MLC Weekly News and Notes

Hello, MLC community! Welcome to the 2023-24 school year!!!!

I cannot believe it is already upon us. We have been working hard this summer to prepare for a successful and exciting year!

For those new to MLC, we will send a weekly newsletter with updates, events and celebrations.

While this issue is just a sneak peek of our year, it does contains very important information about:

Conferences

Pick Up

Drop Off

6th-12th Off Campus Lunch Protocol

Schedule Policy

Upcoming Calendar Events

Please read all the way through so you don't miss anything! This information will also be given out at conferences plus MUCH MORE!

We are eagerly anticipating your official return to school Thursday!

Best,

Suezann & Darren

MLC Calendar website link

First Two Weeks

Tuesday/Wednesday August 29/30 - Conferences (No school)

Thursday August 31st - First full real day of school

Friday September 1st - FULL REGULAR DAY as well. (Half day Friday’s will being the following week)

Picture Day for grades 9-12

Monday September 4th - No school (Labor Day)

Tuesday September 5th - Resume regular schedule

Friday September 8th - Half Day Fridays Begin

K-6th Mon-Thur

8:45am-3:20pm

K-6th Friday

8:45am-12:05pm

7-12th Mon-Thur

8:30am-3:30pm

7-9th Friday

8:30am-12:05pm

10-12th Friday

8:30am-12:30pm

7th-12th

At MLC, we start off the year by offering two days of conferences with your RETRO/METRO advisor/teacher.

Why conferences?

Beginning of the year conferences are a great way to meet new students/staff, re-engage with returning students, and to share important school information. All students and parents/guardians will be meeting with their METRO/RETRO teacher in a 20-minute conference on one of the first two days of the school year (Tuesday, August 29th or Wednesday, August 30th). Our goal is to have these conferences right at the start so that we all have a clear picture of what is required for each student this year. This helps establish open parent, teacher, and student relationships from the outset. By forming stronger bonds with families we are able to get a better sense of how we can best support students’ learning needs.

During these conferences, we will hand out and review student transcripts (9-12th) and schedules (7-12th) for the upcoming year to get a clear understanding of their academic progress. We also welcome questions and information from you that will help us all support students in their academic journey. We will talk through school logistics (cell phone policy & off campus lunch) as well.

What is Metro/Retro?

METRO is a once a week (Friday) class for 9th-12th graders. It is similar to an advisory class offering SEL lessons as well as grade level prep/communication. Metro is divided by grade level:

12th - Liz Buelow

11th - Catherine Ordway

10th - Chris Snyderbrown

9th - Regan Veatch

RETRO is a once a week (Friday) class for 7th-8th graders. It is similar to an advisory class offering SEL lessons. RETRO is a blend of 7th and 8th graders. Advisors:

Andy

Dana

Erewyn

Kelly

TBA (Nam Kirn has gone to another placement)

To sign up for conferences, parents/guardians will use Sign Up Genius. Please only sign up for a time with your student’s assigned METRO/RETRO teacher. HERE is the link to do so on our website.

For 9th-12th: Dorian Studios will be here on Friday, Sept 1 to take pictures for student body HOP cards. Once again, TriMet and PPS are partnering to provide free TriMet transportation for HS students. Don’t miss this opportunity!

K-6 Drop off

School Start Time: 8:45 am

1st -3rd grade families have the option to come inside for drop off or use the blacktop car line.

The main front door will open at 8:40 for students/families to enter.

Class time will start promptly at 8:45. We will be clearing the halls of parents/guardians by 8:50 to start the day.

4th-6th grade students will enter the building at 8:40 through the main doors.

Breakfast will be served for those K-6 interested at 8:30 in the cafeteria. Students will enter through the cafeteria door. Once the student has eaten breakfast, they will then return outside to wait for the main door to open for the day. ONLY students eating school breakfast will be allowed in the cafeteria. Exceptions will be made for weather determined by admin.

STUDENTS SHOULD NOT ARRIVE TO MLC BEFORE 8:30 a.m.

Unfortunately, we do not have enough staff to monitor all areas of the building and outdoors before those times. Teachers and staff are preparing for the day. We want to make sure all students are safe and in designated areas where there is adequate supervision.

Kindergarten students will be dropped off and picked up in the Kindergarten classroom!

The main front door will open at 8:40 for students/families to enter.

Class time will start promptly at 8:45. We will be clearing the halls of parents/guardians by 8:50 to start the day.

Where do I park?

Street parking is the only option in our neighborhood. The back lot is reserved for staff with very limited and assigned parking.

DROP OFF (cars using the black top)

Please pull all the way up to the front doors/the line before students exit your vehicle.

Stay in the line to await exit upon Tony's signal. Line cutting is a safety issue with younger students close to the area.

Please do not use the back lot for drop off. This is our staff parking with assigned and very limited space. We want to make sure our educators are able to park and get into their classrooms each morning in time to prep for each day of learning.

K-6 Pick Up

School End Time: 3:20 (Monday-Thursday)/12:05 (Friday)

PICK UP (cars using the black top)

CAR LINE PICK UP

Students that are picked up by car in the parking lot will be in lines by designated cones/teachers.

Car pick up students cannot go to the playground/court while waiting for pick up.

Drivers will need to stay in their cars. A staff member will come to you for your child's name/with your child.

Stay in the line to await exit upon Tony's signal. Line cutting is a safety issue with younger students close to the area.

WALK UP PICK UP

Please come to the north side of the pick up line for walk ups (opposite of the cars). This will keep our car sight line and congestion clear.

There are zero lot spaces available in the back to spare for family parking. Please do not use the back lot for pick up/drop off in any way. We need to make sure our staff can park without any issue to educate students!

Kindergarten students will be picked up in the Kindergarten classroom. Doors will open at 3:15 M-Th and 12:00 on Fridays for parents/guardians to wait outside the classroom.

7th-12th Drop off

School Start Time: 8:30 am

Students will enter the building at 8:40 through the main doors.

Breakfast will be served for those 7th-12th interested at 8:15 in the cafeteria. Students will enter through the cafeteria door. Once the student has eaten breakfast, they will then return outside to wait for the main door to open for the day. ONLY students eating school breakfast will be allowed in the cafeteria. Exceptions will be made for weather determined by admin.

STUDENTS SHOULD NOT ARRIVE TO MLC BEFORE 8:15 a.m.

Unfortunately, we do not have enough staff to monitor all areas of the building and outdoors before those times. Teachers and staff are preparing for the day. We want to make sure all students are safe and in designated areas where there is adequate supervision.

Where do I park?

Street parking is the only option in our neighborhood. The back lot is reserved for staff with very limited and assigned parking.

DROP OFF

7th-12th famlies are encouraged to use the Hoyt Street drop off area.

(cars using the black top)

Please pull all the way up to the front doors/the line before students exit your vehicle.

Stay in the line to await exit upon Tony's signal. Line cutting is a safety issue with younger students close to the area.

Please do not use the back lot for drop off. This is our staff parking with assigned and very limited space. We want to make sure our educators are able to park and get into their classrooms each morning in time to prep for each day of learning.

7th-12th Pick Up

School End Time: 3:30 (Monday-Thursday)/12:05 (Friday 7th-9th). 12:30 (10-12th)

7th-12th famlies are encouraged to use the Hoyt Street pick up area.

Teachers will share the official contract during conferences.

7th-12th: There are two ways to sign out:

Using a phone or device with QR code located at the front doors

Paper sign out in the front office.

Students will not need to sign back in due to teachers taking attendance after lunch.

6th grade: Students will not have off campus lunch until teachers authorize they are ready.

When they do receive this privilege, students will sign out on a clipboard in their homeroom classroom. (Andre or Kathleen)

Schedules are created with student needs first as well as what is a state requirement.

Schedules that will be changed at this time are only:

- Those missing a class period.

- Those missing a required class.

- Those double scheduled for a period.

If any of these issues are found, the student will need to let their Metro/Retro teacher know, who will then reach out to the counselor.

Students that have other issues they would like to discuss with the counselor will need to wait until the factors above have all been addressed and completed. When that opens up, there will be a google form that students are able to complete for an appointment with the counselor to discuss their issue.

This is where our staff will list items needed for classes/student support. :)

Do you wonder what's going on in the Kx8 Art Room? Art teacher Ned and his students are posting their creations and flops on Instagram at bettys_atelier_mlc in honor of Betty Mather, one of MLC's original teacher/founders! Betty taught in room 106 for the first third of our school's history. Betty's space was the beating heart of the school where all children met and created.

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Attendance Line 503-916-3656