MCAS Schedule
May 9: 5th grade math MCAS pt 1
May 13: 4th grade math MCAS pt 1
May 14: 5th grade math MCAS pt 2
May 15: 4th grade math MCAS pt 2
May 16: 3rd grade math MCAS pt 1; 5th grade science MCAS
May 20: MCAS make up date
May 21: 3rd grade math MCAS pt 2
May 23: MCAS make up


George O'Connor Visit!
Author/illustrator George O'Connor came to visit the MLK on Wednesday, April 3rd! Students in all grades were treated to a presentation from the New York Times best-selling author. JK and Kindergarten students learned about his books "If I had a Raptor" and "If I had a Triceratops." 1st and 2nd graders, and 3rd-5th graders, learned about his Olympian graphic novel series. Mr. O'Connor was generous with his time, signing books and drawing pictures with students and even meeting some for lunch! Everyone had a great time - thank you to the MLK Friends for sponsoring this fun and educational visit!

5th Grade Concert
Attention all 5th-grade families and caregivers! The King School is proud to present a 5th-grade instrumental concert on Friday, May 24 at 8:20AM in the King School auditorium. This is the culminating performance of a year featuring the work of the band, the orchestra, and the percussion ensemble. The instrumental concert will be held in tandem with our final RISE assembly of the year, so seating will be limited. Due to the small number of seats available, we kindly request the presence of only those families and caregivers of 5th-grade students. The entire King community is cordially invited to join us for our annual spring concert of JK-Grade 4 students on Friday, May 31

Diversity Dialogues
On Thursday, May 16, CSUS will present Understanding the Forces Shaping the Asian American Youth Experience with Dr. Karen Shih. We want to invite you and your school community to join us on May 16 from 6-8PM at Cambridge Street Upper School. Dr. Shih is the Assistant Dean of Intercultural Education and Advisor to Students of Asian Descent at Wellesley College. Karen has a professional background in multicultural counseling and education. With a strong interest in mentoring, she advises Asian student groups and provides individual students with academic, personal, and career advising. As the co-founder of Wellesley’s First Generation College Students Network, Karen is also committed to supporting first generation students and increasing awareness about socio-economic class issues. The Asian student population in Cambridge Public Schools hovers around 12%. Their cultural needs are not always addressed directly in conversations about diversity in our schools. We encourage you to share this flyer with your community and remind them if they plan to attend to RSVP so that we may plan accordingly. They may also RSVP via the attached flyer.

Walk for Peace / Mother's Day Walk
You are invited to participate in the Walk for Peace/Mother's Day walk. On Sunday, May 12th (Mother's Day), members of the King School community will participate in the walk for peace. This walk will raise funds to support mothers who have lost their children to violence. Ms. Betty, our crossing guard would like to participate and is looking for some pleasant company to walk with her. If you are interested in going as a group or pairing ups with Ms. Betty, please contact Carmen Cohen, our School Administrator.
Event Logistics:
Sunday, May 12
START: Town Field Park, Fields Corner, 1520 Dorchester Avenue Dorchester, MA 02122
Onsite Registration – 6AM                         
Program – 8AM 
Walk launches – 8:30AM 
More info >>
MBTA Red Line: Field's Corner. Free Parking is available on Sunday, May 12 at 500-520 Geneva Ave lot in Dorchester. ***Note cars need to be moved by 12:30PM. There is also free ample on street parking in the area.
RAIN OR SHINE!
Total route: 6.8 miles 2.5-3hrs walk time
From Madison Park HS to City Hall: 3 miles 1-1.5hrs walk time

A Note from Student Registration Center
Dear Families, It’s hard to believe that another school year is almost over! As part of our planning process for the next school year, we would like to have a sense of who is going to be here next year, so we ask that you inform us if you are planning to leave Cambridge Public Schools. If you and your family have made other plans for School Year 19-20, please inform us in writing by replying to this email. Please - if your student is remaining in CPS, you do not need to do anything. Everything is all set and please enjoy your summer! If you are moving on from CPS, please let us know as soon as possible. If you share the new school information, we will also begin to prepare your child's records. We will send a confirmation email once we have recorded that your family will not be returning. As always, we wish you all the best and thank you for being part of our school community.

Some Summer Opportunities!
Moses Youth Center (formerly Area IV, has always run a sports-centered summer program) is shifting their summer program for rising 4th-7th graders this year to include performing arts and dance element. It is now called Sports & Performing Arts Leadership Academy. Young people can choose from one track called "Court & Field" and another called "Mind & Body: Dance and Movement." Sports options will continue to be team-based, covering basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, swimming and tennis. The Mind & Body track will include hip-hop dance, ballet and Latin dance, yoga, tumbling & conditioning, swimming, tennis and group games. I'm particularly excited about this because the Moses is such a central, well known youth center in the Port and the dance/performing arts focus isn't huge in any other programs we have for this age bracket. The dates are June 24th - August 16th and it's super flexible: youth can do as little as one week in the program or all eight, families pay per week. The standard price is $150 per week, but they have good scholarships and families can pay as little as $10 or $15 a week if it's all they can afford. Tracie Brothers, their new Program Director, is running the program and if you have questions you can contact her at [email protected] or call her at Moses at 617.349.6262.

Other CYP sites serving rising 4th-7th graders this summer are similar to past years:
–Russell Youth Center: Summer Discovery
–Frisoli Youth Center: Girls Empowerment Program & Boys Empowerment Program

CYP sites for rising 6th-8th graders:
–Gately Youth Center: Swag Academy, designed for rising 6-8th graders
–Mission Possible at the Moore Youth Center: STEAM oriented and hands on activities, working in conjunction with CPS Morning Math classes at Putnam Ave.



School Breakfast: 
Fantastic Friday Series 
Cambridge Food and Nutrition Services will be making Friday breakfasts in May very exciting! Join your children and school staff every Friday in May for fabulous giveaways, a special menu, and taste parties. Parents and staff are welcome to enjoy a healthy and nutritious breakfast for only $1 on Fridays! View the flyer and Friday menus >> 

Volunteers Needed!
Contribute to the Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheon Wednesday, May 9th
*We are looking for parents to help with set up, clean up and food donations. *We would love for people to make, bake, or buy main dishes, salads, side dishes, appetizers, beverages, and HEALTHY desserts (as requested by teachers!). If you are able, we encourage you to bring dishes that are special to your family or culture.
*We will also provide a small breakfast on Tuesday, May 8th, in addition to the luncheon on Wednesday. For breakfast, we will need bagels, pastries, juice, coffee, and fruit (but MUCH more help is needed on Wednesday!)
*Contact parent Pamela Mindell with any questions at [email protected] or 617.225.6119.
*Sign up now to help, by going here.
Sign up today and help make this a great week for our wonderful teachers and staff!

Ramadan is Here!
May 5 - June 4, 2019
Over one billion Muslims throughout the world (and 50,000 Muslims in the Boston area) began celebrating Ramadan at sunset Sunday, May 5th. Here are a few things it would be good to know to be an ally to the Muslims in our community:
• Ramadan is May 5th - June 4th, 2019. The Muslim community is very diverse and Muslims observe Ramadan in many different ways. On June 4th many Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast) with prayer, visiting each other's homes, special meals, and gifts for children. On June 5th the Cambridge Public Schools are closed.
• During Ramadan, many Muslims fast. This means they don't eat or drink anything from dawn to dusk. Some young people begin fasting as teenagers. Fasting allows opportunity for self-reflection, spiritual growth, and many blessings. It is not a period of suffering or atonement. Each evening at sunset during Ramadan, Muslims break their fast with the meal known as Iftar. It is often celebrated with family, friends and in the larger community. Muslims and non-Muslims are often invited. Read more here >> 
• You can extend greetings by saying: "Happy Ramadan" or "Ramadan Mubarak.” It also helps to be thoughtful when planning events that include food.
• Learning about Ramadan and letting your friends, family, and co-workers know about Ramadan is one way to be an ally. You can put a notice (use this blurb) in your school newsletter, local library, where you work, or other places in your communities.
• If you work in a school, you can support Muslim students by checking in about how they observe Ramadan, being thoughtful about physical activities, gatherings involving food, and not scheduling tests or deadlines for June 4th (Eid ul-Fitr). It also helps to remember that when fasting, breakfast is eaten before sunrise, so students are up very early in the day and may be quite tired by the end of the school day. More information about supporting Muslim students in school >>

Keep in mind the article was written two years ago, and Ramadan falls on different days each year.
This resource was put together by the Jewish Muslim Solidarity Committee of the Boston Workmen's Circle. 

In Our Community and District

Scratch Night @ CPS!
May 16 | 5:30-7:30PM
CRLS, 459 Broadway
All CPS students and families are invited!
Details >>

Family Bike Night at the Collins Branch
Thursday, May 16 | 4 - 7PM
Collins Branch Library, 64 Aberdeen Ave
Join us to learn the basics of riding with families and fixing your bike at this drop in session! Need something quick fixed on your bike, or maybe just a safety tune-up to getting you riding comfortably this season? We'll have 15 minute safety tune-ups, too! Register for bike workshops by emailing us.
Visit us online >>

Agassiz Baldwin Community Afterschool Programs
Limited spots are available for the 2019-20 school year!
See details & pay deposit >> 

Title IX Girls Running Club
A physical and mental health organization that works with girls, ages 9-15, in West Cambridge. 5/7-6/25, 4:30-6PM, scholarships available. Info >>

CPS Summer Math & ELA Programs
Hear all about our summer programs for students entering grades 6-8!
Details >>

Free Markets
Check out any one of these FREE Markets that are held throughout the City of Cambridge. All you need is a grocery bag! View the flyer >>

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 >>

Immigration Legal Screening Clinics
3rd Wednesday each month, 5:15-7:15PM
Free consultations with an immigration attorney for Massachusetts immigrants and their families
Community Legal Services & Counseling Center (CLSACC)
90 Third St., Cambridge
617.349.4396; [email protected] 
  

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