SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) Community Schools

“Opening Doors for Everyone Under the Sun”
From the London Times Educational Supplement:

After-school culture club

“The last bell signals the end of lessons at Woodmere elementary school in the city of Portland. But, for about a fifth of those attending this Oregon state primary, school’s far from over.

“Woodmere is taking part in Portland’s Schools United Neighborhoods (SUN) scheme which has turned 46 schools across the West Coast city into community hubs.”

What SUN Is

The Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) Initiative brings together city, county and state resources with school districts, parents and neighborhoods. SUN Community Schools are dedicated to improving the lives of children, families and the community by:

• Increasing student achievement and healthy development.
• Promoting family and community involvement.
• Including neighborhood residents in the development of educational, recreational, and social and health services.
• Transforming local schools into community learning centers.

“Parents feel like they have a place in the school and that something positive is happening here.”
— Stephen Grant, SUN Co-manager

What SUN Offers

SUN Community Schools support kids, families and communities by addressing the needs and strengths of each individual community. Services provided at SUN Community Schools include:

• A safe, nurturing place for students before and after school.
• Homework help and tutoring.
• Connection for youth and caring adults.
• Recreation and enrichment opportunities for youth and adults (such as art, sports and cultural events).
• Access to healthcare, mental health and social services.
• Family activities, parent support, and education for all community members.

SUN Community Schools Help Kids Succeed

Each year, our SUN Community Schools help thousands of kids and their families by:

• Increasing the number of students meeting benchmarks.
• Improving attendance and behavior.
• Helping kids feel more positive about themselves, their future and their schools.
• Strengthening families and involving them in their children’s education.

“SUN makes me want to come to school - I feel comfortable there now.”
— Javier Cruz, Student

Get Involved

• Call your local SUN Community School and learn about programs and activities available to you and your children.
• Visit the SUN website at www.sunschools.org.
• Read our newsletter and check the community calendar of events.
• Be a tutor or mentor.
• Be a group leader.
• Volunteer at an event.
• Take part in community events and activities.
• Lend your voice to organizing and planning around issues that affect you and your family.

“It’s very important that our children have a good education. With SUN here in the school they get the extra help they need.”
— Angelica Juarez, Parent

The Schools We Serve

We serve the following schools in NE & SE Portland and Beaverton:

Barnes Elementary
Buckman Elementary
Harvey Scott
Harrison Park (formerly Clark@Binnsmead K-8)
Kelly
Marysville
Whitman
Woodmere
Marshall Campus
Marysville

To learn more about SUN Community Schools, please contact the school you are interested in and ask for the SUN Site Coordinator. For more general information, you can contact:

Greg Belisle, SUN Community Schools Program Manager
(503) 988-5961
GBelisle@ImpactNW.org

Office of School & Community Partnership
421 SW Sixth Ave, Suite 200
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 988-4222
Fax: (503) 988-3710
E-mail: sunschools@co.multnomah.or.us
www.sunschools.org