October 10, 2024
from Paul Errickson, Middle School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, October 11: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM, Panther Care >
- Monday, October 14: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples Day
- Tuesday, October 15: Election 2024 Through Civil Discourse: A Sample Lesson for MS/US Parents, 6-7 PM, PCR, register here >
- Wednesday, October 16: LS/MS Grandparents and Special Friends Day, 8 AM-3 PM, information here >
- Wednesday, October 16: LS/MS Grandparents and Special Friends Day Performance, 11 AM-12 PM, Nicholson Center
- Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18: No Classes, Fall Break, Panther Care >
- Friday, October 25: Bring a Friend to MPA Day, 8 AM-3 PM
- Friday, October 25: MS G5/6 Halloween Party, 3:15-4:30 PM, Family Commons
- Friday, October 25: MS G7/8 Dance, 6-8 PM, Family Commons
- Thursday, October 31: End of Quarter 1
- Friday, November 1: No Classes, Grading Day
Greetings from Middle School. It is hard to believe that we are already moving into the middle of October with family conferences this week, our Fall Break next week, and the end of our first quarter of school coming up at the end of the month! I hope to see most of you with your child(ren) in here to partner with their teachers and talk about what they’ve learned, what is working well with their learning, and what areas might need a bit more support or attention to get the most out of them as learners. If you were unable to sign up for conferences, please write to any of your child’s teachers to see if they are available to meet.
Looking ahead in the Middle School calendar, next week, we have an abbreviated week with Monday, Thursday, and Friday off, and our Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Wednesday October 16. And the following week, we have some special events on Friday, October 25, with our Bring a Friend to MPA Day and Halloween fun for our Middle School students after school with a 5/6 Halloween Carnival and 7/8 Game and Movie Night hosted by our Middle School Student Councils.
Finally, we also have some upcoming fun programing for our parents as well. Please join us on Wednesday, October 23 for a Students and Screens Community Discussion.
Wednesday, October 23, 2-3 PM: Students & Screens Parent-School Community Discussion, “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt
Social media is ubiquitous in the lives of our young adolescents, and they are in front of screens of all kinds throughout the day. This has impacted them—and all of us—in many ways. While there are some obvious benefits to social media and other modern technologies, research shows an increase in depression and anxiety, and a decline in focus, attention, and face-to-face interaction.
Parents, please join us on Wednesday, October 23, from 2-3 PM in the Recital Hall to engage in discussion on these topics anchored by the text “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt. The discussion will be led by Jay Dean, upper school assistant director; Paul Errickson, middle school director; and Michael Moran, director of academic technology. If you are interested in joining this community discussion, please RSVP using this form.
Bring a Friend to MPA Day (First Through Ninth Grades): Bring a Friend Day is coming up on October 25! MPA students in first through ninth grade are invited to bring a friend to experience firsthand what it is like to be a student at MPA. The friend must be in the same grade or within one grade above or below the MPA student. Each child may bring one friend. Space is very limited by grade level! The family of the visiting friend needs to register online by October 18.
