Mounds Park Academy

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.

MPA Nordic Ski State Meet Results

March 22, 2021

Congratulations to MPA’s four Nordic Ski state qualifiers on their fantastic performances earlier this month at the MSHSL Nordic Ski Championships at Giant’s Ridge in Biwabik!

On the girls’ side, sophomore Margo Nightingale exceeded even her wildest expectations, finishing as the state runner up in 24:18.7, just 25.3 seconds behind the winner, and earning all-state honors. This was Margo’s fourth trip to state in four years and her highest finish ever. “My race went really well,” says Margo. “I was very happy with how I skied. My favorite part about competing for MPA is that everyone around me is extremely supportive.” Read More

Don’t Miss Your Chance To Win!

March 16, 2021

This year’s MPA Spring Auction: The Best is Yet to Come has gone virtual! There are multiple ways to get involved and join in the excitement. It could be your chance to win a live auction item by purchasing a Golden Ticket. There are only 100 that will be sold so be sure to get yours today. Enjoy a meal at home and fun swag with your family the night of the event prepared by our very own, Chef Doug with one of our many sponsorship opportunities.

We are still accepting items for our silent auction. The silent auction offers a wide range of exciting experiences and items, be sure to check out the wish list for ways you could contribute.

The Spring Auction is a highlight event every year for the community and we know this year will not disappoint. Join us on April 16 via Zoom to see student performances, a special message from Dr. Hudson, and so much more!

Contact Jennifer Rogers-Petitt at jrogers@moundsparkacademy.org with questions or your donation information.

MPA Alumni Award: Nominations Due April 1

March 16, 2021

The Alumni Association is looking for nominees for the MPA Alumni Association Award. Do you know an alum who is dreaming big and doing right? We want to hear about them. The MPA Alumni Association Award is intended to honor alumni of outstanding talent pursuing their own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations, while embracing the spirit of MPA’s commitment to community and social outreach. They should be real-world examples for both current students and alumni to dream big and do right. Nominations are due April 1, 2021.

Please include the nominee’s name, email, and a brief explanation of why you believe they should receive the MPA Alumni Association Award (250 words or less). Send all nominations to alumni@moundsparkacademy.org.

MPA Math League Ties For Second At State

March 15, 2021

Congratulations to the MPA Math League Team! MPA finished in a tie for second in the state with Mahtomedi in Class AA at the Math League State Tournament.

MPA’s top individual scorer was senior Sean Park, who earned a perfect score of 14. Junior Amy Xiang earned 12 points in her events, including a perfect score in the geometry event. Junior Leo Yu earned eight points, senior Amit Manicka earned six points, senior Lareina Gu and freshman Ella Li both earned four points. Sophomore Anthony Troullier earned three points. Senior Steve Min earned one point. Steve also contributed a couple of answers (worth eight points) in the team round. The team earned 16 points in the team round total.

Congratulations to the team, which adapted so well to doing Math League online, and performed so consistently all season!

MPA Shines At NSDA National Speech & Debate Tournament Qualifier

March 15, 2021

This past weekend, MPA competed at the NSDA National Speech and Debate Tournament Qualifier. MPA advanced the following two students to the semifinal round: senior Ryan Ghose in Humorous and Drama, and senior Hana Miller in Humorous and POI! Additionally, senior Salmah Elmasry qualified for the National Tournament in Extemp Speaking! MPA has one of the hardest districts to qualify out of, and Salmah advanced through most of the tournament as the #1 seed, ending in third.

We are so proud of these teams! NSDA is very difficult to qualify to, and these exciting results are on top of the seven students MPA has qualified to a separate national tournament, NIETOC. Let’s go Panthers!

Meet Beth Larson ’08

March 10, 2021

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

I am a doctoral student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Population, Family and Reproductive Health Department. My research interests include the use of normative approaches to understand family planning use and how social norms affect people’s decision-making around family planning internationally, and with a focus on Francophone West Africa. I aim to base my work in reproductive justice, which represents the right of a person to have the autonomy to decide to have children, to not have children, and to parent children in a safe and supportive environment.

Outside of school, I work on several projects, including Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA), a large-scale international mobile phone-based survey on key sexual and reproductive health indicators. I also participate on a research project based out of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Health that aims to understand how to increase womens’ voices to ensure the ethical provision of family planning care to women in Francophone West Africa.

I also play on numerous tennis and softball teams throughout the year, volunteer as an escort at Planned Parenthood, have been providing emergency food relief to people in my community since the start of COVID, and, of course, strive to be the best dog mamma possible to my dog Sasha. Read More

10 Amazing (And Included) Features Of MPA’s International Student Program

March 9, 2021

MPA’s international program welcomes students in grades 7-12 from a number of countries and backgrounds. Here are 10 things to love about the international program at MPA:

1. International Student Program Coordinator Mr. Becker-Kim: MPA has a dedicated International Student Program Coordinator, Cory Becker-Kim who serves as an advisor, teacher, and confidant to all international students on a daily basis, and regularly monitors their academic achievement. Given MPA’s emphasis on public speaking, college preparatory writing, and higher Lexile level reading, students work through the challenging coursework in one-on-one or in small groups with Mr. Becker-Kim throughout the entire duration of their MPA experience.

2. Advanced language and culture (AL&C) Course: Taught by Mr. Becker-Kim, Advanced language and culture (AL&C) course, with a 6:1 student to teacher ratio for all international students, is built into the curriculum as a World Language credit towards graduation. First-year international students are enrolled in AL&C to help with the cultural transition to an American high school, to discuss important social and historical events of the United States and learn the nuances of strong academic English and vocabulary to achieve fluency. Click here for the Advanced language and culture (AL&C) course description.

3. College Application Support: For juniors and seniors, MPA dedicates significant time and resources to helping international students with college applications, particularly with primary college application essays and supplemental writing essays.

4. Social and Emotional Support: All international students have the International Student Program Coordinator available to help them navigate homesickness, friendships, social situations and events, stress, and culture shock. When needed, the International Student Program Coordinator works closely with the School Counselor and/or Director of Guidance to be sure the student is as happy and healthy as possible during their time at MPA. Support includes connecting international students to domestic students, faculty and administration, and co-curricular activities.

5. New International Student Orientation: This involves one-on-one meetings with the Director of Guidance to create class schedule, acclimation to classroom and school culture, laptop orientation, plagiarism discussion, school supply shopping, sight-seeing in the Twin Cities, student networking opportunities, team building activities, and more.

6. Transition Assistance: For both students coming into our community for the first time, and to assist returning students in forming connections within the school and the Twin Cities, MPA provides transition assistance in order to make an international students transition, or transition back as smooth as possible.

7. Daily Hot Lunch: Served with culturally and religiously sensitive options, daily hot lunch is delicious and unlimited!

8. Quarterly Events: Throughout the school year and the summer, MPA’s international program hosts joyful events, on and off campus, to help support new and returning students.

9. Host Family Selection, Acclimation and Support: International host families are carefully recruited, selected and vetted to ensure the highest quality experience for our students. The International Student Program Coordinator works closely with students and their host families to ensure that the home is a safe, welcoming, happy environment for all. Quarterly home visits, one-on-one check-ins with students and host families, communication with natural parents, and student/host family events are all ways that the Program Coordinator works with host families and students to build routine, communication, and a supportive experience.

10. Translation Services: MPA provides translation services for international student and/or parents. This includes both in person conversations and documentation translation for Visa and immigration support.