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 

Dear MLC Community:

How are you doing? The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster of questions, confusion and heartbreak for so many people. Field trips, events, projects and storylines that MLC's students, teachers, and PTSA have worked so hard on have been canceled or are in limbo. Now as we're all looking towards a month of at-home schooling, it seems impossible to maintain momentum, let alone community.

And yet...I suspect MLC will come out of this stronger and more creative than ever. I've gained even MORE respect for our teachers and staff as they adapt an experiential alternative school into a temporary virtual school.

How can you and the PTSA support MLC families?:
Because so many field trips were canceled this year and scholarships are not needed, a large portion of the PTSA budget can be redirected to needs of our students and families during this time. In order to present this idea to our membership and make these funds available immediately, we've moved our April meeting to Zoom, an online platform.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR VIRTUAL APRIL PTSA MEETING
SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2020 AT 10AM
www.zoom.us
Meeting ID: 572 026 262
(No password needed)

How can the PTSA help you?:
If your student and your family need Fred Meyer gift cards to get through this challenging time, please email MLC's school counselors: Genie Gomez at vgomez1@pps.net or Jeanette Scantling, jscantling@pps.net. We are still working on the logistics of how the cards will be mailed out to folks requesting them, but confidentiality will be honored.
Also, feel free to email me with any questions or ideas how we can support each other. I've heard from so many MLC folks who just want to DO SOMETHING. So if you are in need of groceries, or a pair of rain boots for your kiddo but can't afford them right now, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! This is my email: mlcptsapresident@gmail.com

There's a school community here for you. See you IRL soon!

-Alisa
& The PTSA Board, John, Joelle, & Rick