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L I V E • PLAY • DO
2020-2021 School Guide Celebrations in a Pandemic: Part 1 Virtual Learning Tools
OCTOBER 2020 - DIGITAL EDITION nwkidsmagazine.com
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Contents OCTOBER 2020 8 2020-2021 School Guide 9 Old Traditions, New Visions: Part 1 22 Countdown to a New Kind of Halloween 24 Distance Learning in Small Spaces 26 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF 27 I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark
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Editor’s Note Autumn has arrived at long last! As a native Pacific Northwesterner, the return of the rain is always welcome and this year there is even more reason to celebrate the passing of the seasons. September brought unprecedented wildfires to the entire west coast, and with them, unimaginable loss of life, natural areas and property. As of this writing, 972,255 acres have burned in Oregon alone and there are still 10 active fires. We are holding the families that have been displaced (and the thousands of men and women battling the fires) in our hearts and are thanking the skies for every drop of rain they can offer. By now, most of us have settled into the 2020-2021 school year in one way or another. Some of us are embracing online school while others are able to send our kiddos to smaller classrooms with new distancing precautions in place. As we learn what this looks like for our families, many families are exploring new options for schooling. In this issue, you’ll find our October School Guide. Take a look, check out some open house events (whether online or in-person) and see if there may be a school that aligns more with the specific needs of your family. The options are as varied as each and every one of our children. Have a happy and safe October. We’ll see you next month!
Mary
Cover photography by GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
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magazine Publisher Michelle Snell michelle@nwkidsmagazine.com Editor/Account Manager Mary Brady mary@nwkidsmagazine.com Connect With Us: • Phone: 503.282.2711 • email: contact@nwkidsmagazine.com • Facebook: facebook.com/nwkids • Instagram: @nwkidsmagazine • Twitter: @nwkids • Pinterest: pinterest.com/nwkids
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Listings All Families Surrogacy...................................10 A Renaissaince School...................................15 Bamboo International School........................10 Bennett Suzuki...............................................25 Bridges Middle School...................................11 Catlin Gabel....................................................14 Childswork.....................................................25 Childroots......................................................... 3 Earthquake Tech............................................... 2
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Engineering for Kids......................................10 FAIS................................................................16 German International School........................15 Heidi Timmons...............................................25 Language Learning Connections..................... 7 Little Fruit Farm..............................................25 Micha-el School.............................................14 MSB................................................................11 Northwest Academy......................................11
OCTC...............................................................21 OES................................................................... 7 PJA..................................................................17 Play Fit Fun.....................................................21 Small Friends.................................................11 The International School................................14 Tri-County Farms.............................................. 2 West Hills Montessori....................................10 Xstream Learning Center...............................10
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SCHOOLS SCHOOLS
DESCRIPTION
AGES/GRADES
SOUTH/SOUTHWEST PORTLAND A Renaissance School of Arts & Science
Children work in critical thinking and inquiry, putting their understanding into exhilarating application. Rolling enrollment, small class sizes.
K-8th grade
Bridges Middle School
Bridges exclusively serves 5-8 grade students with learning differences through small classes, differentiated instruction and a safe place to learn and grow.
5th-8th grade
Catlin Gabel
Catlin Gabel fosters compassionate and curious citizens of the world by inspiring in every student a love of learning and the courage to take responsible action.
Preschool12th grade
Oregon Episcopal School
Preparing students for higher education and lifelong learning.
PreK -12th grade
Portland Jewish Academy
PJA provides an academically rich environment which honors the whole child; nurtures and inspires Jewish engagement, respect, and responsibility for the world.
K-8th grade
Portland Jewish Academy Early Childhood Programs
PJA values each child as an individual and 6 weeks provides a welcoming, inclusive setting that 5 years old recognizes children’s diverse abilities, interests, and learning styles.
Small Friends Preschool
Their engaging, developmentally appropriate environment gives children space to play, create, experiment and collaborate to make meaning of their world.
3-5 years old
The International School
For over 30 years, they’ve offered education that goes beyond language and cultural immersion to open a world of possibilities. Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese.
Preschool5th grade
0234 SW Bancroft St. 971-221-2311
2510 SW 1st Avenue 503-688-2922
8825 SW Barnes Road 503-297-1894
6300 SW Nicol Road 503-768-3115
6651 SW Capitol Highway 503-244-0126
6651 SW Capitol Highway 503-244-0126
7475 SW Oleson Rd 503-388-2266
2305 S Water Ave 503-226-2496
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2020-2021 SCHOOL GUIDE TUITION
SPECIALIZATION
OPEN HOUSE INFO
WEBSITE
$14,000-$16,000 annually
Experiential, Whole child, Online/ Virtual, Critical Thinking, Inquiry, Application
Contact to schedule
renpdx.org
$24,500 annually
Whole child, Learning Differences
Contact to schedule
bridgesms.org
$28,600-$35,700 annually
Experiential, Whole child, Progressive Education
20 Virtual Sessions in October. Details online.
catlin.edu
Flexible tuition available.
Experiential, Inquiry-based
Virtual (see website); October 18, 1pm
oes.edu
$20,290-$20,940 annually
Jewish Community School with an emphasis on project-based learning.
Contact to schedule
pjaproud.org
$859-$1,906 monthly
Experiential, Play-based, Whole child
Virtual Open House TBA pjaproud.org
$182-$233 monthly
Experiential, P lay-based, Whole child
Contact to schedule
$11,870- $19,640 annually
Language Virtual Open House: immersion, PlayOctober 22, 9-10:30am based, Online/ Virtual, International Baccalaureate
smallfriendsschool.com
intlschool.org
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SCHOOLS SCHOOLS
DESCRIPTION
AGES/GRADES
SOUTHEAST PORTLAND Childswork Learning Center
Childswork is a school where children and their families develop relationships, discover new ideas, construct knowledge through play and cultivate a joy for learning.
Preschool2nd grade
Micha-el School 13515A SE Rusk Rd 503-882-3322
Waldorf School; Blending language arts, math and sciences with music, foreign languages, art and movement, they fully engage children at every developmental age.
K-8th grade
4235 SE Salmon St 503-234-3611
NORTHWEST PORTLAND Bamboo International School Their mission is to provide a culturally rich 14695 NW West Union Rd 503-531-4094
experience by introducing the Chinese language and traditions to the American Culture.
16 months6 years old
Cathedral School
A premier Apple distinguished Pre-K - 8th grade Catholic school in NW Portland. Featuring small class sizes, 1:1 iPad to student ratio, before/after care.
Pre-K8th grade
French American International School
Develop Global Citizens | Shape Active Learners | Foster Multi-Language Ability | Deliver Academic Excellence
Preschool8th Grade
MSB
MSB is a renowned Montessori School located Preschoolon a serene campus in the hills of Portland. 6th grade
Northwest Academy
An accredited, independent college preparatory program with smaller class sizes that combines engaged academics with a full arts curriculum.
6th-12th grade
St. Pius X School
St. Pius X School provides a faith-centered Catholic education that builds community, forms life-long learners, and promotes academic and moral excellence.
Pre-K8th grade
Xstream Learning Center Preschool
Preparing students for success in a multiple culture world and promoting life-long learning by providing activities that are meaningful, experiential and fun.
3-12 years old
110 NW 17th Ave 503-275-9370
8500 NW Johnson Street 503-292-7776
11065 NW Crystal Creek Ln 503-439-1597
1130 SW Main St 503-223-3367
1260 NW Saltzman Rd 503-644-3244
2029 NW Miller Rd 503-841-3445
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2020-2021 SCHOOL GUIDE TUITION
SPECIALIZATION
OPEN HOUSE INFO
WEBSITE
$250-$1,700 monthly
Experiential, Play-based, Reggio Emilia, Whole child
Contact to schedule
childswork.org
$6,020-$8,340 annually
Waldorf
Contact to schedule
micha-elschool.org
~$1,000 monthly
Reggio Emilia
Call to schedule
bamboointlschool.com
$6,936 - $9,946 annually
Play-based, Online/Virtual, Catholic
Pre-K Open House November 15, 11am-2pm
cathedral-or.org
$18,845 annually (Preschool) $22,116 annually (Middle School)
Language immersion, Playbased, International Baccalaureate (IB)
1:1 Zoom Meeting/PS-K Virtual Open House Recording
faispdx.org
$9,860-$12,600 annually
Montessori
October 16, 6-7pm; November 7, 10-11am
msb.org
$23,000-$25,000 annually
Language immersion, Whole child
Weekly, find details at www.nwacademy.org
nwacademy.org
$7,600-$8,300 annually
Whole child
Please see Virtual Open House on website.
stpiuspanthers.org
Call for details
Reggio Emilia
Call to schedule
xstreamlc.com
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SCHOOLS SCHOOLS
DESCRIPTION
AGES/GRADES
BEAVERTON/HILLSBORO German International School
GIS provides the foundation for wellrounded, globally-minded citizens through their German & Chinese language tracks. Learn more this fall!
Twos, Preschool5th grade
Little Fruit Farm Montessori
Supporting children’s natural development, curiosity and exploration. Low student teacher ratios, beautiful home and garden environments.
Toddler-PreK
ChildRoots
ChildRoots is an art- and science-based day care and preschool dedicated to providing superior childcare for children ages six weeks to six years.
6 weeks6 years old
West Hills Montessori
Meeting the social, emotional and intellectual needs of children through joyful exploration and hands-on learning.
15 months12 years old
3900 SW Murray Boulevard, Beaverton 503-626-9089
16445 SW Melinda Street, Beaverton 503-521-8603
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS Multiple locations 503-235-1151
Multiple locations 503-246-5495
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2020-2021 SCHOOL GUIDE TUITION
SPECIALIZATION
OPEN HOUSE INFO
WEBSITE
$11,500-$15,600 annually
Language October 29, 4:00-5:30pm gspdx.org immersion, Playbased, International Baccalaureate
Please call
Montessori
Contact to schedule
littlefruitfarmmontessori. com
$1,365-$1,840 monthly
Play-based, Reggio Emilia, Whole child
Contact to schedule
childroots.com
$995-$1,275 monthly, additional fees for AM/PM Care
Montessori
Contact to schedule
westhills-montessori.com
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Old Traditions, New Visions:
Celebrating During a Pandemic PART 1
by MERRIAH FAIRCHILD, BRIDGETOWN BABY
The fall and winter seasons are chock-full of beloved family celebrations and traditions, from Halloween to Thanksgiving, Diwali to Rosh Hashanah, Kwanzaa to Christmas, and all the baby showers and birthdays in between. This three-part series draws on the creativity of a diverse bunch of Portland families, who are meeting this challenge with gusto. Their stories and experiences offer examples and inspiration for updated celebrations in the COVID age.
Part 1: October Holidays and Celebrating Birthdays Sukkot October 2-9
“ This fall, our family is looking forward to celebrating a holiday we won’t have to modify at all in order to celebrate fully during COVID-19. During Sukkot, the Jewish celebration of the abundance of the autumnal harvest, families build an outdoor room or shelter called a Sukkah, and essentially eat most of their meals there for seven days. Our family loves this invitation to spend more time outside as the evenings cool, squeezing in more outdoor meals before winter sets in (and even sleeping there for a night or two). The sukkah is decorated with hanging gourds, dried leaves, and fairy lights, giving it a welcoming and magical feel. This year we’ll invite family and friends as usual to share a meal outside, we’ll just space the tables and chairs 6 feet apart. More space for pumpkins and gourds in between!” - Talia, mother to Aleeza (11), Sidra (9) and Orli (6)
Pumpkin Picking
“ Fall is pumpkin time in our household! We’ll be heading to Bella Organic on Sauvie Island, both because they’re our annual favorite and because they have easy-tofollow COVID guidelines in place. We’ll be picking up a bunch of apple cider - and, of course, some pumpkins to decorate our porch, even if we may not have trick-ortreaters coming by this year.” - Annie, mother to Willie (2) 18 | NW Kids Magazine
Halloween October 31
“ We love Halloween! Our boys look forward to it every year. They love walking the streets and seeing all the decorated houses. With the current COVID-19 precautions, Halloween will probably look very different this year. So we are planning a week of Halloween fun at home with pumpkin pizza, a piñata, a dance party and Halloween games.” - Krystle, mother to Kai (8) and twins Everest and Byron (5)
Photo courtesy of K. Gard
*see Krystle’s recipes and recommendations for your family’s countdown to Halloween on p. 22 of this issue.
Birthday Parties
Photo courtesy of S. Johnson
“ The party took place in the front yard. We kept it simple: pizza and cupcakes, music, and a terrarium building activity that kept the kids busy and engaged. Everyone wore masks and took turns helping themselves to materials and food at the table, maintaining physical distance but finding connection in their time together. This birthday was different for us because we wanted to keep it small enough to spread out and stay contained in our yard. No sleepover, no movie, no roller skating or ice cream parlor. The vibe was more relaxed than in years past, which in many ways was a blessing. There was a closeness felt among the children that might not have been achieved if the party plans had been more elaborate.” - Sarah-Lynda, mother of Ingrid (11)
continued on p.20
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“ Our twins turned six in June of the pandemic. This year, they each got to invite one special friend to participate in a bike parade around our neighborhood. They donned costumes and decorated their bikes. We put the word out to our local neighborhood through little flyers and email that we would be passing by. Many neighbors stood on their stoops to cheer us on, and a couple of kids followed our procession. Even though it was small and short, it was quite celebratory and brought joy to our block.” - Katie, mother to Caden (10) and twins Jude and Ada (6)
Photo courtesy of K Alexander
We are wishing you connection and joy as you find new ways to celebrate this year and we hope you’ll keep us posted on the ways you’ve updated the traditions you share with your littles and other loved ones! Tag us at instagram.com/bridgetownbaby or facebook.com/bridgetownbaby.
PANDEMIC PARTY RESOURCES Hammer & Jack’s toy store offers $3 no-contact delivery for anyone within 10 miles of the shop. Bonus - the shop puts together a super special little gift package for kids. hammerandjacks.com For showers or new baby gifts to exhausted new parents, Providore makes an amazing spread of cheeses, crackers, chocolate, flowers, and fresh fruits. providorefinefoods.com Lippman Company is Portland’s go-to party supply store - they’re limiting customers in the store to help with social distancing, and they’re now offering curbside pick-up for orders made over the phone. lippmancompany.com
Merriah Fairchild is a Certified Postpartum Doula, IBCLC and Founder of Bridgetown Baby. She lives and parents in SE Portland. During the pandemic, Merriah learned that she enjoys painting houses (her own) even more than homeschooling her two daughters, 7 and 10, but enjoys caring for new and growing families most of all. Bridgetown Baby is Portland’s premier postpartum doula group, providing comprehensive postpartum and feeding support to help families grow with strength & confidence. During the pandemic, Bridgetown Baby is doing everything possible to minimize risk to families and doulas while providing the support families need now more than ever. To learn more go to: bridgetownbaby.com 20 | NW Kids Magazine
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Countdown to a New Kind of Halloween by KRYSTLE GARD
Halloween is our family’s favorite holiday. And it’s even on Saturday this year! But what does Halloween look like during a pandemic? Here are my tips for creating a pandemic-safe yet thrilling countdown to Halloween - with these tips, you can either celebrate all week with a couple of activities each day, or create one big bash on Halloween that your kids will never forget.
Monday, Oct 26 Get out paper, markers, stickers and other art supplies to make Halloween cards for hospitalized kids or a local senior center. (Ideas here: cardsforhospitalizedkids.com/holiday-cards)
Tuesday, Oct. 27 Pumpkin carving and roasting pumpkin seeds.
Wednesday, Oct. 28 Make baked pumpkin doughnuts and watch a Halloween movie.
Thursday, Oct. 29 Face painting with watercolor crayons, make witches’ slime and play Halloween bingo with candy corn.
Friday, Oct 30 Make monster cookies and read Halloween books.
Saturday, Oct. 31 Halloween: pumpkin pizza from Papa Murphy’s, Halloween Music Dance Party with costumes, Candy Piñata and Candy Hunt (like an Easter egg hunt without the eggs!).
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Dance Party Songs “Purple People Eater” — Sheb Wooley “Monster Mash” — Bobby (Boris) Pickett “I Put a Spell On You” — Bette Midler “Thriller” — Michael Jackson “Ghostbusters” Theme — Ray Parker Jr. “This Is Halloween” — The Citizens of Halloween (or anything from Nightmare Before Christmas Sound track) “Time Warp” — Little Nell, Patricia Quinn, & Richard O’Brien “The Addams Family” Theme — Vic Mizzy “Halloween Sharks” — Pinkfong (or add the Halloween Station to your stations on Spotify or Pandora)
Halloween Week Movie Recommendations TODDLER: Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest Room on the Broom Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie Super Monsters Save Halloween 6+: It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown The Nightmare Before Christmas Hotel Transylvania Casper Toy Story of Terror Hocus Pocus Monster House Goosebumps Addams Family
Recipes Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts: thespruceeats.com/pumpkin-doughnut Monster Cookies: lilluna.com/gooey-monster-cookies Witches’ Slime: littlebinsforlittlehands.com/make-witch-fluffy-halloween-slime-recipe-kids
Krystle Gard is a Certified Postpartum Doula with Bridgetown Baby. She lives and parents in the Tigard/Beaverton area. Krystle enjoys baking and cooking with her three boys ages 8 and 5, but enjoys cooking for new and growing families most of all.
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Distance Learning in Small Spaces During the transition to distance learning, each and every family has individual challenges and obstacles. For my family, the biggest challenge is space. We live in a condo with an open floor plan and simply do not have the square footage to set up multiple permanent learning areas to accommodate differently aged children with varying schedules. Here are a few of the things that we’ve found to be helpful: For the littlest learner, we are using a multipurpose table and chair set. The table has storage space built in and the lid has a white board on one side and a chalkboard on the other. It is small enough to move out of the way when more space is needed in the living room and also functions as a drawing, snacking and Lego-building spot. $99.99, deltachildren.com The oldest is a freshman this year, and that is stressful enough without distance learning and a pandemic. The academic demands are more rigorous and she also is taking yearbook as her elective. It has been years since we have had a printer at home but decided that it would help with various aspects of distance learning. With limited space, we opted for Epson’s XP-5100 Small-in-One Printer. We can keep it out of the way in the loft and initiate printing wirelessly from our laptops and phones. My favorite part is that the ink cartridges are individual, so if only the black cartridge is out there is no need to waste money also changing the color cartridges. $119.99 epson.com Without recess, traditional PE and walking between classes, we’ve looked for some ways to keep the kids moving a bit even while they’re seated. A wooden balance board under the desk does the trick when a normal chair is in use, but we’ve been swapping in yoga balls when a little more wiggling is clearly needed. For the youngest we have a chair frame that fits the yoga ball and is the perfect height for the Delta Children table set. various prices, amazon.com 24 | NW Kids Magazine
Our 3rd grader absolutely loves maps and globes. We found a really cool one that can sit on his desk during the day and then turns into a night light at night, complete with a soft glow and a map of the constellations. Sharing a room with big sister, the light is soothing but is dim enough to not keep older siblings awake who would rather sleep in darkness. 3-in-1 World Globe LED Constellation Map Night Light, $49.99. usatoyz.com Have you found any hacks to make distance learning a little easier? Let us know!
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Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Goes Virtual for 70th Anniversary UNICEF USA is launching a virtual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF platform and through the month of October, you can add purpose to Halloween by collecting lifesaving donations for UNICEF virtually. In honor of the 70th anniversary of this iconic American tradition, this year’s initiative will be comprised of digital, interactive experiences all while teaching children the importance of giving back and fundraising. Beginning October 1st, teachers and parents are encouraged to register children and create an online profile by visiting www.trickortreatforunicef.org where they will receive a Virtual Collection Box with a customized link and QR code. By participating in fun activities and watching educational videos, children will earn Trick-orTreat Coins that add up to real-life earnings. Teachers and educators in grades K-8 will gain access to the UNICEF Kid Power platform, where students can participate in UNICEF Power Ups to earn coins. As coins are collected, children will be able to say where they would like their earnings go, empowering them and connecting their efforts to positive impact for children around the world.
About Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF started in 1950 when children across the United States collected coins in hand-painted milk cartons to help children affected by World War II. Since then, generations of children in the United States have gone door to door on Halloween with the signature orange collection boxes, calling out, “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!” Originally a grassroots campaign, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has now evolved into a month-long celebration of the power of Kids Helping Kids®. Celebrating its 70th year, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is the longest-running youth engagement campaign in America and has raised over $180 million dollars to help UNICEF support children with health care, nutrition, safe water, education, emergency relief and more. Learn more at trickortreatforunicef.org. 26 | NW Kids Magazine
I Dissent : Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark When you hear the name Ruth Bader Ginsburg, words such as “trailblazer,” “pioneer” and “advocate” are usually included in the reference. The second woman to serve as a justice for the United States Supreme Court and eventually the longest-serving Jewish justice, Ginsburg passed away at her home on September 18th due to complications of pancreatic cancer. Much of her legal career was spent advocating for women’s rights and gender equality and in 1972 she co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU. By 1974, she had participated in over 300 gender discrimination cases. She accepted President Carter’s nomination for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1980 and continued her passionate advocacy in that role before accepting President Clinton’s nomination to the Supreme Court in 1993. During her decades in public service, she was a role model for young girls who are often told that a career or an opportunity is out of their grasp based solely on their gender. Ruth Bader Ginsburg (sometimes playfully referred to as “The Notorious R.B.G” due to her passionate dissents and her place in popular culture) affected immeasurable change during her lifetime and her legacy will live on in every young girl who grows up learning that they too can stand up and dissent.
“To make life a little better for people less fortunate than you, that’s what I think a meaningful life is. One lives not just for oneself but for one’s community.” - Ruth Bader Ginsburg (March 15, 1933 - September 18, 2020)
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark Written by Debbie Levy Illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley Simon & Schuster, 2016 The first biographical picture book about the life and career of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I Dissent tells the story of the justice through the lens of her famous dissents and disagreements. In facing a society full of inequalities, Ginsburg did not follow the status quo. Instead she lived her life pointing out these inequalities, championing for change and improving the world around her for all of us. From a very young age, she knew that change could not come about in silence. NW Kids Magazine | 27
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