September 12, 2025
Hello Dr MLK Jr Families,
Fall conferences: I will be sharing with the whole school community, the links to sign up for conferences on October 6. Families will sign up through a google calendar invite and have the ability to request in person or virtual meetings.
SUN Updates: SUN School interest forms will be available starting Tuesday, September 16th. Our SUN team will also be at Back-to-School Night to help families sign up and answer any questions. We’re excited for a great new year and look forward to seeing you!
Reading intervention: This year, MLK Elementary School is continuing our partnership with Reading Results, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping students build strong reading skills and a lifelong love of learning. Through one-on-one or one-on-two high-dosage tutoring, Reading Results works closely with students who need extra support, providing individualized instruction that aligns with classroom learning. Over the years, this collaboration between Tutors, teachers, and families has created a strong network of support, helping countless students grow into confident, capable readers.
There is a literacy crisis in Oregon. In 2024, only 31% of fourth graders scored at or above reading proficiency standard. Students who aren’t reading proficiently by third grade are four times less likely to graduate high school by age nineteen. Reading Results need your support to address the challenge of ensuring ALL students are attaining literacy by the end of third grade. Last year, they provided 1,618 literacy support sessions to 40 students at MLK. Students realized an average reading accuracy gain of 15.3% over the course of the school year! You can help Reading Results continue this important work by donating through their website, allowing them to reach more students and strengthen the powerful collaboration between school, family, and community.
Medicaid reimbursement: Please see this newsletter with information about PPS’s efforts to claim Medicaid reimbursement for certain school-based health services.
Donors Choose Projects: MLK teachers have a lot of great projects up on DonorsChoose right now - please consider donating here, and sharing projects on social media for more exposure.
Back to school/Title I/ELD Family Night: Mark your calendars for Open House on Tuesday, September 16 from 5-6:30. Kids are always welcome. Here are the details:
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5:00-6:00- mix and mingle in classrooms, visit all of the teachers and get to know the teacher and the classroom.
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6:00-6:30 - Principal message, Title I report, ESL and TAG presentations in the cafeteria.
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We will also share our family engagement plan here!
Lockdown drill: I would like to give you advance notice that we will be practicing our lockdown drill on Friday, September 26 at 8:15am. A lockdown is activated when there is a threat inside the school building. We will practice this twice a year. Every PPS school is mandated to practice a number of drills, from fire drills, earthquake drills (ORS 336.071). Details on all of our emergency drills can be found at https://www.pps.net/Page/208. I know that emergency drills, and lockdown drills in particular, can be scary for children. Our teachers will prep the students before the drill and we will focus on safe behavior and adults we can go to if we need help. After the drill teachers and students will debrief and answer any questions or concerns that arise from students. We encourage families to do the same once students arrive home. Thank you for partnering with us to keep your kids safe.
Early Dismissal: On Wednesday, we have an early dismissal and students must be picked up from school at 11:50. There is still a huge amount of learning however, and Wednesdays are the days that we have our DREAM awards assemblies and celebrations. Our school is focusing this year on improving attendance and we have started the year off strong with surprise attendance pop up days. Ask your student what the pop up surprise was this week!
Hope everyone has a great weekend,
Teresa
Important Dates & Reminders: 2025–2026
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9/16 - Back-to-School Night ( 5:00-6:30 PM)
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9/17 – First Early Release Day (Dismissal 11:50AM)
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9/30 – First PTA Meeting (Cafeteria 6:00-7:00PM)
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10/2, 2:30-3:30: Cafe Latino
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10/06 – First Day of SUN School Fall Term
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10/10: no school, statewide inservice
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10/16, 5-6:30pm: Black Family Night
