February 7, 2019
Please sign-up to volunteer
and help make this year’s Book Festival a success! Lots of helpers are needed to put together this wonderful annual tradition at MPA. The goal of Book Festival is to promote the joy of reading, and the MPA Parents Association invites you to come enjoy the many activities offered during Book Festival week, February 25-28!
February 25-28
Bookstore in the Gallery & Used Book Sales During Lunch
Used, donated books will be for sale outside the cafeteria during lunch. All books are $0.25 each!
February 28, 3-6:30 PM
Book Festival Family Night
Lots of activities, games, and crafts in the Makerspace, plus the bookstore and dinner.
If you have any questions or want to get involved, contact Seema Anwar at seema_anwar@hotmail.com.
Last week the Gallery became New York City with the help of many, many volunteers. We want to thank everyone who volunteered, whether you donated drinks/snacks, decor, time, or ideas and hard work on the planning committees. It was so wonderful to see the entire Middle School joyfully sharing the same space! An additional thank you to Vern and his facilities staff for helping with heavy lifting and keeping our space clean, as well as Chef Doug and his kitchen staff for providing additional food, NYC style. A special thank you to MPA parent Melissa Johnson and her son Oliver (MPA class of ‘18) for helping to create our vision of NYC, from Central Park to the Food Truck to Bill’s Bodega. It truly made the Gallery a special place last week. We hope everyone had a great time. A huge thank you to Susan Knapp and Tara Lafferty too! It took lots of planning and hard work to put it all together. Kudos to both! 
The Middle School Cafe is a week-long, beloved tradition at MPA, where fifth through eighth graders get a chance to come together and socialize with their peers. The Parents Association is looking for volunteers to help plan this event! If you would like to get involved, please join us for a planning meeting on Thursday, November 15 from 1:30-2:30 PM in the PA Room, and stay to enjoy the Give to the Max “Lip Sync” Assembly with us!
On behalf of the Parents Association, thank you to all of the parents and volunteers who generously donated their time, gift cards, and goodies during Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week. A special thanks to chef Doug Pittman and his staff at Sage for providing a delicious dinner and snacks throughout the week, and to Vern Kissner and the maintenance staff for all of the set-up and extra work they did. The faculty and staff were very appreciative of our efforts to thank them for all they do.
The Parents Association is trying something new, and you’re warmly invited to join! The PA will be hosting several neighborhood coffee events, where you can come and meet MPA parents who live in your neighborhood. Parents of all grades are welcome! On Saturday, November 3, your coffee hosts will be at the following locations:
There is still time to join us in thanking the MPA faculty and staff during All School Conferences! During week of October 1, please consider participating in the long-standing MPA tradition of parents and families showing gratitude toward our wonderful staff and faculty. By donating beverages or gift cards, volunteering in the PA Room during the week, and helping staff and plan the evening meals on October 2 and October 4, you are saying “thank you!” in a significant way! 
The best part of the MPA experience is our staff and faculty! Let’s thank them!
Come meet your Grade Reps, the PA Board and other parents! The MPA Parents Association Meet & Greet is Friday, September 7, at 8 AM in the Gallery. Light breakfast will be served while you learn about the 2018-19 Parents Association events and initiatives and how to get involved. Ask questions, share your ideas, and help us grow our community-building at MPA! We would love to see you!
Thank you to those of you who voted for your new Parents Association Executive Board. The following slate was approved and will begin leading the PA and serving its families on July 1, 2018: Kim Jakway, President; Seema Anwar, President-Elect; Meredith Forgosh, Secretary; Barry Madore, Treasurer; Ginnie Peterson, Grade Representatives Lead; Russ Purdy, Upper School Division Lead; Susan Knapp and Tara Lafferty, Co-Middle School Division Leads; Tiffany Scott Knox, Lower School Division Lead.