MLK Family Welcome Letter 2026
Martin Luther King Intermediate Families:
It is with great excitement that I write today and welcome all MLK families to the 2026-2027 school year. I truly believe that 4th and 5th grade is an age where all possibilities are open for educating our students, and I invite all students (and families) to Dream, Believe, and Achieve in the year ahead.
With this letter I hope to provide clarity on school opening details as we prepare for what I know will be a successful start to the year. Please carefully review the details below and do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any questions.
Your Child’s Homeroom Placement and School Supply Lists
Your child’s homeroom placement can be found in the Genesis Parent Module following the completion of our district required forms. These forms will open today for all families at 2:00pm. On Monday, August 24th you will be receiving a letter from your child’s homeroom teacher. I ask that you give it a look, so your child knows who to report to on the first day.
Please be advised that the placement process is a carefully planned process with many moving parts and considerations. Setting your child up for academic success this year is the biggest part of this planning process. Your child’s homeroom teacher is one piece of their schedule. Along with his/her homeroom teacher your child will also have creative arts and support teachers, and in most cases, another “switch teacher” as well.
Our first day of school is Wednesday, September 2nd. Teachers will be in all parts of the building to help students find their classroom upon entrance into the school.
You can find our district’s Intermediate School Supply Lists here. Our teacher letters may have a few additional supply items as well. We know gathering the varied items can be a challenge, so if you do not have absolutely everything listed for the very first day of school please do not worry. We have caring and flexible teachers and will make sure everyone gets started on a strong foot together. If for any reason you feel you cannot purchase the listed items due to a hardship, please reach out to our main office for assistance.
Where to Find Information This Year
One of my top priorities is constant and clear communication from MLK to our families. It is my firm belief that schools work best when everyone – parents, teachers, and students – remain on the same page. There will be exciting school events, important curricular dates, and at times, simple general observations about daily life here at MLK that will be shared. Here are some ways we will accomplish that:
- The MLK Snapshot – our weekly office newsletter will come to you every Thursday afternoon starting the first week of school in ParentSquare. You can find our summer newsletter here to get an idea of what this will look like.
- ParentSquare - A central location for class updates, newsletters, and direct communication with staff. Please find all ParentSquare information here.
- Schoology Class Pages – Schoology is the hub for your child’s classes! You can set up a Parent Schoology account here. This letter can also provide further guidance on Schoology parent access.
- Genesis – This remains the location for grades, report cards, contact information, attendance, and a variety of other important information related to your child. This is also an essential space for contact information. Please review your Genesis information to make sure we have the most updated phone numbers, email addresses, and contact names.
- Piscataway Schools Website – The district website, and our school’s website, are great places for general information and updates.
- Give us a call – Last, but certainly not least, if you are ever confused about anything – please give us a call at 732-699-1563. We have a wonderful, helpful office staff.
GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION
| School Hours for Martin Luther King | ||
| Regular Full Day Schedule | 8:05 am to 2:20 pm | |
| Early Dismissal Day Schedule | 8:05 am to 12:25 pm (Lunch Served) | |
| 2 Hour Delayed Opening | 10:05 am to 2:20 pm (Lunch Served) | |
| Before School Care | 7:00 am to 8:00 am | |
| After Care | 2:20 pm to 6:00 pm | |
Important Upcoming Dates:
Please mark your calendar for a few important family events:
- Tuesday, August 25th – Summer Ice Cream Social from 5-7pm
- Wednesday, September 2nd – First Day for Students
- Wednesday, September 16th - Back to School Night 6:00pm
ENTRANCE AND DISMISSAL GUIDANCE
Please use the following information to help us facilitate smooth arrival and dismissal procedures this year. MLK staff are outside of the building from 7:45-8:05 and then again from 2:20-2:30 every day for entrance and dismissal supervision.
Arrival
Students will be allowed to enter the school once the bell rings at 7:45am. The late bell will ring at 8:05am. Students arriving after 8:05am must be signed in by a parent at the front entrance. It is strongly recommended that all students arrive at the building prior to 8:00am to allow for time to be ready to learn when the day starts at 8:05am.
Teachers will be present both inside and outside of the building to welcome students as they arrive, and to direct them to their respective classrooms.
If you plan to drop off your child, we ask that you adhere to one of the following procedures:
- The side parking lot (to the right of the school when facing the front of the building) is designated for student drop off. When entering the lot, please let your child out at the walkway leading to the side entrance of the school (Door 7). Our staff will be at this walkway each morning and afternoon to ensure a safe drop off. After dropping off your child, we ask that you exit the parking lot to help keep the traffic moving smoothly.
- You have the option to park along Witherspoon Street between MLK and Conackamack, and let your child out to walk down one of the paths to the entrance at the back of the building (Door 5). Students who will be walking or transported by car will be able to enter as well as be dismissed daily through this rear entrance. A teacher will be on duty outside of that doorway each morning at 7:45am and afternoon at 2:20pm.
- The front loop of the school will also open for parent drop off no earlier than 7:55am each morning if all busses have cleared the loop. This drop off is one-lane traffic only, and students should be dropped off at the path leading up to door 7.
Dismissal
School ends at 2:20pm, and at times students may begin exiting the building a minute or two earlier to facilitate a smooth exit transition. Please be mindful that students designated as “walkers” (walking home or getting picked up by car) will be released from the side door (Door 7) at dismissal and are not required to be signed out. If you will be picking up your child at dismissal, you can park in the staff lot and wait in the area outside of Door 7.
Please notify your child’s teacher if you plan to pick up behind the school (Witherspoon Street/Conackamack), and the teacher will dismiss him/her from Door 5 (the back exit/entrance facing Conackamack).
It is critically important that if there is any planned variation from your child’s normal transportation procedures, please contact the school main office prior to 1:30pm via phone or email so that we can plan accordingly. Any variation after 1:30pm must be a phone call to the main office to speak directly to a secretary.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Bus Transportation Information
- Bus passes will be sent to parents by the Transportation Department before the start of the year. For any questions regarding bussing, please contact our Transportation Department at 732-572-2289 Ext. 2364 or 2365. You can also visit their website for more information.
School Meals
- Eligible families must complete the School Nutrition Application to be approved for free or reduced meals this year. Families are encouraged to complete the application online using the Genesis Parent Portal. The School Nutrition Application for free meals and information about breakfast and lunch can be found on our Food Services section of our district website.
- Students can purchase breakfast and/or lunch daily. For the 2026 – 2027 school year: Breakfast will be free, Lunch will be $3.25. Full information regarding food services can be found here.
School Behavior Expectations
- We take our student expectations very seriously at MLK. All students are expected to be a positive presence in our building each day. Please take a moment before the beginning of the year to read and understand our District Code of Conduct, Intermediate Handbook, and the School Bus Rules and Safety Guidelines. Understanding and following the expectations from these documents is essential to ensuring a positive school experience for everyone.
Once again, I want to reiterate how excited we are to welcome you for this school year. While there is much information contained in this letter, I know you may still have questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out via email (akehoe@pway.org) or phone (732-699-1563). I look forward to seeing everyone soon!
Warm Regards,
Andrew Kehoe
Principal, Martin Luther King Intermediate School