MPMS Cougar Pride News
2025-2026 School Year
We are excited to see our students each and every day! Every day in school is a step toward student success. Let's work together to build strong habits that keep our students engaged and thriving!
Arrival and Dismissal Time:
Our building opens at 6:45 am to welcome walkers, car riders, and first wave bus riders. At 7:00 am, seven buses will unload. The remainder of the fleet will unload at 7:05 am.
Please note that the main lane will remain open from 6:45–7:00 am but will close intermittently between 7:03-7:15 am to allow buses to exit the loop. To avoid delays, we recommend dropping students off before 7:00 am.
Afternoon announcements begin at 2:07 with the grade levels dismissing at the following times:
6th Grade: 2:08 pm
7th Grade: 2:10 pm
8th Grade: 2:12 pm
School hours are 7:05 am - 2:15 pm.
Manassas Park Middle School's doors open at 6:45 am daily. The tardy bell rings at 7:17 am. Please help your student arrive on time for school everyday. For changes in dismissal arrangements, contact the main office at 703-361-1510.
If you know your child will have an early dismissal, please contact the office as soon as possible. This allows us to notify the teacher so students are better prepared for dismissal. This is especially helpful for students leaving early during their physical education block. We understand that dismissal changes are sometimes necessary after students have arrived at school. Please make changes before 1:30 pm.
Are you interested in keeping up to date with your child's academics and attendance? We encourage parents and guardians to sign up for Parent Portal and as an observer in Canvas. For more information about how to sign up, please contact Ms. Gibbons, MP Middle School Family Liaison at 571-361-1510.
To help support our Expectations of Excellence, please review the 2025-2026 MPMS Student Handbook with your child.
When students enter the school building, all cell phones must be powered off and put away in their backpack. Students will proceed through the Commons for a Grab & Go Breakfast and proceed to their grade level hallway. This year, all students are assigned a locker and are expected to store their backpacks, phones, lunches, and snacks during the day. Students may take snacks and their packed lunch to the Commons during their lunch period. Snacks are not allowed in the classrooms during instruction. Exceptions are made for students with documented dietary requirements or other required documentation (e.g., IEP/504 plan).
Dress Code: Clothing must cover the torso, including the midriff and undergarments, and extend to mid-thigh. Clothing should not be revealing, see-through, or promote in-appropriate content. No hats, hoods, or bandanas are allowed in the building with exceptions for religious or medical reasons. Safe and appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. Parents/guardians will be contacted to bring a change of clothes for students whose clothing does not meet dress code expectations.
Prohibited Devices: Effective January 1, 2025, Virginia mandates a "bell-to-bell" cellphone ban in public K-12 schools. All student cell phones, portable electronic devices (PEDs) and wireless earbuds/headphones are prohibited and must be off and away from 6:45 am - 2:15 pm. Students riding late buses or staying after school for instructional or behavior support sessions will leave their cell phones off and put away until they exit the building for late dismissal. Students staying after school for athletics or performing arts may utilize their phones at the discretion of their coach/teacher after they leave the Commons and enter their after school event location. For safety reasons, at no time should cell phones be in use while ascending or descending stairs.
This policy applies to all students, though exemptions exist for those with documented need included in 504 plans, individualized education programs (IEPs), or health plans. Students are expected to store their PEDs in their assigned locker throughout the day. Any visible devices will be confiscated and turned into the MPMS Main Office. PEDs are prohibited during after-school instructional events (e.g., tutoring, after-school detention, etc.) Parents/Guardians will be contacted to pick up collected devices.
Electric Hall Pass System: Students are required to have an approved electronic hall pass from an MPMS staff member to be in the hallway during instructional time. Students are encouraged to optimize their time in the classroom during direct instructional time and utilize the restroom during independent study.
