Congratulations Emma Stacy ’15

February 4, 2019

Emma Stacy '15 receiving her senior awardCongratulations to MPA alumna Emma Stacy ’15 who is currently a senior at Scripps College, and who was one of 11 members of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps swimming and diving team to go to the NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis last year. Furthermore, she also traveled to Malaysia with the Keck Science Department to present her paper on the environmental effects of renewable energy technology.

To read how Emma found a community at Scripps through swimming, as well as more of her accomplishments, click here.

Middle School Quiz Bowl Results

February 4, 2019

Middle School Quiz Bowl TeamCongratulations to the Middle School Quiz Bowl team who competed in the GEMSTONE Middle School Quiz Bowl Tournament in Burnsville this past weekend!

MPA A (Anthony T., Sophia S., Aidan H., and Gabe M.) finished 3rd out of 40 teams.

MPA B (Akshay S., Maya A., Molly V., Ben M., and Ian F.) finished 5th out of 40 teams, which qualifies them for the NAQT National Tournament in Chicago in May.

Additionally, out of 183 players, Akshay S. placed 5th (Trophy Winner), Anthony T. placed 13th, Gabe M. placed 22nd, and Ben M. placed 33rd.

Way to go, Panthers! Good luck at the National Tournament in May!

Social Media: Online And On Edge

January 31, 2019

Two students sitting with phonesby Jenn Milam, Ph.D., Middle School Director, Mounds Park Academy

Just last week I had the privilege of sitting among fellow Middle School parents to hear a presentation prepared and expertly delivered by Ms. Mohn’s Upper School women’s literature students about the power and dangers of online vulnerability that exist in and through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and any number of newly emerging applications. This parent education session serendipitously followed my attending a screening of the new film, “LIKE: A Documentary About the Impact of Social Media on our Lives,” with my family just a few days before.

What is clear to me as I write this piece is that now, more than ever, we must have open, honest, informed, and critical conversations surrounding not only how we (yes, you and I) and our children are using social media; but more, how it is using us. While online interactions in these virtual worlds may seem somewhat disconnected from reality, make no mistake the influence of the social connections, comments, tweets, direct messages, chats, and images that are exchanged online spill over into the very fiber of our daily lives, and into our beings as humans.

It is present each day that the Middle School students walk through the halls at MPA, when they play basketball afterschool, and attend Quiz Bowl tournaments on the weekend. It’s likely present in Lower School students’ experiences as they attend birthday parties and playdates and parents post pictures with captions on Facebook. And, yes, in Upper Schoolers’ interactions as they navigate college acceptances, celebrations, personal life moments, and social dynamics and move into adulthood.

Does this seem overwhelming? If you answered yes, you are not alone. The good news is, we can change our behavior and therefore, change the impact that social media has on our lives and those of our children. Read More

Free Food For Thought Friday

January 31, 2019

Two lower school kids in the cafeteriaFriday, February 1 is Free Food For Thought Friday at MPA! This is a wonderful opportunity for students who normally don’t take hot lunch or who haven’t for a while, to try MPA’s program.

A MESSAGE FROM SAGE: SAGE is excited to partner with Mounds Park Academy for this fun event! Come and enjoy lunch on us! We know you’ll love the selections we have to offer. That day features a crowd favorite—house-baked chicken tenders, quesadillas, and brown sugar sweet potatoes. You’ll also find a build-your-own California Cobb salad, creamy baked mac and cheese, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, and much more. Our team will be proud to serve you. Come and experience the passion and care that goes into every meal we create here at Mounds Park Academy!
Read More

Late Start Thursday Update

January 30, 2019

Mounds Park Academy continues to plan for a 10 AM start tomorrow, Thursday, January 31, with regular activities being held after school, including Pajamarama. Arrival should be at 9:30 AM or later. None of the buses to MPA will operate in the morning. In the afternoon, the MPA buses will operate, however, the routes within District 622 will not.

We will continue to monitor the forecast and if anything changes, we will notify families before 6 AM via email, text, voicemail, moundsparkacademy.org, and social media.

Please use caution when traveling to campus and know that tardies are excused during inclement weather. As always, if you determine that your/your student’s commute is too difficult or unsafe, the absence will also be excused—students are still responsible for work missed.

Please take good care and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning!

Severe Cold Closure

January 28, 2019

We have been closely monitoring the forecast today and have made the difficult decision to cancel all classes, activities, practices, and events for Tuesday, January 29 and Wednesday, January 30 due to extreme cold. In addition, we will have a 10 AM start on Thursday, January 31. Arrival should be at 9:30 AM or later. No buses will run on Thursday morning.

Students and/or parents should login to Schoology after 10 AM Tuesday to check if their teacher(s) have posted an assignment.

This is not a decision we take lightly as we balance the safety of our students and families with the commitment that we make to instructional time. Safety is always our highest priority.

Please take good care and we look forward to seeing you on Thursday morning!

School Closed Monday, January 28

January 27, 2019

Good evening, MPA Families –

Due to the weather conditions predicted overnight, and the forecasted road conditions, classes at Mounds Park Academy will be cancelled tomorrow, Monday, January 28. This includes all activities, practices, and events.

This is not a decision we take lightly. We have been in close communication with our bus company, First Student, and we have been monitoring the conditions closely. We believe it is in the best interest of all families that we not hold school tomorrow.

Please stay safe and warm. We look forward to seeing you on campus Tuesday!

Sincerely,
Dr. Bill Hudson
Head of School

Choosing A School Path That Inspires

January 25, 2019

Lower Schooler SmilingThere are so many things to think about when you’re raising a child, but there are few things more important than their education. A child’s educational journey only happens once, so it’s important to guide them down the path that is right for them.

For many, a private school education is the right choice because of the personalized attention students receive. Complementing the academic experience, many private schools teach students to be responsible community members and encourage them to make a positive impact on the world.

A strong focus on each child’s unique abilities

At Mounds Park Academy, our focus on every child’s individuality is one of the things that makes us so unique. We embrace every child, celebrate their differences, and help guide them to discover who they are truly meant to be. Teachers are not bound by test- score data as the sole measure of a student’s abilities, so they have more freedom and flexibility to accommodate individual students’ needs. Small class sizes allow teachers to better evaluate their students’ academic and personal strengths and challenges. Teachers engage with students every day in ways that help them thrive. Read More

It’s In Our DNA

January 24, 2019

middle school girls working together in classby Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Last week, a new lunch group was launched in the Middle School. Seventh and eighth grade girls were invited to participate in a “Girl Power Friendship Group” over the course of eight weeks. During lunch, Middle School girls are coming together to learn about how to navigate difficult emotions, confidently communicate with others, and build strong friendships. The new group, under the guidance of Ashley Cooper, Middle and Upper School counselor, and Aria Fiat, Ph.D. candidate from the University of Minnesota, is a proactive way to address the social, emotional, and mental health challenges that appear developmentally in adolescent girls.

Just last week in my head’s message, I reiterated a vision of MPA that reframes the understanding of “whole-child for whole-life.” Such an education is collaborative, experiential, and interdisciplinary, which values the assessments of broader aims—those skills, dispositions, and mindsets most necessary to live, learn, and thrive in today’s 21st century globalized society. A crucial aspect of which is the social, emotional, and mental health of our students. Read More

Strategic Planning From The Board’s Perspective

January 24, 2019

middle school students working togetherby Brent Peacock, Chair of the MPA Board of Trustees

In 2015, MPA launched an extensive, highly collaborative, strategic planning process. The process, which was initiated, designed and driven by a task force of the Board of Trustees and Head of School, involved and engaged 64 stakeholders from across the school community, including leadership, faculty, staff, families and, critically, students. The process was grounded in the mission and values of the school and was designed to be collaborative, comprehensive, transparent, and inclusive. It provided both a compass and a blueprint to make informed decisions in order to respond, anticipate, and proactively plan for changes and challenges ahead. Not only did the process produce a strong 5-year strategic plan (Momentum 2020), it also built trust and partnerships among its wide array of stakeholders. Read More