Invention Convention details

CALLING ALL INVENTORS!!!    Invention Convention - April 28, 2012

The Invention Convention inspires students to create and problem solve while developing inventions. It differs from science fairs in that the focus of the curriculum is to recognize simple to complex problems that individuals face everyday and follow them through the process of creating solutions to them.  This year, Menlo Park may register a maximum 4 students for this event. 

 

Specific information about the contest and what is involved in preparing for it can be found on the Invention Convention website (http://www.just-think-inc.com/cleveland/index.html). I suggest that parents of interested students read through the evaluation guidelines (http://www.just-think-inc.com/documents/evaluationguidelines.pdf) to see what will be expected of students to help them decide whether they want to take part.

 

After reading through the guidelines, if your child is interested in participating, please email Karen Peacock at Karen@OcularConcepts.us.  You will then be provided with the next steps for your child to try and earn a spot in the competition.  

Playhouse Square anti-bullying program details

The program will be held Wednesday, April 18 at the Palace Theatre.

5:30pm: “No Snap Judgments” anti-bullying program with special presentation from Campus Impact and chat with the cast of The Addams Family.  "No Snap Judgments" encourages people to look beyond first impressions and discover   how our commonalities outweigh our differences. Through the lens of The Addams Family Musical, the "No Snap Judgments" program empowers us to engage others with openness, respect and acceptance.

6:30pm: Broadway Buzz– get the inside scoop on The Addams Family

7:30pm: The Addams Family performance

Tickets available

Orchestra C $20.00

Balcony A & B $15.00

Balcony C $10.00

To order contact Sara Beech at

216-664-6034

beechs@playhousesquare.org

More information on No Snap Judgments and Campus Impact is below.

http://www.nosnapjudgments.org/

http://campusimpactusa.org/about.html

Menlo Park Academy 2011-2012 Boys Basketball Team INFO

In case you missed the recent meeting and have a son interested in trying out for the MPA basketball team this year, here's the information that was given out at the meeting.

Tryouts:

Dates:             Wednesday 10/12                    Friday 10/14
Wednesday 10/19                    Friday 10/21
Wednesday 10/26                    Friday 10/28

Time:              4:30pm-5:45pm

Location:       Kamm’s Corner YMCA (Down the street from the School) 

Go to the Front Desk at the YMCA and Check-in.  The students will need shorts, Gatorade or water, and a Ball. 

They are encouraged to attend as many try-outs as possible.  We may go into the first Wed/Fri of November if necessary.  During tryouts I will have the students run a number of drills so I can observe the following skills:  Ball Handling, Passing, Shooting, Rebounding, Offense/Defense Moves, and Sportsmanship.   The more tryouts your son attends, the more opportunity I have to observe their skills and their chances increase of making the team.

Team:

The team will be made up of 8 to 10 players.   Those who make the team will play in every game as long as they are consistent with attending practice, keep up with school work and have parent’s permission.

All parents will be notified by email on your son’s status at the end of tryouts. 

We will have (about Three to Five) 4^th graders on a Basketball Mentor Program.  They will come to every practice and games and will receive team shirts, but will not play in all of the games.   The purpose of this program is to groom them for a spot on next year’s team. As the season progresses and depending on circumstances, these 4^th graders may get to play in a game during the season.

Practice:

Practice will start on Friday November 4^th and be held every subsequent Wednesday and Friday from 4:30-5:45 at the YMCA.  As we get closer to the Holidays, I will notify you of changes or cancellations via email.  

If practice or a game is canceled due to inclement weather, I will notify you via email or text message unless other arrangements are made ahead of time.

Once the team is established, it would be helpful to have parent volunteers with vehicles to help transport the team members from MPA to the YMCA for Practice. 

In case of injury, we will have all parents complete Emergency Contact Information.  Also, you may be required to sign an injury waiver.

Games:

The 2011-2012 season schedule has not been released yet, but I will notify you and MPA when it is available.   The season lasts from November to early February. It is normally a 10 game season.   If we qualify for the playoffs, the MPA team will be placed in the single elimination tournament that starts right after the regular season to play for the league championship. Dates and times would be announced later.

Since MPA doesn’t have a gym, our “home” games will be at Midpark High School in Middleburgh Heights and we will play at least 5 games there.  Other possible cities we could play as the road team are North Olmsted, Brook Park, and Berea.   The games are mostly on Saturdays. Most games start between 10:00am and 3:00pm and last about 75 minutes.   No jewelry of any kind can be worn during the games as well.

Team members (including the 4^th grade mentors if possible) need to arrive 30 minutes before the game start time.   Parents are encouraged to stay and cheer the team on (other family and friends may attend as well).  Please respect the Coach and the Referees and don’t make inappropriate comments towards the opposing team or the Game Officials.

If anyone is interested in assisting me on Game Day as my Assistant coach, let me know – you would need to sit on the bench during the game and help me with calling plans and tracking the team statistics.

Team Photo:

I will be speaking with the league director and try to get us placed in the picture rotation with the city of Middleburg Hts. On Picture Day, the whole team is required to show up in full game uniforms. You will pay for the pictures that day with an order form I will provide. You may purchase a team photo or pay to take a solo photo of your child.

About the Coach:

I have been involved with this league for the last six years as a coach for the City of Middleburgh Heights.  I have coached both 3rd & 4th grade teams and 7th & 8th grade teams.   Prior to that, I spent four years as a basketball coach for the City of Maple Heights.

Last season my 7th & 8th Grade Boys team had a record of 9-1 and went on to win the league championship.  I was also named Coach of the Year for the Basketball League. 

I am looking forward to working with you and your children and hopefully starting a winning tradition at Menlo Park!

If you have any other questions before tryouts begin, please feel free to contact me at wbl8305@sbcglobal.net or 216-287-8786.

Menlo Park Boys Basketball Team - interested?

Menlo Park has the opportunity through the efforts of an incoming Kindergarten (2011-2012 school year) parent to participate in the West Suburban boys’ Basketball League with a team of 5/6th grade boys representing Menlo Park.

Willie Littlejohn has been coaching boys’ basketball for many years as a volunteer, winning “Coach of the Year” last season.

Willie has obtained his employer, Sunnyside Audi, as a sponsor for the program and most of the cost will be covered by their donation (including cost of uniforms). Depending on practice facilities there may be a small cost incurred by parents.

Practices will be twice per week beginning the end of October. Season runs through end of February. Games will be on Saturdays at locations on the Westside of Cleveland (Middleburg Hts, Fairview Park, Midpark High School, Brookpark, N.Olmsted)

We are currently working with the YMCA West Park branch to utilize their facility for practices as they are in close proximity to Menlo Park school.

All boys interested in participating will need to tryout. There will be 11 spots on the team roster and all boys who make the team will play.

Over the course of the summer, we will host a clinic for skill building and have a meeting for parents and students to meet the coach and ask questions.

A registration form for the basketball team was included in last week's family e-mail.  For more information please contact:
connie.lindemann@menloparkacademy.com
OR feel free to phone Coach:
Willie Littlejohn
216.287.8786