Mission
Language and culture enrichment for children with Finnish heritage.
What is Finnish School
Portland Finnish School, also known as Portlandin Suomi Koulu, is a volunteer run language and culture school for children with Finnish heritage. Portland Finnish School is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
Fall Term Starts: Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Join our vibrant cultural community as we begin another wonderful school year! We offer engaging, age-appropriate classes tailored to different language levels and ages.
How Finnish School Works
Despite the name, Finnish School is not a replacement for your kid's regular school. Finnish School is more like an extra curricular activity for the whole family. Many parents enroll their kids in Finnish School to help their kids learn or maintain their Finnish language skills and build a bridge to the Finnish culture. Families stay enrolled year after year because of the strong support within the Finnish School community.
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Schedule
We meet every other Saturday in North Portland for a few hours. We have a fall and spring semester, with a summer break.
Enrollment Fee
Enrollment is per child, per semester (fall and spring). This fee helps cover materials and pay teachers. No fee for children 3 and under.
Adult Participation
Parents and guardians are expected to remain at Finnish School during school hours. Please join us in singing and eating lunch together.
For current schedule, enrollment fee, and location information, please contact us.
Designed for children learning Finnish as a second language.
Focuses on building vocabulary, basic conversation, and cultural appreciation in a fun and supportive environment.
Tailored for fluent or native Finnish-speaking children.
Focuses on expanding literacy, vocabulary, and deeper cultural engagement through reading, writing, and discussions.
Parent participation required.
Play, sing, and discover Finnish language and culture together through interactive activities, songs, and storytime.
Portland Finnish School is supported by various grants and donations. Check with your employer for non-profit donation matching and grants. If you wish to donate or volunteer please contact us for additional information.
Our primary fundraising event happens once a year at the Nordic Northwest Scan Fair. Additional funds are raised through candy sales during the school day, and online sales of on-demand shirt and tote bags with Finnish School inspired designs.
Scan Fair is a nordic Christmas market in Oregon bringing sights, sounds, tastes, and tradition. We sell Finnish baked goods as well as diverse Finnish products, including candy, home goods, and seasonal decorations.
Finnish candy and chocolates are sold at the Suomi Koulu Kioski (S-kioski) during Finnish School lunch. Supplies are restocked over summer with the most popular treats.
Proceeds from Cotton Bureau sales on designs created by DesignerGeeking for the Portland Finnish School are donated back to the school. More information available at pdxfinn.com
"I'm Finnish, but I'm not finished!"
A classic Finnish mom joke by Anja Kamppari, whenever she proudly explained what language we were speaking.