In order to grow attendance at our monthly meetings, we're gathering MLC PTSA member opinions regarding our meeting dates, times, and venues for the 2019-20 school year.

Here's our central question: Will more members attend PTSA meetings if they are not held in the evenings at MLC?
We're considering many options including:

-- Holding most PTSA meetings next year at a centrally-located community center in NE with childcare and a potluck.
-- Holding a few meetings at MLC while also utilizing community spaces in SE, St. Johns, and North Portland.
When we asked community members (PTSA members, parents, and MLC's Facebook group) about specifics, here's some of the feedback we received:

Other feedback included having meetings during school so that students could participate. I was thinking that we could have each class elect a representative and that student comes to a monthly meeting held at MLC so that we are truly hearing student voices. (Putting the "S" in PTSA!)

As we get closer to next school year's meeting schedule, we welcome your voice! Please email me at mlcptsapresident@gmail.com to share your thoughts!

THANKS!

Alisa

MLC Community: Please plan to attend the PTSA meeting on December 14, 2017 at 6pm in the library.  Portland Bureau of Transportation representative Scott Cohen (503-823-5345 or scott.cohen@portlandoregon.gov) will explain proposed changes to NW 20th and Glisan. It's important that the MLC Community attends and voices our collective desire to avoid any delays in the rebuilding of Couch Park. (More details about the project: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/75103)

Hello!  We had a another great week at MLC filled with going on field trips, reading, preparing for the book fair, and learning new skills through electives.  Don't forget that this week is a four-day school week and there is no school tomorrow for Friday 10/13.  On Sunday our 6th-graders will be meeting at MLC and they are heading to a full week of Outdoor School. I'll be here on Sunday to help load busses. I am hoping to go visit our 6th graders on Tuesday at their camps. 
Please fill out the volunteer and interest Survey.  It is so helpful to have this information.  The PTSA is hoping to cater to community interests for their information evenings, so please fill out the survey to let us know what you'd like to learn on those information nights.  The first PTSA information night is on Wednesday October 18th at 6:30pm. More information will be coming soon about the topics, but we plan on having a few sessions such as the history of the MLC neighborhood and school and information about the timeline for the recreation of the MLC symbol.
The Wild West Book Fair is coming to the MLC Library next week from October 16th to October 20th.  Thank you to Prairie Lily for helping to organize and lead this school-wide event!  Check out all the details and how to volunteer at http://www.scholastic.com/bf/mlcpdx. If you have questions, you can email her at telvld@comcast.net.  Can't make it to the book fair? Here is the link for buying a book gift card that your child can use at the book fair:  On-line book purchase link .The Book Fair raises money for the MLC Library to buy books and other supplies. Kiva, Tim and MLC students depend on this twice yearly fundraiser to keep the shelves stocked with current book titles.
We also have the MLC Pizza Night coming up on Thursday Oct. 26th 5:00-7:30pm.   The PTSA is proud to announce that the pizza is being served up hot, ON-SITE by MLC family owned, Via Chicago! http://viachicagopizza.com. Pizza will be served out on our blacktop and the main floor of the building will be open for socializing. All families are welcome.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Alexa

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Hello!  This week we had our first MLC All School Gathering of 2017-2018.  All of our students gathered in the auditorium and our fabulous 12th-grade students introduced our amazing kindergarten students to the MLC community.  In their introductions, each 12th-grade student shared a time when their kindergarten buddy had showed courage.  We have very courageous kindergarteners here at MLC. It was a wonderful way to begin our October!  
We also started our 1x8 elective program on Tuesday.  It has been going really well.  Students have been engaged and excited about these new learning opportunities.  Please note that the chain to the blacktop will be up until 2:50 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays due to students in electives using the blacktop. Thank you to all of the volunteers who have offered us their expertise and generosity with their time.
Tomorrow 10/6 I will be hosting a Principal Coffee/Tea (with treats) in the cafeteria from 8:45-9:15. This is an opportunity to meet informally and talk about what's happening at MLC and ask questions. I hope you can join me.    Also, if you are interested in being on our MLC Symbol Committee, please let me know.  I've already had some parent interest, and we are going to be developing a timeline.    
Next week we have the PSAT on Wednesday October 11th for all sophomores from 8:15-12:15. If you have a 10th-grader, make sure they get plenty of sleep the night before.  We will not have school on Friday October 13th because it is a statewide inservice day for all of Oregon.    
Have a great weekend (it's almost here)!   
Alexa  

Thank you for coming to our Back To School Night last week and the previous week.  It was wonderful to meet families and to come together as a community.  I realize not everyone was able to attend, so I've posted my presentation to our school website for families to check out. We will also be posting information about Talented and Gifted (TAG) on our website in case families were unable to attend the meetings. 
Although we had to cancel our all school picnic last week due to weather, we had a very successful ice cream social on Friday! Our cross-age buddies came together and shared a sweet treat to end our week.  The sun even came out for a bit:)  
This week we have a Shakespeare meeting for parents/guardians of 6th-12th grade students who are participating in the Fall Festival of Shakespeare.  The meeting is at 5:30pm in the MLC auditorium.  Students will walk back to MLC from their rehearsal, and meet their families at 5:30. For more information about Fall Festival of Shakespeare, you can check out their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ events/1876436259340952/? active_tab=discussion
Just a reminder that on Friday we have a K-12 early release where all students will be dismissed at 12:00.  
Have a great week!
Alexa and Margarita
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LES SCHWAB TEDDY BEAR TOSS
Portland Winterhawks vs. Everett
Sat, Dec 9, 2017 6:00 PM
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
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Bring a teddy bear and join other MLC families cheering on the Winterhawks on Saturday December 9th! Seats are on hold in section 74 with the discounted price of: Adults $24 Kids $20.

Make your purchase at: http://bit.ly/2x2Qk0l with promo code MLC.

This is not a fundraiser the PTSA has a number of fundraiser opportunities with the Winterhawks this is just a pump primer. The Teddy Bears that are tossed are donated to a local children's hospital.

Hello MLC families!  Unfortunately, due to the weather, we are canceling tomorrow's All School Picnic at Gabriel Park.  We are demonstrating our flexibility and adaptive nature by shifting to an All School Ice Cream Social on Friday from 10:30-11:45 before the K-8 early release.  We will have music and games on our blacktop area and we will be doing fun activities as a whole school.  
Please remember that MLC does not observe the PPS late starts, so school starts at its regular time tomorrow.  We will do our PPS half-day professional development on Friday 9/29, and the whole school K-12 will have an early release. 
Let me know if you have any questions,
Alexa
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  The first PTSA meeting of the 2017-18 school year is this Thursday, 9/7/2017 at 3:30pm  in the MLC Library.
  Childcare will be provided by KCLC. If your child is not already enrolled at KCLC for that Thursday afternoon you can RSVP on their behalf. This service is cost free for parents attending PTSA meetings. Please complete the form here to RSVP.
  This month's meeting will include elections for several of this year's board officers. We will also approve our budget for this school year. If you are unable to attend the proposed budget will be posted on the PTSA bulletin board outside the library on the morning of September 6th for public viewing. ​
​  Hope to see you all there! 

FROM OUR NEW PRINCIPAL, ALEXA PEARSON: Hello!  I hope many of you are savoring these last weeks of summer.  This week I had the opportunity to meet the new PPS superintendent, Guadalupe Guerrero, when he spoke to PPS administrators at our leadership meeting.  I was so impressed with his authenticity, his experience as an instructional leader, and his passion for social justice.  Both as a PPS administrator and as a longtime PPS parent, I am thrilled that he is our new superintendent.   
One of my core values as a leader is community, and it is my goal to foster a beloved community at MLC. With the recent events in Charlottesville and across our country, I have been doing a lot of reflection about my leadership.  For me, it begins with building positive relationships and community. In the spirit of community, we are going to participate in Community Care Day at MLC on Saturday August 26th from 9:00-12:00.  We would love for you to join us as we beautify our school and school grounds!  We will have water bottles, snacks, and lots of fun. If you are able to make it, please fill out this short survey, so we can plan accordingly.
Additionally, if you are interested in learning more about a Parents Talk Racial Equity group that I am hoping to start, please let me know.  
Happy solstice watching everyone!  I can't wait to meet all of you.
Alexa