Middle School Division News

September 3, 2026

from Paul Errikson, Middle School director

Welcome back, Panther families! It's hard to believe we're already a few weeks into the school year, and it has been so good to see our hallways full of energy again. 

I have to start with a small confession: I really missed seeing many of you at our Open House last month as I was busy moving my own daughter into her first year at Kenyon College. Kenyon starts their year off with a Convocation, and I found myself struck by how much of the messaging echoed what we hope for our own Panthers here at MPA—helping students learn how to think, not what to think; building an inclusive community that looks out for one another; and celebrating the quest for questions, not just answers.

One thread ran through all of it: the idea that real learning happens through relationships—with teachers, with peers, with the community around you. That's something we hold just as dear here in the Middle School. From advisory to Flex block to our classrooms themselves, the relationships our students build with their teachers and with each other are at the very heart of what makes an MPA education work. It was a good reminder that the values we work so hard to instill in middle school are the same ones that carry our students all the way through to adulthood. 

Last year and over the summer, our Middle School faculty were planning, tweaking, and dreaming big about how to make this year even better for your students—and I'm excited to share a handful of new initiatives with you over the next several Panther Posts. 

We are off to a strong start, and I want to begin with one of the biggest changes this year: how we are approaching laptops and technology. 

Laptop Use Agreement

Our Middle School faculty came together to build a clearer, more unified set of expectations for how students use their school-issued laptops. At its heart, the agreement asks students to be intentional with how they use their laptops and to only use a school-issued laptop for schoolwork. We ask that they follow teacher direction about when and how to use them, stick to teacher-approved apps and sites, communicate respectfully online, and keep personal accounts off school devices. 

When a student does not meet these expectations, we lean on our 4R protocol—a supportive, relationship-centered process that helps students pause, reflect, repair, and rebuild trust, rather than simply handing out a punishment. It's the same approach we use across our accountability system more broadly, and it reflects what we believe: that mistakes are part of learning, and our job is to help students take responsibility and grow from them. 

A couple of grade-specific notes: fifth grade laptops will continue to stay at school and will not be sent home. And this year, we are encouraging sixth graders to do the same—keeping laptops here in their charging ports unless they need one for a specific homework assignment. It is a small shift, but one we think will help our students build healthier tech habits early in their middle school years. 

More to come on our other new initiatives in the next few Panther Posts—stay tuned! 

Important Notes 

MAP Testing Begins This Month: Over the next couple of weeks, our students will begin their fall MAP Growth testing, sitting for three assessments—one each in math, English, and social studies class. MAP is an adaptive test that adjusts to each student's responses, giving us a clearer picture of where they are on their learning journey and how they're growing over time. As always, we don't use these scores to evaluate students, factor into grades, or label anyone—they're simply one more data point; one star in the constellation of information that helps us understand and support your child. Here is link to learn more about MAP testing from NWEA. You'll receive a letter with your student's results and more details on how to read them once testing wraps up. 

Save The Dates For Conferences: PreK-12 Conferences are right around the corner. They will take place on Thursday, October 1, and Friday, October 2. New this year and based on family feedback, regular classes will not be held on either day to allow families a greater opportunity to meet with their students’ teachers. More information will be shared soon regarding signing up for conferences. For those new to the community, Middle School students are required to attend their conferences.  

A Look Ahead 

• Monday, September 7: No Classes, Campus Closed, Labor Day 
• Tuesday, September 8: MS Play Auditions, 3:15-5 PM, Black Box 
• Wednesday, September 9-Friday, September 11: MS G6 Eagle Bluff Trip 
• Wednesday, September 9: DEIB Family Forum, 8:15-9:15 AM, PCR 
• Wednesday, September 9: MS Play Auditions, 3:15-5 PM, Black Box 
• Thursday, September 10: MS Play Callbacks, 3:15-5 PM, Black Box 
• Sunday, September 13: Panther Pride Meets Maroon and Gold, 1 PM, Maturi Pavilion 
• Sunday, September 13: Argentina Exchange Students Welcome Dinner, 6:30-8, Family Commons 
• Monday, September 14-Friday, September 18: MS G5-8 Fall MAP Testing 
• Wednesday, September 16-Friday, September 18: MS G5 Osprey Wilds Trip 
• Thursday, September 17: MS/US International Student and Family Orientation, 3:30-5 PM, PCR 
• Monday, September 21: No Classes, Campus Closed, Yom Kippur 
• Tuesday, September 22-Saturday, September 26: Homecoming Week 
• Tuesday, September 22: Maker Event – Cosplay Day 1, 6:30-8:30 PM, Makerspace 
• Wednesday, September 23: CITL Distinguished Speaker Series: Sturdy Parenting and Technology: Practice Strategies to Manage This Age of Parenting, 12-1 PM, Virtual 
• Wednesday, September 23: Maker Event – Cosplay Day 2, 6:30-8:30 PM, Makerspace