Mounds Park Academy

September 19, 2018

Registration for the 2018-2019 winter sports season is now open! There are so many opportunities to join the Panthers and be a part of a team at MPA!

Take a look below to explore and visit moundsparkacademy.org/athletics to register. The deadline is September 27, 2018. We can’t wait to see you out there on the course, court, or rink!

Boys and Girls Alpine Ski: Grades 6-12
Boys and Girls Nordic Ski: Grades 6-12
Boys Basketball: Grades 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12
Girls Basketball: Grades 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12
Boys Hockey: Grades 9-12

Bringing Mindfulness To The Classroom

September 18, 2018

Parents are all too familiar with navigating the stress of everyday life. From getting children ready for the day and out the door in the morning, to helping with homework at night and everything in between, there is a lot to manage. As a parent, it can be easy to forget that even the youngest people in our lives can become overwhelmed and stressed. In our fast-paced world, learning to cope with challenging situations is just as important as learning how to read and write. Research has shown that mindfulness programs can help students of all ages learn to deal with everyday stress. More schools across the country are integrating mindfulness into their curricula to teach students to be present and better able to identify how they’re feeling in order to manage their stress.

Mindfulness is the intentional practice of maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of a person’s thoughts, feelings and what their body senses. It was first introduced at Mounds Park Academy two years ago. This year, students in the Lower School will be learning about mindfulness through the MindUp curriculum, a program designed specifically for educators to help young students further develop social and emotional skills. Teachers at MPA will integrate mindfulness into lessons throughout the day. Teachers will also use mindfulness strategies during transition times to help students refocus. By practicing mindfulness throughout their school day, students will learn to identify their emotions and understand why they are feeling a certain way. With a stronger understanding of their feelings, students should be able to more appropriately respond to stressful situations. Read More

Private School Invite

September 13, 2018

Racing is much more than running faster. You raced very well today to earn two team runner up finishes to very good teams. Read More

MPA Students Collaborate With Local Arts Community

September 12, 2018

We are so excited to share a recent opportunity brought to MPA students to engage with and assist the local arts community. MPA alum Kelly Turpin ’04, founder of the Arbeit Opera Theatre, was awarded the Artists Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to produce her own production of “The Consul,” an opera that premieres on November 29 and November 30, 2018. She reached out to MPA to assist in building the set, wanting to directly involve students, since MPA is the place where her passion for art, music, theatre, and singing all began.

“The overall goal of Arbeit Opera Theatre is to fuse multiple forms of art to create a diverse artistic community in order to share the excitement of Opera Theatre with as many communities as possible. Having the MPA community and students involved (will be) be a thrilling addition to this venture,” she said. Read More

Save The Date: MPA Talks 2018

September 12, 2018

MPA Talks is an annual, meaningful, and fascinating event that is completely unique to MPA. Featuring presentations by some of our community’s most intriguing members on inspiring and relevant topics, everyone is invited to come, listen, ask questions, and leave with new lengths of knowledge. Held in the fall and in the evening this year, dinner will be provided.

Save the date to join us as four members of our MPA community share their impactful presentations with you on Saturday, November 10, 2018. This event is designed to bring the community together to gain new perspectives from remarkable stories.

Faculty And Staff Appreciation

September 12, 2018

The best part of the MPA experience is our staff and faculty! Let’s thank them!

All School Conferences begin the week of October 1, 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. Opportunities include donating beverages or gift cards, volunteering in the PA Room during the week, and helping to staff/plan the evening meals on October 2 and October 4. Sign up to volunteer here!

Reflecting On The Past And Embracing The Future

September 12, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Both my Facebook and LinkedIn accounts were abuzz this week, notifying me of a very important anniversary coming up. September 16 is the five-year anniversary of my first day working at MPA. Professionally, and personally, it is an important date for me and one I truly celebrate each year.

It is the date I found a home, a community that embraced my family and me, where I experienced what inclusivity really means.
It is the date that I discovered what I think a school should be and the very best of what education is all about.
It is the date that marks the beginning of a journey that continues to be a source of great joy and fulfillment.

Meet Elli Carlson ’20

September 10, 2018

What do you love about MPA?

I love that at MPA, I am able to participate in a wide variety of activities. I can play soccer but also be on the debate team. Additionally, the arts department has so many more options than a lot of other schools do. I can take photography, two ceramics classes, and a theatre class all in one year. This allows me to pursue areas outside of just required courses, and for me, these are the areas that interest me most.

If you have attended another school, how has your experience at MPA been different?

MPA is different from my old school in virtually every aspect. The block schedule at MPA gives us longer class periods, allowing for deep discussion and more in depth learning in each class. The longer lunch period gives students to have a break in the day, allowing us to be able to focus during our afternoon classes. The wide variety of arts courses allowed is much more rigorous than my old school’s and allows me to advance my skills in an area that is important to me, as I plan on pursuing a career in the arts after high school. Read More

Ron Kretsch Invite

September 8, 2018

On a near perfect day for running, you earned 10 personal best times, 4 near personal best times, and earned 6 t-shirts for top ten finishes!

Traveling with Purpose

September 6, 2018

MPA students explore civil rights and social justice on “This Land is Your Land” summer trip.

Most summer road trips don’t include Topeka, Kansas. But the city made the itinerary of “This Land is Your Land,” a civil rights-focused trip organized by Mounds Park Academy history teachers Katie Murr and Mike Vergin.

“Our goal was to visit as many major sites associated with the civil rights movement as we could,” said Murr. “We wanted them to see places that are an important part of their history but they might fly over instead of visit.” Read More