Mounds Park Academy

January 16, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As I prepare to step away from my role as head of school at Mounds Park Academy at the end of this school year, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey this community has taken together. It has been my deepest honor to serve this extraordinary school, to walk alongside students, faculty, and families who inspire me every day with their strength, compassion, and determination.

When the Board of Trustees kindly asked how they might celebrate my tenure, my thoughts turned not to recognition but to the students who represent the heart of MPA’s mission. It is in their stories—of resilience, courage, and triumph over adversity—that I have found my greatest
fulfillment. Warren Buffet once said, “Tell me who your heroes are, and I’ll tell you how you’re going to turn out.” Truly, students are my heroes, and I am incredibly grateful that the board knew me well enough to establish and work with me to initiate the Hudson Fund for Resilient Students.

This endowed fund embodies our shared commitment to ensuring that every student, regardless of the challenges they face, has the opportunity to thrive at MPA. Whether overcoming personal, academic, or socio-economic barriers, these students exemplify the values we hold dear: perseverance, dedication, and the belief that education has the power to transform lives. Read More

Five Things To Know About MPA From Hadley R.

January 15, 2025

What makes your MPA experience unique to you? How do you find a home at MPA?

We’re excited to launch this new series, in which we’ll share what’s special about our school through the eyes of our community, from cherished traditions to memorable classes and projects. Middle School student Hadley shares her top five things to know about MPA!

1. We have no-cut athletics.

I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I was able to play with the varsity team at the Target Center!

2. There’s a variety of fine arts.

This year, I loved building the set for “The Odyssey” in Theatre III class!

3. The i-Term experience.

I’ve done the Survivor i-Term and New York i-Term. It’s such a fun experience to have with my friends and make new ones along the way!

4. We have an annual Hour of Code week.

I get to learn coding in different settings and ways.

5. We have an amazing Middle School band.

I love playing the trumpet and learning more about the instrument!

The Remarkable Value Of An MPA Education

January 9, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we approach the midpoint of this academic year, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for entrusting us with your child’s education. Returning to school after a long break can be tough for anyone, especially our students, but it was wonderful to see the excitement and joy on the faces of our students on Monday. The privilege of partnering with you to nurture, challenge, and inspire your children is one that I cherish deeply. Today, I invite you to reflect on the extraordinary value of a Mounds Park Academy education and the enduring impact it has on our students, families, and community.

Although we are in the depth of winter, we are already hard at work planning for the 2025-2026 school year. Our outstanding admission team is hard at work fielding inquiries from prospective families and guiding them toward enrollment. In just a few weeks, we will begin the re-enrollment process for returning families. At their January 27 meeting, the MPA Board of Trustees will approve a preliminary budget for the upcoming school year by setting tuition and determining compensation for faculty and staff. This is a challenging task because the decision is made on an enrollment forecast of both new and returning students. However, it is important for parents and guardians to know tuition before re-enrolling, which allows the school to offer work agreements to teachers before spring break. Read More

MPA Experiences At The January 26 Preview

January 9, 2025

We’re thrilled to offer six MPA experiences at the PreK-12 MPA Preview on January 26, 2025! These are formatted for your family to completely customize your time at the event and take part in the hands-on, joyful learning MPA students do every day. In this casual format, you can explore as many sessions as you’d like and switch to a different one at any time. As you explore our classrooms, interact with students and faculty, and experience firsthand our approach to learning, you’ll discover what makes MPA a spectacular place to learn and grow.

Lower School Homeroom Teacher Meet & Connect | Recommended for Lower School
Meet our Lower School teachers! Stop into the homeroom of the grade(s) you’re exploring to meet, connect, and ask any questions you may have for our faculty.

Reach New Heights On The MPA Climbing Wall | Open to all ages PreK-12
Belay on! The MPA climbing wall is open to all skill levels and ages. With MPA physical education teachers as your guides, you’ll receive tips and support to reach new heights.

Behind The Scenes Of “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” | Open to all ages PreK-12
Go behind the scenes of “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” with the cast and crew of the show! You’ll get to tour the set, peek at the makeup and costumes, meet MPA theatre faculty, and explore the magic of our Black Box Theatre. Read More

Parents Association News And Events January 9, 2025

January 9, 2025

Join us for the inaugural Panther Classic this Saturday, January 11, from 9 AM-4 PM in the Lansing Sports Center! This Middle School basketball tournament is a great way to showcase MPA athletes and facilities. All grade-level families are welcome to attend, volunteer, and/or contribute concessions items. All funds will be used to support future athletic endeavors! Come cheer on the Panthers and support this inaugural tournament to elevate MPA athletics.

This event is a true team effort between the athletics department, the MPA Parents Association, and student leadership! We are so pleased to have Wyatt Srsen ’25, the Upper School boys varsity basketball captain, volunteer his time and talent off the court to support the event for his Senior Service Project.

If you have any questions about timing or contributions, please call Christine Larson, Panther committee chair, at 612-251-1156.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, January 11: Panther Classic Basketball Tournament, 9 AM-4 PM, Lansing Sports Center
Friday, January 17: PA Faculty and Staff Appreciation hosted by Grades 7-9, 6:45-10:30 AM, Peacock Family Teaching Kitchen
Friday, January 24: PA Family Trivia Night, 6-8 PM, Family Commons

Warmly Welcoming 2025

January 8, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the January 8 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

The new year has arrived, and MPA’s office of admission is both reflecting on what went well in the past year and dreaming big about what else we can work on as we embark on the next.

Ask around the MPA community, and you’ll hear a recurring theme of our school’s warmth and welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere. We are a close-knit community of students, parents, and educators who believe that everyone thrives when we are inclusive, collaborative, and having fun together. Read More

The Importance Of Play

January 2, 2025

When parents are just beginning to explore early childhood and kindergarten programs for their children, many questions are at the forefront of their minds. Will their child be safe and nurtured but also challenged? At MPA, the answer would be ‘yes’ to these questions. However, parents also question what institutes the proper amount of academic rigor for five to six-year-olds and ask what this rigor should look like in kindergarten.

Mounds Park Academy, one of the top two private schools in Minnesota and one of the nation’s top STEM schools, serves students PreK through 12th grade and features both a PreK and a kindergarten program that deeply believes that play is, in fact, one of the most important components of a successful early childhood and kindergarten program.

Benefits of Play in Child Development

In Suzanne Bouffard’s book “The Most Important Year,” she discusses best practices for the earliest years of school. She explains that successful early childhood programs follow the research, which states “very clearly that children learn through play and this notion that you have to choose between play and academic learning is a false dichotomy.” She writes, “One study showed that you can give children building blocks and let them build whatever they want. Or you can give children building blocks with a goal–to build a landing pad for a helicopter, for example. In both cases, everybody ends up having fun and learning something, but the kids who had a goal actually used richer vocabulary, especially around spatial skills and building concepts.” Read More

Lower School Division News December 19, 2024

December 19, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, December 20: Caroling with the Madrigal Singers, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni, 7:30-8 AM, Family Commons
Monday, December 23-Friday, January 3: No Classes, Winter Break
Tuesday, December 24-Thursday, December 26: Panther Club and PreK Closed
Wednesday, December 25: MPA Campus Closed
Wednesday, January 1: MPA Campus Closed, Panther Club and PreK Closed
Monday, January 6: Classes Resume
Wednesday, January 8: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-8:45 AM, Family Commons
Wednesday, January 8: HeadSpace: Meeting Our Educational Promise Through A Competency-Based Approach To Education, 7-8 PM, Virtual Meeting Via Zoom

And just like that, another calendar year has almost finished, and a new year is on the horizon. The Lower School has been buzzing with activity as we count down the days left in December.

Semesterly Reports
As announced last school year, the Lower School has made the move to semesterly report cards for our students. The report cards will be sent home each January and June. Semester 1 report cards will be emailed to families on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. We look forward to sharing the progress that each child has made so far and identifying some areas of growth that students will focus on through the rest of the academic year.

Winter Break
MPA’s winter break will kick off on Saturday, December 21, until Sunday, January 5. School will resume on Monday, January 6.

CHAMP Assembly: January 8
At our next CHAMP assembly on Wednesday, January 8, we will celebrate the CHAMP attribute of integrity. Please wear your CHAMP shirts! Read More

Middle School Division News December 19, 2024

December 19, 2024

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, December 20: Caroling with the Madrigal Singers, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni, 7:30-8 AM, Family Commons
Friday, December 20: MS G5/6 Feed My Starving Children Field Trip, 8-11:30 AM
Friday, December 20: MS G5/6 Bowling Field Trip, 12-3 PM
Friday, December 20: MS G7/8 Winter Carnival, 12-3 PM, MPA Campus
Monday, December 23-Friday, January 3: No Classes, Winter Break
Wednesday, December 25: MPA Campus Closed
Wednesday, January 1: MPA Campus Closed
Monday, January 6: Classes Resume
Wednesday, January 8: MS G7/8 Affinity Group Meeting, 2:30-3 PM, Panther Center
Wednesday, January 8: HeadSpace: Meeting Our Educational Promise Through A Competency-Based Approach To Education, 7-8 PM, Virtual Meeting Via Zoom

Our Middle School counselor, Ms. Ashley Cooper, and I have started to do some restorative circle work with our sixth graders. In schools, these circles can be used to create a more positive culture among the students, value student voice, improve listening skills, and give students an opportunity to share and learn about each other. We have started with the foundational components of a circle discussion including common agreements, using a talking piece, and answering questions through the process of rounds, where each person has the opportunity to answer or “pass.”

One of today’s questions was, “What are you looking forward to in the new year?” I was amazed at all our students are excited about here at MPA. Throughout our rounds, students mentioned some upcoming milestones and family vacations over our winter breaks, but many talked about upcoming experiences here at school. From i-Term courses and field trips to new sports teams and MPA spring traditions, our sixth graders are really excited about all that is ahead for them next year.

Upper School Division News December 19, 2024

December 19, 2024

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, December 20: US Madrigal Singers and Chamber Orchestra Music Tour Field Trip
Friday, December 20: Caroling with the Madrigal Singers, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni, 7:30-8 AM, Family Commons
Monday, December 23-Friday, January 3: No Classes, Winter Break
Wednesday, December 25: MPA Campus Closed
Wednesday, January 1: MPA Campus Closed
Monday, January 6: Classes Resume
Wednesday, January 8: HeadSpace: Meeting Our Educational Promise Through A Competency Based Approach To Education, 7-8 PM, Virtual Meeting Via Zoom

As Upper School students, the importance of maintaining an active mind during breaks from school cannot be overstated. Breaks provide a vital opportunity to rest and recharge oneself, but they can also lead to a decline in academic engagement if not utilized wisely. One effective way to keep your brain engaged is to follow the advice that Dr. Hudson gives to students before they leave for summer break and read for pleasure. This practice not only enriches students’ knowledge but also enhances their creativity and critical thinking, two skills that are important for academic and personal success.

Reading for pleasure offers several benefits to students (and adults). It allows you to explore new ideas, cultures, and perspectives, which can broaden the understanding of the world around us. Engaging with a variety of literature—from novels to essays—stimulates our imagination and helps develop empathy by placing us in the figurative shoes of different characters, cultures, and contexts. It goes without saying that leisure reading can also improve vocabulary and writing skills, as exposure to different writing styles and structures enhances our own communicative abilities.

Well-respected teacher, principal, and educational consultant Kim Marshall annually shares a list of the “best books,” according to the School Library Journal. They consolidate books from a variety of different genres and age groups from which readers can choose. The list can be found here.
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