PDX Parent October 2020 by PDX Parent

FREE

Demystifying School Budgets, pg. 24

for the long days and short years

Our Annual

Education Guide, pg. 21

Corn Mazes + Halloween Craft + Kid Performances Go Online PDXPARENT.COM

PORTLAND | VANCOUVER | OCTOBER 2020

contents JACOB WADE

10 FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

The Show Must Go On.......................................... 10

Editor’s Note.........................................................................4

Stages may be dark around the city, but our local performing arts companies are working hard to bring fresh online content for families to enjoy. By Denise Castañon.

The School Budget Breakdown.............. 24

Play Room................................................................................ 6 Get lost in a local corn maze, book

Hands On................................................................................ 16 Celebrate harvest and Halloween with this fun and easy wrapped-yarn craft project from Children’s Healing Art Project. By Sharon Jaye Perrins.

picks for Halloween and Día de los

Family Supper................................................................. 18

Muertos, and ballot measures that

Splurge on an outdoor dining experience

impact families.

at Lazy Susan in Montavilla — and

Oregon’s schools get their funds from

Field Trip.................................................................................. 14

a variety of sources. Our writer helps

Your kids can learn about sustainable

you understand where the dollars

forestry at Hopkins Demonstration Forest

come from — and where they go.

— or just enjoy trekking through the

By Shasta Kearns Moore.

woods. By Ali Wilkinson.

remember the magic of restaurants. By Denise Castañon.

RESOURCES Harvest / Halloween Fun................................ 17, 19 The Education Guide..................................................21

* cover stories pdxparent.com

October 2020

TREVOR PARKER

e d i t o r ’ s n ot e

Dark skies for the long days and short years

hen I sat down to type up this note this month, I thought, “OK, I’m not going to write about COVID-19.” But then how could I not. It’s affecting every part of our lives. And the isolation we’ve experienced because of the pandemic has only been exacerbated by the tragic wildfires. As I am writing this, the air in Portland has been ranked the worst in the world for several days. But many Portlanders are lucky to have homes to be trapped in. Families in Detroit, Mill City, Phoenix, Talent and other areas in our state have lost everything. By the time this issue is in your hands, the fires will have (hopefully) been extinguished by our reliable and substantial rains, and the hard work of firefighters. But the need to help those who have lost everything will still be there. Whether you can donate time, materials or money, we’ve got a list of organizations that are helping those affected by September’s wildfires at pdxparent.com/wildfire-help. And then there’s distance learning. Again, our smoke-choked skies made the first week of real distance learning for families in Portland Public Schools even harder. I know my furrowed brow popped into many of my third grader’s and kindergartener’s synchronous Zoom meetings as I tried to work out some problem or another. When so much of the schooling is falling to parents (and let’s be real, mostly mothers), knowing as much as you can about the system is crucial, because it’s hard to advocate for change without understanding. That’s why the anchor story for our annual Education Guide sheds some light on how school budgets work: Where the money comes from and where it goes. And writer Shasta Kearns Moore also covers private-school and charter-school budgets. While I am a supporter of public education, I know that for some families finding a better distance-learning match at other schools is a necessity for work, life and mental health. And our Education Guide, page 21, can help. With so much heaviness all around us, it’s hard to focus on the fact that Halloween is this month. Whether you are trick-or-treating or not, you Professor McGonagall and Hermione Granger, Halloween 2019. can still celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year. Check out the fun book picks that celebrate Halloween on page 7. And the creative minds at Children’s Healing Art Project have shared a fun Halloween craft idea, on page 16. Stay safe out there,

Will your kids be trick-or-treating this year?

“

PDX Parent P.O. Box 13660 Portland, OR 97213-0660 Phone: 503-460-2774 Publisher

Lu’s birthday is the week before. So we’re letting her invite three friends over, they can dress in their costumes, and we will do treat bags. And, we may do some Halloween activities like a haunted maze in the backyard or pumpkin carving.

Rose Caudillo, 503-460-2774 publisher@pdxparent.com Editor Denise Castañon, 503-922-0893 denise.castanon@pdxparent.com Art Director Susan Bard Web Director Michelle Carew, 503-914-6151 michelle.carew@pdxparent.com

My kids just want the candy! So we’re doing an Easter-egg-style hunt at home instead.

IT Support Specialist Lionel Di Giacomo lionel.digiacomo@pdxparent.com Eastside Account Executive Lauren Wylie, 503-331-8184 lauren.wylie@pdxparent.com

We will be decorating our house as usual and going to our neighbors’ houses if they are open. We will stick to people we already know.

Westside Account Executive Jill Weisensee, 503-309-8272 jill.weisensee@pdxparent.com Newsletter and Calendar Editor Melissa Light melissa.light@pdxparent.com Business Manager Christie Kline, 503-810-9817

Our boys turn 11 on November 1. So between a birthday party being a bust and trick-or-treating being questionable, we’ve decided to take a family birthday road trip!

christie.kline@pdxparent.com President Jill Weisensee jill.weisensee@pdxparent.com For distribution issues, e-mail us at distribution@pdxparent.com For calendar submissions, e-mail us at calendar@pdxparent.com

Wrigley (who is 18) intends to set up a candy slide with a piece of PVC gutter; then she’ll spend the evening on the porch dropping candy down.

”

PDX Parent is published monthly (except July) by Northwest Parent, LLC., and is copyright 2020 Northwest Parent, LLC. 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

On our cover: This cover shot by Portland photographer Kati Dimoff is our current #mood: The foreground is dark, but the subjects are moving toward the light. Dimoff snapped this photo as her son and daughter and their friend ran through The Maize at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island a few years ago. (For a list of more corn mazes, go to page 6!) Find more of Dimoff’s stunning work at kdimoffphotography.com or on Instagram @kdimoffphotography. 4

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

p l ay r o o m

TOP 5 ...

Corn MAzes

One thing 2020 can’t ruin — a good, old-fashioned corn maze. (Unless those murder hornets finally show up.) Yes, you’ve got to wear a mask, but

you and the kids can still wind your way through the living labyrinths at these nearby pumpkin patches.

➊ A bird’s-eye view of Bella Organic’s corn maze on

Sauvie Island shows they gave a nod to frontline workers with their maze design. And weekends mean extra activities such as the cow train and rubber-ducky races. Activities are cash only! Find out more at bellaorganic.com.

➋ In addition to their corn maze, family-owned Liepold

Farms in Boring will be holding a socially distanced version of their annual Fall Harvest Festival. Find out more at liepoldfarms.com.

➌ The Maize at The Pumpkin Patch

on Sauvie Island has a feel-good design: Better Together. Other activities include visiting farm animals, and the Patio Cafe, which offers grass-fed beef burgers and pumpkin spice lattes. Find out more at portlandmaize. com.

➍ Get lost in the corn maze at family-owned Fiala

Farms in West Linn. And be sure to check out their U-cut flowers, too. Find out more at facebook.com/FialaFarms.

➎ The family-run Lee Farms in Tualatin will be holding BELLA ORGANICS

their annual fall harvest pumpkin patch. Tickets must be pre-purchased for specific time slots. Find out more at leefarmsoregon.com. — Denise Castañon

Who:

Local writer Catherine Ryan Gregory, mom to 7-

and 5-year-old daughters and author of the family travel blog To & Fro Fam, toandfrofam.com, felt

powerless and frustrated as the pandemic forced her to cancel trips to both faraway destinations such as China, Taiwan, Japan and Ethiopia, and closer-to-home jaunts to Bend and San Diego. So she channeled her frustrations into a book.

What:

Ryan Gregory penned Virtual

Travel Activities for Kids (e-book or printed version available on

Amazon.com). Ryan Gregory designed activities that only take about half an hour to complete and do not require parents so they incorporate hands-on ways of learning math, science, engineering, music, language, dance and more,” says Ryan Gregory. “They’re also easily adaptable for a range of ages. My preschooler enjoyed most of them, and a friend of mine is using the book with her eighth grader.”

Why:

Ryan Gregory wrote the book to help parents give their kids options for travel activities beyond a virtual tour on a screen — and as a way to help her cope during this uncertain time. “Writing a book gave me something I could control in a world that felt out of control,” says Ryan Gregory. “I wrote the book in less than a month by breaking

down how much I’d need to write every day, getting up at 5 am to write before my kids woke up, and really sticking to that routine. Focusing on that gave me a little power back.” — D.C.

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CATHERINE RYAN GREGORY

to do prep work. “The activities are fun and also educational,

Bookshelf:

October Holidays Two great holidays happen at the end of October: Halloween and Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. We asked Kim Tano, the children’s book buyer at Powell’s City of Books, to select her favorite kids’ books that celebrate Halloween or explain the meaning behind Día de los Muertos. (And, good news: The Burnside location’s Blue and Green rooms are now open for in-person browsing. You can always order online at powells.com.)

by Hannah Eliot and Jorge Gutierrez laced drink atole and placing sugar skulls celebrating the beauty of life and death are featured in this Day of the Dead board book for little ones. If these fun and colorful illustrations seem familiar, they’re from Jorge Gutierrez, the creator of the beloved 2014 animated film The Book of Life. An excellent introduction to Día de los Muertos for ages 2 and up. $8.99. Dragon’s Halloween by Dav Pilkey From the author of the bestselling Dog Man series comes three stories perfect for getting in the mood Party and The Deep Dark Woods are all included

ABRAMS BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

So far we’ve been “lucky” that COVID-19 started spreading during an unusually dry spring

and summer in Portland. Even if you were trapped at home, you could still head outside for walks around the neighborhood or backyard fun. But the rainy season is coming. Instead of giving up your family’s sanity-saving outdoor time, get your kids equipped for the weather with waterproof gear.

in this charming Halloween addition to Dragon’s

Oaki Trail Rain Suit is perfect for toddlers, but

adventures. This easy-to-read text for young readers

sizing goes all the way up to kids’ 10/11. Neoprene

is perfect for ages 5 and up! $4.99. Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead

around the ankles helps keep the pants snug over rain boots. (So no water-filled boots after puddle jumping!) The roomy fit allows you to layer up

Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh

underneath on chilly days. Available in a

Award-winning author Duncan Tonatiuh writes and

variety of colors. $69.99.

illustrates the life of José Guadalupe Posada, the artist and political cartoonist who popularized Day of the Dead calaveras in the 1900s. Tonatiuh shows us how Posada made his art, using step-by-step illustrations of lithographs, wood carvings and relief prints, while asking readers questions that delve into the intention of the artist’s work. A fascinating biography perfect for ages 7 and up. $18.95. Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks High school seniors Deja and Josiah have worked in the pumpkin patch every year together, and on the last day of the season decide to explore

MACMILLIAN

Puddle-splashing Pants

their surroundings to see the sights and taste the

Columbia Kids’ Trail Adventure Pants feature Columbia’s Omni-Tech waterproof-but-breathable technology. The seam-sealed pants also feature an adjustable tab at the ankle. Available in kids’ sizes in black. (If you want a toddler size or more color choices, check out Columbia’s Cypress Brook II pants.) $36. At Columbia Sportswear Portland, 911 SW Broadway, or on columbia.com. L.L.Bean Kids’ Discovery Rain Pants keep kiddos dry at a great price point. The hems of the nylon pants feature

snacks they’ve been smelling all autumn. Warm and

both elastic cuffs and Velcro for a

nostalgic illustrations will have you craving pumpkin

secure seal. Available in kids’ sizes in

pie, caramel apples and the feeling of crunchy orange leaves beneath

blue or coral. $19.95. At llbean.com.

your feet. Great for ages 14 and up. $18.95.

— D.C.

pdxparent.com

L.L. BEAN

SCHOLASTIC

for the season. Six Small Pumpkins, The Costume

Gear Guide:

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR

SIMON-SCHUSTER

Gathering flor de muertos, making the cinnamon-

OAKI

Día de los Muertos

October 2020

p l ay r o o m

Black Lives Matter:

Moms Doing the Work

Want to keep the flame alive for the anti-

racist work you committed to after George Floyd’s death? Ask to DEPOSITPHOTOS: CYBER DESIGN

join the private Facebook group PDX Mxm Bloc. Led by Black mothers, the group is part calls to action, part self-education — and all about supporting Portland’s Black community. Search the Popular Topics section to learn more about issues like gentrification, racism in Oregon and centering Blackness. — D.C.

Pay Attention: Family Services on the Ballot So, don’t know if you’ve heard, but

the organization merged

apparently there’s some sort of

their measure with a similar

presidential election coming up. In all

Preschool for All measure that

the hoopla, don’t forget about all the

seeks to provide high-quality,

hyper-local Multnomah County and

tuition-free preschool for all 3-

City of Portland measures that voters

and 4-year-olds in the county

will be asked to support or reject. All

and ensure a living wage for

touch on services that families often

preschool teachers. The two

use — or could potentially use if the

organizations felt universal

(And please make sure your ballots are returned to a ballot box by 8 pm on Tuesday, November 3!) measure passes.

preschool had the best shot of passing if only one measure was presented to voters. The UP NOW

Measure 26-111 The Multnomah County Library bond seeks to

an income tax on high-wage earners; an initial 1.5 percent

expand and modernize existing libraries, and acquire land to

tax on the taxable wages of single filers who make more than

build new libraries — including a flagship library in East County

$125,000 a year and joint filers who make more than $200,000 a

comparable to the Central Library in downtown. Albina, Belmont,

year. An additional 1.5 percent would be taken from households

Holgate, Midland, North Portland, Northwest and St. Johns

with even higher incomes.

libraries would be up for expansion and/or renovation. The price tag is $387 million with funds coming from property taxes — an increase of 61 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. Measure 26-213 The Portland Parks and Recreation Levy seeks to help the department protect and restore recreation programs (including low-cost summer camps, swim lessons and the popular summertime free lunch + play), parks, 8,000 acres of natural areas and clean water. Funding would come from an increase to property taxes: an additional 81 cents per $1,000 of assessed value of property. Measure 26-214 The Universal Preschool Now measure

program would be funded by

Measure 26-215 Portland Public Schools’ new school bond seeks voter-approved funds to repair deteriorating roofs; replace outdated textbooks with current and culturally comprehensive curriculum materials; and replace and repair heating, cooling and ventilation systems, among other things. (We all have a new appreciation for breathing and airflow from COVID-19 and September’s wildfires, right?) Modernizing Jefferson High School and completing pre-construction work for Cleveland and Wilson high schools are also part of the plan. (Want to better understand how school bonds factor into public school budgets? Go to page 24.) PPS’s 2017 bond rate is set to expire, and the rate for this

clearly struck a chord with parents this summer. Organizers were

2020 bond is the same: $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property

able to gather 32,000 signatures in five weeks — in the middle

value. That means if the bond is approved, you’d just keep paying

of a pandemic. While UP Now gathered the signatures, in a

the same property tax amount as you’ve been paying for the 2017

complicated (but legal and transparent) election-law maneuver,

bond. — D.C.

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THE SHOW M Our city’s beloved performing arts companies have been hit hard by COVID-19 closures. But they are working to stay afloat and keep on delivering fresh content to families at home. BY DENISE CASTAÑON

miss taking my kids to see the costumed Pam Mahon exuberantly and hilariously narrate one of the Kids Concerts at the Oregon Symphony. And watching superb kid actors onstage at Northwest Children’s Theater. And seeing storybooks come to life at Oregon Children’s Theatre. Being able to easily access so many kid-specific arts and culture experiences is one of the things that makes Portland such a familyfriendly city. But COVID-19 has forced our performing arts companies to get even more creative than they usually are. Typically in our October issue, PDX Parent would bring you a sneak peek of upcoming kid-focused shows for winter and fall. However, most of the companies mentioned in this story have canceled in-person shows through January 2021. But they all do have some new online content in the works just for kids and families. And we’ve also included information on how you can help (if you are able to) these organizations continue to serve Portland families.

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Pictured here, the Young Professionals Company put on In the Forest She Grew Fangs in 2016. The show is recommended for kids 14 and older.

OREGON CHILDREN’S THEATRE Oregon Children’s Theatre (OCT) has announced it will not produce in-person performances through at least May 2021. But while its curtains are closed, OCT has kept its social media buzzing. Both its Facebook and Instagram feeds are packed with great ideas for theater-loving families. And during the summer, OCT collaborated with Jelani Memory, Portland author of A Kids Book About Racism, and companies across the country to coproduce an online production called A Kids Play About Racism. OCT plans to produce more online shows through the next nine months and will again partner with other children’s theater organizations to coproduce shows that reach a wider audience nationwide. “When we coproduced A Kids Play About Racism, we saw many children’s theaters joining together, sharing resources and working to bring an important story to life in a way that was accessible for all children,” Artistic Director Marcella Crowson says. “That model was successful in many ways, and we are looking forward to creating new and strengthening existing relationships with other organizations around the country.” Meanwhile, the teens in the Young Professionals Company at OCT will go digital for all their shows this season. Look for In the Forest She Grew Fangs by Stephen Spotswood and a cabaret-style performance series called Breaking Character. Check octc.org for more info.

MUST GO ON

How You Can Help: Oregon Children’s Theatre is asking anyone who has ever enjoyed one of its performances over the past three decades to make a donation so it can continue serving our community. And signing up kids for online Acting Academy classes is another way to help OCT during this time.

PAT MORAN

BEV STANDISH

PORTLAND YOUTH PHILHARMONIC

The artistic team at Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP) is using the COVID-19 closure as an opportunity to do things differently — and right some wrongs. Saturday and Sunday, November 14-15, Portland Youth Philharmonic, the nation’s first and oldest youth orchestra, is How You Can Help: launching its first-ever New Music Festival. This All payments for tickets virtual concert will premiere 14 brand-new works for the New Music Fest will that have come from the recently launched Youth count as a tax-deductible Orchestra Commissioning Initiative. This initiative donation. And those who is addressing the systemic exclusion of composers select ticket payments of $100 of color and women from the standard classical or more will also receive an repertoire head-on by showcasing new music acknowledgment letter in the composed primarily by artists identifying with mail. PYP also welcomes any those groups. “I am so happy to have written my donations to help its young piece Diversity for our wonderful musicians,” says musicians keep making music. Giancarlo Castro D’Addona, PYP’s wind ensemble conductor. “I created my piece [for trumpets, trombones and tuba] with many Latin rhythms and inspirations. You will hear elements of funk, samba, salsa and other Latin styles throughout the piece.” Tickets will be offered on a “pay what you can” fee structure. Also, All Classical Portland will air a prerecorded performance from PYP’s recent 96th season as part of its nine-part Fall into the Arts: A Radio Festival of Local Performances on Thursday, October 22, at 7 pm. And check back at portlandyouthphil.org for more info details about the 59th annual Concert at Christmas, a virtual performance slated for Saturday, December 26, at 7 pm. pdxparent.com

October 2020

METROPOLITAN YOUTH SYMPHONY

METROPOLITAN YOUTH SYMPHONY Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS) is going virtual this season, and its fall shows will be broadcast through youtube.com/c/metropolitanyouthsymphony. The Fall Concert is slated for November 21. MYS will present the entirety of Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2, with movements reordered to match Henrik Ibsen’s original play, and featuring narration recorded by students. The concert will also highlight music by American composers Florence Price and William Grant Still, and will close with a rousing rendition of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, performed by all MYS ensembles. The Holiday Spectacular Concert on December 23 will include collaboration with Oregon International Ballet Academy as students together perform select movements and dances from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, among other pieces.

NORTHWEST CHILDREN'S THEATER NWCT and Anita Menon collaborated on Tenali in the spring of 2019. They are pairing up for a new virtual show in the fall.

How You Can Help: There are a number of ways you can help the Metropolitan Youth Symphony bring music education to all kids; visit playmys.org/support-mys for more information.

If you haven’t already checked out the online content from Northwest Children’s Theater and School (NWCT), you definitely need to. Associate artistic director and all-around creative mastermind John Ellingson leads super-fun daily video tutorials on how to make various puppets, do stage makeup, create balloon animals and much more. NWCT also has been providing entertaining five-day challenges like “dance the decades,” and “Theater Games Thursday” acting prompts that are sure to lead to hilarity. In terms of performances, NWCT is once again collaborating with award-winning choreographer Anita Menon and the Anjali School of Dance. Menon worked on the company’s productions of The Jungle Book and Tenali. NWCT and Menon will debut a brand-new online production this fall. Check nwcts.org for more details.

How You Can Help: NWCT is asking theater fans to make a tax-deductible donation that will help NWCT continue to provide programming that is available, affordable and accessible to all children. Signing up for online theater classes for kids helps the company keep going, too.

NWCT

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OREGON BALLET THEATRE Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT) started a reimagined fall season in September with OBT MOVES/Exposed, a series of free, outdoor, socially distant pop-up performances and demonstrations presented by OBT dancers. The OBT reimagined 2020/21 season will be presented in three acts. Shows will be in-person and distanced, and also available digitally via live stream or on-demand. First up this fall, Wish List will share the parts and productions OBT dancers and directors have always wanted to explore (October 29 to November 15). Then, February 22 to March 13, 2021, OBT Raw will build on Wish List and show more complex pieces for duets, trios and ensembles. Both these shows will be held at the OBT Warehouse, which has been converted from prop and costume storage into a black-box theater, giving patrons access not only to the grit behind ballet, but also a peek at the production work involved to bring ballets to the main stage. OBT suggests that these two shows are best for ages 8 and up. Finally, OBT hopes the third act, Americans (Re)Imagined, will be held at the Newmark Theatre, May 3 to June 19. While this may not have been the How You Can Help: season OBT originally hoped for, the personal aspects OBT remains committed to bringing joy and beauty to the world of these performances may foster an unexpected and is asking supporters to donate or subscribe to its season, intimacy between artists and audience that fans will so it can continue its mission. appreciate. Obt.org.

OBT

Oregon Symphony adapted to its canceled spring shows by filling its Instagram feed with one-minute music videos from musicians. Fans have loved getting glimpses into the homes of symphony artists. And the sublime music can be a needed reset. The Oregon Symphonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Symphony Storytime online series for kids got such excellent feedback from viewers that 16 more episodes (some in English, some in Spanish) are in the works. The Symphony realized it had tapped into a meaningful digital experience for kids that is both entertaining and educational. It is getting input from members on using the storytimes to help parents start conversations on big topics such as racism and anxiety. This winter, the Oregon Symphony plans to celebrate the 250th birthday of Beethoven. Specific programs and activities for families will be part of it, so check back at orsymphony.org for more details on the birthday bash.

JACOB WADE

OREGON SYMPHONY

How You Can Help: The period is probably the most challenging time in the Oregon Symphonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 125-year history. The organization is grateful for anything fans can donate to keep the music alive for future seasons.

pdxparent.com

October 2020

field trip

Head Into the Woo Trample through the trees while learning about sustainable forestry at Hopkins Demonstration Forest in Oregon City. STORY AND PHOTOS BY ALI WILKINSON

ne of our favorite things about Oregon is its forests. Those towering trees, the moss-laden limbs, the sound of a stream trickling by in the distance. There is something about them that just makes you know that fairies are hiding nearby. Logging and forestry have long been major drivers of our economy, with forests covering almost half of Oregon’s landmass. There can be tension there, between loving our forests and needing to use the resources within them. And for sure, some companies do better than others at managing this tension. Hopkins Demonstration Forest, which is managed and cared for by the nonprofit organization Forests Forever, is an excellent place to learn more about sustainable foresting techniques while exploring an Oregon forest. By the end of your hike, through well-placed signs, kiosks and printed materials, you’ll know about riparian management, the benefits and drawbacks of various forest harvesting techniques, and why thinning trees might actually be good for the forest’s ecology. My kids, ages 10, 8 and 6, and I were most interested in the kiosks that explained the benefits and drawbacks of uneven-aged forests, where trees are harvested piecemeal, versus even-aged forests, where all trees are ready for harvest at the same time. It gave us the opportunity to talk about the importance of protecting the ecosystem, but also about the need to make a living. The trick is trying to balance the two. If you want to leave the lesson behind and just focus on fairyhunting, the Hopkins Demonstration Forest is still an excellent

October 2020

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choice for an outdoor outing. The forest is very kid-friendly, with wide paths, towering trees, a small creek, and a good variety of ecosystems to explore. We saw lots of animals while we were there, including jays, butterflies, loads of banana slugs and signs of deer. (We also heard a cow, but we’re guessing that was from a nearby farm and not the forest.) For us, the hit of the hike was the riparian area (otherwise known as a creek). The kids enjoyed splashing around, looking for water bugs and chasing butterflies. The close second was the heavily shrouded path of blackberries along Post Road. At the end of summer, they were ripe. And they were delicious. There are a number of different trails you can take to create an adventure that fits the stamina and leg-length of your walking partners. We hiked the perimeter of the forest, which ended up

For more ideas for fun outings, visit: pdxparent.com/ field-trip.

ods

Hopkins Demonstration Forest, 16750 S Brockway Rd., Oregon City, 503-632-2150, demonstrationforest.org. Free admission, with donations encouraged.

being a bit over 3 miles. Although there were a few steep parts, for the most part, it was an easy hike, and manageable for even the youngest member of our family. (An all-terrain stroller could manage the trails as well.) In non-COVID-19 times, the Hopkins Demonstration Forest runs field trips and other educational programs. Although these programs are currently paused, Hopkins has put up a number of videos on YouTube, including more about the history of the forest, identification of Oregon trees and even cooking foil dinners. You can find these videos here: bit.ly/34ocaeS. The recent wildfires, which blazed through a million acres of Oregon forests in a week and threatened the Hopkins Demonstration Forest, reinforce how fragile but resilient our forests are, and our responsibility as citizens and parents to protect them. Ninety percent of forest fires are directly caused by humans, and even more when climate change is factored in. A trip to the demonstration forest, or any forest, is an excellent opportunity for us to teach our kids our role in protecting these natural treasures. Ali Wilkinson is a Portland-based writer, lawyer and mother of three kids (ages 6, 8 and 10). Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the co-founder of PDX Kids Calendar. pdxparent.com

October 2020

hands on

Help your child use odds and ends to make sweet, yarn-wrapped Halloween or harvest decorations. STORY AND PHOTO BY SHARON JAYE PERRINS

All Wrapped Up

eusing ordinary materials from around the house to make art is good for the environment — and an excellent way to spark creativity! This fun art project that reuses leftover bits of yarn celebrates the colors of autumn (and Halloween!). Layer up to three different colors of yarn to get a pretty effect that mimics the variations you’d find in nature. In our pumpkin, three different shades of orange also give the project more visual interest. And the pumpkin grows rounder in the middle as the yarn piles up, making the project more three-dimensional as you go!

Materials

Instructions

Pencil

1. Select your shape. You can draw your own shape, trace an autumn-themed cookie cutter or use a stencil. Another fun option is to print out a simple black-and-white illustration of a leaf, apple, pumpkin, ghost, bat, cat or zombie. (Ideally your shape should be about 6 inches by 6 inches.)

Autumn-themed cookie cutter or stencil (optional) Plain white paper (optional)

For more kid-friendly projects, visit: pdxparent.com /hands-on

Glue stick

Cardboard squares about 6 inches by 6 inches Scissors Hole puncher Tempera paint or markers Yarn in assorted colors with a focus on fall colors School glue Black construction paper or cardstock Large googly eyes (optional)

Sharon Jaye Perrins is the lead hospital teaching artist for Children’s Healing Art Project, or CHAP, a nonprofit that brings the healing power of art to kids and families facing medical challenges. She has degrees in architecture and fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design — and now specializes in making miniature cardboard or Popsicle-stick houses for kids in the hospital to enjoy. Find out more about CHAP and how it has refocused its efforts because of COVID-19 at chappdx.org. October 2020

pdxparent.com

2. Trace your desired shape or use the glue stick to attach your printed shape onto cardboard. This will give you a sturdy surface. Cut out the shape. 3. Punch a hole in the top so that your finished design can be hung. 4. Paint the cardboard (or use markers) to match the color of yarn you will be using. Parts of the cardboard will remain visible. When the first side is dry, flip it over and paint the other side! 5. Select the yarn you want to start with. Use the school glue to secure the first inch of the yarn to the cardboard. 6. Start wrapping the yarn around the cardboard cutout. When you have completed with that color, tuck in the end of the yarn and fasten it down with a little glue. If your project needs a second or third color, select your next length of yarn and start wrapping again in the same way. Be sure to keep the hole that you punched clear so you can display your handiwork! 7. Thread a piece of yarn about 6 inches long through the hole. Knot the ends. 8. If your yarn art needs another level of detail, add eyes, a mouth or a nose — whatever your child thinks helps give expression. Cut these shapes out of black construction paper or cardstock and glue them on top of the yarn. You can also use googly eyes. Your child is the artist. Let them play with what looks good and adds personality! 9. Using the loop of yarn, hang your autumn yarn art up for all to see, or mail to a loved one!

HARVEST / HALLOWEEN FUN

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October 2020

fa m i ly s u p p e R

Chill at the Grill

A group of heralded Portland chefs creates an upscale neighborhood diner in Montavilla centered on charcoal-grilled dishes. The distanced outdoor seating option reminds us of the magic of dining out. STORY AND PHOTOS BY DENISE CASTAÑON

azy Susan, Susan an upscale neighborhood joint from a dream team of Portland chefs, was slated to open in early spring at the old Country Cat space in Montavilla. But then COVID-19 hit Portland. So in June, Earl Ninsom, a James Beard finalist and the force behind restaurants Hat Yai and PaaDee; Andrew Mace, former chef de cuisine at Le Pigeon; and Nora Mace, former pastry chef at Ava Gene’s and Tusk, brought their charcoal grill to the sidewalk and started serving lunches outside. By late August, when my family visited, the restaurant was open for weekend brunch and dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. When we visited Lazy Susan, it had been six months since my family had experienced table service at a restaurant. We checked in at the front entrance and were then seated in a blocked-off section of the street. Lazy Susan offers additional distanced outdoor seating on the sidewalk as well. Surrounded by a sturdy picket fence and wooden planters filled with brightly colored summertime blooms, our partially shaded wooden picnic table covered in festive, floral oilcloth felt cheerful. The new COVID-19 condiment, a bottle of hand sanitizer, stood on the table. And a tiered orange cart sat at the end of the table on which servers could place drinks and water glasses stuffed with utensils — and guests could place used utensils and paper dishes. Even with these unfamiliar COVID-19 precautions, it felt glorious to be out in the sunshine at an actual restaurant. And weird. But even as it felt odd, I also sensed all of our collective stress and anxiety slowly melting away. Just sitting there doing something that was a normal part of our old lives felt really, really good. Before our food even arrived, my 5-year-old son, Cruz, asked, “Can we come here again?” After looking at the menu online, I had decided that going to Lazy Susan for brunch (technically lunch for us, since there’s no such thing as brunch when your 5-year-old wakes up hungry at 7 am)

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would be a better choice for my slightly picky kids. We got started by splitting a potato doughnut ($5). The still-warm doughnut felt like a lovely cross between a traditional yeasted raised ring and denser potato doughnut. I barely held myself back from swiping my finger through the butterscotch glaze left on the plate and popping it in my mouth. My 8-year-old daughter, Adela, ordered several sides as her meal: incredibly soft and fluffy scrambled eggs ($5), thick-cut bacon ($6) and wedges of deep-fried hash browns ($4). She gave the hash browns a big thumbs-up. And while she prefers crisp bacon, her little brother (and my husband and I) especially liked the meaty and chewy bacon. My son ordered the pancakes with maple syrup and compote ($11). Lazy Susan bills itself as a family charcoal diner, and a hint of the smokiness and bitterness of the charcoal grill inserted itself into the pancakes. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, and it did not deter Cruz from laying waste to the plate. And that flavor note was balanced by the sweet syrup and strawberry-rhubarb

HARVEST / HALLOWEEN FUN

pdxparent.com/ family-supper.

For more family-friendly restaurant reviews, visit:

compote. I sampled the “Addy” Melt, a patty melt on butter-drenched Texas toast featuring havarti cheese and special sauce. Although I normally dislike raw onions, I appreciated how the sharp crunch cut through the delectably rich sandwich. And the puckery-sour pickles also were also a nice counterpoint. All proceeds from the $14 sandwich are going to the family of chef Cameron Addy, who passed away unexpectedly in August. I also tried (and recommend) the not-too-sweet Waterslide slushie with rum, coconut, peach and lime ($12). But my husband ordered the real showstopper, though: a half-dozen raw oysters on the half shell ($15). The oysters looked so pretty nestled into their tray of ice and served with lemon and hot sauce. And he savored them, saying, “It’s easy to forget you’re in a pandemic when you’re eating cold oysters on the half shell in the sunshine.” He also ordered the special ricotta toast, which we all tried. The ricotta might have been the creamiest thing I have ever tasted. My daughter said it tasted like sour cream, and it did have a tang to it. But it was more like thickened cream than anything else. I made a mental note to order anything that has ricotta in it the next time I visit. Yes, Lazy Susan is more of a splurge for us, and I realize it might be out of reach for many families, especially in these times. It’s also important to me to support local businesses run by local parents as I am able to. And restaurants are a big part of what makes Portland Portland. Our trip to Lazy Susan was a special treat for my family that went beyond a delicious meal; it gave us a feeling of normalcy that we hadn’t felt in a long time. Lazy Susan, 7937 SE Stark St., 971-420-8913, lazysusanpdx.com. Check website for updated hours. As of press time: Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 4 pm-9:30 pm; brunch available Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-2 pm. Distanced outdoor seating or takeout only. Editor Denise Castañon loves exploring Portland’s family-friendly dining scene with her husband, 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son. pdxparent.com

October 2020

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THE 2020

Education Guide

CATLIN GABEL

pdxparent.com

October 2020

pdxparent.com

October 2020

The $chool Budget

Breakdown

Public school funding is complicated. But we explain what you need to know about where the dollars come from and how they are spent. BY SHASTA KEARNS MOORE

f you know anything about schools and money, it’s that they don’t have enough, right? But where does it all come from? And where does it all go? Time to take some of the mystery out of school budgets. It won’t be easy, especially in Oregon, where property tax laws passed 30 years ago created a funding landscape that gets more bizarre with each passing year. In 2019, Oregon Democrats attempted to patch up these school funding gaps with the Student Success Act. That corporate-activities tax was expected to bring in $2 billion every two years. But now COVID-19 has put question marks around everything. As of this writing, state economists were expecting the additional money to add up to more like $1.2 billion each biennium, or two-year period. We at PDX Parent don’t have a crystal ball, so we don’t know how much money will ultimately come through in these uncertain times. But we can tell you how Oregon’s school budgets are set up to work.

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Where does the money come from? At its most basic level, an Oregon public school gets its funding through three primary sources: local property taxes, state income taxes and federal grants. Property taxes used to be the main source of a school’s money, and districts do still get significant distributions from the counties they serve. Many districts have also asked voters for extra property taxes — to fund bond programs (typically for building or improving schools) or local option levies. But three decades ago in Oregon, anti-tax initiatives shifted a major portion of the responsibility for school funding to the state. Those anti-tax measures gave schools a maximum dollar amount they could collect, and froze taxable property values — the combined effect was for schools to ask the state legislature for help. These days, K-12 education makes up about 40 percent of the state’s budget. The state’s general fund money comes almost entirely from income taxes. Federal dollars come through various sources: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for special education, Title IV-B for after-school programs, Title II for teacher professional learning, etc. But a major source of funding is Title I, given to schools that serve communities where more than 35 percent of children are in poverty. In Oregon, more than 550 schools — about half — are eligible for Title I dollars. April Olson directs federal programs for Reynolds School District, where 14 out of its 16 schools are now Title I. For each school, the award amounts to an extra $200,000 to $300,000 per year. It’s spent according to a detailed plan — typically adding teachers or specialists, or even for wraparound services like food or counseling. Olson says the pandemic could affect Title I dollars in the future, but she’s more immediately worried about the effect of the 2020 Census. That’s where Title I gets its figures for how many children live in poverty in a school’s attendance area. “I’m worried that with the current political climate — either through direct limitations on census collection or fear of people to participate — that [the count] will be under-represented,” she says.

How local taxes fund Portland Public Schools

— breakdown of general funds budget from the 2020-21 adopted budget 6%

<1% 2% 14%

37%

38%

Current year local option property taxes Current year property taxes other than local option includes permanent rate property taxes and taxes to pay the bond. State sources includes the State School Fund, Common School Fund and more. Other revenue from local sources includes miscellaneous revenue from grant fees, civic use of buildings, interest on investments and more. Federal sources (Note: Federal funding from Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is included in a separate special revenue fund budget) Revenue intermediate sources includes city of Portland Arts Tax. Beginning balance

SOURCE: PPS

Other sources Beyond local, state and federal tax dollars, there are other sources of revenue for public schools. The controversial marijuana tax, which started accruing in 2016, is expected to raise $133.2 million this fiscal year. The State School Fund will get 40 percent of that, or about $53.3 million, to split among Oregon’s more than 1,200 schools. The Common School Fund — not to be confused with the State School Fund — is a trust set up at Oregon’s founding. Managed timber sales and other natural-resource extraction fuel this account, which distributes about $50 million a year. The Oregon Lottery allocates 53 percent of its money to education, which includes colleges and universities. Video lottery machines were shut off at the beginning of the pandemic, though, and the lottery is expected to bring in about half as much money this year.

The Education Stability Fund, which is funded by lottery dollars, can be tapped in a recession, but lawmakers will have to decide how much to save for the future. Parent Teacher Associations and booster clubs at individual schools can raise money, too, of course, but the money can’t go to pay for teachers. Those sources typically fund materials, trips, athletics, playground equipment, events or other “extras.” School foundations can pay for extra staff. At Portland Public Schools, about a third of the neighborhood schools’ foundation money does go to a districtwide pool, but some argue that the extra funding that can be raised through a foundation at wealthier schools is inequitable. The Fund for Portland Public Schools reports that in 2018, its schools collectively raised more than $4.6 million.

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October 2020

Where does the money go? After the anti-tax measures of the 1990s, lawmakers had to come up with a strategy for making sure schools got a “fair” slice of the pie. As Oregon Department of Education’s Director of School Finance Mike Wiltfong says, “It’s not a simple: ‘Here’s how much money we have,’” and then the state spreads it around like peanut butter on toast. Instead, the state An elementary school in the uses a complicated REYNOLDS SCHOOL distribution formula that tracks how DISTRICT many kids are in each EXPENDITURES school and how many ESD direct support of those fall into a $140,916 category of extra need. For example, students Other who qualify for expenditures $81,547 special education get Student-related a double weight in the $5,205,895 formula, students who aren’t native Englishspeakers earn 150 percent, etc. Although districts are provided funding based on the student need formula (called ADMw or Average Daily Membership STUDENT-RELATED EXPENDITURES weighted), the dollars Direct classroom expenditures are not tied to any $2,717,662 particular student. Classroom support $859,458 Oregon schools get Building support distributions based on $1,499,696 how many students Central support are enrolled come $129,078

October, which could be tricky if large numbers of students enroll at a charter school outside of their district or stop “attending” virtually. After 10 days of no-show, students are automatically unenrolled. Approximately 85 percent of public education funding goes to staff salaries and benefits. That is why you may have heard what a big deal it is that Oregon doesn’t have enough money for the retirement benefits it promised to public employees. The Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) hasn’t brought in the anticipated revenues from its investments, which means schools may have to backfill from their own budgets. That, says Wiltfong, is a “very serious consideration when we’re talking about budgets for school districts moving forward.” After personnel costs come busing contracts, curriculum materials, professional development, central-office programs, nutrition programs, building maintenance and a rainy day fund. Tigard-Tualatin School District Chief Financial Officer David Moore says his district’s 12 percent rainy day fund has allowed them to stabilize funding through Oregon’s rather volatile revenue system. “I’m not shy about saying we budget pretty conservatively,” Moore says. Maureen Wolf, president-elect of the Oregon School Boards Association and a Tigard-Tualatin School District board member, says elected school officials don’t tend to involve themselves in day-to-day expenses. Instead, they can direct money into long-term investments and planning, such as technology goals or new schools. Sometimes they will set directives on things like class size limits, which translates to a mandate to hire more teachers. After all that, school principals are left with a bit of pocket money. “It’s not a very large amount of money,” says Kristyn Westphal, area senior director for middle schools at Portland Public Schools and formerly the principal of Hosford Middle School. “On the order of a few thousand dollars.”

Expenditures per pupil An elementary school in the Reynolds district with 20%-30% ESL students, fewer than 20% of students requiring special education services, and with a 20%-30% poverty rate, spends

$15,798 per student.

An elementary school in the Tigard-Tualatin district with less than 10% ESL students, fewer than 20% of students requiring special education services, and with a poverty rate of less than 10%, spends $12,392 per student.

Any thing else K-12 dollars go to? There are 19 education service districts (ESD) in Oregon. These special districts tend to cover the rare and costly needs of a cluster of school districts, such as technology and curriculum purchases, and schools for at-risk students and those with significant medical challenges. They also tend to be the ones offering programs for qualifying students from birth to age 5, and ages 18 to 21. Education service district funding generally comes from contracts with component districts and the State School Fund.

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How do char ter schools work? They use that to buy copier paper, mail grade reports and maybe offer a few extra staff hours for an after-school event. “… in a normal year. When we’re not in a distance situation,” Westphal says. “How principals chose to spend their money this year will look different because we’re not needing as many physical resources.” Westphal says each school will have a site council or other ways An elementary school in the for parents to get involved if they TIGARD-TUALATIN wish. At Title I schools, there is actually a federal requirement SCHOOL DISTRICT for parents to be involved in EXPENDITURES deciding how that money is ESD direct support spent, so talk to your school’s $195,633 principal. “They can resolve a lot of questions that folks might have,” Other expenditures Westphal says. $112,079 Student-related All in all, the process for $6,504,409 any given school year — from predicting funding, to setting a budget, to receiving the final allocation — takes 30 months. That means the process for the 2020-21 school year started long before the novel coronavirus shut down schools. And no one is sure what impact COVID-19 will have on tax revenues for the future. STUDENT-RELATED EXPENDITURES “It’s a bit ominous where we’re Direct classroom expenditures headed into the next biennium,” $4,155,850 Wolf says. Classroom support $1,112,560 The Oregon legislature will Building support sort out the 2021-23 budget next $1,013,409 spring. Central support $222,590

By law, all charter schools in Oregon are publicly funded. Each school works out its own agreement with its chartering district, but usually they get about 80 percent of the ADMw (Average Daily Membership weighted) funding for their students, and the other 20 percent goes to various administrative costs at the district level.

What about private schools? Private school financing is much simpler than public schools, says Mark Siegel, executive director of the Oregon Federation of Independent Schools. OFIS claims a quarter of Oregon schools are privately operated and serve 11 percent of Oregon’s children. Private schools are all different. They range from tiny operations attached to churches, to K-12 or upper schools with endowments and everything in between. Tuition covers the bulk of the expenses at these schools, Siegel says. Donations typically go toward facilities. Some schools are lucky or large enough to have endowments, and those tend to go toward facilities maintenance or scholarships. Private school staff and boards

An elementary school in Portland Public with less than 10% ESL students, fewer than 20% of students requiring special education services, and with a poverty rate of 10%-20%, spends $14,716 per student.

are very worried about the financial impacts of COVID-19 and the governor’s restrictions on in-person classes. “It’s been very tough on schools. I get a lot of calls,” Siegel says, adding that some schools are even worried they will have to close permanently. A big reason parents choose to pay private school tuition is for the community, the culture and other human elements, he

Shasta Kearns Moore is a freelance reporter and author who lives in the Portland area.

says. “Online is not what they are going for.”

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October 2020

THE 2020

Education Guide After-School / Enrichment Activities Destination Imagination Oregon oregondi.org

Huntington Learning Center

503-533-5700 huntingtonhelps.com\center\beaverton

KUMON MATH / READING OF LAKE GROVE 503-635-2647 kumon.com/lake-grove

Kumon of Lake Oswego

kumon.com/LAKE-OSWEGO-OR

Mad Science of Portland and Vancouver

503-230-8040 | Portland.MadScience.org

Destination Imagination (DI) is an enrichment program that uses project-based challenges to improve a child’s confidence, and develop creativity, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills.

Based upon a thorough academic evaluation, Huntington develops a personalized learning plan for each student. Our certified teachers provide students with 1:1 instruction in academic fundamentals, individual subjects and high stakes exam preparation. We help children of all ages become strong self-learners using our recognized curriculum that guides students through all levels of K-12 math and reading. Students practice every day with the help of Kumon instructors and parents to reach their potential. Kumon helps your kids develop skills for lifelong success. Start giving your kids the advantages of Kumon. SCHEDULE A FREE ORIENTATION TODAY! © 2020 Kumon North America, Inc. All rights reserved.

Live, hands-on, interactive, science education programs, delivered either in-person or virtually (supplies picked up or delivered).

Child Care Services International Leadership Academy

ILA offers a world-class education, harmonizing the best of the French and American educational

ilapdx.org

systems. We offer high academic standards to our multicultural community. Day Care to 6th grade.

Tumbleweed Childcare Community

Tumbleweed Infant and Preschool Houses support children as sovereign change makers via heart-

tumbleweedinfanthouse.com

centered, inclusive, progressive, attachment-oriented, anti-bias, and earth-honoring practices.

Field Trips Columbia River Maritime Museum 503-325-2323 crmm.org

LEARNING LOOKS DIFFERENT THIS FALL. Plan a family field trip to visit and explore the Columbia River Maritime Museum in beautiful Astoria. Educational, interactive and entertaining displays and exhibits for the ENTIRE family make the short trip a must!

Foreign Language Lessons Portland Early Learning

503-284 -0610 portlandearlylearning.com/gogo

Learn Spanish with GoGo Español for only $25/month per household (or learning pod!). We create fresh content every month that focuses on language & culture. Plus, GoGo Español includes online & OFFline activities! We also offer Spanish Zoom classes!

Gymnastics/Dance Oregon Gymnastics Academy 503-531-3409 ogagym.org

Concerned about this upcoming school year? OGA has you covered! We are offering Day Camps with the scheduling flexibility to fit camper’s school schedules and allow parents the time to work from home, educate siblings, or just have a few moments to themselves.

October 2020

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October 2020

THE 2020

Education Guide Homeschooling Resources Based upon a thorough academic evaluation, Huntington develops a personalized learning plan for each student. Our certified teachers provide students with 1:1 instruction in academic fundamentals, individual subjects and high stakes exam preparation.

Huntington Learning Center

503-533-5700 huntingtonhelps.com\center\beaverton

Village Home Resource Center vilagehome.orfg

Village Home offers engaging, grade-free classes and community online designed for homeschoolers. Learners are encouraged to take ownership of their learning. We know learning is fun! Join us!

Language lmmersion School French American Int’l School

Proven distance learning. Tuition relief until it’s safe to return. Discover why immersion is much more than learning another language… and how community transcends a campus. PS-K OPENINGS FOR THIS FALL!

German International School

As an IB World school, we educate our students to be internationally-minded by exploring other cultures

faispdx.org/VirtualAdmissionsCenter

503-626-9089 | gspdx.org

International School

415-871-7843 | intlschool.org

and traditions and immersing children in German or Mandarin language-learning. Come learn more today! For 30 years, we’ve provided a unique blend of full language immersion, dynamic academics, and multicultural community. Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish. International Baccalaureate.

Music lnstruction Bennett Suzuki Violin Studio

503-246-9945 | Bennettviolin@gmail.com ediebennett.com

Portland Music School pdxmusicschool.com

Age 2 to 102! Nurture your child’s innate musical ability. Private, parent/child, sibling, senior, music reading, theory. Extra props for the littles. Diverse learning styles. Inclusive of all! Portland Music School offers Yamaha courses on keyboard instruments for ages 4-adult. Age-appropriate classes focus on a wide variety of musical skills. Choose in-the-classroom or online classes.

Students, families and teachers are embarking on a new type of educational journey in the 2020-21 school year. With so many uncertainties, now’s a good time to review what we know for students receiving special education services. Students with

FAST FACTS from

FACT Oregon’s Tips for Families Using Special Education Services During Distance Learning

1. Share your family’s vision for your child. You

disabilities who are eligible for special education services are

are their No. 1 fan!

protected by a federal law called IDEA.

2. Create or update your child’s One-Page

What is IDEA?

Profile, keeping the current instructional

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

model in mind (comprehensive distance

is the federal education law that provides support and services to students with disabilities. Within IDEA are six important principles. These guide how services are provided to students with disabilities: Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) Services are provided at no cost

to families and must be designed so the student can make progress in the general education curriculum. Evaluations In order for a child to access IDEA, they must be found eligible as a “student with a disability,” and there must be an educational impact.

Individualized Education Program (IEP) It’s the legal document that describes how the student will receive FAPE. (Note the word individualized.) This is important because each family situation is different, which means learning support for comprehensive distance learning will need to be individualized. Least restrictive environment Students must have meaningful access to their same-age peers without disabilities.

Parent and student participation in the decision making Parents/students are

recognized as valuable team members and must be afforded the opportunity to provide, and have considered, their meaningful input. Procedural safeguards The rights and protections for children with disabilities and their parents so that they can effectively participate in the special education process. 30

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learning, hybrid or limited in-person). 3. Prepare your parent input. Include the support your family needs during comprehensive distance learning. 4. B e flexible. Everyone is new to this; some adjustments may be needed along the way. 5. Capture, log or journal learning at home. 6. Remember: Special education services will look different this year. 7. Connect with your district. Many are hosting parent training sessions. 8. C ollaboration and communication between parents and school teams will be critical during the 2020-21 school year. 9. Check out FACT Oregon’s Special Education Toolkit and One-Page Profile template. 10. Y ou are not alone. Visit factoregon.org or call 503-7866082 for resources, training and peer-to-peer support!

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 Open Houses: PreK-K: January 21, 2021, 6:30 p.m. Grades 1-8: January 28, 2021, 6:30 p.m. 601 NE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., Portland, OR 97232 503-236-6205 | www.allsaintsportland.com Cathedral School • Grades PreK-8 Accepting applications, apply online! Open Houses: Pre-Kindergarten: November 15, 2020, 11a.m.-2:30 p.m. Pre-K to 8th: January 31, 2021, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 110 NW 17th Ave, Portland, OR 97209 503-275-9370 | admissions@cathedral-or.org | www.cathedral-or.org St. Clare School • Grades K-8 Enrolling now for 20-21, apply online! Open House: January 31, 12-2 p.m. 1807 SW Freeman St., Portland, OR 97219 503-244-7600 | info@stclarepdx.org | www.stclarepdx.org St. John Fisher School • Grades K-8 Open House: January 31st 10 a.m.-Noon 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: Tuesday, October 20, 4-7 p.m. 516 Fifth St., Oregon City, OR 97045 503-742-8230 | Fax: 503-742-8239 | www.sja-eagles.com St. Rose School • Grades PreK-8 Open House: January 20, 6 p.m. | Virtual Tour Coming Soon! 5309 NE Alameda St., Portland, OR 97213 503-281-1912 | www.strosepdx.org Valley Catholic Early Learning, Elementary & Middle School Contact us for more information about current openings 4420 SW St. Marys Dr., Beaverton, OR 97078 503-644-3745 | www.valley catholic.org

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October 2020

THE 2020

Education Guide Preschools Childswork Learning Center 503-234-3611 childswork.org

Childswork has been Portland’s premier play-based preschool and Kindergarten for over 30 years. In 2020-21, we are also offering In-Person First and Second Grade. We have K-2 and a K-2 /preschool sibling class available. We also have preschool spots.

International School

415- 871-7843 | intlschool.org

Portland Montessori Collaborative pdxmc.org

Scoula Italiana di Portland

scuola.us/virtual-preschool-2020

Sprout and Spark

503-719-4365 sproutandspark.com

Sunshine Montessori

sunshine-montessori.com

For 30 years, we’ve provided a unique blend of full language immersion, dynamic academics, and multicultural community. Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish. International Baccalaureate. Montessori school for infants through Kindergarten. Exceptional staff, beautiful environments, meticulous Covid protocols, park like outdoor environment Scuola Italiana di Portland is offering a Virtual Preschool Experience so that we can continue to bring Italian language and culture to our students during the pandemic. The program is for ages 3-6. We strive to spark joy, creativity, resilience and curiosity in each child as we help them grow into responsible, independent and compassionate lifelong learners. Offering a blended curriculum of Montessori, Reggio-Emilia, Forest Play Serving ages 2.5-6 Sunshine Montessori is a preschool, kindergarten and child care located in Beaverton. We teach our comprehensive curriculum that closely follows the well-established Montessori method.

Private Schools Arbor School of Arts & Sciences arborschool.org

Bridges Middle School 503-688-2922 info@bridgesms.org

Cathedral School 503-275-9370 cathedral-or.org

Cultivating intellect, character, and creativity in a small school setting. Arbor School of Arts and Sciences is a non-profit, K-8, independent school situated on a lovely 22-acre campus. Small Classes. Big Results. Bridges is the only middle school in Oregon specifically designed for students with learning differences to reach their maximum potential — in a loving, nurturing atmosphere centrally located in downtown Portland. Cathedral School is a premier, Apple distinguished school where academic excellence meets Catholic tradition in NW Portland. Offering Pre-K to 8th grade and features small class sizes, 1:1 iPad-to-student ratio, before/after care, and welcoming of all faiths!

Catlin Gabel School catlin.edu

Cedarwood Waldorf School 503-245-1477 cedarwoodschool.org/

Catlin Gabel encourages students at every age, from preschool through 12th grade, to discover their voice and to use it, advocating for themselves and others to change our world for good. Cedarwood is known for its uniquely contemporary expression of Waldorf education. Now more than ever, they are committed to providing time and tools for developing resiliency and teaching the skills needed to turn challenges into opportunities.

Franciscan Montessori Earth School fmes.org

International School intlschool.org

Living Wisdom

livingwisdomportland.org

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pdxparent.com

The Franciscan Montessori Earth School offers a Remarkably Different education to children in the pre-school, elementary and middle school levels.

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October 2020

THE 2020

Education Guide Private Schools

continued

The Marylhurst School

themarylhurstschool.org

Oregon Episcopal School 503-246-7771 oes.edu/openhouse

Founded in 1972, The Marylhust School is an independent, progressive preschool through 8th grade in West Linn, Oregon. We’re open to learning and growing! Find out about our private, independent, pre-kindergarten to grade 12 school at a livestream event on Sunday, October 18 at 1pm. You can explore our school through video moments, and meet teachers and leaders in real time.

Portland Jewish Academy 503-244-0126 pjaproud.org

Renaissance School www.renpdx.org

St. Clare School stclarepdx.org

PJA welcomes families of all backgrounds. Students 6 weeks - 8th grade thrive in an academically rich environment that honors the whole child. At PJA you’ll find small classes, dedicated teachers, support services, and a warm and welcoming community. We are a small K-8 learning community, cultivating imagination, intellect, and insight. Learning together, even apart. Enrolling ages 4+ to 14. For more information, please contact admissions@renpdx.org. A K-8, Catholic parish-school community rooted in Gospel values and dedicated to the spiritual and educational development of the whole child. Come and see why we’re “the small school with the big heart”!

State of Our Children 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, it rates several key factors: economic well-being (number of families living in poverty or parents lacking secure employment); education (number of fourth graders proficient in reading, high school graduation rates); health (number of babies born at a low birth weight); and family and community (number of children living in high-poverty areas or with a head of household lacking a high school diploma). In 2019 Oregon ranked 31st, falling one spot from the previous year. By contrast, Washington ranked 16th in the nation. 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 wellbeing 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

867,000

children in Oregon Oregon ranks

96.5 percent

31st out of 50 states

in terms of the overall well-being of its kids But only

25.5 percent graduate

Oregon ranks

41st out of 50 states in education

78.7 percent state average

Oregon has a

graduation rate

of students in Wallowa County graduate from high school

in Wheeler County Wheeler County also has the state’s highest rate of kids in poverty at

40.2 percent

SOURCE: ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION, CHILDREN FIRST FOR OREGON

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 Assistance for Needy Families, but also policies like paid family and medical leave, so that families have the bandwidth to develop those secure and loving relationships from the time their child first enters the world.” — Denise Castañon

October 2020

pdxparent.com

October 2020

THE 2020

Education Guide Private Schools

continued

Trinity Academy pdxtrinity.org

An independent Christian school for grades 6-12, with a nationally renowned classical curriculum, strengths in the arts & sciences, and a culture promoting human flourishing.

Public & Charter Schools Schools Multnomah Learning Academy - MLA mla.k12.or.us

Provide a safe and enriching learning environment where the whole student is nurtured and developed. Our staff pledge to support the academic and emotional well being of each and every student.

Special Education Bridges Middle School 503-688-2922 info@bridgesms.org

Small Classes. Big Results. Bridges is the only middle school in Oregon specifically designed for students with learning differences to reach their maximum potential â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in a loving, nurturing atmosphere centrally located in downtown Portland.

Tutorial/Learning Support Services Huntington Learning Center

503-533-5700 huntingtonhelps.com\center\beaverton

PDX Education Collab

pdxeducationcollab.com

October 2020

pdxparent.com

We provide education support and pod learning groups for Portland area families. Experienced teachers provide in-home support and help kids learn beyond their online curriculum. Enrollment now open!

pdxparent.com

October 2020

pdxparent.com

David Hardin supervises his daughter’s online schoolwork

Keeping Your Kids Safe on the Internet While Distance Learning So, your kids are all constructively and enthusiastically engaged in their schoolwork, sitting calmly in front of their computers, right? You’re confident they’re completing their assignments and not touring inappropriate - or even dangerous — websites, right? What? No? David Hardin of Milwaukie is a single father of two girls, Jayda, age 14, and Amani, age 7. As a member of Comcast’s Xfinity marketing team, he also happens to be an expert in Comcast’s xFi app which he employs to ensure that his daughters are interacting safely on the internet. “Comcast’s xFi app offers a number of parental controls that I use every single day to monitor my girls’ internet usage,” said Hardin. “The first thing I did was assigned names to each of their devices,” said Hardin. “That way I can check to make sure Jayda is doing her schoolwork on her MacBook, and only using her iPhone for socializing.” In addition to giving parents the ability to deliberately shut off the internet access at dinner or bedtime, the xFi app also offers an “active time” feature, which Hardin uses daily. “Jayda is allowed four hours of internet time every day. Amani gets one hour. They have to come to me to ask for more allotments,” said Hardin. That enables him to have daily internet safety check-ins. “I can see what their online experiences are looking like. And we have internet safety conversations regularly.”

Hardin also enabled parental controls that are age-group specific, giving him peace of mind. “Once I realized that YouTube will offer age-appropriate content followed by things that were definitely NOT appropriate, I applied the xFi app filters to ensure they could only see content acceptable for their ages. That way I don’t have to be standing over their shoulders watching what they’re looking at.” The xFi app also automatically notifies Hardin in real-time if a new device accesses his home network; a defense against phishing and malware. “With one daughter doing high-school work and another in second grade, I’ve really come to appreciate the thought that Comcast put into the xFi app,” said Hardin. “I’m using ALL the features.” With so many adults working from home and children participating in Comprehensive Distance Learning, maintaining privacy and being safe is important to everyone. So it is exciting to see one of Comcast’s recent enhancements to the Internet Essentials program is making the xFi app available to Internet Essentials households as well. Having our loved ones protected while online takes one less stressor off our shoulders. Now, if there was just an app that could cook up breakfast, lunch, and dinner while we’re all at home learning and working.