Community Conversations
We are including the Community Conversations as part of our MLK celebrations this year. Please join our triad (King, Morse, K-Lo) and the PAUS middle school community in these important conversations which encourage honest self reflection and community building. The session on January 25th is the second of three. During the first meeting participants watched a "Ted Talk" byJay Smooth, host of New York's longest running hip-hop radio show, the Underground Railroad on WBAI 99.5 FM in NY, and is an acclaimed commentator on politics and culture. In this talk, he discusses the sometimes thorny, territory of how we discuss issues of race and racism, offering insightful and humorous suggestions for expanding our perception of the subject. Join the conversation >>



Skiing with YES
The MLK will no longer be able to offer a school ski trip through Youth Enrichment Services (YES) while this is a loss for our community families can still sign their children up (7-12 years old) to ski with YES. There is a sliding scale and pricing goes as low as $25. Slots fill quickly so sign up now.

YES Upcoming Events & Important Dates
Saturday, January 5
Operation SnowSports Begins. Get ready for a season filled with new experiences, new challenges, and new friends! The Operation Snow Sports season kicks off in January with our first YES kids experience!

Monday, January 7
Winter Track Program Begins. (Blackstone Community Center - Boston, MA) The YES Winter Indoor Track Program teaches youth skills and builds strength through running and core strengthening drills. The program aspires to inspire a lifelong appreciation and respect of healthy activities within its youth.

Sunday, March 10
Mass Snow Challenge (Wachusett Mountain - Princeton, MA) Join YES for a fun-filled day with great skiing and snowboarding, racing, awards, and family games to support YES's Operation SnowSports youth programs! There's a costume contest. No racing experience necessary! Prizes will also be awarded to the individuals with the most creative costumes!



From The Library
On October 19th, the 4th and 5th grades were treated to a presentation at the Cambridge Public Library. Illustrator Alex Graudins from Science Comics: The Brain and author Rosemary Mosco and illustrator Jon Chad from Science Comics: Solar System spoke to the students about their creative processes and about how they became book creators. It was amazing to learn that Mr. Chad spends 22 hours just to do 1 page! All the creators spoke about why they think comics are a great way to learn about science. Ms. Mosco noted that science can be dangerous, and comics are a safe way to explore. And Mr. Chad noted that "we don't just look at comics, or listen to comics, we READ comics."

At the end of the presentation, all students received a signed copy of one of the books to keep! We would like to thank the Cambridge Public Library, Porter Square Books, and the Porter Square Books Foundation for the books and for inviting us to this fun event!



From the Garden
This November, MLK has welcomed it's own school worm bin. Mrs. Carpenter's class was the first to host it and care for it. Mrs. Orr's class followed. Mrs. Brumbach's first graders are watching it change this week and Mrs. Galante's will follow!

Kindergardeners and second graders harvested carrots last week. We learned they can be all different shapes, sizes and colors! The cafeteria received the harvest.

Leek is next! Ready to be harvested by any class who volunteers.



Tech News
The MLK community participated in an Hour of Code celebrating Computer Science Education Week. The purpose is to inspire students to take an interest in computer science and programming. Ms. Varney and Ms. Rosenberg will host fun activities like programming robots (Blue Bots), inventing Makey Makey projects and writing code for Minecraft, Moana, and more! Anyone can learn. Try it at home >>



Who’s Who at the King
Kimiko Wittkopp is the new Building Sub. She joins us from the Park Street School in Boston, where she was a building Sub and an after school teacher for a year.  She and her family have recently moved to the Boston area from Montana where she was a school drama club director and the substitute teacher for grades 5-8.

What has impressed you about the King?
The Community has been wonderful. Everyone has been friendly, warm and inviting. Everyone looks out for and supports one another. The students are eager to learn and loving. They are willing to give you a hug when you need it.

What brings you to this work?
I like being able to support others. I enjoy reliably being there when needed. Being a sub allows me to meet so many students across the grades. I am able to see how the grades levels work together and how the curriculum builds. I also get to see and be apart of the teamwork that happens across all areas of the school.

What goals do you have for this school year?
I hope to bring a sense of joy and to help keep student moral high so that kids are in a place where they are looking forward to learning.

Cambridge Affordable Housing Information Sessions
Learn about the eligibility requirements and application process for the following programs Cambridge Rental and Homeownership Programs: Inclusionary Housing Rental Program for studios, 1BR, 2BR, & 3BR units
throughout Cambridge, Homeowner Resale Pool, First-Time Homebuyer Workshop, Downpayment Assistance, and HomeBridge. Open to all. No RSVP Necessary. Learn more >>

Let's Connect! 
Stay in the loop by joining our social media communities. Follow MLK on Facebook and Twitter today.