Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School

Dear Dr Martin Luther King Jr Elementary Families,

I would like to officially welcome you to the 2024-2025 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Elementary school year. Our start dates for this school year are as follows:

• 1st - 5th Grade: August 27th 

• Kindergarteners:  August 29th

• Pre-K: September 5th

Communication: This will be the first of several communications from the school that you will receive this year. All of these communications will also be posted to our school website at https://www.pps.net/mlk.  We also use text messages, and the REMIND app to communicate with our families. As long as your information is updated with correct phone numbers and emails in our Student Information Database, you should receive our communications. Please know that my door is always open and that I am always available through school email, as well as before and after school on the blacktop.

School Hours: On typical days, school opens at 7:45 and the day ends at 2:30. Please see an important note on safety and our tardy/pick up policy at the end of this letter.  

One big change is that PPS has instituted  Early Release once a month (except January and June). This means that on the following dates, school hours are 7:45am - 11:50am.

• **Early Release Dates **School Day Ends at 11:50am**

  • Sept 25, Oct 23, Nov 20, Dec 18, Feb 26, Mar 19, Apr 23, May 21

Community Care Day: On August 17, we are hosting a Community Care Day from 10:00am-Noon. This is a great opportunity to connect our community and prepare the school for the new school year. Join us if you want to help spruce up our grounds with beautification tasks like raking, mulching, and weeding. Be sure to bring your rakes, gloves, and other yard equipment. Afterwards, incoming kindergartners and new families are invited to join us from Noon - 1:00pm for our Kindergarten and New Family Picnic Social.

• Community Care Day: Saturday 08/17/2024  from 10:00am - Noon

• Kinder & New Family Social: Saturday 08/17/2024 from Noon - 1:00pm

Teachers Return to Work: Teachers will all be back on August 21st. They'll be preparing their rooms, making connections with families, and engaging in professional development. Teacher assignments were shared with families at the end of last year. You should expect communication from your teacher(s) prior to the first day of school. Feel free to reach out to your child's teacher with any questions that you have about the upcoming school year. 

Back to School Social: Come to the blacktop on Monday, August 26 from 2:00 pm -3:00 pm where you will have the opportunity to meet your teacher, pick out a new backpack, learn about our SUN program, get an icy treat from our PTA,  and play with friends on the playground. 

• Back to School Social: Monday 08/26/2024 from 2:00pm - 3:00pm 

New Shoes: Students will be fitted with new shoes on October 9th, thanks to a partnership we have with Shoes That Fit.

• Shoes That Fit: Wednesday 10/09/2024 during school hours

First Day Entry and Dismissal Line Locations: On the first day of school,  teachers will meet their classes outside on the blacktop. Any adult with a PPS badge will be able to help your student find their line spot. This line spot will be the same spot from which your students will be dismissed at the end of every school day. 

**After the first day of school, students will enter the building at Door #2 (the door off of the playground) starting at 7:45AM. 

Breakfast: Free breakfast is served daily at 7:45am. We ask that families say goodbye to their students outside. 

Daily Dismissal: At the end of the day, PK-3 teachers will be outside to dismiss  students to a designated guardian. Students in grades 4-5 may be dismissed on their own with pre-approval from the family given in writing beforehand both to the student’s teacher and to the main office at mlkjroffice@pps.net. 

The school day ends at 2:30pm on typical days and ends at 11:50am on Early Dismissal days (see dates above). PK dismisses at 2:15pm on typical days. Whether PK will observe early dismissal is TBD . 

Neighborhood House is our before and aftercare provider, and their website is here. 

Cell Phone Policy: Our policy is Off and Away while at school. If a student has their phone out, a staff member will first give a gentle reminder to put it away. If the phone is out a second time, the phone will go to the teacher until the end of the day. We know that cell phones are used for connection and safety, however they are often sources of distraction and are not supportive to the learning environment. If families need to reach their student we ask that they call the front office to connect with the student. Please reach out to your teacher if you need a plan that is different from ours at school. 

Cell Phone Policy: Off and Away

First time a phone is out: Gentle reminder to put it away

Second time a phone is out: Phone to teacher until end of day

*please contact your teacher if you need a plan that is different

PTA: Get connected with others in your school's community with the PTA (Parent Teacher Association)! Sign up to join our contact list and our facebook group. You can also email stephen.osserman@gmail.com (PTA Communications Chair) to find out about more ways to connect. 

School Meals: At Dr MLK Jr Elementary, we have free breakfast and  lunch available to every student. From October-April students are offered a fresh fruit or veggie in the afternoon. We also provide all school supplies, although you will see many of our teachers welcome donations for special projects. See this website if you would like to donate to some of these projects! 

That's it for now! I hope that the rest of your summer is wonderful. Reach out if your family needs anything or has any questions. I look forward to seeing all of your students and families in a few short weeks. 

Warmly,

Teresa Seidel

Principal

**2024 Pick up/Drop off/Attendance policy for Dr MLK Jr School**

In response to heightened safety concerns within the district regarding student well-being during drop-off and pick-up times, and with the aim of fostering punctuality among families and students, Dr. MLK Jr. School has implemented the following policies concerning attendance, tardiness, and afternoon pick-up. 

NOTE: The instructional day begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m

**end of day is 11:50 a.m. on Early Dismissal days (see dates above)

Morning Drop-Off:

• The breakfast bell will ring at 7:45 a.m., signaling the start of breakfast service in the cafeteria. Students will remain in the cafeteria until 7:53

• At 7:53 a.m., classroom doors will open, allowing students to proceed to their classrooms.

• Class officially begins at 8:00 a.m.

• Between 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., school exterior doors will remain open.

• School doors will be closed promptly at 8:00 a.m.

• Any students arriving after 8:00 a.m. will be marked as tardy and must be checked in by a parent or guardian at the front office.

Afternoon Pick-Up:

• The school day concludes at 2:30 p.m.

• Early Departure Policy

  • If a student needs to be picked up early, families are required to make advance arrangements the day prior by contacting the school via phone at 503-916-6456 or by email at mlkjroffice@pps.net.

• Between 2:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.  students will not be released early without prior arrangement.

• Tardy Pick-Up Policy

  • If a student has not been picked up by 2:40 p.m. the school will initiate contact with emergency contacts for pick-up arrangements. 

  • Please note, the school does not provide before or after-school supervision; therefore, it is the responsibility of families to ensure prompt pick-up of students.

Office hours: The office is open from 7:30-3:30pm. You can contact the office with any questions you might have. Call 503-916-6456 or email Nancy and Megan, our Office Administrative Assistants, at mlkjroffice@pps.net

Important Dates and Reminders 2024/25 (some dates are subject to change):

• 8/17: Community Care Day 10-12 and Kinder & New Family Social 12-1

• 8/26: Backpack School Supply/ Meet teacher event 2:00-3:00PM

• 8/27: First Day of School Grades 1-5. Breakfast: 7:45am. Class begins:  8:00am 

• 8/27-8/28: Home/School Kindergarten Visits (to be scheduled with your teacher)

• 8/29: First day of Kindergarten (Club Kinder) 

• 8/29: Kinder Family Coffee Chat 8:00am - 8:45am

• 9/2: Labor Day, no school 

• 9/5: First day of PreK 

• 9/9: Jin Ren virtual meeting 6:30pm

• 9/17: Back to School Night 5:30pm -7:00pm

• 9/17-9/18: Picture Day

• 9/24: First PTA Meeting 6:00pm - 7:00pm and  Picture Make-up Day (AM only)

• 9/25: First Early Release 8:00am -11:45am