November PTSA Meeting
Tuesday, November 2, 2021 @ 6:30PM on Zoom. 

We'll be talking community safety, upcoming events, and how we can support each other, our teachers, and students. The agenda is here. ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN! You do not need to be a member of the PTSA to attend.
 
Bottle Drop
MLC Green Team is distributing special blue bags for you to fill with bottles and cans and return to a Bottle Drop location. All funds raised are deposited right to MLC PTSA's BottleDrop Give Account. Your donations of bottles and cans will help MLC's kids and teachers thrive. Get your blue bag today and THANK YOU!

MLC Craft Faire
This annual event allows students to buy and sell handmade crafts. We've set the date for December 16, 2021 from 3:30-5PM at MLC. Community member crafters are welcome too; the table fee is $20. Student and community member sign up is available here.
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Student Art Opportunities:
Yearbook Cover: See more details on the flyers at school. Deadline: November 12, 2021 Please submit entries to Melanie or place in her cubby in the MLC office.

Solstice t-Shirt Art: Winner has their art reprinted on t-shirts and receives a $25 gift card to Blick Art! For more information, check out our flyer.

December Juried Art Show: More information TBA! 
(Art by Georgia)
 MLC Holiday Meal Fund
Please contribute to our annual holiday meal fund drive. Your donation will allow MLC families to purchase food and other necessities during the holiday season. Donate here.

If you need assistance or would like to request a grocery card for your family, please contact MLC's school social worker, Clement.

​Green Team WANTS YOU to be a recycling hero for MLC! BottleDrop turns your redeemable bottles and cans into cash for MLC PTSA. Need a bag or two? Find one at an MLC family porch pickup site near you as well as flyers with detailed instructions:
8802 N Burrage Avenue
2147 NW Irving Street
1249 SW Cheltenham Street (inside CrossFit Hillsdale gym)
2207 NE 9th Avenue
14105 SE Laurie Avenue, Milwaukie
Or find me on Mondays at school at pickup time!
Together we can turn trash into treasure!! Thank you!!

Dear MLC Community,
​
I hope that you've had a restful and wholly un-eventful holiday break. Hopefully you had a chance to view the annual Solstice celebration that so many MLC students and staff contributed to virtually.

f you've been around a while, you might remember the song "Winter" that the whole school sings at Solstice and is featured at the beginning of the video. (Here's (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy7Wt7OgQ8s) the original by John Krumm.)

I've been humming this tune to myself as a reminder that for right now, we're dancing around the fire until spring time comes again.

What's coming up in January at MLC!

2020-21 MLC School Directories are here! Purchase a hard copy for $5 and help to support our school. (http://www.mlcptsa.org/store/p67/MLC_2021-21_School_Directory.html) All MLC families that opted-in will receive a PDF version in a separate email.

PTSA Meeting: Tuesday, January 6, 2021 at 6:30 PM via Zoom here (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85047396916)

MLC ARC (Anti Racist Community) Meeting: January 14, 2021 at 7:00 PM via Zoom here (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88169348248?pwd=M1dmU0FoUkVsMURmVnlqNUNLeVlDdz09) . Passcode: 160904 MLC ARC believes that “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This group for parents and community members meets monthly.

ORCA, the Oregon Reader's Choice Awards books are available as e-books through the MLC library (https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/55744) . Get a jump on reading the nominees and the chance of winning a prize from Tim and Tini!

SAVE THE DATE: March 8-21, 2021 MLC's first at-home book fair benefits our library. Shop for yourself, your teachers, or books for MLC's library.

Can't wait to see you all IRL,
Alisa MLC's PTSA President

MLC will soon be the recipient of a new bike shelter on the blacktop, courtesy of Nicholas Woolridge, a high school student at Riverdale High School. Nicholas is building the shelter for his Eagle Scout project and along with Mark, the PTSA is super excited to support this addition to our school. The cost will be approximately $1,600 with $1,200 coming from the PTSA and $400 from Nicholas's fundraising. For a detailed cost estimate, please see this document.  For more information about PPS bike shelter design and construction requirements, please click here.  We'll be voting on the PTSA's contribution to this project at our December, 2020 meeting. THANK YOU, Nicholas! 

This year, we'll need community more than ever. Join MLC's PTSA meetings virtually on the First Tuesday @ 6:30 PM every month until we're able to be together again in the building: 
Sep 1, 2020 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Oct 6, 2020 06:30 PM
Nov 3, 2020 06:30 PM
 Dec 1, 2020 06:30 PM
Jan 5, 2021 06:30 PM
Feb 2, 2021 06:30 PM
March 2, 2021 06:30 PM
April 6, 2021 06:30 PM
May 4, 2021 06:30 PM
June 1, 2021 06:30 PM

This Zoom link will remain the same all year:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85047396916
Meeting ID: 850 4739 6916

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZEtc-6rpz0jG9KXH8SE9dj2qfW_Yzk9gyt_/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGtrj8tGd2TuRiBRpwMAo-gKOnxmCFEjfp2pDe9MAUKZgmkJ-R1DYtlG4HX

Dear MLC Community:


I've been hearing from many MLC parents looking for answers--any answers--about what will happen in September. 

Today, Gov. Brown announced that more guidance would be coming from the State Board of Education but here's the hard truth: No solution put forth by the district will be sufficient to address all of the variables and pressing concerns in the current situation we're ALL in--students, teachers, staff, parents, and community. 

So, what can we do? Collaborate. Here are some ideas that I've heard from MLC parents:

1. Form learning pods. These can be formal or informal student groups that meet outdoors regularly (with safety precautions, of course) for excursions, hikes, or to study together. These could also be virtual-only as well. Parents should be prepared to facilitate learning and activities. Get creative! Mixed-ages wanted--high school and middle schoolers who are looking for leadership opportunities are welcome. If you're interested in forming pods with MLC families, you can share your details here. Be aware of the inequity that this type of learning environment can, and will, exacerbate. Reach out to others in our community and remember that a rising tide lifts all boats.

2. If you know that your student will be learning virtually ONLY, email Mark to notify him. It's important that he knows what families intend in the fall. Questions about enrollment, training, educational supports, technology, and other details should be addressed to him. 

3. If you are interested in pursuing the all-outdoor model that has been suggested for MLC, let PPS know that you support this for MLC and other PPS schools. Read, sign, and send this letter. 

4. Volunteer to be a buddy to incoming MLC families, especially new kindergarteners, sixth graders, and high schoolers. This will be especially important in keeping up community if there is no in-person school in fall. Let us know here if you're interested. :) 

5. Help prepare project boxes for Kx3. This idea comes from Sierra, a parent and educator who envisions delivery of "materials each week for children to anchor to." How excited will kids be to receive a box of activities and projects each week! Contact Sierra to get involved.  

6. Take a look at the PTSA budget. How can we maximize this budget to have an equitable, safe, robust, and meaningful school year for all of our students and staff?

 AND FINALLY If you need Fred Meyer gift cards for your family, please reach out to our counselors, Jeanette or Genie. The PTSA is here for the benefit of all of our students!

I miss seeing all of you, I can't wait until we're back together again. 

--Alisa