November 17, 2022
December 5-11
This year, the MPA Book Festival will arrive just in time for holiday gifts or Winter Break reading! Usborne will be joining us in the Gallery during the school day with a wide range of books. Come and peruse the selection, chat with Liz, and enjoy the books on display. Valley Bookseller, a local independent bookstore, will also be represented online and via gift cards. Teacher wish lists will be available soon. Come and share the love of books and reading with all of your family. Please contact Michelle Wessely, Michelle_wessely@yahoo.com, with any questions or for more information.
We are asking for donations of books for readers of all ages (hardcover and paperbacks). Carts are located at the Upper and Lower School entrances through December 9 for convenient drop-off. Sales of these used books take place during the Book Festival and the proceeds benefit the library.
December 7 at 6 PM in the MPA Library, the MPAPA will host a book club moderated by Dr. Bill Hudson. This year’s selection is The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. “A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Bella da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation.”
Sign up for the book club here
Sign up here to volunteer here
Thank You!
The MPA PA set up a Thank You in the college counseling office last Friday in order to thank MPA Faculty who spent many hours writing college recommendation letters for our Seniors. We are so grateful for the support from our teachers and college counselors.
PA Board Meeting
Friday, November 18 at 9 AM
The next MPAPA board meeting will be open to PA members. If you’re interested in attending, email sbanksPA@moundsparkacademy.org for a zoom link and more information.
MPA at the MIA, Just a couple of tickets left…
Sunday, November 20 at 1 PM
Join other MPA families to tour the Special Exhibit, Botticelli and Renaissance Florence: Masterworks from the Uffizi. The cost of the exhibition is $20.00 for adults and free for children, and the MPAPA will be picking up the cost of the guided tour. Please email Staci at sbanksPA@moundsparkacademy.org for tickets.
MPA Parent Affinity Groups
As part of MPA’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, the MPAPA in collaboration with the Office of Equity and Belonging, will begin offering Affinity Groups for parents and caregivers of current MPA students. Parent Affinity Groups help foster a sense of belonging by providing a space to connect through shared experience and shared identity. They can also offer group members affirmation, support, and a vehicle for advocacy, especially those identities and experiences which are generally under-represented or frequently misrepresented in dominant culture and discourse.
Parents of Neurodiverse Students Affinity Group
The Neurodiverse Affinity Group conveners, US parent Stephanie Sommer and MS/LS parent Jessica Flynn, invite all parents and caregivers of neurodiverse MPA students to participate in our inaugural meeting. Our agenda for this meeting is to introduce ourselves and establish goals for our group, including meeting locations, times, and frequency. We would like to convene this first meeting at MPA prior to Winter Break. In order to accommodate as many people as possible, we ask that you email stephaniesommer@me.com to indicate your interest by December 1. Please include if you are interested in a virtual option, transportation and/or childcare for these meetings. On December 5, Stephanie will send out a survey to determine the date and time of our first meeting.
LGBTQ+ Parent Affinity Group
The LGBTQ+ Parent Affinity Group convener, US/MS/LS parent Melissa Andretta, invites all parents/caregivers who identify as LGBTQ+ or who have children who identify as LGBTQ+ to participate in our inaugural meeting. Our agenda for this meeting is to introduce ourselves and establish goals and a mission for our group. We will discuss meeting locations, times, and frequency. We would like to convene this first meeting at MPA prior to Winter Break. In order to accommodate as many people as possible, we ask that you email Melissa at garbowmelissa5@gmail.com to indicate your interest by December 1. Please include if you are interested in a virtual option, transportation and/or childcare for these meetings. On December 5, Melissa will send out a survey to determine the date and time of our first meeting.
Upcoming Staff Appreciation Events
- Thanksgiving Pie Distribution: Tuesday, November 22 in the Family Commons
- Upper School Conference snacks and dinner: Thursday, December 1
- Faculty and Staff Gift Wrapping event: Monday, December 12
