MPA Weekly Update - 4/25/13

In This Issue Dates to Remember Recognition Corner Middle School Dance Shop with Scrip Embrace the World Extravaganza Field Day Volunteers Parent Online Survey Earth Day Lunch Challenge4 Boosters Election MPA Photos & Video Needed Crushers Game - Fun For All FYI: Dates to Remember April 4/26 - Friday - Spelling Bee 4/27 - Saturday - State Chemistry Challenge 4/29 - Monday - Girl Scout meeting after school    May 5/6-5/10 - 6th Mohican Trip 5/11 - Invention Convention Regional Competition 5/13-5/17 - Young Author's Week 5/18- Soapbox Derby 5/23 - Extravaganza, 4-7pm 5/30 - Field Day 5/30- Kindergarten Promotion 5/31 - 8th Grade Graduation    June 6/2 - Sunday - MPA night at the Crushers baseball game Recognition Corner Congratulations to 6th grader Olivia M., who won an essay contest sponsored by Scholastic.  Great job! MSpring Dance TIKI TIKI TANGO   Friday, May 3 6:00-7:00 (7 & 8 Grade Only) 7:00-8:30 (5-8 Grade) The last middle school dance of the year will be held on Friday, May 3.  The students decided on a Hawaiian theme with casual clothing. *Chaperones needed*  Please contact Mrs. B-W if you are willing to attend. Shop with Scrip Sunday by 7pm  Don't forget to purchase Scrips to support MPA at no additional cost to you! We've earned $1,870.00 with 40 families participating, including grandparents, extended family & friends. To help out, shop at the Scrip site, and pay with Presto Pay for additional entries every time you shop!  And don't forget to check their "What's New" page to see all the latest companies that support MPA with extra $$$ when you purchase their scrip cards.  You can earn extra support for the school by shopping at JCPenney, Panera, Lands End, and more! Weekly Update - 4/25/13 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) Embrace the World Extravaganza Thursday, May 23 from 4:00-7:30  Spring is in the air, and preparations for the first-annual MPA "Embrace the World" Extravaganza are well under way. This event will feature games, a student art show, crafts, tasty treats, music and fun for the whole family!   It's a way for our students to have fun while we honor the volunteers who have made this such a great year.  All families that have logged their volunteer hours online this year will be sent game and food tickets that can be used at the Extravaganza. We will also have some special recognition for volunteers throughout the evening.     Meanwhile, we need your help to make this fun event a success!    Basket Contributions We are asking each student to contribute a NEW item (about $5+ value) to their class themed gift basket, which will be used to raise funds at the event. These funds will help to purchase apps for our new lower school iPads as well as build a leveled book room for MPA that will enhance our ability to differentiate language arts curriculum. These baskets have been very popular in the past because they are made up of items from our students and families.   Collection boxes are now available in each homeroom Feel free to partner with another parent in your child's homeroom to contribute a bigger item. Items may be split into multiple baskets.  For specific details on your student(s)'s classroom basket theme, please *click here*  The deadline for contributing items is April 26th. We need 100% participation in order to make this a success. Thank you in advance for your support!    Carnival Games Please let Melissa Adell, Development Coordinator, know if you have any carnival games or crafts that can be used as booths for our carnival. Items that we are seeking to borrow include: Karaoke machine Ping pong ball Polaroid camera and film Snow cone machine Kiddie pool Rubber Ducks Ring toss set Face painting kit Spin-a-wheel (like Wheel of Fortune) Bean bag toss Temporary crazy color hair spray At home bowling set Magnetic or Velcro dart set Folding tables A large tent (20x30)  Any other activities that would bode well for a school carnival! Please reach out to Melissa Adell if you have any questions or ideas to make this event a success- melissa.adell@menloparkacademy.com; (216) 539-0422)    Click Here:  Sign Up to Help Run Games    Student Performers Students who would like to perform musically or artistically throughout the event are encouraged to consider performance pieces.  Sign up for student performance will be in a future newsletter.   Field Day Volunteers Needed Thursday, May 30 Our fabulous end of year field day is coming up.  This is a great way to fulfill numerous volunteer hours and have fun doing it.  Please complete the attached volunteer form and send it to school with your child.    FIELD DAY FORM    MPA Parent Online Survey   Your Insight Matters It has been a year of growth for Menlo Park.  We have come a long way but have much left to do.  Your insights on what has been successful and what should be a focus in 2013-2014 is incredibly valuable!  Please take a few minutes to complete the parent survey  posted online at the American Educational Consultants website.  The survey will be available for completion begining Thursday, April 18 and will remain open until Friday, May 3.  You may access it at:   http://www.edconsults.org   Zero Waste Lunch Challenge Winners 2-4 Grade  Monday, April 22 - Earth Day   Congratulations to the 2-4 grade lunch, who produced the least amount of trash on our zero waste lunch day.  They have earned a dress down day on Monday April 30.  All the grades did a fabulous job and the difference in waste by lunch was quite small.   Boosters Elections    To be held Wednesday, May 8th at 6pm Calling all parents! The Boosters elections will take place in May. If you are interested in running for President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer, please email your name to boosters@menloparkacademy.com by Monday, May 6th. Elections will take place at the last Booster meeting of the year, May 8th @ 6pm.  Our thanks go out to everyone on the Boosters for helping make this such a great year for the MPA students and staff! MPA Movies  Intern To Promote Menlo Mrs. B-W's daughter, Maya, will be completing her senior project at MPA,making movies that communicate and promote our programming (Perhaps you saw the Invention Convention Video she produced at the last recognition assembly?)  She will be on campus throughout the month of May.  Photos and video clips are needed for this endeavor. If you have any footage you would like to share, please email it to Mrs. BW at paige.bw@menloparkacademy.com.   MPA Night at the Crushers Game Sunday, June 2nd at 5pm The annual Menlo Park Academy night with the Lake Erie Crushers will take place on Sunday, June 2nd at 5:05pm versus the Joliet Slammers. Menlo Park students will sing the National Anthem. Come join us for an evening of fun and friends!  Tickets are $9 each and can be ordered using this flyer.  All ticket orders are due by Monday, May 6th, in order to be guaranteed seats in the MPA section. Hot Lunch Options for Next Year - Boosters seek new ideas for menus The students have voiced their desire for some new hot lunch options for next year. We recently received a Corn Dog petition and several other students have stated their opinions. If you or your student have an idea for a hot lunch option next year, please email boosters@menloparkacademy.com for consideration. Information can be submitted via email to: communications@menloparkacademy.com for review and inclusion in the weekly update. Submissions are subject to Director approval.