MPHS Monthly Newsletter
May, 2010
Principal Shaver
Assistant Principal Cross
Principal’s News
As we reflect on the previous nine
months, we are comforted by the fact
our teachers and our students have
worked extremely hard to prepare for
what lies ahead: SOLs, final exams,
end-of-year events, and commencement
activities for the Class of 2010.
Contents
Principal’s News
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Sports Schedule
Teacher Appreciation Week
School Play
Health Beat
Guidance Announcements
News from the Cafeteria
The end-of-course Standards of Learning
(SOL) testing program will begin with
our seniors on May 17. SOL exams for
underclass students will begin on May
27. Please encourage your student to
take their time and do their very best
on their SOL exams. Students need to
pass these exams in order to obtain a
high school diploma in the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
A reminder to students and parents that
after-school SOL preparation continues
through the end of the school year.
Students are invited and encouraged to
stay after school Monday through
Thursday to prepare for their SOLs.
Students may ride the activity bus home
that departs from the school at 4:15
p.m.
Our seniors will begin their final exams
on June 3 and conclude them on June 8.



May 13:
AP/Honors/Dual
Enrollment Information
Night @MPHS Commons
7:00PM
May 15: Senior Trip
May 20: HS Band and
Choir POPS Concert
@MPMS Auditorium,
TBA
May 26:PTSO Softball
Game, TBA
The spring sports' season is in full
swing. A large number of student
athletes are involved in track and
field, softball, baseball, and soccer. I
for one am looking forward to
watching them compete. Many of
our coaches are optimistic that we
will enjoy a great deal of success this
spring. If you have an opportunity,
please come by and support our
teams.
I look forward to many additional
successes over the remainder of the
school year. Once again, please
encourage your student to work hard
for the remainder of the year. This is
the most critical time of year with
SOLs and final exams (and for our
seniors, graduation) on the horizon.
faculty, and school policies.
Upcoming Sports Schedule
Upcoming Events

They will then graduate on Saturday,
June 12 at 7:59 p.m. in the
gymnasium. Our underclass students
begin final exams on June 15 and
conclude them on June 18, a halfday, with dismissal at 10:30 a.m.
June 18 is the last day of school for
underclassmen.
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
May
5
6
7
7
7
7
11
11
11
11
11
12
12
12
14
14
14
14
18
18
18
18
19
21,25,27
21,25,27
21,24,26
21,25,27
Track and Field
Girls Soccer
Boys Soccer
Baseball
Softball
Girls Soccer
Softball
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Baseball
Softball
Track and Field
Baseball
Softball
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Baseball
Softball
Baseball
Softball
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Track and Field
Baseball
Girls Soccer
Boys Soccer
Softball
George Mason HS
Pope John Paul the Great HS
Clarke County HS
Clarke County HS
Clarke County HS
Clarke County HS
Osbourn Park HS
Rappahannock County HS
Rappahannock County HS
Rappahannock County HS
Rappahannock County HS
Strasburg HS
Freedom HS
Freedom HS
Madison County HS
Madison County HS
Madison County HS
Madison County HS
George Mason HS
George Mason HS
George Mason HS
George Mason HS
Bull Run District Champs
Bull Run District Tournament
Bull Run District Tournament
Bull Run District Tournament
Bull Run District Tournament
Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
Varsity
Varsity
Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
JV/Varsity
Varsity
Varsity
Varsity
Varsity
Varsity
5:00PM
4:30/5:30PM
5:30/7:00PM
5:00/7:00PM
5:00/7:00PM
5:30/7:00PM
5:00PM
5:30/7:00PM
5:30/7:00PM
7:00PM
7:00PM
5:00PM
6:00/6:00PM
6:00/6:00PM
5:30/7:00PM
4:00/5:30PM
7:00/7:00PM
7:00/7:00PM
5:00/7:00PM
5:00/7:00PM
5:30/7:00PM
5:30/7:00PM
3:00PM
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
Grade Level News
Monthly Newsletter
Teacher Appreciation Week
School Play
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is
May 3-7. We would like to take this
opportunity to thank the wonderful
faculty and staff for their commitment
to the students of Manassas Park High
School.
Congratulations to the cast and crew of
the school play. Led by student
director, Jessica Smith, the cast of play
including Aaron Jackson and Shannon
Wilson gave two outstanding
performances last weekend.
It’s a privilege to work alongside such
dedicated professionals who work hard
each and every day to provide a worldclass learning environment.
Thank you to all of the families, friends,
and staff who were in the audience, and
for your support of the MPHS Theatre
Department.
Health Beat - Caffeine
“Many schools
locally, and
around the
country are noting
students are
coming to class
hyped up on a
caffeine buzz, or
coming off a
caffeine crash.”
There is a rising popularity of energy
drinks that is raising concern. Some
have the same amount of caffeine as a
strong cup of coffee, others have more.
It’s not necessarily the caffeine that’s
the problem; it’s the different
combinations of other plant based
stimulants such as guarana which is
twice the strength of coffee, ginkgo,
ginseng, sugar, amino acids including
taurine as well as vitamins. Some
contain alcohol. Caffeine is considered
to be a psycho stimulant, and children
are more sensitive to this than adults.
Many schools locally, and around the
country are noting students are coming
to class hyped up on a caffeine buzz, or
coming off a caffeine crash. Symptoms
of too much caffeine include: difficulty
concentrating, stomachache, nausea,
vomiting profuse sweating, headaches,
and abnormal heart rhythms.
Guidance Announcements
Information for many scholarships is
available online at www.mpark.net. If
you are interested, select Manassas Park
High School, “Guidance Center,” then
select “Scholarship” link. Scholarship
information and most necessary forms
are also available in the Guidance
Office. See Ms. Williams or Ms. Baxter
for assistance.
We have information on the George E.
Allen Scholarship, ACCESS UVA,
University of Virginia Introduction to
Engineering 2010, The Washington
Regional Transplant Authority, Sweet
Briar College, DECA, The American
Legion, Sun Trust Bank Scholarships,
NOVEC Scholarships, and stipends from
the Virginia State Parks Youth
Conservation Corps 2010.
Information on all these programs can
be found online and in the guidance
office. Don’t wait! Ask today.
News from the Cafeteria...
Parents are strongly encouraged to
prepay for their student’s meals.
Parents are also asked to settle any
outstanding debts as quickly as possible
so that we may continue to provide your
student with nutritious meals. The
cafeteria will accept cash as well as
checks or money orders made out to
Manassas Park High School. Please
include your student’s PIN on the check!
Families eligible for "Food Stamps" or
"Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families" (TANF) are eligible for free
meals. Other families that have an
income below established standards
may also qualify for free or reduced
price meals. Families may apply for
meal assistance at any time during the
school year. If you are approved for
meal assistance for the current year,
approval will remain valid through the
first ten days of the new school year. To
remain eligible for the upcoming school
year, families must re-apply.