Auction Update - 2/14/20
Auction will be held on Sat, March 14th at 6:00 in Goodman Hall, Congregation Beth Israel (Address is 1972 NW Flanders St.). 

• The event will be catered by Pinay PDX Catering, owned by MLC Family Melissa & Steven Sanchez. 
  
• The last day to donate an item/gift card/service will be Friday, Feb 28th (online donation form found here). This allows us time to build packages, create description signage, etc. 
  
• The auction team will be selling tickets (sliding scale from $5-$50) in the main entry hallway once a week. Days & times will change depending on team members’ availability.  You can also purchase your tickets online here. 
  
• We still have lots of volunteer slots open during the event. If you’d like to help, sign-up for a volunteer slot here. Note: bartenders DO NOT need a valid food handlers license.  
  
• Contact the Auction Team at mlcauctioncommittee@gmail.com with any questions.  
  

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Join the effort to determine the fate of MLC's pool. Should it be revived? Should it be repurposed? And whatever happens, how much will it cost? The PTSA's Pool Ponderings committee is gathering historic data, district reports and inspections with the goal of establishing options to the community. Student input will also be a component of this research. (More on that soon!) View, contribute, and comment on documents in the Google Drive here. Email PTSA President Alisa for more information about how to get involved and add your voice to the discussion!

The first issue of the MLC newspaper, the Hallway is out! You can get a printed copy in the MLC office or **save a tree** and read the PDF version here. 

 Greetings, MLC Community!
 
Hopefully your holiday break was filled with family and relaxation after a whirlwind December at MLC. So much joy and generosity takes over our school during this time of year with our Giving Tree, the opening of our Clothing Center and Food Pantry, and the beautiful staff gifts (thank you Lauren and Co.!). The hope for renewal and peace is exemplified by Solstice—an MLC tradition since 1983—and this year’s wonderful performances highlighted what makes MLC special. Thank you to Julie, Anna, and Susan for taking the lead on this year’s festival of light. Also thank you to high schoolers Kale and Miranda for the Solstice graphic novel. Gorgeous!!
 
What's coming up in January?:
 
* The 2020 MLC calendar is on sale NOW! Only $10 and featuring student art, photos, and birthdays, the proceeds go towards field trip scholarships.
 
* School directories will be distributed the first week of school. The PTSA puts together and pays to print enough copies for every family who did notopt out. 
 
* January Dinner and Meeting: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 6-7:30 PM Join us in the MLC library for Escape from New York pizza, free childcare and a chance to find out what’s happening at MLC and how you can get involved.
 
Get your tickets now!
* Auction! Hang out in the MLC Rumpus Room, Saturday, March 14, 2020 at Beth Israel, 5:30-9:30 PM Tickets are on a sliding scale from $5-50 and include dinner, games, dancing and more. This is a 21+ event, childcare will be available.
We are still accepting silent auction donations and need parent help to create classroom art projects. Please email auction coordinator Jenn Halvorson at mlcauctioncommittee@gmail.com to add your creativity to our largest fundraiser of the year.
 
With the arrival of this new decade, we hope that you reflect on why you chose MLC and how you can contribute to your student's and MLC's continued success.  
 
Cheers to 2020!
The MLC PTSA Board
Alisa, John, Joelle, Rick and Jenn

Jump in! We realize it might be a little intimidating, but getting involved with your student's school is the best way to contribute to their success. Start with our January dinner on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 6:00-7:30 PM. We'll have delicious Escape from New York pizza, free childcare, and lots of information about upcoming events and opportunities at MLC. Dive in! : Alisa

Our 2020 auction, “Hang Out in the Rumpus Room” will be held on March 14 in Goodman Hall, Congregation Beth Israel. Join us for a night of nostalgic fun with retro video games, 80s & 90s music videos & cartoons on the big screen, foosball & other games, live & silent auction, raffles, and all capped off with an 80s/90s video dance party. Tickets are on sale now! We are offering them at a sliding scale from $5 – 50. 

We are also offering a limited, special sponsorship level for MLC families and alumni! You will receive two tickets to the 2020 auction, an MLC "Swag Bag" with fun MLC items, and your name on our website, our auction Facebook page, and in the event program. There are only 24 available, so snap up your tax-deductible sponsor package today! 

Thanks for being such an amazing, generous community!
The 2020 Auction Team

I have to tell you an amazing thing that happened today at MLC: Joelle and I were in the Clothing Center & Food Pantry and a high school student came down and asked if it was true that there was free food. He said that he didn't have money for lunch that day. We helped him put together a lunch from our pantry and he also grabbed some peanut butter to take home. He was thankful and not hungry today.

As I've talked to parents at MLC about the CCFP, many--if not all--are surprised that we have students with food insecurity, hunger, and even students experiencing homelessness. After speaking to our counselors, Jeanette and Genie, I learned that the problem of hunger in our school is widespread, especially in the high school. I learned that teachers are purchasing food with their own funds to stock their classrooms with snacks and meals for hungry students.

Here's my philosophy: to the extent that we can help families in our community, we can and should. 

The PTSA could not have launched the CCFP without the help of so many generous families that have donated time, clothing, food, and money to kickstart this program. I'm thankful to my co-pilot, Joelle Graff who listens to my crazy ideas and responds, "When do we start?" I am in awe of Cel Jarvis, fearlessly scaling ladders to paint and transform a formerly drab and lonely book room into a cozy space.  Also, my high school interns: Noah, Dani, and Chase who come armed with great ideas and enthusiasm, thank you! 

Of course the fearless MLC staff has been overwhelmingly supportive, in particular I want to give a shout out to: Bill, Margarita, Susan, Liz, Brian, and Mark. Thanks for saying YES! 

We build community by sharing what we can and looking around for ways that we can be helpful. I hope to see you all on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 from 8:30-9:30 AM for our grand opening.  xx, Alisa