MP Middle Messenger
Week 26 - 3/6/2020
Week 26 - March has arrived!
Our bands have been going to assessment and (some of) the results are in! Our 6th grade band earned the top rating of SUPERIOR, while our 7th grade band earned a rating of Excellent! 8th grade band earned a rating of Excellent! Honors Band earned the top rating of SUPERIOR! Great job!
Our Winter II sports conclude next week with our boys basketball finishing their season against Stonewall Jackson MS and our wrestlers competing in the regional wrestling championships on Saturday, March 14. Come on out to celebrate their seasons!
Finally, our Spring Photos will be taken on Friday, March 13. If you are interested in this opportunity, photo forms are available for pickup in the main office. Only students who wish to purchase photos and have a completed form will be photographed next Friday.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Check out this week's parent guide to social media!
COVID-19/Coronavirus Notes
Dear Cougar Community,
The recent news regarding COVID-19, or what's being called the coronavirus, has understandably caused worry. As we are constantly receiving updates on this virus through multiple channels, some of this worry may surface in our children. If you need a resource to talk to your children about COVID-19, you might find this link useful.
We want to reassure everyone that MPCS is a healthy and safe environment. MPCS Health Services staff will continue to monitor illness in our schools as a standard practice. Please refamiliarize yourselves with the division’s Sick Day Guidelines, and continue to practice good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene including:
- Frequently washing hands with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available.
- Covering nose and mouth with a sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent the spread of germs.
- Staying home when you are sick.
The District already has many protocols in place due to cold and flu season, which we will continue to implement and can increase, should that be warranted. In addition, the division has an Emergency Operation Plan and will reinstitute practices that we have used during previous situations, such as the H1N1 (Swine Flu) pandemic in 2009, if needed.
We continue to appreciate your support and cooperation as we work together to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our students and staff.
Important Dates and Events Coming Up!
March 10: 5 pm: Boys Basketball vs Stonewall MS - Final Home Game!
March 14: Wrestling Regional Championships!
March 17: 8th Grade SOL: Writing Multiple Choice
March 19: 8th Grade SOL: Writing Short Paper
March 19: 6:59pm: 7th and 8th Grade Choir Concert!
March 20: After School Winter Carnival for all MS Students! (Tickets must be purchased at lunch)
March 23-25: Spring Sports Tryouts! (Baseball, Softball, Girls Soccer, and Boys Track)
March 27: No School For Students - Parent/Teacher Conference Day
April 4-13: Spring Break: School is Closed!
****Note: All MPMS Athletic Events require the purchase of a ticket at the door.****
****$3 for adults, $1 for students****
MP Football Interest Meeting- April 15th at 7PM
There will be a football interest meeting at Manassas Park High School on Wednesday, April 15th at 7PM. This meeting is for all students and parents planning on playing middle school, JV or varsity level football during the 2020 season. All current 5th-11th grade students and parents are encouraged to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the remaining offseason schedule and the upcoming 2020 season.
Topics to be included:
1. Physicals
2. Fundraising
3. Eligibility
4. Canvas
5. Spirit wear
6. Football Camp (prior to the season)
7. Preseason practice (beginning dates and practice schedule)
Additional items will be addressed as well . Please plan on attending as this will help better prepare you and the team for what is looking to be a very promising 2020 season.
Coach Kelly
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
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!
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.
Special Education Advisory Council
Need To Report Something?
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