December 2025

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Mead Learning Options Families,

I hope you had a fantastic, and restful break with family and friends. As we move into the holiday season, I am excited to extend warm greetings and share the latest highlights from across our programs. December is always a special month—one that invites joy, reflection, connection, and celebration—and this year is no exception. I’m pleased to share some meaningful updates and to recognize the great work happening throughout our community.

This year, I want to emphasize the strong sense of unity and shared purpose we continue to build at Mead Learning Options. As MLO continues to grow and evolve, our mission remains the same: to ensure high levels of learning for all students. Achieving this takes collaboration, creativity, and daily commitment from our dedicated staff, and I am incredibly proud of the way our programs work together to support student success. While the work can be challenging, the growth we see in our students and the innovation happening across our programs make the effort deeply rewarding. As the author William Arthur Ward reminds us, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” I am truly grateful for the partnership we share with our families and the dedication of our staff.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support and collaboration. Wishing you a joyful December and a restful holiday break!

Warm regards,



Nick Edwards

Principal

Mead Learning Options

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) at MLO

At MLO, we use a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure all students have what they need to be successful—academically, behaviorally, and socially. A key part of MTSS is setting clear, consistent expectations across all school settings.

This year, we’ve updated our MLO Expectations Matrix. The matrix helps students know what being Safe, Respectful, and Responsible looks like in every area of school, whether that’s the classroom, cafeteria, playground, or common spaces.

Highlights include:

• Voice Levels: Students learn when to use silent voices (0), partner voices (2), or outside/playground voices (4).

• Be Safe: Keep hands, feet, and objects to self; walk at all times; use equipment and supplies as intended.

• Be Respectful: Use school-appropriate language, listen to others, and include classmates.

• Be Responsible: Follow adult directions, complete tasks on time, clean up after yourself, and take care of materials.

REMINDER!!

Picture Retakes are Friday, Dec 5th. 8-11am.

If you are "retaking" your photo, you MUST bring the original pictures with you. 

SENIORS!!!!  

Senior and Graduation information will be uploaded to our website very soon. Watch for it under the About MLO- SENIORS!

Senior Picture Due Jan 5, 2026

Senior Tribute/Baby Ads Due Feb 2, 2026

Jostens Cap/Gown Order Due Feb 2, 2026

Senior Checkout June 9, 2026

Graduation June 11, 2026 

Greetings from your special education and MTSS team!

We are excited to share that we are moving forward with our MTSS team, talking through students who are having challenges and finding new ways to support them in their homeschooling and on campus adventures.

Many times, a student does not qualify for special education services, because their delay or challenge does not meet the criteria. With MTSS (multiple tier support system) we can intervene with small group reading and math intervention sooner. When a student is struggling, we bring the student and referring teacher to our team meeting. This allows the team to look at past interventions and see if the student is making growth. We can look at further interventions to help the student move forward in their learning goals.

We are working as an intervention team to find pockets of time where we can offer small group intervention for students to help support them in the classroom and at home. We also invite parents to make a Friday appointment with one of our teachers to look at curriculum and see if what is being used is helping the student grow or if something might need to be changed.

If you have any questions or want to meet with an intervention teacher, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Tess Baldwin, Sped (tess.baldwin@mead354.org)

Justus Morlock, Sped (justus.morlock@mead354.org)

Kari Hennessy, LAP and ELD (kari.hennessy@mead354.org)

Parents & families, please submit a pre-order for the 2025-26 yearbook by clicking below...

Calling all artists! The MLO Yearbook Staff wants to showcase your original designs and artwork! Please make an art design or a piece of your OWN art that represents your program and upload it to the form below. We will choose one design to turn into a "sticker" for the front cover, and larger pieces of work to include as section dividers for North Star, Five Mile, Mead Outdoor School, and Mead Learning Option High School.

Please submit your work on or before Monday, January 5th, 2026.  We can't wait to see your creative and original artwork!

NORTH STAR

North Star

DECEMBER

12/1-5 PROGRESS MEETINGS all week. IEP services continue.

     No clubs, Learning continues at home

     Dorian Pictures ready for pick-up

12/5 - (FRI) Dorian Picture Day MAKE-UP

12/8-10 Clubs

12/10 Wed Clubs and (tentative) Presentation and

     beautiful excerpts from Spokane Youth Ballet’s

     upcoming performance of

            The Snow Queen….

     Is in the works…(tentative. Wed 12/10 1-3pm)

12/15-17 Clubs

12/22-1/2 Christmas Break 

JANUARY

1/5-9 PROGRESS MEETINGS

    all week. IEP services continue.

    No clubs, Learning continues at home. 

1/5- Artwork for the yearbook submissions due

MEAD OUTDOOR SCHOOL

Calendar at a Glance

Nov 25- Last day on the MOS campus until Jan 5

Dec 5- Photo retakes

Jan 5- First day back on campus