Middle School Division News

September 17, 2026

from Paul Errikson, Middle School director

Welcome back, Panther families! As we move deeper into the fall, I want to use this post to focus on something that sits underneath everything else we do in Middle School: student wellness. 

Middle School is a time of enormous change—socially, emotionally, physically—and so much of our work as a faculty is about making sure students have the support, structure, and relationships they need to navigate it well. Today I want to share two ways we're leaning into that this year: an expanded advisory program, and an important note from our school counselor about an upcoming program for students. 

Growing Our Time In Advisory

One of our new initiatives this year is an expanded advisory program. Every other Wednesday during our Flex block, students will now have a dedicated advisory period—giving us more consistent time to invest in the relationships and skills that support students well beyond academics. Our faculty have been planning grade-level curriculum for these blocks centered around building a strong sense of community and belonging, developing organizational and executive functioning skills, and exploring topics like digital citizenship, leadership, resilience, friendship, and decision-making. Students will also take part in team-building activities, service opportunities, and discussions that support their social-emotional well-being. Advisory has always been a cornerstone of the middle school experience, and we're excited to give it more room to breathe this year. 

I am also excited to introduce you to Ms. Muller, our new Middle School counselor, and have her tell you about a very important program we provide for our Middle and Upper School students. 

Introducing Ms. Muller & Our SOS Program 

Hello, MPA Middle School families! It's been a great month getting to know your students here at MPA—they truly are great people. As a school counselor, I work hard to advocate for each student's well-being in our building. School counselors are versatile and adapt to each student's unique needs. Some conversations are more focused on academic help; some are focused on peer relationships and navigating those complications; some are how to handle change and big transitions, and some are focused on mental health. 

We are lucky here at MPA to partner with the University of Wisconsin – River Falls School Psychology Program to provide the evidence-based Signs of Suicide (SOS) Program. This year, SOS is offered to our seventh graders as part of a broader program that continues into ninth and 11th grade. The program is designed to help students recognize signs of depression and suicide risk and how to seek help if they are concerned about themselves or a friend. UWRF graduate students, professors, and MPA school counselors use SOS to lead age-appropriate lessons and discussions to students over the course of three days throughout September. Though our colleagues at UWRF depart after these three days, please know that your students at MPA are continuously supported by their school counselors, teachers, and all other staff and faculty throughout the year. 

Suicide, depression, and mental health in general can be very difficult topics to discuss and wrap one's head around. If you have any questions about the SOS Program, mental health advocacy and resources, or the role of a school counselor, please don't hesitate to reach out to me! The best way to reach me is via email at gmuller@moundsparkacademy.org. 

MS Quarterly Coffee | September 29 

If you would like to talk about student wellbeing, our intentional changes in technology use, other middle school initiatives for the year, or anything else, please join us for the Middle School Quarterly Coffee on Tuesday, September 29th, at 8 AM in the Martin Lenz Harrison Library 

More to come in our next Panther Post—thank you, as always, for partnering with us in caring for the whole child. 

Important Notes 

Homecoming Is Coming Soon: MPA Homecoming is scheduled for next week. There will be “wacky” dress-up days:

• Tuesday: Character Day
• Wednesday: House Day (students should wear their house colors)
• Thursday: Throw-back Day
• Friday: Homecoming t-shirt (or sports gear, if you are on a team)

On Saturday, there will be various athletic contests and fun for the whole family. Please don’t miss the opportunity to participate in these wonderful festivities.  

Save The Dates For Conferences: PreK-12 Conferences are right around the corner. They will take place on Thursday, October 1, from 10-7 PM and Friday, October 2, from 8-5 PM. New this year and based on family feedback, regular classes will not be held on either day to allow families a greater opportunity to meet with their students’ teachers. More information will be shared soon regarding signing up for conferences. For those new to the community, Middle School students are required to attend their conferences.  

A Look Ahead 

• Friday, September 18: MS G5-8 MAP Testing 
• Friday, September 18: MS G5 Osprey Wilds Trip 
• Monday, September 21: No Classes, Campus Closed, Yom Kippur 
• Tuesday, September 22-Saturday, September 26: Homecoming Week 
• Tuesday, September 22: Maker Event – Cosplay Day 1, 6:30-8:30 PM, Makerspace 
• Wednesday, September 23: CITL Distinguished Speaker Series: Sturdy Parenting and Technology: Practice Strategies to Manage This Age of Parenting, 12-1 PM, Virtual 
• Wednesday, September 23: Maker Event – Cosplay Day 2, 6:30-8:30 PM, Makerspace 
• Friday, September 25: PreK-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center 
• Friday, September 25: Hall of Fame Dinner, 5:45-7:30 PM, Family Commons 
• Saturday, September 26: Homecoming 
• Tuesday, September 29: MS G7 & New G8 SOS Depression + Suicide Screenings 
• Tuesday, September 29: MS Quarterly Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library 
• Wednesday, September 30: School Photo Retakes & Senior Sillies 
• Thursday, October 1: No Classes, PreK-12 Conferences 
• Thursday, October 1: PreK-12 Conferences, 10 AM-7 PM 
• Friday, October 2: No Classes, PreK-12 Conferences 
• Friday, October 2: PreK-12 Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM 
• Monday, October 5: Let Freedom Read Day, 9-9:30 AM 
• Monday, October 5-Friday, October 9: Banned Book Week 
• Thursday, October 8: All School PA Meeting, 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library 
• Thursday, October 8: MPA Vaccination Clinic, 2:45-4:30 PM, Gallery