Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

Category Archives: Schools

Kids, a dance and being good neighbors

Posted on by Posted in CNA, Concordia News, Schools

By Ali Novak CNA Board Member

Alliance High School requests, receives temporary adjustment to Good Neighbor Agreement with CNA

At the March 8th CNA board meeting, Concordia’s Alliance High School Meeks Professional Technical Campus principal Lorna Fast Buffalo Horse, presented our board with a proposal to allow modification of an existing Good Neighbor Agreement, dating to 2004.  The agreement, signed when Alliance took over the Meeks campus, prohibits school activities after 5pm. It also has restricted students from extended hours for social events or even tutoring.

The students of Alliance are seeking permission to host a prom on campus for about 75 students sometime in May. Attempts to find an alternate location have failed, due to high costs of venue rental.

Alliance High School is described in their executive summary as “an alternative educational experience for students who have not experienced success in traditional high school environments. The program seeks to provide academic, social-emotional, and professional-technical opportunities that motivate students to remain in school to learn the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to become a contributing member of society.” The curriculum mixes group and individualized instruction in the pursuit of relevant career-technical education.

The Alliance program includes an emphasis on social skills and community in the Alliance Meeks program, where students participate in a social-emotional “boot camp” for their first six weeks of enrollment. Students are encouraged to organize and champion themselves, with a Black Student Union, Hispanic Student Union, and Gay-Straight Alliance now represented on the campus. The request for a prom seems a natural step in developing the social experience for Alliance students, and was met with positive response from the CNA board.

The board approved an event to take place on a date to be determined in May, on either a Friday or Saturday, that will end at 10:30p.m. Clean-up and campus closure will be concluded by 11p.m. The board hopes that the positive relationship between Alliance with its neighbors can continue, and requested that Alliance communicate with its neighbors to present the proposed event, and bring any significant concerns to the board for consideration. The CNA Board will also consider expansion of the activity hours for future events based on the success of this new addition.

Rebuilding Faubion for the future

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Land Use & Transportation, Schools

By Carl Jameson, CNA Media Team

Bull Dogs Excavator_color
An excavator with a demolition bucket drops its mouthful of the old Faubion School into a dumpster. Photo by Carl Jameson

Homes aren’t the only buildings being demolished and increasing in size in the Concordia neighborhood. A single story International style influenced building has been torn to ground and will be replaced by a gleaming three story structure with room for up to 800 children from early childhood through eighth grade, aka James B. Faubion School.

Built in 1950, the school was constructed during a period of modernization and new construction initiated by Portland Public Schools after World War II. In 1945, Portland voters approved a ballot measure to construct, improve, and rehabilitate its public school buildings. The ballot measure was a response to the explosive growth in school-age children that resulted from the arrival of defense plant workers and their families during the war, deferred maintenance needs and just in time for the oncoming baby boom after the war.

Faubion School's namesake: James Blair Faubion Jr. was born in Portland in 1926, attended Fernwood School and graduated from Grant High School in 1944. After joining the U.S. Marine Corps, he was sent to Okinawa, Japan, where he was wounded, paralyzed and lost both legs. He died of complications from his wounds at the age of 22. A community grateful for his service named the school in his honor in 1949.
Faubion School’s namesake: James Blair Faubion Jr. was born in Portland in 1926, attended Fernwood School and graduated from Grant High School in 1944. After joining the U.S. Marine Corps, he was sent to Okinawa, Japan, where he was wounded, paralyzed and lost both legs. He died of complications from his wounds at the age of 22. A community grateful for his service named the school in his honor in 1949.

Fast forward to 2012: The citizens of Portland approved the PPS School Building Improvement Bond. The bond is funding $33 million for the project. Concordia University, a private, non-profit Christian liberal arts university, is contributing up to $15.5 million in building funding along with land and additional resources.

Concordia and Faubion have been neighbors for over sixty years with many Concordia education students completing a part of their field experience at Faubion. The collaboration between the two institutions increased eight years ago with the tenure of Faubion’s current principal LaShawn Lee and has resulted in improved learning outcomes for students in reading, math and science.

The old style bulldog mascot of Faubion School guards the demolition site. Photo by Carl Jameson
The old style bulldog mascot of Faubion School guards the demolition site. Photo by Carl Jameson
Principal Lee soaking in the last moments of memories.Photo courtesy of LaShawn Lee.
Principal Lee soaking in the last moments of memories.Photo courtesy of LaShawn Lee.

When the new Faubion School is completed in 2017 the oldest of its former pupils will be seventy-six years old and they certainly won’t recognize their former school. The new building, yet to be officially named by PPS, will house the Concordia University College of Education and Faubion PK-8 School under one roof. Together, along with Trillium Family Services and other community partners, they will offer educational, health and social services aimed at creating a foundation of success for students. Faubion’s current pupils, temporarily at the Harriet S. Tubman site, can’t wait to move into their new home. “They were sad leave the old Faubion, but are very excited to see the new building taking shape and for the future,” said Vice Principal Jennifer McCally.

dump truck enters the job site. Photo by Carl Jameson
A dump truck enters the job site. Photo by Carl Jameson

At the old Faubion site there will be increased construction traffic in and around school grounds. Site security is a priority. There will be construction fencing surrounding the site for the duration of work.

Groundbreaking for the new Faubion School will take place in Spring 2016. Todd Construction, the general contractor for the rebuild, plans on a work schedule from 7am-5pm, Mon-Fri, but work may occur on some evenings and some weekends as needed.

Helpful links

Faubion Rebuild site

Faubion School

Concordia 3toPhD site

Concordia University

Carl Jameson is a writer/director/videographer at Craftmaster Productions, a full service creative production company. He’s lived and worked in the Concordia neighborhood since 2001. Reach him by emailing carlj@craftmasterpro.com

Early Childhood Needs Assessment Completed for Cully-Concordia

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Family, Schools

To assess the growing needs of families with young children and the capacity of current early childhood programs and facilities in Cully-Concordia, community leaders, school representatives, service providers and parents helped collect and analyze information to create an Early Childhood Needs Assessment, between fall 2010 and spring 2011. The final report with recommendations is the first of its kind in Multnomah County.

One of the recommendations from the community perspective (focus groups with local parents) is that young children (up to 5 years old) need places to socialize, interact and meet other children, including more developed parks, a community center, sidewalks and safe streets. Another finding is that early childhood programs, such as existing preschools, are at capacity and have substantial waiting lists.

Multnomah County’s Early Childhood Council, the City of Portland and other community partners are all helping to expand eligibility for, and capacity and affordability of preshcool and childcare programs in the Cully neighborhood.

For more information about the Early Childhood Needs Assessment and/or the Cully-Concordia Community Action Plan, please visit www.portlandonline.com/bps/cullyactionplan.

International public high school for immigrant students now enrolling for fall

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Events, Schools

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s Portland International Community School (PICS) is enrolling students for the school’s 17th year of providing education programs for high school aged students (14 to 21) who are the children of immigrants or refugees.

An accredited school, PICS is one of several community-based schools under contract with Portland Public Schools. The school has partnered with Concordia University to strengthen its English as a Second Language curriculum this year and will feature master’s degree candidate interns as tutors.

Enrollment for the fall term will take place at the school (2728 NE 34th Ave., Portland, Ore.) starting Aug. 30, 2010.

For information about PICS, contact the school at (503) 232-5334, or go to www.emoregon.org/PDX_intl_school.php.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is a statewide association of Christian denominations—including Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox bodies—congregations, ecumenical organizations and interfaith partners working together to improve the lives of Oregonians through community ministry programs, ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue, environmental ministry and public policy advocacy.

Michelle Bush

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO)
Administrative & Communications Assistant
(503) 221-1054, ext. 202
www.emoregon.org

Youth Safety Courses, Vernon School, July 8-10

Posted on by Posted in Events, Schools

Two youth safety courses open to the public will be held at Vernon School.

Course 1: Babysitting (an American Red Cross course)

Participants ages 11 to 15 learn the basics of babysitting including professionalism, interviewing, child development, positive guidance, appropriate toys/activities and how to recognize and respond safely to common emergencies of infants and children.

When:Tuesday, July 8th and Wednesday, July 9th, from 12:30-4:30pm , this is a two-day course.(Registration required)

Where: Vernon SUN School, 2044 NE Killingsworth

Cost: $35.00 per child (cash or check made to “Community Upgrade”), includes participant book, first aid kit and snack

Course 2: When I’m In Charge (Registration required)

Details: Children learn valuable safety skills especially useful while unsupervised.

When:Thursday, July 10th from 12:30-3:30pm

Where: Vernon SUN School, 2044 NE Killingsworth

Cost: $20.00 per child (cash or check made to “Community Upgrade”), includes participant book, first aid kit and snack

Need more information?
Please call Shantel Waddell, Vernon SUN Manager at 503-916-6559.

Local Group Seeks Health Insurance For Kids

Posted on by Posted in Events, Family, Health and Wellness, Schools

“Why Not Portland?”

This simple question is both the name of and driving force behind a grassroots campaign to bring low-cost health insurance to the children of Portland public schools.

“It’s terrible that anybody is uninsured, and having uninsured children in our community is unacceptable,” says Dr. Gregg Coodley, the WhyNotPortland campaign’s chief petitioner and co-founder of the Fanno Creek Medical Clinic. “Every kid deserves access to a good doctor.”

The goal of the WhyNotPortland campaign is to provide city-funded health care for the approximately 9000 uninsured kids attending Portland public schools. To reach this goal, Coodley has been raising funds and gathering the 28,000 signatures required from City of Portland voters to officially place the initiative on the November ballot.

Continue reading →

Cully-Concordia Schools/Families/Housing Assessment

Posted on by Posted in Schools

We hope to see a large turn out at the June 3rd General Meeting when project staff from the City’s Bureau of Planning present the results to and solicits input from the neighborhood regarding the Cully-Concordia Schools/Families/Housing Assessment. The Cully-Concordia Schools/Families/Housing Assessment is a cooperative effort of the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Portland Public Schools (PPS) to look at portions of the Concordia and Cully neighborhoods, and focus on three public schools, Faubion, Rigler, and Scott, along with the PPS owned, former Whitaker Middle School site. The objectives of this project are to explore how to increase and sustain the attractiveness of the Cully-Concordia area for families with school age children and create an action list and build partnerships to follow up on ideas generated through the process. Key questions that are being addressed are:

  • How do the existing conditions of the area, and anticipated growth and change affect local school capacity/viability and neighborhood livability?
  • What is the potential for schools to serve as multi-purpose centers of community life in a way that benefits their educational mission?
  • What are key missing neighborhood amenities that affect neighborhood livability?
  • What are some potential strategies to address school issues?
  • How can redevelopment enhance community goals?

This project began in the Fall 2007 and has focused to date on information collection including interviews with over 70 diverse stakeholders, from parents to service providers and associations like Concordia Neighborhood, on their thoughts of the project area and the questions above. Planning staff is nearly done with an Assessment report that summarizes what staff has learned about the project area. In April and May, a Community Discussion Group met to talk about issues, review information collected and begin strategizing on potential actions to improve local schools and community livability. The group will meet again in mid-June to shape the action plan after broader community input.

Please join us at the June 3rd General Meeting when project staff will present information gleaned from the Assessment, report on some initial strategies generated by the Community Discussion Group, and solicit Concordia Neighborhood input on all of the above. A similar presentation will take place at the Cully Association of Neighbors meeting on June 10, and a third community input meeting will take place at one of the local schools, to be scheduled for June.

Project information can be viewed at the Bureau of Planning’s website under planning projects.

Faubion Garden Story Club – Thursdays this summer

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Events, Schools, Volunteer Opportunities

Join the Faubion School Garden for a unique event.faub.png

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).

Open to all neighborhood families. 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

Faubion PTA Family Night, January 30

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Events, Schools

In November, our PTA had the privilege to meet with Oregon PTA President Anita Olsen at one of our functions. Anita was apparently impressed with our effort and wrote a complimentary article about Faubion PTA in the December/January 2008 Newsletter. I am pleased to share excerpts from the newsletter with our neighbors here:

“I am privileged to receive invitations to visit from PTAs all over the state – and I try to visit as many as I am able. Last month, I was invited to Faubion PTA in Northeast Portland. Faubion is a PTA with the same challenges many (other PTAs) have: how to get parents and families into the school to see the importance of their involvement while at the same time going on to their jobs during the day and preparing their children for the next school day each evening. And, after two years of struggling, Faubion is finding the answer. I was invited to an old fashioned kaffeeklatch before school one Friday morning. In and among the coffee and doughnuts, I met about a dozen wonderful folks – moms, dads, grandmas, and grandpas. They told me about family nights they organized: a craft night in October, a bingo night in November. Each event was designed to bring families into the school and it did just that – 40 to 50 people – often different families at each event, who heard about the importance of family involvement at their school while enjoying their children’s and one another’s company.”

Thank you, Anita, for your attendance and kind words. Faubion is “living the idea of Family-School Partnerships” and the results are heartening. We had a lot of fun at bingo night and from its reception, there will be more of the same in the future.

Our next Family Night event will be Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 6:30 P.M. We haven’t decided on which type of event yet (our PTA business meeting on December 20 will attend to that) but it will be advertised and it will be – again – family fun. Watch for it and please attend. You don’t have to be a PTA member; you don’t even have to have kids at Faubion. It is an opportunity to see our school and neighborhood, meet some of its members and have a good time.

Faubion PTA and the 350 wonderful kids who attend our neighborhood public school wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.