MP Middle Messenger
Week 11: 11/20/2020
Happy Thanksgiving from MPMS!
With the short week next week, this is the final newsletter for November. A reminder to all - Monday is an asynchronous work day for teachers and students, and Tuesday is a normal, full school day. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are holidays to celebrate Thanksgiving.
On Monday, November 23, all MPCS schools will be returning to remote learning for ALL students. Please see Dr. McDade's letter that was sent out this week for the adjusted dates for hybrid learning to resume.
We will miss seeing students in the halls, but I want to commend ALL students and parents for the fabulous efforts so far this school year. 44% of all students made the principal's or superintendent's honor roll for Q1 - these names will be announced in early December, but students can calculate their GPA using the directions found in this newsletter. With the entire day-to-day experience of school changing this year, having so many student find outstanding success is an achievement that I am very proud of.
Now with 2nd Quarter kicking into full gear, including the first round of benchmarks - let's see if we can improve on that 44% number!
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Parents - Calculate GPA with your Student!
With first quarter being complete, a good exercise to prepare for high school is calculating GPA with your child. This is how honor roll is determined at MPMS and MPHS, as well as being a key indicator for college applications.
You need to assign a point value to each letter grade:
A=4
B=3
C=2
D=1
F=0
Add up all 6 of your grades, then divide that by 6. The resulting average is your GPA. For example…
Math=4 (A)
ELA=4 (A)
SS=4 (A)
Science=3 (B)
Elective 1=3 (B)
Elective 2=3 (B)
4+4+4+3+3+3= 21.
21/6 (classes) =3.5
Overall GPA = 3.5
Principal's honor roll is for students who earn a 3.5-3.99 GPA in the quarter.
Superintendent's honor roll is for students who earn a 4.0 GPA in the quarter.
Mr. Kinane's Students - We Need your Materials Returned!
All Quarter 1 students who were in the Design and Modeling class with Mr. Kinane – please return the dial calipers to the MPMS front office Monday – Friday between 8 am and 3 pm.
All Quarter 1 students who were in the Automation and Robotics class with Mr. Kinane – please return the cardboard boxes with all the robotics parts to the MPMS front office Monday – Friday between 8 am and 3 pm.
Also, there is a bin located in the front office foyer area where you can drop off the STEM items. Please make sure all items dropped off are clearly labeled with the student’s first and last name.
All STEM supplies need to be returned as soon as possible. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.
6th Grade Students of the Month!
7th and 8th Grade Students of the Month!
Picture Day is Coming!!
Like a normal school photo session, pictures will be taken during the school day. Students will be excused from zoom if they are coming to the school to take their photo.
All photo sessions will enter through the main office doors and check in at the table. Both photographers and MPMS staff will be following COVID guidelines.
We hope to see you come in for a school photo! Click below to sign up for your appointment!
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!
Meet a New Face @ MP Middle School!
Ms. Sugandha Patibanda is our new 7th Grade Math teacher, coming to Manassas Park from her hometown of Mumbai, India and Prince William County!
Quick Facts about Ms. Patibanda:
-Attended Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, and George Mason University!
-Majored in Biological Sciences, Biomedical Informatics, and has her Ph.D in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology!
-Likes to cook traditional North Indian and South Indian food and sew!
-Enjoys the fresh morning air!
-Loves gardening and planting flowers!
When you see her in the middle school or in the community, please welcome Ms. Patibanda to Manassas Park Middle School!
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!
MPMS Library Updates!
Revamped Library Canvas Course
Our Canvas course has a new look! Check it out at https://mpcs.instructure.com/courses/2426. (If you haven’t already joined the course, please click +Join this Course at the top right corner or bottom of the page.)
Lunchtime Relaxing Read-Alouds
Mrs. O’Connell is available on Zoom every Tuesday through Friday from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Students, parents, and teachers are welcome to visit to ask questions, say hi, or listen to a read-aloud story. Once you have joined our Canvas course, you’ll see announcements with the Zoom link. See you there!
The Library Bookmobiles are up and running!
It looks like a beautiful weather forecast for Monday, so Mrs. O’Connell and Mrs. Jones will be on one of the Bookmobiles, at the Manassas Park Community Center and the Manassas Park City Library from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm . If you put a book on hold in the library catalog, we’ll put it on the Bookmobile that’s closest to your address. We’ll also bring books that can be checked out on the spot! The video below shows how. We will use hand sanitizer, masks, and physical distancing to help keep us all safe.
Please return library books to the Bookmobiles!
Books from all four Manassas Park City Schools may be returned to the Bookmobiles on Monday. Books will be quarantined for 7 days before circulating again. We never charge overdue fines (late fees) for books, as long as they are returned.
Log in to the library catalog (http://destiny.mpark.net) and put the book on Hold BEFORE 9:00 AM MONDAY MORNING.
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
We hope to see you there!
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