Laurelhurst Community Update

A super loud shout out to Cara Coffee and Amy Dammarell for leading a very successful Bazaar this year! Thank you also to the many volunteers that supported this fundraising event. We appreciate all you do for our school community.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge Amy Dammarell and Elena MacPhee, who have run and supported this event for many years. Neither has students at Laurelhurst any longer, and yet they (and their kids!) have continued to spend many long hours on the Bazaar each year. We thank you so sincerely for your time and dedication to Laurelhurst.

Last week we sent a Remind message to the community regarding an anonymous phone caller who claimed there was a gun in our school. Several parents asked for more information regarding this incident and what steps were taken at the school and the district to assess the situation. Molly Romay, PPS Senior Director of Security, stated that when there is a report of a potential weapon on a campus, PPS immediately activates our district response protocol, which includes notifying PPS Security Services and the Portland Police Bureau. Key staff on site are also notified, to increase situational awareness at school while the Portland Police Bureau investigates the credibility of the report/caller.

Last Wednesday, we followed this protocol. First, we called 911. Then, we contacted our PPS Security team, who were immediately sent to Laurelhurst to support us, while the district was in contact with Portland Police. PPB determined that there was not a viable threat towards our school community. They continued to try and identify the caller, but have no further information. What we do know at this time is that the caller sounded like a young male. Molly Romay will continue to be in contact with me if there is any more information to share regarding this incident.

Please reinforce with your student that if they have concerns at school, they can talk to their teacher, counselor, or administrator. All students should know how to report unsafe situations to a trusted adult, either at school or at home. In addition, students can report anonymously to the SafeOregon tip line via text or call: 844-472-336; email: tip@safeoregon.com; or via the SafeOregon app. Trained staff are available to respond at all times.

Thank you for your understanding and support during these unnerving incidents. Thank you for trusting us with your child and know we take school security and your child’s safety very seriously.

The annual Portland Public Schools Successful Schools Survey is still open. The survey is an opportunity for students, staff, and families to provide important feedback on our school environment, learning experiences, and sense of well-being and safety at Laurelhurst. Please complete the survey by December 16th.

PPS and the staff here at Laurelhurst highly value the input and opinions of our families, and we welcome and encourage all parents and guardians to complete this year’s survey. At Laurelhurst, we use this data to help improve our school climate, provide targeted feedback and training to our staff, and consider new ways to create a healthy and welcoming school environment for all of our students.

Monday, December 9th is our second neighborhood leaf pick up day. We encourage everyone to walk to school tomorrow if possible. If you drive, please allow extra time in the morning for a safe drop off. Please do not park on the streets around the school on leaf pick up days. Thank you!

This year our PTA is leading a drive for socks and underwear on behalf of the PPS/PTA Clothing Center. The Center operates at the Marshall High School Campus and serves over 2000 students each school year, providing them with clothing and shoes so that they can feel good about attending school. The Laurelhurst drive is an easy, direct-impact way to make a difference in our larger community.

EXTENDED! Please contribute by December 13th.

The holiday season is upon us, and many folks have reached out about honoring our teachers and staff with small gifts. Kinder through 5th grade families will hear from their classroom coordinators about plans for classroom teachers.

For middle school teachers, this year we have some "grade parents" -- Kelly Fischer (6th), Bonnie Paisley (7th), and Rena Ferrick (8th)--who are helping coordinate gifts. If you would like to participate, they are creating gift bags with collected gifts, cards, and gift cards in the Front Office. You can drop off something special (a note, a chocolate bar, a pair of fuzzy socks) at school, or you can contribute to Powell's gift cards for teachers by Venmo'ing Kelly Fischer @Kelly-Fischer-3 (verification code 6405). Please label who the item is for and from if you want your name included.

For ALL families - Our support staff -- custodians, nutrition services, administrators, school health assistant and nurse, instructional coach, reading interventionist, educational assistants, counselors, and front office staff -- work behind the scenes every day to help our kids be successful in school. Their impact is not always center stage, but they are a big part of what makes this community so special. We will also have gift bags for each of those folks, as well as our incredible Specials (PE, Library, Art, Music) and SPED teachers and staff.

Participation in gift giving is purely optional! If you do want to give your teacher or another staff member a token of your appreciation, please keep in mind that due to rules related to public employment, the value of a gift from a family must be less than $50 per calendar year to any given individual.

Thank you! - Laurelhurst PTA and Classroom/Grade Coordinators

Gearing up for the winter holidays? It's time to create those holiday cards!

This year the PTA has set up an easy way to support our school while spreading some holiday cheer. When you order on Minted.com, use code: FUNDRAISELAURELHURST and you will get 20% off every order you place! At the end of the year, 15% of each order placed using our unique code will be donated back to our PTA.

Last week Winter arrived! While the next two weeks will include fun activities and festive assemblies, there is also a focus on work in our classrooms. Thank you for sending your students to school ready to learn with a warm jacket and/or raincoat and a willingness to do their best!

With Gratitude,

Alyson

• 12/18 - Early Release Wednesday - School is 8:45am-12:45pm for ALL Students
• 12/23-1/3 - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

Email: abrant@pps.net
Website: https://www.pps.net/laurelhurst
Location: 840 Northeast 41st Avenue, Portland, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 916-6210

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