Mounds Park Academy

MPA Gentoo Robotics Team Secures $2,000 Grant, Seeks New Members

April 3, 2025

Exciting news from the Gentoo Robotics Team! We’re thrilled to announce that our Middle School FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team has received a $2,000 Sponsorship Grant from the Gene Haas Foundation. This generous funding will help support team registration, event fees, and the purchase of new parts to enhance our robot’s capabilities, but we also rely on donations from our community to get new parts and join more events.

Founded in 2023 as a way to expand STEM opportunities for Middle School students and build a feeder team for our more experienced high school FRC team, Gentoo has already participated in three competitions over the past two years. These events have provided invaluable learning experiences, allowing team members to make continuous improvements to their robot after each competition.

The Gentoo team is organized into specialized sub-teams: Code, Build, Strategy, and Operations. Students start by learning essential build skills, like using power tools, prototyping, and constructing basic structures, before moving into specialized roles. This structure gives students the chance to develop specific skills while contributing to the team’s overall success. Our high school FRC team members provide mentorship, creating a supportive community where Middle Schoolers can explore engineering challenges they wouldn’t otherwise experience. Read More

Parents Association News And Events April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

The MPA Parents Association invites you to Cultural Celebration Day on Wednesday, April 9 from 3:15-5:30 PM in the Family Commons! Engage with community members who will be sharing their cultural heritage. Enjoy sweet and savory rice dishes from around the world, an international tea bar, and experience beautiful music and dance performances!

Go home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, try your hand at global crafts, learn how to make masala chai (spiced tea from India), and chat with community members who will have booths set up to share their culture and/or offer samples of their cuisine.

Feel the spirit and joy of African culture with Fatawu Sayibu at our West African Drum and Dance Workshop! All are welcome to learn basic djembe drumming techniques as well as simple movements rooted in African daily life and experience. Learn the steps to Bhangra, a traditional Punjabi folk dance that has become a global and cultural phenomenon.

Food and drink tickets ($1 each) will be sold at the event. Zabiha, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available.

Interested in volunteering on the day of the event? Sign up here!

Check out the calendar for other MPA PA activities in April, including Division Quarterly Coffees!

A Leadership Transition Update

April 3, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we enter the final stretch of the school year, I want to take a moment to share an update on the leadership transition and the exciting road ahead for Mounds Park Academy. As many of you know, this will be my final year serving as head of school at MPA. It is a bittersweet season—filled with reflection, gratitude, and anticipation for what’s to come. Serving this community has been the greatest privilege of my professional life, and I remain deeply invested in ensuring a smooth, thoughtful, and mission-aligned transition.

Over the past several months, I have been working closely with Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, who was appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as the next head of school, effective July 1, 2025. Having the opportunity to partner with her during this full year of transition has been a true gift. It is rare in independent schools to have this kind of intentional, overlapping leadership—and we are using it fully to MPA’s advantage.

It was good to see so many of you at the Coffee & Conversation events with Dr. Brogdon and me. For those of you who were able to attend, I hope that you saw the synergy and warmth between the two of us. You may have also viewed a video of the two of us discussing leadership and the transition. If you haven’t, please click here. Know that an additional two videos will be released very soon. My hope is to alleviate whatever anxiety the community might feel about the transition. Read More

MPA’s Leadership Transition

April 2, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the April 4 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

Dr. Bill Hudson and Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon have been working closely this year to ensure a seamless head of school transition in July. We’re excited to introduce the first in a series of three short films, offering an inside look at their collaborative efforts.

“One of the things, that as I’ve gotten to know you, that I appreciate most is how you view education–and there seems like there’s a lot of synergy between the two of us,” says Dr. Hudson during their conversation. “So, in your own words, if you had to explain, it, how would you? How would you capture and name it?” he asked.

“I believe that education should be, first of all, joyful,” Dr. Brogdon replied. “A day shouldn’t go by where students, faculty, and staff don’t find a reason to smile and laugh about something, be proud about something, be able to look back and say, ‘we did this together,’ in some way. I strongly believe that the educational experience for everyone should be about creating and asking questions.”

“That’s what education is all about,” Dr. Hudson agreed.

Dr. Hudson and Dr. Brogdon’s shared vision for MPA, rooted in collaboration and joy, sets a strong foundation for our future. Listen to their conversation here and stay tuned for more conversations to come!

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Parents Association News And Events March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

Call For Hosts And To Join Us: We have several hosts from within our MPA community for our cultural/country tables, and we want more representation! Please sign up here to host an informational table (or half table) on the day of the event. Let’s fill the hall with as many countries and cultures to celebrate as possible. You make it happen!

Not sure what it means to host a table or how to do it? Contact Seema, at seema_anwar@hotmail.com, and she will support you!

If you haven’t already, please save the date to join our school community on April 9, from 3:15-5:30 PM for an evening of food, music, crafts, and more. Let’s come together as a community to make this a fun, educational, and inclusive event! We hope to see you there!

Check out the calendar for other MPA PA activities in April, including Division Quarterly Coffees!

Lower School Division News March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, March 28: LS G1 Troll Stories, 8-9 AM, G1 Classrooms
Friday, March 28: LS Express Yourself Friday
Monday, March 31: No Classes, Eid al-Fitr
Tuesday, April 1: Coffee & Conversation With The Heads, 7:45-8:45 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Wednesday, April 2: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-8:45 AM, Family Commons
Friday, April 4: End of Quarter 3
Monday, April 7: Coffee with the Candidate for Lower School Parents, 8-9 AM, Gallery
Tuesday, April 8: Coffee with the Candidate for Lower School Parents, 8-9 AM, Gallery
Wednesday, April 9: Coffee with the Candidate for Lower School Parents, 8-9 AM, Gallery
Wednesday, April 9: LS G3/4 Field Trip, 9-11:30 AM, Orchestra Hall
Wednesday, April 9: PA Cultural Celebration Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, April 10: HeadSpace: Personalized Pathways Through Universal Design For Learning, 7-8 PM, Virtual Meeting
Monday, April 14: No Classes, Professional Development
Wednesday, April 16: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-8:45 AM, Family Commons
Wednesday, April 16: LS Duty-Free Lunch with Parent Volunteers, 11:40 AM-12:40 PM, Playground & Family Commons

Spring is certainly in the air in the Lower School! The children have started another fun week at school with lots of smiles and enthusiasm. Thank you for your support of the second-grade Birthday Bag project! It was a great success! Here are some upcoming dates, events, and reminders:

Express Yourself Friday: March 28
It has been so fabulous to see our students expressing their passions, interests, and amazing personalities on the last Friday of each month! Our next Express Yourself Friday will take place tomorrow, March 28.

Fourth Grade Neighborhood House Food Drive: March 25-April 4
The fourth-grade students are finishing up the book, “Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate.” This story, about a young refugee boy from Africa who relocates to Minnesota, is the catalyst that inspired this food drive to collect items for Neighborhood House in St. Paul. Lower School students and their families are asked to donate items between March 25 and April 4. A flyer from Neighborhood House with a wish list of suggested items has been uploaded to Schoology. This is not an exhaustive list. Personal care items and other foods are also appreciated. Please keep MPA’s food allergy policy in mind when purchasing items. Last year, we collected over 1,200 pounds of food and goods. Let’s see what we can do together this year! Read More

Middle School Division News March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

Monday, March 31: No Classes, Eid al-Fitr
Tuesday, April 1: Coffee & Conversation With The Heads, 7:45-8:45 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Wednesday, April 2: MS G5 Science Fair, 2:30-3 PM, Family Commons
Friday, April 4: End of Quarter 3
Monday, April 7: MS/US Students & Screens Parent Meeting, 1:45-3 PM, Recital Hall
Wednesday, April 9: MS G7/8 Affinity Group Meeting, 2:30-3 PM, Panther Center
Wednesday, April 9: PA Cultural Celebration Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, April 10: HeadSpace: Personalized Pathways Through Universal Design For Learning, 7-8 PM, Virtual Meeting
Monday, April 14: No Classes, Professional Development
Wednesday, April 16: MS G7/8 Affinity Group Meeting, 2:30-3 PM, Panther Center

Springtime brings with it change and renewed growth. It can be one of the most exciting and hectic times as we work to wrap everything up by the end of the school year and reflect on the growth and achievements of our year of learning together. Having spent time earlier in my teaching career at a school on the coast of Maine, I often share with students the example of how lobsters grow.

Lobsters need first to feel a bit of discomfort—they become uncomfortable in their own shell—to trigger the need for growth. And that growth requires them to shed their shell, going through a time of vulnerability and change as they grow a new, larger, and more comfortable shell. As he shared in this video, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski explains that it is the stimulus of discomfort that is needed for the lobster to grow. In times of stress, we often see a great deal of growth if we navigate this adversity the right way.

Looking ahead, we have many, many opportunities for growth (and potential discomfort) for our Middle School students. Next week brings the end of our third quarter, and I know that students and teachers are working to finish the quarter strong! In April and May, we have book battles and science fairs, concerts and musicals, MAP testing, and field days fast approaching. Please keep a close eye on our calendar here in Panther Post and communications through your child’s Schoology account for updates and information on all that we have going on. Read More

Upper School Division News March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Monday, March 31: No Classes, Eid al-Fitr
Tuesday, April 1: US World Language Finals
Tuesday, April 1: Coffee & Conversation With The Heads, 7:45-8:45 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Wednesday, April 2: US World Language Finals
Wednesday, April 2: US Boys Basketball Banquet, 5:30-8:30 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, April 3: US Science Finals, 8:45-10:15 AM
Thursday, April 3: US English Finals, 12-1:30 PM
Friday, April 4: End of Quarter 3
Friday, April 4: US Math Finals, 8:45-10:15 AM
Friday, April 4: US Social Studies Finals, 12-1:30 PM
Saturday, April 5: ACT Test Date
Monday, April 7: MS/US Students & Screens Parent Meeting, 1:45-3 PM, Recital Hall
Wednesday, April 9: PA Cultural Celebration Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, April 10: Senior Service Project: Empty Bowls, 4:30-6:30 PM, Family Commons & Peacock Family Teaching Kitchen
Thursday, April 10: HeadSpace: Personalized Pathways Through Universal Design For Learning, 7-8 PM, Virtual Meeting
Monday, April 14: No Classes, Professional Development
Wednesday, April 16: US G10 College Counseling Parent Night, 6:30-7:30 PM, Recital Hall

What do you get when you have 27 MPA community members traveling together on a Spring Break trip to Morocco and Spain? This is the question that went through my mind as I boarded the Delta airliner on Saturday, March 8.

The diverse group of travelers, comprised of 9-12 grade students, parents, and faculty chaperones, embarked on a remarkable educational and social expedition through the enchanting cities of North Africa and Southern Spain. Beginning our journey in Morocco, we explored the historic streets of Casablanca, wandered through the ancient medina of Fes, and discovered the coastal charm of Tangier. Our journey continued north as we crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, bridging the cultures (and continents) to immerse ourselves in the rich history of the captivating Spanish cities of Grenada, Seville, Cordoba, and Madrid. Read More

Join Us For Cultural Celebration Day At MPA!

March 27, 2025

Go home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, try your hand at global crafts, learn how to make masala chai (spiced tea from India), master the steps to Bhangra, a traditional Punjabi folk dance, and chat with community members who will have booths set up to share their culture and/or offer samples of their cuisine.

Food and drink tickets ($1 each) will be sold at the event. Zabiha, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available. Read More

Lower School Director Search Update

March 27, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Mark your calendars for Coffee with the Candidate for Lower School parents for April 7, 8, and 9 from 8-9 AM in the MPA Gallery. Each date will feature a different Lower School director candidate.

I’m writing to share an update on the search for MPA’s next Lower School director—an important process that continues to move forward with great momentum and care. First, thank you to all who participated in the community survey. Your input was incredibly valuable in helping to further shape the direction of our search. The position was officially posted on both the Carney, Sandoe & Associates website and MPA’s own site in February. Since then, our search consultant, John Faubert, has fielded interest from a strong pool of candidates while also actively recruiting national and international candidates and conducting initial screening interviews throughout early March.

Over spring break, Dr. Brogdon and I reviewed the dossiers of the most promising candidates, as identified by John. After thoughtful evaluation, we invited a select group to participate in first-round interviews with our Search Advisory Committee, which includes Lower School faculty (nominated by their peers) and administrators. These virtual interviews are taking place this week and will continue into early next week. Following these interviews, three finalists will be invited to campus for full-day visits on April 7, 8, and 9. Each candidate will participate in:

a second interview with the Search Advisory Committee;
a student-led campus tour;
a meeting with the administrative team;
conversations with Lower School faculty, staff, and students; and
a morning “Coffee with the Candidate” for Lower School parents, held from 8-9 AM in the Gallery.

To protect confidentiality, the names of the finalists will be shared with the Lower School community on the morning of each visit. Your feedback will play an important role in the final decision-making process, and I encourage you to attend the parent coffee sessions if you’re able.

My goal is to announce the next Lower School director by the end of April, with a formal start date of July 1, 2025. As always, this timeline may shift slightly depending on the candidate pool and other logistics, and I’ll keep you informed of any changes as they arise.

I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of the Search Advisory Committee for their time, insight, and dedication to this process. And thank you, too, for your engagement and support. With your partnership, I am confident we will select a leader who is a perfect match for our exceptional Lower School community.