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Vestal
161 NE 82nd AvenuePortland, OR 97220
View a map of the surrounding area
Phone: 503-916-6437
Fax: 503-916-2679
E-mail: sfoxman@pps.k12.or.us
School-created web pages: http://www.vestal.pps.k12.or.us
School-brochure: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/profiles/brochure/Vestal.pdf
Grade levels: K-8
Principal: Susan Foxman
Student Enrollment: 430
About:
Vestal School serves kindergarten through grade 8 students in Madison Cluster. The Vestal staff is exceptionally focused on academic excellence in a high-performing learning culture. Strong parent involvement and community partnerships enrich learning. Vestal has received recognition from The Portland Schools Foundation and The Education Trust for narrowing the achievement gap between students.
Pre School: HeadStart available off site.
Kindergarten: Three full-day kindergarten classrooms.
Kindergarten Round-up: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm.
Childcare: On-site YMCA child care.
Focus options: AVID, Arts for Learning.
Information Sessions: Call for an appointment to tour the school.
Testimonials
- "The PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning and Pacific Power
employees have had an opportunity to partner with Vestal
School and their excellent staff on several programs. The
administration, staff and teachers at Vestal are always
looking for ways to expand their students' learning
opportunities by utilizing outside resources and
volunteers. Whether it is a sports fitness program with
Nike, an arts education program with Young Audiences, a
reading mentoring program with SMART or a kindergarten
literacy program with Project Optimize, the options Vestal
provides for its students are among the best we have seen
at schools around the state. A parent seeking the best
educational opportunity for their child would be well
served by giving Vestal strong consideration."
Isaac Regenstreif
Former Executive Director, PacifiCorp Foundation for
Learning
Before and after school programs
- YMCA Child Care Program on site; Homework Club; Chess for Success; ETHOS music classes: Choir, Band, Guitar, Marimba; Fair Play; Knitting; Leadership Class; Math Club.
Community partnerships
- Unitus Community Credit Union; Kaiser Permanente; Portland Schools Foundation; Chess for Success Foundation; Nike; Start Making A Reader Today (SMART); OASIS; Multnomah County Library Books 2U; Big Brothers Big Sisters; ETHOS Music Center; Madison High School; City of Portland Office of Transportation; Leaders Roundtable; Xerox Corporation; Oregon State University Extension Nutrition Program; Burgerville
Student learning environment
- Vestal\'s Vision: Vestal\'s richly diverse community nurtures lifelong learning to support all students in achieving their very highest educational and personal potential in a safe, caring environment.
- Vestal is committed to supporting students with the skills they need to become leaders in our community, in Oregon, the US and the world.
- Strong communication between school and home is highly valued. Parent volunteers are welcome to participate in a broad spectrum of activities.
- Awarded \"Trail Blazer Award for High Performing Schools\" by the Portland Schools Foundation in 2001 and 2002. The Education Trust in Washington, D.C., named Vestal School to its list of nationally high performing schools in 2002. In 2007, Portland was named a \"School of Excellence\" by Portland Schools Foundation.
- Wilcox School, a nationally recognized Title I Distinguished School, became part of the Vestal School family in September 2002.
- Vestal has unified schoolwide behavior expectations through the Positive Behavior Support Program. Because learning is purposeful and students and teachers are respectful, disciplinary interruptions are minimized.
Curriculum components
- Vestal staff teaches literacy through an integrated approach to strengthen reading, writing, speaking and listening. Teachers use Scott Foresman literacy curriculum in K-5 and EMC Masterpiece Series in grades 6-8 to offer systematic, direct instruction in reading. Avenues is the series for supporting English Language Learners. Interventions are available for children who need extra support. Algebra and Spanish are available in 8th grade. The AVID program supports students who may be the first in their families to attend college.
- Vestal uses Investigations in Number, Data and Space, Connected Math and Every Day Counts as core curriculum. Teaching is consistent with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics\' Standards and Oregon State Standards.
- Vestal School focuses on achieving rigorous academic standards, integrating science, wellness and social studies into the basic subject areas. Interventions support students who are not yet meeting state standards in core subjects.
- The physical education/health teacher provides skill building and models good sportsmanship. The music teacher, artists and dancers in-residence provide rich artistic experiences. Vestal staff is an Arts for Learning School and children benefit from integrating arts throughout the curriculum.
- Programs for students with special needs are provided: Talented and Gifted (TAG), Special Education, Title I and English as a Second Language (ESL) services.
- Teachers use a variety of strategies appropriate for students with varied learning styles. The staff looks at students\' strengths and learning preferences, building upon this foundation. Teachers differentiate instruction by rate and level on an individual basis.
Staff
- The Vestal staff is experienced, hard-working and energetic, dedicated to providing the best possible educational program for children.
- 20 homeroom teachers, physical education, music, literacy, English as Second Language, learning center, counselor, library, Spanish Language and educational assistants. A speech-language pathologist and school psychologist provide support services for students.
Parent and family support
- Family involvement is important to student success and strongly encouraged and supported.
- Parents involved as partners on school committees including Site Council, PTA and Local School Advisory Committee. Parents support schoolwide activities, publication of the school\'s monthly newsletter, field trips and classroom volunteering.
- Focus on family activities such as back-to-school picnic, fall carnival, PTA craft nights, book fairs and Burgerville Nights.
- Vestal\'s Family Learning Center provides a room for young children to productively play while parents volunteer or meet with teachers or other parents.
- Monthly Breakfast bunch meetings bring staff, guest speakers and parents together to talk about a range of topics supporting student academic and social growth.
Special programs and features
- The AVID program supports students in learning the skills necessary to become among the first in their family to attend college.
- Free backpack with school supplies given to each student on the first day of school by Unitus Community Credit Union and Schoolhouse Supplies.
- Free breakfast for all students. Free or reduced-price lunch available to each qualifying student.
- Kaiser Permanente offers free health care insurance for qualifying Vestal students and siblings.
- Vestal is a schoolwide Title I school. Federal funds support raising student achievement levels in literacy and math, family involvement and continuous improvement of professional staff.
- Multnomah County Library Books 2U Program provides book talks and encourages children to do more recreational reading. Library also sponsors evening performance for the community.
- Vestal\'s Computer Lab supports student research, reading fluency, state assessments and professional development.
- Student recognition assemblies three times during the year encourage academic achievement and good character. Honor Roll to encourage high performance among our older students.
- SMART program, OASIS, Books 2U, Title 1, ESL, Counselor, Library, Music, Spanish and TAG programs.
- Vestal has free after school music classes for students in grades 4-8 presented by ETHOS and funded through the City of Portland\'s Children\'s Investment Fund. Annual Talent Show, student performances, Winter Music Program, ballroom dance residency for grade 6-8 and assemblies.
- Annual Field Day conducted by Vestal\'s physical education teacher. Students are encouraged to participate in Young Audiences\' Run for the Arts.
Statistics and test scores
- Enrollment statistics
Updated in the late fall of each year - Report cards and AYP Scores
Oregon Department of Education school report cards - School Enrollment and Program Data
- Standardized test scores
Course syllabus
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