Self-Portraits Open Doors For Students

December 17, 2019

ceci driano's self portrait Art is an essential element in the growth and development of every student at MPA. Visual art provides learning experiences for students to create and produce solutions to visual problems. Through a variety of methods and their own authentic experiences, students develop skills in self-expression and realize an appreciation of art in the world around them.

The Upper School Applied Drawing class is a visual opportunity for students to truly see and record life and ideas as they are interpreted. The current Applied Drawing students produced time-lapse videos to showcase each stage of their self-portrait processes. Equipped with drawing fundamentals, students are challenged to develop technical skills while also developing their own style. In class, they are guided to finished drawings, facing visual challenges using a design process, as the finished self-portraits represent. Watch them as they navigate the process below!

Amelia Dickson’s Self-Portrait

Satori Lewen’s Self-Portrait

Vicky Taylor’s Self-Portrait

Ceci Driano’s Self Portrait

Meet The Dimopoulos Family

December 17, 2019

the Dimopoulos family What do you love about MPA?
The teachers and staff. Everyone has been warm and friendly since we arrived in 2018 and thanks to the small classroom sizes, our children receive the attention they need to learn in the best way suited for them.

How is your child encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
Our children are pushed lovingly but firmly to bring their best to every class, whether it’s drama or algebra. This shows them they are capable of achieving more than they might have otherwise thought possible. The teachers set standards appropriate to each child and support each child to be their best self, academically, and emotionally. MPA also shows that school is more than just math, science, or reading; it helps each student build those soft skills, such as oral communication and presentation, that will ultimately serve our children very well in their future, even if they don’t necessarily always love being out of their comfort zone.

If your child has attended another school, how has your experience at MPA been different?
Our children have attended to other schools—in France and the Pacific Northwest—and MPA offers much smaller class sizes, more caring and attentive teachers, and a student cohort that permits each child to be themselves. This permits our children to feel safe bringing to the MPA community the best of themselves knowing that they will be supported. Read More

Reading Our Way To Success

December 12, 2019

middle school boys reading togetherby Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

“Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?” Who doesn’t love a good Dr. Seuss book? Last week I read to both the PreK and kindergarten classes, choosing from among my childhood favorites. The PreK class loved Mr. Brown as much as I loved sharing it with them like I did with my own children. There is something about coming together and forging a relationship by sharing a good book.

Excitement is building as our new library inches towards opening. Nearly 30,000 books will find a new home. For this to happen, we’ve needed to temporarily close the library in order to make the move. In the meantime, Lower School library time is being filled by administrators reading to our students. In addition to reading to the PreK students, I also read another of my favorite books, “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel,” to the kindergartners. Read More

Thank You For Showing Your Appreciation!

December 11, 2019

parent volunteers wrapping gifts for faculty and staffA huge thank you from the Parents Association to everyone who participated in the Faculty and Staff Gift Wrapping event on Monday!

It was so much fun to gather together and wrap presents for the staff. There were 23 staff members who brought in gifts for parent volunteers to wrap–which is up from 19 last year–and the total number of gifts wrapped or bagged was…drum roll, please…346, which is 96 more than last year! This was such a great way to come together as a community!

Bring The Holiday Spirit To MPA

December 10, 2019

MPA carolers bringing the holiday spirit to campusMr. Habermann, Madrigal Singers and MPA Faculty and Staff would like to welcome back all choir alumni to campus to help spread joy this holiday season at MPA.

Caroling will take place in the North Entrance, Halls and Family Commons on Friday, December 20, 2019 from 7:15-8 AM. Please contact alumni@moundsparkacademy.org if you plan to attend.

College Years POA Reunion

December 10, 2019

parents of alumni at the College Years POA ReunionParents from the MPA classes of 2016 through 2019 gathered at Dellwood Golf Club on Thursday, November 7 to catch up on all the news of MPA’s college students! The evening was sponsored by the Parents of Alumni and is an annual event designed to help parents stay in touch after graduation. Drinks and appetizers were served and everyone had a wonderful time mingling and reconnecting with old friends!

You’re Invited: Alumni Gatherings

December 10, 2019

alumni basketball game 2018December 21, 2019: Alumni Basketball Game
Enjoy getting back on the court with fellow alumni at the Alumni Basketball Game held on December 21, 2019 in the Lansing Center at 1 PM. All MPA alumni are welcomed and encouraged to attend to play or cheer on their former classmates!

December 26, 2019: Alumni Social
This is your chance to return to campus for this year’s winter Alumni Social held on December 26 at 5 PM. The event will include appetizers, beverages and tours of the newly renovated spaces. For questions or to RSVP, please email alumni@moundsparkacademy.org.

January 14, 2020: Alumni Mentorship Program Networking Event
Join in preparing the Class of 2020 for life after MPA in the 2nd Annual Alumni Mentorship Program Networking Event. The event will take place on January 14, 2020 from 8-9:15 AM in the Family Commons. If you are interested in participating or to learn more, please contact Ashley Goetzke, assistant director of development at agoetzke@moundsparkacademy.org for more information.

Meet Cathryn Camacho ’04

December 9, 2019

Cathryn Camacho '04Meet 2019-20 Alumni Association Board member Cathryn Camacho ’04!

Following graduation from MPA, Cathryn moved to California to attend Pomona College. She graduated with a B.A. in Economics and worked as an analyst for a litigation consulting firm before switching gears and pursuing a Masters of Interior Architecture from UCLA/Cal Poly Pomona.

“Many of my friends and family joke that I am ‘serial student,’ as I currently pursue my second Masters in a part-time program,” she said. “The joy of learning has never faded. Throughout my collegiate and graduate studies, I sought institutions that mirror MPA’s dedication towards student development.”

In 2015, she returned home to Minnesota to run her family business and enroll in the Carlson School of Management for her Masters of Business Administration. Cathryn now serves as the President of Camacho Contractors and is involved with MPA in a variety of ways. After a tough four years juggling school and work, she is seeking balance, travel, and adventure, as well as growing her engagement with the MPA community and develop new relationships. Read More

Navigating Mindful Technology Use

December 9, 2019

Tracey Joyce at the ISACS conferenceOn November 8, MPA’s PreK-12 academic technology integrationist, Ms. Joyce, presented at the ISACS conference in Louisville on the topic of “Digital Wellness: Tech with Intention.” She has presented on Digital Wellness locally for a parent series at Visitation School and at the local ISACS conference last spring. Her discussion covered how the design thinking process can help educators discover the best way to use technology with intention. She also shared apps, extensions, and activities for how to bring mindfulness into educators lives and the lives of students.

On December 13, from 8-9 AM in the PCR, Ms. Joyce will have another opportunity for Lower School parents to learn more about mindful technology use at the Lower School Parent Education event. “We as adults are so influential in the lives of our children, and have a lot to learn so we can model good practices,” she said. She also notes that children are aware of their parents’ technology habits and device use. “Even when the reason for technology use is ‘for work,’ it is still time being taken away from them, and they notice that.” Read More

RSVP To Experience MPA

December 9, 2019

middle schools students and teacher working together You and your entire family are warmly invited to attend the MPA Preview on Sunday, January 26 at 2 PM. See what’s possible when students are inspired to dream big and do right. This event will allow families to truly experience the joy of learning that our students do each day. Rotate among hands-on, experiential lessons taught by expert faculty. Between lessons, join student and parent ambassadors for an opportunity to see our state-of-the-art facilities.

As you consider MPA and your options, please make plans to attend this event. This PreK-12 offering is one not to miss!
   

RSVP Today
How We Learn
The Admission Process