Meriwether Lewis Elementary has a very supportive parent and local community and we take advantage of several partnerships that enrich and enliven the work of our students and teachers.
Reed College: Biology Outreach
The focus of the outreach progam is to develop an inquiry-based science curriculum with Reed biology faculty and place Reed students into the local public schools. The program currently serves children in third through sixth grade classrooms, exposing these young students to hands-on science. The program also introduces Reed students to science teaching, and creates ongoing partnerships between Reed College and Portland public schools while providing Portland public school teachers with skills to last a lifetime.
Portland State University FEED Program:
This program provides support for gardening and lessons that take place in the Lewis Outdoor Center. The Outdoor Center is an area on the west side of the building that includes and outdoor classroom structure, garden beds, a greenhouse and beds of native plants. Students from Portland State University support this work by working closely with classroom teachers to plan and implement students experiences in this space.
JEAN's Farm
A collaborative educational farm for PPS and PSU students and the local community. To learn more please follow this link...
SMART - Start Making a Reader Today:
Our SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) Program provides adult volunteers to read one-on-one every week with two K-3 children for a half hour each. Along with the OASIS volunteer program SMART provides us with caring adults who help to instill a love of reading and literacy in our students. Our SMART Program is lead by Darby Walker. If you are interested in volunteering with the program please contact Darby in Room 3.
OASIS -
The OASIS program is a professionally developed mentoring program designed for older adults to help young children to become successful readers. OASIS volunteers work in our primary classrooms.
Safe Routes to School:
This partnership with the City of Portland's Office of Transportation, encourages safe walking and and bike riding. The program includes pedestrian and occupant safety classes for students and parents and also helped fund traffic calming improvements around the school including speed bumps on Glenwood and Evergreen avenues.
Bicycle Transportation Alliance:
The BTA provides bicycle safety classes for our older students and sponsors an after school bike club that teaches and encourages safe riding for fun and wellness.
Reedwood Friends Church:
Each year in August members of the Reedwood Friends Church volunteer their time to help clean up our school grounds in anticipation of the new school year. We are very thankful for their help and support.
