MPA Weekly Update - 1/17/13

In This Issue Dates to Remember Open Enrollment Student Council Elections Science Fair Quiz Night Family Night Annual Fund Website Highlights FYI: Dates to Remember January 1/19 - Power of the Pen 1/21 - Monday - no school for students 1/25 - Friday - Science Fair    February 2/8 - Friday - MS Science Fair workshop after school 2/9 - Saturday - Quiz Night 2/15-18 - Friday/Monday - no school for students 2/22 - Friday - MS Science Fair workshop after school 2/23 - Saturday - Menlo Park Family Night/Monsters Hockey Game 2/28 - Thursday - End of trimester    March 3/6 - Invention Convention 3/7 - Chemistry Competition 3/14 - Math Night    April 4/16 - Spelling Bee Open Enrollment  January 7-18th Open Enrollment for the 2013-14 school year runs from January 7-18, 2013. New students should complete and submitthe 2013-14 Enrollment Application , along with the $100 non-refundable activity & material fee deposit and other required information.  Please contact our Admissions  office if you have any questions.  Shop with Scrips Sunday by 7pm  We're back.  Remember to order this Sunday by 7 PM to ensure delivery for next Thursday's folder.  And thank you to those who supported scrip during the break by using ScripNow & PrestoPay.   Make sure to check the Scrip program website to learn about the current offers that earn additional funds for our school.    More (FREE) ways to support MPA  Did you know in addition to your Box Tops, Campbell's Labels for Education and Tyson labels you can also donate your used ink cartridges and Coca-Cola bottle tops to MPA?! Just send in your empty ink cartridges and/or Coca-Cola bottle tops in a plastic bag and place them in the Box Top collection bin outside the school office. We can redeem our Coke points for a variety of school items such as gym/recess equipment, and the ink cartridges give us store credit at Staples to purchase office items. Its a win win for everyone!    Log your volunteer hours online  Your time is appreciated! Please log your current volunteer hours online, either on the netbook near the sign-in at school, or at home.  We are not using the paper logs to record your hours anymore - all hours MUST be entered into the computer if you want credit for them! Any hours you put in the paper log over the summer or earlier this year WILL be entered for you - you just need to enter your CURRENT hours. Weekly Update - 1/17/13 Quick Links Menlo Park Academy Website MPA on Facebook Shop with Scrips by 7pm on Sunday Report your volunteer hours School calendar  Classroom Websites (click on Classroom Websites tab) Team Building k-1 Recess Activities      Over the next week, Mrs. B-W will be visiting k-1 classrooms to discuss the opportunity to participate in a pilot of facilitated team building games during recess.  Students will take part in activities such as obstacle course running, construction tasks, artistic endeavors and more.  The pilot will be on Mondays and run for four weeks, beginning January 28th.       Students will bring home an information form in the Thursday folder next week for interested parents to sign up.  Students must commit to the entire four Mondays. Volunteers are needed to help run these fun-filled recesses from 12:15-1:00.  If you are interested, please contact Mrs. B-W.  A huge thanks to Mr. Hudak for helping to start this process.  Middle School STEM Career Night We want your feedback!    Thanks to those who attended Middle School STEM Career Night: Meet the Experts on Jan. 9th! We hope it was a valuable experience. As always, the STEM Enrichment Team seeks to improve its events. If you attended the event, we'd very much appreciate it if you would fill out this feedback survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2VYCLKW Thank you! Student Council Elections  Tuesday, 1/29/2013    School-wide assemblies will be held on Monday, January 28th, and Tuesday, January 29th, during which the fifth-eighth graders running for office will present short speeches.  Student Council officers will be working with administration to develop and adjust school policies.  Administrators will also be working with the Diversity Center to train students in leadership in the areas of tolerance and anti-bullying to help lead school-wide events.  Student Council officers will be taking on significant responsibility and be an action-oriented group.  If your child has submitted his/her name to run, please discuss their level of commitment so that they are sure they wish to participate.  Science Fair  - grades 2, 3, 5-8  Friday, 1/25/2013   Science Fair this year will include grades 2, 3, and 5-8.  It will be held on Friday, January 25.  Awards for grades 5-8 will be presented that day during an assembly at 4 pm.  Parents are welcome to attend.  Students may stay after school for a science assembly from 3:15-4 pm if their parents will be here to transport them home immediately following the awards assembly. Later this spring, grades K,1,4, and 5-8 will participate inInvention Convention.  It will be held Wednesday, March 6.  A similar schedule to Science Fair will be followed - look for more information closer to that event. MPA Quiz Night at Brennan's  Saturday, 2/9/2013, 6pm-midnight   Tickets can be purchased online or through cash or check payment. Family Night at Lake Erie Monsters Hockey  Saturday, 2/23/2013   Monsters tickets are on sale now! Come spend the night with Menlo Park as we watch the Lake Erie Monsters take on the Texas Stars on Saturday, February 23rd! Game time is 7:30, but gates open at 6:30 for FREE face and/or hair painting. This is a great opportunity for the MPA community to have a fun family night out. Tickets on sale now for $10/each and must be purchased by Monday, January 28th to ensure our group will be seated together. BONUS... every MPA student who purchases a ticket will be entered into a raffle to take part in the intermission broom ball show on the ice (20 kids will win)! Please make checks payable to MPA Boosters. Flyer is attached . Questions? Contact jessicatonsing@hotmail.com.   Annual Fund Make sure to put your name on your donation!   The annual fund allows Menlo Park Academy to address the diverse learning needs of our gifted students.  It helps MPA provide high quality teachers, allows access to technology, increases creative programming and so much more.  Please consider contributing to our annual fund. With your help we can achieve our goal of 100% participation! Please note that many businesses offer employer match donations to educational nonprofits. Be sure to check with your human resources representative to see if your company has a donation matching program in place. Weekly Website Highlights  Resources for Parents  MPA has collected links to many of the most useful resources for parents of gifted children.  Visit the Gifted Resources pageon our website to find articles about gifted education, links to online resources, and suggestions for things like summer camps and other educational experiences. And don't forget that you can find lots of information about MPA itself - including policies and procedures, dress code, school calendar, and much more - in the "MPA Community" section of the site.  Just click on "Parents" in the dropdown menu, and choose the tab labeled "Resource Center."     If you have any specific questions or feedback about the new site, please contact Communications@MenloParkAcademy.com.   Information can be submitted via email to: communications@menloparkacademy.com for review and inclusion in the weekly update. Submissions are subject to Director approval.

MPA Weekly Update - 1/10/13

In This Issue Dates to Remember Open Enrollment Spirit Wear MS Dance Chess Quiz Night Family Night Annual Fund Website Highlights MS Dance    Cookies & White Lights Needed   Would you be willing to donate a batch of yummy treats to the cookie for the the Middle School dance on Friday?  If so, please send them to the office on Friday. (Please remember cookies should be nut free).  Also, white lights are needed as decorations for the dance.  If you have some Christmas lights we could borrow, please send them to Mrs. Padrutt or Mrs. Kneidle.  Place your name on the lights with masking tape. We can be sure to get them returned to you!  FYI: Dates to Remember January 1/7 - 1/18 - Open Enrollment for incoming new students 1/11 - Friday - MS Science Fair workshop after school; MS dance 6:30-8:30 pm 1/17-18 - Thursday/Friday - Parent-Teacher Conferences; no school for students 1/21 - Monday - no school for students   February 2/8 - Friday - MS Science Fair workshop after school 2/15-18 - Friday/Monday - no school for students 2/22 - Friday - MS Science Fair workshop after school 2/23 - Saturday - Menlo Park Family Night/Monsters Hockey Game 2/28 - Thursday - End of trimester Open Enrollment  January 7-18th Open Enrollment for the 2013-14 school year runs from January 7-18, 2013. New students should complete and submitthe 2013-14 Enrollment Application , along with the $100 non-refundable activity & material fee deposit and other required information.  Please contact our Admissions  office if you have any questions.  Box Tops More than $1,100 earned so far!   Keep sending in your Box Tops & Campbell's Labels for Education - so far the MPA Boosters have collected more than $1,100 from its Box Tops efforts! Every student who sends in 25 Box Tops between December and January will receive a special MPA pencil. Please be sure to check out the Box Top Race to the Top chart in the hallway to see which class in winning the race!  Spirit Wear  Still available! We still have a supply of MPA shirts, pencils, pens & window stickers available for purchase. Please contact Janie Zell at zelljanie@gmail.com to purchase items.  Thanks for showing your MPA spirit and helping support the Boosters!  Shop with Scrips Sunday by 7pm  We're back.  Remember to order this Sunday by 7 PM to ensure delivery for next Thursday's folder.  And thank you to those who supported scrip during the break by using ScripNow & PrestoPay. Add it to your New Year's resolutions to support scrip at least once a month, & twice a month if you're already a supporter. Share your testimonial with us & get a moment of fame in the next scrip scrap newsletter.   Make sure to check the Scrip program website to learn about the current offers that earn additional funds for our school.     Magazine Fundraiser - All Year Long Please remember that magazines purchased through Menlo Park Academy's magazine fundraiser donate 40% of the total to MPA! With more than 700 titles priced well below retail, there is something for everyone. There are also fabulous gift items available. * Visitwww.gaschoolstore.com * Use your School Code: 2738540 and follow the instructions online. Log your volunteer hours online  Your time is appreciated! Please log your current volunteer hours online, either on the netbook near the sign-in at school, or at home.  We are not using the paper logs to record your hours anymore - all hours MUST be entered into the computer if you want credit for them! Any hours you put in the paper log over the summer or earlier this year WILL be entered for you - you just need to enter your CURRENT hours. Weekly Update - 1/10/13 Quick Links Menlo Park Academy Website MPA on Facebook Shop with Scrips by 7pm on Sunday Report your volunteer hours School calendar  Classroom Websites (click on Classroom Websites tab) Parent-Teacher Conferences No school 1/17 or 1/18 Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held: Thursday, January 17th from 10am to 7pm Friday, January 18th from 7:30am to 3:00pm.   There is NO school for students on these two days. Teachers will be directly contacting those parents with whom they would like to have a conference.  If you receive such an email, please consider coming in to share ideas for improving your child's academic success.  MPA staff is eager to work with and signing up right away will ensure a spot for that discussion to take place.   Second round of conferences are not mandatory, but please know that we value every family's partnership with MPA.   If you feel the need to speak with your child's teacher, you are encouraged to do so. Time slots will be in 15 minute increments, designated at one time slot per student to allow for all families to participate. Watch for an e-mail with sign-up links that will be sent out Friday morning (1/11/13) at 10:00am.          Chess Lessons Begin Friday Still accepting new participants!    Menlo Park Academy is pleased to offer students in grades K-8 the exciting opportunity to learn and play the game of chess.  No previous experience necessary - students start at their own level. Instruction provided by Progress with Chess, a local non-profit organization with chess programs over 40 area schools and recreation centers. Sessions will include interactive lessons and structured open play in a supportive environment. WEBSITE:  www.progresswithchess.org SESSION: Begins January 11 through March 22 (8 weeks) WHO: Students in Grades K-8 WHEN: Every Friday school is open, 3:15 - 4:15 pm WHERE: Menlo Park Academy FEE: $56 per student. Please make checks payable to Progress with Chess. CONTACT: Michael Joelson, 216-321-7000,mdjoelson@progresswithchess.org    Progress with Chess  Sunday lessons begin 1/13/2012 Progress with Chess will be offering Sunday group lessons for scholastic players again this winter at Beachwood Community Center starting January 13th and lasting for ten weeks. The Sunday classes are designed to inspire every child and give them the necessary skills to progress to the next level. Many group members made great strides last school year.Our Fantastic Foundation group is designed for players who know the basic rules and now want to be prepared for tournament competition. Participants will learn to record moves, use a chess clock, and explore basic checkmates, strategy and tactics. Championship Challenge includesexperienced tournamentplayers who are striving to improve. Weekly sessions include interactive lessons and one USCF rated tournament game that is analyzed by the PWC staff. Online Registration is available here. Make A Wish Middle School Dance  Friday, 1/11/2013, 6:30-9pm Friday evening is our first middle school dance (grades 5-8) of the year.  It will run from 6:30-9:00.  The theme is "Make a Wish" for the new-year.  This is a dress up event.   To build enthusiasm for the dance, we will have some school wide (k-8) activities during the week.  For example, on Friday  Mrs. BW will play DJ at lunch.  Students may bring in CD's of their favorite (school appropriate) music.  Throughout the week, we will highlight children from the "Make A Wish Foundation" on the morning announcements and in homeroom/advisory.  Information about the Make a Wish Foundation is at:  http://www.wish.org/stories/recent .  Students and Staff are encouraged to bring in $1.00 to contribute to the Make A Wish Foundation.  The total amount will be donated to the foundation (if everyone were to bring in a dollar, we would raise almost $400 for Make a Wish).  Students should turn in their dollar bill to advisory/homeroom teachers.  On Friday, we will calculate and announce the amount.  MPA will relate this effort to our COMPASSION trait focus for January.  Students will be receiving their heart medallions throughout the month as they demonstrate compassion through actions and words.  Look for lists of books and movies to share with your child on this topic in upcoming January newsletters. 3rd Grade Reading Ohio Achievement Assessment Results   The Fall OAA results for third grade have been released.  As usual, our students scored exceptionally well.  88.6% scored in the Advanced/Accelerated range.  Individual student reports have been mailed home and you third grade parents should receive those in the next few days. Enrollment for New Violin Students Open   Are you interested in learning to play violin?  Ms. Billey is accepting new students at this time.  New players meet during lunch/recess on Wednesdays.  Ms. Billey will provide a violin as part of her instructional fee.  You can pick up a enrollment form from the office at anytime. Science Fair - Volunteers Needed  Friday, 1/25/2013  Anyone make New Year's Resolutions to complete more volunteer hours at MPA in 2013? We can help!  Science Fair will be Friday, January 25th.  We need volunteers for the following positions: - Several volunteers are needed to help students unload science fair materials (specifically the boards) from car line and probably buses, too, and get them to their assigned table in the church hall and set up.  Parents should be aware that this is happening and allow themselves a little extra time during morning arrival, as the line may get backed up earlier and/or be especially backed up approaching 8:30. - Ten people from 1:00-3:15 pm to judge projects by 3rd graders.   Don't know how to judge science fair?  No sweat - a brief training will be provided that day!  The only restriction is that you NOT have a 3rd grade student.    This is a great way to get volunteer hours while helping to encourage budding scientists!  Volunteers are also needed that day to set up (8:00-8:45 am) and clean up (5:00-6:00) from the event.  Contact Natalie Hudak at 330-701-6246 or  nataliehudak@sbcglobal.net to sign up.  Watch the newsletter and/or e-mail next week for more information about when parents will be able to come view the projects, and what the specific schedule will be for Middle School science fair participants. MPA Quiz Night at Brennan's  Saturday, 2/9/2013, 6pm-midnight   Tickets can be purchased online or through cash or check payment. Family Night at Lake Erie Monsters Hockey  Saturday, 2/23/2013   Come and enjoy a family night out with MPA and the Lake Erie Monsters! Join us for a night of fun on Saturday, February 23rd when the Monsters take on the Texas Stars.  Tickets are only $10 each. MPA students who purchase a ticket will be entered into a raffle to participate in the Broom Ball game that takes place on the ice during intermission (20 winners will be chosen)! Tickets must be purchased by Monday, January 28th to ensure that the MPA crowd is seated together. Please make checks payable to MPA Boosters. Flyer is attached and will also be sent home in this Thursday's folder. Questions can be directed to jessicatonsing@hotmail.com.   Annual Fund Make sure to put your name on your donation!   A quick request from Mrs. Zito:  "When you send in your annual fund donation, please be sure to write your name and other information on the postcard. I have had 2 cards come through, one with a $200 pledge though Paypal with no identifying information, and one pledge for $2,000 payable in 5 installments of $400 each with no identifying information. We'd like to thank those generous donors - but we don't know who they are!  Please call in and identify yourselves!"    And if you haven't sent in your donation or pledge yet, remember: The annual fund allows Menlo Park Academy to address the diverse learning needs of our gifted students.  It helps MPA provide high quality teachers, allows access to technology, increases creative programming and so much more.  Please consider contributing to our annual fund. With your help we can achieve our goal of 100% participation! Please note that many businesses offer employer match donations to educational nonprofits. Be sure to check with your human resources representative to see if your company has a donation matching program in place. Weekly Website Highlights  Sharing the news about Open Enrollment Don't forget that our most important source of advertising for MPA during Open Enrollment is YOU!  If you know anyone who might be interested in sending their child to MPA next year - especially if the child is entering Kindergarten - please direct them to the following pages on our website to learn more about the admission process: -  Qualifying for Enrollment (includes information specific to Kindergarten, and FAQs) - 2013/2014 Enrollment Application Form     If you have any specific questions or feedback about the new site, please contact Communications@MenloParkAcademy.com.   Information can be submitted via email to: communications@menloparkacademy.com for review and inclusion in the weekly update. Submissions are subject to Director approval.

MPA Weekly Update - 12/20/12

In This Issue Mrs. Wilson's Baby Office Communication Dates to Remember Shop with Scrips Winter Festivities Science Posters Science Fair Reminders STEM Career Night Annual Fund Ski Club Website Highlights Winter Break  Don't forget that Friday, December 21st, is students' last day for the year!  We hope everyone has a safe, happy, and healthy winter break.  Students will return to classes on Thursday, January 3, 2013. Log your volunteer hours online  Your time is appreciated! Please log your current volunteer hours online, either on the netbook near the sign-in at school, or at home.  We are not using the paper logs to record your hours anymore - all hours MUST be entered into the computer if you want credit for them! Any hours you put in the paper log over the summer or earlier this year WILL be entered for you - you just need to enter your CURRENT hours. Girl Scouts Happy Holidays to everyone from the Girls and Leader's of troop 70029. Cookie Sales Start Friday 12/21---- Jan 28, 2013. $3.50 a box. Teacher's Lounge will have an order sheet for anyone interested.  Have happy and safe New Year!! WANTED: EggCartons,Kleenex, Wipes and Hand Sanitizer! As the season of baking begins, Mrs. Padrutt would like to remind everyone that the art room is always in need of styrofoam egg cartons.  So bake those cookies, make that stuffing ... and save the egg cartons to bring in to school in January!    Also, with flu season upon us, MPA is running low on tissue, clorox wipes and hand sanitizer.  If you would be willing to donate to classroom supplies, we would love to have your donation! Welcome to the World, Story Moselle Wilson From Mrs. Wilson: "Hello all!  I'd like to introduce the newest member of our family - Story Moselle Wilson.  She was born Monday at 9:30 am and came in at a whopping 8 1/2 lbs. and 19 3/4 inches long.  We are both doing well!  I hope you all have a wonderful winter break - I will miss you all.  We will stop in to visit after the new year.  Thank you all for all the help and support you have given me throughout the past few months!" School Communication   Here are the important facts you need to know about communicating with the office while Mrs. Wilson is on maternity leave: - Ms. Julie Kovalik will be filling in at the front desk.  She can be reached at  julie.kovalik@menloparkacademy.com Please don't forget to include/copy her on information Mrs. Wilson would normally receive.   - Please remember when e-mailing or leaving voicemail for Mrs. Kovalik that you'll need to include YOUR name, your CHILD'S name, your child's GRADE and TEACHER, and a PHONE NUMBER where you can be reached.  This will help make sure she's got all the information she needs for things like sick days, absences, etc.   Your help in being thorough in relaying information will make the transition easier.  Thank you in advance for your patience as we adjust to the transition. Middle School Dance   January 11, 2013            Student council is planning a new years dance for grades 5-8 on January 11 from 6:30-8:30 pm.  The theme is "Wishes for a New Year."   Light refreshments will be served.  Ticket price is $2.00 at the door.  These funds will support student council initiatives and allow for an end of year dance that will be free of charge.   FYI: Dates to Remember December 12/20 - Thursday - Boosters Meeting at 6pm 12/21 - Friday - MS Science Fair workshop after school; MPA Basketball Team vs. Parents game, Westpark YMCA, 4:45pm 12/24 - 1/2 - Winter Break   January 1/2 - Teacher Inservice - No school for students 1/3 - School resumes for student 1/7 - 1/18 - Open Enrollment for incoming new students 1/9 - Wednesday - STEM Career Night for grades 5-8 1/11 - Friday - MS Science Fair workshop after school; MS dance 6:30-8:30 pm 1/17-18 - Thursday/Friday - Parent-Teacher Conferences; no school for students 1/21 - Monday - no school for students   February 2/8 - Friday - MS Science Fair workshop after school 2/15-18 - Friday/Monday - no school for students 2/22 - Friday - MS Science Fair workshop after school 2/23 - Saturday - Menlo Park Family Night/Monsters Hockey Game 2/28 - Thursday - End of trimester Winter Parties VISITORS - PLEASE SIGN IN If you are planning to attend lower school parties or the upper school staff/student basketball game on Friday(all running 2:00-3:00), please make sure that you sign in at the office and recieve a visitor badge.  In situations where we have numerous adults in the building ensuring that all are MPA families is critical.  Thank you in advance for assisting us with maintaining security in the building. Shop with Scrips Sunday by 7pm  Don't forget that ScripNow! and gift card reloads can be purchased and redeemed at any time, so you can still order them over break!  Make sure to check the Scrip program website to learn about the current offers that earn additional funds for our school.  Participating right now in the bonus program are stores like Home Depot, Build-A-Bear, Applebees, L.L.Bean, Red Robin, Starbucks, and many, many more!  (editor's note: Last night I spent five minutes on the Shop with Scrips website buying iTunes gift certificates as stocking stuffers.  It earned $6 for MPA and saved me a trip to the grocery store.  Not bad for a midnight shopping binge!) Magazine Fundraiser - All Year Long If you're looking for last minute holiday gifts, look no further! Please consider the gift of magazines purchased through Menlo Park Academy's magazine fundraiser. With more than 700 titles priced well below retail, there is something for everyone. There are also fabulous gift items available.  For each purchase, MPA receives 40% of the funds from your order! * Visit www.gaschoolstore.com * Use your School Code: 2738540 and follow the instructions online. Weekly Update - 12/20/12 Quick Links Menlo Park Academy Website MPA on Facebook Shop with Scrips by 7pm on Sunday Report your volunteer hours School calendar  Classroom Websites (click on Classroom Websites tab) Winter Festivities Friday, December 21st at 2:15pm   On Friday, December 21, grades k-4 will hold parties in the classroom from 2:15-3pm.  Students in grades 5-8 will watch a staff/student (girls and boys bball teams) basketball game in the gym.   Volunteers and visitors coming in for the winter parties or basketball game should park in the available spots or on the street. Help us keep carline smooth.  Vehicles begin lining up around 2:30pm and the parking lot will need to be open. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Mock Trial WANTED: A FEW GOOD ACTORS   There are still a few spots available on MPA's new Mock Trial Team! If you are in grades 6, 7, or 8, check it out! We are having our first practice session after school Thursday, Dec. 20 from 3:15pm-5:00pm in the Science Room. Mock Trial is great not only for aspiring lawyers, but there are witness parts too! If you like to act or role play, being a mock trial witness is for you! Our team is coached by all practicing lawyers. Thursday's session will include an introduction to mock trial and our case, and we'll start discussing direct and cross examinations. If you have any questions, please contact Latha Srinivasan, one of the Team's coaches, at LMS54321@ gmail dot com. Basketball Exhibition Games  Wizards take on parents, MPA staff From Coach Willie Littlejohn:  "After practice on Friday December 21st from 5:00-6:00 is the 2nd annual Fathers vs Team game. Moms are also invited to play if they so choose. Last season, we had every Dad play in the game and I hope to have close to that same number for this year's game. The rules are fair to give the kids a chance against the taller Dads, but at the same time, allow the Dads not to do as much running. The boys will be playing in the MPA Staff vs Students game at 2:00 so the Dads will have an advantage going in with the boys having already played earlier. Last year's game was won by the boys in Overtime, 23-21. So, I encourage the Dads to participate (and the Moms to attend and cheer........and laugh and get lots of pictures and video from the sidelines) in this great event with your son(s), dust off the old basketball shoes and get out there and get a victory. Think of the bragging rights you can have at home! Science Posters on Display   The students from Mrs. Eby's Adventurers science class have completed some fantastic interactive posters that will be on display at the Lake Erie Exploration Station at Gordon Park from now until the end of January. Take a visit to the park to see their informative posters that will teach you how to keep pollutants out of our water system. The Exploration Staion is at 8701 Lakeshore Blvd. in Cleveland. To find out about hours, etc., clickhere. Mrs. Eby's Science Fair Reminders "Students who are competing in the science fair should plan to have the following done by the end of this week: Research question, hypothesis, purpose, materials list, procedure and background research.  Students received a background research checklist in class this week to make sure their background contains all the necessary components. To download a copy of this checklist, click here. Then open the file entitled "MS Research Guide". The checklist is on page 7.  I would love for students to share their work with me on GoogleDocs or email it to me as an attachment. I will use my free time over the break to offer students corrections and suggestions." Spring Boys' Basketball  From Coach Willie Littlejohn: "MPA has an opportunity to play spring basketball again this season.  We are still working out some details and will need to see if there is interest from students. Practice times will be the same and we maybe will have two teams (older/younger boys) again. Try-outs will be held in Mid-to-Late February because other MPA boys maybe interested in playing and the season will only be eight weeks, going through March and April. If a current player participates in the spring team, he will wear his current uniform so there is no added or extra costs to the parents (The entry fee for the boys' teams are covered as well). All games will be on the West side in Middleburg Heights or Lakewood. You cancontact me for any additional info." STEM Career Night Wednesday, January 9th, 6:30pm Start the new year off right at STEM Career Night on Wednesday, January 9! STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  A wide variety of STEM professionals, including doctors, engineers, and other experts in fascinating fields you may never have heard of, will talk about what it's like to work in STEM and how to get there. Our program will kick off at 6:30 with a plenary session and be followed by one-on-one Q&A time. We'll wrap up at 8:00 with a drawing for some great science-related prizes! Annual Fund Have you made a donation yet? What You Do Matters and what your funds do, matters as well.  The annual fund allows Menlo Park Academy to address the diverse learning needs of our gifted students.  It helps MPA provide high quality teachers, allows access to technology, increases creative programming and so much more.  Please consider contributing to our annual fund. With your help we can achieve our goal of 100% participation! Please note that many businesses offer employer match donations to educational nonprofits. Be sure to check with your human resources representative to see if your company has a donation matching program in place. Attention Skiers and Snowboarders   The Skadi Ski Club is up and running!  We will be skiing Saturday evenings from 4:30pm-8:30pm starting Jan 5th.  Included with your membership is 5 weeks of lessons followed by open skiing, then free skiing every Saturday for the rest of the season.  For more information and to register: Go to bmbw.com Click on groups and clubs tab Choose club program from the dropdown menu Click on the link of the sentence that says connect to the club program shopping cart for members Then you will see an orange box, this is where you type in the login and password info: Club Name Login:  skadiski Password:  member If you have any questions, you can contact the organizer at kbasiewicz@yahoo.com.  Weekly Website Highlights  Introducing MPA to other parents Here's the scenario:  It's winter break, you're out doing something fun with your family, and you're talking to a friend about MPA.  How do you explain a "community school," show how many counties our students live in, or give them a feel for the philosophy of the school?  Why not pull up the MPA web site on your phone or tablet and let them look through the "About Us" section?  This page in particular has links to a TON of information about how MPA works, its history, and what makes it different from traditional school districts.  It's a great way to introduce the school to family and friends ... and possibly recruit students for next year's classes!    If you have any specific questions or feedback about the new site, please contactCommunications@MenloParkAcademy.com.   Information can be submitted via email to: communications@menloparkacademy.com for review and inclusion in the weekly update. Submissions are subject to Director approval.