Connect: Faubion Elementary School

Both current and future parents of Faubion kids connect here:

Faubion Elementary School
3039 NE Rosa Parks Way
Portland, OR 97211
Phone: 503-916-5686
Fax: 503-916-2625
E-mail: mollyc@pps.k12.or.us

http://www.faubion.pps.k12.or.us/

Comments

[Sharai]

We also have a Faubion PTA site:
faubionpta.com

[KMat]

My son is in kindergarten at Faubion and we love it. He is excited to go to school every day (he did not take the fact of 2 weeks off at Christmas very well). He has accidentally called me by his teacher's name, and confessed that he has called her "mom" on occasion--this actually made me feel really good about his entire school experience.

Academically, his writing skills have progressed dramatically since he started school. He will often write stories at home and at school--very exciting to see his development. According to his teacher, he is interested in science and math, also...areas DH and I are not entirely that into. I couldn't be happier that he is already exposed to things we don't typically touch on at home.

I do wish there was a dedicated art teacher. I loved art class in elementary school--it was the one day of the week I always looked forward to, and as a parent, I was looking forward to my kids at least experiencing art class. (I really wanted one of those clay pinch pots!) As such, we do sign our son up for the after-school SUN classes. He is currently in an art class and a science class, so I feel he is at least getting exposed to art. (Not that they don't do projects in his regular class, but he has done things like mixing paint in his SUN class.)

We try to attend as many Family Nights as we can (also like the fact that Family Nights are combined with the PTA meetings), and I am usually impressed by the turn-out. At the recent Math Night it seemed all of the teachers were in attendance. Pretty cool.

My biggest gripe--which I haven't addressed to the school, mostly because I haven't come up with any suggestions--is the pick-up/drop-off time. The way the parking lot is set up lends itself to parents sitting in their idling cars while watching their children walk into the school. There is often some traffic congestion in the area where the walkers enter the school--meaning the kids who walk to school end up inhaling the exhaust from the cars just sitting in front of the school. So much for the health benefits of walking. I have been scoping out the parking lot, and am trying to come up with some suggestions to help this problem before I bring it up to the school.

I realize this post is pretty long, but I think Faubion tends to be a "forgotten" neighborhood school, and I wanted everyone to know that not only is it there, but it is a great school staffed by caring teachers.

[cline]

Thank you so much for your comments! As an incoming kindergarten parent your post really reassures me..the school has so much potential and we are excited to start school. Go Faubion!

[KMat]

So last Friday, there was the PTA Coffee Talk. It's an informal gathering of the PTA and school parents that meets once a month in the school library to discuss, well, pretty much whatever.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Mr. Luieullen (sp?) of the Walk/Bike to School program had read my previous post on UM School Connections, and had many of the same concerns regarding the pick up/drop off situation.

Mr. L. has instituted a volunteer-based crossing guard program, using a crossing guard at the corner of NE 30th and Ainsworth to help the walkers/bikers cross this very busy street. (Mr. L. also pointed out that there are no stop signs/stop lights on Ainsworthb between NE 15th and NE 33rd, meaning the vehicular traffic is going as fast as it can by the time it hits 30th.)

Encouraged by this--it's nice to know one is not alone in pursuing a certain cause--I have also contacted the Concordia Neighborhood Association and Commissioner Adams' office regarding the city painting a crosswalk at this intersection. With the additional foot traffic of the Concordia University students attending the new ESL classroom on the corner of 30th and Ainsworth, it only makes sense for a crosswalk to be painted here.

I just thought I would share my recent experiences with Faubion as an example of what committed parents and concerned citizens can do to make our neighborhood school a great (and safe) place for our children to go to school.

Also, if anyone else is considering walking to school, but feels hindered by crossing Ainsworth, please email Commissioner Sam Adams at commissionersam@ci.portland.or.us to request a crosswalk at 30th and Ainsworth. The more of us who lobby for this, the better. Thanks!

[David Wynde]

KMat

Thanks for bringing this up. I will ask PPS central office to look into this as well and contact the City.

[kathy]

We live near Ainsworth too, and it can be a challenge at times trying to cross near 22/Ainsworth. This is near Alberta Park, and the walking route to Vernon Elementary for those of us on the North side of Ainsworth. Maybe they can look at both of these crossings....thanks!

[KMat]

I have heard back from the commissioner's office--actually in the same afternoon I emailed them. Impressive.

Apparently, the city has to perform a 16-week feasibility study to determine if the crosswalk would be beneficial. I was also told that someone else had submitted a request for the crosswalk at 30th and Ainsworth on Jan. 16, so the study should be done around May 16.

Interestingly, I was also informed that the lack of crosswalks on Ainsworth may hinder any new crosswalks being painted. The theory behind this being that one new crosswalk may be ignored by vehicular traffic, and any pedestrians assuming the right-of-way in the new crosswalk could be injured.

That being said, it only makes sense that there would also be crosswalks at 22nd and Ainsworth, as Kathy mentioned, and at the other end of Alberta Park (is it 20th? 21st? I'm not sure off the top of my head.) Basically, wherever kids are likely to cross to get into the park.

[KMat]

Just an update on the crosswalk situation on Ainsworth:

I have been in contact with the Concordia Neighborhood Association, who are on-board with the crosswalk being put in. The CNA informed me that Concordia University had not petitioned the city for the crosswalk.

That being said, CU is putting a bookstore in to the empty retail space next to Momizza Pizza on the 30th/Ains. corner. By next fall, the approximately 1600 CU students, as well as the ESL students currently attending classes at the new classroom, will be crossing Ainsworth to buy textbooks--and apparently coffee. (Which I'm kinda excited about, but I digress...)

As of last Tuesday, the CNA used their powers of good to get CU to also petition for a crosswalk on that corner. The CNA is also planning on asking the Ainsworth United Church and Day Center to petition the city, and I am going to see if Refried Jeans and the massage parlor would be interested in jumping on board.

I know it seems like this is moving forward in a positive direction, but I cannot stress enough the power of numbers. Even if you don't plan on using this crosswalk, please email Sam Adam's staff member Cevero Gonzalez at [cevero.gonzalez@ci.portland.or.us], as well as Sam's PDOT liason, Roland Chlaplowski at [rchlapowski@ci.portland.or.us]. Just a simple email letting these guys know about the public's desire for this crosswalk would help out immensely.

Thanks for all of your support!

[KMat]

On a more Faubion-related note, yesterday they held two dance performances, showcasing African dances as taught by Ms. Habiba (sp.?).

I was not able to attend the daytime performance, which consisted of the older (middle-school aged) students. I did get to see the pre-K to 3rd graders dance. I have to say, even though my son is a kindergartener, the pre-K kids stole the show. They were such an adorable mess of organized chaos, doing a dance that represented a variety of animal friends, including a zebra and a giraffe, an elephant, a frog, etc.

Each grade learned a different dance. From the hobbled reports from my son, I guess they learned the dances during their PE classes. Each grade was progressively better than the one preceding it, (which is to be expected, as they were performed from youngest to oldest), but all of the kids looked like they were having a blast. I know my son was just super-excited getting to be on stage for the first time.

The audience turn-out was also amazing. The performance was scheduled to start at 6:30pm. When we arrived at about 6:15, all of the chairs were already filled, and there was a quick little scramble to put out more chairs. There's something to be said for a school that can put on a standing-room only show!

I would like to thank Faubion--and Ms. Habiba--for organizing this dance performance. It is only one more example of how this little school gets a variety of arts education into the classroom. Great job everyone!

[LTf]

Go KMat!!! You're a rockstar! And thanks for taking the time to report abck to inspirethe rest of us. I'm going to write a quick psot tonight on ActA re e-mailig Adamsoffice for this crosswalk. I only have 1 question though: a 16-WEEK STUDY? I am *so* curious what goes on during that 16-week period!!!

[Sharai]

Faubion School / Kennedy School Fundraiser

Tuesday, April 8th, Kennedy School will be hosting a fundraiser for Faubion School. When you dine in the Courtyard Restaurant between 5pm and midnight, McMenamins will donate 50% of the proceeds (from food AND drinks) to Faubion PTA!

Please help us raise funds for a rock-climbing wall and sign board.
You gotta’ eat anyway!

[KMat]

Unless this baby is born before then, we'll be eating at the Kennedy School on 4/8. Eli is very excited about the future rock-climbing wall. You could probably call this the "Faubion Rocks" fundraiser!

[Sharai]

I wanted to let Faubion neighborhood families know about an upcoming event...

http://idisk.mac.com/deggar-Public/faubion_garden_story.pdf

Faubion Garden Story Club
Join us in the Faubion School Garden for a unique event.

Children will be engaged with stories, crafts and games,
while parents help maintain the newly improved
Faubion Garden. Meet in the Faubion Garden Amphitheatre
(on the west side of the school). Parents, bring gardening
gloves & some weeding tools.

Drop in for any or all days:
Thursdays at 11:00 am,
June 26, July 10 & 24 and August 7 & 21

Open to all neighborhood families
Stay for free lunch in the cafeteria!

Any questions, email me at eggars@comcast.net

[Sharai]

This Thursday 8/21 is the final Faubion Garden Story Club.

Are you new to Faubion, and want to meet some other parents/kids before school starts? Our little group tends to be a lot of incoming Kindergardeners and their parents. We have scrapped the gardening, and parents just hang out while the kids are listening to stories, playing games, and doing crafts. This is a great opportunity to introduce your child to Faubion and make some new friends.

Thursday 8/21 11-noon, in the Faubion Garden on the East side of the school.

[J.]

Wow. I must say I am a little disappointed: school starts tomorrow, and we have yet to receive anything in the mail regarding who my child will have for a teacher next year.

I was fortunately able to make it to the school in person last week, so I do know who the teacher is. But what about all the parents who don't have a day off during the week? Does the school really expect everyone to go down to the office? Wouldn't it be easier/more efficient to have sent letters out? And in those letters, maybe stick the appropriate school supply list? I really don't think this is asking too much.

Also regarding the supply lists: I saw on the school website that the lists were available at the office. Again, not everyone can make it down to the school. If the school has the ability to announce online that the lists are available, couldn't the school also post said lists on the website?

We've had such great experiences with Faubion in the past. It's a shame that this school year is starting off in such an inauspicious manner.