The Lion Link

Dear Lion Families,

Welcome to the start of the 2026–2027 school year!

Whether you are a new family joining our school community or returning for another year, we hope you find MLK to be the special place that we know it to be. It is our goal to provide an environment where every student is challenged, learns more about themselves, develops greater independence, discovers new interests, and builds meaningful friendships along the way.

The first day of school is Thursday, August 13. Please be sure to allow enough time for your Lion to arrive on campus on time. The first bell rings at 8:10 a.m., and the late bell rings at 8:15 a.m. Review the "Campus Entry & Exit" section below for details related to student arrival and dismissal.

Important Dates to Remember

• Lion Family Night & Student Schedules – Wednesday, August 12, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
  Come explore the campus, find your student’s classrooms, and connect with our school community. Student schedules will be posted in the Aeries portal by 4:30 p.m. that same day.
  
  
• Early Release Days – Thursday, August 13 & Friday, August 14
  School will dismiss at 1:10 p.m. on both days.
  
  
• Back-to-School Night – Thursday, September 3 (4:30 pm - 7:00 pm)
  We look forward to an evening where you can meet your student’s teachers, learn more about their classes, and celebrate the start of the school year. Additional details will follow.
  
  

We know that the transition from summer to school can bring a mix of excitement and jitters, and we are here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our front office at (760) 901-8800.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education. We can’t wait to welcome our Lions back to campus and see them ready to roar into a fantastic year ahead!

Warmly,
Natalie Daniels
Principal, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School

A Campus Calendar will be available for student / family review in Issue 2 of the Lion's Roar.

In it, you will find all of the exciting events and important dates we have planned for our students and community.

Stay tuned!

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Assistant Principal at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School! With over 25 years of experience as an educator and 10 years of administrative leadership supporting various schools across the Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD), I am excited to join this incredible school community.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working in diverse educational settings, focusing on areas such as Data and Assessment, as well as Educational Technology. Most recently I had the pleasure to serve as the assistant principal at North Terrace, a K-8 school located on Camp Pendleton Marine Base. I strongly believe that by building relationships, integrating data-driven practices, we can create engaging and effective learning experiences for all of our students.

Additionally, I have deep roots in the Oceanside community, having attended several OUSD schools and lived here for much of my life. My two boys have also attended schools in OUSD. This connection to our local community further fuels my commitment to the success and well-being of our students, families, and staff.

I look forward to partnering with all of you, students, teachers, parents, and community members, to continue building a supportive, inclusive, and academically enriching environment at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. Together, we will work to ensure that every child reaches their full potential.

If your student has not yet attended Lion Camp Registration, the make-up day will take place tomorrow, August 10th.

The event will be open and available from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. If your student is a 7th grader, don't forget your proof of TDap!

Student schedules will be live on Aeries at 4:30 pm on 08/12.

Feel free to join us on campus from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm on Wednesday, August 12th.

The school site will be open for self-guided and ASB-supported campus tours. Locate your classes and map out your day the night before school starts!

To best support your student's success at King this school year, each student will need (preferably by Friday, August 21st):

• 3 ring binder (1 inch)
• 4-6 binder dividers
• (optional) Pencil pouch & supplies
  
  

View additional details in the document linked here. Advisory classes will support each student with organizing these materials. Required materials can be provided if needed.

Help Us Support Our Neighbors
At drop off and pick up, please help us support our local neighbors and neighborhood to create a positive and safe environment for those who reside in the area. Helpful tips include:

• Follow posted traffic signs
• Be mindful of neighborhood speed limits
• Encourage your student to ride their e-bike or bicycle responsibly and to follow the rules of the road
• Take note of driveways and crosswalks to avoid blocking road and walkways

Check out this week's MLK Reel of the Week!

Take a look at our OUSD Instagram account @KingMSPride

Date - Tuesday, June 8th

Time - TBD

Location - Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School

Additional details will be provided during 2nd semester.

• King Middle School
  Tutoring by our on-site staff is offered at the dates and times found on the document 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.
  
  
• Palomar Family Counseling Services
  Our PFC team is available on-site for not only student support. Students may see one of our favorite PFC team members, Rosie the service dog, on campus on Fridays! 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 coming soon!)

6th Grade - code coming soon!
7th Grade - code coming soon!

8th Grade - code coming soon!

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)