MPES Connection
October 2, 2020
Message from Mrs. Mamon
It is hard to believe that we have already been in school for one month! Next week, all of our students in grades 3, 4 and 5 will be taking the STAR Reading and STAR Math assessments. These tests will help your child's teacher understand what he/she already knows and most importantly, what they are ready to learn next. Both of these tests will be given online and teachers will monitor students remotely. Your child's teacher will let you know what days the tests are scheduled for next week.
Many students have already taken these STAR tests in previous school years and are familiar with the test, but helping students feel comfortable with a remote testing process is still very important. Please click on the link below to read a letter (in English and Spanish) with important information about how to support your child when they are taking these tests at home. There are also two videos below to help you and your child with logging into the STAR assessments.
Other Important Notes:
- Don't forget to pick up a recorder and watercolor paints next Monday, October 5th! Locations and times are below in the newsletter.
- Is your student looking for some good books to read? Good news! Students can now check out books from our MPES library and pick them up outside our main office! Details on how to do this are in this newsletter.
The Manassas Park School Counselors would like you to know that October is Bully Prevention Month. On Monday, October 5th, #BLUEUP by wearing blue for World Day of Bully Prevention. Watch out for more information about Manassas Park’s Kindness Spirit Week October 12th-16th #MPCougars4Kindness
- Mark your calendars--An online book fair is coming to MPES October 12 - 25!
Don't forget to send pictures of our students learning at home! I love seeing and sharing them in my weekly newsletters (see below). Snap a picture and send it to me at stacey.mamon@mpark.net.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Stacey Mamon
Principal
Tips for families to prepare for a positive testing experience
Monitor – Stay nearby where your child is testing to ensure they remain focused, but avoid hovering and distracting.
Atmosphere – Provide a quiet area at a table or desk that is free from distractions. Students may need headphones for the assessment.
Prepare – Ensure your child is well rested and has a good breakfast.
Support – Students should complete the test independently. The purpose of these assessments is to help teachers understand what your child knows. Some assessments may be used for a grade. If they get stuck or ask for help, simply encourage them to choose the best answer and then move on to the next question.
Monday, October 5th - Pick up a Recorder and Watercolor paints!
Next Monday, October 5th, we will be distributing a recorder, a music book and watercolor paints to students in grades 3, 4, and 5 at two of the school meal pick up locations:
- 8:30 – 11:00 am at Cougar Elementary via Cougar Court
- 3:30 – 6:00 pm at Manassas Park Middle School
Please plan to come by and pick these items up, along with free meals for the week!
Learning in Action!
FREE School Meals available on Mondays at 4 locations!
Now you can pick up 5 lunches and 5 breakfasts at a time for your child(ren).
This drive-thru style pick-up will be held at FOUR locations every Monday.
- 8:30 – 11 am at Cougar Elementary via Cougar Court
- 11:30 am - 12:30 pm at the MP Community Center/Dog Park
- 1:30 - 2:30 pm at Sandstone Way & Manassas Drive
- 3:30 – 6 pm at Manassas Park Middle School
Meals are limited to one set of meals per child, per week.
Please note, the bus distribution sites that were utilized for the past two weeks WILL NO LONGER be used. Meals must be picked up on Mondays only. There are not enough personnel to staff all locations.
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.
An Online Bookfair is coming to MPES!
Learning in Action!
Students can now check out books from our MPES Library!
October is Bully Prevention Month
Mondays are a school day!
Remember to Shut down your Chromebook!
Counselor Corner
Click here for a great article on supporting your child during the pandemic. (in English and Spanish)
Please remember that if you have any concerns about your student to reach out to your school counselors, Ms. Rose (patricia.rose@mpark.net) and Ms. Rupert (makenzie.rupert@mpark.net). You can also fill out this Parent/Caregiver Referral to School Counselor form about your concerns.
Tips to Support your Student
- Start letting your student do things on their own, when possible, so they are learning how. Have them try on their own first!
- If you need to speak to the teacher for any reason, please contact him/her by email or phone during office hours, not during a live Zoom class.
- Try not to be on camera if/when supporting your student; build independence. If you need to support them, sit off camera so other students are not distracted.
Girls on the Run
Need IT Support?
Please email it.support@mpark.net.
Please make sure you include your student's name, the device type, and a detailed description of the problem.
MPES Office Hours
Contact Information
MPCS Returning Forward Learning Plan and Health Plan
On Monday, August 17th, the school board approved the Health Plan and Learning Plan for the 2020-2021 school year. These two important documents are guiding our return forward this year and include many details about what our learning environment will look like. I encourage you to take some time to read them before school begins on Tuesday, September 8th.
MPCS Returning Forward Learning Plan 2020-2021
19-20 Yearbooks
School Board Meetings and Work Sessions Available on YouTube!
Ways to Support the PTO and our schools
Amazon Smile
Start your shopping at smile.amazon.com! All it takes is a Smile to help raise money for our schools! If you are already an Amazon shopper, be sure to link your account to the Manassas Park Cougar Parent Teacher Organization and do your shopping directly on smile.amazon.com. A percentage of your order amount will be donated back to the schools!
Shoparoo Mobile App
Support our schools by downloading the Shoparoo Mobile App to your mobile device! After each of your grocery store shopping trips, open the app and snap a picture of your receipt! That's all it takes to earn money for our schools!
Harris Teeter VIC Card
Do you shop at Harris Teeter? Do you have a VIC Loyalty Card? Helping our schools to earn extra cash is as simple as visiting www.harristeeter.com and following the online steps to link your VIC card to both Cougar and Manassas Park Elementary!
Stay Connected!
There will be many exciting things happening throughout the next school year. I encourage you to stay up-to-date with important information and follow highlights of our learning at MPES and in Manassas Park City Schools.
You can stay connected by:
- Checking your child's Monday Folder each week
- Reading the MPES weekly online newsletters emailed out each Friday afternoon
- Following MPES on Twitter @MPEScougars
- Following MPCS on Twitter @MPCSchools
- Liking and following the Manassas Park City Schools Facebook page
- Checking the MPCS website frequently at www.mpark.net
Be sure to also keep up to date with PTO happenings!
- Facebook - www.facebook.com/ManassasParkCougarPTO
- Twitter - www.twitter.com/ManassasParkPTO
- Email - mpc-pto@mpcschools.et
Upcoming Dates
MPCS School Board Meeting
Monday, October 19
6:59 p.m.
School Board Meeting Room (available to watch live on YouTube)
Manassas Park Elementary School
Principal
Email: stacey.mamon@mpark.net
Website: www.mpark.net
Location: 9298 Cougar Court, Manassas Park, VA, United States
Phone: (703) 368-2032
Twitter: @MPEScougars