Mounds Park Academy

October 7, 2025

We asked board members how long their family has been at MPA, the names and grades of their children, one of their favorite MPA traditions, and if they could swap with their kid for one day at MPA, what they would look forward to the most. Keep an eye out for more board member bios next month!

Jasmin Stees | Co-President & Middle School Division Lead

Hi everyone, my name is Jasmin Stees, and this is my second year serving as the co-president and Middle School division lead on the Parents Association Board. This is my family’s fifth year at MPA, and I have two children in the school—Pierson, who is in seventh grade, and Teddy, who is in PreK. One of my favorite MPA traditions is getting to attend all of the wonderful choral and instrumental concerts. Whether it is the Lower School Art and Music Show or the combined Middle and Upper School Band Concert, the music program is simply outstanding!

If I could swap places with one of my kids for the day, I would pick a day in the PreK classroom. I would look forward to all of the fun, hands-on learning projects like baking break or taking a turn to pick some fresh produce in the PreK garden. Read More

Growing Global Citizens

September 26, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the September 27, 2025 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

MPA nurtures dreamers, doers, and right-makers with academic knowledge that will propel them forward as change agents in the world. Our students embrace the responsibility of being global citizens by advocating for social justice, caring for the welfare of others, and promoting human equality, among other pillars rooted in respect.

“Right-making is a seed that is planted in each student and cultivated as they journey through MPA. Not only do we teach character traits like inclusiveness and integrity, we promote a do-right attitude through our actions and words while we learn and grow together. This inspires us to dream big and impact others positively at home and in the world,” Kristine Petersen, MPA Kindergarten teacher, says about global citizenship. Read More

RSVP To Experience MPA On November 9

September 26, 2025

Discover something remarkable at the PreK-12 MPA Preview on Sunday, November 9, 12:30-2 PM!

MPA Previews are signature PreK-12 events designed to introduce you to the faculty, students, and families who make MPA the exceptional learning community that it is. These events are for family members of all ages to attend together.

You’ll hear from a variety of perspectives, be engaged in conversation with academic leaders, participate in experiences led by expert teachers, explore our signature spaces, and leave with a much better understanding of the MPA way.

The Taste Of Ninth Grade

Prospective ninth graders, you’re invited to the Taste of Ninth Grade immediately preceding the Preview at 11 AM. Join us for lunch and the opportunity to learn more about MPA’s ninth-grade program. Students will engage in a hands-on, collaborative activity while parents participate in a Q&A about life in MPA’s Upper School. When this event concludes, students and families will then join the PreK-12 Preview event.

RSVP today to experience the joy and discover why Mounds Park Academy is an exceptional place to learn and grow.

School Spirit Is Everywhere

September 25, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

On Monday morning, I made my usual right turn from Beebe Road onto the school grounds. Seeing “We. Are. MPA.,” not only brought a smile to my face but also evoked an incredible sense of school pride. I must admit, I was caught by surprise. As a new member of the MPA community, it’s a magical experience to feel school spirit. In so many ways it felt like I was arriving home.

I do not take school spirit for granted. It doesn’t magically appear. Rather, school spirit is the energy that grows from the pride, traditions, and shared experiences left in the form of memories and artifacts from years past, and the voices and actions of those who currently move throughout the campus.

I frequently turn to my Responsive Classroom training and seek to define experiences and goals by asking: What does it look like, sound like, and feel like?

This week, school spirit looks like our students wearing themed clothing and hallways decorated with streamers and colorful posters throughout the building. School spirit sounds like our teams clapping and cheering for our Lower and Middle School students during arrival and standing in the hallway, eagerly planning for an upcoming debate tournament. School spirit feels like the surge of warmth that fills my cheeks with joy when I see students across divisions learning a school chant or reading books—together. And it’s not exclusively created by our students. I see it in the ways our faculty and staff create spaces that foster curiosity. I hear it when a family member says “I love you” to their student at the classroom door. I feel it when someone takes a minute to share with me a special moment they had learning from their colleague. Read More

Parents Association News And Events September 25, 2025

September 25, 2025

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to donate a perishable snack to nourish our faculty during autumn conferences in early October. New items have been added to supplement the dinner we will provide faculty. Your generosity is appreciated!

As you finalize your family’s conference schedule, please consider volunteering to help set up or clean up for the conference dinner on Thursday, October 9, and/or keep our snacks replenished during the day on Friday, October 10. Guidance will be provided, and it only takes a few minutes to refill items and tidy up. Thank you MPA parents and caregivers for your hospitality!

SEPTEMBER GRADE-LEVEL SOCIAL GATHERINGS
Hosted by MPA PA Grade Reps

On-Campus

PreK families are invited to attend Homecoming festivities together on Saturday, September 27. We will meet on the playground from 9-10 AM for coffee, treats, and playtime. We will then walk over to the family-friendly Homecoming activities that will include face painting, bounce houses, and Touch a Truck.

Off-Campus

Grade 2 families are gathering on Sunday, September 28 from 9-11 AM at Madison’s Place Playground in Woodbury.
Grade 7 families are invited to attend an off campus gathering on Saturday, September 27. We will meet at the pavilion at West Park in White Bear Lake for some food, visiting with other families, games, and beach time.

Details For Fall 2025 Conferences

September 24, 2025

Dear MPA Families,

Fall Conferences will take place in person, on campus, on Thursday, October 9 from 3:30-8 PM, and Friday, October 10 from 8 AM-5 PM (no classes for students). All MPA families may schedule to meet with up to four of their student’s teachers.

LOWER SCHOOL FAMILIES
Lower School homeroom teachers will offer 25-minute conferences. Specialist conferences may be scheduled for 10 minutes per student. Families who would like to discuss more than one child with their specialist teacher(s) should set up separate conference times for each child. Families will have a chance to meet all specialists over the course of the Fall and Winter conferences. Please see the designation for sign-up for Fall Conferences below:

PreK: Music and PE
K-1: Music, PE, Art
Grades 2-4: World Languages, Drama, Technology

MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL FAMILIES
Middle School and Upper School students participate in their conferences and are required to attend. Please check athletic and activity schedules before signing up. If you need private time without the student in attendance, please indicate this at the beginning of the conference. All conferences should be scheduled during conference times slotted.

Building Belonging: Routines For Joyful Learning

September 22, 2025

The start of the school year brings fresh routines, expectations, and environments for students of all ages. At Mounds Park Academy, teachers take thoughtful, research-based steps to help learners acclimate and thrive—both as individuals and as a community.

We connected with Ms. Tami Fisher, second-grade teacher, about the intentional routines, language, and classroom structures she uses to create a joyful, respectful, and engaged learning environment in these first critical weeks. The benefit of these intentional routines is that they support both students and the classroom community, fostering responsibility and a positive atmosphere.

How do you set the tone at the beginning of the year so that students know what classroom routines and habits are expected while also being engaged learners?

We use the guiding principles and practices of “Responsive Classroom,” a research- and evidence- based teaching approach. Creating community and incorporating student voices are key. In the first weeks of school, we are doing a lot of “looks like, sounds like, feels like” Y-charts. In terms of the classroom routines and expectations, I like to start with the ‘feels like’ aspect, as that helps us identify what we want and need to see and hear in order to make sure our spaces feel the way we want. We look at routines and materials with intention, never assuming we all know how to use them. We use guided discoveries and modeling as we review available classroom tools: what do we notice about them, how can we use them, how they help us learn, and how we care for them. Read More

Lower School Division News September 18, 2025

September 18, 2025

from James Ewer, Lower School director

We’re settling into the school year, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the energy and spirit your littles bring each day. As we move deeper into our routines, I’ve noticed three powerful things unfolding across our community:

First, students are rising to the challenge of increased academic rigor. They’re stretching their thinking, leaning into harder problems, and showing persistence when learning feels tough. The growth mindset on display is inspiring.

Second, friendship is alive and well. Whether it’s a kind word on the playground, a helping hand in the Family Commons, or laughs shared in the hallways, our students are actively building an inclusive community where every child belongs.

And third, our teachers are doing the same—collaborating and sharing their expertise with one another across grades and departments. This spirit of collective growth not only strengthens our team but also ensures your children are learning in a place where creativity, care, and excellence thrive side by side.

Middle School Division News September 18, 2025

September 18, 2025

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

As we make our way through September, the routine of school has started to settle in. Students are learning how to manage their homework and take on assessments and projects in their classes. Habits such as writing assignments in our planners and checking in on Schoology for things that might be missing start to be developed and reinforced. And, our faculty and our students are starting to get to know each other much, much better.

One of the best ways we do that in the Middle School is through our fall orientation trips. For our fifth-, sixth-, and eighth-grade students, three nights away at an environmental/outdoor education center is part of the fall routine. Just yesterday, I helped to load our fifth graders and all of their stuff, including their teachers, onto a bus as they headed out to Osprey Wilds. These trips are an essential way for us to get to know our students, and for them to get to know their peers and their teachers on a whole new level. Sharing meals and bunkrooms together helps to create bonds that are more challenging and take much longer to form here at school. Supporting a classmate (or teacher) as they navigate their own fears—be it up on a ropes course or getting really close to a porcupine—gives them even more to bond over and gives us invaluable examples of learning outside our comfort zones.

One of the ways in which our parents have gotten to know us better is through all of the events and programs that we offer in the fall. We loved welcoming you to campus for Back To School Night in August, and we were thrilled to have so many return to school during our Curriculum Night event the other week. With nearly 70% of our students represented by someone from their household, our faculty felt honored to share their classrooms with folks as they walked through their child’s schedule. We also greatly appreciate all the feedback and helpful suggestions for next year. Read More

Upper School Division News September 18, 2025

September 18, 2025

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

In today’s world, whether on the sidelines of a game, in the carpool line, or online via email or text, it can feel easier to share frustrations with a friend than to address the concern directly with the person involved. Yet one of the most valuable lessons we can model for our children is the importance of speaking to someone rather than about them. Direct, respectful communication not only strengthens relationships but also builds the foundation of trust, collaboration, accountability, and a sought-after partnership in our school community.

Research consistently shows the power of this practice. A study in the “Journal of Social and Personal Relationships” found that indirect communication, such as gossip or side conversations, often intensifies conflict instead of resolving it. Popular psychologist Dr. Brené Brown shares, “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” This is a practice that we at MPA are working on as we realize that speaking openly, even when uncomfortable, shows respect and creates space for genuine understanding.

This lesson is especially important for upper school students, who are still developing the social and emotional skills they will carry into adulthood. A study in the “Journal of Adolescent Development” found that teenagers who practice direct communication with peers and adults demonstrate higher emotional intelligence and better conflict resolution skills. When students see adults model this behavior, they are more likely to approach challenges with courage, compassion, and problem-solving rather than avoidance or blame. Read More