The Lion Link

Dear Lion Families,

Beginning this week, all students will participate in Inclusion and Belonging training. Students will explore the question:

How can you understand and confront hate speech?

This learning is grounded in the following principles:

• Everyone deserves to feel valued and acknowledged.
• Everyone deserves to feel safe and comfortable at school.
• Everyone deserves learning experiences that reflect who they are.
  
  

Students will also be introduced to the Pyramid of Hate and learn how to Recognize, Interrupt, and Repair in response to bias, hate, and prejudice.

We encourage you to continue these conversations at home by inviting your student to reflect on the following:

• Consider the impact of words and actions.
• Practice interrupting harm and being an upstander.
• Reflect on repair and accountability.
• Build empathy and belonging.
  
  

These conversations don't need to happen all at once. Everyday moments offer meaningful opportunities to listen, ask questions, and reinforce the importance of standing up to hate and creating a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and included.

Thank you for partnering with us to foster a culture of inclusion and belonging here at King. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if we can be of any support at any time.

Warmly,

Natalie Daniels, Principal

Emily Rae, Assistant Principal

Josh Thibodeaux, Assistant Principal

Please review our live 2026 - 2027 Campus Calendar for important dates.

As events continue to be scheduled, the document will be updated.

Join us on Wednesday, October 28th (5:00 pm - 6:30 pm) for MLK's 1st Family Art Night: Canvas Connections!

We are proud to have partnered with the Oceanside Art Collaborative to provide our families with an opportunity to enjoy an evening of creativity and bonding with your student. Each family will create a beautiful ocean resin board (see image attached). Light snacks will be served.

Please RSVP to Ms. Finn at nfinn@oside.us Limited space. First come, first served.

• No masks, helmets covering the face or head, or full face paint

• No props of any kind (e.g., toy weapons, pom-poms, shields, wands)

• No military or tactical uniforms for secondary students

• No excessive blood, gore, or graphic violence

• No costumes promoting drugs, alcohol, tobacco, profanity, or culturally insensitive themes

• No violations of general dress code standards (e.g., revealing clothing, exposed midriffs, sheer fabrics)

• No distracting accessories, flashing lights, sounds, aerosols etc.

• No demeaning costumes: Costumes should not be demeaning to any person or group based on age, disability, gender, gender identity, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

• Costumes should not hinder your ability to participate in classes, including PE or hinder your ability to move throughout school in a safe manner

• View the link here for full details

Please note that Ivey Ranch Road is slated for a repaving project between Monday, October 19 - Friday, October 23.

Construction will take place from 9:00 am - 2:15 pm. Temporary detours may occur.

King Middle School is partnering with The Elizabeth Hospice Organization to host a 7-to-8 week school-based grief support group during the Spring 2027 semester.

Group Structure:

• Eligibility: The group is open to students who have experienced the death of a loved one significant to them (parent, sibling, grandparent, extended family member, friend, etc.)

• Requirements: A minimum of 8 students to preserve the integrity of a peer-support model.

• Co-Facilitators: Elizabeth Hospice Representatives and School Counselor, Ms. Echavarria

• Format & Schedule: Meetings will take place during regular school hours (students will miss one class period per session). Sessions include an opening activity, creative expression (writing/drawing), group sharing, and a closing exercise.
  
  

* Parent/Caregiver consent is required for student participation

If you are interested and/or have questions, please reach out to Ms. Echavarria by November 16, 2026.

Contact Information:

Ms. Echavarria | School Counselor

Email: Lizette.echavarria@oside.us, Office Phone: (760) 901-8827

Each week, Mr. Aldridge's Digital Experience course works hard to develop a news production featuring King students and staff.

Check out this week's Roarin' Report! (linked here)

A lesson in Latin American countries, Hispanic Icons, and Mesoamerica civilizations is this week's Oside USD in One Minute.

They will donate 20% of all sales when you mention the fundraiser.

Date - Tuesday, June 8th

Time - TBD

Location - Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School

Additional details will be provided during 2nd semester.

ASB Fall Carnival tickets will be on sale soon! The event will take place after school on Friday, October 23rd. To participate, students must meet the following between Monday, September 28 - Friday, October 23rd.

• Earn a 2.0 OR are progressing through our academic support program, PAWS (Practice Accountability, Work to Success)
• No more than 2 Referrals
• No more than 2 days at Restorative Reset or Suspensions

Our goal is to ensure that all students meet this criteria. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

We are committed to caring for your child’s total well-being.

If your student is covered by Medi-Cal or is currently uninsured, they qualify for Peer Link—a free, confidential mental health counseling program right here on campus.

If you feel your child could benefit from extra support this year, please reach out to the King counseling team to learn more.

• King Middle School
  Tutoring by our on-site staff (linked here!)
  
  
• Virtual Tutoring - All OUSD Gr. 6 -12 Students
  OUSD has partnered with Tutor.com for FREE, on demand, online tutoring! Connect with a tutor right away, schedule a future session, drop off a writing assignment for a writing review, find test prep and self-study materials. View instructions linked here.

• Wellness Together (accepting referrals now)
  Our on-site mental health specialist is available to all students by referral through Student Services or your student's counselor. If you feel that your child may benefit from this service, we encourage you to reach out.
  
  
• PASS Americorps (Beginning in October)
  Two on-site PASS team members will provide academic and social emotional support for referred students based on qualifying criteria.
  
  
• TruCare
  Our TruCare team is available on-site for student support. Check in with your student's counselor for a referral.
  
  
• Transformational Consulting
  Our TC team members support King on a daily basis for ongoing student check-ins and to support with student mediation opportunities. Life Skills 101 in room B-1 is offered on a regular basis at lunch. This program encourages leadership, responsibility and accountability for all participants. Students can report to Student Services if they'd like to access these supports.
  
  
• Restorative Practice Small Groups
  Restorative Practices circles and small group supports are provided by our OUSD central office team. Creation and implementation of these small group circles are ongoing. Check in with your student's counselor for access to these groups.
  
  
• School Resource Officer
  Our SRO is an OPD officer who is available and accessible for students / families as needed. Officer Walker is often seen at Nutrition and / or lunch and works to develop strong and trusting connections with our students.
  
  
• Student Training & Assemblies
  During this school year, the central office team will be / has offered trainings / assemblies for all OUSD sites. These topics include E-Bike safety, Drug Prevention, Inclusion & Belonging, Standing Together Against Bullying & Threats.

Please feel free to review the 2026 - 2027 MLK Student Handbook (linked here). All students will also receive a planner from their Advisory teacher.

For weekly ASB updates, ensure that your student has access to their grade level Google Classroom. Details related to upcoming student events and activities are posted in the Google Classroom and on the ASB Website (link here!)

6th Grade - pekaxacy

7th Grade - njpjiudi

8th Grade - cyzq6k32

OUSD aims to be a safe, affirming, and inclusive space for all individuals.

If you are aware of a violation that compromises all schools and spaces being safe for all people, or if you are the victim of any incident/violation, please use our anonymous reporting option found on our district website.

More info here: https://www.oside.us/student-tip-line

Follow MLK on Instagram on the following accounts:

• kingmspride
• kingmiddleschool_asb
• kingmiddleschool_njhs
  
  

Follow OUSD on Instagram on the following account:

• osideusd

Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School (Website)