12-15-2025
Dear MPES Families,
We are just 5 days away from winter break. What a busy and joyful time of year! To celebrate, CES and MPES will host a Winter Spirit Week from December 15–19. Students and staff can look forward to fun daily themes, community-building activities, and opportunities to show school spirit. More details and theme days will be shared with classrooms soon.
During this season, our teachers will continue delivering lessons that spark curiosity and promote critical thinking. Equally important, we will keep encouraging students to set goals, persevere, and achieve their personal best. Please talk with your child about what they’re learning and celebrate their efforts. Your support makes a big difference.
How Parents Can Support Student Goals This Season
- Set short, clear goals— Help your child pick 1–2 specific, achievable goals for the next two weeks (e.g., read 15 minutes a day, complete math practice 3 times).
- Create a simple routine— Establish consistent times for homework, reading, and restful activities so learning fits into the holiday schedule.
- Celebrate progress— Notice effort (not just results). Use praise, stickers, or a small family reward when milestones are met.
- Connect learning to life— Turn outings, cooking, or gift-wrapping into teachable moments: measuring, budgeting, reading instructions, or writing thank-you notes.
- Encourage curiosity— Ask open-ended questions about schoolwork and projects: “What surprised you today?” or “How would you try that differently?”
- Provide a comfortable workspace— A quiet, well-lit spot with basic supplies helps kids focus.
- Model goal-setting— Share your own short-term goals and show how you track progress.
- Balance work and rest— Ensure enough sleep and downtime; tired students struggle to meet goals.
- Keep communication open— Check in with teachers about priorities and ways you can reinforce classroom learning at home.
- Make it fun— Use games, friendly family challenges, or themed nights tied to Winter Spirit Week to keep motivation high.
Thank you for your partnership and for all you do to support our school community. Wishing you warmth and happiness as we head into winter break.
One Team. One Dream. One Manassas Park.
Warmly,
The MPES Administrative Team