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Middle School Division News

October 8, 2026

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Thank you, Panther families, for such a wonderful couple of weeks! It was great to see so many of you here for family conferences; I'm grateful for the time you took to sit down with your students' teachers. Those conversations are one of the best ways we have to partner with you in supporting your child.

What I Heard At Our Middle School Parent Coffee

Last week, I hosted my first Middle School Parent Coffee of the year. With nearly 20 folks in attendance, some new to MPA and many families we know well, it felt like a really good turnout to start these off for the year.

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Families asked thoughtful questions about conferences and Flex time, technology use, and how to help their children manage homework. I shared more about our Flex-pectations, tech-pectations, and Schoology-pectations, along with the enhancements we're making to our advisory program. Parents also traded advice with one another on what works at home; the "here's what works for my kid" kind of wisdom that is so valuable to hear from a fellow parent.

The best part of the morning came when one parent asked, "Can I offer the Middle School a compliment?" That launched a whole new Middle School Compliment segment of our parent coffees! I heard kudos for our improvements with Schoology and how we are helping students stay organized with their planners. Families shared that they appreciate the changes we've made with technology and the increased focus on social-emotional learning in advisory. Several also said they learned a great deal at Curriculum Night, especially about how teachers use Schoology to share feedback and information with students.

I want to thank our faculty for all of the hard work that went into these changes and thank those families who shared their feedback so openly. Your questions and ideas help us keep getting better. If you couldn't make it, I'd love to hear from you anytime.

Next week we'll host our VIP Day, and we're hoping for a great turnout! For Middle Schoolers, we host VIP’s for lunch and then walk them through a schedule that involves physical education, arts, and academic classes.  As always, the day ends with bingo in the Family Commons.

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!
 
Middle School (5-8) 

  • 10:30–11 AM: Check-in 
  • 11 AM: K-5th Grade music performance 
  • 11:40 AM: Lunch (for visitors of Middle School students) 
  • 12:15 PM: Visit classrooms with your student 
  • 2 PM: BINGO with your student 
  • 2:45 PM: Middle School event concludes 

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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