P O R T L A N D P U B L I C S C H O O L S

We are excited to begin the 2016-2017 school year! Our goal is to ensure that each of our students achieve success both academically and so-cially. Our focus for the month of August is “Good Citizenship.” We are striving to make Rosa Parks a wonderful place for our students to learn and grow.

Our mission at Rosa Parks is still the same— “Children First.” Failure is simply not an option. We in-

vite you to join with us as we strive to help your child succeed in all they do. Having your child at school each day on time is essential to helping them reach their full potential.

There are plenty of ways you can be in-volved this year, many of which are highlight-ed in this newsletter. We encourage you to use your gifting to make a difference in a student’s life.

Also, here are some helpful reminders to ensure your child’s success:

Have your child dressed in the approved uni-form each day, unless otherwise notified.

Newsome’s News

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Newsome’s News 1

The Shadow

Project

2

July/August

Birthdays

3

Meet Mr. Walker 4

Important Dates 4

Fall Pictures 4

Parent-Teacher

Conferences

4

Rosa Parks

Sweatshirts

4

A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 1

If you’re interested in helping with the Newsletter each month, please e-mail jduncan@pps.net.

Have your child at school on time each morning.

FREE breakfast is available in the caf-eteria beginning at 7:40 a.m. The first bell to go to class rings at 8:00 a.m.

Check your child’s backpack each night for home-work and im-portant infor-mation that might have been sent home.

Help your child complete their homework each night and have it returned the fol-lowing day.

We look forward to seeing our students grow this year!

“CHILDREN FIRST, LEARNING FIRST.”

The Boys & Girls Club will be closed August 22nd-September 9th.

P A G E 2

T H E R O S A P A R K S V O I C E

Teachers Receive Tools and Training on Sensory Needs

All students have sensory needs, whether they bite their nails, jiggle their legs, or drum on their desks with a pencil, but for some kids, sensory needs can interfere with learning.

To ensure that Rosa Parks’ students’ sensory needs are under-stood and accepted, and that they have access to tools for calming and focus, teachers recently received Sensory Tool Kits and professional development training from the nonprofit Shadow Project, which partners with educators to help chil-dren with learning challenges.

“We have wonderful sensory libraries from The Shadow Pro-ject in the learning center and the counselor’s office,” said Principal Tamala Newsome. “But kids need to be able to access sensory tools in whatever classroom they are in, so they are

supported throughout the day.

“We are so over telling kids not to move in class,” she said. “Our goal is to work collectively to meet kids where they are at, and keep them in the classroom, so they can focus on learning.”

The Sensory Tool Kits for each K-5 teacher included about one dozen hand-held fidgets selected by Rosa’s occupational thera-pist, Martha Thomas, as well as kinetic sand and beanbag chairs. Teachers were trained on how to introduce the Tool Kits to their students, and to work with kids on selecting the fidget that works best for them.

“We know the sensory tools are great for empowering students to regulate their own bodies and behavior,” said Learning Center Teacher Kim Giarelli. “Self-awareness is the first step to student responsibility for setting and achieving academic goals.”

Rosa Parks is the first public school in Oregon to ask for and re-ceive the Sensory Tool Kits and teacher training.

“I’m so excited to try these new tools!” said third grade teacher Patrice Pierre.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! P A G E 3 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 1

July/August Birthdays

Staff Birthdays

Student Name Grade Birth Date

Spencer, Delavontea 1 7/2

Herrera-Perez, Greidy 1 7/3

Ali, Yunis O. 4 7/4

Khoshnaw, Muhammed S. KG 7/4

Hussein, Abdekamil A. KG 7/7

Johnson, Xzayvia K. 2 7/7

Baleke, Promesse KG 7/8

Scroggins, Heaven-fay M. 2 7/8

Prevost, Londynn S. 1 7/9

Dominguez, Magali 5 7/10

Eads, Abigail 4 7/11

Abdullahi, Abdullahi Y. KG 7/13

Webb, Haley M. 5 7/14

Lewis, Sa'niyah L. 2 7/15

Petersen, Audrina KG 7/15

Baleke, Rehema 5 7/16

Abbas, Sanarya 3 7/17

Mohamed, Jamal N. 1 7/19

Dee, Ku Eh KG 7/20

Abbas, Nareen 2 7/22

Abdoulaye, Yliassou 2 7/22

Dean, Adrian 1 7/22

Duncan, Natalie J. 3 7/22

Dinka, Abisse A. 5 7/23

Childress, Paloma 1 7/24

Lewis, John 1 7/24

Jama, Jama I. KG 7/26

Smith, Naima KG 7/26

Soto-Salazar, Jonathan KG 7/27

Zawadi, Gloria 4 7/29

Wright, Russell L. 5 7/31

Student Name Grade Birth Date

Isom, Kareem 2 8/2

Pickard, Issac D. 4 8/2

Lewis, Sa'Jaye M. 3 8/3

Igiraneza, Chanel 3 8/4

Taylor, Nasani Z. 5 8/4

Harris, Asanti 4 8/6

Hassane, Ousseini 3 8/7

Idy, Aissatou 5 8/9

Karst, Jocelyn 1 8/9

Torosian, Miriam 2 8/10

Aguilar-Flores, Yatziri KG 8/12

Musa, Abdalla 4 8/12

Silvia, Amaury 3 8/12

Zizi Ben Mbabu, Rockdonel KG 8/12

Bordner-Brown, Constance M. 2 8/13

Torosian, Tigran 1 8/13

Zimmerman, Daphne R. 3 8/15

Salazar-Soto, Genesis J. 3 8/19

Sharma, Arush S. 2 8/19

Lynn, Brodie M. 3 8/21

Fofanah, Mohamed 4 8/22

Aguilar-Fuentes, Oscar 2 8/23

Dreyer, Khyler 2 8/23

Davis, Jasmere L. JR 4 8/24

Baker, Jordan 2 8/25

Simmons, Alex'zay D. 5 8/27

Soto, Leilani R. 5 8/27

Dinka, Guyatu KG 8/28

Kemer, Abdurahim M. 1 8/29

Garcia Lopez, Isaias 5 8/31

Ms. Newsome 8/3

Mr. Curtis Wilson 8/12

Mr. Brucato 8/19

Ms. Winn 7/2

Ms. Cynthia 7/5

Ms. Patrice 7/12

Ms. Ford 7/14

Ms. Wolfe 7/29

Welcome Mr. Walker

T H E R O S A P A R K S V O I C E

P A G E 4

August Important Dates

Parent-Teacher Conferences At the end of August, we will have Parent-Teacher Conferences. This is an opportunity for

you to meet your child’s teacher, learn about the academic goals for the year and the curric-

ulum they will be using and have any questions you may have answered. If you haven’t

scheduled your Parent-Teacher Conference, please contact your child’s teacher. Remember,

there is no school for students 8/24-8/26. Conference days are Wednesday, August 24th and Thursday, 8/25.

Free Dress Day 8/1

TAG Meeting (5-6PM) 8/11

ESL Meeting (6-7PM) 8/11

Fall Pictures 8/19

Parent Teacher Confer- 8/24

Parent Teacher Confer- 8/25

SCHOOL/OFFICES 8/26

Boys & Girls Club

CLOSED

8/22-9/9

As you may already know, we have a new Assistant Principal! Mr. Walker

comes to us from Faubion and is excited to be at Rosa Parks. Please join

us in welcoming him to the Rosa Parks’ family!

“My wife Ashley and I moved here 4 yeas ago from

Lakeland, FL where I lived my whole life prior to

moving to Portland. I have and undergraduate de-

gree in Education from University of South Florida

and a Masters Degree from Portland State Universi-

ty in Educational Leadership and Policy. I enjoy trav-

eling and eating at new places as well as fishing,

hiking and golfing. I have a black Labrador named

Jack who is a great dog. I wanted to be in Education because growing up I

struggled in school with academics and behavior and no one was there to help

me or guide me. I never want students to feel like they don't have someone

who is there for them. Everyday I wake up with one mission, to educate, moti-

vate and empower all students so they have the opportunity to do and be

whatever they wish in life. I am honored to be at Rosa parks because every-

day I get to work with the most amazing Principal, staff and students in Port-

land Public Schools. Thank you for welcoming me into your family and com-

Fall Picture Day, August 19th

Don’t forget, Fall Picture Day is Tuesday, August 19th. Order forms will

be sent home with your child. Uniforms are required for Fall Pictures.

Please be sure to bring exact change for your pictures or write a check to

Life Touch Portraits.

Rosa Parks Sweatshirts

The Rosa Parks sweatshirts are on sale for $20 a piece. We will take orders until 9/1.

Order forms are available in the office. There is a three-week turnaround for the or-

der, so they should be here by the time we return from the Fall Break.