Please watch Dave McCusker's video message above.
Note: there is important information about arrivals and departures on Tuesday!
Seniors Recognized

Four MPH seniors have been recognized for their outstanding performance on the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Victor Attah has been selected for the College Board National African American Recognition Program. Leo Antonevich, Max Fung, and Ryan Hinshaw have received Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations!
Bridge Students Demonstrate Advocacy Skills and Maturity!

Grade 5 students have been learning about our government, rights, and responsibilities. In keeping with these teachings, the fifth-grade students approached Mrs. Ricciardiello this week and asked if they could collectively author a letter to Head of Lower School Amy Abdo to respectfully share their disagreement with the Lower School Halloween costume policy, especially as it compares to the Middle and Upper School policy. Mrs. Abdo commented, "The fifth-grade letters that I received were respectful, well-written, and reflective. The students advocated for their sense of independence and responsibility."
 
Wednesday, Mrs. Abdo spoke with the fifth-grade class about how, as the oldest, they are considered leaders in the Lower School. She thanked them for their respect and maturity in sharing their perspectives, and the students responded by offering suggestions on how to reach a safe and reasonable compromise between the existing Lower School policy and that of the Middle/Upper School. The agreed-upon decision was that fifth graders would be allowed to wear an element of their Halloween costumes, if they chose to do so, to school on Thursday, and also that they would wear items that they already have at home.
 
We applaud our students and our faculty for this remarkable display of our core values in action! And their costumes were amazing! Take a look at the photo gallery!
Click on the image above to view photo gallery!
Watch some of the fun by clicking the image above!
Celebrating Autumn and Halloween
in All Divisions

Despite the necessary absence of our traditional Halloween parade this year (for health and safety reasons), students in Grades K-3 reaped the benefits of the thoughtful Middle and Upper School students in the clubs that come under the Civic Engagement umbrella: the MPH4MPH and ReachOut clubs.
 
These lucky Lower Schoolers entered the STEAM Park to find it decorated (spider webs and all!) and full of pumpkins and special goodie bags. They were encouraged to each find and claim a pumpkin and a bag, and their Middle and Upper School helpers (club members) helped by then putting their names on them. The older students then corralled the “youngers” into the center of the park for some Freeze Dance fun (to the tunes of semi-spooky-but-age-appropriate Halloween music).
 
Advised by Ms. Perryman, the MPH4MPH Club works on projects that promote the health and values of the MPH community. Projects include planning and helping for the fall celebration for the Lower School, honoring unsung heroes, and anything else club members propose and adopt. The ReachOut Club, advised by Ms. Chhablani, works to build relations between MPH and the larger Syracuse community. Projects include the Chalk and Rock project, Rise Above the Streets, and other such volunteering opportunities.
 
Students from both clubs organized and implemented today’s Halloween fun, and The Hollow on Onondaga Hill donated the plethora of pumpkins!

Click on the image above to view gallery.
Science is Colorful!

The goal of this experiment was two pronged. Ms. Foster’s Grade 6 students are learning about atoms, molecules, and compounds. Mixing water, Borax, and glue creates a polymer. The borax connects the glue molecules to create the polymer, the long, fun, springy, and stretchy material. Right in front of their eyes, students can experience the formation of a polymer. Second, each student had their own set of primary food coloring. They hypothesized how many drops of each primary color was needed to create their own desired final color. Through a conversation with art teacher Mrs. Henderson, this idea of experimenting with mixing colors was hatched. Ms. Foster then came up with the context of the polymer, and the kids hypothesized how many drops of each color would be needed to achieve a unique color—like teal, for example.


A Successful Virtual Conference for MPHMUN!

This was the first conference of the season for our MUN team and the first-ever virtual conference for MPH and other area schools. Only MPH team members were on campus for the conference, while other participants joined in virtually. In total, seven schools participated, with Fayetteville Manlius High School and Clinton High School earning honors for Best Large and Small School Delegations, respectively. The conference was also a platform to raise money for a local charity, the Syracuse Center for Peace and Justice. The team considered the conference a success and felt a great sense of pride for continuing to host their home conference under these new and unusual circumstances. Click the image on the right to see what a virtual MUN conference looks like!
Capturing MPH Athletics

Our talented photographer Chuck Wainwright continues to capture amazing moments on the field. Take a look at the photo galleries for Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer and Cross-Country by clicking the images below!
Athlete of the Week

Last week, senior Johnny Gruninger was featured on NewsChannel 9's "Athlete of the Week" segment. Johnny, who is well known for his countless achievements and accolades on the golf course has recently become the first player ever to win both the Syracuse District Golf Association's Men’s Player of the Year award and the Junior Player of the Year award. He's looking forward to the season ahead at MPH, four years of playing at Le Moyne College, and a future in the pros. Take a look at the interview with Johnny here.
MPH Roots and Shoots

The McNeil lobby has received a facelift, thanks to MPH’s Roots and Shoots Club. Students involved have a goal to create a welcoming, calming space that also allows some privacy and physical distancing. The plants they selected are low-light tropical plants that Middle and Upper School club representatives will care for under the direction of club advisor Ms. Foster. The group would like to transform some other spaces around campus! If you have low-maintenance plants that require limited light and that need a good home, contact Ms. Foster!
The Addam's Family

Grade 3 students enjoyed some Halloween fun thanks to Mrs. Koziara, who featured the Addams Family dance in Music and Movement class this week. Note, there are no videos, as Mrs. Palmer was preoccupied dancing along, but we're confident that you're singing the tune in your head now and can imagine how much fun was had in third grade!
Now Introducing . . . 
The MPH Upper School Pan Band!

You may recall that Mr. Huyge has been working on some creative ways to have his Upper School Wind Ensemble students perform by introducing the group to a wide variety of percussion instruments. And at last, we can see and hear the fruits of their labor!
 
On Monday, MPH students and faculty/staff were treated to a Zoom performance of the Caribbean classic “Yellow Bird,“ featuring our recently recommissioned steel drums and a menagerie of unpitched percussion instruments. It’s the premier performance of the MPH Pan Band! Enjoy by clicking the image on the left!
There's Still Time to Join Us For Virtual Book Club!

Just a reminder, MPH is launching an Online Book Club via PBC Guru. There is no cost to participate – you just have to get a copy of the book to enjoy. In this online community, you'll be able to connect with one another and enjoy books related to lifelong learning, social issues, literature, psychology, and more. 

Our October through December reading is Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson.
 
How it works:
The Book Club will connect through a private online forum where people can discuss the current book and network with one another. The group will spend two months on each book, so you'll have plenty of time to read. You can sign up and learn more by clicking this link.


Stay up-to-date on MPH happenings by visiting the MY MPH Portal, our Facebook page and our Flickr feed!

Manlius Pebble Hill School | 315-446-2452mphschool.org