MPA family bowling event

Event coordinator:  Dawn Watson (dawnmichellewatson@yahoo.com)

Date/Time:   Nov. 5, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.

Location:  Mahall’s 20 Lanes.  Lakewood, Ohio

Cost:  Families to pay own costs

            $2.50 per person per game

            $2.00 per person per shoe rental

 

Refreshments: Each family to bring an item to share with a request of no peanut or nuts.  Each family to only bring one item (those with 2 or more students, just pick one item to bring). These items can all be purchased for $3.00.  Bridget Ryan to supply paper plates and serving spoons.

            1^st grade parents:  Chips/pretzels

            2^nd grade parents:  Store bought/homemade  dip

            3^rd grade parents:   Chips/pretzels etc

            4^th grade parents:   Dozen Dessert/cookies etc

            5^th – 7^th grade parents:  Dozen Dessert/cookies etc

Event description:   Mahall’s 20 lanes is a vintage bowling alley.  The prices per game are the lowest in the area.  They are reserving the lower alley which has 10 lanes for MPA.  Each lane can accommodate 6 bowlers.  They also have a party room which they will allow MPA to use, and bring in outside food.  All drinks/beverages must be purchased at Mahall’s.  Food/snacks will be supplied by each  family. 

Contact Info:   Mahall’s 20 Lanes.  (216) 521-3280

Special Dedication for Michael Sparkman

Dear MPA Community,

A special little boy named Michael Sparkman attended Kindergarten and First Grade at Lorain Gifted Academy (The school closed and Menlo was "birthed" shortly thereafter. A number of families from LGA helped start MPA). Several of MPA's students were in Michael's class. During his first grade year, Michael was diagnosed with cancer. The school rallied around this special family, but he sadly lost his battle at the beginning of MPA's first school year. His sister, Keona, joined MPA that year as a member of the first KG class.

The Sparkman family is moving to Texas in June and we are planting a tree in Michael's honor. He and his family always be a part of our MPA family.

Anyone in the MPA Community is welcome to join us for this dedication.

DATE: Wednesday, June 1
TIME: 1pm
PLACE: Menlo Park Academy

Menlo Park Academy

SPIRIT WEEK is Coming!!! May 23-27

It’s time to ditch your uniform & show your school spirit! Come to school dressed each day for the themes below. Prizes will be awarded so leave your inhibitions at home, get creative & have fun!

MONDAY: Groovy 70’s
We’re flashing back to the 70’s – a funky time of peace, love, tie-dies, long hair, braids, afro hair styles, bell-bottom jeans, macrame belts, go-go boots, beads, sandals, long flowing tops…get groovy!

TUESDAY: Fake an Injury Day
When do you get to “plan” your own injury? Think make-up, bandages, splints and anything else you can imagine -- black-eyes, stitches, head injury bandages, broken bones.


WEDNESDAY: Field Day
Blue vs. Orange – Wear your field day t-shirt (to be provided by the school) & get ready for some fun competition at Lakewood Park!

THURSDAY: Multiplicity Day
The more the merrier!! Try to get as many people as possible to dress alike - 2, 3,4….or even 10! That will certainly turn heads in the hall!

FRIDAY: Fashion Disaster
Raid your closet & drawers to pull together the worst outfit you can imagine! Tacky, wacky, weird, inside out, backwards – anything goes!! This is one day you want your parents to say “You’re wearing THAT to school?”

Arts Fair - A Great Success!

The 1st Annual Menlo Park Academy Arts Fair was held April 10, 2011 and was a wonderful time for all! Created to highlight the students talents in the arts, specifically the visual arts and performance, the event was created and run by a small team of parent volunteers co-chaired by Melanie Nealis and Jill Milenski and supported by Ms. DeCapite (art teacher) and Ms. Leib (music teacher).




Adults and children listened intently to the youthful sounds of 24 musicians performing on piano, violin, trumpet, drums, flute and voice throughout the building, hallways, library and the gym stage. Crowds could also be found gathered around a dancer, poet, and some hip hop dancers/musicians.

"Wax Figure Artists" were stationed throughout the school in a "frozen" position" until you drop a coin into their box. They would then come alive and tell you something about themselves and give you the opportunity to guess who they were portraying. These students had chosen to research and dress up as a famous artist or composer and included artists such as Leonardo da Vinci.


Artwork from all art classes and electives were beautifully arranged throughout the building and is still on display for all who visit the school. The day came to an end with an ice cream social and many smiles. Plans are already underway for the next years event with hopes to incorporate the "Wax Figure Artist" element into the school's curriculum and involve even more students.

MPA musicians entertain seniors, warm hearts

Tuesday the musicians from MPA did a beautiful job performing for the audience of seniors at the day care center.  The violin ensemble performed the first set of pieces, the choir performed their pieces and the violin soloists closed the program. The audience received them warmly and the students performed with grace and poise!  

After they performed, each student went into the audience to say a personal greeting to each senior, many students shaking their hands and offering a warm word.  It was such a joy to see them interacting with the seniors and so appreciated.  Thank-you so much for your support and for helping the students practice their music and to get their instruments to school, both for the elective classes, rehearsals and the performances.

There was one senior in the audience that had lost her ability to speak, due to dementia.  Most of the time, she sat still in her chair, staring forward and unresponsive.  When the children performed, she was smiling and tapping her foot gently.  Afterwards, she sat still again, staring and not able to speak.  For one hour today, the children were able to give this lady so much joy, despite the progression of her dementia.  It made me, once again, aware of the importance of music in stimulating memory and emotions.  Music has been used as a powerful tool in therapy with people with Alzheimer's type dementia. Music was today, for our MPA musicians and for the seniors at this facility, a universal, multi-cultural, multi- generational language.

Musically yours,

Ardis Billey