MLC Weekly News and Notes 2024-25

Hello, MLC Community!

A heartfelt thank you to Teacher Alberti and all the participants who made our Black History Month Assembly a remarkable celebration for everyone.

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the MLC Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) competition. Congratulations to all participants from the five teams that competed on Wednesday. We extend our best wishes to our 3x5 team, United Bookies, and our 6x8 team, Title Waves, as they advance to the regional tournaments. Special thanks to Molly and all of the coaches for your support!

Please remember to mark your calendars: Monday, March 3, is a no-student day.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!

Warmly,

Suezann & Darren

Monday March 3 No school for students!

Tuesday March 4

BSU lunch club in Alberti's room

Wednesday March 5

Thursday March 6

6x8 SAGA lunch club in Erewyn's room

Friday March 7

Puppet Show Kx5

Coming Soon:

3/11 Virtual Open House Kx5 Lottery 6:00-7:00 pm

3/12 Winter Electives End, PTSA Meeting

3/13 Choir Recital 6:00 pm, Tour with Benner

3/14 CTE Field Trip to Zoo 12:00-3:30 pm

3/17 Kx5 Camp Read-a-lot!

3/19 Spring Elective Sign Ups, Early Release @12:45!, HS Career Expo Trip 9-11:30 am

3/24-28 SPRING BREAK!

4/2 Spring Electives

4/3 Q3 Ends

4/4 No Students - Grading Day

4/7 No Students - Teacher Planning

4/9 PTSA Meeting

4/10 Tour with Benner

4/11 PTSA Auction 6:00-11:00 pm

4/15 -4/16 - NO kx5 STUDENTS/Conferences!

For 10th and 11th grade students taking either the PreACT or the SAT next Wednesday, March 5th please remember it will be held at Lincoln High School, and you need to report no later than 8:20am.

Here is more information about the PreACT and the SAT that I shared with students this week to make sure they knew what to expect.

It’s time (again) to sign-up to lead an elementary elective for our students in grades 1x5. Inviting our families into the building to lead small groups – while sharing their interests and expertise – is a vital part of making MLC a true community.

Please use this Google Form to Volunteer for Spring Electives and communicate your choices with our elective coordinator, Dana Lipson. It includes more details about the program and ideas if you aren’t quite sure what to teach.

GRADE LEVELS, TIMES, and DATES

Spring Term Electives begin the week of April 2nd and end on May 28th. (7 classes: April 2, 9, 16, 30; May 7, 14, 28; no class on Early Release days April 23 & May 21)

1x3: Wednesdays, 2:20 - 3:05 p.m. (45 minutes)

4x5: (This year, volunteers can opt for a single or double block elective. Folks can also lead a 1x3 AND a 4x5 elective!)

Period 1: Wednesdays, 1:30 - 2:15 p.m. (45 minutes)

Period 2: Wednesdays, 2:20 - 3:05 p.m. (45 minutes)

Not ready to teach on your own? Sign-up with a friend to co-teach or get your feet wet by working alongside an MLC staff member. Once you see how much fun it can be, we know you’ll be hooked and come back for more. Likewise, if you can make most of the 7 sessions work but not all of them, talk to Dana! She can find a substitute for a day or two that you must miss.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CHOICES by March 6th – though the sooner, the better.

Parent Request for Opting Out of Oregon Summative Assessments (ELA and Math)

If a form is submitted after a student has begun testing, the student will stop testing and the District Test Coordinator will work with ODE assessment staff to invalidate the test.

30-Day Notice and ELA/Math Opt-out Form (grades 3-8 & 11)

English | Español | Tiếng Việt | 中文 | Русский | Soomaali

Science Exemption Request Form (grades 5, 8 & 11)

English | Español | Tiếng Việt | 中文 | Русский | Soomaali

If you have questions about ELPA Summative testing, please talk with your school administrator.

Dear PPS community,

At Portland Public Schools, we respect every student's rights to a safe school experience, and we are concerned and alarmed by the increasingly divisive and often threatening rhetoric aimed at LGBTQ2SIA+ youth in our communities. We want to unequivocally affirm that Portland Public Schools remains steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for transgender and LGBTQ2SIA+ staff, students, and their families.

Transgender students bring unique talents, perspectives, and aspirations to their school communities. The Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive Administrative Directive reflects PPS’s promise to honor and respect these identities, including the right to use asserted names and pronouns, participate in GSA groups, and access restrooms and locker rooms aligned with their identities.

PPS partners with community organizations to equip educators with tools to create welcoming classrooms, address microaggressions, and advocate for LGBTQ2SIA+ students. Additionally, the district’s LGBTQ2SIA+ Supports team works closely with staff to ensure guidance is implemented with care and understanding.

Confidentiality is essential to ensuring transgender students' safety. In compliance with the Family Education Rights Protection Act (FERPA), PPS will redact personally identifiable information when responding to records requests. Additionally, staff must keep gender identity confidential unless explicit permission is granted by the student and/or caregivers. Sharing such information with other staff without a legitimate educational interest violates students' rights under FERPA.

PPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook outlines the district’s expectations for everyone to maintain a safe learning environment. The discipline matrix guides the school responses to transphobic behavior, including hate-based incident investigations and school exclusions. Any staff member who violates a student’s right to confidentiality or engages in transphobic behavior (e.g. refusing to use the correct name and pronouns) may be subject to disciplinary action. Caregivers and community members who engage in transphobic behavior will be reminded of our community expectation to treat everyone with dignity and respect, and the district reserves the right to trespass repeat violators from school property.

We are deeply grateful to our community — students, families, educators, and allies — for their continued dedication and support in making our schools safer, more inclusive, and affirming spaces for all.

Sincerely,

Dr. Renard Adams, Chief Accountability and Equity Officer

Dr. Bobby Cruz, Director, Office for Civil Rights

Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong, Superintendent

AdditionalResources:

ODE Guidance: Supporting Gender Expansive Students: Guidance for schools

PPS Transgender, Nonbinary, Gender Expansive Administrative Directive

PPS District Wide LGBTQ2SIA Supports

ImI. A Self-guided tool for LGBTQ+ teens, by LGBTQ+ teens and their allies to help explore identity and support mental health.

Trans Life Line. Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. Staffed 10a-6p

Youth Line has phone, text, email, and chat options YouthLine is a free teen-to-teen crisis support and help line that is staffed 4-10 p.m. by trained youth

National Healthcare Access, Relocation, and Emergency Fund Resources

MLC Community,

It is important to PPS that immigrant families feel safe and supported. Some families have expressed to me and other members of our staff that they are concerned about possible immigration actions under the new presidential administration.

I want to reassure you that our top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of all students and staff. We continue to work closely with PPS leadership and our community partners to uphold Oregon law prohibiting state and local law enforcement from arresting or detaining people based solely on immigration status. Additionally, Oregon law protects student educational records from use for immigration actions.

In times of uncertainty, it is always beneficial to be proactive and prepared, and it’s crucial that we have up-to-date contact information for you and your student. If you have not done so already, please complete the yearly student verification form to ensure we’re reaching you via the right information and in the right language.

I also wanted to provide the following resources:

• This FAQ and this webpage answer many questions about the steps Portland Public Schools will be taking to safeguard staff and students going forward.

• This page from the Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) includes a family resource hub and culturally specific information for families in the Portland area.

• The Immigrant Legal Resource Center Little Red Card is meant to help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations. The cards can be printed out in your preferred language and carried on your person.

• Know Your Rights for Families/Students (Oregon ACLU)

• Immigrant Rights Resources One Pager

• PPS’s Office for Civil Rights offers support addressing discrimination, harassment, and bias-related concerns.

Please contact me at skitchens1@pps.net if you have any questions or concerns. I am here for you and your students, and you have my word that, at MLC, we will always stand together to champion our diversity and support the most vulnerable among us.

Sincerely,

Suezann Kitchens

MLC Principal

Cell Phones are not allowed in MLC classrooms or anywhere else during class time. They will be locked in a safe zone during each class by the classroom teacher. We will be very vigilant in keeping our classrooms phone free at MLC in order to keep learning distraction free. Please make sure you are discussing with your student prior to the first day. We will have students and parent/guardian sign a no cell phone agreement at conferences for grades 6x12.

7x12 Cell Phone Policy

Kx6 Cell Phone Policy

HERE is the monthly resource newsletter from our social worker Clement. It is a great place to find school and community resources that could benefit you and your family. It includes announcements about relevant events and opportunities, basic needs support, mental health support, and much more.

Social Work Wish list

Staff Wish List

Parent Vue

School Pay - Set up your account today!

Attendance Line 503-916-3656

Dear MLC Families,

We are excited to invite you and your students to Lift Literacy, a district-wide reading campaign designed to make literacy fun, engaging, and accessible for every PPS student! From March 2nd through April 2nd, your child will have exciting opportunities to participate in The Golden Key Quest, Where is Dr. A? + The Bookmobile, and various school-based literacy celebrations!

Mark your Calendars - The Lift Literacy Kickoff Event!
🗓 Sunday, March 2nd

📍 OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science & Industry)

⏰ 11:00am – 1:00pm

💡 A day of books, storytelling, and family fun with special guests!

How Can Your Family Participate?

The Golden Key Quest [March 2nd - April 2nd]
Your child can win a FREE family-trip to OMSI on April 5th by finding a Golden Key hidden at one of our three Lift Literacy partner locations:

📍 Literary Arts – 925 SW Washington St., PDX

📍 Caldera Arts – 126 NE Alberta St., PDX
📍 Third-Eye Books – 2518 SE 33rd Ave., PDX

How it works:

1. Visit any of the three partner locations.

2. Search for a Golden Key Bookmark hidden in the space.

3. If your child finds a Golden Key, they scan the QR code on the back and register!

4. The first 120 students who register a key will receive a FREE trip to OMSI for a special literacy celebration on Saturday, April 5th!

🌐Visit our Literacy Website: www.pps.net/LiteracyKey

Where is Dr. A? + The Bookmobile

Superintendent Dr. Armstrong is bringing literacy to our schools! She will visit select PPS elementary schools with the Bookmobile, bringing free books, reading time with students, and a schoolwide literacy celebration! Each visit will include:

• A special read-aloud with Dr. Armstrong 📚

• A dance party 🎉

• FREE books via our traveling Bookmobile!

Stay tuned to learn more if our school campus is selected for a visit from Dr. Armstrong. I will share more details as soon as I am able.

P.S. We’ve created some flyers and graphics to help spread the word! Feel free to use and share them:

📌 Lift Literacy Campaign Overview
📌 OMSI Launch Event Flyer – March 2nd

Literacy at Our School!
We’re working hard to LIFT literacy in support of the district-wide campaign. We’re excited to brainstorm creative ways we might engage in literacy. For example, we may host or create the following:

• Read-a-thons 📖

• Family literacy nights ✨

• Book fairs & swaps 📚

• Bulletin board displays showcasing student reading achievements

This is a campaign to make reading exciting and engaging across the district. And a special opportunity for MLC to show how we’re lifting literacy everyday! We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

NAMI Basics is a free, peer-led educational course for parents and caregivers of youth up to age 21 experiencing mental health barriers and/or behavioral challenges.

Dates: April 2nd-May 7th, 2025

Schedule: Wednesdays, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM

Format: Online via Zoom

Registration Link: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/AP_afEeemZYXxX35W33CMA

Find more information about the class on our website: https://www.namimultnomah.org/basics

MPG (Multiple Pathways to Graduation) athletics will soon be transitioning from winter to spring sports. We'll offer a variety of spring sports that include: Esports, Soccer, Track & Field, and Flag Football. Stay tuned for more details!

Spring Soccer registration is now open. If you have any students interested, please contact me as soon as possible. We will provide the jerseys and all necessary equipment needed. Our goal is to form our own teams; If we're unable to, students will be placed on teams regardless. Most games will be held at Delta Park. Please connect with me if you have any questions or need more information.

SLIDES

Thanks,

--

Demarcus Richard

Student Success Progams Supervisor

Portland Public Schools

C: 971-425-5503

W: MPG Athletic Website

E: derichard@pps.net

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: Wicked

Friday, March 14 | Doors 5:00 | Movie 6:00-9:00pm

MLC Auditorium | FREE

Our first movie night was a wild success, and now it’s time to defy gravity! Join us on March 14 as Wicked flies onto the big screen. Bring a blanket or camping chair and enjoy a cozy evening of family fun and community connection.

This event is for the whole family—students should be accompanied by an adult. Watch the film or mingle with other MLC parents in the foyer. Pizza and concessions will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the High School Prom. Stay tuned for more details, including free ticket registration and food pre-orders to help us plan!

PARKING CREW: Sign up for an upcoming Timbers or Thorns match
The MLC PTSA hosts parking in our school lots for Timbers and Thorns weekend matches and we need volunteers to take money and direct people to spots. This is an easy and fun way to raise money for our school. Shifts are short and we will be there to teach you everything you need to know. Bring a friend or come make new ones!

See available dates and sign up for a shift HERE. And spread the word about our parking fundraiser to anyone you know who might want to park with us! Questions? Contact our coordinators, Nate or Chenney.

MLC ANNUAL AUCTION & SOCIAL: Ways you can support

The MLC PTSA is excited to host our annual auction & social, North Star: Party at Polaris!, on April 11 at Polaris Hall in North Portland. Read all about it at ourschool.support/MLC2025NorthStar and email Sierra at Development@MLCPTSA.org with any questions.

• Sponsorship: Big thanks to Gold Star Sponsor iRentPDX Property Management and Silver Star Sponsor ACE Pearl Hardware, both of whom are affiliated with MLC families! Do you own a business or know someone who does? We would be thrilled to have your tax-deductible support as an event sponsor! We offer several levels of sponsorships with various perks so check out the Sponsorship Opportunities for details.

• Donations: We have some awesome donations flowing in and we’re grateful to the many local businesses who are supporting our school. Need ideas about what to contribute? Examples of some popular auction items are listed HERE. We are currently mosy in need of hotels, vacation rentals, ADUs, cabins, cool camper vans, and personal homes that can be used for fun staycations or getaways. Reach out if you have any leads, or see the Donation Form for details.

• Buy-In Parties: Host an event and help our community connect! For more information about Buy-In Parties and what is needed to host, please see our Buy-In Party FAQ for more details and fill out the Buy-In Party Interest Form if you are interested in hosting!

SAVE THE DATE: Mike’s Drive-In Restaurant Night

Wednesday, March 19, 4:00-8:00pm

Mike’s Drive-In, 3233 N Lombard St

Since 1971, Mike’s Drive-In has been serving up some of the best burgers and shakes in town! Mike’s on N. Lombard will donate 25% of all regular-priced sales from people who mention MLC. Mark your calendars and tell your friends!