September 4, 2025
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, September 5: Ice Cream Social, 3-4 PM, South Lawn
- Wednesday, September 10: US Class of 2026 College Counseling Parent Info Meeting, 12-1 PM, Virtual
- Wednesday, September 10: US G11 College Counseling Family Info Night, 6:30-8 PM, Recital Hall
- Monday, September 15: Returning Family Indexed Tuition Applications Open (Deadline December 1)
- Monday, September 15: MS/US G7-12 Spring Musical Lead Character Auditions, 3:30-5 PM, Black Box
- Tuesday, September 16: MPA PA Grade Rep Meeting, 8-9 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
- Tuesday, September 16: US G9 and New G10 SOS Depression + Suicide Screenings, 8 AM-3 PM
- Tuesday, September 16: MS/US G7-12 Spring Musical Lead Character Auditions, 3:30-5 PM, Black Box
- Wednesday, September 17: US G11 and New G12 SOS Depression + Suicide Screenings, 8 AM-3 PM
- Thursday, September 18: MS/US International Program Welcome Social Event, 3:30-5 PM, Benz Courtyard
- Friday, September 19: US Senior Retreat, 8 AM-4:30 PM, YMCA Camp St. Croix
- Friday, September 19: US Senior Retreat Dinner, 4:30-6 PM, Family Commons
- Sunday, September 21: MPA at the Twins, 1:10-3:30 PM, Target Field
- Monday, September 22-Saturday, September 27: Homecoming Week
- Thursday, September 25: ISACS Parent Series Webinar, 6:30 PM
It was tremendous to see so many Upper School parents and guardians at the Upper School Curriculum Night earlier this week. Your engagement, enthusiasm, and genuine excitement about being part of the MPA community and the year ahead created an atmosphere of collaboration and commitment that truly embodies the MPA spirit. Your presence and participation set a positive tone for the 2025-26 school year.
As we begin a new academic year, it is important to understand the psychological and educational benefits of embracing fresh starts. Research from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School shares that “temporal landmarks” like the beginning of a new school year create natural opportunities for what researchers call the “fresh start effect.” This phenomenon shows that people are more likely to engage in aspirational behavior and pursue their goals following these temporal landmarks, making the beginning of the school year an optimal time for setting new intentions, goals, and patterns.
The Journal of Educational Psychology found that students who approach each new school year with a growth mindset demonstrate higher levels of academic achievement and resilience. The Journal’s research, conducted over several universities, indicates that “students who view the new academic year as a genuine opportunity for a fresh start are more likely to engage actively in their own learning process and overcome prior academic challenges.”
The power of a fresh start extends beyond individual student success to impact an entire educational community. Recent studies from the Harvard School of Education highlight that “when schools actively promote the concept of new beginnings, it creates a more inclusive and supportive environment for students to learn and feel as though they belong.” This institutional versus individual approach helps reduce the memory of past academic struggles and promotes a culture where all students feel capable of achieving their full potential, regardless of their previous experiences.
As we welcome this new school year together, I encourage all members of the MPA Upper School community (students, parents, guardians, and educators) to embrace this opportunity for a fresh start. Let’s strive to leave behind any of our past academic challenges or concerns and focus on the tremendous possibilities that lie ahead. Remember, every new beginning offers a chance to refine goals, establish positive routines and habits, and create the foundation for academic and social success.
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.
- Class of 2026 reminder: Please remember to complete the online form with your student’s name on their graduation diploma. The deadline is Friday, September 5. Please reach out to Mark Segal at msegal@moundsparkacademy.org should you have questions.
- As we work to teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend, Mounds Park Academy is offering depression screening and suicide prevention training to all MPA ninth and 11th graders, and new 10th and 12th grade students on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 16 and 17, as part of the SOS Signs of Suicide Program. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help. SOS has been used by thousands of schools for over 20 years. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts. Information was shared last week with the families of students involved in this education and screening. Should you have questions, please reach out to Upper School assistant director Jay Dean at jdean@moundsparkacademy.org or school counselor Ashley Cooper at acooper@moundsparkacademy.org.
- MPA Homecoming is scheduled for the week of September 22-27. There will be “wacky” dress-up days, an all-school Homecoming assembly (Friday afternoon), a special free BBQ for Upper School students on Friday, various athletic contests on Saturday, and the annual on-campus Homecoming Dance Saturday night. Please don’t miss the opportunity to participate in the wonderful festivities. More information can be found here.
- All school fall conferences are right around the corner. They will take place 3:30-8 PM on Thursday, October 9, and from 8 AM-5 PM on Friday, October 10. More information will be shared toward the end of the month regarding signing up for conferences, but for those new to the community, Upper School students participate in their conferences and are required to attend.
