Mae Among The Stars, Read Across America Week, Resource Round-Up 2/25

Counselor Corner  /  News & Events A copy of the book, Mae Among the Stars leans against the back of a cooktop. Arranged on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet are some coffee filters, an eyedropper and a small cup of water. Drying on the rack is a coffee filter that has been colored with a marker and then been dribbled with water to make the colors run. A rocket ship on a straw is held over the "planet"

Maestra Andriena led a delightful Family Fun event this Tuesday. We made planets and rocket ships and talked about our dreams for the future. I can’t decide if my favorite thing was hearing all the family members also enjoying themselves firing off rockets off screen or when I recreated our school shenanigans with own family. Either way, TONS OF FUN! In case you missed the fun, this week’s story is Mae Among the Stars, by Roda Ahmed and Stasia Burrington.

More fun awaits! March 1-5 is Read Across America Week! We will celebrate this year with a weeklong challenge. Teachers will post read-aloud videos with a secret code word hidden in each video. At the end of the week, the five words will form a secret phrase. Students who enter their phrase via Flipgrid or with an email to Ms. O’Rourke or Ms. Snyder will be entered in a prize raffle. If you miss a video, they’ll be posted in the Newsletter tab of the website ↗️ or check back here for a summary post at the end of the week.

Resource Round-Up 2/25

  • SNAP Benefits for Food Damaged by Power Outages is Extended. SNAP recipients have until March 5 to request food replacement if they are in areas affected by the recent power outage. Deadline to apply: 10 days from the time a lack of power damaged your food. See news release HERE. Phone: 800-699-9075 Email: SSP.StatewideWorkshare@dhsoha.state.or.us. Flyer.
  • County Risk Status. Effective February 26 through March 11, Multnomah County continues at High Risk, while Washington and Clackamas Counties progressed to Moderate Risk. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels is available HERE. View the Sector Risk Level Guidance Chart . 
  • COVID19 Vaccine 101 Workshops for Community Workers/Leaders. This online train the trainer workshop is provided by the Multnomah County Health Department for Community Health Workers/outreach workers/faith leaders/community leaders.  Priority will be given to people working in the Portland metro area with communities of color/LGBTQ+/houseless/people with disabilities and other marginalized communities.Click here to register for the workshop by March 4th. Dates:
    • ENGLISH: Thursday, March 11th 9:00am – 11:30am
    • ENGLISH: Tuesday, March 16th 1:00pm – 3:30pm
    • ENGLISH: Thursday, March 18th 9:00am – 11:30am
    • SPANISH / Español: Thursday, March 18th 12:00pm – 2:30pm
    • ENGLISH: Wednesday, March 24th 9:00am – 11:30am
  • Pharmacies now offering COVID-19 vaccine. Pharmacies will screen for eligibility according to state guidelines. They will have limited doses and so appointments will be limited. Go directly to their COVID vaccine websites to make an appointment:
  • OHSU COVID-19 Testing and Change in Protocols. OHSU has changed their testing protocols. The first two hours are dedicated to the priority line. Others can join the general line, but testing for that line opens during the first two hours only if the priority line is empty. After the first two hours, testing is first-come, first-served.  Flu shots are also available. The Convention Center site has been closed. Complete information is HERE.        
  • OHP, COVID-19 Vaccine, and Transportation
    • If someone is enrolled in Oregon Health Plan (OHP) either with a Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) managed-care plan or under an OHP Open Card (fee for service) plan, they can use Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) to get to a clinic and get back home. Here is a map of NEMT brokerages. Call the brokerages directly to schedule a ride.  
  • Saturday 2/27 is a discussion about Supporting African Families with Special Needs. (flyer)
  • NAMI Multnomah has a job opening for a Family Partner: Black/African American Family Focus. (flyer)
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for Pacific Islander 65+ community on n February 27, this Saturday, 9-4:30. Multnomah and Washington counties. To sign up, your clients can email or call, and one of the community based organizations will help them through the simple process to sign up.   pi_chw@utopiaportland.org   9AM-6PM: (971) 710-4428 and (971) 710-8759  After hours 6PM-9PM: (503) 714-6574
  • Drivers License For All events with IRCO/DMV.  2/23 (Chinese), 3/4 (English).
  • COVID-19 Community Conversation for the Pacific Islander community hosted by the Tongan Women’s association.  2/25 – more info on Facebook or flyer.
  • Tax Workshop from Metropolitan family services.  2/23 (English), 3/2 (Spanish).  Flyer.