Registration Is Open For Basketball Camp!

basketball campMounds Park Academy Basketball is excited to offer our annual Panther Summer Basketball Camp held Monday, June 11–Thursday, June 14, 2018 from 9 AM–12 PM in the Lansing Sports Center. Panther Basketball Camp is open to MPA and non-MPA students alike, who are entering grades 4-9 in Fall 2018. The cost of attending is $60 per camper and includes a camp t-shirt.

Register at moundsparkacademy.org/basketballcamp!


Learn French Cuisine This Summer At MPA

Mardi Gras king cakeMiddle and Upper School French and Spanish teacher Ms. Johnson will be continuing her French cooking class during Summer at MPA! Ms. Johnson inherited her French cooking skills from her mother and her uncle, who was a chef in France, and we are so excited to pass them onto students this summer. They will become versed on a variety of French recipes, mastering crêpes, quiche Lorraine, mousse au chocolat, soupe à l’oignon, and madeleines. During the week, students also learn about other culinary specialties from France as well as cooking techniques.

Ms. Johnson’s session is offered June 18-22 for students entering grades K-5. This type of summer enrichment is so unique to MPA, and will motivate and nurture students’ learning, while having so much fun in the process! We’re looking forward to a fun and engaging summer! Find more information and register here.


Volunteer On The PA Board!

Wendy CusickThe Parents Association is seeking volunteers to serve on next year’s PA Board! Serving on the PA Board is a wonderful opportunity to make connections with other parents and students, build community between staff, faculty, parents, and students. Join us, and have a lot of fun with your children and their classmates, too!

Descriptions of the Board positions may be found on the Parents Association section of the MPA website. Should you have any questions or if you would like to be considered for a Board position, please email Wendy Cusick at wjcusick@gmail.com.


Congratulations To MPA Mathcounts!

mpa math counts at stateWhat an exciting weekend for our Middle School Mathcounts teams! The team finished 21st at State overall!

Our top individual finisher was Leo Y. (8th grader) in 42nd place. Chloe A. (8th grader) was 74th, Griffin J.(7th grader) was 95th, and Skyler B. (8th grader) was 122nd. Everyone seemed to enjoy the experience and the challenge!

A warm congratulations to the team and to their coach, Mr. Ethier!


Come One, Come All To The Spring Auction!

Come one, come all to the Spring Auction 2018-Under the Big Top at the JX in Stillwater! This fabulous community building event allows parents, alumni families, faculty, and grandparents to connect, enjoy an evening out, and take home some fantastic auction items, all while supporting the school that brings us together!

There are many ways to support Mounds Park Academy, like becoming a Spring Auction sponsor! This is your ticket to the exclusive sponsor pre-party where you will have special access to the silent auction, great gatherings, and games! Become a sponsor here!

Another way is by donating an auction item. Items ranging from themed baskets to weekend holidays are needed and very much appreciated. Your contributions are what make this event possible. All items may be dropped off in the Development Office. See the auction item wish list here!

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MPA Basketball Continues On!

2018 mpa boys basketballThe 2018 MPA Varsity Boys Basketball Team is one game away from the State Tournament!

Ranked the #6 seed, the Panthers defeated #14 seed Community of Peace Academy 80-49 in the first round of the Section 4A tournament here on campus last Thursday, March 8, and then upset the #3 seed Christian Life Academy in the quarterfinals 47-38 on March 10 on the road, and then went on to upset the #2 seed Prairie Seeds Academy 93-88 in double overtime this week for the section semifinals title!

In the semifinals versus Prairie Seeds, Senior Nick Guiang led the Panthers with 31 points, Junior Yahya Madar added 24, and Junior Ben Nippolt had 20.

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Hello From i-Term!

Adam Fetcher '02 with the social change iterm groupFrom the looks on their faces in all of the photos, i-Term week has been amazing for MPA Middle Schoolers! They’ve been near and far all over the map, spending the week immersed in learning things completely new to them through hands-on projects.

i-Term courses this year range from the intricacy of dramatic stage make-up to dog sledding, and these unique opportunities all embody MPA’s mission of thinking independently and learning joyfully. Some students will come home with the newfound knowledge of how to cook Puri or where to find the best tostadas in the Twin Cities. Some students will have created their own computer app and galaxy-ready rovers. Some have met and befriended our alumni who dream big and do right beyond MPA. Some will return with adventurous stories of the rainforests in Costa Rica.

These impressionable young minds are out in the world, exploring inquiry-based, experiential learning beyond the classroom. That is the nature of i-Term. Take a look at some of the fun so far and make sure to visit our Flickr page for ongoing updates!


MPA Upper School Week Of Action

students registering to vote at mpaAt 10 AM on March 14, across every time zone in the country, students walked out of schools and classes to demand attention to school safety and gun legislation. When the clocks on our campus struck 10, the Lansing Lobby did not flood with students rushing to walk out. Instead, the Upper School Commons filled.

It has been a historic week at MPA that the Upper School students will surely never forget. They have exhibited the kind of responsibility, dedication, and action that we are proud to have at our school. The week of action was organized completely by Upper School student leaders.

To get the conversation started, on Tuesday, March 13, students organized a bipartisan Town Hall meeting on our campus with Minnesota State Senators Mark Johnson (R) and Chuck Wiger (D). “We would like to use this opportunity to facilitate a meaningful discussion between students and bipartisan policymakers about how we can work together to keep our schools and communities safe, and to hear from a variety of viewpoints on this issue,” they shared.

Then on Wednesday, equipped with calling stations, postcard templates, and the League of Women Voters, Upper School students took 17 Minutes of Action. They wrote and called their legislators and they registered and committed to voting. Some of the Middle School i-Term classes that were on campus at the time also came to witness and understand the Upper School’s 17 Minutes of Action. They were even motivated to take action themselves.

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An Inspiring Night At MPA Talks

dr. Sheneeta white at mpa talksThe powerful presentations at MPA Talks left us feeling inspired and motivated on Tuesday night. It was a wonderful evening here on campus to hear MPA parent Dr. Sheneeta White, MPA junior Ling DeBellis, and MPA science teacher Hannah Sullivan give talks that covered everything from efficiency and perseverance to happiness and fulfillment. As a community, we are so grateful to have these amazing women among us. Please enjoy pieces of their captivating presentations here!

“Think of what is valuable to you. Make them standard.” – Dr. Sheneeta White

“My future is bright because I can see hope in anything.” – Ling DeBellis

“Students need to be equipped to choose and supported to pursue their own metrics.” – Hannah Sullivan

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Plant A Tree For Tomorrow

dog sledding I termby Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am fortunate to live in a beautiful neighborhood in south Minneapolis near Minnehaha Creek and Lake Harriet. One of the things I like most about the area is the tall, towering trees that form an umbrella over the streets. They protect our house from the summer sun and fall is absolutely spectacular. I find myself expressing words of gratitude for those families who, more than 40 years ago, planted the trees that we value and enjoy today.

Like many neighborhoods in the Twin Cities, we’ve had a terrible problem with the Emerald Ash Boer. Many of our trees have had to be removed and it has been very sad to see these majestic trees cut down. Our neighborhood, however, has banded together and are once again populating the boulevard from new trees. They are small and scrawny and do not provide any protection or beauty. Yet, as we care for the small sapling in front of our house, I imagine what it will be like in 20 or 30 years as young children yet to be born enjoy the shade.

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