A Message from Cleveland High School's PTA Executive Board

The CHS PTA Executive Board would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Principal Jo Ann Watkins and the entire teaching, administrative, and support staff of Cleveland HS for their actions to keep our kids safe on Monday afternoon.  

The PTA was at the school the following morning with bagels for the entire staff as a sign of support from the CHS PTA and the Cleveland parent community. 

The PTA Executive Board has written to Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero to express our support for Principal Wadkins and staff and to demand immediate, meaningful action to make our school a safer place. We asked to be kept informed as to the progress of those actions. 

Monday’s shooting was traumatic for all involved. The CHS PTA will be hosting a Safety and Health presentation on the evening of Wednesday, January 18th. Details about the presentation will be sent out soon. Please keep an eye out for the email about this important presentation. 

The PTA would also like to solicit comments, questions, and ideas from the Cleveland community as to how best to move forward after Monday’s event. If you have comments or questions on how to engage with the CHS community or on how to support safety on our campus, please contact our PTA via chsptaveep@gmail.com. If you have questions on general PPS policies, please contact our Zone 6 PPS board representative Julia Brim-Edwards at jbrim-edwards@pps.net.

The PTA Executive Board feels strongly about advocating for making our schools a safe and welcoming place for all students and staff. We will be tireless in our  efforts.  

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. See you in January.

CHS Executive Board  

Leslie Kossoff - President 

Rima Chamie - Co-Vice President 

Aimee Shaykin - Co-Vice President 

Mick O’Connell - Treasurer  

Caesar Bernardo - Secretary


13 Teacher Grants Funded in November for the Amount of $9490

Thanks to generous donations from our community, Cleveland PTA funded 13 teacher grants in November in the amount of $9490.05.  These funds will provide direct support in our classrooms by purchasing science equipment, art supplies, theater workshop equipment, construction materials for CTE Architecture and Construction, books, balance stools, strength training equipment and will also support Cleveland's Commerce Coffee and Leadership programs. If you would like to donate to support PTA programs like Teacher Grants, click here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/pta-oregon-congress-portland-or-8388468

10/10/2022 CHS PTA eNews

Inside This Week's eNews

  • Brats n Brews is Sunday! Purchase Tickets and Volunteer! *

  • CHS Parent & Caregiver Equity Group - Meeting Tonight

  • Special Schedule Wednesday *

  • PSAT Info for Test Taking Students *

  • SE Powell BLVD Community Safety Forum - Thursday Evening *

  • PTA Panel Discussion Discover Cleveland - Save the Date *

  • Purchase Homecoming Dance Tickets *

  • Yearbook News and Senior Portrait Updates *

  • Join the Campus Greeters

  • Bridging the Gap - 8th Grade Info Night *

  • Looking for Refrigerator Donation *

  • Booster Club Info *

  • Watch the Warrior Update *

  • IB News - Recording of IB Exam Info Meeting

  • Eastern Seaboard Travel Tour 2023 Info Meeting*

  • Southeast Snowboard Team - Info Meeting Wednesday

  • Important Information About Meal Benefits *

CHS PTA Board Member Election Results for 2022-2023

June 7, 2022. PPS Cleveland High School Graduation at Providence Park. Photo © Melissa Toledo.

June 7, 2022. PPS Cleveland High School Graduation podium at Providence Park.
Photo © Melissa Toledo, CHS PTA President and proud Mother of a 2022 Cleveland Graduate. Woohoo! 

Congratulations to the volunteers who stepped in to serve! It gives us great pleasure to welcome our newly elected CHS PTA Board Members for the 2022-2023 School Year.

And a tremendous THANK YOU! to the all amazing volunteers who served and helped out with the CHS PTA this year.


EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

  • President, Leslie Kosoff

  • Co-Vice Presidents, Rima Chamie and Aimee Shaykin

  • Treasurer, Michael OConnell

  • Secretary, Caesar Bernardo

BOARD MEMBERS

  • Membership Coordinator, Carolyn Choi

  • Co-Volunteer Coordinators, Kristy Oliver and Lucretia Lyons

  • eNews Editor, Janet Morgan

BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE (max 10)

  • Robin Springer

  • Rosemary Breger

  • Kristin Sherwood

  • Chris O’Connor

  • Joelle Alexander

  • Wendy Usher

  • Rebecca Bedrossian

  • Nicole Chaves

  • Susie Pontefract

  • Christina Moran

 

Cleveland High School Parent Teacher Association

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Board Member Elections, May 25th

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CHS PTA Board Member Elections are Wed, May 25th. 💚💛

To maintain our PTA "Unit in Good Standing" status, we must have a President, Treasurer, and Secretary. And guess what folks, all these Executive Board Member positions are open! And so are several Board-Member-At-Large spots.

If you're thinking you'd like to help out at Cleveland High School next year, then now is the time to raise your hand, and let us know of your intention to run. We would love to speak with you.

For more information, or to make your candidacy known, reach out to our Chair of Board Recruitment and CHS PTA Vice President, Amy Lewin at amylewinpdx@gmail.com


#elections #boardmembers
#PTA #CHSPTA #CHS #volunteer #clevelandhighschool #community #highschool #parents #portland #PDX #weareportland #PPS

LETTER FROM THE CHS PTA PRESIDENT

April 20, 2022. Cleveland High School. Portland, OR. (l-r) (front) CHS PTA President Melissa Toledo, CHS Principal Jo Ann Wadkins, (stairs) Vice President Amy Lewin, Board Member Robin Springer, Board Member Kristin Sherwood, Secretary JJ Heldmann, Board Member Yancey Towne, Treasurer Dan Mason.

The Cleveland High School PTA Needs You!

Last week the Cleveland High School PTA held our first fully in-person meeting since quarantine. This was a very special moment for us. 

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the CHS PTA Board has stayed strong and connected to each other and to our school. During my tenure, both as the current President and past Board Member-At-Large, we’ve organized our yearly calendar and have a clear budget. We’ve recorded informative sessions with important Cleveland community members, have solidified our online presence with our website and social media accounts, and have provided funds directly to teachers, student clubs, student affinity groups, and more. 

We are very humbled to have been given the opportunity to make a positive difference in the Cleveland Warrior’s experience. However, in order to keep these programs funded and managed, we need the support of our PTA community now more than ever. 

In less than a month, the CHS PTA will be holding elections for a new Executive Board. We are looking to pass the torch to a new set of dedicated volunteers who will take our documented successes and keep things going. Cleveland deserves consistency. 

But, the unfortunate truth is that there has been little interest in the leadership roles that are vacating. And folks, if you love the CHS PTA as much as I do, then this should concern you. If we don’t fill the roles of President, Treasurer and Secretary, there will be no CHS PTA! We risk going INACTIVE.

So, who’s gonna raise their hand? Who is going to take over what we have proudly stewarded these past few years?  If it’s you, then reach out to our Chair of Board Recruitment and CHS PTA Vice President, Amy Lewin at amylewinpdx@gmail.com

Spread the word! Membership is $25. Go to oregonpta.org/membership

And finally, I want to give a big Thank You to all our current Volunteers who make up today's Cleveland High School PTA!

All the best,
Melissa Toledo, CHS PTA President
chsptapdx@gmail.com



Learn more about THE CHS PTA and how you can get involved. Join us at an April Meet and Greet.

 
 

From Amy Lewin, CHS PTA VP (past president):

I'll be honest. It was with great reticence that I accepted an invitation to be a part of the Cleveland High School PTA nearly four years ago.

But I could tell that there was a need. The volunteers who were wrapping up their multi-year service needed to pass the baton on to the next cohort of families and I was that first step, that first conduit of what was next for CHS.

So I dove in.

And with full transparency, the last four years have whizzed by with such change. It's not always been easy, but the engagement of being a part of the school, connected to school leaders and understanding how CHS does so much for the community has helped me be a better parent, better volunteer, and better person.

“As chair of the Board Recruitment Committee, I invite you to consider what community involvement means to you while your family is at Cleveland High School...especially for families of 9th and 10th graders.”
— Amy Lewin

This past year, our CHS PTA President Melissa Toledo and the entire volunteer board accomplished so much. They are working to transition traditions and redefine projects, with an intention of accountability and service. Always improving, especially in the changing landscape of a pandemic and so much more.

As I begin to look ahead, I can tell that the CHS PTA is stronger, and it's ready for you to be a part of it.

As chair of the Board Recruitment Committee, I invite you to consider what community involvement means to you while your family is at Cleveland High School...especially for families of 9th and 10th graders.

This is your moment to pick up where others have led and help Cleveland High School create and activate the community we strive to be.

We are actively recruiting for CHS PTA Board roles for next year including:
• President
• VP
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• E-News Editor
• Fundraising Chair

We're also looking for Board Member At Large volunteers interested in creating and managing graphics, planning parties, and increasing memberships.

Curious but not sure?
We will be hosting a few informal CHS PTA info meet-ups for parents interested in learning more about getting involved, all are welcome:

• Sunday, April 3rd - 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Corkscrew Wine Bar, 1665 SE Bybee Blvd.
• Wednesday, April 20th - 6:30 p.m. at Cleveland High School, before the CHS PTA meeting.
• Saturday, April 23rd - 9:00 a.m. at Braking Cycles Coffee shop, 3354 SE Powell Blvd.

• Meet & Greet, Parent Info Night, May 16. at Cleveland High School.

• BOARD MEMBER ELECTIONS: Wed, May 25th - at our monthly PTA meeting.


Questions? Please contact: amylewinpdx@gmail.com



CHS PTA “Campus Greeter” Volunteers answer the call for help!

SAFETY: In partnership with Cleveland High School, the CHS PTA has taken on the task of providing Campus Greeters to help with the important task of managing the comings and goings of students and visitors each morning.

This volunteer opportunity is vital in keeping Cleveland's campus safe and secure. As it’s an ongoing Volunteer request, slots are still available by going to the link below to sign up. You are welcome to sign up for as many shifts as your time and interest allow; CHS office staff are hoping for a somewhat regular schedule.

Here are a few fantastic quotes:

  • I have a freshman student at Cleveland. Volunteering as a greeter gives the front office more time to focus on student and staff issues. I get to see a little bit of how the school functions. I also like seeing the diversity of the student population that walks through the doors. It's been such a tough time for everyone the last two years, it's fun to see people and give a cheery "good morning" to everyone. I'm happy to help in this small way. - Michelle L. (CHS Parent)

  • Being a campus greeter gives me a small look into the day to day lives of our kids as they traipse, skip, leap, dance or drag themselves through the school door at the beginning of the day. It makes me happy to see the third of their faces that I can see, and I feel content that I am helping out the overworked office staff because they aren't interrupted every five minutes needing to let someone in the door! – Jillean Johnson (CHS parent)

  • From Julie Young School - Admin Assistant Main Office: "We are very grateful for the support. Thank you so much. This has been incredibly helpful!"

  • From Laura Fisher - Principal's Secretary: "Appreciate all the help! Thank you so much for getting volunteers. It has been a huge help to our daily work and school. Those volunteers are a crucial part of our school, and we are grateful for their support and the opportunity we get to do all our "other work" when they are here."

  • Hello, my name is Kathleen Ziegler-Ramsay and I volunteer as a greeter and in the CCC. Currently, I have a son who’s a freshman here and my daughter graduated from Cleveland 6 years ago, then graduated from OSU and now is in grad school in Nashville! I love helping youth and staff at Cleveland. These last two years have been so hard for so many, I want to give back and it makes me happy to help the students and staff, hopefully making their lives easier and better!

Thank you Campus Greeters – here’s how to sign up!

Join the team of volunteers, view time slots and sign up here.

Please note – ALL onsite volunteers must complete a NEW background check this year, no matter when completed in the past – click here to complete.

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CHS PTA Approves 14 Student Organizations Grants!

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Congratulations to all 14 recipients of the CHS PTA's 2022 Student Clubs and Affinity Groups Grants!!! 💚💛

6 Affinity Groups and 8 Student Clubs submitted applications and all were honored! In total, the Grants final amount was $5,835.00. Woohoo!!! 💲💲💲

CHS PTA Grant Award Winners are: Asian American and Pacific Islander Club, Black Student Union, Jewish Student Union, LatinX, Native Student Union, SAGA, Unified Sports - Basketball & Cheer, Pigmice Team 2733-Cleveland HS Robotics Team, Cleveland Girls Lacrosse Team, Advanced Leadership, Period Club, National Honor Society (NHS), Cleveland Mental Health Advocacy, and the Cleveland Zine Club.

Applicant requests were wide-ranging. Funds will be used to purchase subscriptions, literature, event fees, guest speakers, merchandise, flags, field trips, snacks for meetings, printing, new games and so much more!

Grants are approved and awarded by the CHS PTA in partnership with the Cleveland High School administration.

Have a great rest of the year everyone!

CHS PTA President: Melissa Toledo.
CHS Principal: Jo Ann Wadkins.
CHS Bookkeeper: Jennifer Walker.
CHS Affinity Group Grant Approver: Vice-Principal Sean Murray.
CHS Affinity Group Grant PTA Board Member Lead: Nicole Chaves.
CHS Student Clubs Grant Approver: Jan Watt, Special Events Coordinator.
CHS Student Clubs Grant PTA Board Member Lead: Leslie Kossoff.

#PTA #CHSPTA #ParentTeacherAssociation #congratulations #announcement
#ClevelandHighSchool #CHS #grant #students #awards

CHS PTA: January 19, 2022 General Meeting and Board Member Check-in

(Portland, OR) The January 2022 General Meeting begins with Cleveland High School PTA President Melissa Toledo introducing Cleveland High School Principal JoAnn Wadkins and her Principal's Report. This is followed by several Board Member reports. Afterward, the camera is turned off and Board Members hung around for the January Board Member check-in.

Items on our Agenda included our Treasurers Report, Membership update, Volunteer update, Student Clubs & Affinity Group Grants update, Senior Party update, Rose Festival Princess update, and the Spring Fundraiser update.

Click here to watch the General Meeting on our YouTube channel, CHS PTA.

Announcements:

  • Check emails Monday morning for the CHS PTA’s eNews. It’s full of announcements from the CHS community. Submissions for eNews are Noon on Fridays

  • Look out for Volunteer Opportunities like Campus Greeters

  • Stay up-to-date with the latest happenings ... follow us on Instagram at clevelandhspta and Facebook at chsfamilies

  • Let’s all do our part to keep Cleveland open and safe for everyone. Please wear your masks and social distance properly when at school.

  • Next PTA General Meeting: Wednesday, February 16, 2022


- CHS PTA President Melissa Toledo, chsptapdx@gmail.com www.chspdx.org
- CHS Principal JoAnn Wadkins, jwadkins@pps.net www.pps.net/cleveland

“Student Clubs” and “Affinity Groups” grant applications are NOW OPEN thru February 11th.

This year the Cleveland High School PTA is pleased to announce the addition of two new student-focused grant opportunities. In total, these grants will bring $6,000 in funds to help support and enrich the “Student Clubs” and “Affinity Groups” experience enjoyed at Cleveland.

Students will have through the end of this school term to use the requested grant funds. What can your group use?

GET YOUR APPLICATION HERE:

Students must consult with their teacher advisor before submitting an application as they may be familiar with other potential sources of funding. Only written requests will be considered. Grants are approved/awarded by the CHS PTA in partnership with CHS.

SUBMIT COMPLETED APPLICATION via email to chsptagrants@gmail.com by 5:00 pm on Friday, FEBRUARY 11, 2022.

All funding for the CHS PTA comes from membership dues and community donations.

CHS PTA: November 17 General Meeting

(Portland, OR. Nov 17, 2021) The CHS PTA’s November meeting brought us great discussions around the Student Affinity Groups, Student Clubs, and the CCHS Alumni Association.

CHS PTA President Melissa Toledo introduces Principal Jo Ann Wadkins and her Principal's Report. This is followed by conversations with CHS Vice-Principal Sean Murray and CCHS Alumni Association President Ryan Brentley.

CHS PTA Board Members also voted “YES” on 2 motions we hope to turn into new traditions. 1: To award a $3,000 CHS PTA Student Affinity Groups Grant, and 2: To award $3,000 to the CHS PTA Student Club Grants.

Speakers and PTA Board Members were on-location in the Student Leadership room at Cleveland High School while all others joined on ZOOM.

• CHS PTA President Melissa Toledo, chsptapdx@gmail.com
• CHS PTA: https://www.chspdx.org/

• CHS Principal Jo Ann Wadkins, jwadkins@pps.net
• CHS Vice-Principal Sean Murray, smurray1@pps.net
• Cleveland High School: https://www.pps.net/cleveland

• CCHS Alumni Association President Ryan Brentley (shown in photo), pdxbrentley@hotmail.com
• Commerce-Cleveland High School Alumni Association: http://chs-alum.blogspot.com/

VIEW THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

CHS PTA Awards over $10K in Teacher Grants

Thanks to the amazing generosity of our community, the Cleveland High School PTA funded 9 teacher grants totaling $10,327 this school year! This includes direct classroom support for teachers and students in visual arts, performing arts, carpentry and construction, math, special education, literature, world language, and the new club Transit to Trails.

A tremendous Thank You goes out to CHS PTA Board Member Rosemary Breger for her outstanding leadership and communications with CHS Administration and Staff to help ensure every grant was awarded in full!

Specific award information:

  • Michael Payne, Performing Arts: $950 for a table saw, miter saw mounting rack for constructing sets, and amp for the sound system in the Black Box classroom.
    - 100 students served per year.

  • Emily Pratt, Visual Arts: $1,200 for Pro Panels for IB art displays.
    - 290+ students served per year.

  • LeeAnne Heuberger, Visual Arts: $1,000 for art supplies.
    - 190 students served.

  • Dominic Le Fave, Special Education: $1,000 for Commerce Coffee start up.
    - 25 students plus school community served.

  • Zachary McGarvey, Math: $656 for Ipad and accessories for projecting math teachings.
    - 155 students served per year.

  • Melissa Swan, World Language, German: $762 for lecture tables.
    - 130 students served per year.

  • Brian Barnes, CTE Construction: $3,039 for construction materials.
    - 200 students served.

  • Alex Fuller, Transit to Trails: $1,000 for guidebooks, banner and gear for Transit to Trails club.
    - Up to 400 students served per year.

  • Keri Troehler, English: $720 for 60 copies of Parable of the Sower.
    - 100+ students per year.

CHS PTA: New Families 101, Q&A Panel Discussion.

(Portland, OR. Oct 20, 2021) The CHS PTA’s long-awaited October meeting was dedicated to new Cleveland High School families. The 7-person panel (1 person on ZOOM) consisted of Administration, Staff, Counselors, Students, and a Parent.

This year’s questions spaned a wide range of topics. Panelists talked about the overall climate at Cleveland, they gave advice on what Freshmans should know, they gave us insights into the students’ experience, they spoke of learning to become an advocate for themselves and others, they elaborated on the many resources and programs Cleveland has to offer, and they spoke on how they address equity and inclusion.

“My team is dedicated to having your student be successful at Cleveland High School in whatever way that looks for your student.”
-CHS Principal Jo Ann Wadkins, CHS PTA New Families 101, Q&A Panel Discussion 

The video of the CHS PTA’s New Families 101, Q&A Panel Discussion, which starts with the Principal’s Report, is now available on YouTube. Panelists and PTA Board Members were on-location in the Student Leadership room at Cleveland High School while all others joined on ZOOM.

MODERATOR: CHS PTA Vice President, Amy Lewin

PANELISTS:

  • Principal Jo Ann Wadkins, jwadkins@pps.net

  • Counselor Heidi Tolentino, htolenti@pps.net

  • Counselor Amanda Weber-Welch, aweberwelch@pps.net

  • CHS Foundation President and Parent Christina Marcoules, csmarcoules@comcast.net 

  • Teacher and Instructional Coach John Golden. Oversees freshman academies

  • CHS Student Body Co-President, Moxie Thompson

  • District Student Council Representative, Byronie McMahon