MPMS Cougar Pride News
2025-2026 School Year
Back Lot
The back parking lot is open for authorized MPMS employees only. A valid MPCS parking pass is required to enter this area. Please have your parking pass available to show MPMS staff.
Student Drop Off vs. Thru Traffic
Important: Enter the correct lane when you enter the parking lot:
Left Lane: Student Drop Off
Right Lane: Through Traffic/Parking
Once in the Drop Off Loop, students must exit from the driver's side of the vehicle. The Drop Off Loop is a single lane, no passing is permitted.
Re-Entering the Through Traffic Lane
After the Drop Off Loop, all vehicles will maintain a single line until they exit school property. No students may be dropped off outside of the Drop Off Loop.
If the Drop Off Lane is missed, the driver will need to proceed through the parking lot, circle back to the original parking lot entrance and repeat the process. No students are allowed to be dropped off for school outside of the Drop Off Loop.
Love My Chromebook
Hazards of Unsafe Technology Use
Chromebook Safety Reminders
Student Technology Use Guidelines
School-issued technology plays a critical role in supporting meaningful learning experiences that increase student engagement, deepen content understanding, and build student confidence and self-efficacy. When students use technology appropriately for instructional purposes, they are better able to access resources, collaborate with peers, practice skills, and take ownership of their learning. Our staff is committed to intentionally integrating technology into classroom instruction in ways that enhance learning while ensuring students engage in safe, responsible, and purposeful technology-based activities aligned to curriculum goals.
To support appropriate technology use, students are expected to follow the Manassas Park City Schools Technology Guidelines. Inappropriate use—including accessing unauthorized or non-instructional websites such as gaming or music platforms—will be addressed through progressive, supportive steps focused on learning and accountability.
- 1st Offense: The observing staff member will have a conversation with the student to review technology use expectations and the student's parent/guardian will be contacted. Parent contact will be documented in PowerSchool.
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2nd Offense: An MPMS Dean of Students will collect the student’s device, and the parent/guardian will be contacted. A member of the instructional technology team will review the device and remove any unauthorized applications, proxies, or tools if necessary. Additionally, the device will be examined for any repair needs. Parents/guardians will be notified of any necessary repairs and applicable costs. The device is returned to the student after repairs (as necessary) have been completed and the student completes an afterschool technology class (offered twice weekly). Parent contact and the learning opportunity will be documented in PowerSchool.
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3rd Offense: The Technology Department will reduce the student’s access to non-instructional materials. The student, parent/guardian, administrator or dean, and the Instructional Technology Coach will meet to collaboratively support appropriate and safe technology use. Meeting and technology access will be documented in PowerSchool.
Subsequent Offenses could include devices remaining on school property and/or other supports determined appropriate by school administrative.
Students will continue to have access to instruction, with or without their assigned device. A stationary device table is available in the MPMS Library for students to complete assessments. While the student device is being serviced, assignments may be completed paper/pencil, or electronically during after school academic support time. Through consistent expectations, learning opportunities for safe internet usage, and the partnership between school staff and families, we committed to ensuring technology remains a powerful tool that facilitates safe engagement in learning experiences.
The MPMS Student Handbook has been updated to include these guideline. Please click on the MP Paw to access the updated MPMS Student Handbook.
Increased School Engagement Through On Time Attendance
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, the first seven buses unload. The remainder of the fleet unloads at 7:00 am.
Please note that the main lane will close intermittently between 6:45 -7:15 am to allow buses to exit the loop, with the heaviest bus departure times between 7:05 - 7:15 am. To avoid delays, we recommend dropping students off before 7:00 am.
Afternoon announcements begin at 2:07 pm with the grade levels dismissing at the following times:
6th Grade: 2:08 pm
7th Grade: 2:10 pm
8th Grade: 2:12 pm
Tardy to School Guidelines for the Secondary Schools: Effective January 26, 2026
Manassas Park Middle School and Manassas Park High School understand the importance for consistency and clarity to best support our students' success. Therefore, MPMS and MPHS have partnered together to create a joint Tardy to School Guideline to provide students and their families information about the importance of on-time to school attendance and how we will support these efforts. On-time student attendance establishes a comprehensive and inclusive environment for learners. MPMS students are expected to arrive at school before the tardy bell rings at 7:17 am and in their assigned seat by 7:25 am to hear morning announcements. Each quarter, on-time attendance to school will be supported by MPMS staff as follows:
- 1st/2nd tardy to school: Verbal reminder by office/tardy support staff
- 3rd/4th tardy to school: Warning letter sent home, email, and text (via A2A), documented in PowerSchool
- 5th/6th tardy to school: 1 ASD (assigned via Dean), parent contacted by Dean, documented in PowerSchool.
- 7th-9th tardy to school: 2 ASD (assigned via Dean), Conference w/ student & Dean
- 10th tardy to school: 1 ISD (assigned via Dean), Tardy attendance meeting with student, parent/guardian, Attendance Officer, and Administrator, documented in PowerSchool.
Tardy to Class Guidelines for MPMS
It is imperative for students to arrive to class on time and be seated before the last bell rings, so learning can begin on time. In each quarter, the importance for timeliness to class will be supported as follows:
- 1st time late to class: Conversation between teacher/staff and student.
- 2nd time late to class: Parent contacted by Teacher. Parent contact and tardy documented in PowerSchool.
- 3rd time late to class: Teacher may develop and share a specific Behavior Contract. Parent contact. Parent contact and tardy documented in PowerSchool.
- 4th time late to class: After School Detention. Parent contact, tardy, and after school detention documented in PowerSchool.
- 5th time late to class: After School Detention and parent, student, teacher, administrator/dean meeting. Team meeting, after school detention, and tardy documented in Power School.
On-time attendance guidelines have been updated in the
MPMS Student Handbook effective January 2026.
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.
