and change on those the process purports to be in support of.”

“The final result was pretty much the best that it can be given the circumstances,” says Sellwood Middle School and Lewis Elementary School representative Micah Chu. “But it was definitely not perfect.”

“It was disappointing that the coalition was not able to come together with consensus around a solution in Phase 2,” says SEGC co-chair and Hosford Middle School representative Beth Cavanaugh. “However, in the end, Southeast will have a robust system of middle schools to meet the needs of kids in this region, which is awesome. I’m hopeful that equitable resources and opportunities will reach every middle-school kid, regardless of what building they attend.”

“From the very beginning, before a coalition is formed, more awareness makes it more likely that people will get involved,” Sellwood Middle School and Lewis Elementary School representative Micah Chu says. “Instead, halfway through, communities start saying, ‘Wait ... what’s going on?’”

Atkinson Elementary School representative Harmony Quiroz is less optimistic. “I don’t think schools are actually balanced,” she says. “K-5s will continue to experience instability in staffing because the minimum threshold is far too small to ensure robust class sizes. Kellogg [Middle School] will be overenrolled and Harrison Park [Middle School] will be under enrolled. With significant budget cuts coming next year, continued decreasing enrollment, and a high school process that hasn’t even started, I think we’ve actually caused more harm than good in changing boundaries the way we did.”

Arleta Elementary representative Sondra Blair says PPS’s decision to move on despite SEGC not reaching consensus was eye opening. “It basically told us what we had begun to suspect: On some level we were there so PPS could say that they had sought our input,” she says. Blair believes that the whole process should have started with “groups coming up with their best ideas, an ability to model those ideas, and moving forward with the best plan.”

That’s along the lines of what parent Josh Cody expected when the principal of the Creative Science School (CSS) asked him to represent their community. “PPS had just adopted new equity language, and I thought, ‘We can do something cool here in Portland,’” he says. “But that’s not what happened.”

Atkinson representative Quiroz’s feelings had also changed by the end of Phase 2. “I felt like it was important to be there to represent my community and to be able to inform my community of the changes that were happening,” she says. “In terms of the process, the district disregarded votes by the committee, dissenting voices among staff, and manipulated students and families to achieve their ends. I felt disenfranchised, disrespected, and like my time and my community’s time (had been) wasted.”

PROCESS SHORTCOMINGS

Coalition members gave countless hours of their own time to attend not only coalition meetings but also additional meetings with their school communities to help keep them informed of all the moving parts. Woodstock Elementary School representative Eddie Wang commends PPS “for taking on the gargantuan task of involving community members, even though it would have been much easier to carry out this process internally.” And Chu, the Sellwood and Lewis representative, appreciated how having the coalition, district staff, and a data analyst and modelers meeting together, albeit virtually, allowed everyone to communicate in real time. “Human voices and stories are important to this process, but having actual data is also important in the decision making,” he says.

But CSS parent Josh Cody said that some of it felt like a shell game. “If there are enough moving parts, people won’t notice if we land on something unsatisfactory,” he says.

SEGC co-chair Beth Cavanaugh appreciated PPS’s targeted community engagement in Southeast Portland through outreach to communities of color and impacted school communities, but she notes that these engagement efforts need further refinements, such as scheduling meetings at times that work for communities, ensuring adequate translation services, and creating opportunities for communities to engage and ask questions.

As they were, PPS’s engagement and outreach efforts left many families feeling broadsided, ignored and dismissed. This was particularly the case with Lent Elementary. On May 24, the evening of the board vote, a large number of Lent families and students spoke in person, virtually and in recorded

public statements against the final proposal that changed the elementary school into a whole-school dual-language program. (As of press time, the PPS board was scheduled to vote on where the Lent neighborhood students would be placed and whether or not they’d move to that new school for the 202324 school year.)

Many SEGC members also cited PPS’ non-negotiables as a frustrating factor that limited their work. These included Creative Science remaining a K-8, and Harrison Park K-5 moving to the Clark Elementary building (where CSS is housed), and PPS’s decision to only include schools near Lane and Harrison Park.

“All Southeast schools should have been included … to increase positive outcomes in the work,” one member wrote in the SEGC Phase 2 process review. “The optics of leaving out the wealthiest schools was horrible, regardless of what intention the board had for doing so.”

“The exclusion of inner Southeast schools — schools that are overwhelmingly white, higher socioeconomic status and overenrolled — from the process essentially negated the RESJ [Racial Equity and Social Justice] Lens through which we were supposed to steer the process and instead left outer Southeast schools to fight over scraps to fill their enrollment numbers,” Arleta representative Blair says.

Wang, the Woodstock representative, agrees. “Many of those inner Southeast schools are also overcrowded, but the fact is these wealthier schools were spared any disruptions during this process,” he says. “It just does not look good, especially when we were tasked to put racial and socioeconomic equity in the forefront of our decision making.”

Atkinson representative Quiroz feels that PPS put up roadblocks that prevented SEGC members from having a meaningful role in the process. “The district’s original guardrails and non-negotiables sent us down a path in which we spent months on program placement (such as where to house CSS) and had little to no time at the end to talk about boundary lines,” she says. “And when the nonnegotiables shifted, there was little to even talk about because it created such rigid lines that we ultimately couldn’t actually engage in a meaningful way.”

“The exclusion of inner Southeast schools — schools that are overwhelmingly white, higher socioeconomic status and overenrolled — from the process essentially negated the RESJ [Racial Equity and Social Justice] Lens through which we were supposed to steer the process and instead left outer Southeast schools to fight over scraps to fill their enrollment numbers,” says Arleta representative Sondra Blair.

Does YOUR SCHOOL Face Changes?

Fall 2023 will see the implementation of Phase 2 of SE Enrollment and Program Balancing, which opens Clark Elementary School (the current site of Creative Science School) and Harrison Park Middle School; changes the boundaries of 11 elementary schools (Arleta, Atkinson, Bridger, Creston, Glencoe, Lewis, Marysville, Vestal, Whitman, Woodmere and Woodstock) and five middle schools (Hosford, Kellogg, Lane, Mt. Tabor and Roseway Heights); relocates CSS to Bridger; Bridger’s Spanish DLI to Lent, Mt. Tabor’s Spanish DLI to Kellogg, Harrison Park’s K-5 Mandarin DLI to Clark, and Hosford’s 6-8 Mandarin DLI to Harrison Park; and provides neighborhood school options for families in Bridger’s attendance boundary who do not wish to join the CSS focus option.

(See PPS’s web page for SE Enrollment & Program Balancing implementation [pps.net/Page/19890], which includes a Check Your Address interactive map where you can find your child/children’s school assignment[s] beginning in fall 2023. Boundary changes will affect next year’s kindergarteners and 6th graders only [with a few exceptions]; students in other grades may stay at their current school through the highest grade and, through the transfer process, their younger siblings may join them.)

“All Southeast schools should have been included … to increase positive outcomes in the work,” one member wrote in the SEGC Phase 2 process review. “The optics of leaving out the wealthiest schools was horrible, regardless of what intention the board had for doing so.”

Another concern SEGC members had was whether PPS could truly center BIPOC voices and BIPOC participation in the coalition, citing multiple barriers to access.

“It was essentially an unpaid, parttime job if your school was one slated to experience significant change,” Blair, the Arleta representative, says. “PPS claims to want to center BIPOC students and to apply a RESJ lens and include more families from immigrant, BIPOC, and lower socioeconomic communities yet has such high time-commitment requirements, short turnarounds of materials, and a lack of resources for reaching the community.”

Language was another barrier for nonEnglish speaking families, and PPS struggled to provide translated materials in a timely manner. And although PPS offered feedback sessions in several languages, they were often difficult for non-English speakers to access, whether because they were held at an inconvenient time or because of lack of access to appropriate technology, particularly during the pandemic shutdown, when all meetings were virtual.

In the SEGC debrief, one member wrote that “it was challenging to be a person of color on this committee. There were pivotal moments when it felt like the experience was centered in whiteness, where data overtook perspective.” Another says that the experience was “different for those who do not speak English fluently” and that there “could have been other opportunities for connecting with families. … In the BIPOC communities, personal connections would have been better than connecting virtually.”

NEXT STEPS, WITH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

PPS still has a long way to go to balance enrollment across the district. Several high schools are overcrowded and while the district has started the move away from K-8 schools, it still has 10 such schools (four of which are focus-option schools) left. But PPS says there’s no timeline in place

to continue this work, especially since Deputy Superintendent Claire Hertz, who spearheaded this process, has retired.

“The project will commence after a new deputy superintendent arrives,” says PPS Project Manager Megan Salvador. “Unfortunately, I do not have a specific date for that.”

In the meantime, coalition members have suggestions on how to improve the process when PPS picks up where it left off. In addition to improving BIPOC representation, SEGC members say that PPS should create its nonnegotiables with a coalition, rather than for it. Chu, the Sellwood and Lewis representative, believes that if SEGC had known at the start about not including Abernathy, Llewellyn, Grout and Duniway elementary schools, the coalition would not have agreed to move forward unless they could look at all Southeast schools.

Some coalition members also called for improved communication that shares boundary redraw intentions with all families from the start, and that communications to all community members, not just those on the coalition, should include enrollment numbers, data, and how their schools will be affected.

“From the very beginning, before a coalition is formed, more awareness makes it more likely that people will get involved,” Chu says. “Instead, halfway through, communities start saying, ‘Wait ... what’s going on?’”

CSS parent Josh Cody agrees. “PPS needs to drum up communication early within schools themselves,” he says. “This is something kids should know about and can tell their parents about so PPS can eliminate surprises. Too many people didn’t know what was going on, even after two years.”

Arleta representative Blair sums up what many PPS families are thinking: “I truly hope PPS takes the efforts of its passionate volunteers to heart and refines this process.”

Jade Chan is a native Portlander and product of PPS (Grout, Hosford and Cleveland). She is freelance editor and a Southeast Portland (Woodstock) mom of two in the Mandarin Immersion Program.

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FAIS students graduate speaking a second

and often a third proficiently.

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maturity,

skill to their backpack.

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with distinction in high school,

of people and

expanding

“I saw what language did for my kids’ brains and how it helped them make connections, be open-minded, and be exposed to other cultures.”

-FAIS Middle School Parent

THE 2022 EDUCATION GUIDE

AFTER SCHOOL/ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

Imago Theatre imagotheatre.com

Imago Theatre presents ZooZoo, a performance featuring hippos, anteaters, frogs, polar bears, penguins that fill the stage with wonder, awe and humor. December 9-January 1. Tickets at ONTHESTAGE.COM

Mad Science of Portland portland.madscience.org

A leader in science enrichment for elementary age children, Mad Science of Portland and Vancouver offers exciting hands-on classes, camp and birthday parties. Call 503-230-8040 or visit us online.

Metropolitan Performing Arts metropolitanperformingarts.org

MPA has fun and engaging classes for all ages. Train in Acting, Dance, Music, Fight Choreography, Technical Design, Makeup and so much more. Check out our website or schedule a tour of our theater.

Vibe of Portland vibepdx.org

Vibe offers classes, workshops and camps in SE & NE Portland that nurture children to innovate and collaborate. Classes include Mixed Media, Illustration, Sewing and more. Queer youth workshops too!

CHILD CARE SERVICES

Sweet Day Community School sweetdayschool.com

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, Sweet Day values strong relationships, exploration and a variety of opportunities for self-expression.

FIELD TRIPS

Columbia River Maritime Museum crmm.org | 503-325-2323

Plan a family field trip to visit and explore the Columbia River Maritime Museum in beautiful Astoria. Educational, interactive and entertaining displays and exhibits for the ENTIRE family make this short trip a MUST!

LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOOL

French American Int’l School faispdx.org

French American International School provides an exceptional independent school education through the dynamic convergence of language immersion and the IB World School framework for students 2.5 through 8th grade.

German International School gspdx.org

As an IB World School we believe in a whole-student approach to learning. From 2 years through 6th grade our students are globally-minded, adaptive, independent thinkers who grow to become lifelong learners.

International School of Portland Intlschool.org

Embrace the World! Since 1990, we’ve offered full language and cultural immersion in a warm, loving environment that encourages curiosity and kindness. Mandarin, Spanish and Japanese tracks. IB World School!

Scuola Italiana di Portland scuola.us/preschool-fall-2022-23

Scuola Italiana offers a part-time Italian language and cultural immersion preschool in NW Portland, mirroring the scuola dell’infanzia (preschool) in Italy. Ages 3 to 5 years-old.

MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Music Together of Portland musictogether-pdx.com

Join the musical fun in informal group music classes for children birth to age 8. Build a musical foundation that will last a lifetime as you sing, dance, play and connect with a community of musicmakers!

PRESCHOOLS

Cedarwood Waldorf School cedarwoodschool.org/about-admissions | 503-245-1477

Cedarwood isn't just a school, it's a community. From early childhood through the completion of eighth grade, our students are met with openness to possibility, given time to develop resiliency and taught skills to turn challenges into opportunities.

Childswork Learning Center, Inc. childswork.org

Childswork is a safe place for children to explore, take chances, make messes and learn through play. At Childswork we nurture wonder, we embrace joy and we foster discovery.

International School of Portland intlschool.org

Embrace the World! Since 1990, we’ve offered full language and cultural immersion in a warm, loving environment that encourages curiosity and kindness. Mandarin, Spanish and Japanese tracks. IB World School!

Micha-el School micha-elschool.org | 503-882-3322

Micha-el School offers a well-rounded K-8 education. Our Waldorf certified teachers provide a balanced, comprehensive curriculum that weaves academics with creativity to inspire joyful learning.

The Marylhurst School themarylhurstschool.org | 503-650-0978

The Marylhurst School follows the Progressive Education model that recognizes learning to be experiential, emergent and collaborative. We offer small class sizes, project-based curriculum and a focus on relationships and social emotional health. 19200 Willamette Dr., West Linn, OR 97068

OMEGA Gymnastics

omega-gymnastics.com/discovery-preschool | 503-466-4872

Our preschool curriculum has a strong academic focus that helps students develop self-confidence, cognitive development and social learning. In addition, our PE time is rooted in gymnastics which helps children thrive in future endeavors.

Portland Montessori Collaborative pdxmc.org

Montessori school for infants through Kindergarten. Exceptional staff, beautiful environments, meticulous Covid protocols, park-like outdoor environment.

The Portland Montessori School portlandmontessori.org

The Portland Montessori School offers high-quality Montessori programming for children ages 15 months to 12 years-old. Visit our website for more information and to schedule your personal admissions call.

Sweet Day Community School sweetdayschool.com

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, Sweet Day values strong relationships, exploration and a variety of opportunities for self-expression.

Trislelee Sprouts Farm School

triskeleesprouts.com

A nurturing learning environment for children, rooted in the natural world. Enrollment available for January 2023. We offer both a 4-day and 5-day program for 3, 4 and 5 year olds.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Arbor School of Arts & Sciences arborschool.org

Visit and imagine your child in our beautiful setting, where students are involved in purposeful inquiry, joyful expression and active stewardship of their learning.

Cathedral School cathedral-or.org

A premier Pre-K through 8th grade Catholic School in NW Portland. Featuring small class sizes, 1:1 iPad to student ratio, before/after school care and welcoming all faiths! Schedule a tour now or apply online.

Catlin Gabel School

catlin.edu | 503-297-1894

At Catlin Gabel, students from preschool to high school are inspired to harness their innate curiosity and courage, find joy in connection with others and discover their true potential. They become lifelong learners and leaders who want to change the world.

Cedarwood Waldorf School cedarwoodschool.org/about-admissions | 503-245-1477

Cedarwood isn't just a school, it's a community. From early childhood through the completion of eighth grade, our students are met with openness to possibility, given time to develop resiliency, and taught skills to turn challenges into opportunities.

Childpeace Montessori School childpeace.org

Childpeace Montessori School serves children from 14 months through middle school in the heart of Portland. Childpeace offers a full Montessori experience that helps children prepare themselves for life.

Franciscan Montessori Earth School fmes.org

The Franciscan Montessori Earth School, a diverse community of students from age 30 months through 8th grade, inspires children to expand their mind, nurture their spirit and steward the Earth.

German International School gspdx.org

As an IB World School we believe in a whole-student approach to learning. From 2 years through 6th grade our students are globally-minded, adaptive, independent thinkers who grow to become lifelong learners.

International School of Portland intlschool.org

Embrace the World! Since 1990, we’ve offered full language and cultural immersion in a warm, loving environment that encourages curiosity and kindness. Mandarin, Spanish and Japanese tracks. IB World School!

The Marylhurst School themarylhurstschool.org

The Marylhurst School follows the Progressive Education model that recognizes learning to be experiential, emergent and collaborative. We offer small class sizes, project-based curriculum and a focus on relationships and social emotional health.

Micha-el School micha-elschool.org | 503-882-3322

Micha-el School offers a well-rounded K-8 education. Our Waldorf certified teachers provide a balanced, comprehensive curriculum that weaves academics with creativity to inspire joyful learning.

Montessori Children's House mch-pdx.org

Montessori Children's House serves families with children 16 months through 6 years of age. We offer authentic Montessori school environments in a custom-built facility with experienced teachers.

Montessori School of Beaverton msb.org

A private Montessori School located west of Portland with 40+ years of experience. Children ages 3 to 12 years discover & participate in a joyful learning environment that supports their innate curiosity.

Northwest Academy nwacademy.org

Northwest Academy is a progressive independent middle and high school college preparatory program that inspires students to learn and achieve through its unique academic and arts partnership. Celebrating 25 years of inspired learning!

Discovery Preschool

OMEGA’s program provides classroom learning for children ages 3-5 encouraging children to use their minds and bodies while learning social interaction with their peers. MWF 9AM12:30PM with early drop-off and lunch-n-play options.

Oregon Metropolitan Elite Gymnastics Academy 9700 SW Harvest Ct. Ste. 180, Beaverton, OR 97005

Visit our website or call Katie at 503-466-4872 for a tour. www.omega-gymnastics.com

Oregon Episcopal School oes.edu/admissions

Oregon Episcopal School is a Pre-K through Grade 12 independent school, offering an inquiry-based education that encourages students to realize their power for good as local and global citizens.

Portland Jewish Academy pjaproud.org | 503-244-0126

PJA is an inclusive Jewish community school, empowering students to be flexible, innovative learners in a caring, supportive environment. Offering a values-based education, PJA students think for themselves and work for the world.

Portland Waldorf School portlandwaldorf.org

Accredited Waldorf Education serving Pre-School through Grade 12 on a 7-acre campus near downtown Milwaukie. Academically rigorous, practical hands-on learning, social and environmental reverence and values.

Renaissance School of Arts and Sciences renpdx.org

We are a small learning community cultivating imagination, intellect and insight. Learners actively engage in creative challenges, contribute to the community and discover areas of personal interest.

St. Agatha Catholic School stagatha.us

St. Agatha is a faith-filled learning community committed to the academic and spiritual development of each child, fostering students who will be dedicated to a lifetime of learning, faith and service.

St. Rose School strosepdx.org

Situated in the heart of Northeast Portland, St. Rose School helps raise saints and scholars in a small community centered on Catholic faith and values. Grades offered: PK-8.

St. Thomas More Catholic School stmpdxschool.org

St. Thomas More is a kindergarten-8th grade parish school committed to strengthening Catholic identity and Gospel values, practicing Christian virtues, serving others and promoting academic excellence.

Trinity Academy pdxtrinity.org

Our classically informed program encourages students to be intellectually curious, form aesthetic habits of mind, while establishing a rigorous culture of learning, practice of goodness and creation of beauty.

Tucker Maxon tuckermaxon.org

Where every student has a voice. Hands-on curriculum emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and community engagement. Low student-teacher ratios (8:1 avg.) and welcoming community that is open to all.

MLA K-8 Public Charter School mla.k12.or.us

Education for All: Providing students with the skills and knowledge that gives them the advantage later in life, while balancing academic and emotional wellbeing.

Oregon Virtual Academy oregonvirtual.org | 541-751-8060

Independently managed, fully virtual, K-12 online charter school for Oregon students offering regular in-person outings, school computers, local tech support and a variety of curriculum supports for all students.

Portland Village School portlandvillageschool.org

PVS is a public, Waldorf charter school serving students Kindergarten-8th grade. We seek to educate and nurture the whole child - head, heart and hands - in students of all backgrounds and cultures.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Bridges Middle School bridgesms.org

Bridges is the only middle school in Oregon specifically designed for students with learning differences to reach their maximum potential. Our small classes incorporate individualized support that set the foundation for success in school - and life.

Camp Yakety Yak campyaketyyak.org

Summer Camp for special needs children and their siblings. Staffed by Portland area SPED professionals, college interns and volunteers in a fun, day camp setting.

TUTORIAL/LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES

Huntington Learning Center huntingtonhelps.com

Based upon a thorough academic evaluation, Huntington develops a personalized learning plan for each student. Our certified teachers provide students with 1:1 instruction in academic fundamentals, individual subjects and high stakes exam preparation. Bethany 503-533-5700

Kumon Math & Reading Lake Grove kumon.com/lake-grove

Kumon provides instructional support in reading, writing and math. Students can attend either in-person or via Zoom two times/week. All staff are vaccinated and masks are optional. Call 503314-6284 for info.

Mercer Education mercereducation.com

Have a 5-year plan? Prep for your future with us! Founded by a Harvard graduate, Mercer Education has provided online and in-person programs year round for college counseling, SAT/ACT prep and ELA since 1999.

FIND THE JOY IN LEARNING THIS SCHOOL YEAR

CAN HELP START THIS YEAR OFF RIGHT

Bethany Village 15220 NW Laidlaw Road, Portland, OR 97229 503-533-5700

HuntingtonHelps.com

MurrayHill Marketplace 14649 SW Teal Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97007

All Saints School

Enrollment Opens Jan. 1, 2023; apply online. Open Houses 6:30pm, Library - Abraham Building.

Jan. 12 - grades PreK & K. Jan. 19 - grades PreK-8 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd., Portland, OR 97232 503-236-6205

allsaintsportland.com

Cathedral School

Now accepting applications, apply online! Open House: Nov. 13, 10–12pm. Call for a private tour.

110 NW 17th Ave., Portland, OR 97209 503-275-9370 cathedral-or.org

St. Clare School

Open House: Jan. 29, 12–2 pm. Enrolling now for the 23/24 school year!

1807 SW Freeman St., Portland, OR 97219 503-244-7600 stclarepdx.org

St. John the Apostle

Open House dates: Jan. 29, 9:30am–12:30pm & Feb. 7, 5–7pm. 516 Fifth St., Oregon City, OR 97045 503-742-8230 sja-eagles.com

St. Rose School

Join us for Open House on Feb. 2, 5-6pm. Call for tour information! 5309 NE Alameda St., Portland, OR 97213 503-281-1912 strosepdx.org

The Madeleine School

Open House: Sun., Jan. 29, 11:30am–1:30pm. Tour our school and meet the teachers and families. 3240 NE 23rd Ave., Portland, OR 97212 503-288-9197 themadeleine.edu

St. Thomas More Catholic School

Open House: Sun., Jan. 29, 12–2pm. Call now for private tour and application information! 3521 SW Patton Rd., Portland, OR 97221 503-222-6105 stmpdxschool.org

St. John Fisher School Kindergarten Round-up & Grade 1–8 Open House on Sun., Jan. 29th, 10am. 4581 SW Nevada St., Portland, OR 97219 503-246-3234 sjfschool.org

St. Agatha Catholic School

Open House January 26, 6-8pm. 7960 SE 15th Ave., Portland, OR 97202 503-234-5500 stagatha.us

St. Pius X School

PreK–K Open House: Nov. 10, 3:30–5:30pm. PreK–8th Open House: Jan. 8, 2023 9am–12:30pm. 1260 NW Saltzman Rd., Portland, OR 97229 503-644-3244 stpiuspanthers.org

Oswego,

Cedarwood Waldorf School is a close knit community of families who care for each other and the whole community. When you become a Cedarwood family you are supported by a group of parents, faculty, and staff who invite you into their classes and homes. You will be a part of family events, camping trips, parent evenings and social gatherings welcoming you to a creative, thoughtful, and inspiring circle.

Everyday our students are met with kindness, simplicity and a well rounded experience. The children begin to immerse themselves in the work of childhood, which we believe is play Children enjoy a variety of hands on practical activities in a social setting that will develop a sense of competence, skill, confidence, and community.

From early childhood through the completion of eighth grade, our students are met with openness to possibility, given time to develop resiliency, and taught skills to turn challenges into opportunities. Just as Rudolf Steiner envisioned Waldorf as an education for every child, we honor diversity and actively seek opportunities to learn from all cultures and traditions.

Now accepting enrollment for Pre K 8th with a new Pre K class opening in January.

Cedarwood is a school where the whole family can learn, grow, and connect with community.

BY ERIN J. BERNARD

Whetheryou’re serious about winter sports or just want to spend an afternoon playing in the powder, options abound for Portland families looking to plan an epic snow day.

The action is centered along Oregon’s portion of the Cascade Range — also known as Yamakiasham Yaina, or Mountains of the Northern People. Mount Hood is Oregon’s tallest mountain and offers snow play to suit all abilities, from black diamond ski runs to gentle tubing slopes. Towering farther afield in the Deschutes National Forest is Central Oregon’s Mount Bachelor, situated on the eastern side of the Central Cascades and boasting diverse trails, dry snow and satisfyingly long seasons.

Wherever you roam, planning is key. To safely access higher elevations, you’ll need emergency winter weather supplies and a set of traction tires or tire chains. (The Oregon Department of Transportation requires you to carry chains along many mountain roads, even if you don’t use them.) Be sure to double check conditions before heading up — weather changes fast and snow slides can wreak havoc on already busy roads. (Eyeball your route at tripcheck.com or by calling 5-1-1.) If navigating wintry passes isn’t your thing, you can also catch a shuttle up to either mountain. (For details, visit mthoodexpress.com and cascadeseasttransit.com.) With a little advance prep, you’ll have winter fun down cold.

Tubing

Sledding

Looking for tubing, sledding, or the perfect hill for an old-fashioned snowball fight? Oregon’s got a boggling array of “sno-parks” to choose from, all accessible with the purchase of a Sno-Park Permit, available at oregon. gov Pro tip: Some parks don’t allow outside sledding devices, and some have age/height requirements, so check in advance.

Mount Hood’s Snow Bunny Sliding Area Sno-Park is a longstanding family favorite, especially for the smaller set. Located near Government Camp, the area has tube rentals and several slopes, one right off the parking lot. Outside sledding devices are welcome. (For details, visit fs.usda.gov/ivm and search for the park’s name.) Another classic spot is Frosty’s Playland and

Winter Adventure Park at Mt. Hood Skibowl. In addition to tubing, you’ll find a carousel, outdoor playland, heated indoor play area (praise the gods!) and kid-friendly snowmobiling. Come dusk, older kids will love the technicolor party that is Cosmic Tubing. Lively lights and music, four-person “party tubes,” and a conveyor belt make jolly work of the slope, but this spot gets rowdy! (For details, visit skibowl.com.) Also on Mount Hood, Cooper Spur’s Tubing Park has an assortment of tubing hills, plus a snow carousel that pulls tired tubers round and round. (For details, visit cooperspur.com.)

Nearby is White River West Sno-Park’s half-mile stretch of prime sledding territory. The park quickly fills up and you’ve got to be mindful of the water, but the sweeping terrain is magnificent. (For details, visit fs.usda.gov/ivm and search for the park’s name.)

On Mount Bachelor, adventurous teens and tweens will dig the Snowblast Tubing Park, featuring an exhilarating 800-foot slope and a tow back up. But be sure to get there early. (For details, visit mtbachelor.com.) Closer to Bend, check out Wanoga Sno-Park. It’s a bring-your-own-sled deal, and amenities are basic, but this spot is very family-friendly. (For details, visit fs.usda.gov/ivm and search for the park’s name.)

It’s no secret that Oregon is a winter sports paradise. But you don’t need to be a seasoned snow-goer to get in on the fun.

NATALIE

SCHRANER

HAYES

Downhill Skiing Snowboarding

Mount Hood is jam-packed with skiing and snowboarding options! Mount Hood Meadows, the mountain’s largest ski resort and a perennial family favorite, boasts reliable snow pack and endless runs, and in addition to lessons for adults and older kids (pictured above), there’s a state-certified day care and Parent & Me Lessons for kids ages 3 to 6. (For details, visit skihood.com.)

Timberline Lodge and Ski Area features nearly 1,500 acres of ski surface and the longest ski season in North America. This ski area is adored by more experienced winter sports families, and then there is that high-alpine lodge — a lovely landing spot for those traveling with babies or grandparents. Pro tip: Sledding isn’t permitted at Timberline. (For details, visit timberlinelodge.com.)

For easy access and some prime night skiing, you can’t beat Mount Hood Skibowl, set at the edge of Government Camp. (For details, visit skibowl. com.) You can also find your snow legs at nearby Timberline Summit Pass, Timberline’s sister ski hill. This spot is small, affordable and caters specifically to

families and novices. Manageable trails also make it ideal for older kids craving some independence. Pro tip: If you can swing a long weekend, Summit Pass on a Monday makes for lower-key, less-crowded practice grounds. (For details, visit timberlinelodge.com.)

Cooper Spur’s Ski Area is also an affordable, beginnerfriendly spot. If your kid learns best with a little breathing room, try their one-lesson pass for kids 10 years and older; all-day access to instructors lets you practice at your own pace. (For details, visit cooperspur.com.)

Also fun for mixed-experience groups: Hoodoo Ski Area in Oregon’s central Cascade Range. Their Ski & Ride School has private lessons for all ages, plus junior ski and snowboard lessons for the 8 to 12 set. The school’s night skiing and snowboarding lessons are ideal for older kids ready for a new challenge. Pro tip: Book early to avoid equipment-rental bottlenecks. (For details, visit skihoodoo. com.)

Loads of Mount Bachelor’s runs are beginner-friendly, and there’s good news on the horizon this year: Many of the mountain’s kiddie offerings, including their licensed day care, are set to return! For a gentle start to outdoor fun, check out the Snow Explorer package for kids 2-and-a-half and up, which combines skiing introduction and snow play with indoor child care. The Signature Start package, for kids 3-and-a-half to 5, includes a two-hour supervised ski session and a half-day of indoor child care. Pro tip: Reserve well in advance; these packages sell out.

New to winter sports? Check out Bachelor’s Ski or Ride in 5 program — a bargain-priced, five-lesson beginner program. If your family already knows its way around a mountain, head for one of Bachelor’s lively and challenging runs, such as Summit, an ungroomed and visually stunning thrillride for those comfortable navigating trickier terrain. (For details, visit mtbachelor.com.)

If you have a family member with a disability, be sure to check out Bend’s Oregon Adaptive Sports (OAS). OAS aims to ensure everyone can access Oregon’s abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Winter options include affordable adaptive alpine ski and snowboard lessons at Mt. Bachelor Resort and Hoodoo Ski Area, plus adaptable cross-country skiing and snowshoeing instructions at Mount Bachelor’s Nordic Center. (For details, visit oregonadaptivesports.org.)

TREVOR PARKER

OREGON ADAPTIVE SPORTS

Cross

country Skiing

Snowshoeing

A cross-country (Nordic) skiing or snowshoeing excursion is an affordable way to escape the crowds while drinking in some of Oregon’s finest winter scenery, and Central Oregon’s got tons of options. The Mount Bachelor Ski Area boasts a wealth of wellmaintained cross-country and snowshoe trails of varying difficulty within the Nordic Network. The fun starts at the Nordic Lodge, where you can warm up by a fireplace, plot your route, and grab a bag lunch before heading out. If you’re after a more rugged experience, strike

out from here for the Todd Lake Trail; if the weather’s clear, you’ll catch unbeatable views of Mount Bachelor. (For details, visit mtbachelor.com)

For groups of mixed age or interests, Swampy Lakes Sno-Park near Bend is a smart-if-busy bet: You can head out on snowshoe or skis to explore miles of trail, or just enjoy tubing in the central area. (For details, visit fs.usda.gov/ivm and search for the park’s name.)

Over on Mount Hood, Mt. Hood Outfitters is the gold-standard for equipment rentals, plus friendly interpretive guide services, offering everything from skiing to snowmobiling lessons. (For details, visit mthoodoutfitters.com.) Teacup Lake Sno-Park is a nice spot for a cross-country skiing test-run. You’ll find sweeping views and lovingly groomed trails at Teacup, but no snowshoeing is allowed. (For details, visit fs.usda.gov/ivm and search for the park’s name.) Need a helping hand? Teacup Nordic’s Learn to Ski Program introduces kids ages 6 to 10 to cross-country skiing, and kids ages 10 to 16 can level up with the Pipeline Program. (For details, visit teacupnordic.org.) Seasoned cross-country skiing families also adore the 5-mile Trillium Lake Loop. The elevation gain is modest, and you’ll be rewarded with picture-perfect Mt. Hood views. (For details, visit fs.usda.gov/ivm and search for the park’s name.) If you want to start super-simple, rent snowshoes at Timberline Lodge & Ski Area and strike out from the lodge along an easy 3/4-mile trail. (For details, visit timberlinelodge.com.)

RYANN BERNARD

RYANN BERNARD

Stay Cool

For après-ski amenities and easy access to groceries, gas and multiple Mount Hood ski runs, nobody beats Government Camp’s Collins Lake Resort (collinslakeresort.com), while a stay at the iconic Timberline Lodge (timberlinelodge.com) is on every Oregonian’s bucket list (pictured right). But there are plenty of non-resort options also available. If getting near-ish to Mount Hood works for you, consider the cluster of towns tucked along the Mount Hood Corridor between Sandy and Government Camp. The Laughing Bear Cabin, a historic red log cabin in Rhododendron, provides a comfortably rustic experience (laughingbearlogcabins.com), while The Cabins Creekside at Welches offers cute, affordable cabins amongst the trees (mthoodcabins.com). Or check out the Mt. Hood Tiny House Village, also in Welches, for one-of-a-kind micro-lodging (mthoodtinyhouse.com).

On Bachelor, you can’t beat the convenience of the sprawling Mt. Bachelor Village Resort condominium complex. Many condos are listed on Airbnb and VRBO, but you gotta book early to snag a prime weekend. For a one-of-a-kind backcountry experience, check out Elk Lake Resort. Come winter, these snug cabins aren’t accessible by car. Instead, you can cross-country ski or snowmobile in, or arrange for the resort to provide Snowcat transportation. (For details, visit elklakeresort.net.) Bend proper offers an easier jumping-off point: A Stone’s Throw Bungalow Vacation Rentals (astonesthrowbungalow.com) rents cute, centrally located cottages, while LOGE Bend offers a serene setting 20 minutes from the mountain, complete with ski lockers and a steamy hot tub (logecamps.com).

Erin J. Bernard comes from a long line of Pacific Northwest skiers, but she didn’t inherit the cold-weather gene and is happiest admiring the snow from a cozy spot next to the fire at Timberline Lodge.

ERIN J. BERNARD

Island Vibes Ahead

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DENISE CASTAÑON

After six years of creating South Pacific-inspired craft beers, Pono Brewing has opened its first brewpub in Northeast Hollywood — in a space that has a long history of housing pubs. Old World Brewing, Laurelwood Brewing and Columbia River Brewing are former residents of the same spot in the Hollywood neighborhood. Those past public house incarnations give Pono Brew Labs Restaurant & Brewery a lived-in vibe that instantly makes you feel at home. As does the excellent, attentive wait staff.

IF YOU GO: Pono Brew Labs 1728 NE 40th Ave., ponobrewing.com.

the restaurant. And after we ordered drinks and a starter of Mai’s Filipino beef lumpia ($10), they left our booth to check them out. They excitedly reported that Pono had a four-player Pac-Man game. My husband ended up getting cash from a nearby bank (there’s no ATM inside Pono Brew Labs) and breaking it at the bar so we could play a spirited family bout of Pac-Man. Pro tip: Bring quarters or dollar bills. There’s also three pinball machines. And the game area overlooks the giant vats in the brewing room one floor down.

When my family visited on a Sunday evening, my 10-year-old daughter, Adela, and 7-year-old son, Cruz, immediately noticed pinball machines toward the back of

Pono brews its beers at Zoilghaus Brewing in Southeast Lents, and will continue producing their large-batch beers there. But the Pono Brew Labs in Northeast will give the brewmasters a chance to play around and create special, single-batch recipes at the seven-barrel brewhouse.

Hollywood’s family-friendly Pono Brew Labs offers a South Pacific twist not only on craft brews, but on typical pub food — all in an easy, relaxed atmosphere.

Pono is known for its fruitdriven beers with a tropical twist. I tried the popular Pineapple Express Kolsch; it’s not overly perfumed with pineapple — it’s a delicious Kolsch with a hint of something extra. And since I hardly finish a beer these days, I appreciated that you can order a half pint of draft beers ($5). Pono also has a long list of house beers and other brews on tap.

The food menu has an Asianand South Pacific-pub focus — think Kalua pork fries and beef bulgogi cheesesteaks. But lighter, healthier seafood options also dot the menu, something my husband appreciated. He ordered the furikake-crusted ahi tuna with rice and braised bok choy ($24). He found some bites of ahi buttery, and a few that were chewy, and he would have like a little more bok choy on his plate. I tried the island-style fried rice with Spam ($13). It was filling, well-seasoned and packed with eggs, carrots, edamame and sweet-salty chunks of Spam.

Adela ordered the Little Pono Burger with fries ($11) from the Keiki Menu for kids. It was a sizable burger and she gave it a thumbs up. And Cruz ordered the kids’ chicken teriyaki with rice and macaroni salad ($9). He said the chicken was as good as the teriyaki at Ate-ohAte, one of our favorite restaurants and ate a solid portion of it. (The Keiki Menu also includes grilled cheese and chicken fingers.) Overall our meals were good — but didn’t hit the mark for extraordinary.

After we finished eating we went back to the arcade area to play a little more pinball and gawk at the brewery below. It was such a relaxing place to be, my family just wanted to hang out some more. And that’s the cool thing about Pono Brew Labs, it invites lingering with its hospitable Aloha vibe.

Editor Denise Castañon loves exploring Portland’s family-friendly dining scene with her husband, 10-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.

Capture the holiday magic

steam

Ages 3-12, 45 minutes in length.

The Peppermint Bear Show is a classic at Lakewood Theatre Company and it’s perfect for families and full of holiday cheer.

Light breakfast, coffee and juice 30 minutes prior to show.

Dec. 10 & 11, 11am Dec. 17, 18, 20, 21, 22 9am & 11am

All ages, 70 minutes in length. This shortened Jr. production will feature local youth actors in all roles! They are thrilled to share their incredible talent with you.

Dec. 10 & 17 1:00PM & 4:00PM

368 S. State Street, Lake Oswego Box Office: 503-635-3901 www.lakewood-center.org

Go. Play. Explore.

burst your bubble

Have you ever seen a square bubble? This month, you can. Louis Pearl, better known as the Amazing Bubble Man, is visiting Oregon for two Portland weekends (and a third in Astoria). A self-described “bubble-ologist,” Pearl has been mesmerizing audiences for nearly 30 years with his bubble art, magic and science shows. Saturday-Sunday, November 26-27, and Saturday-Sunday, December 17-18 at the Clinton Street Theater. Shows are at 11 am and 2 pm. Tickets start at $10. Visit amazingbubbleman.com/tourschedule. — Tiffany Hill

love never dies

Head to the Portland Mercado for a Día de Los Muertos celebration. You’ll find local vendors, music, a community altar honoring loved ones who have passed away, and a screening of Disney’s Coco! Be sure to grab some delicious Latin American food from the carts. Tuesday, November 2, 4-8 pm. Portlandmercado.org/events. — Denise Castañon

patriotic parade

Honor our veterans, past and present, with a Veteran’s Day parade in Northeast. Started in 1974, this parade is back after its pandemic hiatus, and features marching bands, school groups, scout troops and more. Kiddos will enjoy watching the armed forces — dressed in their uniforms — walk by, too. Friday, November 11, 10 am. The parade route begins at Beech and ends at the Natural Grocers on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Visit veteransdaypdx.org. — T.H.

MAXWELL COLLINS

Find more family fun on our online calendar: pdxparent. com/events-calendar. Be sure to confirm the most up-to-date info with event organizers before heading out.

father knows best

Squires is an organization that supports teen dads and fathers 25 and younger so they can be the best parents possible. Squires is hosting a Young Fathers Workshop that helps dads examine their roles and build on their strengths as parents. All attendees will receive a $100 gift card, kids’ book, lunch and free child care during the workshop.

Saturday, November 5, 10 am-2:30 pm. Register at squirespdx.org. Free. — D.C.

en-light-ening

The Oregon Zoo’s beloved ZooLights starts this month! These dazzling displays feature more than 1.5 million twinkling lights. Bundle up and walk through the zoo at night, and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa and elephant ears afterward (plus, beer and wine for the grown-ups).

For families who prefer to enjoy the lights from the comfort of their heated cars, the zoo is also holding drive-by routes on certain evenings. Wednesday, November 23 to Thursday, January 5, 2023. Tickets start at $19 for youth; $24 for adults. Visit oregonzoo.org/visit/ zoolights.

Also lighting up this month: The Silverton Christmas Market at the Oregon Garden, Friday, November 25 to Sunday, January 1, 2023. Visit silvertonchristmasmarket.com The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights, Friday, November 25 to Friday, December 30. Visit thegrotto.org/christmas-festival-of-lights. And the drive-through Winter Wonderland at the Portland International Raceway, Friday, November 25 to Saturday, December 31. Visit winterwonderlandportland.com. — T.H. & D.C.

OREGON ZOO

OREGON ZOO

tree at last

The downtown Portland tree lighting ceremony is back in person this year! Head to Pioneer Courthouse Square on Wednesday, November 9 at 10 am to watch the behemoth Douglas fir from Stimson Lumber arrive. And the lights get plugged in on Friday, November 25 at 5:30 pm. Visit thesquarepdx.org for more details. And the community is again welcome at the Rotary Tree Lighting Ceremony in Downtown Vancouver (pictured right). The festivities — live music, carriage rides, food for purchase and free hot cocoa — start at 4 pm on Friday, November 25 and the tree gets glowing at 6 pm. Visit rotarytreelighting.org. — D.C.

trot it out

Runner families, it’s that time of year again! The popular Turkey Trot at the Zoo is a fun, kid-friendly event to get in those steps before the big feast. And this trot has a race for all ages and abilities, from 4-mile runs — for adults and for kids — to the 1/3-mile Tot Trot and the 1/8-mile Diaper Dash, both located inside the zoo. Sponsored by the Oregon Road Runners Club, this annual race helps raise more than $20,000 for the zoo. Thursday, November 24. Visit runsignup.com/Race/OR/Portland/ ORRCTurkeyTrotattheZoo to register and see race routes. — T.H.

right on track

This year, the Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Don’t miss this year’s annual monthlong railroad show, featuring more than 30 volunteers and staff running their model trains — at the same time! Seasoned fans will also notice new additions to the Columbia River Gorge layout. For the ultimate train enthusiast, book one of the club’s VIP tours, where visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at how the railroad operates. Beginning Saturday, November 12. Tickets are $5 for kids ages 3-11; $10 for adults and youth ages 12 and up. Visit cgmrc.com/events. — T.H.

mozart magic

After watching and listening to The Magic of Mozart, a fun, kid-oriented concert performed by the Oregon Symphony, your children will have a soft spot for classical music. Part of the symphony’s Kids Series, a mischievous street musician is given the chance to “be Mozart,” in this special performance featuring music from The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni and more. Sunday, November 13, 2 pm at the Schnitzer. Tickets start at $11. Visit orsymphony.org/ concerts-tickets/calendar. — T.H.

LESTER TSAI

CITY OF VANCOUVER