March 2026

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Mead Learning Options Students and Families,

Spring is just around the corner, and with the arrival of March comes a renewed sense of energy. This time of year often brings growth and fresh focus, and it has been wonderful to see our students and staff continuing to make meaningful progress as we move forward in the school year.

Our students consistently impress us with their commitment and perseverance. Whether they are reaching academic milestones, exploring creative talents, or demonstrating personal growth, MLO students continue to represent our school community with pride. We celebrate your hard work and the positive impact you make each day.

Thank you to all of our families who attended the webinar this past week. As our programs navigate the potential for some significant shifts, we understand that you may have questions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or to your mentor/advisor for clarification or support. If you were unable to attend the webinar, you can view the recording here. MLO Virtual Webinar

As we look ahead, there are many important events and activities scheduled for the remainder of the year. Families will have opportunities to connect, celebrate, and engage in upcoming school events, as well as participate in fundraising efforts that support our programs. We will also be communicating key end-of-year assessment dates to help everyone prepare and plan accordingly.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Your involvement plays an essential role in the success of our students and our school community. I look forward to a strong and successful March together.

Sincerely,

Mr. Edwards

Principal

Mead Learning Options

nick.edwards@mead354.org

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.

Families of North Star, Five Mile, MLO HS, & MOS students,

Please complete the link for the yearbook pre-order MLO Yearbook Pre Order Form Yearbook is $30 per book if purchased by March 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Any orders placed after that time will increase to a cost of $40 per yearbook. The yearbook will include school and event pictures from Five Mile Elementary, Five Mile Middle, Mead Outdoor School, MLO High School, and North Star. All students within these programs will have their school picture (or retake) featured in this Yearbook; it will have a thicker, laminated cover and include 150 full-color pages. We've also received student artwork that will be featured within program sections.

Below is the link for the updated yearbook pre-order form; this includes individuals who may have already submitted before. The MLO Yearbook is $30 per book if purchased by March 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Any orders placed after that time will increase to a cost of $40 per yearbook.  

There will be a direct link to making your purchase through the PTO PayPal site.

Thank you!

WIDA ACCESS is in full swing. You may have received an email from me explaining this assessment and needing you to schedule your child an assessment time. This is given to our multilingual students to assess their growth in Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. If you have questions or concerns if your child needs testing, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

March 2-6. 2nd grade CogAT screener. The CogAT screener is given to every 2nd grade student at MLO. Five Mile Elementary and MOS will test during their regularly scheduled class day. I have reached out to Northstar families to schedule a screening time. Please be sure to read your emails and get back to me. Once we know which 2nd grade students qualify to take the full CogAT, I will reach out to those families to schedule further testing. This will occur between March 7- March 27. Referrals will also be tested during this time. For more information please visit https://www.mead354.org/academic-resources/learning-teaching/highly-capablegifted-education

If you have any questions or concerns with the above information, Please feel free to contact me at: kari.hennessy@mead354.org.

Fall Registration for NEWTech Prep is open! Here is the link to the 2026-2027 enrollment application:

Save the Date:

5/7- Pattison's Skate Night

6/5- Field Day

6/6- Spokane Indians Baseball with MLO!

NORTH STAR

March -

3/2-6 PROGRESS MEETINGS all week. No clubs, Learning continues at home.

Clubs as normal the rest of the month

April -

4/6-10 SPRING BREAK - No clubs

History and Science Museum coming up this month

Supply Request

• Opal Harbert's science class would like to borrow 15 - 100' tape measures for class on March 11th. Please label with your name so we can return to you when the class is done using them. We will collect these in the office.

Thank you!

MEAD OUTDOOR SCHOOL

February has been another fun-filled month at MOS. We are thrilled to announce that the KXLY Extreme Team will be coming to make improvements to Camp Dart-Lo in April. Our students and staff have been coming up with ideas for things that would improve our learning environment. 

In preparation for the Extreme Team coming, the 5th through 8th grade students brainstormed problems with our current learning environment and created posters sharing ideas for potential improvements to our campus. 

Our 3rd and 4th graders have continued with the Journey of the Pine Spirit. This month, they have focused on salmon and even completed a Rube Goldberg engineering challenge simulating the inner workings of a salmon cannery. 

The 1st and 2nd grade students also delved into the engineering design process by planning, building, testing, and re-engineering Toad Abodes. They were tasked with creating a structure that would keep an origami toad dry in a simulated rain storm. 

Kindergarten completed a deep dive into the Canada Goose. The students have been observing them, all year, at Camp Dart-Lo and had many questions that we needed to answer! They have observed their natural habitats, completed map work, investigated whether or not water pollution affects them and made models of goose feet. Now we are anxiously awaiting the return of the breeding pair that visits camp each spring to hatch its goslings. 

Spring is coming, but we aren’t quite there yet. Please make sure that you are continuing to send your kiddo to school with layers, gloves, and hats. The weather is changing all the time and we never quite know what we will get.

Calendar at a Glance

Mar 2-5 - CogAT Screener for grade 2

Mar 11 - Wednesday Parent Advisory Meeting at Julie Terry’s house 11-12

Zoom meeting too! 

Apr 2 - Teen Slam Poetry Workshop

Apr 20-23 - Extreme Team Makeover Week

February 15, 2026

Spokane Scholars Foundation is a local organization that honors academic achievement. Each participating school can name a Scholar in any of several academic categories. Mead Learning Options, and specifically the Virtual Program, congratulate our selected Spokane Scholar, ABIGAIL PRIETO, in the area of World Languages. 

Abigail has earned the Seal of Biliteracy, a distinction supported by her mastery achievement on the Avant Language Test in Spanish. Moreover, she spent ten months in Barcelona as a Rotary Exchange student. During her ten months as a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Barcelona, she volunteered at a homeless outreach and tutoring program. 

Abigail is truly using her scholarly ability for the betterment of her community and beyond. She will be honored at a banquet in April. We are so proud of her!