Leadership Updates from the Head of School |
In my short time as a Syracusan, one of the things I’ve come to appreciate most is the tight-knit nature of the relationships we form both here at MPH and in the region. School staffing changes are the kind of news that I might not typically broadcast before the start of the next academic year, but leadership changes feel important to share with you sooner, and so I’m leading off this issue of the Snapshot accordingly.
At the conclusion of the 2023-2024 academic year, Matt Spear will be stepping away from his role as the Head of Middle School. Thankfully, Mr. Spear, who has been with MPH for nearly three decades, will continue to serve our school community as both Middle School Dean of Students and as the new Leadership Studies Chair, a role which will allow MPH to explore initiatives in leadership, entrepreneurship, computer science, and innovation that have potential to benefit from and reinforce each other with more intentional interactions. This also provides MPH the thought leadership to continue building experiential learning opportunities for our students, growing and expanding the impact of Meghan McBennett ‘01’s work as our Experiential Learning Coordinator.
Moments like these prompt us to rethink current structures and shape new possibilities. I’ve observed, for example, that the programs and operations of our Middle and Upper Schools are inextricably linked in many ways. So, for next year and the foreseeable next few years, MPH will combine the divisional leadership of Middle and Upper Schools, with current Head of Upper School Fred Montas and Director of Student Life Pat Bentley Hoke becoming the Head and Assistant Head, respectively, of both Middle and Upper Schools beginning in the fall of 2024. While they will share many overlapping responsibilities, Mr. Montas will take the lead on academics, including curriculum, faculty development, and supervising department chairs. Ms. Bentley Hoke in turn will take the lead on student life, including advisory, Community Time, and supervising deans and counselors.
Please join me in thanking Mr. Spear for his tireless efforts as Head of Middle School, his steadiness and dedication during unpredictable times, and for nurturing our young scholars. And I invite you to also join me in congratulating Mr. Spear, Ms. Bentley Hoke, and Mr. Montas on their new roles for the next academic year. I am supremely confident in the wisdom and care these stalwart members of the MPH team will bring to their new roles, and excited for the benefits of this new structure for our students, faculty, and parents.
Thank you,
Jim Foley
Head of School
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We Will Rock You
Lower Schoolers put on quite the performance Tuesday morning, showcasing their singing, dancing, and instrumental talents to a number of classics and more recent hits, from Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, to Disney, to Queen's arena anthem, We Will Rock You. To see more from our performing artists, athletes, scholars, classrooms and beyond, click the link below.
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MONDAY - DAY 8
3:30 p.m. | Boys Varsity Golf v. Bishop Grimes (away)
3:30 p.m. | Girls Varsity Golf v. CBA (at Drumlins)
4:00 p.m. | Varsity Track & Field at Tully
4:00 p.m. | Boys Varsity Tennis v. Morrisville-Eaton (away)
4:30 p.m. | Boys Varsity Baseball v. Henninger (at BG)
4:30 p.m. | Girls Modified Softball v. APW (at BG)
TUESDAY - DAY 1
3:30 p.m. | Girls Varsity Golf v. Bishop Grimes (away)
4:00 p.m. | Girls Varsity Softball v. Hannibal (away)
4:30 p.m. | Boys Varsity Baseball v. Phoenix (away)
4:30 p.m. | Boys JV Baseball v. Solvay (at BG)
WEDNESDAY - DAY 2
4:30 p.m. | Modified Track & Field at Chittenango
4:30 p.m. | Modified Softball v. Oswego (away)
4:30 p.m. | Girls Varsity Softball v. Tully (at BG)
5:00 p.m. | Boys JV Baseball v. CBA (at BG)
THURSDAY - DAY 3
3:30 p.m. | Boys Varsity Golf v. Bishop Ludden (away)
7:00 p.m. | Middle & Upper School Spring Concert - details below
FRIDAY - DAY 4
Red & White Day
11:30 a.m. | Reverse Handshake/Distribution of Caps & Gowns
2:00 p.m. | Upper School Advanced Recital Performance (Theater)
3:30 p.m. | Girls Varsity Golf at Chittenango
4:30 p.m. | Boys JV Baseball v. Phoenix (away)
4:30 p.m. | Girls Modified Softball v. Tully (away)
4:30 p.m. | Boys Varsity Baseball v. Phoenix (away)
4:30 p.m. | Girls Varsity Softball v. Syracuse City (away)
6:00 p.m. | MPH Spring Gala at Palladian Hall - Limited Seating Available!
SATURDAY
11:00 a.m. | Boys JV Baseball v Rome Free Academy (away)
11:00 a.m. | Boys Varsity Baseball v Rome Free Academy (away)
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Additional Save the Dates + Calendar
Families can view their child's calendars in Blackbaud.
For a listing of spring Lower School events, click here.
For a listing of upcoming school events for the rest of the academic year, click here.
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The 2024-2025 Calendar is now available. Clic k here.
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MPH Spring Gala - Limited Seating Available! |
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A limited number of tickets are still available for the event! We are near capacity for this year's gala and encourage anyone who is interested in attending to register by Saturday, May 11, to ensure a seat. We hope you can join us!
Can't attend this year but would like to support MPH? Here's how:
- Donate a live/silent auction item. Gift cards and baskets, getaways, experiences, concert tickets, and more are always appreciated! The silent auction will once again be virtual, so you can bid on items beginning next week!
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Cover the cost of an MPH faculty or staff member by making a donation on our Gala page.
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Middle and Upper School Spring Concert - May 16 |
Please join us for our Middle and Upper School Spring Music Concert on Thursday, May 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the Gym. We are so excited for our students to present their work.
Students should arrive at 6:15 p.m. for a warm-up rehearsal and report to the following areas:
Band Students: Library
Orchestra: Orchestra Room
Chorus: Gym - Students who are also in band/orchestra should go to their instrumental room first and then join the choral warm-up at 6:40 p.m.
Concert dress is an all-black dress shirt and tie or blouse, long dress pants or skirt, and dark shoes.
Please reach out to Teresa Mirakian with any questions and thank you to all the students for their hard work. |
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Red & White Day Information (LS) |
Friday, May 17
8:45-11 a.m. - 1st-4th Grade Events
11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - PreK & K Events
12:35-2:30 p.m. - 5th-8th Grade Events
Donations for snack shack requested.
Parents invited to cheer on kids during the day’s events. Below are the class colors. Please be sure your child is dressed in the appropriate coordinating color for their grade level. If you ordered a T-shirt through the Parents’ Association link, they will be distributed to students on Wednesday, May 15:
Class Colors:
PreK: Red OR White
(specific color not assigned until Kindergarten)
Kindergarten: Red
1st Grade: White
2nd Grade: Red
3rd Grade: White
4th Grade: Red
5th Grade: White
6th Grade: Red
7th Grade: White
8th Grade: Red
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Parent Volunteers Needed for May 21 Art Show
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Tully's Fundraiser on May 21 - Click Image to Print |
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June 6 Extended Day Program |
Noon-4:00 p.m.
Grades Pre-K to 5
MPH Lower School is having a half day with noon dismissal on June 6 and will be offering a special Extended Day Program from noon-4:00 p.m. This program will be open to MPH students only and will be held in the Center for Early Learning. The program fee is $40. Please register by May 24.
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Share Our Summer Programs
Spaces are still available for MPH Summer Programs, including SAT and College Essay Preparation. Help us spread the word about our weekly camp offerings by:
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Faculty/Staff Annual Fund Participation over 88%! |
This week we must stop and recognize the historic participation of our faculty/staff in this year’s MPH annual fund. So far, over 88% of MPH Faculty and Staff have made a gift this year!! As we have for parents and alumni, we have asked each faculty/staff member to join our community of donors and consider a gift to support the MPH Annual Fund. The response by our faculty/staff strengthens our message to our parents, alumni, and friends of the school that we “are all in this together” at MPH. Thank you MPH faculty staff for leading the way!
Now, let’s celebrate this incredible feat with an MPH Ice Cream Challenge and see if our parents can show our faculty/staff we are with them all the way!
We are so grateful to everyone who has participated in our Annual Fund this year and for the generosity of our community. As of this week we are at 72% participation from current families towards our year-end goal of a 91%. $459,124 has been raised towards our MPH Annual Fund goal of $479,000. Let’s get to 80%+ by May 24 and celebrate with an ice cream party!
A strong Annual Fund is a hallmark of a thriving independent school. Simply put, MPH is possible because of the philanthropic participation of all its members – trustees, alumni, past parents, grandparents, faculty/staff, and current parents and students. While tuition is the main revenue source for the school, it only covers a portion of the school’s yearly operating costs. Through the Annual Fund, you can make an unrestricted gift, to be used where it is needed most, or restrict your gift to a program that is important to you, such as tuition assistance, faculty compensation, arts, or athletics. Join us with a gift today!
Matt/Lott Family Giving Challenge
In a show of support for MPH, faculty member and current parents Dr. Sarah Matt and Dr. Gus Lott have recently committed $50,000 dollars to the Annual Fund, with $25,000 of their donation earmarked to match leadership ‘Red and White Society’ gifts of $1,970+ though June 30, 2024. If you would like to help us secure these challenge funds (and surpass our Annual Fund goal!), make a gift today! Click here to read our “Meet MPH’ feature on the Matt/Lott family and their connection to MPH.
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Tickets on Sale for Junior/Senior Prom |
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Join us at The Lodge in Skaneateles for a Game Night themed prom complete with a buffet dinner, dessert, game room, photo booth, raffle prizes, and trivia hosted by Coach Goldman and Mr. Brown!
Tickets for MPH students are $60, non-MPH students are $80. Students can see Mrs. Bentley-Hoke to purchase tickets. Please reach out to Mrs. Palmer or Mrs. Bentley-Hoke with questions.
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Alumni Weekend 2024!
Friday, June 14 - Saturday, June 15, 2024
Join fellow alumni for a fun and festive weekend at Manlius Pebble Hill School. Celebrating all MPH, Manlius School, Pebble Hill School, and Goodyear Burlingame graduates.
· Class-specific Gatherings
· Manlius School BBQ
· Alumni Clambake
· Alumni Soccer Games
· Golf Tournament
· AHOF Class of 2024 Induction Ceremony
· Campus Tours
· Alumni Memorial Service
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Grade 3 Leading Efforts to Support Animals in Need
Collection bins are located around school. Items will be collected through the end of the month.
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