BELONGING - PURPOSE - CURIOSITY | | MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL | | |
Greetings MLO families!
As we move into the month of November, I want to take a moment to share how proud and excited I am about all that’s happening across our programs. The energy in our buildings has been incredible—students are deeply engaged in their learning, staff are collaborating with creativity and purpose, and our families continue to play such an important role in making MLO a vibrant learning community. The sense of enthusiasm, connection, and growth is truly inspiring.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. This fall has been full of activity, and I appreciate the flexibility and patience our families have shown as we’ve worked through the usual adjustments that come with a new year. Your feedback and communication help us strengthen our programs and ensure we’re meeting the needs of every student.
As part of our ongoing commitment to clear and consistent communication, we will continue sending this monthly newsletter on the 1st of each month. It serves as our primary source of information for all MLO programs. Inside, you’ll find updates that apply to all families, as well as program-specific details from each department. Our goal is to keep everyone informed, connected, and confident about what’s happening across Mead Learning Options.
If you have questions, suggestions, or feedback, please feel free to reach out to me anytime at nick.edwards@mead354.org. It’s a privilege to serve such a dedicated community of learners and families, and I’m grateful for all you do to make MLO a place where students thrive.
Warm regards,
Nick Edwards
Principal
Mead Learning Options
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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.
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MEAD LEARNING OPTIONS
13120 N PITTSBURG ST
SPOKANE, WA 99208
509-465-7700
| | | | ASSESSMENTS AND INTERVENTION | | |
Please be sure to check with your classroom teacher/advisor for MAP, Dibels, and MAZE scores.
5th grade Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Screener will take place at MLO and MOS during the week of November 3rd. Only 5th grade students are screening at this time. The screener will take less than an hour. Results should be in around November 12. Parents will be notified soon after if their student qualifies for the Post Screener. The Post Screener will take place at the PLC Building ONLY-during the week of November 17,2025. Kari Hennessy and/or classroom teachers/advisors will notify you via email what days are available to take it. Please plan on allowing approximately 2 hours for the Post Screener.
Please bring your CHARGED Chromebook and charger on the day of testing. Please feel free to bring a snack. If you prefer your own headphones, please bring those as well. Please do not bring wireless headphones. If you did not check out a Chromebook or need headphones, they will be provided for you.
November 3,2025 -Five Mile Elementary and North Star 5th grade students will meet in room 103 at 9:45.
November 4, 2025- Outdoor School (MOS) 5th grade students will screen at 12:20 at Dart-lo.
November 5,2025 -Five Mile Elementary and North Star 5th grade students will meet in room 103 at 9:45
November 6, 2025- Make-up Day if needed at 1:00 at the PLC Building.
For more information on CogAT and Highly Capable, please visit the district website.
https://www.mead354.org/academic-resources/learning-teaching/highly-capablegifted-education
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me through email by clicking my name below.
Sincerely,
Kari Hennessy
“Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today”
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As an intervention team, special education is excited about potential partnership with the MTSS team. We hope to offer more support for students who might need additional support or interventions in order to maintain or make academic growth who fall into the gray area of not being at grade level but not meeting criteria for special education.
We kicked off our MTSS Intervention Team on Monday, October 27th. This team, which meets twice a month, offers teachers an opportunity to bring concerns with specific students (both academic and social/emotional) to a team made up of peer teachers, special education teachers, school counselor and administrator. We brainstorm strategies, ideas and interventions for the student in question, keep track of data and support the presenting teacher with follow up and next steps for that student if further intervention is needed.
With this in mind, we hope to offer a more accessible continuum of support for ALL students in ALL MLO programs, utilizing the collective experience and knowledge of a committed group of educational professionals.
If a program teacher or parent has concerns about a student, fill out the MTSS referral form and sign up on the MTSS Team Google form for a future slot. Be prepared to bring work samples (from school or home) MAP or DIBELS data and any other observational data that has been collected.
Thank you,
Justus, Sonja, Tess, Kari, and the MTSS team
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Hi Seniors! 🎓
The 2026–2027 FAFSA Application is officially open! You can get started right here: Federal Student Aid – FAFSA.
If you have any questions or need a little help filling it out, I’m happy to walk you through it—just reach out at (509) 465-7776 or savannah.maxwell@mead354.org.
Resources and Support:
- With the holidays around the corner, we would like to provide resources to those in need. If your family is in need of holiday support (i.e. food, gifts, clothing, etc.), please fill out the Google form below:
Holiday Support Google Form
- If your family could use a little extra support with food right now, please know that help is available. You can find local options here:
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All About Kindness
Join us at NS as we encourage and celebrate random acts of kindness! When a student performs an act of kindness that we can see on campus or tells us about one we have not seen (on campus or in another life-time location) we will give them a length of ribbon. This ribbon will be tied like a streamer in the trees outside of the main entry. Helpers will be stationed outside at the end of the day to gather ribbon and tie the streamers to the trees. There is a big box of ribbon in the NS cert office. Come pick some up or we will deliver!
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Students receiving IEP
Resource Room services
Is your child receiving resource room services for their IEP at North Star, or may begin those services soon? This is a reminder that these classes continue even during progress weeks. Please know that if your child is absent from school in the Resource Room class during progress week, this is considered an absence. If a child is absent, the family will need to fill out an absence form using the button on the MLO website homepage.
Thanks for your help!
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Upcoming dates
NOVEMBER
11/3-11/7 PROGRESS MEETINGS;
No clubs, Learning continues at home.
WAKids Assessment Packet
for all Kindergarten students is
due this week or sooner
11/4 or 11/6 at 9:45-10:45 5th grade screening for “Highly Capable”
11/10 & 11/11 - VETERAN'S DAY BREAK..NO SCHOOL MON & TUES
11/12- WED Clubs only
11/17-19 M&W Clubs
11/24 MON Clubs only (no WED Clubs this week)
11/26-29 Thanksgiving Break
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REQUEST FOR CLUB SUPPLIES - DROP OFF IN THE OFFICE
- Shoe Boxes - Still need 25
- Empty 2-liter soda bottles - Still Need
- Old hair dryers - 5-6 Needed for the Art Room
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We have had a fun-filled start to the year at MOS! This year we added a second cohort of students on Mondays and Wednesdays. It has been great to get even more students immersed in our outdoor learning environment.
A number of families and community members have spent time this fall getting our greenhouse classroom up and running as well as preparing our firewood for the winter. We are incredibly grateful for all of the help we have received. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Here is a snapshot of what our students have been up to at MOS:
The Kindergarten crew has been learning about their surroundings and practicing map skills by making maps of the campus to share during family day. They have also been exploring how the environment changes with the seasons. Fall is in Full swing.
First and second grade students have been exploring salmon and their importance to indigenous communities. Miss Katie’s class is even making a salmon life cycle quilt!
The third and fourth grade students have been following a canoe trip along the Little Spokane Watershed and talking about historical locations along the way. They had a Spokane House inspired trading day where they brought items from home to trade with their peers.
Our middle school students have gotten to experience our new greenhouse classroom. In science they are doing a deep dive into salmon.
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Calendar at a Glance
Nov 4 - CogAt Test for ALL 5th grade. Bring Chromebook
Nov 10/11- No School, Observance of Veterans Day
Nov 25- Last day on the MOS campus until Jan 5
Dec 5- Photo retakes
Jan 5- First day back on campus
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