MPA Newsletter, 9/28/2011

Welcome, one and all!  Let’s all welcome our newest MPA student, 5th grader Sarah Michelbrink.  Welcome to MPA, Michelbrink family!

Get out the vote: Middle school student council officer election campaigns begin today.  Candidates will give their speeches on October 3rd, and the campaign will end with the election on October 5th.  Best of luck to everyone running for office!

Alley-oop!  Come and learn more about Menlo Park’s Inaugural Basketball Season! All interested boys in grades 4-6 and their parents should attend this meeting on Thursday, September 29th at 6:15. We will be reviewing information about: tryouts, practice schedules, the regular season schedule, and involvement from parents and students.  

Did you remember?  Forms for the Wednesday lunches (pizza, hot dog, and/or pasta) are due Friday, September 30th.  Please send in your form and payment in this week's Thursday folder if you would like your student(s) to participate.  The necessary form is attached to this message. 

Testing, testing, 1-2-3: Parents, please be aware that Third Grade students will be taking the OAA (Ohio Achievement Assessment)tests on Tuesday, October 4th.  These tests measure students on what they know and are able to do in various subjects.  Sample questions are available on the OAA website, but the most important thing you can do to prepare your child for the test is to make sure he or she is well rested and well fed on the testing day. 

I'm ready for my closeup: Picture Day is coming Wednesday, October 19, 2011. School portraits by Lifetouch feature studio-style photography that give students the freedom to create a look that’s truly their own. Look for complete information on the flyer provided in this week's Thursday Folder. Plus visit www.lifetouch.com for clothing suggestions, grooming tips, online payment details and more.

Oh, the weather outside is ...  Just as a reminder, students have outside recess every day unless it is raining heavily, or the temperature falls below 25 degrees.  Light mist = outdoor recess!  Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather (jacket, hat/gloves, leggings or thick tights under skirts, etc.) so they don't get too chilled when outside.  We want the kids to be warm enough to enjoy the fresh air and vigorous play while they are outside.  

It wouldn’t be a newsletter without a plea for volunteers, now would it?  We're still looking for volunteers to be room parents for the following classrooms:  Mrs. Timko (K) needs a co-lead, Mrs. Schroeder (1st) needs a co-lead, Mr. Thompson (1st) and Mrs. Rokas (2nd)need room parents.  Being a room parent is an important - and fun! - job that helps supply your student's class with fun parties and extra activities.  If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Connie Lindemann at Connie.Lindemann@MenloParkAcademy.com as soon as possible.

"You're supposed to get tired planting bulbs.  But it's an agreeable tiredness."-  Gail Goodwin:  With autumn in the air, it’s time to start planting bulbs for next spring.  Why not support MPA while you supply your garden?  For every purchase made on this site, Flower Power Fundraising will give 50% back to MPA.  Brighten the world this spring by purchasing flowers in support of MPA today! Please visit the following link to see how you can help today! http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/i/t/225402/t8C6Qm4t1pG2  

MPA on the air: We still have a few slots left volunteering at the WCPN fall membership drive.  A group of at least four MPA volunteers is needed to help answer phones and record pledge information, which gives us the opportunity to have our organization mentioned several times on the air during our shift.  It will be a great (free!) way to improve the name recognition of our school among the public radio audience, as well as help out a worthy cause.  The shifts we’re looking at are on Saturday, October 15^th or 22^nd, from 5:30-8pm. If you would be interested in helping during one or both of these times, please contact Gretchen Woods as soon as possible at avonhokie@yahoo.com . 

Thanks, and re-thanks: Did you know that a dedicated group of volunteers helps make our school a more environmentally-friendly place?  They take scrap cardboard to the recycling center, collect the recycle paper from each classroom, and so much more.  Thanks to all of you for helping keep the school (and Earth) nicer for our students!

Want to help us win $45,000 for the school?  Visit http://campbellsoup.promotionexpert.com/labelsforeducation/fs/index.html EVERY DAY to enter for our school to win a $45,000 tech makeover (and some goodies for you, too!).  If we all enter EVERY DAY until the contest ends at the end of the year, we'll have thousands of chances to win.

Online updates:  Check the MPA blog for information on what our students have been doing in their technology classes.

Calendar highlights:

• - Sept. 29 (Thursday) – 6:15 Boys’ Basketball Team organizational meeting in the gym
• - Sept. 30 (Friday) - Fourth Grade trip to Milan, Ohio to learn about Thomas Edison
• - Oct. 3 (Monday) - Middle School student council officer election speeches
• - Oct. 4 (Tuesday) - Third Grade OAA testing
• - Oct. 5 (Wednesday) - Middle School student council officer elections
• - Oct. 6 (Thursday) - MPA Board of Directors meeting, 6pm
• - Oct. 12 (Wednesday) – Second Grade field trip to Lake Erie Nature and Science Center
• - Oct. 13 (Thursday) – Volunteer team leader meetings with Dr. Bouchard and Mrs. Lindemann
• - Oct. 14 (Friday) – Teacher in-service day - no school for students
• - Oct. 18 (Tuesday) - Kindergarten field trip to Apple Hill, Third Grade field trip to historic downtown Cleveland
• - Oct. 19 (Wednesday) – Picture Day!  More information from Life Touch to follow soon
• - Oct. 20 (Thursday) - MPA Board of Directors meeting, 6pm