Host Families, Chinook Books, Auction, Scrip
Welcome back to the new school year!
Urgent Need for Host Families!
We are in a very critical situation, since we still don’t have enough host families for our interns. We are asking for your immediate commitment and would like all host families lined up by the end of this week.
To host an intern, there are two primary requirements. They are:
1. You live within a 45 minute bus ride of one of the three schools (Richmond, Mt. Tabor, or Grant)
2. You have a separate bedroom for the intern. Bathrooms may be shared.
Please email Yoko Niki-Breyfogle at ynbreyfogle[at]gmail.com if you are interested!
Chinook Books/Apps for Sale
Come and get your Chinook Book or App! Find us outside before school in the front, weather permitting. If we are not there, we will be next to Rich Coffee in breezeway. $25 for book. $15 mobile app. Why do we sell Chinook Books? Each year Oya No Kai grants funds to the Cultural Exchanges to Japan, supports the interns, and provides many more programs vital to the success of the JDLI. Questions – email Courtney at Courtney.knudson[at]oyanokai.org
Oya No Kai Auction Needs YOU!
The annual ONK auction, which helps support classroom interns and the cultural exchange trips to Japan, will be on Saturday, February 29. In order to ensure this fundraiser is successful, we need volunteers in the following areas:
1. Procurement: help send out requests to businesses to solicit items/services for our silent auction (a team of 4-5 people would be ideal).
2. Auction Art Project Lead: Manage and support the auction art projects. You do not need to help with the actual making of art, just managing it. Last year, the artworks raised more than $10K.
If you are interested in helping in either of these areas or have any questions, please email Yumi at yumi.wong[at]oyanokai.org. Thank you!
Scrip Volunteers Needed!
An easy and fun way to provide valuable support to the JDLI program’s interns and cultural exchanges is by volunteering to sell scrip one morning in the Richmond breezeway each week or month. What is scrip? Scrip is selling gift cards at face value that Oya No Kai is able to purchase at a discount from stores like Target, New Seasons, Freddie’s, Starbucks, etc. Families buy gift cards for the stores where they already shop, and Oya No Kai raises funds for the JDLI program. It’s a win-win! Questions – email Victoria at scrip[at]oyanokai.org.
Update on Travel Policy
JDLI Community,
Here’s a quick update on the PPS field trip policy revisions and the evolving situation. Many of you saw the WW article that came out this week. We’ve reached out directly to the journalist to formally call out the misinformation, lack of context and over-sensationalized coverage.
However, besides the misleading facts about our program, the article also completely mis-conveyed the status of the current discussion at the committee level. ONK’s singular focus has been continuing our engagement with the PPS board and superintendent to maintain our core programming and assist the district in creating a policy that ensures the safety of students while at the same time, grows comparable experiential learning opportunities (both DLI and non-DLI), particularly in middle school and 8th grade. It was confirmed this morning at the PPS Committee of Policy and Governance that the ONK endorsed revised policy we sent to the JDLI community last week will move forward to first reading at the 2/26 PPS board meeting. Please find the latest revision here.
After first reading of the revised policy, there will be a 21 day comment period. If no substantive changes, it will move forward to a 2nd reading and a vote. ONK will continue to voice our support of the district’s efforts to provide focused educational opportunities for all students by creating capstone (or experiential learning) programs across all middle school curriculum as the best path to closing the opportunity gap and achieving equity.
Stay tuned for updates. https://oyanokai.org/advocacy/
Update: Travel Policy Revisions
Yesterday, we received a revised foreign travel policy proposal from Julia Brim-Edwards, the PPS Board member who chairs the Policy & Governance committee. Please take a few minuted to read it.
More info about the travel policy revisions can be found on our Advocacy Page.
PPS Travel Policy Meetings
Please join us for one of the informational meetings listed below to to discuss PPS’ proposed policy changes on travel programs which could affect 5th, 8th, and 10th grade cultural exchanges. ONK board members will be available to answer questions about these proposed changes.
Wednesday 2/6
6:15 pm
Richmond Cafeteria
Thursday 2/7
5 pm
Mount Tabor Cafeteria
ONK Auction – February 23, 2019
The Oya No Kai Auction will be held Saturday, February 23rd at Leftbank Annex. There will be silent auctions, live auctions, raffles, live music and much more. The Auction is our most important fundraiser of the year to support having Japanese speaking interns in our classrooms, lower the cost of our cultural exchanges to Japan, provide trip scholarships, and welcome our sister schools from Japan. Just one example . . . auction proceeds have allowed us to provide more than $125,000 in scholarship support to families in need over the past five years!
Early Bird Tickets on Sale Now. Save $10 per ticket when you order today! https://onk.tofinoauctions.com/auction2019/homepages/show
We Need Your Donations! Donations of Sports/Entertainment tickets; Art; Restaurants; Services; Massage/Accupuncture; Getaways/Vacation Homes; Technology; Wine; Unique Experiences; or Sign-up Parties. Nothing is too big or small! Contact us for other arrangements or questions – auction-procurement@oyanokai.org. Deadline is February 2nd.
Merchandise on Sale Now. Auction tees, hoodies, hats, and bags are available for purchase every Tuesday and Thursday morning in the breezeway through the auction.
Need More Info? For more information or to volunteer to help with the auction, just contact auction@oyanokai.org.
5th Grade Parents – Mandatory Meetings
5th Grade Parents: If your child is planning to go on the trip to Japan in June, we have two mandatory meetings coming up in October so please mark your calendars now (and spread the news).
Oct. 2, 6:30-8p: PARENTS only.
There will be a short meeting after the mandatory meeting for those interested in chaperoning.
Oct. 16, 6:30-8p: ONE parent & child.
Please bring TWO COLOR COPIES of both your passport and your child’s passport to the Oct. 16th meeting.
Both meetings are in Richmond’s Cafeteria.
Any questions? Contact Saori Clark at saoriclark[at]gmail.com or Alison Walcott at onkculturalexchange[at]gmail.com. Thank you!
