The Return of the Back-to-School Picnic Caps off a Week of Preparation |
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The week before classes saw the MPH campus stirring to life with Mike Longden's grounds crew buzzing - literally and metaphorically - all week, teachers streaming back into classrooms, and new faces making their first appearances in The Phoenix for orientation sessions. After a COVID-induced hiatus, the MPH Back-to-School Picnic also reappeared, as families new and returning lounged on the field and enjoyed the summer-food stylings of the MPH dining crew.
Classes begin Wednesday, September 7, and you'll find plenty of useful back-to-school info and resources below.
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A Back-to-School Message from Head of School Dave McCusker |
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Arrival and Dismissal Procedures |
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Watch this video to review arrival and dismissal procedures at MPH. Some highlights:
Center for Early Learning
- CEL drop-off begins at 7:45 a.m.
- CEL parents should enter campus in the left lane, then make the first left into the CEL parking lot
- For dismissal, PreK families DO NOT need to wait in the K-5 dismissal car line that forms in the church lot across the street
Lower School
- Lower School students may arrive to the main Phoenix entrance any time between 7:55-8:10 a.m.
- K-5 students being picked up at 3:00 p.m. will be dismissed out of the side gymnasium door
- Families can line up in their vehicles in the church parking lot beginning at 2:45 p.m.
- Cars entering campus will use the right entrance lane
- Cars will pick up at the side gym then continue down the hill and exit onto Poole Road
Middle School
- Middle School students can be dropped off at the McNeil entrance between 7:50-8:10 a.m.
- Families with both Middle and Upper School children will drop off at the main Phoenix entrance
- Middle School students being picked up at 3:10 p.m. will be dismissed out of the side gymnasium door
- Families can line up in their vehicles in the church parking lot beginning at 2:45 p.m.
- Cars will pickup at the side gym then continue down the hill and exit onto Poole Road
Upper School
- Upper School students may arrive at the main Phoenix entrance between 7:50-8:10 a.m.
- US students being picked up at 3:15 p.m. will be picked up at the Phoenix
- Families can line up in their vehicles in the church parking lot beginning at 2:45 p.m.
Additional Notes
Families with children in multiple divisions may drop them off at the Phoenix between 7:50-8:10 a.m.
Families with children in multiple divisions may pick them up at the side gymnasium door at 3:00-3:10 p.m.
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Schedule for the First Days of School
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The first day of school kicks off with a student assembly in the gym and a Back-to-School Coffee for parents.
8:10 a.m. | Introduction and attendance in advisory rooms
8:30 | Student assembly and greeting in the gym (MPH students and staff only)
The rest of the week proceeds closer to normal, and the full schedule can be found here. |
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Welcome Back Coffee for Families
Families are invited to the newly renovated and completed Farmhouse for a Back-to-School Coffee hour from 7:45-8:45 a.m. for a chance to meet other parents and get the year off to a social and well-caffeinated start.
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Additional Notes for September
Health and Safety
Health and Safety Guidelines for 2022-2023
We have updated our Health and Safety Guidelines for the coming year. You can find them on the website or download the printable version.
Health Forms Reminder
As a reminder, emails were sent to Returning Families and New Families with instructions to complete medical forms prior to the start of the school year. Please take a minute this week to be certain that all forms have been completed.
On-Campus Flu Clinics
The school flu vaccine clinics, run in collaboration with Kinney Drugs, will take place October 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and October 8 from 8:00 a.m. to noon.
Community Programs
Extended Day, After Hours, and Vacation Coverage
MPH hosts three programs that offer additional coverage for children beyond the school day.
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Extended Day is for students in Grades PreK to 5. Information about the program can be found on the Extended Day webpage.
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After Hours is offered to students in Grades 6-8. Information can be found on the After Hours webpage.
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Vacation Coverage is offered on specific days throughout the year (list of days here). More information can be found on the Extended Day and After Hours webpages.
Driver Education and SAT Prep Online
Fall Driver Education and SAT Preparation Course | Register here.
Job Opportunity for students in grades 10-12
Community Programs is hiring Extended Day Counselors to work Monday-Friday, 3:00-5:00 p.m. starting September 7. Contact Ms. Rhody, Director of Community Programs, at [email protected] if interested!
Student Life
Lower School Events Calendar
Label EVERYTHING
We process a remarkable quantity of lost items at the end of the year, and a simple name written in Sharpie will go a long way to seeing that those items are returned to their rightful owners well before June.
MPH Clubs with New Meeting Times
Clubs are back for the fall! This year, Middle and Upper School clubs will meet during our Community Time, 9:25 to 10:10 a.m. on days 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8. We’ll hold an assembly on September 12 during Community Time to introduce new clubs and to explain ways in which students will play a larger role in planning and organizing within each club this year. A list of clubs for the first quarter will be available, along with a sign up form, after the assembly.
Students interested in proposing a new club should contact Pat Bentley Hoke, Director of Student Life [email protected].
Student Volunteer Opportunities
There are also a number of exciting new and continuing volunteer possibilities on campus that our older students can apply for in place of or in addition to clubs. Check them out here.
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Photo by Carolyn Zimmerman |
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Grade 2 Teacher Carolyn Zimmerman took this picture of Wednesday's stunning sunset as it perfectly framed the newly renovated Knox Farmhouse. You'll also notice that Carolyn's photo has made its way into the newly updated Snapshot header. |
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More Photos of the Week (because look at these classrooms) |
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Typically, Snapshot will feature one Photo of the Week or a group of related Photos of the Week. But these pics of the Lower School classrooms in all their prepared glory were too much to leave out. |
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Join Us for Alumni
and Homecoming Weekend 2022!
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Friday, September 30
8:00 a.m. | Alumni Golf Outing, Green Lakes State Park
8:30 a.m. | Grandparents & Special Guests Gathering, STEAM Park
Noon – 2:00 p.m. | Pebble Hill Luncheon with Head of School, The Knox Farmhouse
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Boys Varsity Soccer Game + Food Trucks + Fall Harvest, Lower Field
5:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Manlius School Barbecue + Clambake, Phoenix Lobby – Reception begins at 5:00 p.m.; dinner at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, October
9:30 a.m. | Alumni Memorial Service at new Verbeck Gravesite. Self-guided walking tour of the former Manlius School campus
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Coffee + Food Trucks, Fall Family Events + Campus Tours, Upper Field
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Meet & Greet with Incoming Head of School Jim Foley, Upper Field Tent
11:00 a.m. – noon | Co-ed Alumni Soccer Games w/ Coach Tim Goldman ’11 vs. Coach Don Ridall
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Girls Varsity Soccer Game + Food Trucks + Fall Harvest, Lower Field
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. | Performing Arts Affinity Reunion w/ Toast to Michele and Alex Koziara, Barn/Theater
6:00 – 10:00 p.m. | Alumni Mixer/ Class Parties at SKY Armory
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Familiar Faces but New Logos on the Shirts in the MPH Dining Hall |
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MPH welcomes a new dining services provider this year, but thankfully retains Chef Christine and almost the entirety of her fantastic crew to bring our students a variety of healthy, creative, and ethically sourced dining options throughout the year. CulinArt Group is our new service provider, offering its "Eat Well" menu with vegetarian, vegan, and locally sourced options, as well as a new noodle bar! CulinArt will also bring a host of new theme days including Try it Tuesdays and Wellness Wednesdays.
Of course, most importantly, MPH was able to retain the services of Chef Christine and her team, who are familiar with our students and our school community.
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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). |
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MPH Family Fun Night with the Syracuse Mets is September 17 at NBT Stadium at 6:35 p.m. featuring the Mets vs. the Rochester Red Wings. There is a limit of 8 seats per family. Tickets are free, but you must register and pay $7.08 for parking if you plan to park. Each ticket comes with a $10 food voucher. |
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Easy Access to Back-to-School Info
For quick reference to any information listed in this email, visit mphschool.org and look for the homepage "Back to School Info" image, or visit myMPH and look under current news.
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