MPHS Cougar Connection
March 20, 2020
News & Notes
On behalf of the staff at Manassas Park High School, we certainly miss our students and miss seeing everyone each day! The campus and building is all too quiet.
We hope everyone is doing well, especially considering the circumstances. Our teachers have done a fabulous job providing continuity of instruction and learning via Canvas. I have posted Canvas parent access instructions below. I would encourage you to log and see what your children have been working on in each of their classes. We will continue to provide continuous learning opportunities for as long as this may last. We will continue to engage and support our students. Please be assured that we are in regular contact with staff and departments.
I have posted additional information below and will continue to send out a weekly newsletter. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions. Wishing you and your family continued health and safety.
Please be safe and be well,
Mrs. Pam Kalso
Principal
MPCS Food Distribution Continues
Pop Up Family Market will be held this Saturday, March 21, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in front of MPHS. Food will be distributed in drive up lines. All families are welcome to attend.
Boxes of prepackaged food will be placed in the truck of cars as they pass through the distribution line. Car windows must be rolled up and trunks open when approaching our box handling volunteers. Cars must enter the parking lot of MPHS and follow the stated parking directions. Vehicles will be numbered to ensure fair distribution.
For the safety of our entire community, it is important to follow the guidance supplied by police and volunteers to maintain safe social distancing practices and vehicle passage.
As this distribution system is new, we appreciate the patience and cooperation demonstrated as we work to increase efficiency and maintain the safety of all participants.
Please share our food distribution information to those in the community who might need this service.
Reminder: The MPCS School Nutrition Program is providing prepackaged grab-and-go meals at no charge to all children ages 18 and under on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the main entrance of Manassas Park High School between 4 and 6 pm. Please note this is a location change from in front of the Middle School to the High School.
In order to minimize the number of times parents must bring their children to the distribution site, sets of two prepackaged breakfasts and lunches will be provided on Tuesdays and three sets of prepackaged meals will be provided on Thursdays. Please note that all children must be present in order to receive the meals. All meals will be the same regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.
Safe social distancing practices will be in effect. As the meal distributions will be set up as a grab-and-go, attendees should follow volunteer direction to ensure safe vehicle traffic and open vehicle trunks for expedited delivery.
Library Media Center Materials
- Your children can access the Library Media Center Canvas page. There are tons of resources and ebooks for students to use.
- Free ebooks can be found at this link: http://library.esebco.com/site/login
They are free until June 30,2020 - 450 multiuser ebooks, ranging from PreK-Adult
Username: keepreading
Password: sebco
Student ID#: 1
MPCS Latest Update 3/20/20
CONTINUATION OF INSTRUCTION
Under advisement from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), MPCS will continue to provide positive proactive strategies to continue student engagement. VDOE guidance to schools states that in order to address student equity, learning opportunities provided during the closure be voluntary for students and not be graded. Students are currently not required to participate, and MPCS does not regard these opportunities as instructional days, but we strongly encourage students to take advantage of the engagement activities our teachers are providing.
Questions have been asked regarding special education and 504 services. School divisions are not required to provide services for FAPE during a school closure; however, your child’s case manager may offer strategies to help parents keep their child engaged while they are away from school. When schools reopen, we will resume full services to all students.
At this time, there is no guidance from the U. S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) regarding the waiver of federal timelines related to special education compliance. Case managers are contacting parents to set up virtual meetings, if possible, for all students that require either IEP or 504 meetings during the closure.
We know this situation is unprecedented and there are many questions. Updates and changes will be made as the Virginia Department of Education supplies guidance, and those will be passed along to parents/caregivers and students as soon as possible. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding during this time and encourage all students to participate in the enrichment opportunities supplied by their teachers.
Schools will continue to publish newsletters. MPHS and MPMS will remain with a Friday distribution. Cougar and MPE will change to a Monday distribution and include weekly student lessons.
Principal Pam Kalso
Email: pam.kalso@mpark.net
Website: www.mpark.net
Location: 8200 Euclid Avenue, Manassas Park, VA, USA
Phone: 703-361-9131
Twitter: @PrincipalKalso