EVERYDAY-- STUDENTS NEED TO BRING A WATER BOTTLE!!
October 4 (Tues)--Drop off OHSU Spit Test at School October 6 (Thurs)--Affinity Group Meeting 3-4pm
October 13 (Thurs)--School Board Meeting 4:30-6pm October 14 (Fri)--In-Service Day-No School
October 24 (Mon)--Arts Park Run
This week we had one reported COVID-19 case
at Cottonwood, week ending 9/30.
Affinity Groups are HERE!
First meeting is this Thursday, (10/6/2022), after school!!
We are excited to announce we will be bringing back our afterschool gatherings led by Cottonwood Educational Assistants, Gabby Van Steenberg & Paola Witt, and our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Coordinator, Sade Rivers. The affinity group will meet afterschool on the school patio for a light snack followed by greetings, games and activities from 3:00-4:00.
The adults can hang out on the patio at 3:15 and enjoy some time with each other, or they can pick up their student(s) at 4pm!
Our team is looking for a few parent volunteers of color, especially men of color to join the affinity group leaders. Please let us know if you are interested.
We invite all students of color to participate in the affinity space and encourage parents to talk with their children about participating.
Please RSVP and send any questions to affinitygroups@thecottonwoodschool.org. If your student(s) have any food allergies and sensitivities please add that when you RSVP. We want to make sure we accommodate and honor any food allergies or preferences.
Last school year our students & families of color expressed a need for our students of color to come together to meet each other across grade levels; to share stories, articulate needs, bond, play, know and support one another.
In response to this need, Cottonwood formed an Affinity Group. Affinity groups can be defined as groups of people who have something in common; such as gender, race, culture, profession, college, or special interests.
At school, students need to feel comfortable being themselves, which is why affinity groups are vital. At school, affinity groups give students the freedom to be themselves. Students who share an identity can relate to each other in ways they can't with peers who don't understand their experiences. Student affinity groups don't exist because students want to isolate themselves from the rest of the population, they exist because the population excludes them from the start. It’s about safety and in some cases, about fundamental issues of injustice. Having a safe space around shared identity allows students to engage in conversations about subverting marginalizing structures. By doing so, these conversations aim to shift school culture away from assimilation and toward social action.
This affinity group exists to foster kinship; provide students of color a place to celebrate their uniqueness, gifts, and roles in our school community and to affirm, protect, and nurture the identities of our students.
We will be meeting on the dates below:
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Thursday, December 15, 2022
2023 dates coming soon!
There are lots of reasons why affinity spaces are important for students of color. We also encourage families to talk openly with white students about supporting this group even when we aren’t part of it. If white families or students are wanting support understanding why this space isn’t for white folks, we encourage you to watch this short video as a family. If you’d like to talk more with someone about this, please reach out to Kristin (Kristinkrem@thecottonwoodschool.org) who is a white person happy to talk more with you.
We are working on creating more affinity spaces in the future, specifically getting our LGBTQ affinity space back.
More information on Affinity spaces can be found below:
ART PARK RUN 2022!! We can not do this without volunteers!
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!
The Run is October 24th at Caruthers Park and there is still a lot to do!!
This is one of the biggest fundraisers of the YEAR!!
The funds we collect goes directly to Our Art Program!!
Our students LOVE art class!!!
This is such a fun community event, which we have not been able to do live for several years!!
Please sign up HERE to help or email Kathy for more information!
SPIT TEST DROP OFF IS EVERY TUESDAY
Cottonwood is thrilled to be partnering with OHSU again this year to offer free, weekly COVID-19 testing (spit test) for students. Participation in this program is completely optional, but highly encouraged, and offered regardless of vaccination status. Participating students will drop off spit samples in pre-labeled tubes at school each Tuesday, starting this week, whether they have symptoms or not. Results are provided directly to families, not the school. If you were enrolled last year, please note, many aspects of the screening program will remain the same this year, with a few changes to make it easier for parents, students and schools.
You can enroll your kids through a convenient online portal: www.labfinder.com/ohsu. If you cannot enroll for any reason, please call OHSU support at (503) 418-8500. All participating students must enroll, even if they participated in last year's program
COTTONWOOD ADVENTURE PLAY,
OUTDOOR PLAY AND LEARNING AT ITS BEST!
Play is important for ALL children of ALL ages. Check out the videoof lunchtime play in this incredible schoolyard in the UK. They have it all: hills, a pond, play equipment, loose parts galore, plus adults trained to honor and support children's play. YES!! All children deserve recess as diverse and respectful of their needs as this!!
If you plan to volunteer, please contact Yuri to set up a training!
Sign up to help support Adventure Play at Cottonwood.
We are pleased to announce that we will host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority. The clinic will be open to all, and offer first, second and booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available. Additionally, this clinic will include access to the new bivalent vaccine (12+). The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older, and boosters for everyone 5 years and older.
We ask that you please wear a mask. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided at the door.
What: COVID-19 Vaccine clinic
When: Wednesday, October 5, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: PPS Headquarters - 501 N. Dixon St.
Who: Anyone 6 months or older wanting a first, second or booster dose, including boosters for children ages 5-11. There is no charge for the vaccine.
We encourage anyone who has not yet been vaccinated, or needs a booster, to take advantage of this opportunity.
Thank you.
Portland Public Schools recognizes the diversity and worth of all individuals and groups and their roles in society. It is the policy of the Portland Public Schools Board of Education that there will be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups on the grounds of age, color, creed, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation in any educational programs, activities or employment.
Community is GOOD!!
Today we had our first Animal Families meetings!
Animal Families are a way to grow our connections through the grade levels. Each Animal Family, which are named after native NW animals, has at least one student from each grade in it. Once you are in a Family, you stay with that Family the entire time you are at CSCS. The 8th graders are the leaders of their Family and will guide them through projects, challenges and activities! The Families also go to the ALL SCHOOL MEETINGS, (ASM) together and sit as a Family. NEXT FRIDAY is our first ASM of the year!! We are so excited!! Please note: everyone will be wearing masks when we meet all
together in the Great Room.
Ask your student(s) what Animal Family they are in!
LAST CALL FOR SEPTEMBER'S LOST & FOUND
There are over 20 hoodies and jackets in lost and found. None have a name labeled in them. Please label your student's jackets! There are also water bottles and other items. Lost and Found is located in the lobby of the school.
At the end of every month those unclaimed jackets are donated to charity. Next Friday, October 7th items will be donated.
If you need help with Lost & Found, please contact Laura in the School Office.
