MP Middle Messenger
Week 18: 1/22/2021
Next Week - The Great Kindness Challenge!
We are excited to announce that MPCS will be participating in The Great Kindness Challenge. This is a nation-wide challenge that promotes kindness from January 25th to January 29th, 2021.
The GKC Checklist!
Due to the virtual world, the MPMS school counselors made the decision to alter the way students will complete the checklist. We are going to use it as a community builder and have homerooms collectively work together to complete the various tasks on their GKC Homeroom Virtual Checklist (this link will force homeroom teachers to make a copy, there are additional directions within the slide). It’s quite simple as they complete tasks on the challenge you check it off on the homeroom checklist. Homerooms who work together to complete the entire checklist will be recognized!
Spirit Days!
Of course… We will also be having spirit days throughout the challenge. Today we will be posting the spirit days and the checklists to our Counseling Canvas pages as an announcement. We would encourage you to do the same! If you would like to post my announcement to your canvas page please let me know and I can directly send it to you via canvas (no need to recreate the wheel)! On Friday, Admin are going to be posting about The Great Kindness Challenge in their SMORE newsletters.
Picture Makeup/Retake Day is Coming on Tuesday, February 2!
- Parents who did not order the first time but would like to can go to www.mylifetouch.com and use picture day ID EVTB7Z6C4. If they purchased the first time and did not have their students photo taken, that order will flow to this picture. If parents want a retake, they must bring in the original pictures to have a new package re-entered into the system for this new photo.
- Teachers can get their pictures taken, just come by when they are available on February 2.
- Students must sign up for a time slot using the sign up genius link. Click here to sign up for your photo appointment: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FABAA2EA3FF2-mpms1
- When entering the school, all must wear a facemask covering their nose and mouth. Your photo appointment should take less than 5 minutes total!
- To all students – these pictures will be used for the yearbook. So, feel free to come and take a student picture for the yearbook. If you like the pictures and want to buy a picture package, you can or if you don’t want to buy the pictures, that’s okay too.
Not going to Picture Day, but still want your photo in the Yearbook? Here is how to submit!
Families can submit a headshot (face and shoulders) instead of using a school photo this year. All submissions must be in before March 15.
To submit your photo, it’s super easy: go to this website - https://forms.gle/amTFmDaJ2C1kNegH8
For all Yearbook and Cougar Express links - check out the LinkTree! This includes surveys for the yearbook, how to purchase a yearbook, and access to our digital newspaper, the Cougar Express! https://linktr.ee/mpmsnewsyb
Lastly - if you have any questions or a problem with submitting your photo, email Ms. Miller at corinne.miller@mpark.net. She will be able to help make sure everything is ready for the yearbook!
MPMS Spelling Bee is HERE! Sign up NOW!
I am excited to announce that the MPMS Spelling Bee will still happen! All students who wish to participate must sign up using the links/instructions below:
Here’s the link for parents (or students directly can as well) to register: https://online-test.spellingbee.com
Here is an instructional video for registering in case you need it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ThKRsffiFc
Dates:
1/25 through 2/5: Registering and students can take the qualifying test
2/8 through 2/12: Qualifying students will take the final test to determine the school champion
3/9: Regional Spelling Bee at George M. Hampton Middle School in Prince William County
Once registered, study lists will be sent to all students who wish to compete. May the best Speller win!
2021-2022 Course Requests for Current 8th Graders Coming Soon!
It is hard to believe that planning for the 2021-2022 school year has begun and course selection for rising 9th graders is here! Please see details below for selecting courses for the 2021-2022 school year.
- January 25th: Rising 9th grade course selection opens for all current 8th grade students. Students will visit the course selection resource site listed below and submit course selections via googleform.
- Course selection site: https://bit.ly/mphscourseselect
- MPHS Course Catalog: https://bit.ly/mphscourses
- January 25th-February 5th: School Counselors will hold office hours on Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays for course selection support. Zoom links can be located on course selection site.
If you have any questions, please contact your child's high school counselor:
Ms. Quinones (jasmin.quinones@mpark.net) A-GOM
Mr. Gillespie (bradley.gillespie@mpark.net) GON-PAC
Ms. Watson (cindy.watson@mpark.net) PAD-Z
Want to Remember 2020-21? Purchase a MPMS Yearbook!
This is a school year unlike any other! Be sure to remember it with a 2020-21 MPMS Yearbook! For only $30, you can have a memento of this school year.
Need Tech Support?
If your child is experiencing any technology trouble, please email it.support@mpark.net. They will assist with any technology needs and repairs.
If you need a Wifi hotspot, they are available! Please email it.support@mpark.net to arrange a pick up at MPMS.
Check out some Student work from this week!
Experiments with Water in Ms. Wu's Class!
Learning to Juggle in PE!
Ms. Brill-Lee's STEM Class Work!
Homemade Pizza in Family and Consumer Science!
Meet a New Face @ MP Middle School!
Ms. Sydney Stanley is our permanent substitute teacher, who has worked as a long term sub in a couple of our English classes and has also helped out in our front desk. She is coming to Manassas Park from her hometown of nearby Manassas, VA!
Quick Facts about Ms. Stanley:
-Attended Liberty University!
-Majored in Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice and is currently working on her Master's degree in English Language Arts education!
-Likes to watch movies, play with her pug, and be outdoors!
-Enjoys spending time with her friends and family and trying new restaurants!
-Loves to eat
When you see her in the middle school or in the community, please welcome Ms. Stanley to Manassas Park Middle School!
8th Grade Origami from Ms. Pemberton's Art Class
Keep your MP Device up and running!
If your device isn't working well or needs a physical repair, email it.support@mpark.net to schedule a repair with our IT team.
Don't delay - we want to make sure everyone is ready to learn every day!
Any finally, if you have any tech questions at all, email the IT team at it.support@mpark.net at any time. They will be happy to help you!
MPMS School Counselor Update!
Words of Wisdom from MPMS Students!
Hey there MPMS!
We got some fantastic responses to our 7th Grader's Question: "What keeps you guys motivated? I know the quote "Things get worse before they get better" but things have been getting worse for 2 years for me now. How do you guys stay motivated with all the negativity around you?"
Responses:
From an 8th Grader
"Well, for the person saying you're tired of hearing "it will get better" because after 2 years of things getting worse they just keep getting worse, let me tell you something. I understand you completely. My whole life things have just been getting worse, but I have come to learn that all these hardships are only making you stronger. When you get hurt, it's okay, it means you're out of that cave. You've experienced it, you know what it's like, so you try every way to avoid it, but next thing you know, you're hurt again. But that's okay, again, it's only making you stronger, and after a cycle of you getting hurt over and over again, something will come to your life that will be the bright light at the end of the cave. Sometimes, you need to find that light. Find what motivates you, what makes you happy, what gets you up every morning. It can be your future, your friends, your hobbies, your family, music, literally anything. Just find things that are worth living for, practice them, cherish them. Find good coping mechanisms for when you're getting hurt again. Make sure they're healthy too. Every feeling is temporary, every. single. one. Including happiness, and that's okay because that's just how life is. I know that makes this seem kinda depressing but listen that's not the point. Pain is temporary too. It always is. You'll soon realize all this is happening for a reason. All of it."
From another 8th Grader
"I'll answer the question for da 7th grader... well things haven't gotten better, but all you gotta do is change dat mindset yo, because if not you probably will be stuck. So get out of that negative mindset and make things a little more positive, but if that doesn't work then try to open up to some one who you trust and get it all out maybe it will have you feel better you know?"
Keep sending your questions and keep sending your answers/words of wisdom! We love seeing everyone's challenges and solutions!
Have a great week!
Our next piece of wisdom comes from a 6th grader:
Challenges this year: Covid-19
Words of Wisdom: "That if we all stick together, we will get through this together."
Have a great week MPMS!
The School Counselors
Words of Wisdom - How to Participate!
The counselors have created a new page on our canvas titled: Words of Wisdom from Middle Schoolers. If you want to see the post from last week, Check out our page here: Words of Wisdom from Middle Schoolers. https://mpcs.instructure.com/courses/8408/pages/words-of-wisdom-from-middle-schoolers
We'll be posting in the announcements and on the page weekly, so be sure to check it out! If you'd like to submit a word of wisdom OR ask a question to your fellow middle schoolers, fill out this form. https://forms.gle/63U782vF4sDoaYeAA
MPMS Multicultural Night!
As a standing tradition, we will be having the annual Multicultural Night… VIRTUAL style 😊 We are excited to announce that we will be compiling a video, made by all of you, as something we can share with the school and community here at Manassas Park. Although we recognize that this is an event that brings people “together” with different performances, cultures and food, we hope to make it interesting and an experience that will not be forgotten. Please feel free to think about what interests you and fill out the google form if you are wanting to participate and show off a preview of your life. We look forward to receiving videos from you all in the upcoming weeks. For now, think about what type of video you are going to create and more instructions will be out in the upcoming News Letters.
Thank you,
MPMS School Counselors
MPMS Library Updates!
Our Winter Book Fair Is Coming February 1st!
Click here to see our Book Fair Home Page! https://www.scholastic.com/bf/mpms
- 100% Online
- Delivery to your home (FREE for book orders over $25)
- Huge selection of popular books for all ages
- Bargain books available
- Spanish books available
- All purchases benefit YOUR library!
You can get print books from our library! Here’s how:
- Log in to the library catalog (http://destiny.mpark.net) and put the book on hold BEFORE 9:00 am Monday morning.
- WAIT for an email from Mrs. O’Connell telling you that your book is ready. The email will tell you which Bookmobile location has your book.
- Pick up the book from the Library Bookmobiles on Monday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
- Manassas Park City Library
- Manassas Park Community Center
Food Distribution - Pick up a WEEK's Worth of FREE Food each Monday!
Now you can pick up 5 lunches and 5 breakfasts at a time for your child(ren) for FREE!
This drive-thru style pick-up will be held at FOUR locations every Monday.
***Please note the time adjustment at CES and MPMS, if that is your preferred pickup site.
From 9:00 to 11 am at Cougar Elementary via Cougar Court
From 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at the MP Community Center/Dog Park
From 1:30 to 2:30 pm at Sandstone Way & Manassas Drive
From 4:00 to 6 pm at Manassas Park Middle School
Meals are limited to one set of meals per child, per week.
Proof of enrollment, or bringing a child(ren) to pick up, is required for parents to pick up meals. Proof of enrollment can include a student ID card, report card, or any other school communication containing the students name(s). If you need assistance with providing proof, the food services department can make an ID badge which you can use for future visits.
If your children are not school aged, our food services team will work with you to provide a proof should you wish to pick up without children in the future. Please talk to them during the pick-up time slots noted above.
We hope that replicating our Summer Feeding Program and adding an additional pick up location and window will permit more families to take advantage of this FREE service.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to serve as many people in our community as possible.
Sign up for a Manassas Park City Library Card!
In addition to your school library, you can get two public library cards to access even more resources. For the new Manassas Park City Library, sign up with your parents present by clicking here https://manassasparkcitylibrary.org/get-a-library-card/. Use your home (not school) email address. If you do not have a Prince William County Public Library card, you can sign up here as well https://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/library/Pages/How-To-Get-A-Library-Card.aspx.
Middle School Sports!
Once we get closer to a opening sports season, additional details will be shared. No final decision has been made about rescheduling fall sports to the Spring at this time.
If your child is getting an annual physical with their pediatrician and plans to play a sport this school year, please have your doctor fill out the sports physical form (link below.)
Sports physicals are good for the entire school year, so any completed this fall will still be valid for a potential winter or spring sports season.
Please Make Sure All Debts are Paid!
Please pay and settle all outstanding fines (technology obligations, library fines, etc.) as soon as possible. Payments can be made by cash or check or online at myschoolbucks.com. If you are paying for a technology obligation by check, please make checks payable to MPCS.
If you have any questions or need to know what your student owes, please contact Mrs. Wence, the Bookkeeper, in the front office. 703-361-1510, x17102 or via email at kim.wence@mpark.net.
Thank you for your assistance.
Can't Come to a School Board Meeting? Watch from Home!
Connect with us on Twitter!
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: @MpMiddle