{"id":23125,"date":"2023-02-23T10:59:46","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T16:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/?p=23125"},"modified":"2023-02-23T14:17:04","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T20:17:04","slug":"lower-school-division-news-february-23-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moundsparkacademy.org\/news\/2023\/02\/23\/lower-school-division-news-february-23-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Lower School Division News February 23, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"from Ann Jurewicz, Lower School director<\/strong><\/p>\n

Important Dates and Upcoming Events<\/strong>
\nFebruary 21-24: SnoDaze Week
\nFebruary 27: Lower School Progress Reports mailed home
\nFebruary 27: CHAMP Assembly (rescheduled from February 22)
\nMarch 6-17: MPA Spring Break
\nMarch 20: Classes Resume
\nMarch 20: Monday Morning Meeting
\nMarch 30: Lower School Arts and Music Program
\nApril 3: Grading Day \u2013 No classes for students
\nApril 27: 4th Grade World Language Day
\nApril 28: Professional Development \u2013 No classes for students
\nMay 1-5: Lower School Sports Week<\/p>\n

A couple of weeks ago, the faculty and staff at MPA had the pleasure of hearing from our school\u2019s contracted psychologist, Dr. Jules Nolan, on ways staff and students can develop motivation in our daily lives. As we are in the throes of another mid-winter storm and the light of spring is still a way off, I thought it appropriate to share with our parent community some of the wisdom and support from Dr. Jules. The topics cover much more than motivation and each of these resources can help you feel better prepared as a parent in doing the very best for your child.<\/p>\n

Exceptional Children <\/strong>
\nParenting children with educational and behavioral differences can be rewarding AND challenging. Even children who are gifted and talented present special challenges in parenting. In this session we will discuss parenting children who have diverse needs because of educational, behavioral, and mental health challenges, as well as those who may need more enrichment.<\/p>\n

New Articles from Freethinker<\/strong>
\nThe latest edition of the MPA Upper School online newspaper, the Freethinker, is available. Please take a moment to see what’s new here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Teaching Children with Specific Learning Needs <\/strong>
\nTeachers understand the importance of meeting children \u201cwhere they are\u201d in the classroom. Yet, it can become especially difficult for us when the learning and behavioral needs of each child seem so varied. In this session you will learn concrete classroom and teaching strategies to help all children thrive.<\/p>\n

Postponed! Middle School Matters: A Community Book Study! <\/strong>
\nThank you for your flexibility in delaying the start of our book study together. Below, you\u2019ll see our new dates with a TBD for our final meeting. I\u2019m hoping we might plan an evening, in-person gathering to celebrate our learnings together and the end of the school year.<\/p>\n

Until then\u2014keep reading and we\u2019ll see you after spring break in ZOOM world!<\/p>\n

Middle School is a time of rapid changes, new experiences, and sometimes, perplexing encounters in a new world in which we (parents!) did not grow up! In partnership with Ms. Cooper, our school counselor, and Ms. Meras, our new Middle School Dean, I will be hosting a community book study this spring. We will do a shared reading of Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond\u2014and How Parents Can Help by Phyllis L. Fagell.<\/p>\n

We will meet four times, in alignment with the four sections of the text, via ZOOM, to discuss, share, wonder, worry, ponder, and problem-solve alongside teachers, experts, and other community members the mystery and magnificence of the middle school years. We invite you to have dinner with your family, put your feet up, pour a drink of something you enjoy, and meet us online, the following dates at 7:30 PM, from the comfort of your living room!<\/p>\n