Parents Association News

Thank you!  Thank you!  Your support of MPAPA's new Community Enrichment fee this year helped fund our community-wide programs including the Homecoming/Fun Run, Season to Share, Best of MPA, Faculty/Staff Holiday Party, Holiday cookie exchange, Pancake Breakfast-Breakfast with the Panther, Micro-funding (5 Quiz Bowl teams, 7/8 advisory, Peer Leaders, GSA, a new Programming Club), Division Meetings, many class socials through a network of 32 Grade Reps, We Love MPA Faculty & Staff note cards & treats, Teacher Appreciation week in Sept. & Feb., Faculty Conference Dinners in Sept., Dec. & Feb., Parent Education programs Bill Moyer & The Date Safe Project, LS/MS/US Book Festival, Parent/Senior lunch sponsored by PA/POA/Alumni, White Out Dance, Family Service Night, 2013 graduation reception, Endowment Fund, Faculty Farewell Reception in June and Year-End Parent Coffee-Digital Yearbook presentation on the last day of school.
 
Now, please help us congratulate your hard-working MPAPA Board for 2013-14!
 
MPAPA Board 2013-14
President-Amanda Campbell
VP-Natalie Waters-Seum
VP Grade Reps-Christine Larson
VP Communications/Strategic Planning-Karen Kozen
VP Community Pods-Cindy Gardner
Secretary-Lisa Vale
Treasurer-Shane Strack
LS Division Chair-Amy Stolpestad
MS Division Chair-Jenny Lindrud
US Division Chair-Elizabeth Esch

By Andrew Kluge, Class of '13

Last Thursday, April 25^th, nearly 200 members of the MPA community gathered to complete projects for eight non-profit organizations: Bridging, East Side Learning Center, Yonso Project, Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Coco's Heart Animal Rescue, Little Kitchen Food Shelf, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and MPA.

Students and their families had fun and made a difference in the community as they completed projects ranging from tying blankets for dogs in foster care to assembling kitchen kits for people transitioning out of homelessness.  Family Service Night was a great opportunity to get students involved in and excited about service, preparing a future generation of givers.

Special thanks to the many families who donated funds, supplies or their time to host a project. Start thinking about the project you'll propose for next year's Family Service Night, scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2014. View photos from the evening here.

There's one more chance to lend a hand! On Thursday, May 9 at 4:30 p.m. come plant flowers and refresh the mulch at MPA's south entrance. Email mpafamilyservice@gmail.com to volunteer.

It's official, the name for the Middle School Cafe is Manuscript Manor!!  Congrats to Sarah Ley for submitting the winning name.  Sarah will recieve a $25 gift card!!  Thanks to all students for their suggestions.  Some of the runners up include "The Mystery Café," "Clue Café," "MPA Mystery Diner," "The Hidden Books Café," and "The Mysterious Panther"!

The "Manuscript Manor" Cafe will be open March 4th - 8th during school hours and until 8 p.m. on March 6th and 8th (March 8th for Family Night).  Students can have lunch in the Cafe...please send money if your child wants to purchase lunch (they can bring their own as well).  Valley Bookseller staff and volunteer parents will staff the Cafe to help with food and for your student to check out the awesome selection of books for sale.

More Book Festival News:

March 4th:  Visiting Author Jaqueline West will meet with the students and share her experiences as an author.  Pre-order her signed books by Feb 15th.  

March 6th:  Middle School non-uniform day...dress as your favorite Mystery Character!

March 8th:  Middle and Lower school non-uniform Spirit Day!  Wear your Book Festival t-shirts or school colors!

March 8th:  Family night...come check out the entire book festival with activites for the entire family!  Visiting author Michael Hall will give a presentation along with food, games, and of course, wonderful books!  Consider purchasing a book for your favorite teacher!!  All proceeds benefit the MPA library!!

Parents, we need you!  Check out volunteer opportunities before, during and for clean up!  Make sure you check out the great Cafe, pick up some great books (new and used) and enjoy the week!

Drop off used books to be sold during the event.  We also would love donations of items for the cafe.  Izze's, package foods, healthy snacks, and candy bars are welcome!

Any questions? Contact MS Café Chair Karen Stang!

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."  ~ Dr. Seuss

The Family Service Night planning committee is asking for the entire community's help in identifying and organizing this year's service projects. 

We will come together the evening of Thursday, April 25 (not February 7 as printed in the calendar) to complete the hands-on projects proposed! 

If you have a creative idea regarding how to address a genuine community need, please take a moment to send us the details in the following form. Deadline = Thursday, February 14. We are looking forward to proposals from students, teachers, families, clubs, classrooms, alumni, etc.! 

If you have any questions or would like to get involved on the planning committee, please contact Contact Natalie Waters Seum at mpafamilyservice@gmail.com or (651) 485-1597.

Download "Call for Service Project Proposals" form

Did you know that MPAPA has supported faculty and staff during conference time for years -- by providing extra special treats and dinner on conference night ?   That's right - part of your "community enrichment fee" makes sure that faculty and staff can grab a healthy bite to eat in between conferences from 3 to 8 p.m.  Or how about a hot cup of coffee in the morning with a yogurt parfait or a bagel to start the day!  Well, MPAPA does that too! 

These extra treats are just one of the ways we show how much we care about the long hours teachers and staff put in to connect with us about our children at MPA.  

But next week - from February 4^th to 7th - MPAPA will be serving up support again, but it will be more than coffee and treats.  Throughout the building we will be hanging giant post-it notes equipped with markers - for everyone who wishes - to write a note of appreciation about a teacher, a coach, a cook  for example or just something you appreciate, in general.  On Thursday, the notes will be collected and displayed at the "Conference Dinner" for the teachers and staff to read and enjoy.   So here is our challenge - can you make their day???   We bet you can by what you say - and how about we throw out a million extra thank you's next week - along the way.

 PK - 12^th Teacher & Staff Appreciation in the MPAPA Room
Sneak Peek @ the Week

Everyday:    Coffee Bar Mornings in the MPAPA Room starting at 8 a.m. 

Monday:       Yogurt Parfaits with Fresh Fruit

Tuesday:       C.A.K.E. Day  (Creative And Knowledgeable Educators) Assorted Cake served at Lunchtime

Wednesday:   Bagels w/ Cream Cheese

Thursday:        "In Appreciation" Post-it Collection
                           Conference Dinner featuring Donatelli's homemade Italian Cuisine. 

Please join us next Friday, December 21, as we share our Season to Share treats with parents, staff and students.  All are welcome and encouraged to drop treats in the Parent Association Room just off of the cafeteria in the morning.  There will be coffee and hot chocolate for parents and staff, so please stop and take a moment to visit with others.  Then students will enjoy the treats during their lunch period.  PLEASE DO NOT SEND ITEMS WITH NUTS.  An allergy-free treat will be provide, but please feel free to send something special for your child if they have allergy or dietary issues.

We will continue collecting food items for the Little Kitchen Food Shelf servicing Northeast Minneapolis.  As we mentioned last week, the majority of the food is purchased from the Emergency Foodshelf Network, where $1 can buy up to the value of $9 of food. They also welcome donations of non-perishable food items. 

This time of year, they need everything, but especially the following: 

• Baby food and baby formula
• Diapers and wipes
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Toilet paper
• Laundry soap and bar soap
• Pasta and rice
• Mixes for easy pasta and rice dishes
• Ramen
• Canned veggies and canned fruit
• Flour and sugar 

Please watch for a food collection bag to be coming home with your child soon!

If you would prefer to make a monetary donation, please join the year-end campaign which was started on Give to the Max Day.  Please go to the Razoo site for a convenient online donation process:

 http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Little-Kitchen-Food-Shelf-Needs-You

Thank you, most graciously, for sharing!

During the Season to Share, we will be collecting food items for the Little Kitchen Food Shelf servicing Northeast Minneapolis.  This year the Little Kitchen has witnessed and served an unprecedented level of hungry people - usage of the food shelf increased over 300% since early 2011. They continued to serve everyone who came despite not receiving grants and other funding that was anticipated, because they believe there should be no hungry people - not in Northeast Minneapolis, not anywhere. Period.

Little Kitchen is unique in that it is a "no boundaries, no restrictions" food shelf - which means there are no geographic or income requirements on service. Guests can receive food once every 30 days, at a level of 15 pounds of food per adult. They provide substantial, nutritious food: canned and dry goods, produce, dairy, frozen meats, baby food, personal care items, and whatever else that has been received in donations.

The majority of the food is purchased from the Emergency Foodshelf Network, where $1 can buy up to the value of $9 of food. They also welcome donations of non-perishable food items. 

This time of year, they need everything, but especially the following: 

• Baby food and baby formula
• Diapers and wipes
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Toilet paper
• Laundry soap and bar soap
• Pasta and rice
• Mixes for easy pasta and rice dishes
• Ramen
• Canned veggies and canned fruit
• Flour and sugar 

If you would prefer to make a monetary donation, please join the year-end campaign which was started on Give to the Max Day.  Please go to the Razoo site for a convenient online donation process:

 http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Little-Kitchen-Food-Shelf-Needs-You

Thank you, most graciously, for sharing!

You will want to mark your calendar for Wednesday, January, 9, to
attend this fun and unique program that will help students and
parents with questions and decisions regarding dating, intimacy,
sexual assault and safety.  Mike Domitrz, founder and presenter of
The Date Safe Project Inc., has been helping parents and students
for twenty years with realistic solutions on the aspects of safe
dating.  His humorous approach to uncomfortable information provides
just the right mix of information for everyone's enjoyment and
benefit.  You will quickly realize the value of Mike's message for
your family!  The Date Safe Project web site can be accessed here.

Location: MPA Nicholson Center

Student presentations will be held during school.
Middle School (grades 6-8) presentation from 12:50-1:50 PM
Upper School presentation from 2:15-3:10 PM
Parent (grade levels 6-12) presentation from 6:00-7:00 PM
(Lower School parents are welcome to attend).

No charge.

This event is sponsored by MPA, MPAPA and MPA Health Education

The MPA Parent's Association invites you to celebrate Season to Share  - 2012. The Season to Share is an opportunity to celebrate and share some of the cultural holidays represented during this time of year.  We will enjoy winter-themed decorations in the middle school hallway and cafeteria including vignettes for the different holidays being celebrated during the Season to Share.  

Steve Boese and the cafeteria staff will offer different desserts celebrating the traditions of some of these holidays on all Wednesdays (as well as Thursday, December 20) between Thanksgiving and Winter Break for students on the food plan.  Students that normally bring a cold lunch from home are welcome to partake in these festivities as well by purchasing hot lunch on those days for $6.00.  

Food will be collected at the entrances and in the cafeteria for a local food shelf (to be announced) through December 21.  

And, finally, on Friday, December 21, all community members (students and staff) will be invited to bring treats to share during lunch with parents managing the tables (food allergies will be addressed with some special, appropriately labeled treats).

Other surprises from within the walls might include strolling musicians in the hallways.  We hope that all will see the value and the joy of the Season to Share.

MPA has just kicked off our annual Magazine Sale! We are encouraging you to place your orders online, it's easy for you to help support our school!

Simply click on the link below to buy or renew your magazine subscriptions at up to 85% off newsstand prices. It's fast and your child will receive full credit for your selections. Forty percent of every sale goes to our school!  Click here to order (use school ID 2619740.) Please share this link with any Family & Friends who might like to support our School. 

Please note these important dates:

Friday, Sept. 7th - Postcard Books due 

Thursday, Sept. 13th - First Turn-In day 

Thursday, Sept. 27th - Final Turn-In day

As always, thank you for your support!