MPVA Weekly Update
Week of November 7 - 11, 2022
Congratulations to the Houston Astros on their World Series Championship! Whether you are a baseball fan or not, when Houston wins, we all win!
Per Superintendent House, all HISD schools and offices will be closed on Monday, November 7, 2022. We will see our Greyhounds on Tuesday and it will be a Purple Day.
Finally, school pictures will be taken on November 15 and 18. Students may wear school-appropriate clothes that are not dress code for picture day. A more detailed schedule is coming. In the meantime, you may pre-order pictures at https://ph.hhimagehost.com/V2/Home/Index.
Let's make it a great week!
Mr. Sarabia
Week 1 WE ARE MEYERLAND Update from PTO Campaign Chair:
Cannot believe I'm typing this, but we are going into week 2 of our WE ARE MEYERLAND campaign with a donation total of $20,982 representing 101 students. Single donations have come in ranging from $5 to $2000 from current students, staff members, neighbors, friends of MPVA, and relatives. At this point in last year's campaign, we had taken in less than 10 donations. I'm absolutely blown away by our community's commitment to MPVA and knowing that the success of WE ARE MEYERLAND depends on all of us.
If you haven’t yet made your family’s contribution, we ask that you take a minute to watch our informational video linked below and then scroll to the bottom of this email to read last week’s WAM highlighted profiles:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAFQEvTY3Kg/Dtdftq7aPjEa0bPIwmSFzQ/watch
It’s our hope that you will spend some time thinking about what a meaningful donation means for your family.
Donation Link: https://mpva.membershiptoolkit.com/wearemeyerland
WE ARE MEYERLAND, y’all! Let’s do this!
Congratulations to our UIL Theater team and Director, Ms. Duran (Hays), who competed this weekend in a zone competition to see who would advance to the district finals next weekend. Not only did our team advance to the district finals, but they also scored some top awards:
o Nia Lewis - Zone 1 Best Performer
o Sophia Sorena – All-Star Cast
o Zillion Cade – All-Star Cast
o Maggie Hogue – All-Star Cast
o Molly Ethyn Larson – Honorable Mention All-Star Cast
o Eliana Weiner – All-Star Tech
Best of luck to our Greyhounds as they compete in the district finals next weekend!
This week we are adding a new section to our weekly newsletter highlighting our Verizon Innovative Learning School (VILS) program which includes some exciting news below …
Mr. Edmond’s Class
Students in Mr. Edmond’s class are using java-script coding to create apps in Code Studio. The process included using an app development planning guide to pick and research a topic, design an app user interface, collect feedback on it, and publish the app. Very impressive work done by these middle school coders!
Ms. Arlt’s Broadcast Journalism Class
Ms. Artl’s Journalism students are using two types of cloud drives to import and export videos from recorded interviews. Students are using iPads to record their interviews and now know how to use both Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive to store their videos and then edit them on their Chromebooks using WeVideo. Their experience with shared drives means that all students can view and use videos saved by other members of the class.
Shhh! We can’t give more details right now, though MPVA is expanding its partnership with Verizon Innovative Learning and in addition to being a 1:1 campus, a Verizon Innovative Learning Lab, with a suite of emerging technologies, will launch in Fall of 2023!
FOOTBALL FINAL GAME
Your mighty 8th-grade Greyhounds take to the field one last time this regular season against the Lawson Longhorns. Come support and cheer them on in their final middle school football game at Butler Stadium this Wednesday, kickoff at 7 pm!
The 7th grade game against Lawson MS has been canceled as Lawson did not field a team this year.
Football family: Be on the lookout for end-of-season Football Banquet, details in SportsYou.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Greyhound Basketball begins Thursday, November 17th in our first games against Pershing!
Boys Basketball @ MPVA 6-8 pm
Girls Basketball @ Pershing 6-8 pm
Please support the program with your attendance at our home games!
SPRING SPORTS
If your student is interested in Soccer, Softball, Baseball, or Track and Field, please make sure to register them now via Register My Athlete so they are ready when tryouts are announced.
Athletics Fundraiser
Our PTO is sponsoring a fundraiser for our football teams. This is also an opportunity to gear up for the upcoming winter season. All featured clothing items are dress code-approved. https://fancloth.shop/8UNMD
Greyhound Store
The Greyhound Store is back! This PTO supported and run incentive program involves students earning "Greyhound Bucks” that they can then spend on trinkets/small items that the PTO provides. The program has already started with Honor Roll Students and Greyhound Store volunteers will start delivering their treats in November. This month the program will expand school-wide and all students can start earning bucks from any teacher by being responsible and respectful Greyhounds! All students will have an opportunity to spend their bucks every 3 weeks throughout the school year with items delivered during the school day. If you’re interested in assisting with the Greyhound Store, please email president@mpvapto.com
Volunteers Needed - Magnet Open House for New Greyhounds!
Magnet Open House for prospective Greyhounds will be Thursday November 10th from 6-8pm, and we will be offering refreshments, tours, and magnet showcases. If you can volunteer to help set up, welcome families checking out MPVA, or clean up after the event, sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4BACA922A0FF2-volunteers4 or contact Ms. Ross at KIMALA.ROSS@HOUSTONISD.ORG.
Subscribe to emails here: mpva.membershiptoolkit.com
Facebook: Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School PTO
Instagram: @mpvapto
Twitter: @PTO of MPVA Middle School
MPVA Calendar
Upcoming Events
- Monday, November 7 – NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, November 8 (Purple Day)
- UIL One Act Pl ay Rehearsal @ 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday, November 9 (Grey Day)
- UIL One Act Play Rehearsal @ 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- 8th Football vs. Lawson MS @ Butler Stadium Sr. @ 7:00 PM
- Thursday, November 10 (Purple Day)
- UIL One Act Play Rehearsal @ 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- MPVA Magnet Open House @ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Friday, November 11 (Grey Day)
- Deadline to order 2022 MPVA Yearbook at Discounted Price
- MPVA Intersquad Swim Meet @ 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday, November 12
- UIL One-Act Play District Finals
- HISD Piano Festival at MPVA @ 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Just Around the Corner
- Monday, November 14 (Purple Day)
- 8th Grade High School Fair @ 11:00 AM
- Tuesday, November 15 (Grey Day)
- School Picture Day
- HISD Dance Connect: Days of Dance
- Wednesday, November 16 (Purple Day)
- HISD Dance Connect: Days of Dance
- MPVA PTO Community Meeting @ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday, November 17 (Grey Day)
- Boys’ Basketball vs. Pershing at MVPA @ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Girls’ Basketball @ Pershing @ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Honors Piano Recital @ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Friday, November 18 (Purple Day)
- School Picture Day
- TMEA All-Region Orchestra Clinic
- MPVA PTO Spirit Event @ Jumping World at 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- Saturday, November 19
- TMEA All-Region Orchestra Clinic and Concert
MPVA Quick Links
MPVA Website
https://www.houstonisd.org/Page/78513
Student Dress Code
Weekly Email
https://www.houstonisd.org/Page/178532
MPVA Traffic Map
https://www.houstonisd.org/Page/178532
MPVA Student/Parent Handbook