May 4, 2023
from Jenn Milam, Middle School director
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
- May 4: Middle School Family Dinner, 5 PM
- Rising Grade Level Meetings, Grades 4-8, 6 PM
- Middle School Vocal Concert, 7 PM
- May 11: Middle/Upper School Orchestra Concert, 7 PM
- May 17: Middle/Upper School Band Concert, 7 PM
- May 22-26: Washington DC, Grade 7 Trip
- May 26: No Classes, Teacher Professional Development Day
- May 29: No Classes, Memorial Day
- June 2: 5/6 Canoeing Adventure
- 7/8 Valley Fair Performance and Fun Day
- June 3: MPA Commencement 2023
- June 6: PASSION PROJECT Showcase, 1 PM
- Middle School Moving-Up Ceremony, 2 PM
- June 7: Last Day of School
- Early Dismissal 10:15 AM
See You Tonight: Middle School Family Dinner, Grade Level Transition Meetings, and Choir Performance
A longstanding tradition, we will welcome our rising Middle School families to dinner with Middle School on Thursday, May 4, followed by transition meetings and an all-Middle School Vocal Performance. This is a great night to learn about what to expect and look forward to in the 2023-2024 academic year, meet some of the teachers and advisors, and enjoy a great show! We usually begin between 5-5:15 PM, with meetings at 6 PM, and performance at 7 PM!
If you did not reserve dinner last week, you are welcome to bring your own dinner and join in the fun and fellowship. No additional orders for dinner are available.
Valley Fair Performance and Fun Day: Friday, June 2
On Friday, June 2, our seventh and eighth grade students will perform at Valley Fair. There will be singing, orchestra, and band ensemble performances. We will board buses and depart early in the day, perform and then students will have the opportunity to spend the day at the park, riding rides and having fun!
Transportation is provided for students and parents should plan to send money to the park with their students for lunch/refreshments throughout the day. We will return from Valley Fair in time for a 3 PM dismissal.
If you’d like to join us as parents/family members, please reach out directly to Mr. Skrove and Ms. Lawson.
Class of 2029—Washington DC Trip—Early Bird Registration Extended to May 19!
All students currently in sixth grade who wish to travel to Washington DC next year (May 2024) should visit the World Strides website and get registered ASAP! If you register and put down your $49 deposit by tomorrow, an EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT of $125 will be applied to your trip cost! Payment plans are flexible and available.
Please also refer to the email sent for more details, trip number and informational meeting recording! If you have questions, please reach out to Dr. Jenn Milam (jmilam@moundsparkacademy.org).
NOTE: This is the last extension of the early registration discount – please take advantage and get registered!
Reminder: Technology, Appropriate Use, and Self-Regulation
Please take a moment to reiterate to your student the expectations surrounding their usage of school-issued technology. A review of the following would be greatly appreciated:
- All laptops should come to school charged. From now until the end of the year, laptops that are not charged will need to be put on a charge in the technology office—no additional laptop chargers are available for use in classrooms.
- School laptops are learning tools that are not to be used outside of learning at school – this includes gaming, web browsing, and online shopping.
- Students should not access any material, on their laptop at home or at school, that can be construed as being, or including content that is, racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory, lewd, vulgar, or obscene, promoting of violence, substance abuse, or not related to their education or a specific project.
Thank you for supporting our efforts toward teaching and reinforcing healthy and wise technology use.
Be well. Take care of one another. Happy Spring!
Middle School Matters: A Community Book Study
Our next meeting is Thursday, May 18, 7:30 PM! Please join us, even if you didn’t the first time – there is great discussion, fellowship, and affirming conversation with other parents!
Middle School is a time of rapid changes, new experiences, and sometimes, perplexing encounters in a new world in which we (parents!) did not grow up! In partnership with Ms. Cooper, our school counselor, and Ms. Meras, our new Middle School dean, I am hosting a community book study this spring. We will do a shared reading of “Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond—and How Parents Can Help” by Phyllis L. Fagell.
We invite you to have dinner with your family, put your feet up, pour a drink of something you enjoy, and meet us online, the following dates at 7:30 PM, from the comfort of your living room!
- Thursday, May 18, 2023: Learning and School
- FINAL SESSION—TBD: Empowerment and Resilience
We will have guest speakers and experts for each of the sections of the text and will share our own personal journey in raising spirited, well-balanced, resilient, kind, and good humans.
You can purchase the book in any format of your choosing, and in whatever way you’d like. Here are a few options:
Or you can check it out at your local library!
You can also just drop in for a listen, join the conversation, and build community. I am hoping with a later evening gathering time, and the flexibility of ZOOM, that we’ll have the opportunity to connect and grow our community in a way that makes space for the various family and scheduling demands we all juggle.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 332 737 0417
Password: MSMatters!
