MP Middle Messenger
Week 27 - 3/13/2020
Week 27 - COVID-19 Closure
A letter from Dr. McDade concerning the closure of Manassas Park City Schools:
March 13, 2020
Dear Cougar Community,
MPCS SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY TODAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 13.
Because of the rapidly changing nature of the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, Manassas Park City Schools and surrounding divisions will be closing for the next three weeks, as well as our previously scheduled Spring Break. At this time students will not report back to school until April 14, 2020.
All student activities – including SAT testing at MPHS on Saturday, March 14 – are cancelled until further notice. There will be no MPCS facility use during this closure.
Please follow www.mpark.net and MPCS social media channels for the most up-to-date information. We have access to the latest information and recommendations from federal, state, regional, and local authorities. We will continue to rely on them and other public-health experts to inform our decision-making as circumstances change. Our highest priority is the well-being of students and staff.
At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19 in the Manassas Park community.
Enhanced cleaning products and increased frequency of cleanings had been occurring on a daily basis in all of our buildings and on all of our buses. We will continue deep-cleaning efforts with CDC-recommended products during the closure.
INSTRUCTION WILL CONTINUE
MPCS staff and students are well versed in online and virtual instruction and these lessons will be grade/class specific.
At MPMS & MPHS: Instruction for students will continue through Canvas. Students and teachers have used this platform in class and will begin the distance learning plan from offsite locations. Students will bring laptops home, and can also access Canvas on smartphones through the Canvas App.
TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT THE VIRUS
While we are all appropriately concerned and arming ourselves with information to help limit the spread of COVID-19, be aware of ways in which children watch us respond to the news around us. Here are a few little things you can do to reduce anxiety in children. This is particularly important for children who may already feel stressed or in recovery from a stressful or traumatic event:
- Stay informed but limit information gathering to when children are outside earshot distance.
- Reassure children of their immunity more often than reminding them of the risk of illness.
- Limit conversation about the spread of this virus to a few minutes with an emphasis on “less is more” for children. They just need to know they and their parent(s) will be okay and are doing everything required to stay healthy and safe.
- Do most things the same (routine) so their homes remain a respite from external stress and a protected space from frightening world events.
- Be vigilant about cleaning but be mindful a hypervigilant parent can cause children to feel uncertain. Children have fewer resources than adults to cope with uncertainty and cannot exercise the kind of critical thinking that we can. They need our words to feel secure and our ‘wise brain’ to reassure their ‘feeling brain!’
- Reassure them with the facts of the flu and the low risk of serious illness this virus poses to children. Just like in the past, they may get sick and they will recover.
- Remind them that the hand washing, hand sanitizing, and other precautions are important to protect the community, but these efforts do not imply they will become seriously ill if they “forget.” That is, these precautions are a community effort to mitigate the risk of healthy individuals carrying the virus and exposing a vulnerable individual.
- Explain that community responsibility is the reason for these precautions versus a fear that they or their parent will become seriously ill.
- Children are watching and listening! Let them see grown-ups “got this” and will inform them if there is a reason to worry. Until then, keep up the play and maintain a relaxed and calm environment at home so they can bring their worries to you and not worry that you’re too worried to hear about it!
The health and wellness of our community continues to be of the utmost importance. If you would like more information about COVID-19, contact your health care provider or refer to the Virginia Department of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites.
Also, be sure to check the division website and social media channels for the most up-to-date information as this situation evolves.
We sincerely appreciate the support and feedback received from the community.
Keep updated while we are out!
-Phone number and email in PowerSchool.
-On twitter, follow @MPCSmcdade, @MPCSVA, @MPMiddle, and @MattSieloff
-Follow Manassas Park City Schools on Facebook
Important Dates and Events Coming Up!
March 14-29: MPMS is closed for COVID-19. Students can continue to access instructional materials through Canvas.
April 4-13: Spring Break: School is Closed!
April 14: We hope to see all MPMS students return to school!
****Note: All MPMS Athletic Events require the purchase of a ticket at the door.****
****$3 for adults, $1 for students****
Check out this week's parent guide to social media!
2019-20 MPMS SOL Test Schedule!
Save the date(s)!
SOL tests are critical days for the assessment of students and the school.
Please make sure that you do not schedule any trips that would pull your student out of school on or immediately before the following SOL testing dates.
Completed! Semester 1 Grade 8 Civics and Science 8 SOL: January 15, 2020
WILL BE RESCHEDULED: Grade 8 Writing SOL - Multiple Choice Section: March 17, 2020
WILL BE RESCHEDULED: Grade 8 Writing SOL - Short Paper Section: March 19, 2020
Read Aloud Testing (only for those with this accommodation, all grade levels): Week of May 11-15, 2020
Math 6 and Geometry SOL: May 19, 2020
Reading SOL for All Grades (6-8): May 21, 2020
All 8th Grade Math SOLs (except Geometry): May 27, 2020
All 7th Grade Math SOLs: May 28, 2020
Semester 2 Grade 8 Civics and Science 8 SOL: May 29, 2020
Help the Middle School - Here are the Many Different Fundraisers That Are Always Running!
Box Tops: Please continue to snip and send your box tops to school with your students! Or, you can now scan in your box tops using their app - Click here to see more: https://www.today.com/parents/there-s-whole-new-way-collect-box-tops-education-t159507
Shoparoo
Shoparoo is an app that allows you to take a picture of your receipts (from any store )and upload them. When you reach $50, they will mail a check to the school. It doesn’t cost anything and it is an easy way for us to raise some money for our school! Just make sure you choose Manassas Park MS when you set up your account to start earning!
Harris Teeter Together in Education Program
Harris Teeter’s Together In Education program gives schools a chance to earn funds when you link your VIC card and shop Harris Teeter brands. Harris Teeter has donated over $28.7 million to Together In Education schools since 1998! When you shop Harris Teeter brands, a percentage of your purchase is donated to the school that your VIC card is linked to. There are NO LIMITS to how much a school can earn. All you need to do is go to https://www.harristeeter.com/together-in-education and click the “Link Your School Today” button. Either log in to your “My Harris Teeter” account or create one using a valid email address and make sure your VIC Card is connected to your online account. Once you are logged in, use code 6643 to add Manassas Park MS to your account so you can start earning for your school!
Shutterfly
Shutterfly is an online photo printing service. You can print photos, canvases, holiday cards and more! If you use the link: https://www.mpms.ShutterflyStorefront.com Shutterfly will donate 8% of your purchase to the school. Be sure to follow our specific MPMS link and purchase using a web browser, not the Shutterfly phone app.
Staples Classroom Rewards
Staples Classroom Rewards program helps parents give 5% of their Back to School purchases directly to their child’s teacher. Teachers will enroll in the program and parents can easily visit the site, select their child’s teacher and enter in their receipt number and purchase amount. This will be automatically added to the teacher’s classroom account. Sales can be donated until 9/15/19 so be sure to get your receipts entered for your students classroom account!
Can't Come to a School Board Meeting? Watch from Home!
Are you the Parent of a Special Education Student?
Also, the Greater Prince William County Special Education PTA is a great resource and support group for parents of children enrolled in special educational programs. They organize events and information sessions for parents, students, and staff.
Need To Report Something?
Connect with us on Twitter!
If you want to see what Mr. Sieloff is reading regarding educationally focused articles and more MPMS, MPHS, and MPCS likes and retweets, follow him @MattSieloff
If you want to be the first to know about any school delays or cancellations, follow our Superintendent @MPCSmcdade
There are also a number of teachers who are showing off what's going on in class on Twitter. If you like their tweets above, follow them!
Check us out!
Matt Sieloff, Principal
Email: matt.sieloff@mpark.net
Website: mpark.net
Location: 8202 Euclid Avenue, Manassas Park, VA, USA
Phone: 703-361-1510
Twitter: @MattSieloff