Hello!

The PTSA has two openings on its board: President (can be co-Presidents) and Vice President. Each position is a two-year term starting July 1, 2022. Attached is a very general description of each role. For more details, you can take a look at this document that maps out all that the PTSA does as a board and volunteer community over the course of the year. 

Over the past four years as PTSA president, I've had the pleasure of working with this diverse community including fellow MLC parents who became dear friends, MLC teachers who inspire me, MLC students who make me laugh. Has it been easy? No. But is anything worthwhile easy?

Here's where I'm going to get real with you: When you chose MLC for your child, you made the choice to join a community. Our community thrives because a lot of people care deeply about MLC and its students. Don't fall into the trap of believing that someone else will step up or some other parent will do the hard stuff that makes MLC so magical for your student. 

The PTSA is holding a special election meeting on Tuesday, June 7 at 6:30PM via Zoom. If you are ready to throw your hat into the ring, please email me beforehand so that I can officially nominate you at the meeting on June 7. 

THANK YOU! 
Alisa 

--
Alisa Welch
MLC PTSA President
Metropolitan Learning Center

So excited to have a planting plan for Avril's Butterfly garden. Thanks to parent Laura Hartzell, we've got an excellent plan to attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial creatures by utilizing native plants and shrubs. Please use this plan when purchasing plants at any Portland-area nursery. 

Hello, MLC Community,

I'm excited to share some of the activities and events that the PTSA has planned for the spring and summer.

For starters, The MLC Backyard Concert Series has SIX shows in May and June. There's something for everyone: a kid dance party, comedy night, folk music and more! Tickets for all shows will go on sale on April 7, 2022 at MLCPTSA.org We are looking for catering, beer and wine donations. If you would like to donate food and/or drink, please email Amy Ouellette. 

If live music isn't your thing, consider making a financial contribution. We are hoping to raise $25K for the 2022-23 school year to help pay for field trips, electives, experiential project-based learning... all of the stuff makes MLC magical.

ALSO We're establishing a monthly MLC + Couch Park cleanup starting Sunday, March 6, 2022 from 10AM-noon. Kids are welcome! Please bring gardening tools, gloves, and lawn & garbage bags. We will meet on the first Sunday of every month through summer, 2022. 

AND FINALLY, our Spring Used Book Sale needs parent coordinators. Email me if you're interested.  

For more details about all of this, please join us for our March PTSA meeting on Zoom, next Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 6:30 PM. We'll start having our PTSA meetings in person at MLC as restrictions lighten up for using PPS buildings. 
 
-Alisa Welch
MLC PTSA President

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