August 26, 2021
WELCOME to the 2021-2022 School Year! 
Every other week my newsletter will come to you with highlights of upcoming events, information about what’s happening in our neck of the woods, the all-important list of dates for your family calendar, and usually a little about what I’m thinking about or what may be helpful to you as we do this parenting-of-middle-schoolers journey together. I hope you’ll look forward to the Middle School News & Notes and find them helpful.
Remember that this newsletter will always be in the Panther Post, along with archived issues, for you to review. ?
STUDY HALL and PANTHER DEN!
A few years ago, now we began offering a one-hour study hall immediately after school (3:15-4 PM). It was a huge success as it offers students a quiet, structured, and monitored place to get some work done before heading home for the evening. I have seen happy parents with less homework to manage at night and have heard students gleefully share the list of assignments or tasks they were able to finish in just the short 45 minutes with real focus and attention.
For study hall to be productive and helpful, we share the following expectations with students:
- No cell phones are allowed. The same rules that apply during the regular school day apply in study hall. Cell phones should be “off-and-away”.
- No earbuds/listening to music while working. I have explained to students that research and science on the brain and learning teaches us that when we focus on fewer things, even one at a time, we work more efficiently and more successfully. Music is a distraction to manage and 45 minutes with no music or distraction can make for a much more productive time.
- Games or videos on school computers are also not allowed – this is a quiet time to get homework finished or to read a book. The teachers supervising study hall can direct computers be put away completely if needed.
- Collaborative/group work is not ideal for this setting and students should be encouraged to work on independent tasks as much as is possible.
- Students may bring a quiet and not-messy snack to study hall, if they’d like.
I want to thank you, in advance, for reinforcing these positive strategies at home. As a faculty in the Middle School, we want to support positive study and self-management practices as they will well serve the students for the many years of education ahead of them.
Finally, you may pick-up your student at any door to the school. Please make arrangements and plans with your student where they will meet you at 4pm. If they are going to be picked up before 4pm, please have them let the study hall teacher know so they can meet you at the agreed upon place.
Study Hall will begin next week, Monday, August 30! Please remember that any student not picked up by 4 PM, will be sent to Panther Den and charged for after-school care. Read More
Upper School Living, Learning, Thriving
The MPA Upper School student council is reaching out to new students! To provide the latest members of our community with a current insight into our program, the council members have accrued a list of the TOP FIVE best aspects of being a new student at MPA:
“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” –Herman Melville
As the new year approaches the Alumni Association welcomes new members and changes in the Executive Committee. Join us in welcoming the new alumni board members and new positions! Please stay tuned for more about new members in future alumni news.
The Lake Phalen Rowing swept the podium at the Iowa Games Regatta on July 31st with MPA student/athletes bringing home multiple victories. We’re so glad to see that our student community is remaining active in the summer months, and winning simultaneously! Please refer to the information below to see the results from this competitive regatta.
Men’s Jr 1x:
Mason Ferlic ’11 Competes in Olympic Games 
by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School