MPMS COUGAR PRIDE NEWS Mini Edition
March 8, 2024
MPMS SPECIAL FOCUS - Grades 6-8
March 12th - Important Information for All Grades
Our 8th graders are preparing to take the Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) SOL test on March 12th. Our 8th graders and their teachers are focused on preparing the tests including after school remediation sessions. Please contact your child's Language Arts teacher if you would like them to participate in these helpful sessions.
An important updated note: In order to fully focus this important SOL testing:
- Only 8th graders, our Adaptive students, and 6th grade Band Students will attend school on March 12th.
- Our 6th grade students and 7th grade students will participate in asynchronous virtual learning from home.
- One exception to this will be 6th grade students participating in the Band Assessment, Students in the 6th grade participating in the Band Assessment will attend in person learning at school and will have an adjusted schedule.
See below for more information!
8th grade Field Trip - BIG NEWS!
MPMS is delighted to bring back the 8th grade Field Trip with our Tuesday, April 9th trip to the Science Museum of Virginia! Please see the details below.
Key Dates:
- March 20th - Field Trip Permission Slip and Payment Due
- April 9th - 8th graders Head to the Richmond Science Museum
Chromebook Care
At MPMS, we pride ourselves on respecting our digital resources and devices. Students are responsible for the care, cleanliness, and current condition of their Chromebook and charger.
For your learning success, please remember to:
Charge your Chromebook each evening so it is ready for school the next day
Bring your device and charging cord with you every day
As you are surfing the Internet and exploring our digital world, let’s remember to be good Digital Citizens and be mindful of our screen time.
Attendance Matters!
We appreciate your efforts in ensuring that your child is present and punctual each day - this directly contributes to their academic achievements. Attendance is crucial to your child's education, and regular school attendance sets the foundation for their learning and personal development. Students who attend school regularly are more like to perform well in read and mathematics and graduate on time. Below you will find helpful information and resources to support your child's school attendance.
Feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns by calling our school at 703-361-1510 or you can reach out to me via email at kip.tuttle@mpark.net. I look forward to working with you and assisting each student to meet their learning goals.
With Cougar PRIDE,
Kip Gansneder Tuttle, Principal
MPMS - Important Upcoming Dates
3/11–3/22 – Q3 Benchmark Assessments
3/12 – SOL testing - IRW (Integrated Reading & Writing) - for 8th graders
3/12 – 6th grade Band Assessment Students attend school
3/12 – 6th and 7th graders, Asynchronous Learning from home
3/14 – PRIDE Schedule for SEL lesson
3/14 – Cougar PRIDE Students of the Month names due
3/14 – 7th/8th grade Choir Concert, 7PM
3/14 – MPCS Family Market
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3/18–3/22 – Q3 Benchmark Assessments
3/18 –Spring Sports Tryouts Day 1 - Boys Track, Baseball, Softball, & Girls Soccer
3/19 – PRIDE Schedule for SEL lesson
3/20 – 8th grade Field Trip Permission Slip & Payment Due
3/20 – 3/21 – MPMS Hosts Regional Choir Assessments
3/22 – Q3 Ends
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3/25-4/1 – MPCS Spring Break
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4/1 – No School for Students, Professional Development Day
4/2 – Students Return from Spring Break
4/2 – Q4 Begins
4/2 – PRIDE Schedule for SEL lesson
4/5 – Q3 Grades Finalized and Available for Review
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4/8 – Solar Eclipse at 3:18PM For More information go to: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/
4/9 – PRIDE Schedule for SEL lesson
4/9 - 8th grade Field Trip to Richmond Science Museum
4/10 – Division Closure, Eid al Fitr
4/10 – MPCS Family Market
4/11 – PRIDE Schedule for Academic Career Plans (ACP)
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4/15 – 4/20 - STAR Math Testing
4/16 – PRIDE Schedule for SEL lesson
Check out more Family Market Dates below!
Tues., March 12th - Adjusted Attendance & Testing Schedule for MPMS Students
8th Grade Students & Adaptive Special Education Students
Normal 7:00 a.m. arrival to school
8th grades students participating in testing will take their Integrated Reading and Writing SOL test and continue with their normal classes after testing is complete
Normal 2:30 p.m. dismissal from school
6th Grade Students and 7th Grade Students
Asynchronous Virtual Learning Day
6th graders and 7th graders will complete asynchronous virtual learning activities from home
6th Grade Band Assessment Students - UPDATED INFORMATION
Normal 7:00 a.m. arrival to school
Students will participate in an adjusted schedule for in person learning for the posted asynchronous assignments
Students will attend the Band Assessment at Woodbridge High School
SOL Testing for 8th grade Students - March 12th
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has developed the Virginia Assessment Program to help measure students' academic progress in the Standards of Learning (SOLs). All students at Manassas Park Middle School (MPMS) participate in SOL testing or alternative assessments at some point throughout the school year to indicate what students know in the subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. Our next opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning in the areas of reading and writing is Tuesday, March 12, 2024 for 8th grade students.
We will run an adjusted schedule on Tuesday, March 12th to provide an optimal testing experience for our 8th grade students. On March 12th, 8th grade students completing the Integrated Reading and Writing SOL test as well as students participating in our adapted special education program will follow normal bus schedules as well as normal arrival and dismissal procedures to and from school. On March 12th, 6th grade students and 7th grade students will participate in asynchronous virtual learning from home.
- UPDATE 3/4/24: One exception to this will be 6th grade students participating in the Band Assessment. Students in the 6th grade participating in the Band Assessment will attend in person learning at school and will have an adjusted schedule.
It is important for students to come to school ready and prepared for testing. Please join us in reminding students to come to school with their Chromebook fully charged and ready for testing. As an extra layer of security, we ask that all students also bring their Charging Cord as a backup source for power during testing.
8th Grade Field Trip - Richmond Science Museum, April 9th
MPMS is delighted to bring back the 8th grade Field Trip with our Tuesday, April 9th trip to the Science Museum of Virginia!
On Friday, March 1st, your student received a paper copy of the linked field trip information and permission slip information. Our 8th grade teachers have been working hard to make this trip possible for our students, many who have not gone on a grade-level field trip since before the pandemic! Our goal is to have all of our 8th graders participate in this fantastic opportunity! Thank you for helping us to make this field trip possible!
April 9th our 8th grade students will travel on charter buses to the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond, VA. Students will tour the Science Museum and explore the fields of chemistry and astronomy in a dome show titled, "We are Stars". The cost for your student to attend this trip is $50.00 and payment can be made by exact cash, check, money order, or My School Bucks.
Payments are due March 20th and details for payment are below and linked.
DESTINATION: Science Museum Richmond, VA
WHEN: April 9, 2024
PARENT/GUARDIAN DROP-OFF AT MPMS: 6:00 am
PARENT/ GUARDIAN PICK-UP MPMS 6:30 pm
COST PER STUDENT: $50.00
CHARTER BUS COMPANY: Martz Group Transportation
Payment Due March 20th for the Tuesday, April 9th 8th grade Field Trip:
Cash (preferred) – Students paying with cash must provide the exact dollar amount. We cannot make change.
My Schools Bucks (preferred)
o Login to MySchoolsBucks.com under a parent/guardian account
o Click ‘School Store’
o Click ‘Browse All Items’
o Select student name
o Add item “Middle School 8th Grade Field Trip”
Checks – All checks must be made out to ‘Manassas Park Middle School’
Money Order (preferred)
THE PERMISSION SLIP & PAYMENT MUST BE RETURNED BY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2022.
23_24 8th Grade Science Museum Field Trip for PS Push to Parents.pdf
SPANISH VERSION 23_24 8th Grade Science Museum Field Trip for PS Push to Parents.pdf
If you have questions about the trip, please contact 8th grade Team Leader, Ms. Popule at nicole.popule@mpark.net
With Cougar PRIDE,
MPMS Staff
Expectations of Excellence: MPMS Grade Scale, Grade Dates, & Honor Roll Recognitions
MPMS has Expectations of Excellence for Academic Success. Below, please find our school's grade scale, grade dates for the year, and information about the MPMS Honor Roll Regulations.
Numeric Scale - Letter Grade
90-100 - A
80-89 - B
70-79 - C
60-69 - D
59 and Below - F
Interim and Quarter Dates for 2023-2024
Sept. 22 - Quarter 1 Interim
Oct. 26 - Quarter 1 Ends
Nov. 3 - Quarter 1 Report Cards Available
Dec. 8 - Quarter 2 Interim
Jan. 18 - Quarter 2 Ends
Jan. 26 - Quarter 2 Report Cards Available
Feb. 23 - Quarter 3 Interim
March 22 - Quarter 3 Ends
April 5 - Quarter 3 Report Cards Available
May 3 - Quarter 4 Interim
June 7 - Quarter 4 Ends
June 14 - Quarter 4 and Year Report Cards Available
Honor Roll Recognitions
MPMS has established a tradition for excellence in academic performance. The honor roll is a recognition of students who achieve high grades during identified reporting periods during the school year.
There are two levels of honor roll achievement:
Superintendent’s List – All A’s or a 4.0 grade point average
Principal’s Honor Roll – 3.5 to 3.99 grade point average
Honor roll ceremonies will be held at the completion of each semester. The end-of-year honor roll ceremony will be based on the first three quarters of grades.
Expectations of Excellence
We want your student to achieve their maximum potential. To do this, we need to make sure the school day and instructional time are safe and focused, and distractions are limited. Please partner with us and talk with your student about following these important Expectations of Excellence:
Cell phones / airpods are to be off and away. As needed, students may utilize the front office phone to communicate with parents. Our front office team is happy to assist.
Hats and hoods are not to be worn while in the school building.
MPMS BELL SCHEDULE FOR 2023-2024
Regular Schedule - Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays
PRIDE Block Schedule - Tuesdays
Please make sure your student is in school and in class by 7:17AM so they are on time for learning. Thank you! #CougarPRIDE
Chromebook Care
At MPMS, we pride ourselves on respecting our digital resources and devices. Students are responsible for the care, cleanliness, and current condition of their Chromebook and charger.
For your learning success, please remember to:
Charge your Chromebook each evening so it is ready for school the next day
Bring your device and charging cord with you every day
As you are surfing the Internet and exploring our digital world, let’s remember to be good Digital Citizens and be mindful of our screen time.
A great resource for families is Common Sense Media. They have a wide collection of resources in both English and Spanish to help support our tweens and teens.
MPCS Family Market
Principal Kip Tuttle
Email: kip.tuttle@mpark.net
Website: https://mpms.mpark.net/
Location: 8202 Euclid Avenue, Manassas Park, VA 20111
Phone: 703-361-1510