Alumni Challenge Run On October 13
August 28, 2018
Mike Velin ’06 is making good on his class challenge and running the Historic Riverfront 5k in the Panther Suit on October 13! We are inviting the whole community to join him to make this a truly MPA event. Sign up here and send your confirmation and shirt size to alumni@moundsparkacademy.org and you will receive a limited edition MPA Panther Run t-shirt at the run!
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2018
August 28, 2018
There are so many alumni and community events during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend starting on Friday afternoon with a Pep Rally at 2:20 PM in the Lansing Center and then the All Alumni Happy Hour at 6 PM at Tin Whiskers in Lowertown, Saint Paul. Catch up with teachers and fellow alums while being treated to appetizers and a drink on us!
On Saturday, come to campus for a tour of the school with Head of School, Dr. Bill Hudson, a chance to cheer on your alma mater, and plenty of fun for kids of all ages. At 6 PM, the classes of 1988, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2008, and 2009 are invited to their Milestone Reunion at Urban Growler Brewing in St Paul. Congratulations to those classes! Don’t miss this fun event at an exceptional venue!
August 23, 2018
Faculty and staff met this summer to learn the ins-and-outs of the new recycling program at MPA, and we’re excited to launch it among students, too!
This updated program provides a streamlined way to dispose of recycling, organics, and trash in the cafeteria. We will maximize efficiency and provide organic materials to a local farm. We are excited to do right, reduce our waste, and make our campus even more green and sustainable.
While we are starting with the cafeteria, the next phase of the new recycling program will include the entire school! Students will attend a Recycling Assembly on September 5 to learn more and we will share more with you in an upcoming article as well.
August 23, 2018
In order to help our community adjust to the back-to-school traffic on campus, the Maplewood Police will have a patrol car stationed at MPA from 7:30-8 AM and 2:50-3:20 PM on Thursday, August 22 and Friday, August 23. The police cars will be assisting on Larpenteur Avenue. Thank you for driving in and out of school safely!
August 23, 2018
Needless to say, race and social justice are important topics of conversation these days. Headlines related to police brutality, the legacy of slavery, the expansion of hate groups, and mass incarceration appear frequently. To explore these issues and, in particular, the role of the civil rights movement in American history, 21 MPA Upper School students and two MPA teachers traveled more than 3,000 miles on the “This Land is Your Land” bus trip. They saw sights ranging from one of the segregated schools associated with the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision to the Lorraine Motel and the National Civil Rights Museum to the new National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. Additionally, they visited six presidential libraries and homes and other major sights, including the World War I Museum in Kansas City and Graceland. Read More
August 23, 2018
W
elcome to MPA! We are so happy you’re here!
New MPA parents are invited to a dinner on campus on Thursday, September 20, from 6-8 PM in the Cafeteria. You will be able to meet other new MPA families, ask questions, and learn more about why we call our community a family.
More details will follow in an invitation via mail. We look forward to seeing you there!
August 23, 2018
Come for the sundaes, stay for the friends! The MPA Ice Cream Social is on Thursday, August 30, from 3-4 PM. This annual community gathering is hosted by MPA faculty and staff, servings scoops to anyone who would like to attend and spend the afternoon with us! The Social will take place outside of the Lower School Atrium. All families are welcome to come and we hope to see you there to celebrate a fantastic first week back at MPA!
Announcements From The Makerspace
August 23, 2018
We can’t wait to see you and your children in the Makerspace this year! There are many new activities and creative projects to explore, and Ms. Koen is so happy to guide you through them all. “I have some new ideas to bring to the table after taking an engineering class over the summer!” she said. We also have exciting announcements for Makerspace events both new and back by popular demand from last year!
Starting September 7, the Fiber Friends maker group will meet every Friday from 11 AM-12:30 PM. This group of knitters, crocheters, and textile gurus is open to faculty, parents, alumni, and students! If you want to participate, but do not know how to knit or crochet, beginners are always welcome!
Lower School STEAM club will begin in January and meet after school on Thursdays. There is a winter and a spring session, and registration will come out at the end of November! More reminders to come this Fall! Read More
August 23, 2018
by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School
Welcome home to MPA! It was wonderful to see you Tuesday evening for Back to School Night. There was great energy and optimism in the school as we welcomed 80 new students and families to MPA and re-connected with returning families. The packed bleachers in the Lansing Center was a sight to behold and filled me with gratitude and great pride. As I stood at the south entrance on such a beautiful morning, the hugs, handshakes and high fives reminded me how fortunate I am to lead this amazing community. Thank you for the joy your family brings to our school.
A common theme emerges when students, parents, teachers, or staff are asked to describe MPA in one word. Family. The strong relationships that form between members of the MPA community resemble the bonds between family members. Because of those bonds, our students develop the confidence to discover and pursue their dreams and uncover their purpose in the world.
In October, we will welcome educators from independent schools across the Midwest who are serving on our accreditation visiting team. After one year of self-reflection here on campus, we seek their review and affirmation of the plans and priorities we offer as part of our commitment to continuous improvement. They will make a recommendation of accreditation to the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), validating who we are as well as offering suggestions that will enhance our school. This is a very important part of the life of an independent school and I am looking forward to the process.
August 16, 2018
We are looking forward to seeing everyone at New Family Orientation and Back To School Night to start off another fantastic school year! Grab your new school supplies and head to campus on Tuesday, August 21, for time with your teachers, an all-school assembly, and snacks! Welcome home, Panthers!
New Family Orientation: 3:30-5:45 PM
LOWER SCHOOL FAMILIES • GRADES PREK-4
3:30-4 PM – Students and parents stay together to meet homeroom teachers, put away school supplies, and locate and/or practice lockers.
4-4:45 PM – Students separate for an activity with Mr. Purdy, Extended Day Coordinator, while parents meet with Ms. Wright, Lower School Director, in the Library.
4:45-5:30 PM – Enjoy dinner in the cafeteria.
5:30-5:45 PM – Meet Head of School Dr. Hudson and the Leadership Team.
6:15-6:30 PM – All-School Welcome Back Assembly in the Lansing Center.
6:30-7:30 PM – Additional time to visit homeroom and specialist teachers and classrooms, organize school supplies, and practice student lockers. Refreshments available. Read More