pg. 14
Pg. 32: Go Bilingual!
FREE
SPECIAL REPORT: REPORT: The mental impact of school lockdown drills,
for the long days and short years
The State of Our Preschools Oregon’s push to invest in early education, pg. 22
Share the love Valentine’s Day fun for your sweethearts, pg. 43
PDXPARENT.COM
PORTLAND | VANCOUVER | FEBRUARY 2020
Locks, Lights, Out-of-Sight...........................................14 In response to school shootings, lockdown drills are now mandatory in Oregon. But are we traumatizing kids as we try to protect them?
contents
FEATURES
By Alice Callahan, Ph.D.
The Preschool Push.........................................................22 All preschools aren’t created alike. We dig into why, and learn how parents can improve earlyeducation opportunities for their communities. By Erin J. Bernard.
DEPARTMENTS Editor’s Note.............................................................................6 Play Room................................................................................... 8 Volunteer as a family for World Wetlands Day, kid-approved lip balms, and tips for OBOB competitors.
Adulting.....................................................................................36 Ready to leave an abusive relationship? Our expert outlines the safest ways to plan your departure. By Brooke Strickland.
Field Trip................................................................................... 37 Let the kids wear themselves out at Hillsboro’s newest indoor play park. By Denise Castañon.
Hands On.................................................................................38 Play in the snow with a fake flake project from Yellow Scope science kits. Then watch your creations melt! By Chelsea Schulyer.
Family Supper......................................................................40 Thick-crust Sicilian square pizza hits the Brooklyn neighborhood. By Denise Castañon.
Recipe File................................................................................ 41 Indulge in homemade lemon jelly doughnuts!
AMY SAKURAI
By Judith Rich.
Time Out.................................................................................... 42 Valentine’s fun with your kiddos, the Portland
42
Winter Light Festival and sharing stories for Black History Month.
Parentlandia..........................................................................46 A comic for parents. By Tom Toro.
RESOURCES School Open Houses................................................18-20 Child Care and Preschool Directory................... 26-31 Language Immersion................................................32-35 Summer Camps........................................................... 47-51
* cover stories pdxparent.com
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e d i t o r ’ s n ot e
for the long days and short years
Power to the Parents!
JANET VINING
W
hether your kid is 3 or 13, sending them off to school each day requires a leap of faith. Will they be safe? Well cared for? Will they bring home a nasty case of double pink eye? Sure, you research the schools in your neighborhood (and budget), you hit up other parents for recommendations, you meet teachers and try to ask smart questions and hope your instincts will guide you and your kiddo to the right place. And you wash hands — a lot. But when my husband and I enrolled our, ahem, spirited 3-year-old daughter in preschool last fall, we confronted a complicated truth: Unless you send your child to one of those camera-rigged facilities that delivers to your smartphone a livestream of daily goings-on, it’s hard to know what’s happening in there after drop-off. Like, really know. So you go round and round in your head: The director’s always nice, but the teachers seem so tired! I wonder if our school has ever gotten any serious complaints? My kid is acting really strange. What the heck happened on the playground today? This mystification inspired me to dig into the nuances of preschool licensing in Oregon (page 22). I was surprised to learn that there is really no standard definition for the term “preschool.” And I was downright amazed to hear — from multiple preschool professionals — that although preschools are required to display their licenses, not a single parent had ever asked to see one. So it would seem I’m not alone. I hope this story takes some of the guesswork out of preschool vetting for other parents — and encourages conversation about why the quality of Oregon’s preschools is so inconsistent and how parents can advocate for change. Of course, parental uncertainty doesn’t end when elementary school begins. In our other feature (page 14), our talented writer, Alice Callahan, Ph.D., did some deep reporting on the rise of lockdown drills in Oregon’s schools — and explored how attempts to prepare kids for an active shooter scenario might themselves create trauma. Our understanding of what keeps kids safest is still very much evolving, Alice reports, which means that parents have an opportunity to weigh in on school policies even as they help their own kids work through the strong emotions associated with drilling. This stuff is confusing and sometimes a little scary; it’s no wonder so many of us aren’t sure where to start. My hope is that these features will empower you to ask smarter questions about the quality (and safety) of your child’s school, as I am learning to do. These are difficult dialogues, but when we find the courage to have them anyway, our children — and our communities — are far better off. Managing Editor On our cover: When you catch a glimpse of siblings being sweet to each other, it just melts your heart. Megan
Sottile of Owl’s Eye Photography captured the close bond of twins Leon and Naomi during a mini Valentine’s
Day session. In fact she started her photography career snapping these two: She was their nanny. “My favorite thing about photography is watching children grow up, watching newborns grow to toddlers, preschoolers to teens, and babies become big sisters and brothers,” says Sottile. “I love getting to know all the families I photograph year after year and being able to freeze time for them at all different points in their lives!” See more of her work at owlseyephoto.com or on Instagram @owlseyephoto. 6
February 2020
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PDX Parent P.O. Box 13660 Portland, OR 97213-0660 Phone: 503-460-2774 Publisher Rose Caudillo, 503-460-2774 publisher@pdxparent.com Editor Denise Castañon, 503-922-0893 denise.castanon@pdxparent.com Managing Editor Erin J. Bernard erin.bernard@pdxparent.com Art Director Susan Bard Web Director Michelle Carew, 503-914-6151 michelle.carew@pdxparent.com Calendar Editor Briauna Skye McKizzie calendar@pdxparent.com Newsletter Editor Jake Weiss, 503-679-1763 jake.weiss@pdxparent.com Customer Accounts Manager Christie Kline, 503-810-9817 christie.kline@pdxparent.com Distribution & Digital Production Coordinator Melissa Light melissa.light@pdxparent.com Eastside Account Executive Lauren Wylie, 503-331-8184 lauren.wylie@pdxparent.com Westside Account Executive Jill Weisensee, 503-309-8272 jill.weisensee@pdxparent.com President Keith Goben, 503-460-2774 keith.goben@pdxparent.com For distribution issues, e-mail us at distribution@pdxparent.com For calendar submissions, e-mail us at calendar@pdxparent.com PDX Parent is published monthly by Metro Parent Publishing, Inc., and is copyright 2020 Metro Parent Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. PDX Parent is distributed free of charge throughout the Portland, OR / Vancouver, WA metropolitan area. PDX Parent reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised herein. PDX Parent does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, gender expression, sex or sexual orientation. Although every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of published material, Metro Parent Publishing, Inc., 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.
R EN T P PA I
S CK
PD X
The votes are in! You told us your family’s favorite people, places and spaces in Portland! Winners will be announced starting next month with your favorites in Lessons & Camps.
WINNERS
And save the date for our family festival, PDX Parent Celebrates the City at Oaks Amusement Park, June 20, 2020. 10 am-2 pm. We hope to see you there! Stay tuned to pdxparent.com for more details.
U.S. Marine Corps veteran, activist and mother Josielyn Alcalá-Pérez is tackling social justice reform on several fronts.
So how does Alcalá-Pérez stay so engaged with her 4-yearold daughter in tow? “A thing I learned in the Marine Corps, is to
She’s on the community action team with
‘adapt and overcome.’ That means you
Next Up, an organization that aims to
may have difficult things thrown at you,
get diverse young people into positions
or challenges, but you assess things and
of leadership in the hopes of creating a
problem solve. Instead of thinking you
more equitable Oregon. And with fellow
can’t get involved because of things like
Marine Corps veteran, Mollie Juberien,
child care, get creative and work with
Alcalá-Pérez started Rise4Reform, which
it or around it,” she says. “Bring toys
raises awareness on the spike of sexual
or activities to a meeting to keep your
assaults in the armed forces and the
little one busy for a bit. Conference call
JOSIELYN ALCALÁ-PÉREZ
hurdles victims of sexual assault in the military have to overcome. She’s running a marathon this year to raise funds for Protect Our Defenders, a group that is
in. Find activities you can do at home such as writing postcards to voters or better yet, involve your kids. Take them canvassing with you for a measure
dedicated to ending sexual assault in the
you care about or a candidate you are
military. Another cause that is dear to her heart is family border
passionate about.” And if you are worried about your young
separation and protection for Dreamers. “As a mom and daughter
children not understanding why you feel the need to speak up or
of two immigrants that went through similar struggles as these
attend a protest, she gives this advice: “One thing that children
families seeking a better life, I could relate to their stories,” says
understand is love, because it’s universal. It may almost sound
Alcalá-Pérez. “When I would look at the news, I could see the
counterintuitive, but if you come to a protest from a place of love
faces of my parents and my family members in their faces. I knew
and put it in a way in which children can relate to, they will
that could have so easily have been me, or any of us really.”
grasp it.” — Denise Castañon
In the Know:
Get ready for OBOB!
Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) is a statewide team reading competition that promotes the love of literature and cooperative learning. From Boring to Baker City, students in grades three to 12 compete. “I love the fact that every year, there are a few students who have not seen themselves as ‘readers’ who jump into OBOB and by the end, see themselves in a different light,” says Robin Rolfe, librarian at James John Elementary School in North Portland and coach of last year’s third to fifth grade state champs, The Rose City Readers.
ROBIN ROLFE
p l ay r o o m
Spotlight On: Josielyn Alcalá-Pérez
Last year before the schoolwide competition, This year’s teams loved reading about a regular girl!
Rolfe’s teams met during school hours two to three times per month, read on their own, and used practice questions at home or at school. The winning Rose City Readers team had four out of five members read all 16 books with several students reading them multiple times. Before the regional competition, team members focused on specific books to become “experts” on, continued rereading and practiced at home and with friends. They also searched for practice questions, wrote their own questions and competed against each other. They did some experimenting with which speaker they thought worked best for the team and talked about team roles. Finally leading up to the state
This was one of Rolfe’s favorite books on this year’s list.
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competition, Rolfe’s team took a break! They read what they wanted for a week and then … reread their books. Students studied individually, with families, or in informal groups. They also met one to two times per week at school. Rolfe also suggests that students decide on the team goal together and talk about the strengths each teammate brings. And one of her biggest tips: Have fun! — D.C.
Wild about Wetlands
AUTUMN LINDSETH
Good Deeds:
Did you know February 2 is World Wetlands Day? And did you know that Oregon is home to the country’s largest urban wetland? Introduce littles to the beauty and value of our wetlands by becoming a restoration volunteer. The Columbia Slough Watershed Council is hosting an all-ages volunteer event in Northeast Portland’s Smith and Bybee Wetlands on Sunday, February 2. Family-friendly Stewardship Saturday events are also happening this month at Columbia Children’s Arboretum on Saturday, February 1; and at Wilkes Creek Headwaters on Saturday, February 29. The native shrubs and trees your kids can help plant will restore wildlife habitat for pollinators and birds well beyond the winter months. All events run 9 am-noon. Pro tip: Bring sturdy shoes and wet-weather gear! These events run rain or shine. To pre-register, visit columbiaslough.org and click on “Events.” — Erin J. Bernard
The long months
of cold, windy weather can do a number on little lips! Keep kissers soft with these kid-friendly lip balms.
Badger Balm’s
balm: Portland
averse with a swipe
double-duty, try
Bee Balm’s
of EOS Lip Balm. A
responsibly
rainbow of seasonal and
made sticks
regular flavors from
come in four
cotton candy
Naked Lip Balm.
Sunscreen.
This soy-, bee- and
This organic,
gluten-free stick
sustainable
is gentle enough
blend shields
to dab anywhere
lips from
on your kid’s face
the winter
of skiing or
kids: Tempt the balm-
your balm to do Booda Butter
Clear Zinc Lip Balm
long hours
Best for taste-sensitive
sustainable
balm: If you like
hit the slopes without
sun during
Best local and
Best multi-purpose
the mountain: Don’t
— or yours. $3.85. Boodaorganics.com.
sledding. $3.49. Badgerbalm.com.
LM BOODA BA
flavors featuring beeswax from PNW hives,
PORTLAND BEE BALM
Balmy Weather
Best for a day on
BADGER BALM
Gear Guide:
to dulce de leche come packaged
EOS
and 1 percent
in colorful, twist-apart
of proceeds supports
containers — perfect
local urban bees and
for tucking into little
their keepers. Pro tip:
pockets. $3.29.
Try Oregon mint! $2.99.
Evolutionofsmooth.com.
Portlandbeebalm.com.
— E.J.B.
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p l ay r o o m
Chalkboard:
State of Our Children 867,000
children in Oregon Oregon ranks
96.5 percent
31 out of 50 states
in terms of the overall well-being of its kids But only
of students in Wallowa County graduate from high school
25.5 graduate
Oregon ranks
in Wheeler County Wheeler County also has the state’s highest rate of kids in poverty at
41 out of 50 states in education
78.7 percent state average
Oregon has a
40.2 percent
graduation rate
Everything is AWESOME The first (and title) track of the
new album Awesome! from
Jesse Jukebox, aka Jesse
Friedberg, starts off with more energy than your kids after eating cake at back-to-back birthday parties. But that energy
SOURCE: ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION, CHILDREN FIRST FOR OREGON
Each year the Annie E. Casey Foundation takes a look at the overall well-being of children in the country, state by state. To measure overall well-being they rate several key factors: Economic well-being (how many families are living in poverty or have parents lacking secure employment); education (how many 4th graders are not proficient in reading, how high are high school graduation rates), health (how many babies are born at low birth weight); and family and community (are children living in high-poverty areas,
is used for good; the message behind Awesome! is one of positivity and self-acceptance. I loved the list of awesome things kids can experience on any given day: mac ‘n’cheese, popping bubble wrap, the very first bite of a candy bar, a new
or in families where the head of household lacks a high school diploma). In 2019 Oregon
backpack. Friedberg’s quirky,
ranked 31st, falling one spot from the previous year. By contrast, Washington ranked 16th
slightly nasally voice conveys
in the nation.
a lot of heart. And my kids
Children First for Oregon crunches the numbers from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and then looks at Oregon, county by county. Part of our state’s low overall well-being score is due to our low rank in education. “Within the education category, Oregon ranks 49 for on-time graduation, and toward the middle or lower-middle part of rankings for the other three education indicators,” says Tab Dansby, the KIDS COUNT coordinator/policy analyst at Children First for Oregon. While Oregon has always scored well in terms of children’s health, other states are catching up when it comes to getting children covered by health insurance, and that affected our overall standing this year as well. So the numbers sound bleak, but there are things you can do. Dansby recommends making sure young children have secure and loving relationships — they are a critical buffer against toxic stress, which is detrimental to a child’s developing neurology and sense of attachment. And in terms of government policy, Dansby recommends speaking up for all families: “It’s important to advocate for programs that help families become more economically stable and successful. Not only programs like Temporary
10
Playlist:
picked up on that instantly, listening very attentively the first time I played the album. Another standout track, Listen to Your Gut, encourages kids to trust their intuitions. And the song Complicated Kid stems from Friedberg’s childhood experience of struggling in school until he got an ADHD diagnosis. As he sings, “I can’t pay attention, understand the lessons or follow the rules,” you definitely feel empathetic. And kids who are going through
Assistance for Needy Families, but also policies like paid family and medical leave, so that
similar struggles might feel
families have the bandwidth to develop those secure and loving relationships from the
good knowing they are not
time their child first enters the world.” — D.C.
alone. — D.C.
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p l ay r o o m
Ask Dr. Doug
Q A
: We recently had to put down our dog, which was really hard on our
family. Our kids have had questions about it since, and I’m not always sure what to say. Do you have any tips on how to discuss this?
: I’m so sorry — losing a pet or loved one is so difficult. I think it’s wonderful you’re thinking through how best to approach this topic with your kids.
Death impacts us all. It is a normal and natural part of life, and we shouldn’t hide or
downplay the process. Children deserve our honesty and respect, especially around life transitions. My dad died recently, and I want to share how my boys responded. He fought a long battle with cancer and thankfully was able to die at home peacefully. After he died I sat with his body, meditating and praying, and my 4-year-old came in and said, “Dad, why are you talking to Pop Pop? He’s dead. He can’t hear you. He’s not here anymore.” Then he wanted to go play with Grandmom. My 9-year-old on the other hand wanted to stay in his room rather than see his body. We were respectful of this decision as well. Later he asked how old Pop Pop was, and how old I am, quietly doing the math to see how much longer I might live. I was honest with him, and told him, “None of us know when we will die, but SKIP HOP
I’m alive right now and with you, I love you no matter what, and even after I die you will be safe and taken care of.” At his age he realizes death is permanent and universal.
We Recommend:
Beat the Bath Time Blues A bath can be anything but soothing for kiddos with sensory
Try not to use euphemisms when discussing what happened. Don’t tell them your loved one or pet is “resting” — bedtime will become unnecessarily fraught. “Passed on” or “in a better place” is appropriate in adult conversation, but with kids I would say “die” and “dead.” Explain that
?
Got a question for Dr. Doug? Send it to AsktheDr@pdxparent.com.
being dead means their body isn’t working anymore, they won’t move or talk anymore, and it won’t change. It’s OK to cry in front of them. Grieving is normal, and teaching our kids (especially our boys) that we don’t have to suppress our emotions is a valuable lesson. Children grieve in different ways. Even toddlers will feel loss and might repeatedly ask where someone has gone. Play might center on dying. Don’t discourage this; it’s a healthy way for kids to work through their feelings. Try to keep routines as stable as possible, which will give them a greater sense of certainty. Be prepared for a long process — often kids will seem unaffected soon after a big change, but will have questions months later. A good technique to use for questions is “ask, tell, ask,” meaning first ask them what
differences — especially when it
they would like to know or what they understand. This will help you to better gauge their
comes time to wash that hair. Make
concerns. Tell them an amount of information appropriate to their age, then ask, “Do you
your bathing routine feel like less
have any other questions about that?”
of a battlefield by keeping the Moby Waterfall Bath Rinser close at hand. A soft rubber lip keeps those dreaded water droplets
Last, don’t be afraid to get help from a professional grief counselor. Finding meaning and connection in our lives when faced with the inevitability of our deaths is our greatest task. In this way our experiences around death can be a profound teacher for kids and adults alike.
ensure a quick rinse, and when you’re all done, the sweet blue whale doubles as a fun scooper and bath toy. $10. Skiphop.com. — E.J.B.
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Dr. Doug Lincoln practices general pediatrics at Metropolitan Pediatrics in Happy Valley. He is board certified in both pediatrics and preventive medicine, with special interests in helping parents meet their breastfeeding goals, caring for neurodiverse children with behavioral health needs, and advocating for children via teaching and policy. As a dad of two boys, he understands the joy and hard work that comes with parenting. Find out more about Dr. Doug and Metropolitan Pediatrics at metropediatrics.com.
DR. DOUG
from running into eyes, interior fins
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Locks, Lights, Out-of-Sight Lockdown drills have become the norm in our nation’s schools. But how can we protect kids from a potential active shooter event without traumatizing them in the process? BY ALICE CALLAHAN, Ph.D.
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I
n a better world, learning to read and write, count and color, and get along with others would be plenty to fill the days of new kindergarteners. But Chrysalis Amour Levy dreaded another lesson her daughter would learn when she started kindergarten last fall: How to silently hide in a dark classroom, practicing what to do if a dangerous person entered her school. Lockdowns are now a universal part of education in the United States, practiced by at least 95 percent of schools nationwide. In Oregon, they’re mandated by a 2013 law requiring all public and private K-12 schools to conduct two lockdown drills per year, legislation written in the wake of the shooting that killed 20 first graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. It’s no wonder that parents like Levy dread the thought of their children participating in lockdown drills — they’re acting out our worst nightmares. But what if the drills are also causing nightmares? That’s what happened to Levy’s daughter, a friendly, outgoing girl who loves magic and fairies. After her first lockdown drill at Buckman Elementary, “she immediately started having nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night and wanting to sleep with us, constantly asking if the doors are locked,” said Levy. “It definitely took away her innocence.” School shootings are rare, and statistically, schools are among the safest places for kids. Yet the inherent horror and round-the-clock media coverage keep these tragedies front of mind, and a majority of parents worry about a shooting happening at their child’s school. How are schools in Portland, especially elementary schools, balancing the mandate of practicing lockdown drills with ensuring that students feel safe and supported at school?
Portland-area schools are conducting standard lockdown drills; not active shooter exercises.
1. Be informed. Ask for the drill schedule and
information about how
drills are conducted at
your child’s school so
that you’re prepared for
?
conversations with her before and after drills.
2. Talk with the
school’s principal or counselor if you’re
concerned the drill
might cause a traumatic reaction in your child.
3. After a drill, talk with your child. Listen and validate her feelings;
Oregon law requires schools to have lockdown drills, but it’s up to districts how to conduct them. In Oregon and around the country, some schools have turned to scarily realistic drills, involving firing blank shots to simulate gunfire, masked intruders with plastic pellet guns, and students wounded with fake blood. These types of realistic drills can be useful training exercises for emergency responders, but they can be very traumatizing for staff and students, who shouldn’t be required to participate, said Cathy Paine, a member of the National Crisis Response Team with Administrators the National Association of School Psychologists and a from Portland retired administrator from Springfield, Oregon. Administrators from Portland Public Schools (PPS), Evergreen, Vancouver, Tigard-Tualatin, Parkrose, and Lake Oswego school districts all said that they aren’t conducting realistic active shooter drills with students. “I don’t know of any schools doing it that way,” John Parke, safety and security administrator for Lake Oswego School District, wrote in an email.
Lockdown Drills: How to Support Your Child
Public Schools
(PPS), Evergreen, Vancouver, TigardTualatin, Parkrose, and Lake Oswego school districts all said that they aren’t
Instead, Portland schools reported practicing a conducting realistic standard lockdown drill. In PPS, these happen in every active shooter drills school in September and March, said Mollie Emmons, with students. interim director of security services in the district. A “locks, lights, out-of-sight,” message plays over the intercom. Students and teachers get into their classrooms, lock the doors, turn out the lights, pull the blinds, and get out-of-sight of any windows.
offer reassurance that schools are safe and violent incidents are very rare.
4. Use language your
child can understand. Emphasize that the
purpose of the drill is
to keep your child safe. If “stranger danger” is
familiar to your child,
this concept may be helpful.
5. Contact the school’s counselor if you’re concerned about
how your child has
responded to a drill or lockdown.
SOURCE: CATHY PAINE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS
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“Then we sit really, really quietly together,” said Suzanne Cohen, president of has mostly taught at the middle school level. “All the emotional reactions that you could expect in preteens happen. Some are very, very scared, some laugh nervously,
Lockdown
Hide
the Portland Association of Teachers, who
Last year, PPS started to train staff in “options-based decision-making,” encouraging them to consider other responses to an active shooter situation beyond the standard lockdown. Some teachers, especially at the middle and high school levels, might barricade classroom doors with desks during drills, and the district is encouraging them to think through and talk with students about how they could evacuate the building if that’s their safest option, Emmons said.
Dr ills
some cry.”
Most experts agree that lockdowns save lives. The rationale for lockdowns is that if everyone can get behind find victims, buying time until emergency responders arrive. From analyzing school shootings from the last 20 years, we know that should know how to do them, Paine said. “Even for a 5- or 6-year-old who
“Even for a 5- or 6-year-old who
hears about [school shootings], it’s
hears about [school
better for them to have some level of
shootings], it’s
knowledge at their developmental
better for them to
level than to know nothing, and then
have some level of
be afraid. Because they will think, ‘Well, what if this happens at my school?’ and if they have no clue what to do, then that creates more anxiety.” Paine’s expertise comes in part from unenviable experience; she was a
knowledge at their developmental level than to know nothing, and then be afraid.”
school psychologist at Springfield’s Thurston High School in 1998, when a student opened fire, killing two and wounding 25. Cohen wishes the drills weren’t necessary, and her organization is advocating for gun laws aiming to prevent more shootings. “But as long as there’s this fear, educators want to do everything they can to protect their students,” she said. “Anything that we might’ve said to ourselves five years ago or seven years ago about the unlikeliness of ever needing this skill — I think that’s harder and harder to believe.”
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P re pa re
Barricade
There’s little research on how lockdowns affect children’s mental health.
a locked door, quiet and out-of-sight, it’s harder for a shooter to
lockdowns save lives, and students
danger
Frustratingly, only one tiny study has addressed this question, but it’s more than a decade old and included only 74 children (ages 8 to 11 years old) who participated in a single seven-minute lockdown drill. The students in the study didn’t report more anxiety or feelings of being unsafe after the drill, but much more research is needed. And while some local parents say their children seem unaffected by lockdowns, others worry that they’re stressing their kids. Last spring, Chris Wheeler realized that her daughter, then a third grader at Grout Elementary, was avoiding drinking water during the school day. “She didn’t want to get caught in the bathroom and have to be alone in a stall standing on a toilet with somebody dangerous in the building,” Wheeler said. After an actual lockout at her school in May (during which exterior doors were locked because of police activity in the neighborhood), her daughter cried for several hours at bedtime and didn’t want to sleep alone. Seven months later, Wheeler said her daughter has continued to have nightmares about scary things happening at school, despite being an otherwise strong and independent child, and she worries about how the drills might be affecting kids with a history of trauma or less support at home. Summer Bennett noticed that her son became much more fearful after he started kindergarten at Scott Elementary last fall. “He started focusing on locking the doors and being safe inside the house, which he’s never talked about,” she said. Bennett is concerned that schools might be underestimating the effects of the drills, because they don’t see these subtler signs of anxiety. “It’s what
S
practice active
Safety
happens when they get home, and they’re tired, and it’s bedtime, and they can let their guard down a little bit,” she said. “When they close their eyes, and they go to sleep at night, how it affects their dreams.” PPS administrators acknowledged that they’re hearing from parents with similar concerns about lockdowns, especially at the elementary level. “I think we really are walking a difficult line as a district in trying to ensure that our schools, our administrators, our educators and our students are prepared for a situation like that while trying to maintain a trauma-sensitive lens, not creating more anxiety for students,” said James Loveland, senior director of Student Success and Health at PPS.
Best practices for mitigating the psychological effects of lockdowns can help guide schools. Experts in child psychology and traumatic stress have developed guidelines for how to minimize the psychological effects of lockdown and active shooter drills in schools (For more, see our sidebar, Lockdown Drills: How to Support Your Child on page 15). “It’s very possible to do it without traumatizing kids,” Paine said. And the more engaged parents are with this process, the better. “If more parents were more vocally advocating for their students, then it would just cause the schools to be more thoughtful about it,” she said. Good communication around drills is key. “100 percent of the time, drills need to be announced ahead of time, and yes, parents should know that they’re going to happen,” Paine said. If students and staff believe they’re in real danger, that creates more fear and potential trauma. And the National Child Traumatic Stress Network brings up the point that students and teachers can become desensitized to unannounced drills and under-respond in a true crisis situation when quick action is paramount. Metro districts are evolving in their policies about communicating drills. At PPS, the district encourages schools to have at least one surprise drill each year (usually in the spring), and their policy is to not inform students and staff whether a lockdown is a drill or a real threat, Emmons said. North Clackamas School District also used to conduct surprise drills, but as of January 2020, they’re mandating that students and staff be notified when it is a drill, at
least in part to address concerns about drills causing trauma to students, said David Kruse, risk manager for the district. For children with a history of trauma, parents and school staff can work together to ensure they have good coping techniques or other supports during drills, or they might opt out and learn about emergency response in another way. Special consideration is also needed for children with disabilities or sensory differences. Mental health professionals should be involved in every stage of a drill, including planning, writing developmentally appropriate lessons for students, and being present during the drill and afterwards, to debrief with students and staff if needed. Letting parents know in advance about drills allows them to be prepared to talk with their kids and watch for signs of distress. In PPS, Emmons said that most elementary principals send a note home to parents before a drill happens or just after, but this is not required by the district. And among the parents interviewed for this article, a lack of communication was a common complaint. Both Bennett and Wheeler, parents of elementary students in the district, said they weren’t informed about drills occurring last year, and that These organizations made it more difficult to offer best practices for respond to their children’s minimizing trauma from behavior changes. Andrea drills: Tomlin, mother of two children at Ainsworth National Association of Elementary, said that in School Psychologists: her three years as a parent nasponline.org. at the school, she’s never been informed about when The National Child Traumatic Stress drills occurred or how Network: nctsn.org. they were explained to her children, despite requesting this information. “They’ve completely taken us out of the conversation about our kids’ safety,” she said. Tomlin sent PPS superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero a letter last fall detailing her concerns, but she said she hasn’t received a reply.
Learn more
Emmons said that PPS is working to develop more traumainformed resources so that they can better support students through drills and real incidents, and she encourages parents to reach out to school principals with questions or concerns. “We are constantly looking at our emergency planning and practice and may shift the way we conduct lockdown drills in the future so that we can build the muscle memory needed for emergency response while at the same time removing harmful impacts of emergency drills,” she said.
Alice Callahan, Ph.D. is the author of The Science of Mom: A Research-Based Guide to Your Baby’s First Year, and her writing on health and science has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Undark Magazine, and elsewhere. She lives with her husband and two kids in Eugene.
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OPEN HOUSES
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OPEN HOUSES
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OPEN HOUSES FEBRUARY OPEN HOUSES A Renaissance School of Arts and Sciences - 0234 SW Bancroft; 971-221-2311; renpdx.org; Feb. 23, 2 - 3:30 PM Cedarwood Waldorf School 3030 SW 2nd; 503-245-1477; cedarwoodschool.org; Feb. 8, 10AM - 12 PM Childswork Learning Center 4235 SE Salmon; 503-234-3611; childswork.org; Feb. 22, 9 - 11 AM Franciscan Montessori Earth School 14750 SE Clinton; 503-760-8220; fmes.org; Feb. 11, 10 - 11:30 AM Goodtime Chinese School 15285 NW Central Dr; 503-277-3899; goodtimechineseschool.org; Feb. 22, 1 - 5 PM Hancock Street Co-op Preschool 1624 NE Hancock; hancockstreet preschool.com; Feb. 1, 9:30 AM - 12 PM Montessori School of Beaverton 11065 NE Crystal Creek Lane; 503-439-1597; msb.org; Feb. 22, 9 AM Northwest Chinese Academy 16860 SW Blanton, Aloha; 503-546-3455; nwchineseacademy.org; Feb. 14, 9 - 11 AM and Mar. 7, 10 AM - 1 PM Scuola Italiana di Portland 1542 NW 14th; 971-270-0470; scuola.us; Feb. 29, 1 - 2:30 PM Small Friends School - 7475 SW Oleson; 503-388-2266; smallfriendsschool.com; Feb. 6, 7 - 8:30 PM St. John the Apostle Catholic School 516 Fifth, Oregon City; 503-742-8230; sja-eagles.com; Feb. 4, 5 - 7 PM St. Rose School - 5309 NE Alameda; 503-281-1912; strosepdx.org; Feb. 3, 6 PM The Madeleine School 3240 NE 23rd; 503-288-9197; themadeleine.edu/school; Feb. 11, 7 PM and Feb. 12, 10 AM - 1 PM The Portland Montessori School 205 NE 50th; 503-688-2992; portlandmontessori.org; Feb. 1, 10 AM - 2 PM Trackers Forest School 4617 SE Milwaukie; 503-345-3312; trackerspdx.com; Feb. 6, 3 - 4 PM (Grades K-3) and 6- 7 PM (Upper grades) Tucker Maxon School 2860 SE Holgate Blvd; 503-235-6551; tuckermaxon.org; Feb. 26, 9 - 11 AM SCHOOL TOURS A Renaissance School of Arts and Sciences - 0234 SW Bancroft; 971-221-2311; renpdx.org Cedarwood Waldorf School 3030 SW 2nd; 503-245-1477; cedarwoodschool.org Childswork Learning Center 4235 SE Salmon; 503-234-3611; childswork.org CLASS Academy - 2730 NW Vaughn; 503-223-9099; classacademy.com 20
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Franciscan Montessori Earth School and St. Francis Academy - 14750 SE Clinton; 503-760-8220; fmes.org French American International School - 8500 NW Johnson St.; 503-292-7776; faispdx.org German International School of Portland - 3900 SW Murray, Beaverton; 503-626-9089; gspdx.org Goodtime Chinese School 15285 NW Central, Ste 201; 503-6165585; goodtimechineseschool.org Guidepost Montessori at Beaverton - 9945 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton; 503-567-1844; guidepostmontessori.com Hancock Street Co-op Preschool 1624 NE Hancock; hancockstreetpreschool.com The International School 025 SW Sherman; 503-226-2496 x110; intlschool.org The Madeleine School 3240 NE 23rd; 503-288-9197; themadeleine.edu/school The Marylhurst School 19915 Old River, West Linn; 503-650-0978; themarylhurstschool.org Multnomah Playschool 5500 SW Dosch; 503-244-9141; multnomahplayschool.com Portland Jewish Academy 6651 SW Capitol Hwy; 503-244-0126; pjaproud.org The Portland Montessori School 205 NE 50th; 503-688-2992; portlandmontessori.org Portland Play Project 6015 NE Skidmore St.; 740-590-9141; portlandplayproject.com Prince of Peace Preschool and Kindergarten - 14175 NW Cornell; 503-645-1211; princeofpeaceschool.com Riverdale School District 11733 SW Breyman; 503-262-4840; riverdaleschool.com Scuola Italiana di Portland 1542 NW 14th; 971-270-0470; scuola.us Small Friends School 7475 SW Oleson; 503-388-2266; smallfriendsschool.com St. Agatha Catholic School 7960 SE 15th; 503-234-5500; stagathaschoolpdx.us St. Clare School - 1807 SW Freeman; 503-244-7600; stclarepdx.org St. John the Apostle Catholic School 516 Fifth, Oregon City; 503-742-8230; sja-eagles.com St. Rose School - 5309 NE Alameda; 503-281-1912; strosepdx.org Trackers Earth Portland 4617 SE Milwaukie; 503-345-3312; trackerspdx.com; Add'l Location: 2334 NE 57th Ave Portland, OR 97213 Valley Catholic School - 4420 SW Mary's, Beaverton; 503-718-6500; valleycatholic.org
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The Presc Is the tide finally turning when it comes to funding preschool in Oregon? That depends on us, say early childhood educators. BY ERIN J. BERNARD
E
ver since former President Barack Obama took to the podium in 2013 to call out a lack of quality earlylearning opportunities for U.S. children and to announce bold federal investments in early childhood education (ECE), everybody’s been talking about the availability and affordability of preschool in our communities — or lack thereof. Why is preschool so expensive? Who’s monitoring the quality? And how does access to a good preschool affect learning outcomes in elementary school and beyond? Seven years on, that federal funding has expanded preschool availability for Oregon’s lowest-income children, yet Oregon remains the fourth-least affordable state for preschool overall, according to a 2017 Child Care Aware of America report. And the quality and oversight of existing preschools is hardly consistent. The happier news: 2019 was a banner year for ECE funding in Oregon. In addition to a $25 million annual increase in federal funds for Oregon’s Early Learning Division (ELD), the Oregon State Legislature passed the Student Success Act, which earmarks $1 billion annnually to fund early learning and K-12 education. But Portland’s ECE professionals warn that it’ll take more than money to effect meaningful change. We need to build a betterengaged community of parent-advocates, they say — empowered to ask hard questions and to stump tirelessly for some long overdue change.
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What We Talk about When We Talk about Preschool Parents might be surprised to learn that, in the state’s eyes, broadly, there’s little difference between a preschool and a day care, beyond the fact that a preschool generally provides care to children between 36 months of age and the start of kindergarten. This lack of consistent standards and definitions can be incredibly confusing for parents to navigate, notes Stacey Dunbar, owner of
chool Push Preschool Vetting: Where to Begin USE YOUR EYES
When you tour a school, ask yourself how inviting the space is. Is shelving accessible? How many toys and books are on hand? Does anything raise a red flag? And don’t forget to ask to see that preschool license! QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DIRECTOR
» What’s your program’s philosophy? » Tell me about the teachers’ qualifications. » Who else is around kids, and what are their qualifications? » What are your turnover rates? (They’re often high, so ask, too, about how the director mitigates burnout.) »C an I meet and speak with the teachers directly? » Where can I see your school’s accreditations and quality ratings? (Remember: many accreditation programs exist, all are opt-in, and only full-day preschools can apply.) DO YOUR HOMEWORK
» Visit the Oregon Early Learning Division’s website (oregonearlylearning.com) to read reports and inspection results, request compliance histories, and review/make complaints. You can also access resources for finding child care here. » To request information about a specific facility, you can also call 2-1-1. SOURCES: ADRIANA DELGADO AND STACEY DUNBAR
TARINA WESTLUND
Northeast Portland’s Spanish-immersion preschool Aprende con Amigos and CEO/founder of the brand-new Aspen Center, a modern community center focused on supporting women and their families. Ultimately, judging a preschool’s quality is down to the parents, she says: “‘Preschool’ really means nothing in particular, according to the Child Care Division’s rules,” she says. “If someone’s calling it a preschool, [parents need to] ask them why they’re calling it a
preschool. I could answer that question backward and forward, top to bottom.” The term “preschool” carries a certain cachet, agrees early childhood educator Adriana Delgado, who has worked in ECE for more than 10 years, but buyer beware: “Anybody can open up a child care program and say, ‘This is a preschool,’” she explains. “And that one word — ‘school’ sounds more appealing to parents than a day care.” pdxparent.com
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In Oregon, state-funded, income-contingent preschool programs like Head Start have specific curriculum and learning requirements, but all other preschools, whether center-based, home-based or public-school based, fall under the umbrella of “child care.” They might offer lots of pre-K prep, or have no traditional curriculum whatsoever. And preschools operating four or fewer hours a day require no licensing or inspection at all beyond basic background checks. Full-day licensed preschools, on the other hand, must meet a higher set of standards, including: registering with the state, having planned educational activities, passing twice-yearly inspections, and completing ongoing training in health and safety, child development, and abuse and neglect prevention.
ECE educator salaries) and a resulting shortage of affordable, quality preschools for the county’s approximately 19,000 3- and 4-year-olds. Hardest hit: children who live in poverty, have special needs, and whose home language is not English. Oversight is also a concern: Licensed preschools are subject to twice-yearly inspections — one announced, and one unannounced — which target health-and-safety issues like lead in the water and outsized teacher-student ratios. Some problems inspectors spot — say, an unattended pair of scissors or an exposed plug — can be fixed on the spot. Other common problems — like mismatched teacher-child ratios — might require extended follow-up and a compliance plan, says Mickelson. And that requires an adequate supply of inspectors, and the dollars to pay them. Dunbar credits the state with making the licensing system fast and easy, with clear procedures and rules, but when it comes to the bigger question of how Oregon’s ECE programs have been funded and prioritized? “I’m disappointed,” says Dunbar. “Other states have passed universal pre-K laws — New York, Illinois, California … we need to do better and we need to find a way to subsidize it.”
‘We have to get creative’
TARINA WESTLUND
“The definitional thing is hard,” acknowledges Sara Mickelson, Chief of Staff for Oregon’s Early Learning Division (ELD), which oversees child care programs for children ages 0-5. “As a field, we’re wrestling with it. Whether you call it child care or preschool, it’s an important time of kids’ lives … And to have those high expectations, as we do in our public programs, we need to finance the system better.” The 2019 windfall has been a welcome boon for the ELD, which regulates licensed programs and supports the quality of existing programs as well as operating programs and services targeting historically underserved children and families. The ELD has come under scrutiny in recent years after a string of deaths and injuries in Oregon child care facilities. Watchers blame the deficits on a lack of common standards and proper oversight — a tragic symptom of chronic underfunding. In a 2019 report, Oregon State University echoed the concerns, noting that preschoolers in 25 of Oregon’s 36 counties live in “Child Care Deserts,” meaning children outnumber regulated child care slots 3 to 1. Here in Multnomah County, under the leadership of Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson, an initiative is underway to create a large-scale, publicly funded preschool program. In its 2019 report, the Preschool for All Task Force called out a statewide failure to invest in early learning opportunities (and 24
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Parents are naturally most concerned with vetting the quality of their own child’s preschool (for tips on that, see our Preschool Vetting sidebar, page 23), but equally important, say Delgado, Dunbar and Mickelson, is joining the larger conversation about how our state supports its preschools, preschoolers and ECE educators. Insufficient oversight, understaffed facilities, lack of training opportunities, high turnover due to low pay and benefits — all of this makes it harder for workers like Delgado to earn a living in this field. The average wage for a preschool teacher in Oregon in 2018 was $13.70 per hour, while kindergarten teachers made $38.80 per hour on average. This means that directors like Dunbar must find increasingly creative ways to keep tuition rates low and teacher salaries competitive without letting teacher-student ratios balloon. Dunbar mitigates turnover in her two preschools schools by giving teachers access to high-quality training, lots of support, emotional and positive discipline strategies, and workable scheduling and compensation, but it is a juggling act. Preschool teachers are tired. Parents are tired, too. Dunbar sees this every day, and that’s why she’s seeking a permanent physical space for The Aspen Center. She envisions it as a place where parents and educators can attend trainings and seminars to support growth and healing, plus access self-care modalities like acupuncture and yoga — at a low cost and under one roof. “I know their salary isn’t as much as it needs to be,” says Dunbar. “We have to get creative in how to support them, because it’s not happening any other way.” Despite the challenges, ECE workers like Delgado remain passionate about high-quality early learning. Delgado is the MidWillamette chapter representative for the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (ORAEYC), a state affiliate of the
Become a Parent-advocate Read up on these initiatives to improve Oregon’s preschools, then spread the word!
✔ Raise Up Oregon, a statewide five-year plan for improving Oregon’s early learning system, aims to bring
communities together in the service of improving ECE opportunities. Oregonearlylearning.com/raise-up-oregon.
✔ The Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (ORAEYC) promotes quality early-learning opportunities for children and supports ECE educators and workers. Oraeyc.org. ✔ To support efforts to bring universal preschool to Multnomah County, visit the Universal Preschool NOW coalition at upnow2020.org, and Multnomah County’s Preschool for All Task Force at multco.us/preschool-all-task-force. ✔ The Aspen Center offers seminars, trainings, and self-care opportunities for parents and educators. Aspencenterpdx.com.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a nonprofit membership association that promotes high-quality early learning and developmentally appropriate practices. Through ORAEYC, she’s advocating for the profession — and the children — she loves. “These early years are the most formative,” says Delgado. “They are literally absorbing everything around them like a sponge — the good, the bad and the ugly.”
‘Big and bold investments’ Mickelson gives big props to Oregon parents for the passage of the Student Success Act. They brought their concerns directly to legislators, she says, and that advocacy worked. Better funding will help the state to streamline standards and procedures, says Mickelson, and an expansion of programs could shift the burden of the cost of quality preschool away from parents. But there’s deeper work to do.
“We’re looking forward in 2020 to engaging families more in understanding how they define quality and putting that together with brain science,” she says. “Hopefully [this is] the start of us making big and bold investments in our youngest children.” Dunbar hopes that a better-funded ELD will mean more dollars for preschools like hers — not run under the state-funded model, but still committed to providing quality education and competitive wages. On Delgado’s wish list: better compensation, full benefits, and high-level training for early childhood educators. ORAEYC supports the push for universal preschool in Oregon, says Delgado — it would raise educational quality standards, encourage appropriate funding, and lend the ECE profession much-deserved legitimacy. The county’s Preschool for All Task Force, too, is working to develop an implementation and funding plan for the universal preschool vision laid out in its 2019 report, and Oregon voters might even see a universal preschool ballot measure in 2020. Meanwhile, ECE professionals like Delgado and GABRIELA VEG A Dunbar will keep speaking out about the crucial importance of high-quality, developmentally appropriate preschool education. And they want parents to join the chorus. “I’ve worked in the field of education for over 20 years, and I believe in prevention versus intervention,” says Dunbar. “Give them a good strong start, and it will carry them, the research shows, through the second grade.” Raising the bar will take a village, says Delgado, but parents have more power than they realize: “If we had more parents involved, I think our local and federal governments would be listening to our demands more. We need parents to be their child’s advocate. As educators, we’ll always be every child’s advocate, but we can’t continue doing it alone.” Managing Editor Erin J. Bernard is the proud parent of a Northeast Portland preschooler. Her daughter, Gabi Vega, is crazy about art, learning her letters, and her teachers at Aprende con Amigos. (Check out her work above.) pdxparent.com
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CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL GUIDE
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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
The Choice that Makes a Difference! • Academic Excellence • Faith Formation • Rich Co-Curricular Activities • Before and After School Care
• Registered and Recognized by the State of Oregon • Accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA)
All Saints School • Grades PreK-8 Contact the school for a tour Library - Abraham Building 601 NE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., Portland, OR 97232 503-236-6205 www.allsaintsportland.com
St. Matthew Catholic School • Grades PreK-8 221 SE Walnut St., Hillsboro, OR 97123 503-648-2512 info@stmatthewschoolhillsboro.org www.stmatthewschoolhillsboro.org
Cathedral School • Grades PreK-8 110 NW 17th Ave, Portland, OR 97209 (503) 275-9370 admissions@cathedral-or.org www.cathedral-or.org
St. Pius X Catholic School • Preschool-Grade 8 1260 NW Saltzman Rd., Portland, OR 97229 503-644-3244 www.stpiuspanthers.org
St. Agatha Catholic School • Grades PreK-8 7960 SE 15th Ave., Portland, OR 97202 503-234-5500 Fax: 503-232-7240 christine.pashley@stagatha.us www.stagathaschoolpdx.us St. Cecilia School • Preschool-Grade 8 12250 SW 5th St., Beaverton, OR 97005 503-644-2619 www.stceciliaschool.us St. Clare School • Grades K-8 Enrolling now for the 20-21 school year! 1807 SW Freeman St., Portland, OR 97219 503-244-7600 info@stclarepdx.org www.stclarepdx.org St. John Fisher School • Grades K-8 4581 SW Nevada St., Portland, OR 97219 503-246-3234 mholub@sjfschool.org www.sjfschool.org St. John the Apostle Catholic School • Grades PreK-8 Now accepting applications, apply online today! Open House: February 4, 5-7 pm Daily Campus Tours available between 8am - 3pm Monday thru Friday 516 Fifth St., Oregon City, OR 97045 503-742-8230 • Fax: 503-742-8239 office@sja-eagles.com www.sja-eagles.com
St. Rose School • Grades PreK-8 Open House: February 3, 6 pm 5309 NE Alameda St., Portland, OR 97213 503-281-1912 www.strosepdx.org St. Thomas More Catholic School • Grades K-8 Open Enrollment Now Call for a Private Tour 3521 SW Patton Rd., Portland, OR 97221 503-222-6105 stmschool@stmpdx.org www.stmpdxschool.org The Madeleine School • Grades K-8 New Parent Info Night: February 11, 7 pm School Tours: February 12, 10 am–1pm 3240 NE 23rd Ave., Portland, OR 97212 503-288-9197 kchambers@themadeleine.edu www.themadeleine.edu Valley Catholic Early Learning, Elementary & Middle School 4420 SW St. Marys Dr., Beaverton, OR 97078 503-644-3745 www.valley catholic.org
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CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL GUIDE
SW Portland Campus Lake Oswego Campus 4920 SW Vermont St 4515 Parkview Dr Portland, OR 97219 Lake Oswego, OR 97035 503-246-5495 503-636-1408 westhills-montessori.com
West Hills Montessori For 51 years, West Hills Montessori School has provided exceptional learning experiences to Portland area children and families. Each West Hills classroom is staffed with AMI-certified teachers who are dedicated to serving the social, emotional, and intellectual needs of children ages 15 months to 12 years: • serving the needs of the whole child within a culture of respect • encouraging each child to follow their own paths of interest • challenging every student to achieve their full potential • nurturing the magical joy and curiosity of childhood
4235 SE Salmon St. Portland, OR 97215 childswork.org 503-234-3611
Childswork Learning Center Childswork Learning Center offers play-based, developmentally appropriate programs, placing equal emphasis on cognitive, social, emotional, and physical (outdoor) learning. We have beautiful natural indoor and outdoor learning environments. Now enrolling children ages 2.7 years through kindergarten for the 2020/21 school year. Options to visit our school: * Schedule a tour, call 503-234-3611 * Attend Open House on Feb 22, 9-11 am
We’re honored to have earned your respect over the years, and delighted to continue providing the learning experiences upon which lifelong success is built. We welcome your application.
6651 SW Capitol Highway Portland, OR 97219 pjaproud.org 503-244-0126
1024 NW Glisan St Portland, OR 97209 wevillage.com 503-935-5590
WeVillage WeVillage was founded as an education facility providing an exceptional and beautiful flexible childcare option on your schedule. We now offer full and part time programs to provide a stable consistent education experience. Our philosophy is simply. We inspire children through engaging well rounded literature inspired, theme based curriculum. This includes, dance, art, group projects, outdoor park time daily. Small classes, and healthy foods. We are inclusive and we will be come your village. We cover all the bases and your child will flourish. We still pride ourselves on allowing the parent to choose what schedule and commitment works for them. Infant, toddler, Prek, AfterSchool and flexible care for all ages! Don’t forget we are open during school breaks with camps as well.
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Portland Jewish Academy PJA values each child as an individual who learns in a multitude of ways. PJA programs provide welcoming and inclusive settings that recognize children’s diverse abilities, interests, needs, and learning styles. Full and half day options available. Open to everyone.
CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL GUIDE
5700 SW Dosch Rd Portland, OR 97239 pcctoday.com/hilltop 503-245-3183
Hilltop Early Learning Academy At Hilltop early Learning Academy your child’s future is important to us. Every child at Hilltop is loved and cared for in an environment that builds a solid foundation for future school success. Our preschool and kindergarten teachers are experienced experts and work with each child to inspire and encourage them to reach their potential academically, socially, and spiritually. We’ve been building futures since 1992.
14750 SE Clinton St Portland, OR 97236 fmes.org 503-760-8220
Franciscan Montessori Earth School We offer a remarkably different education for children aged 2.5 to 14 years on 10 picturesque acres. Students are empowered to become confident, self motivated learners for life. - Montessori curriculum
Please attend an open house or schedule a tour!
- Small class size - Before and after care - Foriegn Language programs - Gardening program - On campus extracurricular activities
5830 SE Taylor St Portland, OR 97215 fiddleheadsurbanforestschool.com 207-831-5655
Fiddleheads Urban Forest School Early childhood is the most important time in life for building a strong sense of self, belonging, creativity, and connection to the natural world. At Fiddleheads we believe in encouraging children to flex their muscles and explore their natural inclinations in these directions. We work by the motto that childhood is a journey, not a destination.
Open Houses: Saturday, February 1, 10 am-1 pm Saturday, March 7, 10 am-1 pm Saturday, April 11, 10 am-1 pm
3430 SW Palatine St,. Portland, OR 97219 sproutandspark.com 503-719-4365
Sprout and Spark Preschool We strive to spark joy, creativity, resilience, and curiosity in each child and delight in helping them grow into responsible, independent, and compassionate lifelong learners. Serving ages 2.5-6 5:1 Ratio Offering a blended curriculum of: • Montessori •Reggio-Emilia •Unstructured Forest Play Guided by highly educated, experienced, professional teachers.
5815 SW Gillcrest Ct Portland, OR 97221 gabrielparkpreschool.com 503-683-3718
Oregon Metropolitan Elite Gymnastics Academy OMEGA Gymnastics 9700 SW Harvest Ct, Ste. 180 Beaverton, OR 97005 omega-gymnastics.com 503-466-4872
Gabriel Park Preschool
OMEGA Discovery
Gabriel Park Preschool is a nonprofit cooperative preschool for children ages 2-5 years old. GPPS was established in 1963, and is one of SW Portland's longest running cooperative preschools. Flexible parent involvement gives GPPS a rich, nurturing environment while also keeping tuition costs down.
We believe every child is a champion and we have a role in setting children up for success. OMEGA’s Discovery Program incorporates gymnastics training to start children on a successful path by providing a full range of physical and mental development. OMEGA’s instructors guide children through gymnastics lessons that encourage gross motor skill development as well as provide educational activities that encourage fine motor skills, cognitive development, and problem solving. Call today to schedule your tour of our facility.
* "Learn through play" Philosophy * Socialization and Group Skills * Environmentally Conscious Classroom * Celebrates Diversity * Conflict Resolution/Problem Solving * Special Events * Safe Environment * Large Playground * Forested Hiking Trails
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LANGUAGE IMMERSION « SPONSORED CONTENT »
Bilingual Brains: Why Your Child Should Be Bilingual and How You Can ´ Make It Happen
B
ilingual education programs are increasingly popular in the United States and for good reason. The benefits of immersion are undeniable and well supported by research. What are these benefits exactly? Read on to discover why a language immersion classroom is a spectacular choice for your child’s growing brain.
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Why Should My Child Be Bilingual? Whether your child is learning the language of your family’s heritage, mastering a language to increase professional opportunities, or becoming the family translator on your next vacation, the uses and benefits of a second language are endless. Immersion school graduates travel the globe with ease and confidence, making friends and colleagues along the way, knowing those connections are possible because of the education they received in childhood. No one regrets acquiring a second language; it is a lifelong gift.
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Why start so young? It is significantly easier for a young child to become fluent in the midst of a full-day immersion classroom than it is for a high school or college student to do so with a textbook in an hour-long language class a few times a week. Immersion students are practically guaranteed fluency, while students coming late to the game will have to work extremely hard to get there.
Benefits Beyond Bilingualism Bilingual education brings more to the table than simply a second language. In an article for Psychology Today, Francois Grosjean, Ph.D., asks whether students in immersion programs have “advantages in cognitive skills, such as metalinguistic awareness and executive control.” Research shows many benefits. Immersion students consistently outperform their monolingual peers in executive functioning, which includes task-switching, focus, self-control and flexible thinking. They also score better in metalinguistic awareness, crucial in the mastery of reading and writing, even after only two years of immersion education. By learning a new language, they increase their understanding of language itself. The benefits don’t stop there. Bodo Heiliger, head of elementary at The International School in Portland, believes not only in language immersion, but also in cultural immersion. “Learning an additional language helps build bridges to other cultures, and
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when we immerse students in the beliefs, values and cultures that underpin those languages, students develop the skills and dispositions to not only communicate but to truly understand and navigate within another culture,” says Heiliger. Bilingual classrooms are often more diverse, as most programs recruit native speakers; these students in turn feel their language and culture are to be valued and shared, not something to be checked at the door. Given these values and connections, a global perspective is a natural product of the immersion classroom, and students grow in both confidence and empathy, ready to take advantage of the wider range of professional, social and service opportunities that will be available to them.
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As for very-long-term benefits, bilingual brains have also been found to be more resistant to dementia, according to a 2007 study in Neuropsychologia. There seems to be truly no downside to a bilingual education.
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Start Early and Stick With It “Bilingual brains are working harder,” says Elizabeth Gillespie of the German International School of Portland. She encourages patience until third grade, when most children are meeting or exceeding grade level benchmarks in both languages. She also emphasizes the importance of starting young, when students are more receptive to learning a new language. Like many bilingual programs in the area, the German International School does not accept monolingual students after first grade, so parents are advised to enroll children early.
Find the Right Fit Portland boasts a host of bilingual schools, including French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Russian, Vietnamese and Japanese immersion programs. Because there are so many options, families are easily able to find a good fit for their child. Whether caregivers are looking for an International Baccalaureate program, a strong community feel, an emphasis on outdoor play, small class sizes, all of the above, or something else entirely, there is almost certainly a school that meets each child’s needs. Families are encouraged to attend tours, meet the staff, ask questions and find the best fit for their student. You have the power to give your child a second language, and with it friends and connections and opportunities galore. Start calling schools today. — Meg Asby
Meg Asby is a mom of two in SW Portland and loves nothing better than a cartful of books from Central Library. Check out what her family is reading at booked.blog. 32
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LANGUAGE IMMERSION
LANGUAGE IMMERSION SCHOOLS AHSC Yu Miao Chinese Immersion Preschool 5239 SE Woodstock Blvd Portland, OR 97206 503-775-3767 ahscpdx.org/yumiao.html info@ahscpdx.org Ages Served: 3-5 yrs Amiguitos! Preschool 11675 SW Butner Rd. Portland, OR 97225 amiguitos.org information@amiguitos.comcastbiz. net 503-596-2661 Ages Served: 2 1/2 to kinder French American International School 8500 NW Johnson Street Portland, OR 97229 faispdx.org/discover admissions@faispdx.org 503-292-7776 Ages Served: 2 1/2 - 14 ILA - International Leadership Academy 14788 Boones Ferry Rd Lake Oswego, OR 97035 ilapdx.org 503-662-8452 Ages Served: Pre-k - 5th grade The International School 025 SW Sherman St Portland, OR 97201 intlschool.org admissions@intlschool.org 503-226-2496 Ages Served: Preschool-5th Grade
German International School
3900 SW Murray Blvd
Beaverton, OR 97005 gspdx.org admissions@gspdx.org 503-626-9089 Ages Served: Preschool-5th Grade Northwest Chinese Academy
16860 SW Blanton Street Aloha, OR 97078 nwchineseacademy.org
info@nwchineseacademy.org 503-546-3455 Ages Served: Preschool-5th Grade Portland Early Learning Project
14834 NW Deerfoot Lane Portland, OR 97229
portlandearlylearning.com tanya@portlandearlylearning.com 503-284-0610 Ages Served: 18 months through 5th grade Schoolita Alegria~Spanish Bilingual Preschool
4605 NE Campaign St Portland, OR 97218 www.schoolita-alegria.com alegria@schoolita-alegria.com 503-706-1077 Ages Served: 3-5yrs Scuola Italiana di Portland
1452 NW 14th Ave
Portland, OR 97209 Scuola.us info@scuola.us 971)-270-0470 Ages Served: Ages 3 - 5 years
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LANGUAGE IMMERSION
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LANGUAGE IMMERSION
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a d u lt i n G
Leaving an abusive relationship is difficult; having a step-by-step plan can help.
Enough
D
eciding to leave an abusive relationship requires a huge leap. Karina Rutova, assistant director at The Gateway Center for Domestic Violence Services, offers the following advice for individuals who might be apprehensive about making a change. She suggests, “Ask yourself, how do you see your life staying with the abusive partner? In five years? In ten years? This might help you make the right decision.” It is okay to feel overwhelmed by all the details that need to be in place before you can make a change. There are a variety of resources out there to help keep you safe and put you on track to live life without fear of domestic abuse. Here are the most important steps you can take to help you safely leave an abusive relationship.
BY BROOKE STRICKLAND
an abusive situation before the crisis happens, rather than during the crisis,” she says. “It’s good to think in advance about how to safely leave the home. For example, keep important documents handy to grab quickly and keep them with trusted friends or in a rented safety deposit box.”
STEP 3: Know where you are going to go.
Rutova shares that securing a safe place to stay after you’ve cut ties with the abuser is one of the most important steps, especially because this usually involves advance preparation. “It takes time to rent an apartment even with resources, public benefits Ready to leave? may not cover the rent, domestic violence Find help here. shelters in the area are often at capacity … National Domestic Violence speaking to an advocate before leaving might Hotline: 1-800-799-7233. .help you to learn about various resources,” she says. The Gateway Center for Domestic Violence Services: portlandoregon.gov/ gatewaycenter.
STEP 1: Develop a personal safety plan.
Bradley Angle Resource Center: bradleyangle.org.
Each relationship is different. Because of that, your safety plan should be unique to your specific situation. Don’t go at it alone. Talk to an advocate who is an expert in domestic abuse and can help you develop a personal safety plan. These professionals are trained to help you come up with a plan that keeps your protection a priority. (See Ready to leave? at right.)
Call to Safety: 24-hour crisis line: 503-235-5333, calltosafety.org. Raphael House of Portland: raphaelhouse.com. West Women’s Shelter: westwomens.salvationarmy. org.
STEP 2: Think ahead. Rutova works with many people each week who are in abusive situations. “From my experience, when possible, it is better to leave
STEP 4: Determine if a protective order or restraining order is necessary. These can be very helpful in keeping you and your kids safe. Restraining orders are filed to keep someone from doing something and are commonly seen in divorce cases. Protective orders are used to keep someone safe from a dangerous person. An attorney or domestic violence advocate can help you discuss if either of these options is appropriate for you and your specific situation. STEP 5: Have a “go bag” ready.
Keep an emergency bag ready that you can use in case you need to make an unexpected quick escape. This should include cash, extra clothing, prescriptions, snacks and toiletries. Store it in a safe place away from your partner, such as at a friend or family member’s house.
Brooke Strickland is a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading a historical novel on her front porch, trying a new recipe in the kitchen, or spending time with her husband, two kids and elderly pug. 36
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field trip
Structured Play
Burn off the rainy-season blahs at Hillsboro’s new indoor playground, Ocean Plays.
M
y family got hit hard by this winter’s respiratory plague. My 7-year-old daughter, Adela, is the only one of us who didn’t get sick. So once I started to feel a little better, I took her to the new Ocean Plays indoor playground to burn off the energy from being cooped up with her sick family. Now Adela is sometimes a little hesitant to try new things, especially without her little bro, Cruz, to back her up. But I had barely finished signing the waiver before she was kicking off her shoes and running into the maw of the giant play structure. The storefront of Ocean Plays is not huge, but the play structure takes up the majority of the footprint. There’s also a party room, and seating and tables for adults to hang at while their kids run wild in the structure. (And there’s free WiFi.) The two gender-neutral bathrooms conveniently have step stools at the sinks and potty seats available to put on top of the toilets, which I know I would have totally appreciated when my kids were at the potty-training stage. One of the bathrooms also has a diaper changer. Although the place was super busy, I was able to easily find a table with a good view of much of the action happening in the structure. I caught glimpses of Adela as she fired foam balls from an air-cannon, swung on something that looked like a padded battering ram, and slid down a bumpy slide into a ball pit. That ball pit was her favorite, and she slid down, submerged herself in plastic balls, and clambered back to the top of the slide over and over again. After about 45 minutes
she came out, found me and asked if I had any water. (She never takes a voluntary water break!) I handed her the water bottle I had brought, and she slurped away. I asked her what she thought of the structure so far. “The whole thing is like a maze,” she said. “You see where you want to go, but there’s only one way to get to it.” And then she ran back in. Her next time in, she made a friend, and I watched as they gleeful jumped into the ball pit holding hands. (I did have to remind Adela to watch out for the littler guys in the structure, especially when she was in the ball pit.) Pro tip: Parents can go into the structure, and it’s probably a good idea if your kiddo is under 3. Bigger kids weren’t exactly mowing over littler ones, but they also weren’t necessarily taking care either. If you have no desire to head into the structure, I’d say the really sweet spot for Oceans is 3 ½ to 7 years old. (Even though kids up to age 12 are allowed to play, I could see Adela aging out in a year or two.) Then you could even bring a laptop and use that free WiFi to get some work done while your kids wear themselves out. And Adela did wear herself out, coming back out again pinkcheeked and thirsty. She gratefully scarfed down the Honest juice box and baked Cheetos I had purchased for her from the small snack bar. I asked if she thought her brother would like Ocean Plays and if we should bring him when he feels better. She said yes and immediately started trying to negotiate an exact return date — always the sign of a truly good time.
Before 1001 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy., A24., Hillsboro. Oceanplays.com. Sunday-Thursday, 10 am-7:30 pm. Friday-Saturday, 10 am-8:30 pm. Weekdays, ages 1-3: $5; ages 4-12: $8. Weekends, ages 1-3: $6; ages 4-12: $10. Membership and multi-visit You Go: passes available.
For more ideas for fun outings, visit: pdxparent.com/ field-trip.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY DENISE CASTAÑON
Editor Denise Castañon is so glad she has passed the potty-training and going-into-play-structure stages of parenting. pdxparent.com
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hands on
For more kid-friendly projects, visit: pdxparent.com/hands-on.
Do You Wanna Build a Sno Sn owman? Create a winter wonderland, even in the rain, with DIY snow dough from the folks behind Yellow Scope science kits. STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHELSEA SCHUYLER
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verybody loves building a snowman (or a snowwoman, or snowgirl)! But Portland snow is unpredictable. Some years school is shut down for days and others there’s just a light dusting of snow on the ground. But your kids will get guaranteed snow play with this science project. First they’ll combine common household items to make
SN OW D OUGH Materials
Instructions
2 cups baking soda
1. Mix the baking soda and salt in a bowl. (Your kids can do this by hand.)
2 tablespoons salt 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap (blue dish soap gives a nice glacier-like color to the snow) A tray or pan with high sides Decorations such as buttons, yarn, sticks or pipe cleaners 1-5 cups vinegar A spouted measuring cup
2. Add the liquid dish soap, then mix again. 3. Transfer the snow to the tray. 4. Shape your snowman and add decorations! (We used buttons for eyes, twist ties for nose and mouth, yarn for a scarf, keys for arms, and a Christmas tree hat decoration.) 5. Play as long as you like! 6. When you’re ready to “melt” your creation, add some vinegar (a cup or so at a time) to a measuring cup and slowly pour it over the “snow.” Pro tip: Make sure it all stays in the tray to prevent spills!
a miniature winter wonderland. This fake-snow recipe has the texture of real snow (it makes that satisfying crunch in your hands), but is slightly sticky and bumpy-looking. After your kids have finished playing with the fake snow, have them produce a chemical reaction to “melt” their creations, as though spring were coming.
What makes the snowpeople melt when you add the vinegar? Well, they’re not actually melting. Usually when we talk about melting, we mean that we added heat to something, and we turned it from a solid into a liquid. With our snow creatures, the vinegar reacts with the baking soda in a chemical reaction. When vinegar and baking soda react, carbon dioxide gas is formed. (To learn more about chemical reactions, check out our Foundation Chemistry kit!) Those fizzing bubbles you see (as your magical snowland melts) are thousands and thousands of carbon dioxide bubbles.
Chelsea Schuyler is a blogger and social media marketer for Portland-based Yellow Scope science kits for girls. An avid science nerd, she believes in getting kids (and adults) learning with their hands and their laughter.
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Find your family's next adventure with our Kids ♼ Adventures coming April 2020! Booking now! Contact your sales rep. Lauren Wylie 503-331-8184 Jill Weisensee 503-309-8272
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fa m i ly s u p p e R
visit: pdxparent.com/ family-supper
For more kid-friendly restaurant reviews,
Hip to Be Square
Thick-crust pizza squares hit Southeast’s Brooklyn neighborhood. STORY AND PHOTOS BY DENISE CASTAÑON
P
ortlanders go gaga for the thin-crust pizza at Apizza Scholls, Ken’s Artisan and Rally Pizza. But newcomer Pizza Doughnais is bucking the trend by slinging thick Sicilian-inspired squares. I recently checked out the new pizzeria in Southeast’s Brooklyn neighborhood with my 5-year-old son, Cruz.
The small storefront sits almost directly across the street from Know Thy Food Cooperative. (You’ve probably hit one of the popular weekday kid-music shows there.) There’s minimal counter seating inside, and several outdoor tables. Pro tip: Come for lunch when it’s not too crowded or take your pizza to go. (Especially since they don’t have public restrooms!) We arrived shortly after they’d opened for the day, and fresh pies were steaming up the glass case on the counter. I ordered a pepperoni slice for Cruz, $5.50. I liked the look of the sfincione, $4, (a traditional Sicilian pie topped with tomato sauce, housemade anchovy bread crumbs and pecorino Romano), and the olive-oil-based potato-bacon slice, $5.50. Cruz loved the extra-crispy pepperoni on top of his pizza and said it tasted like bacon. He picked it all off, then ate the dough from the inside out. My sfincione slice did not disappoint. The bread crumbs were wonderfully savory and crunchy without being fishy. It was just a
hearty delicious slice. But for me, the toppings on the potato bacon really sang out, especially the fresh rosemary. And that slice also brought out unique flavors of the crust. Some crust is just a vehicle for sauce and meats and cheese, but the Pizza Doughnais crust had a pleasantly assertive tang. I asked the owners about the sourdough flavor, and they told me that they don’t use any commercial yeast for their dough. So it’s all wild yeast that leavens the crust and provides the outstanding sourdough flavor. And on their website, they also claim that the natural fermentation makes their pizza more easily digestible. (I did eat almost two good-sized slices without feeling uncomfortably full.) We also took a Brookie — a housemade brownie/cookie hybrid — to go. It was delightful without being overly sweet. Confession: I gave a small piece to Cruz, and then ate the rest by myself after the kids were in bed. There’s a lot of great pizza in Portland, but Pizza Doughnais’s thick, tangy crust is stuck in my mind and already calling me back. 3541 SE Milwaukie Ave., 503-232-3434, pizzadoughnais.com. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 11 am-9 pm.
Pizzeria Otto’s new outpost on Southeast Foster Road features thin, floppy crust with a nice
Pizza Pizza
char. Pro tip: The marinated beets antipasti is the bomb. Pizzeriaotto.com.
Run by an Apizza Scholls alum, Red Sauce Pizza recently moved to new digs on Northeast
Fremont Street. Check out their thin crust with a char or hearty pan pizzas. They also make sourdough bread! Redsaucepizza.com.
Editor Denise Castañon loves exploring Portland’s family-friendly dining scene with her husband, 7-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son. 40
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Lemon jelly and Nutella make these doughnuts doubly delightful. STORY AND PHOTO BY JUDITH RICH
L
ack of ambition has never been my weakness when it comes to baking, and as my husband often says, “I bite off more than I can chew.” This saying rang true when I recently made homemade jelly doughnuts with my 4-year-old daughter, Edie. She was excited about the prospect and assisted me every step of the way.
Baked Jelly Doughnuts
Directions
Makes 6 doughnuts Doughnuts
1. Place flour in a medium bowl. With your fist, make a well at the top and add egg yolk, sugar, olive oil, yeast and salt. Mix well.
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2. Add warm water and mix until dough forms.
1 egg yolk
3. Take out dough and knead into a ball until smooth. Place dough into a greased bowl and cover with a dishtowel. Place somewhere warm (such as under covers) and allow it to rise for about 1 ½ hours.
2 tablespoons sugar
Instead of frying the doughnuts, we chose a healthier route and baked them. Once you stuff them with jelly and further top them with Nutella (if you wish), you’ll never know the difference!
2 tablespoons olive oil
Pro tip: Although this recipe is fun, it is advanced and contains many steps that will put your patience to the test. Knowing this, I’ve provided some tips along the way to make the journey smoother and more fun for you and your little helpers.
Lemon jelly filling
Fun fact: While waiting for the dough to rise, we made it silly by “hiding” it under Edie’s covers. Not only did she think this was hilarious, but as the dough’s “keeper,” she was proud to take it out and prove to me how much it had grown.
1 teaspoons instant yeast teaspoon salt cup of warm water
Baker’s note: For an easier filling, you can skip the lemon filling and squirt Nutella into your baked doughnuts instead! 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil 2 egg yolks 5 tablespoons sugar 1 sprig of rosemary Topping Powdered sugar Nutella (optional)
recipe file
Looking for more kid-friendly recipes? Visit: pdxparent.com /recipe-file.
Treats for Your Sweet
4. To make the filling, put a small saucepan on low heat and add a ½-inch of water. Place a heatproof bowl on top so it creates a “double boiler.” 5. Add lemon juice, olive oil, egg yolks, and sugar to the bowl on top. Whisk until all ingredients are mixed. Add rosemary sprig for about 5 minutes to add a nice earthy flavor. Continue to mix for about 10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened into a jellylike texture. When filling is cool, transfer it to a squeeze bottle. 6. Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. 7. Remove dough from bowl. Place on a floured surface and roll out into ½-inch thickness (it’s better to go thicker than thinner). Take a cookie cutter or a drinking glass and cut out 6 circles. 8. Place circles on the lined cookie sheet. Cover with a towel and let doughnuts rise for 30 minutes. 9. Bake for 10 minutes or until doughnuts are puffed up and golden brown. 10. Remove from oven and use a squeeze bottle to fill the doughnuts with the lemon filling or Nutella, if using (start at the top of each doughnut). Sprinkle with powdered sugar and dip into Nutella if you so please.
Judith Rich creates kid-inspired recipes and writes about her family’s dining-out adventures in the Portland-metro area in her blog, Eaty Pie, eatypie.com. pdxparent.com
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time out
February 2020
Go. Play. Explore.
speak your truth Celebrate Black History Month by exploring the history of traditional African storytelling and the meaning behind those stories. Come together with other African American children, families and elders to share the history of your families. Those who identify as part of the African diaspora are encouraged to wear African attire and share their stories, history, songs and poetry. Participants are also encouraged to bring photos of their familes. And there will be a craft table for kids. Saturday, February 1, noon-2 pm. Central Library. Free. Multnomah County Library will continue to celebrate Black History Month with the African American Read-In. Join in as community leaders, teachers, students and local celebrities read from their favorite works by African American authors. Community members are also encouraged to come and share words from their favorite books at this all-ages event. Saturday, February 8, 1 pm3 pm, North Portland Library. Free.
kicked-up classical
HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS
trick-shot masters Slapstick basketball. No one does it better than the worldfamous Harlem Globetrotters. Their new show pushes the limits of basketball with high-flying dunks and superfunny stunts. Saturday, February 8, 2 pm and 7 pm. Moda Center. Tickets at harlemglobetrotters.com.
This month Oregon Symphony delivers several concerts sure to turn kids into classical music aficionados. First up, game-loving teens will dig the world-class symphonic arrangements from popular games such as World of Warcraft, Assassin’s Creed, BioShock and Overwatch at the special Game On concert. The show combines musical premieres with stunning in-game HD videos and never-before-seen concept art. Pro tip: Some of the games featured are rated teen and mature. Saturday, February 1, 7:30 pm. Then Sunday, February 2 at 2 pm, Oregon Symphony presents Bitten’s A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. The vivacious Pam Mahon will narrate this Kids’ Concert, and the young dancers from Dance West will also grace the stage. Pro tip: Get there anytime after 1 pm to hit the instrument petting zoo. And finally, watch the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie on the big screen as the symphony plays the magical score live. Friday and Saturday, February 28-29, 7:30 pm. Sunday March 1, 2 pm. All concerts at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Visit orsymphony.org for tickets.
night lights
MGV PHOTOGRAPHY
Put some sparkle into winter’s chilly nights at the Portland Winter Light Festival, featuring more than 100 eye-popping light-based art installations, many interactive. Choose your own light-up adventure by exploring either side of Portland’s waterfront, with exhibits concentrated along the Eastbank Esplanade near OMSI and on the westside near the PGE World Trade Center and Salmon Springs Fountain. Pro tip: Families rave over the Lantern Parade, Illuminated Bike Ride and Silent Disco. Thursday-Saturday, February 6-8, 6 pm-11 pm. Pdxwlf.com. Free.
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It’s time to make your valentines! Feel the love (and get a little crafty) with these Valentine’s Day festivities happening around Portland metro this month. Stop in and create heartfelt cards and crafts at both the Belmont Library and the Central Library, Saturday, February 8, 2 pm. Free. Get those hearts pumping at the Portland State University Climbing Center’s Valentine Youth Climbing Event: enjoy sweets, card-making, and, of course, a little kid-calibrated climbing action. $7. Saturday, February 8, 10 am-2 pm. Or enjoy tasty treats and make sparkling valentines to share with loved ones at Tigard Public Library’s I Love You, Valentine! Party on Sunday, February 9, 2 pm-5 pm. Free. You can also stop into the Beaverton City Library’s Lovey Babies Dance Party and dance to your favorite love songs before making a valentine for somebody special. Monday, February 10, 11 am-11:45 am. Free. Also happening: Kids 6 and under will swoon over Valentine’s Story time (plus a lovey-dovey craft!) at Green Bean Books. Tuesday, February 11, 11 am. Free. If baking sounds sweeter, head to Feed the Mass nonprofit cooking school and learn to make (and PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY eat!) heart-healthy cookies. Pro tip: Parents are required to assist their littles during the cooking class. Saturday, February 15, 1 pm2 pm. $20. To register, visit feedthemass.org.
w
w
a hearty challenge If getting caked head to toe in gooey mud sounds like your idea of a sweet Valentine’s Day, you’ll be in good company at the My Muddy Valentine Obstacle Race, where squishy terrain and a series of obstacles awaits. Kids can run, leap, dive and dash through their own shortened course, designed for runners age 14 and under. No previous obstacle-course experience required! Afterward, enjoy music, food, games, drinks and a bonfire. Saturday, February 15. Kid’s 1.1-mile race begins at 9 am; arrive by 8:30 am to catch the first shuttle to the starting line. All-ages 5Ks and 10Ks take off in waves between 9:20 am and 11:30 am. Lee Farms, Tualatin. Visit terrapinevents.com for details or to pre-register. Kids’ race is $35 in advance or $40 race weekend. Adults’ races are $65 in advance or $75 race weekend.
raised by animals
DAVID KINDER
be mine, valentine
Can your kid scale the living room sofa in a single bound? Has she mastered the art of slithering serpent-like beneath the kitchen table to avoid finishing an unpalatable dinner? Then you’ll feel right at home at the Northwest Children’s Theater this February, when NWCT brings back its one-ofa-kind adaptation of The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling’s classic adventure tale. The twist? Mowgli’s story comes to life onstage through traditional Indian dance numbers, featuring sparkly costumes and some Bollywood-inspired flare. February 8 to March 1. Saturdays and Sundays at noon and 4 pm. Northwest Children’s Theater mainstage. Visit nwcts.org for tickets.
Get social with us!
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time out
pikachu rules! You gotta catch the crafts, snacks, movie and fun at the library’s Pokémon Day celebration. (Why is February 27 Pokémon Day? It’s the day the first Pokémon video game launched in 1996!) Thursday, February 27, 2:30 pm. St. Johns Library. Free.
best wurst day ever
MYSTI KREWE OF NIMBUS
throw me something, mister! Catch a bit of New Orleans at the Portland Mardi Gras Parade on Mississippi Avenue. Have the kids pull out their finest from their dress-up box and hit Luke’s Frameshop (7403 N Albina St.) at 6 pm for the kids’ costume contest before the parade starts rolling at 7 pm. Pro tip: If you are watching the parade from the sidelines, cheer extra loud when the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus passes by to score one of their coveted mini umbrella “throws.” Tuesday, February 25. Free.
Get your fill of authentic German sausage (aka wurst) at Mount Angel’s Volksfest. Feast on more than a dozen varieties of sausage from local purveyors Mt. Angel Sausage Company and Ebner’s Custom Meats. (Don’t worry, there are lots of other food options if you’re not into sausage.) Plus grown-ups can wash down their bratwursts with local beer, cider or wine. Don’t miss the live German music and kindergarten area for the kids. FridaySaturday, February 21-22, 10 am-midnight. Sunday, February 23, 10 am-6 pm. Mt. Angel Festhalle, 500 Wilco Hwy NE (Hwy 214), Mount Angel. $5 admission for 21 and older. Younger than 21, free. More info at mtangelvolksfest.com.
big wheels Huge trucks, stupefying tricks and really loud engines await you and your crew at the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series. This year you’ll be on the edge of your seat as one of the stunt drivers attempts to do the first indoor-arena backflip with a 12,000-pound vehicle! Pro tip: Bring ear protection for the littles! And maybe yourself. Saturday, February 29, 1 pm and 7 pm. Sunday, March 1, 1 pm. Moda Center. Purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com. FELD ENTERTAINMENT
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KIDFEST!
BRICKS CASCADE
let’s go LEGO! kidding around A LEGO city! The Iron Kid Chef Competition! Inflatable fun zones! The options are endless at KidFest!, a monster expo offering everything from petting zoos and arcades to a paintball arena. Check out sports and BRICKS CASCADE
It’s the most exciting weekend of the year for LEGO lovers big and small! The Bricks Cascade Expo features more than 60,000 square feet of custom-made models to gawk at, vendors selling new, used and vintage LEGO sets, and a DUPLO free-build area for the littlest kids. Plus visitors can vote for their favorite creations. Saturday, February 29, and Sunday, March 1, 10 am-4 pm. Oregon Convention Center. $11 per person for ages 4 and older; family four pack, $40. Tickets available at: ticketswest.com/events/detail/ bricks-cascade-2020.
fitness demos from archery to Zumba at SportFest! Multi-Sport and Fitness Expo, then browse vendors and plan ahead for summer camps and after-school enrichment programs. Pro tip: Buy tickets in advance to avoid long box-office lines and receive a Family FunPak with great freebies from local faves like KingPins, School of Rock and Pietro’s Pizza.
rock on Has your kid got some unidentified specimens in her rock collection? Take them over to Mystery Mineral Day at the Rice
Saturday, February 29, 10 am-5 pm; Sunday, March 1, 10 am-4 pm; Portland Expo Center. $25 for a family pass (groups of up to five), or $6 per person. Free for kids 3 and under. Kidfestnw.com.
Museum of Rocks & Minerals to have master rockhounds ID them. The expert panel can tell you if you’ve got a mineral, fossil or even a real meteorite on your hands. Saturday, February 29, 10 am-
Looking for accessible events for kids of all abilities?
3 pm. Free with museum admission.
Check out
an accessible and inclusive digital directory
at pdxparent.com/inclusivepdx-events-calendar.
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pa r e n t l a n d i a
“The one time in our lives when it’s acceptable to r un around naked, but they dress us up like an L.L.Bean catalog.”
Tom Toro is a freelance cartoonist and writer whose work appears in The New Yorker, Paris Review, American Bystander and elsewhere. His debut children’s book, How to Potty Train Your Porcupine, will be published in May 2020 by Little, Brown. His fiction writing has been shortlisted for the Disquiet International Literary Prize. Tom is currently developing an animated TV show, and finishing a graphic memoir about becoming an artist during turbulent times. He lives in Portland with his wife, preschooler and cat. To see more of his work, visit tomtoro.com.
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