Mounds Park Academy

April 1, 2021

The Soma Family lives in North Oaks, MN, and have a first grade daughter.

What do you love about MPA?

We love that character education is as much a part of the curriculum as traditional learning, from PreK through Grade 12. MPA has a clear mission and seems to base all of its decisions on that mission. The academics are top notch but learning feels effortless because my child is having so much fun and feels supported in the classroom.

What initially attracted you to MPA? Do your same needs/desires hold true today?

We were attracted by how friendly and welcoming the MPA community is. From the first day we interviewed, it felt like home. I have always had the feeling that if I had a problem or concern, I could express that freely and that it would be openly received. Read More

Senior Service Contributes To The Memory Project For Fifth Year

March 30, 2021

MPA senior Emma Cohen created portraits for The Memory Project for her Senior Service Project. The Memory Project is a nonprofit organization that connects artists with children throughout the world, who then get sent their portraits after completion. Her portraits specifically will be sent to children in Cameroon. This is MPA’s fifth year collaborating with The Memory Project!

Every year, the Senior Service Project is an opportunity for MPA students to use their voices and skills, propose, and carry out a service project with an organization or for a cause they are passionate about. All students submit a proposal, complete a minimum of 30 hours of service work, keep a record or journal of experiences, and prepare an exhibit or presentation based on their experience.

Meet David Slade ’01

March 26, 2021

What are you currently doing, professionally and/or personally?

I am currently an assistant professor of Infectious Diseases at Loyola University Medical Center in the Chicago area. The COVID-19 pandemic has been central to our efforts over this past year, and we have been working hard to stay abreast of the latest treatment options and infection control measures. I have a background in law and my academic interest is primarily in that of health care policy. My hobbies these days are cycling, running, learning Italian, and cooking.

How did you get there? Where did you attend college? Are there some career moves or other key experiences or relationships that have inspired you?

I attending college at the University of St. Thomas, and enrolled in the MD/JD program at Southern Illinois University after college. I’ve had the chance along the way to learn about many fascinating aspects of law, health policy, and bioethics. During training, I completed an internship at the National Institutes of Health in health policy which inspired me and has continued to define my career interests in this area. Read More

All Are Welcome On MPA’s Sailing Team

March 25, 2021

by Samantha Forgosh ’22, team captain

Would you like to have a snowball fight on open water, or race across a lake to the nearest ice cream shop? You can do all of that, and so much more on the MPA sailing team! Here at MPA, we offer 7-12 graders a one-of-a-kind opportunity as both a fall and a spring sport. Through White Bear Sailing School, students compete for MPA at the city, state (and often national!) level as a sailor. No experience is necessary, and boats and coaching is provided.

Sailing is certainly a group effort. You will sail 420s, each with a skipper and a crew, and compete against other schools in regattas. Since MPA practices with Mounds View, Hill Murray, White Bear, and Mahtomedi, you’re bound to make friends with those you end up competing against. Read More

Save The Date For Book Festival!

March 25, 2021

Save the date to join us for the annual treasured Virtual Book Festival!

Mark your calendar for Monday, April 19 through Saturday, May 1 to encourage the love of reading and to support local bookstores, MPA teachers, classrooms, and the library. Books will be available for purchase from two local booksellers, Usborne Books and Valley Bookseller. Our theme this year is Earth Day, which occurs during Book Festival on April 22. There will also be opportunities to participate in book and Earth-related fun activities, including story times and prize giveaways!

If you have any questions about this year’s Virtual Book Festival, please contact Michelle Mick at michelle_wessely@yahoo.com.

Join Us For Lower School Virtual Family Engineering Night

March 25, 2021

Are you ready for some science fun? Join us for our awesome MPA Lower School Virtual Family Engineering Night with The Works Museum! Best of all, our flexible projects will be done with a variety of materials you easily find at home!

Join us Thursday, April 8 from 6-8 PM!

6-7 PM Build a two to three-step Rube Goldberg Contraption/Marble Run
7-8 PM Create Working Paper Machines

Materials suggestions and items to gather:

Rube Goldberg/Marble Run: small ball (marble, superball, ping pong ball), cardboard tubes, tape, markers, boxes, paper, small toys, imagination.
Paper Machines: scissors, cardboard boxes (shipping, cereal, facial), household paper (printer, construction, grocery bag), tape, glue, hole punch or pencil, imagination.

Join via Zoom >

To request a materials bag, call (651) 748-5571 by April 6 and it will be sent home with your student. Contact Russ Purdy at (651) 748-5571 or rpurdy@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions.

March 25, 2021

Upper School Grandparents and Special Friends is Wednesday, April 28! Although campus is still closed to outside visitors, that won’t stop us from connecting with the people we hold near and dear to us! We have some fun things in store leading up to the “event”. Just one example, a card writing activity wherein your student will write to their grandparent or special friend to share their reasons why this person is so special to them. The cards will then be mailed upon completion!

To register, please provide the name(s) of the grandparent or special friend along with their address, email, and an uploaded photo of your student with the person(s) you register! The uploaded photo(s) can be emailed to agerstner@moundsparkacademy.org. Registration ends Friday, April 23! Click here to register.

Thank you for participating in this year’s Virtual Grandparents and Special Friends Day!

Registration For Spring Auction Bidding Is Open!

March 25, 2021

Registration for bidding is now open for the MPA Virtual Spring Auction: The Best is Yet to Come! Bidding opens on April 14. The Spring Auction is an annual, fun-filled opportunity for the community to celebrate everything we’ve accomplished together this year, and all of the continued joy just around the corner. Register today!

Don’t miss your chance to purchase a Golden Ticket! Back by popular demand, we are thrilled to offer our Golden Ticket raffle again this year! Ticket holders purchase a 1 in 100 opportunity to win the Live Auction item of their choice. The drawing will be held during our live MPA Virtual Spring Auction: The Best is Yet to Come on Friday, April 16 at 6:30 PM. Purchase and win a dream package for just $150 per ticket. Thank you for your support!

Finding Solace In A Challenging Week

March 25, 2021

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I’m particularly thankful to have our students back on campus this week. The positive energy radiating from their return has uplifted our entire community and helped us find joy in an otherwise tragic week of national headlines. From Atlanta, to Philadelphia, to Boulder, gun violence and hate have dominated the news and taken the lives of far too many, while altering the lives of countless more.

Though much is still being uncovered about each of these devastating events, I’d like to share my thoughts on the broader narrative that has emerged from the March 16 Atlanta area spa shootings. At the time of this writing, these shootings have not officially been designated a hate crime, but the fact that six of the eight victims were Asian Americans brings up an important point that all of us must reckon with: egged on by the dangerous, false ideals of white supremacy, anti-Asian hate is far more prevalent than many have previously acknowledged.

I’d like to pause here and affirm that MPA firmly stands with our Asian, Asian American, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander students, parents, alumni, and community members. We wholeheartedly condemn anti-Asian racism, hate, and violence in all forms. To our international students from China and South Korea, we value the experiences and perspectives that you bring to our community and we recognize the particular challenges you have faced throughout the pandemic. Read More

MPA Transportation Options in 2021-2022

March 24, 2021

MPA is excited to announce additions to the 2021-22 transportation options! Ridership pending, families from five Twin Cities communities will be able to take advantage of this safe and reliable way for students to get to and from school. MPA provides extra care, especially for younger students, to ensure that every student boards the correct bus safely. MPA plans to offer bus transportation with group stops to St. Paul (Highland Park/Mac-Groveland neighborhoods), North Oaks/Roseville (with a possible bus stop in the North Oaks neighborhood of Rapp Farms), Woodbury, Stillwater/Lakeland and Southwest Minneapolis. In addition, families living within the bounds of North St. Paul, Oakdale, Maplewood can sign up with District 622 to arrange transportation.