MP Middle Messenger
Week 19 - 1/17/2020
Week 19 - 8th Grade SOL testing - Check!
Congratulations to Myles Lanier (pictured above) who is not only the MPMS Martin Luther King Jr Oratorical Contest winner, but also in the top THREE (a first for MPMS) for the greater Prince William County Region! If you want to hear Myles give his speech, he will be competing on Monday (MLK Day) at the Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge, VA. Doors open to the public at 10 am, and the performances start at 11. A free event, come join me in cheering on Myles and enjoying a great tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This week saw our first round of SOL testing, with 8th grade students taking their Civics and Science SOL tests. Retakes (for those who are eligible) will be next Wednesday.
And Semester 1 ends next Friday, January 24. Please check your student's grade and work with them to ensure they have the highest grade possible - especially for a quarterly elective or a semester 1 class, as this is their final chance to maximize their grades for those classes!
Next week sees out boys winter sports tryouts on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. All students who wish to try out for wrestling or boys basketball must have a sports physical on file with the athletic department as well as have turned in a concussion awareness form with a parent/guardian signature. (Note: If your student participated in fall sports in 2019, those forms are valid. All forms from 2018-19 sports seasons are not valid for this year. New physicals and concussion forms must be turned in.)
Important Dates and Events Coming Up!
January 20: MLK Holiday - No School!
January 21-23: Boys Winter Sports Tryouts! (Basketball and Wrestling)
****In order to tryout, all students must have completed concussion paperwork and have a 2019-20 school year sports physical on file with the athletics department. Paperwork from last school year (2018-19) is not acceptable, however paperwork from 2019 fall sports is acceptable and does not need to be resubmitted.
January 24: 1/2 Day (10:30 am dismissal) for Middle and High School Students! (End of Semester 1)
January 27: Professional Development Day for Teachers - No School for Students!
January 28: Semester 2 and 3rd Quarter Starts!!
****Note: All MPMS Athletic Events require the purchase of a ticket at the door.****
****$3 for adults, $1 for students****
Meet a New Teacher @ MP Middle School!
Ms. Yun is our new School Counselor, who splits her time between the middle school and the high school. She is coming to Manassas Park from her hometown in Chicago, Illinois! She can be found in her office in the counseling hallway.
Quick Facts about Ms. Yun:
-Attended Wheaton College, IL and George Mason University, VA
-Majored in Psychology, also earned a Masters in Education, Counseling and Development
-Likes True Crime, Starburst, Reese’s, Podcasts, Docuseries
-Enjoys Traveling, weightlifting, laser tag
-Loves Dessert! I think Key Lime Pie is my favorite. I also love trying new restaurants!
When you see her in the building, at a school sporting event, or in the community, please welcome Ms. Yun to Manassas Park!
Reminder - School Starts at 7:25!
Especially when it rains or is extremely cold, we see an increase in the number of parents driving. This creates a longer than normal backup on Euclid Ave, which may lead to tardiness to school. As a reminder, 3 tardies to school in the same quarter results in an after school detention.
Please continue to use the same arrival procedures in all weather events to keep things moving smoothly, and leave a little early on rainy/cold mornings just in case there are more parents driving than normal.
Thank you!
Dismissal - Please Stay With Your Car!
1. Fill the parent kiss and ride loop first around the guest parking spaces.
2. If you are in the main straightaway in the parking lot, park in doubles - should be two aisles as indicated by the arrows painted on the pavement.
3. Do not leave your car. Have your child come to your car once students are dismissed.
4. If you are attempting to pick up your child early, plan to pick them up no later than 2 pm, as the pickup lines will build as we get closer to 2:15 dismissal and you will be stuck in the parking lot.
5. When exiting the parking lot, exit one at a time, every other car.
6. Avoid parking/waiting on the shoulder of Euclid Ave, as students who walk through the parent traffic are at risk of being hit by cars.
And above all, drive very slowly on school grounds during dismissal and use common sense so everyone gets to their ride safely. Between the high school and middle school, we safely dismiss over 2100 students at 2:15, with almost all of those students on a bus or in a car by 2:26. It's an amazing process that requires everyone doing their part.
Thank you for your help in making every afternoon's dismissal a success!
Check out this week's Teacher Tweets!
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
Grade 8 Writing SOL - Multiple Choice Section: March 17, 2020
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
The 2020 Census is coming to MP! Check out below to see what you need to know!
Reminder for Walkers/Bike Riders In the Morning!
Crossing Guards are an integral part of the team that gets your children to school safely each day. Please note that crossing guards are at their posts beginning at 6:30 am each school morning. As the mornings are dark and many motorists utilize the Bloom Quarry intersection, please help ensure your children are not crossing intersections before crossing guards are in place. Crossing Guards are prohibited from directing traffic, but their presence will assist in safe road crossing for all pedestrians.
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.
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