Mounds Park Academy

September 30, 2019

International Student Program coordinator
MPA parent

How many years have you been at MPA?
This is my fifth year.

What do you love about MPA?
I love the joy the students experience in simply being at school: in classes, in the cafeteria, on the playground, in the hallways. They work extremely hard, support one another, and strive to learn all they can. And through it all, there is a smile, a song, a hug, a laugh … JOY!

How does MPA nurture students who forever dream big and do right?
MPA teachers and staff don’t shy away from tough issues, instead posing them as discussion topics and guiding students in thinking through them critically and empathetically to arrive at conscientious, thoughtful opinions.

If you have worked at another school, how has your experience at MPA been different?
Again, I’d have to say the sheer amount of JOY in the building. When I came for my initial interview, the feeling was palpable—evident in every classroom and around every corner—and it continues to amaze me five years later, every time I walk through the doors.
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Tips for Effective Parent-Teacher Conferences

September 30, 2019

Parent-teacher conferences are one of those unique interactions that can still cause butterflies, no matter your age, grade level, or how many you’ve attended. These face-to-face forums to discuss performance and progress can trigger a mix of emotions, going to the heart of parent concerns about whether their child is “on track” academically, emotionally, and interpersonally.

While parents often hold their breath during conference season, it’s important to let that anxiety go and embrace the open dialogue of school conferences. The National Education Association (NEA) explains that “To get the most out of parent-teacher conferences, parents need to take an active role in their child’s education year-round and come prepared to discuss how their child can reach their full potential.” The NEA recommends that parents take time to prep before conferences, including taking notes about any questions you have related to your school’s programs or policies, insights you’d like to share about your child at home and significant events in your child’s life, and your own reflections on your child’s progress. Read More

Meet Nate Bander ’09

September 30, 2019

Upper School Admission coordinator
Coach
Class of 2009

How many years have you been at MPA?
I’ve been here four years as a member of the admission team and coach. Between 1996 and 2009 I was a student!

What do you love about MPA?
I love athletics at MPA. Our culture has found a way to balance success and participation, skill building and teamwork, competition and collaboration. Athletics were my favorite part of being a student at MPA and have continued to be an integral part of my relationship to the MPA community.

How does MPA nurture students who forever dream big and do right?
MPA is a community of families brought together not by common geography, but by common values. MPA students are surrounded by families who exemplify what it means to be successful high achievers but also global citizens of the world. The abundance of role models in this community makes for well rounded students hungry to emulate the high achievers they surround themselves with.

What would you tell a parent considering MPA?
Mounds Park Academy is an investment in your children. There are families who chose to invest in travel, cabins, and boats, but an MPA family knows prioritizing funds to ensure a strong future for their children is the most important investment. Read More

Osseo Invite

September 26, 2019

Despite missing our top boy runner, our boys team managed to place 5th, and our runners earned two medals and a ribbon and earned ten personal best times!

Our girls JV got things started this afternoon. Amy, in her first 5000 meter race, ran well to lead our JV girls. Amanda, also running her first 5000 meter race, struggled a bit but finished her race. Salma, suffering from some shin splints, finished things up for our JV girls.

Our girls varsity was next up. Katie, still feeling a quad injury courtesy of the evil mud at Milaca, had to drop out after just a few minutes. Margo carried on, moving up the second half of the race, and finishing with a flourish to earn 3rd place by a tenth of a second, earning a medal for her efforts. Cara was our second runner across, running her second best 5000 meter race. Izzy Q., returning from her stress reaction, ran with a smile on her face and enjoyed being out there again. Skylar and Izzy G. ran side by side the entire race, finishing a few tenths of a second apart. Mari was not far behind to wrap things up for our varsity girls.

Our varsity boys were next, definitely missing Henry S., still nursing a sore hamstring, suffered in the mud of Milaca. In his absence, Isak led our boys, running a strong second half to move up to 3rd place, earning a medal, running a personal best time, and moving up to 12th place all time. Cullen ran well, just a few seconds from his personal best time. Peter was also just a few seconds from his best time. Evan improved on his best time by ten seconds. Ben, called on to run varsity, improved his best time by 33 seconds, finishing just a few seconds behind Evan. Liam, in his first varsity effort, improved his time from last week by well over a minute! Eddie, running as our replacement Snider, improved his personal best time. The boys team earned 5th place, a strong showing among a field consisting mostly of much larger schools.

Next up were our JV boys. Henry G. hurt his foot during the race and wisely stopped. But Noah carried on and improved his personal best time by almost 40 seconds! our middle school group wrapped up the day for us. Zain led our middle school boys, with Henry Schw. and Joey close behind. Eilam improved his best 2500 meter time by almost 40 seconds! Boyd wrapped things up for the boys. Teagan led our girls, finishing in 6th place and earning a ribbon. Abigail kicked hard to a strong finish.

Results are available for the Girls JV, Girls Varsity, Boys Varsity, Boys JV, and Middle School.

Be A Part Of Culture Day At MPA!

September 26, 2019

Save the date for Culture Day at MPA on Wednesday, October 23 from 3-6:30 PM! Join us for a gastronomic tour around the world as we share sweet and savory delicacies from 10 countries and an international drinks bar. Attend a cooking demonstration in our wonderful new teaching kitchen, go home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, and try your hand at global crafts like “worry dolls” from Guatemala and Origami, the Japanese art of paper-folding. You will also be able to enjoy musical and dance performances by our talented students! This day full of food, community, and fun is hosted by the MPA Parents Association. Read More

MPA PA Faculty & Staff Appreciation Week

September 26, 2019

Join us in thanking the MPA Faculty and Staff during All School Conferences! Conferences take place during week starting September 30, coinciding with the MPA Parents Association Staff and Faculty Appreciation Week.

Please consider participating in the long-standing MPA tradition of parents and families showing gratitude toward our wonderful staff and faculty by donating beverages, snacks or volunteer time, including during the evening meals provided by Sage and Chef Doug on October 3 and October 10. Please sign up to volunteer here!

Help Make Dreams Come True By October 1

September 26, 2019

If you haven’t already, now is the time to support Together, We Dream: The Campaign For MPA. Help us reach the $5 million goal by October 1 so we can fully fund each priority and finish the campaign strong. Thank you!

“The endowment is important for future students to have the opportunity to access a welcoming environment of learning regardless of socioeconomic class. This is vital for all in the community.” – Nancy and Dominick Driano, current parents

“The outdoor track will show MPA’s dedication to sports as well as academics. Our alumni daughter participated in track and our alumni son participated in soccer. The fields and track are in desperate need of renovation.” – Dan and Elizabeth Esch, current parents Read More

A Piece Of History Visits Middle School

September 26, 2019

Seventh and eighth grade students read “Refugee” by Alan Gratz this summer. The book follows the journeys of three different children, fleeing their home countries in order to save their lives. But one character in particular, Isabel, is a Cuban refugee in the 1980s, who told a captivating story that would follow the students from their summer reading and into Ms. Atchison’s classroom this year.

To enhance their class-wide discussion of “Refugee,” Ms. Atchison invited a special visitor to speak to students. Her next door neighbor, Carlos Espinosa, came to MPA to tell his story to them. Though he fled Cuba nearly 20 years earlier than Isabel in the 1960s, they were both escaping Castro’s rule. He arrived in the United States when he was just 13 years old–relevantly, the same age most of the students listening are now–as one of the children in Operation Pedro Pan. The students researched Operation Pedro Pan, learning all about the program Carlos grew up in after escaping Cuba’s communist government that limited the rights and freedoms of the Cuban people. Called “a leap of faith for the sake of freedom,” Operation Pedro Pan was reportedly the largest recorded exodus of unaccompanied minors in the Western Hemisphere. Read More

Come Home To MPA

September 26, 2019

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am a sap when it comes to commercials around the holidays. I may be showing my age but some of you probably remember the Folgers Coffee commercial when the son surprises his mother by coming home from college unexpectedly, making a fresh pot of Folgers that awakens his mother. Tears, every time. There is something about coming home—feelings of love, safety, and acceptance—that stirs our emotions.

Our identities emerge in the midst of community, molded and shaped by our experiences. Our family, religious beliefs, neighborhoods, and schools are all important in introducing and reinforcing a shared set of values that nurture our identities. Schools in particular have a lasting impact not only on our academic development, but our social and emotional development in our most formative years. Read More

Invite A friend To Experience The Joy

September 25, 2019

Invite a friend to join us and experience the joy at MPA’s largest PreK-12 admission event, the MPA Preview! Community member referrals are the most important way that new families learn about MPA and we greatly appreciate you sharing your love of our school with you family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

Held on Sunday, November 3 at 2 PM, this event will be a structured program that will allow prospective students and parents to get a sense of what makes MPA an exceptional place to learn and grow. They will rotate among several lessons, taught by expert faculty. These will be hands-on, experiential lessons that are abbreviated versions of the original, modified to be appropriate for all ages. Between lessons, they will be guided by student and parent ambassadors so that you have an opportunity to see our state-of-the-art facilities.

Kindly invite your friends and neighbors to RSVP in advance for this engaging program at moundsparkacademy.org/RSVP. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admission at 651-748-5577 or admission@moundsparkacademy.org. We can’t wait to meet them!