MPVA Weekly Update

Dear Parents and Students,

Course selections forms are open for parents and students to choose courses/electives to build student schedules for the next school year. Please click here to view the Rising 7th/8th Grade Course Selection PowerPoint, course description information and access the appropriate course selection form for your rising greyhound on the MPVA Course Selection website! The forms will close Friday, May 3, 2024 @ 11:59 p.m.

Also, a huge thank you to our amazing PTO who helped us coordinate another successful Magnet Signing Day. This is one of my favorite events of the year as I I get to meet incoming students and parents and enjoy performances from all eleven fine arts areas. It is not easy to pull it all together, however our PTO members do it all with style, grace, and smiles on their faces. Thank you PTO for everything you do!

Respectfully,

Mr. Sarabia

Academics are the mind of our school. Athletics are the heart of our school. Arts are the soul of our school. #WeAreMPVA

LAST MONDAY CASH COLLECTION FOR 8TH GRADE FAMILY DONATIONS AND ALL-SCHOOL FREE DRESS FUNDRAISER!

If you're an 8th grade family and have not yet made your donation to fund end of year celebrations, now is the time to do it! Online donations to 8th Grade Events can be made through the PTO's website at https://mpva.membershiptoolkit.com/class-of-2024. Suggested donation is $100 per student, but you are welcome to pay what you can or throw in extra to help fellow Greyhounds. These funds will go toward the costs of class shirts, the 8th Grade Dance (Sneaker Ball), Field Trip to Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, Fun Fridays in May for 8th Graders, and a Grab & Go Breakfast on the last day of school.

CASH COLLECTIONS ON CAMPUS will be Monday, April 29th. The PTO will be in the cafeteria during lunch to take 8th grade donations, issue receipts, and give t-shirts to donating students.

AND, a Free Dress Fundraiser is open to ALL GREYHOUNDS! While PTO is in the cafeteria taking cash collections for 8th grade events on Monday April 22nd and Monday April 29th, they will also accept donations of $5 from students in all grade levels in exchange for a wristband - wear your wristband and enjoy (school-appropriate) free dress on Friday May 3rd! We'll take cash or a receipt for proof of online payment: https://mpva.membershiptoolkit.com/free-dress.

We recognize we have current MPVA parents who have incoming 6th grade students to MPVA. Join us on Tuesday, April 30th at 5:30 p.m. via Microsoft Teams to discuss various campus information, academic course levels/courses, course selections and more. Click here to join the meeting.

Attached below are MPVA Traffic Maps (English and Spanish) to help you navigate parking and traffic around our school. This year we have had two accidents involving MPVA students and cars. That is two students too many.

One of the accidents happened at the corner of Manhattan and Wigton and the other at the intersection between Manhattan and Willowbend.

Please help us keep all our students safe by following all posted signage around our school and using the attached maps to guide you with parking options.

We have been actively seeking Crossing Guard help since the Fall and were able to acquire help in the afternoon at the corner of Manhattan and Wigton. I also want to thank PTO member, Mr. LeBlanc, who has been helping us at that intersection all year during the morning and afternoon commutes. Some who have seen him day in and day out may think he works for HISD, however, he does this voluntarily and his help has been invaluable. Please let me know if we have any other parents who would like to help.

Finally, I want to caution parents against asking their children to meet them on the other side of Willowbend. That is a high-traffic and high-speed intersection. Finding areas within the neighborhood to designate as a pickup spot makes more sense. Many parents do this and it works.

Thank you all in advance for helping us take care of our students. #ItTakesAVillage.

Attendance appeal hours were due on March 22, 2024. Students who have not completed their recovery time are encouraged to continue until all hours are completed.

We are in the process of notifying students who have recovery time during the second semester of school.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact D.Bolden (Counselor), K.Moody (Counselor), B. Perez (Wraparound Specialist), and Silva Alvarado (Attendance Clerk).

Respectfully,

The Attendance Committee

Attendance Recovery Tutorials are now available for students who need to recover attendance hours. Attendance Recovery will be held every Wednesday in May in the school library from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Two Saturday dates are available, May 4th and May 11th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This is a significant opportunity for them to catch up on any attendance recovery hours and improve their academic standing.

The Princess Ball is coming soon! Please contact Ms. M. Jordan, marsita.jordan@houstonisd.org, or Ms. Perez-Williams, Brittany.WilliamsPerez@houstonisd.org, with any questions or contributions!

Broadcast journalism and communication application students were involved in recording a radio show with KPFT 90.1. Each student scripted and presented their stories in class before being selected to share their story on the radio.

Names of Students: Sophia Sorena, Ella Wolf, Louisa Picard, Grace Jennings Mesler, Christopher Crear, Sasha Solomon and Brynn Cabe.

The show, So What’s Your Story? will air on KPFT 90.1 at 6pm on Wednesday, May 1st 2024.

We cant wait to hear our Greyhounds on the radio!!!

Are you in need of any non-academic supports for you and your family? Look no further, Ms. Perez-Williams has your back. Wraparound Services includes, but is not limited to: food, clothing, shoes, housing support, mental health support, etc. Please fill out a SAF (Student Assistance Form) for assistance at: https://www.houstonisdsaf.com and our Wraparound Specialist will reach out to you for further information. Thank you have a great week!

Let's celebrate these kids! We'll need decorators, chaperones, and clean-up crew for the Sneaker Ball on May 10th, line helpers on Ice Cream Truck day, and a crew to help set up and serve a Grab & Go Breakfast on the last day of school. For the kids' sake, we ask that only 6th and 7th grade parents chaperone the dance - 8th graders don't want their parents around snapping pictures! We'll also need VIPS-approved volunteers to chaperone the field trip to Andretti Karting & Games, but those will need to be requested with Mr. Lopez, the 8th Grade dean. Aaron.lopez@houstonisd.org

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4CAFAF2CA6FD0-48931887-2024#/

With end of year events/parties/field trips/teacher appreciation/etc coming up, we want to be sure everyone who wants to help is VIPS approved! Sign up here: https://www.houstonisd.org/VIPS#calendar347170/20221108/month

LAST MPVA PTO COMMUNITY MEETING OF THE YEAR

Join us Tuesday, May 30th at 7pm in the MPVA Library for the last community meeting of this school year. It's always a good time to hear from Mr. Sarabia (or his designee) and various magnet areas, and get an overview of the work of the PTO. If you are interested in serving on the PTO next year, come say hi!

RAISE YOUR HAND!

Information about positions available on the MPVA PTO board and committee roster will be coming out shortly, so be sure you're registered in toolkit and are following the Meyerland Performing And Visual Arts Middle School Parent Group on facebook (we win longest group name EVER :P).

CALLING ALL GREYHOUNDS! Wanna Volunteer?

8th GRADE CELEBRATIONS

Let's celebrate these kids! We'll need decorators, chaperones, and clean-up crew for the Sneaker Ball on May 10th, line helpers on Ice Cream Truck day, and a crew to help set up and serve a Grab & Go Breakfast on the last day of school. For the kids' sake, we ask that only 6th and 7th grade parents chaperone the dance - 8th graders don't want their parents around snapping pictures! We'll also need VIPS-approved volunteers to chaperone the field trip to Andretti Karting & Games, but those will need to be requested with Mr. Lopez, the 8th Grade dean. Aaron.lopez@houstonisd.org

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4CAFAF2CA6FD0-48931887-2024#/

LAST KONA ICE OF THE YEAR!

The first Friday in May will be our last KONA ICE FRIDAY - the crowds can be large and we must have at least 1 more volunteer to help monitor the lines or we'll need to cancel. The kids love it, so please consider if you can spare an hour and a half after school Friday, May 3rd.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4AA5AF2EA7F9C16-46018609-kona#/

Looking ahead to May - keep your eyes open and your ear to the ground for Teacher Appreciation Sign Ups!

LAST MPVA PTO COMMUNITY MEETING OF THE YEAR

Join us Tuesday, May 30th at 7pm in the MPVA Library for the last community meeting of this school year. It's always a good time to hear from Mr. Sarabia (or his designee) and various magnet areas, and get an overview of the work of the PTO. If you are interested in serving on the PTO next year, come say hi!

UPCOMING COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL - MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Our final Coffee With the Principal will be Monday, May 6th at 8:30am. These have been such a great opportunity this year - come ask any questions you have and hear about what's going on at MPVA from our wonderful principal, Mr. Sarabia.

Those MPVA sweatshirts and fleece jackets are awesome for cool mornings and cool classrooms! Need any extra? Anything purchased from the MPVA PTO SCHOOL STORE is delivered during SPARK on the following Monday: https://mpva.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/7241

Registration for Morning and After-Care for the 2023-2024 school year can be found at https://mpva.membershiptoolkit.com/aftercare-2023-page1. Once all fees and four (4) registration documents are received and processed, a confirmation email with QR and Remind app codes are sent out. Students cannot be accepted to care without these.

This year’s rate is a $180 flat fee per month that includes both morning and after care (there is no a la carte pricing), there is a $75 registration fee, and a $75 drop in rate (after the third drop in the account will automatically convert to monthly). Questions about the program may be directed totreasurer@mpvapto.com.

Join the PTO

Register to be a member of the PTO (it’s free) to get official parent communication and buy uniforms via the school store at: https://MPVA.membershiptoolkit.com

Follow the PTO

Subscribe to emails here: mpva.membershiptoolkit.com

Facebook: Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School PTO

Instagram: @mpvapto

Twitter: PTO of MPVA Middle School

Register to be a member of the PTO (it’s free) to get official parent communication and buy uniforms via the school store at: https://MPVA.membershiptoolkit.com

This Week

Monday, April 29th (Purple)

• "Art Grow Hearts" Collaborative Workshop: MPVA Dance @ 9:10 AM - 4:00 PM
• MPVA PTO Community Meeting @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 PM

Wednesday, May 1st (Purple)

• Math STAAR Testing
• Swim Team Tryout (Natatorium) @ 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Friday, May 3rd (Purple)

• Kona Ice Spirit Friday @ 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

• HISD Elementary Dance Festival @ 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Monday, May 6th (Grey)

• MPVA PTO Coffee with the Principal @ 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
• Theatre Rehearsal @ 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Intermediate 2 Theatre Rehearsal @ 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

• MPVA Dance Studio Series @ 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Theatre Performance ( Intermediate 2) @ 6:30 - 8:00 PM

Wednesday, May 8th (Grey)

• MPVA Dance Studio Series @ 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Friday, May 10th (Grey)

• MPVA Dance Studio Series @ 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• 8th Grade Dance @ 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Dress Code

General School Supply List

HISD Connect Parent Portal

HISD Student Code of Conduct