celebrating Arleta

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Affinity space for 4th & 5th grade students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color

Our community recognizes the importance of students feeling safe, grounded, and not overwhelmed in order to learn. Our counselors collaborated with teachers, staff, and the PTA Inclusion Committee to create this comforting space in every classroom.

This youth development organization uses chess instruction and play to positively impact school-aged children's academic, social, and personal skills. They emphasize a focus on underserved populations, including BIPOC, rural, and low-income communities.

Students can join the teacher-led Arleta Chess Team after-school program in partnership with SUN Community School. Arleta competes at the Regional and State Chess for Success Tournaments in both the Team division and Individual division. 

Each year the 2nd Graders study our local neighborhood and spend a lot of time thinking about and planning for people in the community that need support. They select one local social service agency, and host a donation drive to meeting some of the needs of those who utilize their services.  

Students and families are welcome to free collect toiletries housed in our counselor's office and SUN Community Room

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Family Movie Nights happens 3-4 times per school year in the cafeteria. Get comfortable sitting at a lunch table near the concessions stand or on your blanket or lawn chair from home. Reminiscent of movies in the park, but sheltered from the elements and on a clean tile floor. Concessions are available for purchase.

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Arleta joins the worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences by hosting community discussions, staff presentations by neurodivergent staff, and supporting parent-lead Neurodivergent Family Gatherings  

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Affinity space for neurodivergent 4th & 5th grade students, curious peers, and peer allies. This group is on pause during Mr. Andrew's leave 2024-25.

Neurodiversity is a broad category embracing autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette’s, and many other commonly occurring brain differences.

Affinity space for LGBTQ2SIA+ identifying 4th & 5th grade students and peer allies

Teachers and staff can utilize sensory-supporting items/tools to help their students calm and ground themselves, which  promotes a sense of safety and helps their minds feel ready to learn

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SUN in partnership with the Inclusion Committee hosts an annual community toy drive each December to provide families an opportunity to come select holiday gifts before the winter break. 

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The Theater Club funded by the PTA runs a full production each spring, produced and directed by parents & school staff with a cast and (backstage & grades 4/5 tech) crew of students.

Watch our last two productions, Neverland and The Jungle Book, at our @ArletaTheaterClub YouTube channel.

Each June, the QSA and BIPOC student affinity groups host a Rainbow Recess Party to celebrate Pride month and share joy through an empowering experience. Affinity group students facilitate crafting projects and read books to younger peers from our new Rainbow Library. Thank you to our school counselors for leading these special groups!

Messages of safe spaces and inclusion fill our hallways, classrooms, and building. Our Physical Education teacher placed these signs in every direction you turn within the gymnasium.

Arleta is fortunate to partner with Portland Parks and Recreation as a SUN Community School site. SUN provides a wide array of family resources and after-school programs.

All teachers and staff worked together to design a beautiful, fun new Arleta school logo. They graciously implemented feedback from students and families to increase readability. 

Families can donate clean and gently used costumes to be enjoyed again by members of our community, hosted by The Green Team.

Arleta's Green Team was awarded a Metro grant for outdoor school ground improvements since Spring Break 2023, including the installation of a dog waste clean up station and signs, and beautiful graphics on dumpsters and blacktop. More school beautifying and vibrantly-colored projects are in the works! 

We are so lucky to have the shining stars that work at Arleta, and the PTA happily coordinated a week of activities as a small token of our appreciation. Thanks to everyone who contributed food, gifts, and cards.

Arleta has hosted OBOB's regional reading and trivia competition for several consecutive years through Spring 2023 due to the dedication and skillset of our teacher-librarian. 

OBOB is sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL) and the Oregon Library Association (OLA), in conjunction with a Library Services and Technology Act grant through the Oregon State Library.

Teachers and staff submit DonorsChoose fundraising projects to enhance students' learning and experiences