MLK PTO Weekly Email Update, 12/7/09

Dear Friends, Families, and Staff Members of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School,

This edition of the MLK PTO Weekly Email has 6 items of interest. Read on!

1. Rhode Island Department of Education “Race to the Top” public forum: TONIGHT!
Tonight, Monday, December 7, at 6:00pm at Central High School (70 Fricker Street, Providence), the Rhode Island Department of Education is holding a public forum to share information about and get input to inform its plans to apply for federal "Race to the Top" education funds. This is an essential opportunity to learn more about our state's direction for public education and to have your voices be heard on key issues such as the best ways to hire and retain high quality teachers and our state's commitment to fair and equitable state funding formula to ensure adequate funding for education in all communities. Please attend if you possibly can. More information is available at http://www.ride.ri.gov/Commissioner/RaceToTheTop/Default.aspx

2. MLK PTO Steering Committee Meeting, Wednesday, December 9, 7:30am
If you are interested in becoming more involved in the MLK Parent-Teacher Organization, please consider joining us at our monthly steering committee meeting to discuss fundraising, upcoming events, and other PTO business. Children are welcome and breakfast will be served. We would love to see Steering Committee regular and new faces. This meeting is open to EVERYONE in the MLKcommunity and we hope that you can join us. Please note that starting in January, we will hold MLK PTO Steering Committee meetings in the evenings as well (every other month, alternating with mornings) to maximize the possibility that everyone who wishes can attend. Please join us if you can; rsvp by responding to this email or call MLK PTO co-president Jill Davidson at 401-345-2464.

3. Family Movie Night! Friday, December 11, 6:00pm
The MLK PTO invites all students and their families to a special movie night featuring "THE POLAR EXPRESS. " This event begins at 6:00 p.m. Come in your pajamas for extra fun!  Cookies, hot chocolate and other refreshments will be available.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.

4. PTO Winter Celebration! Monday, December 14, 6:00pm
Plan to join us at the MLK PTO Winter Celebration! Third, fourth, and fifth grade students will be performing music they have worked on throughout the fall, and we'll share information about student progress and achievement. Childcare will be provided (childcare is $1 per child). Please bring a holiday dessert to share! Look for a flier with more details in students' backpacks. 

5. MLK Elementary Open House, Monday, December 14, 5:00pm

MLK will be hosting an Open House and tours for families interested in sending their kids to King. Please let your friends and family members who are shopping for schools for their kids about this opportunity to visit MLK (and stay to meet the community at the following PTO winter celebration!). Please spread the word! If you'd like a sign to hang up or pass out, please email PTO President Jill Davidson at jill.davidson@gmail.com. 

6. More ways to stay informed!

To stay informed about what's happening at King, please join our Facebook group! Search for MLK PTO or click http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67532058618

And check our our brand-new blog! We're open to ideas about how to make it really useful for all MLK families--let us know what you think! Check it out at http://mlkpto.blogspot.com/

Have a great week!

Jill Davidson

Kim Rohm

MLK PTO co-presidents