Upper School Division News September 26, 2024

September 26, 2024

US Division Newsfrom Mark Segal, Upper School director 

Mark Your Calendars

  • Friday, September 27: PreK-12 Spirit Wear Day
  • Friday, September 27: G3-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:30-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
  • Friday, September 27: US Homecoming BBQ, 5-7 PM, Courtyard
  • Friday, September 27: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons
  • Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
  • Saturday, September 28: US Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM, MPA Campus
  • Tuesday, October 1: US Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
  • Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track
  • Friday, October 4: US Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
  • Saturday, October 5: Debate Tournament, 7 AM-4 PM, MS & US Classrooms
  • Tuesday, October 8: HeadSpace: Civil Discourse in a Polarized Society, Election 2024, 7-8 PM, via Zoom >
  • Wednesday, October 9: US Cum Laude Program, 7:30-8 AM, Recital Hall
  • Wednesday, October 9: US PSAT Testing, 8 AM-3 PM
  • Thursday, October 10: All School Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
  • Friday, October 11: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM
  • 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: Grade 9 Special Programming, 8-3 PM, Off Campus
  • Wednesday, October 16: Grades 10 & 11 Pre-ACT & Mock ACT Practice Tests, 8 AM-12 PM (early dismissal)
  • Wednesday, October 16: Grade 12 No Classes, Time Set Aside for College Applications and College Visits
  • Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18: No Classes, Fall Break

With Homecoming season upon us, we are approaching a fun and exciting time for students and their families. I find myself reflecting on the possibility of Upper School students being placed into situations where they may have to make difficult decisions, and I want to send this letter to ask you to do all that you can to make it a happy and safe time for your child. Nothing is more valuable to teenagers than their friends, and nothing is more valuable to parents than the safety of their children. Unfortunately, these two don’t always interact well with one another. Statistically, Homecoming weekend has been one of the most dangerous in a high school student’s life. Each year, we lose far too many teenagers to motor vehicle crashes, with an increase in intoxicant-related traffic fatalities on Homecoming Dance Night. Accidents (especially automobile crashes) are the leading cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15-19, and the reality is that many of those deaths are caused by teenage impaired or distracted driving. Sometimes, even the best kids encounter situations where alcohol and drug use occur, and our children could find themselves in an environment with unexpected expectations. As a parent or guardian, you have the opportunity and responsibility to help ensure the safety of your children and others by helping them make the right choices.

There is no doubt that alcohol and drug usage is a risky behavior during adolescence, and MPA students are no exception. Often, this behavior happens at home or school, right under our supervision. It is important that adults send a clear and consistent message that any illegal use of drugs or alcohol is forbidden. It is important to remember that it is illegal to provide alcohol to those under the age of 21, even at a supervised party in your own home. It is also important to know that if you choose to host a party where alcohol is served or provided to those under the age of 21, you can be held liable if one of your guests drinks alcohol and harms themselves or others by driving under the influence. Even if you are not actively providing alcohol to underage drinkers, it is a dangerous choice to allow teen drinking parties in your home.

With these dangers, I encourage you to take several steps to provide your child and their friends with the following alternatives to getting behind the wheel:

  • Offer your teens transportation alternatives. One way to do this is to provide them with a ride on Homecoming night. If your child does not want you to drop them off or pick them up, hire or share professional transportation if you are able.
  • If your child uses a professional transportation service, discuss with the driver about your expectations that the ride be alcohol-free. Sometimes drivers will agree to purchase or furnish alcohol for their minor passengers; it is important to ensure that this will not happen by talking directly with the driver.
  • Provide your child with the phone number of a reputable local taxi company, or make sure they have a rideshare app (Uber or Lyft) on their cellular telephone and make plans to pay for your teen’s transportation for the night. Remember, this is a small cost to keep your child safe.

I have also been asked for advice on how to handle Homecoming after-parties. Based on my almost three decades of working with students, please find below a few tips to consider.

If your child has been invited to an after-party:

  • Let your child know that you will be calling the parent hosting the party to learn about the gathering and to see if you can assist with anything. Click here to learn how to access the online directory.
    • If your child’s party plans suddenly evaporate, maybe that wasn’t an appropriate party.
    • If you make the call, great; you are now connected with another parent and can discuss expectations for the gathering.
  • Discuss with your child your expectations of them attending the party.
    •  Have a “code word” between you that means, “I need to be picked up.” This can be shared either via a telephone call or a text
    • Be sure you have the address and phone number of the house where the party is taking place.
    • No sleepovers: the longer the evening, the higher the probability of risky behavior and the less likely the chaperones will still be awake.
    • If you hear about a party after the fact, call the parent to thank them for hosting the gathering. If you find out they didn’t know about it and, as a matter of fact, that they were out of town, you now have a connection and valuable information.
    • If you hear about alcohol or drugs at a party, I encourage you to call the host parents and let them know what you heard. Think about what you would want to know if the gathering was at your house.

If you are hosting the after-party:

  • Have a start and stop time. Be aware of curfew laws and adolescents driving when local bars are closing.
  • Do not offer an open invitation; host only invited guests. Ask your child to share the list of those they invited. Word of a party spreads very quickly in the age of social media!
  • Proximity control matters. Parents should be at home, awake, and making occasional trips through the party area. Consider inviting other parents to host or attend the party with you.
  •  No one should be allowed to leave the party and return. If students know that drugs and alcohol are not allowed in your home, their car can become an alternative location for poor decisions to be made.

Unfortunately, I have seen first-hand the devastating impact that driving under the influence and poor decision-making can have on parents, families, friends, and communities. I urge you to be proactive in communicating with your children. The most important message our children need to hear is that the adults in their lives care about them and are communicating to keep them out of harm’s way.

I am excited for Homecoming weekend (see below!) and look forward to seeing you on campus soon.

Important Information

If your student will be absent, late, or needs to be excused early from school, please reach out to Upper School administrative assistant, Chanda Williams, at cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org.

Thus far, we have had a fabulous Homecoming Week with much of the Upper School community (students and faculty) participating in the exciting spirit days and hallway decorating contest. There are still, however, several events in which students (and families) can participate:

Grade 3-12 Homecoming Assembly
When: Friday, September 27, 2:20-3 PM
Where: Lansing Sports Center
Who: All MPA students, parents are welcome
What: A pep rally celebrating the Homecoming festivities!

Homecoming Student BBQ
When: Friday, September 27, 5-7 PM
Where: Benz Courtyard
Who: All Upper School Students
What: Free burgers, chips, and cookies for attendees and social time with friends!

Homecoming Athletic Events
When: Saturday, September 28, 8-3 PM
Where: MPA Campus
Who: All MPA Community Members
What: Soccer, Tennis, and Volleyball games throughout the day

Homecoming Dance
When: Saturday, Sept 28, 8-11 PM (students must arrive before 9:30 PM)
Where: Upper School Commons
Who: All Upper School Students
Cost: $10, pay at the door (cash only please)
What: A fun, casual-attire dance. Many students dress in costumes or themes with their friends or fall sports teams.

MPA Parents Association Quarterly Coffee
The Upper School Quarterly Coffee will be held Tuesday, October 1, 8-9:30 AM in the PCR. The meeting will focus on the Upper School cell phone policy. We are also fortunate to have visitors from our partner school, Vanke Meisha Academy, in Shenzhen, China, joining us. Coffee and breakfast pastries will be served. No RSVP is needed.

October 10-11: Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences
MPA will once again use Pick-A-Time for conference registration. The window to schedule your student’s conferences is between noon on Friday, September 27, and noon on Friday, October 4. Families with two or more students at MPA may sign up a day earlier, starting at noon on Thursday, September 26, to help you secure back-to-back conferences for your children. Please see the email sent on September 20 with conference sign-up links and further information.

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