November 13, 2025
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Last week, I had the privilege of visiting our partner school, Vanke Meisha Academy (VMA), in Shenzhen, China. During my on-campus meetings and classroom visits, I explored both the similarities and differences in the Upper School experience at our two schools. What struck me most were the many similarities between our schools and educational systems; curiosity, resilience, collaboration, and the joy of learning were abundantly visible in both settings.
At the same time, I discovered differences in daily schedules and routines, class pacing, and curricular and extracurricular offerings. These differences are not obstacles, but rather invitations that offer us a mirror to reflect on our own practices, and an opportunity to broaden our students’ and teachers’ perspectives. A study from the Centre for Global Education shares, “international school partnerships encourage students to deepen their learning experiences through learning activities that explore global themes.”
My trip offered me a meaningful window into how our two schools can learn and connect across our cultures and reinforced the benefit of ongoing international travel and partnerships. Even though I was very tired, I returned home energized, inspired, and even more committed to deepening our school’s global engagement. My goal is to apply ideas from my recent visit and find ways for our teachers and students to collaborate on projects, classroom experiences, and cross-cultural understandings that will better prepare our students to be global citizens.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the ways in which we will build on and expand our partnership with our peers at VMA. We are planning virtual collaborations (think modern-day pen pals), continuing to host their robotics students in the spring, and are zeroing in on dates for our students to visit VMA later this summer and during spring break in 2027.
Through this partnership and these experiences, we can help students gain a global perspective that enriches their education and prepares them for a more connected world.
I look forward to seeing you on campus and sharing more about my trip with you soon.
Important Information
- If your student will be absent, late, or needs to be excused early from school, please contact the Upper School assistant, Chanda Williams, at cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org.
- Upper School quarter two conferences will take place in-person, on campus, on Thursday, December 4, from 3:30-8 PM, and Friday, December 5, from 8 AM-5 PM. As a reminder, Upper School students participate in their conferences and are required to attend. Please check athletic and activity schedules to ensure you are taking into account any potential scheduling conflicts. Information about registering for these conferences will be sent in the coming weeks, but we want to make sure that these dates are on your calendar.
- 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:
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- 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
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- 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
- Sunday, November 16-Saturday, November 22: Fall Campaign, Learn More >
- Monday, November 17: US Boys Basketball Parent Meeting, 6:15-7:15 PM, Family Commons
- 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: US Senior Speeches, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
- 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
- Wednesday, December 3: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-9 AM, Recital Hall
- Thursday, December 4: US Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
