A note about uniforms and winter clothing:

Please make sure to send appropriate outer wear for your child as we go outside, unless the wind chill is below -10 degrees. Remind your child to wear everything you send, as they sometimes try to sneak out without a hat or mittens. We are encouraging the same thing at school, so let’s make this a team effort. 

Remember that the uniform calls for blue, green, yellow or white sweaters, or the MPA navy fleece. Sweatshirts, other color sweaters and fleece are not a part of the uniform, and your child will be asked to remove any non-uniform articles of clothing. This sometimes ends in a chilly day at school or embarrassment for your child when I speak to them, so again your help at home is essential. 

When you pick your child up on Friday, ask them what celebration they learned about at school. The Upper School Mosaic group will be in the Lower School classrooms on Friday to explain a holiday celebration and demonstrate some of the rituals that go along with each holiday. 

Next week is our last week of school before our winter break. Panther Club is available the full week of December 18th, so if you are working or need to get some last minute shopping done, feel free to sign your child up for Panther Club. It is imperative that pre-registration take place so we have enough staff to provide a good ratio for the children that week. It is also available for the 27^th, 28^th and 29^th but registration for that week is low, so if we do not get enough children we will have to cancel. Panther Club has great experiences planned, including importing a moon jumper and the ZooMobile as well as an excursion to the roller rink, ornament making and gift making. Your child is in good hands when you put them in Panther Club. 

The Kindergarten class is taking an excursion on December 11^th to an assisted living home. They will get to see the giant gingerbread house that the home’s chef made and then they will decorate cookies with the elderly. Later in the week they will team with their sixth grade buddies to make their own gingerbread houses, so it will be an exciting week for them. 

On December 12^th the Learning Differences Parent Group will meet to discuss organizational strategies for children. Your child does not have to have a learning difference for you to benefit from this discussion. Please join us at the meeting and bring tips that have worked for you, as well as hear from parents of older children as to what has worked for them. It is a great way to meet parents and share ideas. 

We have our big birthday bash on December 14^th. Mounds Park Academy is celebrating its 25^th anniversary, and we are starting off the celebration with a free pancake breakfast served by the administration. Pancakes will be served from 7:00-8:30 a.m. in the cafeteria. This will be followed by an assembly in the Nicholson Center. 

December 14^th is our next duty free lunch. Extra hands are always appreciated, so join us if you can get away for lunch and recess. Lunch begins at 12:10 and recess is over at 1:10. I would love to see you there. 

After the 15^th you will have two beautiful weeks with your children. Enjoy as much of the family time as your schedule allows. They are times that will be remembered. 

Nansee Greeley
Lower School Director