Mounds Park Academy

MPA Handbook

Welcome to the Mounds Park Academy Handbook. Here you will find information, policies and guidelines with which students and parents should be familiar in order to have the best possible experience at MPA. Browse through the sections or use the search tool to find a specific topic. Changes to the MPA Handbook will be noted by the date listed below each entry. Please check back before the start of each school year to make sure you are up to date with the latest Handbook policies. Thank you for your cooperation!

PreK-12 Information

Mounds Park Academy aspires to create a pleasant and challenging school environment for its students – an environment where sensitivity, respect for others, and hard work are valued. As a college preparatory school, Mounds Park Academy intends to thoroughly prepare its students for further education, encouraging them to strive for excellence, yet paying attention to their individual needs. It is hoped that the atmosphere of the school will encourage students to enjoy a variety of activities and experiences and take pride in the quality education at Mounds Park Academy.

Lower School

This section of the handbook is organized to provide additional information specific to grades PreK-4. Please read over and keep as a reference. If you have further questions, please call the Lower School Office at 651-777-2555.

Principles of Good Practice for Lower School

Elementary education emphasizes the development of the whole child, providing for each child’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs. Elementary programs are developmentally appropriate, in that they are based on an understanding of general patterns of growth in the early years as well as children’s individual development.

  • Elementary educators, and all personnel who interact with young children, have appropriate training, understanding, and knowledge regarding the developmental characteristics of this age group.
  • Elementary educators recognize that play is the work of young children.
  • Elementary educators build on the child’s natural curiosity to promote a love of learning.
  • Elementary educators prepare the environment so that children learn through active exploration and discovery.
  • Elementary educators recognize the importance of outdoor play and provide appropriate time and equipment.
  • Elementary educators design programs that develop the large and small motor skills of young children.
  • Elementary educators engage parents as partners in understanding the unique characteristics and needs of young children.
  • Elementary educators, in observing and interpreting children’s behavior, use bias-free assessment tools based on developmental norms.
  • Elementary educators promote equity and justice by creating a community that fosters respect, understanding, and an appreciation of differences.

Middle School

This section of the handbook includes information that is specific to Middle School life. Parents and students are reminded to read the K-12 section of this handbook for other important information that also applies to Middle School students.

Upper School

This section of the handbook includes information specific to Upper School life. Parents and students are reminded to read the K-12 section of this handbook for other information that also applies to Upper School students.