MPHS - Important Things to Know!

Welcome to the start of a new school year! We are excited to see our students and parents in the next few days!

Please take a moment to review important upcoming dates and information. If you have any questions, please let me know. I look forward to a wonder year together!

See you soon!

Charles Forrest, Principal

Manassas Park High School

charles.forrest@mpark.net

• August 14 - Class Schedules will be viewable for all students in PowerSchool. If parents need assistance, please visit: https://mpark.powerschool.com/public

  August 15 - Freshmen Orientation at MPHS from 10:30-12:30 pm. This is an opportunity for our 9th graders to move through their Semester 1 class schedule spending 5 minutes in each class. Please see schedule below.
  

• August 15 - Open House at MPHS from 3:00-6:00 pm. This is a great way for all MPHS students and families to tour the high school and meet teachers! Visit your classrooms and know what to expect on the first day of school!

• August 19 - First Day of School! Classes begin at 7:25 am. Dismissal at 2:15 pm. See more information below.

• August 21 - Varsity Golf at Prince William Golf Course at 3:30 pm.
• August 22 - Football scrimmage vs. Stonewall Jackson-Quicksburg at Cougar Stadium, 7:00 pm. Free admission.

• August 28 - Volleyball at home vs. Culpeper. Varsity at 7:00 pm.
• August 30 - Labor Day, No school, MPCS will be closed.
• September 2 - Labor Day, No school, MPCS will be closed.

• September 5 - Volleyball at home vs. John Handley. Varsity at 7:00 pm.
• September 6 - Football at home vs. William Monroe. Game starts at 7:00 pm.

• September 12 - Volleyball at home vs. Park View. Varsity at 7:00 pm.
  
• September 20 - Football at home vs. ConneXions. Game starts at 7:00 pm.
• September 26 - Volleyball at home vs. Brentsville. Varsity at 7:00 pm.

• Classes begin at 7:25 AM.
• Make sure your device is school ready! Students, please make sure you log in and check your device before the first day of school. If you have any issue, please log into https://launchpad.classlink.com/mpark and click the "GetHelp!" icon to submit a work order.
• Students will eat breakfast in the Commons and go to their 1st block classrooms at 7:00 am.
• For those riding the bus, please use this link to find your bus schedule: https://mpark.ss20.sharpschool.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=337117&pageId=432009
• For student drivers and drop offs - please make sure you arrive using the entrance at the lower parking lot. Please do not enter the bus loop with your vehicle until it is cleared of buses and students.
• Students can enter the building from the lower parking lot using the outside doors of the Counseling wing. These doors will be locked by 7:24 am.

• Class Schedules will be viewable for all students in PowerSchool By August 14. If parents need assistance, please visit: https://mpark.powerschool.com/public
  
• Please continue to check your student's schedule by utilizing PowerSchool. Counselors are updating and correcting those schedule that were not complete.
• If parents need assistance with PowerSchool, please visit this site for information on how to access the Parent Portal: https://mpark.ss20.sharpschool.com/resources/for_parents/power_school_for_parents
• Students may submit schedule change requests via QR code posted around school building and on Canvas during the first week of school.

Parents, want to see more information about your student’s classes and assignments? Sign up to be an Observer in Canvas! This will allow you to:

• View and read announcements
• View the calendar
• View and read discussions
• View grades, assignment due dates and comments, and print grades
• View modules and see due dates and point values

Follow these directions to sign up and be an observer in Canvas.

Breakfast and Lunch will be FREE OF CHARGE for all students for the 2024-2025 school year!

All enrolled students in Manassas Park City Schools are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school free of charge. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in the meal program without having to pay a fee or to submit an application.

Students will need to enter their student ID number before picking up their breakfast or lunch.

If you have any questions, or need help, please contact Greg Taylor at gregory.taylor@mpark.net

• Students will be dismissed at 2:15 pm by afternoon announcements.
• Student drivers and pick-ups will exit the building using the outside doors of the Counseling wing.
• Drivers who are picking up students, please use the entrance at the lower parking lot. Please do not enter the bus loop with your vehicle or park along the side of the school building.
• Students waiting for the double-run buses will wait in the Athletic hallway until busses arrive.

Per Virginia State Code, all students entering 12th grade will be required to provide proof of a 2nd meningitis vaccination prior to the start of the 2024-25 school year. Please submit vaccination records to the MPHS school clinic. Contact our nurses in the MPHS clinic with any questions.

Immunization information for all students can be found on the Prince William Health District Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/backtoschool/

Please check our our new Athletic website at https://mpcougarsathletics.com/! We will continue to update with schedules and important information.

You may still register your student for Fall, Winter, and/or Spring Sports: https://manassaspark-ar.rschooltoday.com/home

If you have any questions regarding Fall sports you may contact the following coaches:

• Football - Mark Teague - mark.teague@mpark.net
• Volleyball - Doug Towle - doug.towle@mpark.net
• Cross Country - Ward Hugh - ward.hugh@mpark.net
• Golf - Gerry Campbell - gerry.campbell@mpark.net
• Cheer - Abby Duvall - abby.duvall@mpark.net

We look forward to a great season! Go Cougars!

Martin Astrop, Activities Director, martin.astrop@mpark.net

Christine Catalfamo, Assistant Activities Director, christine.catalfamo@mpark.net

• Driving to school is a privilege afforded to students at MPHS who demonstrate responsibility and proper safety.
• Parking permits will only be issued to students who are registered as 12th or 11th grade.
• There are limited spots. Once all parking spots for students are sold, further arrangements cannot be made.
• Applications are available in the Main Office.
• Students must be in good standing to continue to use the student parking. Per parking regulations: Students who do not maintain good academic standing, cut class, who consistently do not arrive to school on time, and/or have continued discipline problems are subject to restriction and/or revocation of the parking permit.
• Applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. Only complete applications with the required documents and payment will be processed.
• Parking permits will only be issued to students who have a valid Virginia driver’s license – this will include the “blue” driving permit issued by the driving school. Copy of the license or learner’s permit with blue form are required. Copies can be made in the main office.
• No parking permits will be issued to 9th or 10th grade students.

Students can personalize their parking spot!

• Seniors and Juniors can have fun with their friends and show their MPHS pride by painting their own parking spot!
• Please stop by the Main Office for more information. There is a time limit and requirements that must be followed.

You may contact Alicia Sowers (alicia.sowers@mpark.net) in the Main Office for questions.

Please make sure that you have verified your information in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. The completion of this process is required for ALL returning students.

Parents of returning students must access the PowerSchool Enrollment online forms through the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://mpark.powerschool.com/public. The online forms contain demographic and emergency information you entered last year. During this process, you will verify the information is accurate or update any information that has changed. Parents will also electronically sign annual agreement forms for school district policies.

At least one parent is required to create a PowerSchool Parent Portal account. If you have multiple children in Manassas Park City Schools, you must verify information for each student, however only one parent account is necessary.

• If you have created a PowerSchool Parent Portal account in a previous school year, please use that account to log in. Please do not create a new account.
• If you have not created a PowerSchool parent account, directions can be found at https://www.mpark.net/resources/for_parents/power_school_for_parents

The completion of this process is required for all returning students. The online forms are now open. Please complete by August 16, 2024.

How do I get started?

Visit https://mpark.powerschool.com/public and sign into your PowerSchool Parent Portal

1. Select the student you wish to verify data at the top
2. Click the ‘Registration’ link on the left side navigation menu
3. Agree to the terms and conditions
4. Click Begin Forms

If you have questions about your account, please contact the MPHS main office for assistance.

Parents, please find information on health screenings in accordance with the Code of Virginia that will occur this school year. You may refer to the attachment, "2. Screenings Letter," for an overview.

The 2024 General Assembly passed House Bill 1473, which requires the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Health to work collaboratively to develop a fentanyl education and awareness informational one-sheet and make this resource available to each school board for distribution to all grade 9-12 students within the first two weeks of the 2024-2025 school year.

This information will serve to promote awareness of:

• the dangers of fentanyl use;
• how to identify and avoid fentanyl;
• overdose prevention and preparedness;
• how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a fentanyl overdose; and
• resources for students who may need help or may know someone who needs help with a substance use disorder.

The Fentanyl Awareness one-sheet document is available to download on the VDOE Preventing and Reducing Youth Substance Misuse webpage. The webpage also includes additional resources on substance use prevention.

In addition, our MPCS Health Team will host a special afterschool presentation focused on ways to prevent opioid abuse. All are welcome to attend this free informative event that will include dynamic speakers, dinner, dessert, and gift basket raffles. More information to come!

Email: charles.forrest@mpark.net
Website: www.mpark.net
Twitter: @seetrees