November 13, 2025
from Paul Errickson, Middle School director
As we keep rolling along with our November, we have an exciting way for our thespians and fifth and sixth grade students to end the week, as we will have the opening shows of “Dracula: A Comic Thriller!” As the show is described, “Count Dracula and his devoted Draculettes have already munched their way through most of rural Transylvania, and now they’ve set their sights on London—where every citizen looks like a midnight snack. Unless someone stops them, the whole city may soon be on the menu!”
This is our largest Middle School production to date, with 27 students in sixth through eighth grade and over 40 stage-crew members in fifth through 12th grade! Opening night is Friday, with Middle School performances this Friday (fifth and sixth grade) and next Friday (seventh and eighth grade) in the morning. The show runs this weekend and next weekend, and if our preview at yesterday’s Middle School meeting is any indication, folks will be rolling in the aisles.
Also happening this month around the Middle School is an increased focus on developing our sense of gratitude and inclusion of others. Last week, I asked our students to think about what they are grateful for, who they are grateful for, and why. I reminded them of those things we value and celebrate at MPA, such as joy, intellectual ambition, respect and integrity, effective communication, and diversity in all of its forms—race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression and identity, sexual orientation, and religion. And I asked them to consider how we can continue to thrive as a more inclusive community as we head into a new quarter, striving to learn from missteps in the first quarter. As we look to find gratitude in others, how do we look to be someone that others are grateful for?
For our eighth-grade families, please know that there are some exciting ways for you and your students to learn more about our Upper School program. Recently, Upper School director Mark Segal sent a letter with details about shadow visits for your child in the Upper School, parent meetings to learn more (including one before our winter concert on December 11), and other opportunities to learn about our amazing Upper School.
We are thrilled to be celebrating our Fall Campaign: MPA, Where Every Gift Shapes Tomorrow, next week with Give to the Max Day, Thursday, November 20. Every gift made during the Fall Campaign week directly supports our students and teachers, helping make possible the MPA experience we all cherish.
Across all three divisions, Give to the Max Day will be a spirit day where all students are encouraged to wear their MPA gear and show their Panther Pride.
Give to the Max Day will also include some fun incentives for all to participate in:
- The grade with the highest participation percentage will earn one student the chance to pie their division director in the face!
- Each division is also working toward a special incentive when they hit 60% participation.
- Lower School: Uniform Free Next Week
- Middle School: Popcorn And Lemonade During Advisory
- Upper School: Hot Chocolate Bar
- Other challenges include big unlocks at key milestones, including $10,000 at 400 donors, $20,000 at $200,000 raised, and $35,000 at $350,000.
We are so grateful for the MPA community’s incredible generosity. The impact of giving is seen every single day, in our classrooms, in our students’ growth, and in the joy that radiates throughout our hallways.
Let’s keep the momentum going and show what’s possible when our community comes together.
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, November 14: MS G5/6 Play Matinee, 8:45-10:15 AM, Black Box
- Friday, November 14: MS Play Opening Night, 7-9 PM, Black Box
- Saturday, November 15: MS Play, 2-4 PM, Black Box
- Sunday, November 16-Saturday, November 22: Fall Campaign, Learn More >
- Sunday, November 16: MS Play, 2-4 PM, Black Box
- Tuesday, November 18: Coffee & Connections with Head of School, 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
- Thursday, November 20: Give to the Max Day
- Thursday, November 20: PreK-G12 Give to the Max Day Lip Sync Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center (all are welcome!)
- Friday, November 21: G2-9 Bring a Friend to MPA Day
- Friday, November 21: MS G7/8 Play Matinee, 8:45-10:15 AM, Black Box
- Friday, November 21: MS Play, 7-9 PM, Black Box
- Saturday, November 22: MS Play, 2-4 PM, Black Box
- Tuesday, November 25: MPA Alumni Breakfast Bites, 8-8:30 AM, Family Commons
- Tuesday, November 25: A Soldier’s Sacrifice—A special Alumni & Faculty Presentation, 8:30-9:30 AM, Recital Hall, RSVP >
- Wednesday, November 26-Friday, November 28: Campus Closed, Thanksgiving Break
- Monday, December 1: Returning Family Indexed Tuition Re-Application Deadline
- Monday, December 1: Community-Wide PA Meeting, 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
- Tuesday, December 2: Fireside Chat with the Head of School, 6:30-7:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
