January 15, 2026
from Paul Errickson, Middle School director
Greetings, Middle School families—there is so much good going on around the Middle School that I want to share to help balance all that our students and families are navigating in the world outside of school.
During our Middle School Meeting this week, we had an inspiring presentation from our Middle School BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) group about January being Muslim American Heritage Observance Month and the upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. They shared the story of Yarrow Mamout, an African American Muslim former slave who overcame great adversity, purchasing his own freedom and becoming a Washington financier. They also shared some quotes from Dr. King and a segment of his “I have been to the mountain top” speech (his final speech prior to his assassination) to remind us of how Dr. King dreamed big and did right for others.
We are also quickly coming to the end of our first semester/second quarter this Friday. Students have worked very hard and, as we wrap up the first half of our school year, we encourage you to look over those accomplishments, comments, and grades in Schoology to help your child celebrate their learning and look for one or two areas to improve. We will have our second round of family conferences coming up in early February (evening of February 5 and all day on February 6). Our signups for those conferences will come out in the next few weeks.
And we’ve got two of my most favorite Middle School events quickly approaching—our Talent Show and i-Term. Next Friday afternoon, the middle school will host our annual talent show. This year, we’ve got everything from singing and dancing (Irish step dancing!) to limbo. With close to 20 different performances, we are very excited to see all of the passion and talents our Middle Schoolers can muster! And i-Term will be here before we know it (Monday, March 2-Friday, March 6). Our leaders are ordering supplies, booking field trips, and getting very excited for this week of experiential learning.
Invite A Friend To Experience MPA! | PreK-12 MPA Preview: January 22, 5-7 PM
MPA Previews are signature PreK-12 events designed to introduce families to the faculty, staff, and students who make MPA the exceptional learning community that it is. Visitors will have the opportunity to take a student-led tour, visit the Information Fair, enjoy a light meal, and participate in experiences led by the expert teachers you know and love. They will leave with a much better understanding of the MPA way. The most important way new families come to MPA is through someone they know and trust, and we’d be so grateful if you invited someone today! And feel free to join them! RSVP here!
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, January 16: MS/US End of Quarter 2
- Sunday, January 18: MPA Family Open Gym, 1-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center, Register >
- Monday, January 19: No Classes, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Panther Club/Den & PreK Panther Closed
- Tuesday, January 20: No Classes, Grading Day & Professional Development, Panther Club/Den & PreK Panther Closed
- Thursday, January 22: LS/MS Navigating the Transition from Lower to Middle School, 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
- Friday, January 23: MS Talent Show, 12:30-3 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, January 23: MS Talent Show After Party, 2-3 PM, Family Commons
- Sunday, January 25: MPA Family Open Gym, 1-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center, Register >
- Wednesday, January 28: MS Meeting, 10-10:30 AM, Recital Hall
- Friday, January 30: MS G5 Music Share, 2:20-3 PM, Recital Hall
- Wednesday, February 4: LS/MS Navigating the Transition from Lower to Middle School, 2:15-3:15 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
- Thursday, February 5: LS/MS Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
