MPES Community Roar

Dear MPES Families,

Manassas Park Elementary is an amazing place to work and learn. One of our favorite times of the day is morning arrival. Each day some of the students get to show their school spirit by carrying signs with positive messages. Watching our students enter the building with joy and excitement sets a positive tone for the entire day. Their energy and curiosity inspire us every day! With October quickly approaching, we are thrilled by all that our students and staff have accomplished so far this school year.

This past week, our students successfully participated in the required bus evacuation drills, practicing important safety procedures with focus and care. Thank you to our transportation department and staff for making the event efficient.

We have also completed our beginning-of-year assessments, which give teachers valuable insights to guide instruction and support each student’s growth. These assessments help ensure that every child has the foundation they need to thrive.

Looking ahead, October brings exciting opportunities for connection and celebration:

Book Fair - This is a wonderful chance for students and families to explore new books, build home libraries, and spark a lifelong love of reading.

MPES Student Showcase and Family Bookfair Night – We warmly invite you on Tuesday, October 7, from 6:00–7:30 PM for a special evening where students will proudly share their learning and accomplishments. We can’t wait to celebrate their hard work and creativity with you!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Your involvement makes our school community stronger every day. Together, we are creating a safe, welcoming, and inspiring environment where every student can shine.

We hope to see every family at the Student Showcase! Come celebrate our Cougar Pride!

With much appreciation,

Felicia Drake, Principal

Erin Quinty, Assistant Principal

"One Team. One Dream."

October is

Filipino American History Month, German American Heritage, Italian American Heritage Month, Polish American Heritage Month, Bully Prevention Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ADHD Awareness Month, Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Thursday, October 2: No School Yom Kippur

Tuesday, October 7: Student Showcase and Family Bookfair Night 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Thursday, October 9: Family Market

Monday, October 13: Student Holiday (PD for teachers)

Wednesday, October 15: Fall Pictures (Parent Volunteers Needed)

Thursday, October 16-The Great Southeast Shakeout

Tuesday, October 21: No School Diwali

Friday, October 24: End of Quarter 1

Saturday, October 25: MPCS and MPCC Trunk or Treat 1:00-3:00 Community Event at Manassas Park Community Center

Friday, October 31: Report Cards posted online

November 3 Parent Teacher Conferences (No school for students)

November 4 Election Day - Virtual Teacher Workday (No school for students)

Our Cougars are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Honoring culture, history, and the vibrant contributions of the Hispanic community together as one team!

The New Teacher Network Project (TNTP) professional development work continued this week. Teachers, coaches and administrators from Cougar and Manassas Park Elementary united to review student data and patterns of teaching and learning individually and across both schools. We looked at baseline data and developed school and division goals to continue building strong instructional practices. Our next steps are to continue to foster student engagement and accelerate professional growth through targeted strategies and collaborative learning. We intend to empower our teachers to create meaningful, impactful learning experiences for all students.

As part of our school safety procedures, MPES students will participate in an age-appropriate review of the ALICE procedures on which will consist of a story and lesson in the classroom. This is how our school meets the requirement for a lockdown drill. It is important that our children are aware and prepared for emergencies. We will follow this up with a “Stop and Listen” activity on Friday, October 10th.

More information about our MPCS safety program can be found at https://www.mpark.net/programs/school_safety

The Great Southeast Shakeout

MPES will be participating in The Great Southeast Shakeout on October 16. This drill helps us prepare for an earthquake. We get to participate in this event with 1.7 million participants from DC to Florida.

Information from the Manassas Park Central Library Staff

Good day Staff and Community of Manassas Park Elementary School!

To reach our Spanish speaking community, Central Library has partnered with Manassas Park City Schools to have translation services available in our library and specifically our Makerspace, Studio 8601.

We would like to invite teen and adult members of your school community to join in our free library programs for both Adult Services and in Studio 8601.

Additionally, during Makerspace open hours, or by appointment, we can assist with personal learning or projects. To make an appointment, please email us at: libcemakerspace@pwcgov.org

To register for registration required events, please click on this link: Central Library Events September to November 2025

Our student interns can also assist with library information needs or assistance with technology during the hours they are at the library.

Typically, translation services are provided Mondays from 2:30-7:00pm, during Makerspace open hours Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:30pm-7:00pm, and Saturdays from 12:00pm-5:00pm.

Please see the Central Library calendar of events for Fall 2025 in a bilingual format below.

If you have any questions, or would like to tour our library, we would love to welcome you and your community. You can reach us at libcemakerspace@pwcgov.org or call 703-792-8375.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Wendy S Weldon, MLS

(she/her)

Makerspace Librarian

Central Community Library

8601 Mathis Avenue

Manassas, VA 20112

Wendy.Weldon@pwcgov.org

702-792-8375