December 4, 2025
from Paul Errickson, Middle School director
I love December. I love the snow, and I don’t mind the cold too much. I love that we have sledding at recess and our annual Hour of Code week coming up. I love our Winter Concert next Thursday night and our Founders’ Day Pancake Breakfast that Friday. And I love how we send our students off into their winter break on Friday, December 19, with a day of service and fun for our fifth- and sixth-grade students and a winter carnival for our seventh- and eighth-grade students. Most of all, I love how this time of year reminds us of the progress we have made so far, and gives us the space to celebrate that learning.
One of the best ways we do this is with our Middle School Winter Concert. Next Thursday evening, December 11, all sixth- through eighth-grade students will perform in both their choir and band/orchestra groups. For parents and friends who arrive early, I encourage you to walk around the Middle School and Family Commons to see some of their amazing artwork that is on display—there has been so much inspiring work this fall! Here is more information about the concert timing and attire.
Also coming up next week, we have our quarterly Middle School Parent Coffee. At our last meeting, families were asking about the Upper School program and how we help to transition our students into the Upper School. We have asked Upper School director, Mark Segal, to join us on Tuesday morning, December 9, from 8-9:30 AM in the PCR to talk about the wonders of our Upper School and answer any questions you might have. If there’s something specific you hope for him to address or a lingering question you might have, please email me ahead of time, so I can be sure he is ready for us.
At our Middle School meeting yesterday, prior to getting two pies thrown in my face, I reminded our students that there is a lot going on over the next few weeks, and it is important for them to find time to embrace those things that they love. I also reminded them that they are surrounded by folks who love and support them, and that we are here if they need help.
As our time gets crunched heading toward the winter break our students may need some help navigating all of the different things that they love to do and some of those things they don’t like as much, but that we insist that they do. That could be performing in front of a crowd of friends and family in the Nicholson or pulling together a big project or paper for a class before a long break. We are here, with love and support, to help our students do their very best before they head into a long break.
Students & Screens: Artificial Intelligence: Thoughtful Exploration In A Fast-Changing World
We hope you can join us at our next Students & Screens community discussion on Tuesday, December 16, from 1:45-3 PM in the Recital Hall. This talk will review the following areas while leaving time to answer questions you have around artificial intelligence:
- History of Artificial Intelligence and Common Terms (AI)
- Interesting Use Cases For AI
- Concerning Use Cases For AI
- Where Humans Excel in An AI-Focused World
The session will be presented by Corey Ganser, MPA parent, an engineering manager at Apple, supported by Jay Dean, Upper School assistant director; Paul Errickson, Middle School director; and Michael Moran, director of academic technology. Click here to RSVP!
Mark Your Calendars
- Monday, December 8-Tuesday, December 9: MPA Book Festival, 7:30 AM-3:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library, Details >
- Tuesday, December 9: MPA PA MS Quarterly Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, PCR
- Tuesday, December 9: MPA PA Parent Gift Making Event, 6:30-8:30 PM, Makerspace, RSVP >
- Wednesday, December 10: MPA Book Festival, 7:30-8:30 AM, 12-1 PM, 2:30-4 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library, Details >
- Wednesday, December 10: MPA PA Book Festival Family Event, 3-4 PM, Family Commons and Martin Lenz Harrison Library, RSVP >
- Thursday, December 11: MPA Book Festival, 7:30-8:30 AM, 12-1 PM, 2:30-3:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library, Details >
- Thursday, December 11: Class of 2030 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
- Thursday, December 11: MS G6-8 Band, Orchestra, and Vocal Concert, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, December 12: Founders’ Day Pancake Breakfast, 7-8 AM, Family Commons
- Friday, December 12: MPA Book Festival, 7:30-8:30 AM, 12-12:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library, RSVP >
- Friday, December 12: Musical Auditions, 3:30-5 PM, Black Box
- Monday, December 15: Musical Auditions, 3:30-5 PM, Black Box
- Tuesday, December 16: Students & Screens, 1:45-3 PM, Recital Hall, RSVP >
- Tuesday, December 16: Musical Callbacks, 3:30-5 PM, Black Box and Choir Room
- Thursday, December 18: Book Club with the Head of School, 6-7 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library, RSVP >
- Friday, December 19: Caroling with the Madrigal Singers with Faculty, Staff, and Alumni, 7:30-8 AM, Family Commons
- Friday, December 19: MS G5-6 Feed My Starving Children, 8-11:30 AM
- Friday, December 19: A Soldier’s Sacrifice – A Special Alumni & Faculty Presentation, 8:15-9 AM, Recital Hall, RSVP >
- Friday, December 19: MS G5-6 Bowling, 12-3 PM
- Friday, December 19: MS G7-8 Winter Carnival, 12-3 PM
- Monday, December 22-Friday, January 2: No Classes, Winter Break
