September 28, 2023
from Bill Hudson, head of school
The energy in the building has been ramping up all week as we celebrate Homecoming. Students have been enjoying a series of special events, coloring contests, themed dress-up days, and assemblies. In many schools, this is associated with a Friday night football game and alumni events. At MPA, Homecoming is for everyone and is a week-long celebration of affinity for the school that includes all members of the school community—students in grades PreK-12, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends.
For many students, MPA is a second home to them. Throughout the fall, I invite seniors to have lunch with me in small groups of 10-12. Over lunch, I ask the seniors to share their “MPA Moment,” an experience that encapsulates the essence of MPA. Inevitably, they talk about the sense of family they feel, the strong relationships they have with their teachers, and how much they belong at MPA.
Many years ago, I read the book, “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community” by Robert Putnam. The title may seem strange but bowling alone serves as a metaphor for the loss of community in American society. In the 1990’s and 1980’s, bowling was the fastest-growing sport in the United States, all the while participation in bowling leagues dropped precipitously. Putnam found that fewer people are participating in social clubs, attending church, and even having dinner together as a family.
The decline of community at the end of the 20th century has only worsened over the last 20 years. According to Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, “Approximately half of U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness, with some of the highest rates among young adults.” The surgeon general recently released a report, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community,” in which he provides research on the harmful effects of loneliness. “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death.” Over the last two decades, there has been an “increase of 24 hours per month Americans spent alone. At the same time, social participation across several types of relationships has steadily declined.”
The antidote to the pandemic of loneliness is social connectivity, and schools play an important role in fostering connection and community. In homeroom, advisory groups, and classrooms across grade levels, MPA students come to know one another and their teachers quite well. School-wide events like Homecoming, the Upper School Monday Meeting, clubs and sports teams, and cross-grade-level pairing assemblies, just to name a few, build community and create a shared identity. Our students recognize and value the strong, positive school culture of MPA. For instance, a survey of all Upper School students last year found that the vast majority of students reported high levels of belonging and feeling safe at school.
For adults, volunteering is a remedy for loneliness. MPA parents are always welcome at school, and there are many ways to be involved, including the Parents Association, mystery readers in Lower School, grade-level gatherings, and many more. For instance, I partnered with the Parents Association to offer an MPA book club for parents. This summer, a group of parents gathered with me in the backyard of a Middle School parent’s home overlooking White Bear Lake to discuss “The House in the Cerulean Sea” over hors d’oeuvres and adult beverages.
I encourage you to consider participating in Homecoming this year. You are invited to attend the Homecoming Assembly for grades 3-12 Friday afternoon in the Lansing Sports Center. Saturday is a day full of special events and sporting competitions for students of all grade levels and their parents. Some volunteer opportunities are still available. Our Homecoming theme this year is “Wild with Panther Pride,” and I invite you to revel in the sense of community at MPA and help us all overcome a pandemic of loneliness.
