urbanMamas Portland

I have been following the posts on this web-site from afar getting a feel for the atmosphere and mentality of Portland moms and issues in general to help decide if Portland would be a good place for us to live and my conclusion is definately!

Now I know no place is perfect, but I was alarmed and puzzled to come across an article in a local paper regarding toxic air around a NW Portland school which according to the U.S.A. today website ranks in the 2nd percentile of worst polluted! Actually all schools in Portland did not rank well.

This may be old news to you but I have not found much discussion on this subject which also surprises me.

One of the aspects that attracted me most to Portland is that it is ranked on list after list as being the most "green" environmentally aware place to live with people who value and prioritize this aspect including on the political level.

That is why I can not understand how this could be. Could someone please explain?

I am trying to improve the quality of life for my family and Portland seemed the place to do that, but breathing clean air is a basic necessity for quality of life.

I want to prevent us jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire and I so hope this can be explained away because my heart is already sold on Portland but my mind can not ignore this aspect!

Hi Mamas:

We are going to be moving to Portland soon and are wondering if anyone has a review of the Oregon Episcopal School Lower School.  Thanks.

I am a mother of three children who attend/attended Living Wisdom School.  My 15 year old attended from 1-7th grade, my 13 year old attended from k-6th grade, and my 9 year old has attended from pre-school and is still there in third grade.

The teachers are all trained in Education for Life. (Some are actually teacher trainers!) They understand how to work with children's energy and strengths to help them move toward maturity. They provide a safe environment for children to be who they truly are and opportunities to experience why universal values like conflict resolution and inclusion are important.

They recognize and honor multiple intelligences. They use Becky Bailey's Loving Guidance ideas to connect with the children, then teach them.

Our children have been able to hold onto who they are through their grade-school years. My 13 year old recently got into the car after school and said, "I have the best life!" This is the first year at a new school. He said "I had no idea it was going to be this good. You know, I am different, but in a good way. It's like I'm really who I am. My friends told me it was getting boring at school with the same old thing, but I came along and mixed things up."

I think this is unique for a 13 year old's perspective. I am so blessed to have found Living Wisdom, and to have figured out a way to pay for my children's education.  It has blessed our lives in so many ways. Feel free to email me with any questions about the school (tgdce@comcast.net).

Cathedral Park Cooperative Preschool in North Portland has openings in its summer camp program.  We offer six, one-week sessions beginning next week and extending through July.  We are able to take children 2.5-6 years and you do not need to be enrolled for our school year program to attend.  We meet from 9-11:30 each day and, as a cooperative, we ask you be a parent helper one day.  Contact Heather at membership@cathedralparkpreschool.org or 503.247.1243.  We'd love to have you join us!

Apply Now for 2009-2010

Having fun at the Museum doesn't have to stop after a visit! If your child is 4 years, 8 months by September 1, this new program may be perfect for you!

The Children's Museum School now includes a tuition-based kindergarten. The program is designed to engage children in a curriculum that provokes them to imagine, wonder, invent, design and create.

Teachers prepare environments, materials and questions that promote and encourage active learning. Arts and sciences become tools for thinking, exploring and discovering the world. Children use materials to explore mathematical thinking and number sense. A strong literacy focus infuses the arts into oral and written language development. Playful inquiry engages children in short-and long-term projects on topics of interest.

We strive to unite joy and learning every day!

Information:

Questions? 503.471.9917. Leave your phone number with a message or email: jgraves@portlandcm.org.

Living Wisdom School is a small private school in Beaverton that combines a holistic curriculum and experiential learning in an uplifting, safe environment. Our school is based on the Education for Life philosophy which supports a student's strengths and uniqueness through integrated, thematic learning. We currently have openings in our 2 day 3 year old program, 3 day 4 year old program and 1/2 day 4 day a week kindergarten. Visit our website www.livingwisdomschool.net  and call to schedule a tour.