MPA Newsletter, 9/8/2011

MPA WEEKLY EMAIL

Morning mayhem – or at least that’s what the traffic situation has been around MPA this past week.  In order to make sure cars waiting to drop off students aren’t backing up traffic on the streets surrounding the school, please follow the same traffic pattern in the morning that we use in the afternoons.  Using all of the lanes in the parking lot as a waiting area will help keep all of our students (and cars!) safer.  And please make sure that your child is ready to exit the car by the time you reach the front of the line – awake(!), bags gathered, wearing coat and shoes/boots, etc.  Thanks for helping us make arrival run more smoothly!

---

Hungry children don’t learn well … which is why we want to make sure your child has enough time to finish their lunch each day.    Please keep in mind that children who can’t open their own lunch containers will end up having less time to eat because they have to wait for help from a volunteer.  The lunchtime volunteers have milk to distribute, messes to clean up, and bathroom trips to monitor – and with only two hands per person, it’s difficult to get to all the pudding cups and Go-Gurts in a timely manner.  Items that cause the most problems for younger children include juice pouches, yogurt tubes, pudding cups, and individual fruit cups (which are particularly sticky when they spill).   Many children have an easier time opening Ziplock-type bags, reusable plastic containers and water bottles.  We've also spent a lot of time distributing napkins and utensils, items which could easily be packed by parents.  If you could please keep this in mind when you pack your child’s lunch, we’ll all be able to enjoy a more leisurely lunch break.  Thanks for your help!

---

Volunteers needed immediately in the following areas:

• Electives, especially for Kindergarten and Friday classes for middle school
• Two additional people to help with morning arrival, unloading students from cars and making sure kids get off the buses and into the school
• Two or three additional people to help with lunch and recess, especially on Wednesdays.

Contact Connie Lindemann if you can help.  connie.lindemann@menloparkacademy.com

---

Quick reminder – the first volunteer team meetings are tonight at 6:30.  If you’ve already signed up for a team online, come in to school to meet your teammates and brainstorm projects.  If you haven’t signed up for a team yet, come in to learn more about the teams and projects to help you make an informed decision.  Volunteers are an important part of the MPA experience – so get involved!  Also, we were able to get a break on the price of BCI checks performed at the meeting – they will now cost $43.10.  That’s a good deal, so please consider getting your BCI completed tonight (if you haven’t already).

---

There’s still time to order official MPA spirit gear.  We’ve arranged with Ackmera Identiy Partners to offer a variety of shirts, jackets, hats and scarves in adult and youth sizes, all embroidered with the MPA logo.  Order forms were sent home in the Thursday folder last week.  Submit your order form by September 14^th for delivery by September 30^th. 

---

Calling all parents of boys!  Cub Scout Pack 110 will be holding an organizational meeting Tuesday, September 13^th, at 6:30pm in the MPA gym.  This is a planning meeting for the parents of current and prospective Cub Scouts in grades 1-5 (ages 6-10).  Come learn how your son can participate, and how you can get involved.  

---

What can you expect your child to cover in this year’s curriculum?  Want to know more about this “Singapore Math” you keep hearing mentioned?  What the heck is a “Responsive Classroom,” and why do we need them at MPA?  These questions and more will be answered during Curriculum Night, September 22^th at 6:30pm.  More details to come – but make sure to set the date aside on your calendar!

---

Several parents have asked about what after-school activities the school will be offering this year.  Unfortunately, space limitations make it difficult to host activities directly after school without interfering with teachers’ classrooms and work time.  Edison Club, our after school care program, will periodically offer a variety of enrichment activities as part of their schedule.   Otherwise, after-school clubs may be offered by some teachers on a limited basis as their schedules permit.  We will send home information about these opportunities as they arise.  The Tri-C Arts Prep Program offers many classes and gives MPA students a discounted rate.  A separate email with all their offerings and registration information will be sent out on Friday 9/9/11.

---

Menlo Park Academy will once again be offering violin classes as an elective during the school day.  Musicians of all ages and abilities are welcome!  See the attached form for information and fee schedules.  You can also register online at http://www.ardismusic.com/stringprograms/menloparkacademy.html .

---

Calendar highlights:

• Sept. 8 (Thursday) – Volunteer Team meeting, MPA gym, 6:30 pm; BCI checks available from 5:30-7:30pm in the gym
• Sept. 13 (Tuesday) – Cub Scout organizational meeting, MPA gym, 6:30 pm
• Sept. 14 (Wednesday) – Order forms for MPA spirit wear due
• Sept. 22 (Thursday) – Curriculum night at MPA, beginning at 6:30 pm (details to follow)

Fifth summer newsletter

Our thanks go out to staff and teachers who got the class lists put together and sent out on Monday 8/22.  If you have not received an e-mail from your child's homeroom teacher this week, please contact Lynn Wilson at the MPA office immediately so we can make sure we have the proper e-mail address on file and get that information to you.  It was a great test of the accuracy of our email data and enabled us to clean up a small handful of bounced addresses before school starts.

If you haven't RSVP'd for the picnic yet, you can do so here. Over 300 MPA students and familes have already signed up!  We hope you will join us for a great kick-off to our school year.

With school starting in just one week, it’s time to start thinking about practical matters – like how the routines for pick-up and drop-off will run this year.  A few small changes to the system have been made this year to help insure the safety and security of our students.  Procedures are available on our website for more details.  Here’s an overview:

• Buses will not be entering the parking lot this year – they will only drop off and pick up students at the door on Triskett Road.  This saves wear and tear on the parking lot, and it makes the parking lot safer for students who walk or are being dropped off by car.
• Students who walk home will be released after the bus and car riders have left.  This will help minimize pedestrian traffic in the parking lot and keep these students safer during this busy time of day.
• Car rider procedures are pretty much the same as last year, as is the flow of parking/traffic in the lot.  Car signs and maps of the traffic flow will be distributed at the picnic on August 28^th, and at the Open House on August 29th, so be sure to pick yours up!  You can also find the procedures on the MPA website/MPA Documents page.
• If you have transportation changes – your bus rider is going to be picked up by car one day, for example – YOU MAY NO LONGER E-MAIL THESE CHANGES TO YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER.  Teachers are very busy during the school day and are often away from their computers for long stretches of time.  If you need to notify the school of a last-minute transportation change, please e-mail Lynn Wilson at Lynn.Wilson@menloparkacademy.com BEFORE NOON, and she will make sure the teacher gets the message.
• And finally, please keep in mind that despite our best planning, the drop-off and pick-up lines at school are always a challenge for the first few days.  If everyone is patient and respectful of volunteers, staff, and other parents, it will be a much more pleasant experience for everyone.

If you can fasten a seatbelt, peel open string cheese, or retrieve balls from the streets surrounding the playground, we need your help!   We’re looking for folks to help out with drop-off, pick-up, lunch and recess duty, especially during the first week of school.  These daytime volunteers MUST complete the training being provided at several times on August 29^th.  Please click here to sign up to RSVP for the training and also sign-up for lunch/recess help – and thanks in advance for your pudding-opening skills! 

Speaking of volunteers, the volunteer descriptions, FAQs, and sign-ups are now officially ready!  Check out the Volunteer Page on our website or download the documents here.

Once you've looked the opportunities over you can sign up on the new electronic form.

There are plenty of options for every interest and skill set, everything from running Pizza Day to collating Box Tops to helping with work days on the weekends. Please take some time to consider what type of volunteer work you’d like to perform this year – and then sign up to do it!  We need to have each family’s volunteer commitment in place by the first team meeting night, which will be at 6:30pm on September 8^th

Also, we need to start thinking about the electives we’ll be offering our students this year.  These are traditionally led by volunteers, and can be about any topic you’d like – anything from public speaking to Lego building to messy science to crafts.  It’s a great way to get to know your child’s classmates, introduce students to topics that aren’t included in the standard curriculum, and have a lot of fun!  If you would to volunteer for a session (which is usually 6-7 weeks long and meets at least once a week), please contact Dr. Bouchard at 
Lorraine.Bouchard@menloparkacademy.com with details on which topic and grade level you’d be interested in leading.

We have a few more staff introductions to share this week:

Annette Coreno (Classroom Teaching Assistant/Lunch & Recess Assistant) writes: I previously worked in the same capacity as a substitute for many years with a public school system. I have lived in the Westpark area of Cleveland with my husband and children for over 20 years and am now very fortunate to have this wonderful opportunity to be able to work in this neighborhood as well. I so look forward to working with each and every one of you once the new school year begins!

Diane Padrutt (art) writes: Although I am originally from the Detroit area, I received my bachelors degree in Art Education from Kent State University, then relocated to the west side of Cleveland after college.  I worked for the Parma City School District for years before staying home with my two young sons.  Returning to Parma part time provided me with both a chance to work with children and art, and to stay home with my sons, all the while working on my pottery (which I display and sell locally).  I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, cooking, traveling, gardening, and waterskiing.  I am very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the Menlo Park Academy family and I look forward to meeting you all!

Important dates:

Sunday, August 28^th --            5-7 pm: School picnic at Lakewood Park Kiwanis Pavilion.  Sign up for volunteer teams, pick up your car rider signs, meet other MPA families, and have a good time!  Hot dogs, chips, and drinks will be provided by the school.

Monday, August 29^th --          Milk order forms due, and:

12-3 pm or 6:30-7:45 pm: Open house to meet teachers and drop off school supplies.  This is optional – you can choose to drop supplies off at another time the school is open, as long as they are clearly marked with the child’s name and grade.  And if you ordered your school supplies online, rest assured that they have already been delivered to the classrooms and you don’t need to do anything further with them.

            1 pm, 2 pm, and 6 pm: Training sessions for daytime volunteers (choose one to attend)

            2:45 pm and 7 pm: Orientation sessions for Edison ClubALL new and returning families who will - or might - be needing before or after school care MUST attend an orientation meeting.

Wednesday, August 31^st – First day of school for 1^st-8^th graders

Thursday, September 1^st – Half day of school for kindergarteners, full day for other students.  Kindergarten students attend from 8:30 to 11:30 am, with one parent or other adult invited to stay from 8:30-9:15. Kindergarteners must be picked up at 11:30, which is just before lunchtime.  Several parents of past kindergarteners have volunteered to lead a coffee hour September 1^st at the local Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts (16204 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland - (216) 812-3865).  If you have questions about what to expect as the parent of an MPA student, want to make suggestions about how to make the process easier on future students, or just need a shoulder to cry on while your baby has his or her first day of school, this is the place to be.  Drop by the store between 9:30 am and 11 am – we hope to see you there!

Friday, September 2^nd – Partial day of school for kindergarteners, full day for other students.  Kindergarten students attend from 8:30 am to 1 pm, which includes lunch and recess.  Kindergarteners must be picked up at 1 pm.

Monday, September 5^th – Holiday – No School

Tuesday, September 6^th – Full day for all students

Thursday, September 8^th – Parent Volunteer Meeting @6:30pm

See you at the picnic and/or Open House!

Fourth summer newsletter

Help! We need somebody!
Mrs. Lindeman and the staff have identified a few jobs that need to be finished up at the school before our kicks off on the 31st. Please contact her at the school if you would be willing to help out with any of the following:

• Sprucing up the teachers’ lounge. This may include buying some tableware to keep at the school (expense will be reimbursed), hanging up some pictures in the lounge, and organizing/cleaning the room and supplies. Cookies and bakery donations to help create a "Welcome Back" feel are accepted as well.
• Assisting the new Art Teacher with organizing materials in the new art room (which is in the old music room). This will include unpacking and organizing all the art supplies we’ve moved out of the old art room.
• "Goo-Gone" Patrol. Cleaning off the sticky tape residue left from artwork, signs, etc in the hallways, doors and windows. (Two-four volunteers needed for this task)
• MPA Welcome Back Picnic. Help is needed with building a fire, cooking, serving, and set-up/clean-up. In addition, we need to know how many people will be in attending so we can be prepared. You can RSVP and/or Sign-up to help at the school website for MPA's Back to School Picnic on August 28 @5-7pm Lakewood Park.

Not able to help with these tasks, but wondering how you can help out this year? Have you tired of your past volunteer commitments but aren’t sure where else you could help? Look no further than the newly created description of volunteer opportunities that will be available very soon on the MPA website. It will walk you through what each of the teams does for the school, what skill sets the teams are looking for, and what projects might be available during the year. It’s important that each family read through the volunteer descriptions and choose which area they’d like to work in this year. Sign-ups for volunteer teams will be available next week as well, and each family must choose a team to work with by the beginning of the school year.

More milk choices
MPA will once again be offering parents the chance to pre-pay for milk to be provided for students each day at lunch. But this year, we’re offering additional choices – white or lowfat chocolate milk, and several payment plans. You’ll be able to choose a plan that covers the entire year, half the year, or just two months. Remember – students can’t pay for milk on individual days, just as part of the plan, so it’s important to decide soon whether your family will participate. (Order form attached to this email.) Cost for Milk is $50/year, $25 1/2 year and $12.50 for two months.

Introductions
There will be plenty of new faces to learn on the first day of school – and not all of them belong to kids! MPA is proud to welcome half a dozen new teachers to our staff this year in both upper and lower grades. In order to help our families get to know these new faces, we’ve asked them to introduce themselves:

• Ashley Schroeder (first grade) writes: I have taught first grade for 5 years, and I spent one school year as an early literacy coach training and coaching teachers in grades K-2. I just moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio this summer, and I live with my new husband, Ryan and our cat Beanie. I absolutely love teaching first grade, and cannot wait to meet my new group of "firsties" in a few short weeks! I am so happy to be joining the Menlo Park Academy team this school year!
• Denise Machado (teachers’ aide and supervisor of the Edison Club) writes: My background includes a Masters in Education, Bachelors in Psychology, LSW and a Post Graduate Training Program at the Gestalt Institute. I am looking forward to an exciting year!
• Doug Thompson (first grade) writes: I have lived in Lorain County for the last thirty years, spending the last seven years teaching first grade in Lorain, Ohio. I share a home in Elyria with my wonderful wife Kim. I have a pet bearded dragon named Murray who will be living in our first grade class this year. I am excited to be joining the team at MPA and can't wait to meet all of the wonderful students and parents that I keep hearing about.
• Eamon O’Donnell (fourth grade) writes: I graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2002 with a degree in Elementary Education. I have spent the past nine years teaching in Catholic school in the Cleveland area, while also receiving a Master of Arts in Education from Baldwin Wallace College. Though most of my experience has been teaching math, English, and science in the junior high, I am very much looking forward to teaching fourth grade at Menlo Park Academy and incorporating my background in technology. In my spare time, I enjoy sports, being outdoors, cooking, listening to music, and spending as much time possible with my wife and two children.
• Julie Kubek (seventh and eighth grade math) writes: Prior to coming to Menlo Park, I taught high school integrated mathematics and geometry in the Toledo area as well as 7th grade math and pre-algebra at Hillside Middle School in Parma. I enjoy spending time with my husband and three children as well as playing piano, reading and whipping up creations in the kitchen. I look forward to working with MPA's mathematicians and hope to inspire them to be their best!
• Kym Rokas (second grade) writes: I graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College with a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialist, and a Reading Endorsement. I have been teaching for 6 years now in a variety of different settings. I am so excited to be leading one of the second grade classrooms this year! Personally, I am married to a wonderful man named Joe. We have a 5 month old baby girl named Lilly and a golden retriever named Bella. As much as I will be missing my baby this fall, I know I will be equally excited to work with your children. In my free time, you can find me on a softball field or a tennis court. I'm so excited to be joining the Menlo Park community this year. Let's make it a good one.
• Leslie Weber (Middle School social studies) writes: I am very excited to be a part of the Menlo Park Community! For the past four years I have been teaching 8th grade at Marburn Academy in Columbus, Ohio, a school for exceptional students who learn differently. In the classroom I enjoy discussions and relating history to current world issues. My husband and I have been married for three years and we have an adorable beagle/German Pointer mix named Mosby. When I'm not teaching or lesson planning, I enjoy reading historical fiction and watching movies. I can't wait for the school year to begin to meet the students and get started teaching.

Musical classrooms
MPA has seen a lot of construction this summer in preparation for our growing student body. The room which used to house the Edison Club and art classes is now home to a second grade classroom, as is a large portion of the former office and volunteer area. That’s right – second grade will now be held downstairs with the Kindergarten and first grade classes! The art classes will now be held in the former music room, and music classes will be held onstage and in classrooms throughout the school. Edison Club will start each day in the gym, then may go to classrooms. The "room of the day" for Edison Club will be posted on a sign at the entrance each day. Several of the teachers on the second floor have moved rooms, too – so it won’t just be the new kids who have to search for their classrooms the first few days of school! If you’d like to see how the construction has progressed, be sure to stop by school during the Open House on the 29th. We’ll be happy to give you a tour!


Coming soon to a school near you …
Monday, August 22nd - Class lists announced via e-mail.

Sunday, August 28th -- 5-7 pm: School picnic at Lakewood Park Kiwanis Pavilion. Sign up for volunteer teams, meet other MPA families, and have a good time! Hot dogs, chips, and drinks will be provided by the school.

Monday, August 29th -- 12-3 pm or 6:30-7:45 pm: Open house to meet teachers and drop off school supplies. This is optional – you can choose to drop supplies off at another time the school is open, as long as they are clearly marked with the child’s name and grade. And if you ordered your school supplies online, rest assured that they have already been delivered to the classrooms and you don’t need to do anything further with them.
-- 1 pm, 2 pm, and 6 pm: Training sessions for daytime volunteers (choose one to attend)
-- 2:45 pm and 7 pm: Orientation sessions for Edison Club

Wednesday, August 31st – First day of school for 1st-8th graders

Thursday, September 1st – Half day of school for kindergarteners, full day for other students. Kindergarten students attend from 8:30 to 11:30 am, with one parent or other adult invited to stay from 8:30-9:15. Kindergarteners must be picked up at 11:30, which is just before lunchtime.

Friday, September 2nd – Partial day of school for kindergarteners, full day for other students. Kindergarten students attend from 8:30 am to 1 pm, which includes lunch and recess. Kindergarteners must be picked up at 1 pm.

Monday, September 5th – Holiday – No School

Tuesday, September 6th – Full day for all students

PE is now twice as nice
This just in … MPA will now be offering Physical Education TWICE a week. We’re beginning a special partnership with the local YMCA, which will be coordinating the classes and providing the instructor, Mr. John Mould. Look for more information on this exciting development over the coming weeks as we nail down the specifics of the program.

What’s coming up on the calendar?

Saturday, August 6^th Classroom cleanup scheduled at MPA building – volunteers needed!

Monday, August 22^nd – Classroom assignments will be e-mailed to parents

Sunday, August 28^th –       Back-to-school picnic at Lakewood Park , 5 – 7 pm

                                          Edison Club – Mandatory 20-minute orientation at 6 pm at picnic
Monday, August 29^th        1-3 pm Open house to meet teachers and drop off school supplies (optional)
        Training (in the gym) for those interested in daytime volunteers jobs such as helping in the classroom, lunchroom, or playground. Choose one training time: either  1pm-1:45pm or 2-2:45pm in the gym. 

Wednesday, August 31^st – First day of school for 1^st-8^th graders

Thursday, September 1^st – Half day of school for kindergarteners, full day for other students

Friday, September 2^nd – Partial day of school for kindergarteners, full day for other students

Monday, September 5^th – Holiday – No School

Tuesday, September 6^th – Full day for all students

A copy of the full 2011-2012 school year calendar can be found on the “Communication Central” page of the Menlo Park Academy web site.

One last tip for parents of new students … please review the MPA dress code and supply lists (both online athttps://sites.google.com/site/menloparkacademy/getting-started ) before doing your back-to-school shopping.  School uniforms sell out quickly in the mall and discount stores, especially in the kindergarten sizes, so it’s best to start looking early rather than be stuck trying to scrape up polo shirts on August 29^th.

What can you do to help?

As we all know, families of students at Menlo Park Academy are expected to volunteer at least 10 hours a month to help improve the school experience for our students. 

It’s never too early to get started on your hours for this year – over the summer we need everything from maintenance/facilities help in the school building to paperwork help that can be done at home or in the school office.

Immediate needs include help for the classroom clean-up scheduled for Saturday, August 6^th.  If you can move desks, wield a bottle of glass cleaner, or shelve books, we need you!

Later this summer we’ll be sending out more information of the kinds of volunteer opportunities available during the school year, including leading electives, organizing fundraisers, and helping out with lunch or recess duty.  We’ll also be holding a training session on Monday, August 29^th, for volunteers who are interested in working during arrival, lunch, recess, or dismissal.  Contact the school if you’d like to find out more or be included in the training.

Who are the new teachers?

As our school continues to expand, so does our list of highly trained faculty and staff.  We’ll be sharing more detailed information about our newest teachers later this summer.  In the meantime, please join us in welcoming the following teachers to Menlo Park Academy this year:

-          Ashley Schroeder and Doug Thompson, 1^st grade

-          Kym Rokas, 2^nd grade

-          Eamon O’Donnell, 4^th grade

-          Julie Kubek, Middle School mathematics

-          Leslie Weber, Middle School social studies

In addition, several returning teachers will be taking on new responsibilities.  Shanon Kneidel (reading intervention) will also be teaching 5^th Grade language arts this year, and Carol Scheuer (technology and mathematics) will be working as an IT coordinator for the school, as well as teaching K-12 technology.

Finally – and maybe most importantly, as far as the students are concerned – NO, we have NOT finished the classroom assignments yet.  Teachers will be e-mailing their class lists to their students’ parents on August 22^nd.   Please respect the fact that many, many factors are considered when placing children with teachers, and we are unable to honor any requests for placement with specific teachers.

What's the plan for the staggered start for kindergarteners?

Starting Kindergarten can be an overwhelming experience for both the child and the parent.  In order to make for a smooth transition, we will follow this schedule for Kindergarten:

-          Wednesday, August 31:  NO SCHOOL for incoming kindergarten students.

-          Thursday, September 1:  Kindergarten students attend school for 1/2 day in the morning. Students arrive 8:00-8:30 am.  School starts at 8:30 am. One parent (or other adult) is invited to take the student into the classroom and stay for a fun activity from 8:30 – 9:15 am, at which time the adult will be dismissed.  The Kindergarten student should be picked up at 11:30 am, which is just before lunch.

-          Friday, September 2:  Kindergarten students attend school for the morning (arrival 8:00-8:30 am) AND stay for lunch/recess. Adults should pick the students up at 1:00 pm.

-          Monday, September 5:  Holiday:  NO SCHOOL.

-          Tuesday, September 6:  Typical FULL day for kindergarten students (arrival from 8:00-8:30 am, dismissal at 3:15 pm).

So, kindergarten parents, what are you going to do on the day your child is in school for only three hours?  Several parents of past kindergarteners have volunteered to lead a coffee hour September 1^st at the local Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts (16204 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland - (216) 812-3865).  If you have questions about what to expect as the parent of an MPA student, want to make suggestions about how to make the process easier on future students, or just need a shoulder to cry on while your baby has his or her first day of school, this is the place to be.  Drop by the store between 9:30 am and 11 am – we hope to see you there!

Does your student qualify for busing?

Sorry, we can’t answer that question for you – but here’s what we know:

Busing is coordinated by the local school districts our students would attend if they weren’t enrolled at MPA.  In order for your school district to provide busing, MPA must be within a 30-minute bus ride from the district and there must be a minimum number of students from that district attending the school.  Last year, the districts which provided  busing included Avon, Avon Lake, Westlake, Sheffield, North Ridgeville, and Olmsted Falls.  Since enrollment from each district changes every year, past busing is no guarantee of service for the following year.

Please contact your local school district’s busing or transportation department directly to inquire whether busing will be available for your child this year.  If you are still in need of busing assistance, please call MPA and speak with Nancy Colby, our student data administrator.  Nancy has extensive experience in the transportation department of a Westside school district and can give you further information regarding how to communicate with your district.  

Paperwork! Paperwork! Get your paperwork here!

Well, summer's half over already, and it's time to start getting ready for an awesome 2011-2012 school year at MPA!

As a reminder, enrollment paperwork must be turned in to the school in person next week according to the following schedule:

– Monday, July 25th, New Students & Incoming Kindergarten.
– Tuesday, July 26th, Last names A-L
– Wednesday, July 27th, Last names M-Z
– Thursday, July 28th, Make up day for New Students & Incoming Kindergarten
– Friday, July 29th, Make up day for anyone that was missed

Please bring all of the enrollment forms, required documents and the balance of the $500 activities and materials fee to the school’s office at 14440 Triskett Rd, Cleveland OH  44111.  If you are unable to pay the balance of the $500 fee by this time, you must contact Operations Manager, Connie Lindemann at Connie.Lindemann@MenloParkAcademy.com to make alternative arrangements.

The enrollment forms can be found online here; please remember that you must also bring proof of residency that includes your family's name and current address (Current Utility Bill (no older than 60 days), Homeowner or Tenant Insurance Policy, or Municipal Income Tax Bill (RITA) - a driver's license is NOT acceptable!).


A couple of other links that might be helpful to parents of new and returning students alike:

Class supply lists
Dress code
2011-2012 School calendar

And, because we know it's the number one question all the students have right now ... NO, we don't have the classroom assignments finished yet!  Look for the class lists to be emailed from you child's homeroom teacher on August 22.  Until then, please respect that classroom assignments have a lot of thought behind them, and we CANNOT honor requests for placements with specific teachers.