MPES Connection
January 8, 2021
Thank you to all of our families for completing the Semester 2 Return to School survey and selecting either virtual learning or an in-person, hybrid model of learning when our school division moves to this phase. Your responses are very important in helping us appropriately plan for the second semester, including class/teacher assignments and transportation needs. With some families choosing to change their selection of either a hybrid or virtual learning environment, it will be necessary for us to reorganize classrooms to maximize the teaching and learning opportunities for all students. This reorganization means that some students may need to be assigned to new teachers to accommodate the learning choices of families. Our teachers will work closely together to ensure that the transitions are as smooth as they can be for each student.
If your student will be changing teachers for the second semester, you will be notified via email and/or a phone call no later than Friday, January 22 with the new teacher assignment. The second semester begins on Tuesday, February 2.
While it has been shared with families since the beginning of the school year that this may be necessary to do, it does not make these decisions any easier. We appreciate your understanding and assure you that we will do everything we can to support our students in these transitions. Please contact me at stacey.mamon@mpark.net with any questions or concerns.
Other Important Notes:
- Beginning next Monday, January 11, teachers will begin administering mid-year STAR Reading and Math assessments, along with benchmark tests in reading and math. Testing will continue through Friday, January 23. These tests will help your child's teacher understand what he/she has learned and most importantly, what they are ready to learn next. All of these tests will be given online and teachers will monitor students remotely. Your child's teacher will let you know what days the tests are scheduled for during the next two weeks.
- Students took these STAR tests in the beginning of the school year and are familiar with the test, but it is important to continue to help them feel comfortable with a remote testing process. Please click on the link below to read a letter (in English and Spanish) with important information about how to support your child when they are taking these tests at home. There are also two videos below to help you and your child with logging into the STAR assessments.
Don't forget to send pictures of our students learning at home! I love seeing and sharing them in my weekly newsletters. Snap a picture and send it to me at stacey.mamon@mpark.net.
Sincerely,
Stacey Mamon
Principal
Tips for families to prepare for a positive testing experience
Monitor – Stay nearby where your child is testing to ensure they remain focused, but avoid hovering and distracting.
Atmosphere – Provide a quiet area at a table or desk that is free from distractions. Students may need headphones for the assessment.
Prepare – Ensure your child is well rested and has a good breakfast.
Support – Students should complete the test independently. The purpose of these assessments is to help teachers understand what your child knows. Some assessments may be used for a grade. If they get stuck or ask for help, simply encourage them to choose the best answer and then move on to the next question.
January Family STEM Challenge
Counselor Corner
Did you know that January is “National Thank You Month?" Encourage your child to make a thank you card to spread kindness. We all know how kindness is contagious! A small, simple gesture can truly make a large impact in the lives of others.
Watch this video to find out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwelE8yyY0U&index=1&list=PL2gtmspLTIFjnBpXkRtfEAyHimnkb6297
If you have any concerns about your student, please reach out to our school counselors, Ms. Rose (patricia.rose@mpark.net) and Ms. Rupert (makenzie.rupert@mpark.net). You can also fill out this Parent/Caregiver Referral to School Counselor form about your concerns.
Learning in Action
Timeline for Return To a Hybrid Model
On November 16, the Manassas Park City School Board unanimously in a 4-0 vote approved a return to virtual instruction for all students and a revised rollout to a hybrid model of teaching and learning.
All students returned to a virtual learning environment on November 23, 2020. The revised timeline for a return to a hybrid model of teaching and learning will remain tentative and conditions-based, and is scheduled for the following dates:
Cougar Elementary School, PreK-2, SPED
and Level 1 English language learners: January 19, 2021
Manassas Park Elementary School: February 2, 2021
Manassas Park Middle School: February 16, 2021
Manassas Park High School: February 16, 2021
Directions to Check Grades in PowerSchool Parent Portal
Important Health Information
MPCS Returning Forward Learning Plan and Health Plan
On Monday, August 17th, the school board approved the Health Plan and Learning Plan for the 2020-2021 school year. These two important documents are guiding our return forward this year and include many details about what our learning environment will look like.
MPCS Returning Forward Learning Plan 2020-2021
Students can now check out books from our MPES Library!
Need IT Support?
Please email it.support@mpark.net.
Please make sure you include your student's name, the device type, and a detailed description of the problem.
MPES Office Hours
School Board Meetings and Work Sessions Available on YouTube!
Ways to Support the PTO and our schools
Amazon Smile
Start your shopping at smile.amazon.com! All it takes is a Smile to help raise money for our schools! If you are already an Amazon shopper, be sure to link your account to the Manassas Park Cougar Parent Teacher Organization and do your shopping directly on smile.amazon.com. A percentage of your order amount will be donated back to the schools!
Shoparoo Mobile App
Support our schools by downloading the Shoparoo Mobile App to your mobile device! After each of your grocery store shopping trips, open the app and snap a picture of your receipt! That's all it takes to earn money for our schools!
Harris Teeter VIC Card
Do you shop at Harris Teeter? Do you have a VIC Loyalty Card? Helping our schools to earn extra cash is as simple as visiting www.harristeeter.com and following the online steps to link your VIC card to both Cougar and Manassas Park Elementary!
Stay Connected!
There will be many exciting things happening throughout the next school year. I encourage you to stay up-to-date with important information and follow highlights of our learning at MPES and in Manassas Park City Schools.
You can stay connected by:
- Checking your child's Monday Folder each week
- Reading the MPES weekly online newsletters emailed out each Friday afternoon
- Following MPES on Twitter @MPEScougars
- Following MPCS on Twitter @MPCSchools
- Liking and following the Manassas Park City Schools Facebook page
- Checking the MPCS website frequently at www.mpark.net
Be sure to also keep up to date with PTO happenings!
- Facebook - www.facebook.com/ManassasParkCougarPTO
- Twitter - www.twitter.com/ManassasParkPTO
- Email - mpc-pto@mpcschools.net
Upcoming Dates
MPCS School Board Work Session
Monday, January 11
6:59 p.m.
School Board Meeting Room (available to watch live on YouTube)
No School for Students and Teachers - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, January 18
MPCS School Board Meeting - Superintendent's Proposed Budget
Monday, January 25
6:59 p.m.
School Board Meeting Room (available to watch live on YouTube)
Manassas Park Elementary School
Principal
Email: stacey.mamon@mpark.net
Website: www.mpark.net
Location: 9298 Cougar Court, Manassas Park, VA, United States
Phone: (703) 368-2032
Twitter: @MPEScougars