NY Times Best-Selling Author Visits Menlo Park Academy

New York Times best-selling author, Cinda Williams Chima, is coming to Menlo Park on April 1st. She will meet with fifth, sixth and seventh grade students for an overview and then do individual workshops with each grade.

"Chima grew up with talking animals and kick-butt Barbies. She began writing romance novels in junior high school. Her Heir Chronicles young adult contemporary fantasy series includes The Warrior Heir (2006), The Wizard Heir (2007), and The Dragon Heir (2008), all from Hyperion, with two more books forthcoming. Chima’s best-selling YA high fantasy Seven Realms series launched with The Demon King (2009), followed by The Exiled Queen (September, 2010) with The Gray Wolf Throne scheduled for fall, 2011."

Find Chima online at www.cindachima.com or http://cindachima.blogspot.com/

Please come out to hear how Governor Kasich's new education budget impacted gifted services in the State of Ohio. Regional meetings will be chaired by Dr. Robert Sommers, Director of the Governor’s Office of 21st Century Education. The dates and locations are as follows (each location will begin at 3:30 pm:

- March 28: Cuyahoga Valley JVSD (8001 Brecksville Road, Brecksville)
- March 29: Pioneer Career & Technology JVSD (27 Ryan Road, Shelby);
- March 30: Warren County Career Center (3525 N. State Rte. 48, Lebanon)
- March 31: Mid East Ohio Vocational School (400 Richards Road, Zanesville)

Be informed.

Golf Scramble, Dinner and Auction May 21 at Sweet Briar

Take your best swing and you may just win...but, even if you don't, Menlo Park Academy will!

May 21 is the date set for the Menlo Park Academy's Second Annual Golf Scramble and Auction for Advancement. Tell your family, friends, fellow golfers, church groups...anyone that will listen and enjoys a day on the course.

This is a great opportinity to support MPA and have some fun at the same time.

It all starts with a 1:00 Shotgun Start at the beautiful Sweet Briar Golf Course, in Avon Lake. But, come earlier because the $85 fee also covers the driving range in addition to the golf, a cart, dinner, and giveaway. Plus, there will be a hole-in-one contest - it is rumored that there could be a car to win, long drive contest - men and women, putting contest, raffles and auction items!

All proceeds from this event will directly benefit the needs of our school. This is an important fundraiser and we need your support...and the support of everyone you know that enjoys golf...or a nice ride in a park.

Register online at www.menloparkacademy.com/supporting-mpa

Cleveland’s Menlo Park Academy Wins 1st Place at CONSEF

Cleveland, Ohio (March 12, 2011) -- The 8th Annual Concept Science and Engineering Fair (CONSEF) took place on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Cleveland State University.

The annual competition is designed to increase public awareness in science, math and engineering and featured entries in 14 categories ranging from behavioral science to Zoology. Over 400 students from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Youngstown, Toledo, Chicago, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Missouri competed while sharing their experiences, talents & abilities in this unique platform.

Congresswoman Marcia Fudge from Ohio's 11th District was the guest speaker and Steve Belliveau from www.getscience.net provided entertainment while judges tabulated the scores.

Menlo Park Academy won the highest honor of Best School – 1st Place in the Junior Division (grades 5-8). All of Menlo Park Academy's 15 participating students won awards: Best in Category winners included Nick Hiti (Euclid) for Electronics & Engineering and Ojas Nadkarni (Avon) for Physics. Gold medals went to Aidan Harrington (Avon), Alexandra Harrison (Avon), Ben Zastawnik (Garfield Hts), Cade Smith (Broadview Hts), Fox Milenski (Lakewood), Grant Gibeault (Medina), John Antolik (Cleve Hts), Melanie Carlton (Cleveland), Shannon Leimbach (Vermillion), Tyler Brown (N. Ridgeville) and Zasca Ristianto (Olmsted Twp). Silver medals were won by Alexandria Glazier (N. Ridgeville) and Quintin Kovach (Westlake).

"These excellent results are a measure of the hard work our students have put in all year. From day one, they have been challenged to work above grade level and think independently. Our hands-on, research-based program stimulates students to want to find the answers to meaningful questions in science and other areas", stated team leader and Menlo Park science teacher, Janeth Eby.

“This was a magnificent opportunity for our students to venture into the world of scientific research that goes beyond lessons in the classroom or chapters in a book. Through the development of these science projects, our students achieve a first-hand admiration of the work of scientists and the implication of their discoveries to the real world.” said School Director, Sandy White.

Captain Gadget 'Q' Think-a-ma-jig & Dr. Claire Out-a-Hair Present Cleveland Invention Convention Family Night!

Wednesday, March 16th 6:30-7:45pm at Medina High School Middle Auditorium

All families of kindergarten through 8th grade students are invited for an evening with Captain Gadget 'Q' Think-a-ma-jig & Dr. Claire Out-a-Hair.

This dynamic duo inspires kids to create. Captain Gadget and Dr. Claire talk to students about inventing, the requirements for participation in the Medina and Cleveland Invention Conventions, and then do a couple of hands on activities with the students. Student volunteers selected from the audience get to do an invention quiz show and others will be selected to complete an “invent on the fly” exercise with assistance from selected adults.
The Invention Convention is designed to encourage and guide students in creating a new invention that will solve a problem in their everyday lives.

The local Invention Convention will be held at Ella Canavan on April 19th, 2011. The regional convention takes place at the Great Lakes Science Museum on May 7th, 2011. Top student inventors advance from the local convention to participate in the regional convention where they will have the opportunity to win over 50 prizes and may possibly earn a spot in the local or national media. Visit http://www.just-think-inc.com/ for more information.

Dr. Linda Spurlock Teaches 7th Grade about "Ardi" - Newly Discovered Human Ancestor Skeleton

Our 7th graders will have a unique experience this week as Dr. Linda Spurlock, the Director of Human Health from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History comes to teach them about Ardi, the newly discovered human ancestor skeleton that has been all over the news lately. Dr. Spurlock had the task of reconstructing missing parts of Ardi's skeleton using her incredible forensic anthropology skills. She routinely lectures to large professional groups, so it is an incredible opportunity to have her sit down with our 7th graders for a 45 minute tutorial. For more information, please visit http://www.cleveland.com/science/index.ssf/2009/10/ardi_fossil_the_latest_of_many.html

Hands-on Science Happenings - 6th Grade

The 6th grade will be going on a field trip this week to Hawken School's University Circle Campus at Gries House to participate in an energy workshop designed for middle schoolers. They will be learning about all forms of energy as well as about energy conservation and the need to develop alternative energy sources. Their workshop is based on a curriculum by the Ohio Energy Project. You can learn more about it at http://www.ohioenergy.org/

It's never too early to plan for the summer

MPA parents may be interested in the following "summer camp" opportunity:

Dr. Meyer's - Institute for Problem Solving

Summer 2011

June 20 - 24, 2011

Does your child view a difficult problem as an unpleasant task or an exciting challenge? If it is the latter, we invite him/her to apply for the 2011 Summer Problem Solving Institute at Baldwin Wallace College.

The class is designed for bright, enthusiastic students from ages 12-17. The week long Institute runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from June 20th through June 24th. Students will work independently and in teams to solve a variety of interesting and challenging problems. Dr Meyer is a veteran teacher of summer camps and teaches problem solving at B-W in both the Honors program and in the graduate business program.

The purpose of the Institute is to develop the students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills. In the past, the course has been a hit with both students and their parents.

Please click below for more information:

http://www.bw.edu/academics/phy/faculty/emeyer/

Look what we've been up to!

Thanks to the Sun Herald for the photo (and the press)!

Brain Pop!

Are your children taking advantage of all the games, activities, and movies available on the educational site Brain POP?  If not, be sure to go check it out - the curriculum-based animated content is great for everything from introducing new topics to reviewing for tests.  And kids in K-3rd grade can start with Brain POP Jr., which features the same types of engaging activities geared for a younger audience.

Menlo Park Academy has purchased a subscription to Brain POP  and Brain POP Jr. for each of our students.  The username and password were e-mailed to parents at the beginning of February.  If you didn't receive the message, contact the main office for the information.

March is Boxtops for Legos month!

If you have a bunch of Boxtops accumulating at your house, this month is a great time to send them in!  All the money raised this month will be used to purchase supplies for the Lego clubs and Lego Olympiad coming up in April.  Set our Olympians on the road to victory - send in those Boxtops today!

You can find a complete list of all the everyday fundraising opportunities on the MPA website.

Breaking news - Spelling Bee Winner!

Congratulations to third grader Hunter Caraballo, winner of the school-wide spelling bee!

March 2011 Calendar of Events

Visit the MPA website calendar for more information on upcoming events!

Have something to add?  Contact ZZZZZZ to have it added to the calendar!

Welcome to the Manuscript!

While the Menlo Park Academy website is still the main source for important information about the school, this blog will be the place to come for weekly updates, information about what's going on in the coming month, and quick updates on the accomplishments of our students.  Feel free to submit information and stories for submission to avonhokie.menloblog@blogger.com.