MPHS - Important Things to Know!
September 22, 2024
I hope you had a great weekend! Please see our newsletter below with a lot of great information!
Best,
Charles Forrest
Principal
Important Dates
- September 26 - Expectations of Excellence Ceremony at 7:59 am. See information below. We will be on our Regular Bell schedule. No Cougar Time.
- September 26 - Underclassmen Portraits
- September 26 - Volleyball at home vs. Brentsville. JV at 6:00 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
- September 27 - Underclassmen Portraits
- October 1 - Volleyball at home vs. Kettle Run. JV at 6:00 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
- October 2 - Fall Choir Concert, MS Auditorium at 7:00 pm.
- October 3 - MPCS schools closed for Rosh Hashanah
- October 4 - Football at home vs. Paul Public Charter School, 7:00 pm.
- October 9 - PSAT for 10th & 11th grades
- October 10 - Family Market in Counseling Hallway at MPHS, starts at 4:00 pm.
- October 10 - Volleyball at home vs. James Wood. JV at 6:00 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
- October 11 - Football at home vs. Skyline, 7:00 pm.
- October 14 - No School; Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day
- October 17 - Fall Band Concert, MS Auditorium at 7:00 pm.
- October 18 - Homecoming Pep Rally, during 4th block.
- October 18 - Homecoming Football game vs. Meridian.
- October 19 - Homecoming Dance
- October 22 - Senior Portraits in HS Commons, 2:30-8:30 pm.
- October 22 - Volleyball at home vs. Warren County. JV at 6:00 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
- October 23 - Cross Country at home, 5:00 pm.
- October 23 - College & Career Night in the HS Gym, 5:30-7:30 pm.
- October 24 - End of the 1st Quarter
- October 29 - Volleyball at home vs. Skyline. JV at 6:00 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
- October 30 - Trunk or Treat in the HS Bus loop.
MPHS Picture Day - Grades 9-11
MPHS uses Legacy Studios for our school pictures. They offer many advantages including printing student ID cards once pictures are taken on the assigned day. Please see information below.
Expectations of Excellence Ceremony
- September 26 - Expectations of Excellence Ceremony at 7:59 am.
- Ceremony will be livestreamed. Please access link to our MPCS YouTube channel to view: https://www.youtube.com/@ManassasParkCitySchools/streams. From the link, please select the Expectations of Excellence livestream.
- Senior, Junior, and Sophomore classes will attend in-person in the HS gym. Students who earned a 3.75 GPA or higher during the 2nd semester of the 2023-2024 school year will be recognized.
- Seniors can invite family to attend.
- Freshmen will ring the Bell of Knowledge at conclusion of the ceremony.
MPHS Testing Office
Semester 1 - DATES and SIGN UPS
- DMV Testing: September 26- Sign Up HERE
- ASVAB: September 27- Sign Up HERE
- SAT at MPHS: October 5- Register HERE
- PSAT/NMSQT: October 9- Sign Up HERE
- DMV Testing: October 17- Sign Up HERE
- ASVAB Score Interpretation Session: October 24
- AP DEADLINE for Full Year and Semester 1 classes: October 31
- AP Test Payments due: November 8
- DMV Testing: November 21- Sign Up HERE
- PROJECT GRADUATION/SENIOR SEMINAR TESTING SESSION: December 6- December 19
- SAT at MPHS: December 7- Register HERE
- END OF COURSE TESTING for FIRST SEMESTER: January 8, 9, 10
If you have any questions, or need assistance, please contact our Testing Coordinator, Maggie Morrison: maggie.morrison@mpark.net
Seniors!
College Visits at MPHS
Please make sure you sign up in the Counseling Office to meet with admission officers!
- James Madison University - October 7, 10:30 am
- Christopher Newport University - October 10, 10:50 am
- Virginia Tech - October 22, 1 pm
Senior Portraits
Legacy Studios will offer Senior Portraits on October 22 from 2:30-8:30 pm in the HS Commons. Please visit their website for more information: https://seniors.legacystudios.com/manassas-park-hs-va/
You may also contact them at: mailto:customercare@legacystudios.com
Need More Senior Information?
Seniors - check out the Counselors' Corner page on Canvas! There you will find information on:
- "The Senior Checklist"
- Scholarships
- Colleges & Universities
- FAFSA forms
- Senior Checklist
- SAT & ACT
- and much more!
Make School Attendance a Priority!
As we start the school year, this is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math and graduate on time.
- Chronic absenteeism occurs when a student misses 18 or more school days per year - this includes both excused and unexcused absences.
- Chronic absenteeism is the primary cause of lower academic achievement and is a high predictor for students who drop out of high school.
At MPHS, we are committed to supporting our students to arrive to class on time. Our teachers, counselors, administrators, coaches, and other staff members will be working together to escort students to class who remain in the hallways past the late bell.
As you plan upcoming trips and family events, please remember the importance of sending your student to school every day.
If you need more information to help your student with school attendance, please check out the resources below.
Student Registration Verification
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.
How do I get started?
Visit https://mpark.powerschool.com/public and sign into your PowerSchool Parent Portal
- Select the student you wish to verify data at the top
- Click the ‘Registration’ link on the left side navigation menu
- Agree to the terms and conditions
- Click Begin Forms
If you have questions about your account, please contact the MPHS main office for assistance.
Athletics
- Please check our our new Athletic website at https://mpcougarsathletics.com/! We will continue to update with schedules and important information.
- You may register your student for 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
Christine Catalfamo, Assistant Activities Director, christine.catalfamo@mpark.net
Parent Teacher Student Organization - PTSO
Did you know Manassas Park City Schools has a PTSO?
Our organization comprises dedicated parents, teachers, students, and community members committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all students. Our mission is to bridge the gap between parents, teachers, and students by promoting collaboration and enhancing the educational experience for all stakeholders. The organization needs support to be successful. Click here for more information and to donate.
Upcoming Events:
September 24, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Ice Cream Social at Cougar Elementary
September 25, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM PTSO Meeting at Manassas Park Elementary
October 17, 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM PTSO Night at Chuck E. Cheese
October 30, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM PTSO Meeting at Cougar Elementary
December 10, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM PTSO Dining Night at Noodles and Company
2024-2025 Officers
Jessica Benitez-President
Nishith Andharia-Vice President
Tara Cunningham-Secretary
Jenny Lopez-Treasurer
Website: https://www.mparkptso.org/ Email: info@mparkptso.org
Cell Phone Policy
For the 2024-2025 school year, Manassas Park High School will have a cellphone-free learning environment in our classrooms and learning spaces. We understand this is a significant change. Please see important information below that will go into effect on the first day of school, Monday, August 19, 2024.
MPHS Cell Phone and Wireless Communication Devices
The use of communication devices by students during instructional time is prohibited. All personal wireless communication devices, including earbuds, must be turned off and stored away during instructional time and spaces. Unless previously authorized, personal devices should not be visible, audible, or in-use during instructional time and spaces. Instructional spaces can include the classroom, library, gym, Commons, or other areas of the high school building.
- Dual purpose watches may be worn, but wireless/cellular features must be turned off (e.g., must be placed in airplane mode).
- Personal wireless communication devices are permitted before the start of school, during lunchtime, during hallway passing periods, and after school. All other times, devices should be off and out of sight.
- Students may not charge devices in the classroom or during instructional periods.
Students will be permitted to use a phone in the main office to contact a parent/guardian during the school day.
- Parents/guardians should not contact their student on their personal wireless communication devices during the school day. Parents/guardians should contact the high school office with urgent messages for students and the office will facilitate communication.
Student Expectations
Students must comply with staff directives to avoid disruption of the educational environment, or they may be subject to disciplinary actions.
If the device is visible, audible, or used during instructional time it may be confiscated for return to the student’s parent or guardian. For students who do not turn in their device, parents will be contacted to come to school and pick up the device; students will not be allowed to return to class with their wireless communication device. Failure to submit the device to school administration or parents will result in additional disciplinary action.
Students will receive the following consequences if a cell phone or wireless communication device has been confiscated:
- 1st offense – Warning: device returned to student from the main office after student dismissal from school.
- 2nd offense – After School Detention (ASD) and parent pick-up of device in main office after student dismissal from school.
- 3rd offense – 2 After School Detentions (2 ASDs) and parent pick-up of device in main office after student dismissal from school.
- 4th offense – In-school detention (ISD) and parent pick-up of device in main office after student dismissal from school.
- 5th offense – 2 In-school detentions (2 ISDs), parent pick-up in main office after student dismissal. Conference will be held with parent and student and student will not be permitted to bring cell phone/wireless device to school. The duration of this consequence will be determined by the MPHS Administration team and in collaboration with the student’s parent/guardian.
RESOURCES
Need a Locker?
Students may request a locker from their MPCS Google account by using the following form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzgqX7lW6iOtvlGaCKz6u9bbYrPRP0yQJ76yzbexvXP9S5og/viewform
Mrs. Williams will follow up with student requests: mailto:tricia.williams@mpark.net
Does Your Student Have Health Coverage?
The 2024-25 school year is here! Protect your children with quality health coverage as they return to the classroom. Virginia Medicaid offers quality health care for children at no cost.
Health insurance matters. Some benefits of children having health coverage include:
- Children with coverage are more likely to have a usual source of care
- Children with coverage are more likely to have access to preventive care
- Children with coverage get the health care services they need
- Health coverage helps improve social and emotional development
- Children with health coverage are better equipped to do well in school
Having health coverage can help you avoid steep medical bills if your child becomes sick or injured. Feel safer knowing that your child is covered this school year.
Not a Medicaid member? Virginia Medicaid offers quality, no-cost coverage for Virginians. Learn more about how to apply.
Know Your Counselor!
Mrs. Teague
- Director of Counseling
- Serving students with last names A-B
- natalie.teague@mpark.net
Mr. Rothman
- Serving students with last names C-He
- steven.rothman@mpark.net
Ms. Harding
- Serving students with last names Hi-Pi
- amanda.harding@mpark.net
MPHS Admin Team
Melissa Pitts, Assistant Principal
Tricia Williams, Assistant Principal
Charles Forrest, Principal
Email: charles.forrest@mpark.net
Website: www.mpark.net
Twitter: @seetrees