MS Student Delivers Dare-ing Performance in A Christmas Story
Grade 6 student Emma Mollapour is performing in the Redhouse theatre rendition of A Christmas Story to rave reviews this week, with shows continuing through Sunday. Emma plays Ralphie's friend and "triple dog" dare-r Schwartz and is shown here with Head of School Dave McCusker after a performance this week. Sunday's show is sold out, but there are still seats available for Saturday's show. Get tickets here.

Subscribers can read the Advance Media's glowing review here at Syracuse.com.
A Holiday Message from the Head(s) of School
Head of School Dave McCusker is at St. Luke's School in New Canaan, Connecticut and is joined by incoming Head of School Jim Foley in this holiday send-off video from the road.
Athletics note: The most-recent athletics schedule is always available through Schedule Galaxy and can be accessed on the MPH Calendar page or via the Schedule Galaxy mobile app. The schedule included below is subject to change after the date of distribution, so please check Schedule Galaxy before heading out to a contest.

Monday | Day 7

Tuesday | Day 8
5:30 p.m. JV Volleyball @ Port Byron
7:00 p.m. Varsity Volleyball @ Port Byron
5:30 p.m. JV Basketball @ Hamilton
7:00 p.m. Varsity Basketball @ Hamilton

Wednesday
NO CLASSES | Winter Recess Begins
5:30 p.m. JV Basketball @ Onondaga Central
7:00 p.m. Varsity Basketball @ Onondaga Central

Thursday
NO CLASSES | Winter Recess
5:30 p.m. JV Volleyball vs. Chittenango
7:00 p.m. Varsity Volleyball vs. Chittenango

Winter Recess | December 21 - January 4
Wednesday, January 4, back to classes!
Photo of the Week
Lower School students in Grades 3-5 pulled off an amazing concert Wednesday with students in band, chorus, and orchestra performing, as well as dance. Pictured here is the chorus. More photos from the LS and US concerts will be available in the next edition of Snapshot.
MPH Apparel Store
NOTE: The only option for delivery of these orders is shipping to an address customers provide. There will be no orders from this store delivered to the school.

The official Manlius Pebble Hill clothing store is now live with a wide variety of selections for all sizes, genders, and ages. A couple key points:

  • It's an online store, but it's open for the whole year
  • We have two designs available now - a script Manlius Pebble Hill School and an "MPH" option; you'll see the selections in the drop-down menus for each item
  • We'll be adding designs throughout the year, so keep checking back - and check Snapshot - we'll let you know when we've got new items
Weekly Lunch Menu
You'll find the weekly lunch menu here in Snapshot every Friday, but it also lives on the MPH website (you can find it through the direct link or on the left column of myMPH). And this week we welcome the return of Nutrislice, which lets users sort menu items by nutritional data, ingredients, and allergens.
MPH Z Club Presents Donation to The Cool Head Project
Candy Grams raised $1,150 for treatment that reduces hair loss during chemotherapy
The MPH Zonta Club completed a busy December by presenting a $1,150 check - raised $2 at a time by making and selling candy grams - to the Cool Heads Project through the Upstate Foundation. Cancer survivor Katy Moses, who works with the Cool Heads Project, was on hand along with Upstate's Director of Annual Giving and Donor Engagement Jennifer Janes to accept the check and thank the Z Club for their efforts. The Cool Heads Project provides resources for scalp cooling, a process that helps to protect hair follicles and prevent hair loss incurred during chemotherapy treatments.
Poetry Out Loud Winners Headed to Regional Competition
On Monday, December 12, the MPH English Department hosted the school-wide Poetry Out Loud competition, which requires students to memorize and recite a poem of their choice. The seven Upper School students who participated gave outstanding performances! Congratulations to the winner, Alexa Rose Battaglia, Grade 10, who recited “We Lived Happily During the War” by Ilya Kaminsky. Junior Xochitl Cruz-Gallo, who recited “I Felt a Funeral in my Brain” by Emily Dickinson, was the runner-up. Both Alexa Rose and Xochitl have qualified to represent MPH at the regional competition in February. 
US Students Perform at Festival of Trees & Light
Upper School students Alexa Rose Battaglia, Sanaya Benson, Tae-Jin Shah, Vanessa Paradis, Paul DiFolco, and Kari Maxian playing at the student music festival at the annual Everson Museum Festival of Trees & Light on Wednesday.
PA Wraps Up a Supportive Season
The Parents' Association continued giving back to faculty and staff this week by helping to wrap up to five gifts on Thursday on the admin landing.
National Honor Society Collecting Gifts for Families Just Arriving to Syracuse
The National Honor Society (NHS) at MPH is running a holiday gift drive for Interfaith Works this December. Please bring a gift by Monday, December 19 for members families that have just immigrated to Syracuse. Marked donation boxes will be placed around the school. 
 
This year, the families do not celebrate Christmas, so please avoid giving gifts that are explicitly holiday-related. Examples of acceptable gifts: winter supplies (such as warm clothing, gloves, boots, etc), toys, gift cards, household items, and kitchenware. However, something like a blanket with Santa on it would not be permitted. Additionally, please do not wrap the gifts.
Lost Went on for Six Seasons
We can do better
Like a shampoo, a new collar, and a cute selfie for a long-term resident of the animal rescue, the items in the MPH Lost and Found were tidied up this week to make them easier to sort through and re-adopt. There's no better gift to get for the holidays than the gift of something you already own, so send those kids down to the Phoenix to have a look.
(Nearly) Everyone is Sick Everywhere All at Once
But we can help prevent the spread of these illnesses by staying home
A re-reminder from the Health Office: With the increase in influenza-like illness, including RSV, in our area, we are seeing an increase in our community, as well. Please keep your child home if they are sick and could make those around them sick too. Students who are ill may not return to school until they are fever-free for 24 hours, without fever reducing medication. For gastrointestinal illnesses, please do not send your child to school until they have not vomited or had diarrhea for 24 hours. Please feel free to contact the Health Office with any questions. 
Reminder: Lower School Holiday Gift Policy
 
As we head into the holiday season, we ask that you’re mindful of our Lower School Gift Policy. We cannot thank you enough for your partnership and support!
 
Thank you,
Amy Abdo and the LS Faculty and Staff
 
2022-2023 MPH Lower School Gift Policy: 

  • We ask that you please refrain from sending any individual gifts or gift cards to MPH Lower School faculty and staff.  

  • Please know that gifts are never expected. LS faculty devised this idea in an effort to streamline possible giving.

  • Our favorite gifts are the plentiful smiles from your children!

  • While we greatly appreciate the generosity of our community, we request that any gestures of thanks (at holidays, end-of-the-year, etc.) are focused on the Lower School Amazon Classroom Wish List (see QR code below). This link includes links to specific classroom gift lists.
Driver Education and SAT Preparation | Grades 10-12
Registration is now open for the Winter/Spring 2023 session. See our website for additional information and to register or call the Community Programs office at 315-446-2452.

Manlius Pebble Hill School | 315-446-2452mphschool.org