USA Today had an interesting article in their March 29th issue.  It was entitled, “Study gives teachers barely passing grade in classroom.”  It discusses a study funded by the National Institute of Health where educational researchers spent thousands of hours in more that 2,500 1st, 3rd and 5th grade classrooms, tracking students through elementary school.  They concluded that U.S. schools spend way too much time on the math and reading and not enough time on the other enriching subjects.  They also discovered that 91% of a 5th grader’s classroom time was spent in their seats listening to a teacher or working alone.  I just kept thinking that I wish these people had visited Mounds Park Academy where math and reading are well balanced with fine arts, science, social studies, world languages and PE, and where the children are constantly on the floor or dispersed around the room and hall as they are engaged in a variety of activities.  I guess our children are the lucky ones as, according to this study, “The typical child in the USA stands only a one-in-14 chance of having a consistently rich, supportive elementary school experience.”  Perhaps that means our kids are the “ones” that are receiving the rich, supportive experience.

Going along with this tradition of a rich experience, next Thursday, April 12th is the Lower School Art and Music Show.  The children have really been engaged in preparing for this big family event, so make sure that you have put it on your calendar.  The art show opens as early as 5:30 p.m., but children do not have to be in their classrooms until 6:45 p.m., so pace yourself accordingly.  Depending on the number of children in your family and the number of family members coming to the event, you want to make sure that you have enough time to see all of the artwork without ending up with too much time for your children to get squirmy.  Please make sure you stay together as a family, and if you bring siblings that they respect the evening.  It is a time for your children to shine and for them to take the lead as they bring you through their art gallery and perform in the music show for you.  It is a fine and refined evening for all of us.

Another enrichment activity is about to be launched and that is a class in Korean culture and language.  Our new Korean intern is going to begin a class for K-4 students on April 26th.  It will continue on Thursdays after school from 3:15-4:15 p.m., and there is no charge.  It will be open to the first 20 children who register.

Congratulations to our Lower School swimmers.  For the last two years, Dee Dee Stacy, a current 4th grade teacher, has been generous enough to coach an MPA swim team that participates in a qualifying and final swim meet with other private schools.  This year Kian Dahlberg (3rd grade) placed in the top 10 in both of her final events while her brother, Declan (a current 1st grader) took home a 1st and 2nd place ribbon in his two events.  Emma Stacy (a current 4th grader) came in 1st in both of her events - breaking a record in the breaststroke.  If you have swimmers in your household who might want to participate next year, just contact Ms. Stacy for more information.

You should find in your child’s backpack this evening his/her report card.  There is a report from each of the teachers that your child sees throughout the week.  Make sure to sit down and share the comments and the marks with your child so you can figure out what they are doing well and where they can still improve.  It is a wonderful time to celebrate accomplishments with your child.

Our last Lower School Parent Meeting is Thursday, April 12th, from 8:30-9:45 a.m. in the Gallery.  Come and share a cup of coffee with fellow parents, give us your suggestions for next year, sign up to be a grade rep, and be present at 9:00 a.m. for the presentation of the check from Target for all of those things you charged over the year. It should be a relaxing but enjoyable time.