MP Middle Messenger
Week 20 - 1/24/2020
Week 20 - First Semester is Complete!
Monday MPMS had a historic achievement - the Prince William County CHAMPION MLK Orator is... Myles Lanier in 8th grade! His speech was marvelous, speaking in front of over 1000 people, Myles won both the best speaker and the best before the audience for Middle School. Congratulations Myles! You have accomplished something historic!
Tuesday is the first day of Quarter 3 and second semester. All students will be changing from Science to Social Studies or Social Studies to Science, as well as most students changing elective classes. Please double check schedules on PowerSchool and confirm the new courses - Tuesday will be an A day for all electives.
This week was also winter sports tryouts for boys wrestling and basketball. HUGE turnouts for both sports bodes well for the season - congratulations to all of the boys who made the team and good luck as you start practicing!
Congratulations to our Choir District Representatives!
Last week we had a number of MPMS students try out for district choir, and many of our students made it! Congratulations to all who earned a chair and great job to everyone who prepared and auditioned.
- Sarah Damon (Soprano 1)
- Janelle Lapid (Soprano 2)
- Katherine Duarte (Alto 1)
- Myles Lanier (Tenor)
- Haaris Saifi (Tenor)
- Peyton Gulseth (Tenor)
- Jonathan Lopez Bernal (Bass)
- Katherine Casoni (alternate)
Important Dates and Events Coming Up!
January 27: Professional Development Day for Teachers - No School for Students!
January 27: 7 pm: School Board Meeting to Present the Superintendent's Proposed Budget
January 28: Semester 2 and 3rd Quarter Starts!!
January 31: One Act Variety Show! 2:30-4:15 pm, tickets are $1 and will be sold at lunch!
February 6: 5 pm: Boys Basketball Home Opener vs Bull Run MS
February 6: 6 pm: Middle School Talent Show!
February 6: Wrestling @ Bull Run MS
February 11: 5 pm: Boys Basketball vs Metz MS @ MPMS
February 11: Wrestling @ Metz MS
February 13: 5 pm: Wrestling Home Opener vs Reagan MS @ MPMS
February 13: Boys Basketball @ Reagan MS
February 17: NO SCHOOL due to Presidents' Day Holiday
February 19: 5 pm: Boys Basketball vs Parkside MS @ MPMS
February 19: Wrestling @ Marstellar MS
February 20: Q2 Honors Ceremony: 7:45 am start in MPMS Auditorium
February 20: Family Market at MPHS
February 21: 5 pm: Boys Basketball vs Marstellar MS @ MPMS
****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. Brill-Lee is our new STEM Teacher, who teaches Intro to STEM, App Creators, and Computer Science for Innovators and Makers. She is originally from Marshfield, MA - and is a alumnae of MPHS! She can be found in room 1505.
Quick Facts about Ms. Brill_Lee:
-Attended George Mason University (BA-History), Marymount University (MEd in STEM Education) and is currently attending the University of New England for her doctorate in education!
-Likes baking and visiting new places!
-Enjoys spending time with her family, taking long naps, relaxing on a boat, and hiking in the snow!
-Loves her baby girl, her pets (2 dogs and 3 cats,) coffee, and anything beach related!
When you see her in the building, at a school sporting event, or in the community, please welcome Ms. Brill-Lee 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