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Lower School Division News

October 8, 2026

Big Feelings Are Information from Sarah Hong, Lower School counselor

As we establish healthy rhythms for the school year, helping children recognize, name, and express their emotions is an important part of their overall well-being. Regular conversations about feelings at home can help children feel understood, build emotional vocabulary, and strengthen their ability to navigate challenges. Encouraging healthy emotional expression teaches children that emotions are not something to avoid but something to understand and manage. Books such as Clark the Shark, When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry, and The Little Spot series are great ways to support these skills through stories and discussion.

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from James Ewer, Lower School director

Reading a book about feelings is the calm part. The harder part is the moment a feeling shows up on a school morning, or right after dinner, or at the end of a long day. In that moment, start by naming it. Say "You look disappointed" before you say anything else. A child who hears the word starts to connect it to what they feel. Then stay close. Get down to eye level and keep your voice low, because your tone tells your child that the feeling is safe to have. Resist the urge to fix it right away. Most kids cannot take in advice at the peak of a feeling. Let it settle, then talk about what to do next.

Try giving your child more precise words, too. "Mad" often covers a lot of ground. Sometimes it means frustrated. Sometimes it means embarrassed, left out, or disappointed. When your child says "mad," ask, "Is it more frustrated or more disappointed?" Two choices make it easier for young kids to answer.

It is October now. The newness has worn off. Routines are set, everyone is tired, and the big feelings that stayed quiet in September are showing up at drop-off, at dinner, and at bedtime. That is not a problem. That is information. A child who can say "I am frustrated" gives you something to work with. A child who cannot often shows you through behavior. This is why Ms. Sarah's message and the steps above matter right now. At school, we say connection before content, because a child who feels unseen has a hard time learning. The same is true at home. You do not need a perfect plan. Pick one book from her list this week and read it together. Then try one of these questions:

  • What do you think the character is feeling? How can you tell?
  • Where do you feel that in your body?
  • What helped the character feel better? What helps you?
  • Can I tell you about a time I felt that way?

Kids learn the words for big feelings from the people they trust most. Thank you for being that person.

Important News

VIP Day: As you may have recently seen, MPA will host our first-ever VIP Day (Very Important People Day) for PreK–8 students on Wednesday, October 14. This special morning is an opportunity for students to invite someone important in their lives. We are excited to welcome our VIPs to campus and give them a glimpse into their student’s experience at MPA!
 
Lower School (PreK-4)

  • 8:15-8:45 AM: Check-in and refreshments
  • 9 AM: Visit classrooms with your student
  • 11 AM: K-5th Grade music performance

Lower School students are welcome, with permission and prior notification to the division, to leave with their Grandparents or Special Friends when the performance concludes or remain at school for the rest of the day.
 
Important Registration Information  
To support our enhanced campus safety and security procedures, all participants must register in advance, including parents attending with their student.  
 
If a guest arrives without registering ahead of time, they will be required to follow MPA's standard visitor check-in process before entering campus.  Click here to RSVP!
 
Guests will be limited to four per student due to capacity and seating limits. RSVP Required by October 9, 2026.

For questions, please contact Ashley Goetzke, director of development and community engagement at agoetzke@moundsparkacademy.org.   

Opportunities To Share MPA: Community member recommendations are the most important way new families come to MPA! When a new student completes the MPA application process based on a recommendation from a current family, the current family will receive a $500 credit toward the following year's tuition. If the new student is accepted and the family enrolls, an additional $500 credit will be applied. Please contact the Office of Admission at admission@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5577 if you have any questions. 

We have some fantastic events coming up that are the perfect way to share MPA with a friend, neighbor, or family member! If you know someone who is exploring schools or is interested in MPA, please share the information below. Thank you for sharing MPA!

Bring A Friend Parent Edition: October 23, 6-8 PM

Bring a friend and get ready to make something special! Choose a favorite piece of your child’s artwork, writing, or design, and we’ll help you transform it into a one-of-a-kind shadow box keepsake using MPA’s Glowforge laser cutter. You’ll get to try something new, spend time with other parents, and experience firsthand the creative, innovative learning that happens at MPA every day. Register here by October 16!

Taste Of Ninth Grade: November 15, 2026, 11 AM-12:15 PM

Students will experience collaborative, hands-on learning while parents connect with members of the MPA community to learn more about ninth-grade, Upper School life, and the opportunities ahead. Families will enjoy lunch together before continuing on to the PreK-12 MPA Preview. Families can RSVP here!

PreK-12 MPA Preview: November 15, 2026, 12:30-2 PM

Families discover what makes MPA such a special place to learn and grow at the PreK–12 MPA Preview. They have a chance to meet school leaders, faculty, and current parents, tour campus with MPA students, and experience signature learning opportunities while getting a firsthand look at the people, programs, and spirit of the MPA community. Families can RSVP here!

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