May 7, 2026
from Paul Errickson, Middle School director
As we work our way through our Middle School spring concert season, I want to share with you some advice from our Middle School counselor, Ashley Cooper:
Many of us have noticed that energy drinks have found their way into the Middle School day. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “nearly 33% of teens regularly consume energy drinks, and many of these contain far more caffeine than is recommended. Some popular options range from about 70 mg to over 250 mg of caffeine in a single can, while the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 100 mg per day for teens.”
At these levels, caffeine can make it harder for students to manage emotions and stress, disrupt sleep, increase jitteriness or a racing heart, and even mask hunger. We’re also seeing energy drinks being shared with friends, much like gum or snacks, which can make it easy for students to consume more caffeine than they realize. For some students, especially those taking medications for attention, anxiety, or mood, caffeine can also increase side effects like restlessness or trouble sleeping.
I want to offer some strategies families may find helpful:
- Encouraging regular meals and snacks every three to four hours when possible
- Looking ahead at the lunch menu so students can plan for foods they’ll eat and enjoy
- Prioritizing hydration, with water as the main drink during the day
- If caffeine is used, pairing it with food rather than having it on an empty stomach
- Limiting caffeine later in the day to help protect sleep
- Discouraging students from sharing or providing caffeinated drinks to others
- Talking with students about energy coming from sleep, food, and hydration (not just drinks)
We continue to care deeply about your Panthers, and we want to help them be their best, especially during the busy month of May with all their concerts, performances, and final assessments. Please partner with us here at school to help them continue to grow, thrive, and end the year well.
This evening we had our MS/US Orchestra Concert in the Nicholson Center; next Thursday, May 14 evening, is the MS/US Band Concert at 7 PM in the Nicholson as well. Next week, we also have our spring MAP testing for our Middle Schoolers. The following week, May 18-22, we will send our seventh graders to Washington, D.C., and have our fifth and sixth graders helping the City of St. Paul in a service day (Tuesday, May 19, in the afternoon). Our last week of May includes the Middle School Field Day (Thursday, May 28) and our Adventure Day on May 29, with the fifth- and sixth-grade canoe trip and the seventh- and eighth-grade music trip to Valley Fair.
Mark Your Calendars
- Wednesday, May 13: MS Meeting, 10-10:30 AM, Recital Hall
- Wednesday, May 13: APPI Month Celebration, 3:30-5:30 PM, Family Commons
- Thursday, May 14: MS/US Band Concert, 7-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, May 15: Conversation & Coffee with the Head of School, 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz
Harrison Library - Friday, May 15: MS G5/6 Spring Event, 3:15-5 PM, Family Commons
- Monday, May 18-Friday, May 22: MS G7 Washington, D.C. Trip
- Tuesday, May 19: G5/6 Service Day, 12-3 PM, Off Campus
- Friday, May 22: US Senior Walk, 1-1:45 PM, MPA Campus (Door 1 to Door 4)
- Monday, May 25: No Classes, Memorial Day
- Monday, May 25: Panther Club/Den Closed
- Tuesday, May 26: Volunteer Breakfast, 8:30-9:30 AM, Family Commons
- Thursday, May 28: MS Field Day, 12:30-3 PM, Varsity Field
