September 4, 2025
from Paul Errickson, Middle School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, September 5: Ice Cream Social, 3-4 PM, South Lawn
- Monday, September 8: MS Play Auditions, 3:15-5:30 PM, Black Box
- Tuesday, September 9: MS Play Auditions, 3:15-5:30 PM, Black Box
- Wednesday, September 10: LS/MS G3-5 Author Visit, 8-9:30 AM, Recital Hall
- Wednesday, September 10: MS Show Callbacks, 3:15-5:15 PM, Black Box
- Monday, September 15: Returning Family Indexed Tuition Applications Open (Deadline December 1)
- Monday, September 15-Friday, September 19: MS G5-8 MAP Testing
- Monday, September 15: MS/US G7-12 Spring Musical Lead Character Auditions, 3:30-5 PM, Black Box
- Tuesday, September 16: MPA PA Grade Rep Meeting, 8-9 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
- Tuesday, September 16: MS/US G7-12 Spring Musical Lead Character Auditions, 3:30-5 PM, Black Box
- Wednesday, September 17-Friday, September 19: MS G5 Osprey Wilds
- Thursday, September 18: MS/US International Program Welcome Social Event, 3:30-5 PM, Benz Courtyard
- Sunday, September 21: MPA at the Twins, 1:10-3:30 PM, Target Field
- Monday, September 22-Saturday, September 27: Homecoming Week
- Monday, September 22-Friday, September 26: MS G5-8 MAP Testing
- Thursday, September 25: ISACS Parent Series Webinar, 6:30 PM
Here, every other week, I will share new information, important dates, and upcoming items that require your attention. This is a rich resource designed to help you and your student(s) plan for upcoming events and stay abreast of all the exciting events and activities we have planned for Middle School parents and students.
We are so excited to welcome you to the Middle School this year! Please know that we are here to help you and your child have the best year yet. As we head into the second week of school, I start to feel the end of the beginning. All summer long, we’ve been planning and tweaking, and scheduling (and re-scheduling), and ultimately looking for ways to make your middle schooler’s experience even better here at MPA.
This year, we are looking at improvements for our Flex block, allowing for a more structured time for students to get work done, along with better use of our extra help and club opportunities. There have been innovations to our lunch “flow” and announcements. And, for our fifth and sixth graders, you will notice a new rotation that includes art, drama, and either seminar or health. This will run the entire school year and allow those students to get approximately 30% more art and drama (and a little less seminar and health).
At MPA, innovation, growth, and improvement are in our ethos as we always look to Dream Big. I’m excited to see how we can continue to do this work together this year. I hope to see you all at Homecoming on September 27, at our upcoming Middle School Parents Association coffee on September 30, or just around the hallways one of these days, as we start to dig into the school year, looking to make it the very best for our students.
Overnight Class Trips: Coming Soon
Overnight trips are an exceptional way for us to get to know your child(ren) and for your child(ren) to get to know their teachers outside of the classroom. We look to build relationships, self-regulation, and independence skills, all while having fun together. These trips are hallmarks of an MPA Middle School experience, and we’re excited to share these moments with your children!
Our trips for fifth, sixth, and eighth grade will be here before we know it! You received a handout in your Back To School folder with details and packing lists. Please read and discuss this information with your student(s) and let us know if you have any questions.
After School Program In Panther Den
Students PreK-8 are not allowed to be unsupervised after school for any reason. A Middle School student cannot attend a friend’s game/match without parental supervision, hang out with older friends in the North lobby, or wait for you in a vestibule (even for just a few minutes). If your family is unable to pick up by 3:10 PM, your student will be required to sign in to Panther Den and should be picked up from there. Thank you in advance for your support in reinforcing the importance of this critically important safety and security issue. The well-being of your young people is our top priority, and shared expectations play a critical role in ensuring their safety and security. All students attending extended day programming, including for study time, will be billed through TADS for their daily attendance.
Backpacks And Cellphones
As a reminder, students are not allowed to carry their backpacks during the day but can visit their lockers as often as needed. Additionally, the Middle School cell phone policy is “off-and-away” from 7:45 AM-3 PM. Please help reinforce these practices by talking to your Middle School student at home and not trying to text them here at school. If you need to get a message to your child during the day, please call Ashley in the Middle School Office at 651-748-5565.
