Holiday Giving at Serendipity this year was truly magical!

There were many opportunities to give to students and families in need. Our community partners came through with support in a big way. Some chose to donate to our clothing closet by providing new warm coats and winter weather clothing. Some chose to donate to our food pantry with gift cards and monetary donations, which provide families in need nutritional food or utility assistance over the extended holiday school closure. Others chose to participate in our annual “Adopt a Class” holiday celebration which embodies our belief that every child should experience joy in each day. We were very touched at the heartfelt giving and support this year, which has already brought joy to our children and relief to some of our families this season.

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Serendipity Launches Believe In Me Stories

Introducing Serendipity’s Believe In Me Stories …

As Belinda Marier, Executive Director of Serendipity states, “Believe In Me” reflects the heart of who we are as a therapeutic school. Serendipity believes in every child’s ability to heal, grow and become responsible community members. Our new video series, Believe In Me Stories, shares what makes Serendipity a special and critically needed school. The stories reveal that when we believe in students, when they are supported in the right environment, amazing things are possible.

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Over $147,000 Raised to Support Serendipity Students and Therapeutic Education

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Pearls of Hope is Next Week!

Pearls of Hope is next Thursday! Serendipity is excited to invite all of our friends, community leaders, and generous donors for an elegant and joyous night of fun and community building. Please join us Thursday, April 27th at Sentinel Hotel in downtown Portland to support the students of Serendipity and celebrate our innovative therapeutic education program.

All net proceeds raised by the event are channeled toward making a difference in the lives of our students and community. This year our goal is to raise $150,000. Please help us reach our goal! We hope to see you there. Click the link below to purchase your tickets.

Serendipity Center Chess Club

In the fall of 2016 Serendipity Center started it’s first chess club! By partnering with the Chess for Success program Serendipity gained access to a tremendous intervention and educational support resource provided at no cost to families. We have had new players of all ages learning the game together in the morning and afternoon sessions and for many students it has been an awesome breakfast activity to start the day! Read more

Thank You and Happy Holidays from Serendipity Center!

Serendipity Center would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all of the individuals, businesses, and friends who helped spread joy and cheer to all of our students and families this holiday season. Thank you to our invaluable community partners who supported our students and families by providing food assistance over the holiday break and classroom gifts of games and skill building activities. This long list includes the employees of Brown & Brown NW, the patrons of Glendoveer Golf Course, Central East Portland Rotary, St. Joseph the Worker’s Peace and Justice Committee, and the many, many, individuals and groups of people who adopted Serendipity classrooms this year.

Serendipity’s mission to provide students with the best environment to heal and become educated, productive community members is made possible by our committed community partners. Thank you for your confidence and continued support. We couldn’t do this without you.

From Serendipity Center’s staff, students and board of directors, we wish you a very happy holiday season and a happy new year!

Support Serendipity Center on #GivingTuesday

Now that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over, it’s time to focus on making a difference in the lives of the children who need your support. This year Serendipity Center is excited to participating in #GivingTuesday a celebration of non-profits we love. This year, your #GivingTuesday gift to Serendipity Center will ensure that the children of Serendipity continue to receive the critical care necessary to fulfill their potential. But we can’t do it without your help.

Here are some things you can do to support Serendipity Center:
1.) Make a donation online today
2.) Link Serendipity Center to your Fred Meyer rewards card
3.) Name Serendipity Center your non-profit on Amazon Smile

Thank you for your continued support and belief in Serendipity’s mission to provide students with the best environment to heal and become educated, productive community members.

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Fall Harvest Festival and Halloween Dance

This afternoon Serendipity Center hosted it’s annual harvest festival and Halloween dance! The day was filled with fun activities. Students were able to make fresh apple cider by hand in the Growing Minds Garden with Nicolas and upper school volunteers using an apple press. More than 1/3 of the apples used for the cider were grown in our garden! Lower school teacher’s Teri and Sheila painted faces in the greenhouse, check out their awesome spooky designs. And of course, students and staff cut a rug to classics like “Monster Mash” for our upper and lower school dances.

Thank you to our student council members and Case Managers Sara and Josh for setting up the awesome decorations for the dance and organizing this awesome tradition.

Farm to Table Cooking Club

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Students from Serendipity Center’s Farm to Table Cooking Club meet each Thursday and Friday to harvest veggies from the Growing Minds Garden and practice their cooking skills in the JFR Life Skills room. On Friday the Farm to Table Club prepared sauteed eggplant with miso sauce, sauteed shishito peppers, and sticky rice. Serendipity case-manager Chifumi Brown was a special guest chef at this week providing the club with her delicious homemade miso! Students and staff alike were blown away by this simple, yet delicious meal.

Serendipity is grateful for the support from all of our Growing Minds Garden stakeholders, including our Pearls of Hope and our corporate sponsors. We would also like to thank the Philoptochos Society of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral for their generous grant in support of our farm to table program.

ODE Wellness Award & Greenhouse Ribbon Cutting

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Serendipity Center is excited and proud to announce that we are the recipients of the Oregon School Wellness Award for 2016! As one of only 3 schools in the state of Oregon to receive this amazing accolade it is a testament to the strength and vision of our food services program led by Joey Ogo and Brian Thompsen, as well as the leadership of Nicolas Townsend and the growth of the Growing Minds Garden. Serendipity would like to thank the representatives of Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council, and the Nutrition Council of Oregon for visiting our campus and presenting the award in June – Specifically: Amy Gilroy, Heidi Dupuis, Joyce Dougherty, Suzanne Hidde, Kristin Hall, and Crista Hawkins. We would also like to thank our ex officio and current board members, staff, students, and families for joining us in our special celebration.

The presentation of the ODE School Wellness award coincided with another monumental achievement for our Growing Minds Garden program, the ribbon cutting and unveiling of our new greenhouse. The construction of our greenhouse was made possible by a generous grant from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Pudget Sound. Thanks to their contribution we will be able to provide our students with valuable instructional time during the more challenging winter months, and also provide our garden with more capacity to grow delicious fruits and veggies!