Parents Association News And Events December 11, 2025
December 11, 2025
“Stories In The Snow” at the Book Festival has lived up to its name this week! Thank you to all the families who have joined and the parent volunteers who made it happen. There is still one day left to make purchases!
Please join us tomorrow during the following times or order online:
As we head into winter break, please look ahead for upcoming events in 2026 via the MPA calendar.
Welcome To MPA, Ms. Lauren Palumbo!
December 10, 2025
Welcome to MPA, Ms. Lauren Palumbo! Ms. Palumbo joined us on Wednesday, December 10, as a business office administrative assistant and transportation coordinator, and we are thrilled to introduce her to our community.
From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Oklahoma universities. I studied at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, and then continued at East Central University to pursue a Master of Science in human resources. I come from a long history of working for the state of Oklahoma. I was an administrative assistant and business office manager when I was employed at the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
What did you find appealing about MPA?
I love the opportunity to work in a school setting, creating a safe and welcoming environment for all those who enter MPA.
After-School Activities Canceled Today
December 9, 2025
Dear MPA Community –
Due to the approaching weather system, all after-school activities—including games, practices, events, and meetings—are canceled this afternoon, Tuesday, December 9.
School will remain in session until our regular dismissal time at 3 PM. All buses, including the Minneapolis route, will run as scheduled. Families utilizing Panther Club or Panther Den are asked to pick up their children as soon after dismissal as possible, and no later than 4 PM, to ensure everyone’s safety on the roads. Read More
December 8, 2025
Congratulations to the MPA debate team on a fantastic performance at the Classic State Debate Festival. Fifty students represented the school and debated about the benefits and drawbacks of the U.S. military commitment to South Korea. Their countless hours of research, thinking, and practice contributed to numerous successes across the three divisions of competition—novice, junior varsity, and varsity and to the team finishing third in the sweepstakes competition.
We call the tournament the Classic Debate Championships in novice and junior varsity. In the novice division, the team of Maahi Bhalla and Alice Van Keerbergen advanced to the quarterfinal round. In the junior varsity division, the teams of Truman Wilgocki and Soren Winikoff and Drew Buhr and Harper Short advanced to the octafinal round. The team of Kelvyn Boddipalli and Nico Bergh advanced to the quarterfinal round.
The varsity division is called the Minnesota State High School League Classic Debate State Festival, as the MSHSL sponsors the awards for this event. Three teams had standout performances. The team of Yusuf Ali and Liam Kimmerle narrowly missed advancing to the elimination rounds and finished tenth. The team of Josh Murr and Lucille Mayer advanced to the semifinal round of competition, losing on a narrow 2-1 decision. Finally, the team of Ash Klann and Mina Kim advanced to the final round of the tournament, finishing as runners-up in a very close round. Read More
Experience MPA On A School Day!
December 8, 2025
This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the December 10, 2025 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!
During your school exploration process, have you asked yourself, “What is a day in the life of an MPA student like?”
To answer all of the above and more, we want to remind you of tomorrow’s opportunity to experience life at MPA on a school day. Our PreK-12 School Day Preview this Thursday, December 11, from 8:30-10 AM, will give you that inside look at MPA and it is not too late to RSVP!
This event is the perfect opportunity for your family to see yourselves here. You will be led on a small group tour and experience the joyful learning that happens here, in and out of the classroom. In addition to exploring our state-of-the-art spaces firsthand, you will also have the opportunity to meet and engage with academic leaders–bring your questions!
RSVP below to discover something remarkable. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admission at 651-748-5577 or admission@moundsparkacademy.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
Lower School Division News December 4, 2025
December 4, 2025
from James Ewer, Lower School director
As we head into our upcoming break, I want to pause and simply say thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your little ones. Thank you for the countless ways you show up, ask thoughtful questions, and partner with us. We are deeply grateful to have your family in this community.
A long break is a gift. I hope you use it to take care of yourselves and come back feeling blessed, grounded, and ready for the months ahead. A few simple ideas:
Middle School Division News December 4, 2025
December 4, 2025
from Paul Errickson, Middle School director
I love December. I love the snow, and I don’t mind the cold too much. I love that we have sledding at recess and our annual Hour of Code week coming up. I love our Winter Concert next Thursday night and our Founders’ Day Pancake Breakfast that Friday. And I love how we send our students off into their winter break on Friday, December 19, with a day of service and fun for our fifth- and sixth-grade students and a winter carnival for our seventh- and eighth-grade students. Most of all, I love how this time of year reminds us of the progress we have made so far, and gives us the space to celebrate that learning.
One of the best ways we do this is with our Middle School Winter Concert. Next Thursday evening, December 11, all sixth- through eighth-grade students will perform in both their choir and band/orchestra groups. For parents and friends who arrive early, I encourage you to walk around the Middle School and Family Commons to see some of their amazing artwork that is on display—there has been so much inspiring work this fall! Here is more information about the concert timing and attire.
Also coming up next week, we have our quarterly Middle School Parent Coffee. At our last meeting, families were asking about the Upper School program and how we help to transition our students into the Upper School. We have asked Upper School director, Mark Segal, to join us on Tuesday morning, December 9, from 8-9:30 AM in the PCR to talk about the wonders of our Upper School and answer any questions you might have. If there’s something specific you hope for him to address or a lingering question you might have, please email me ahead of time, so I can be sure he is ready for us. Read More
Upper School Division News December 4, 2025
December 4, 2025
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
All Upper School students are invited to attend our annual Semiformal Dance on Saturday, December 13, at the historic Union Depot in St. Paul. School social events like this play an important role in fostering connection, joy, and belonging among our community members while offering them a space to build memories beyond the classroom. Bringing together all grade levels in the Upper School strengthens our sense of unity and allows students to celebrate as one community, reinforcing the relationships that make MPA such a vibrant and supportive place to learn and grow.
The Semiformal Dance is scheduled for 8-11 PM. Tickets went on sale this week and will continue to be sold through next week. Both cash and credit cards are accepted for payment. It is wonderful that this event is being held off campus at the Union Depot, and there will be signage directing students to the event space where the dance is being held: the Red Cap Room.
Read More
Parents Association News And Events December 4, 2025
December 4, 2025
Thanks to all the parents who joined our inaugural PA Community-Wide Meeting on Monday! We’ll report back in the January edition of Parent Press. In case you missed it, here is our December edition.
Last Chance To Join The Book Club With Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon
Please join Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon and fellow book-loving parents for a discussion of Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” on Thursday, December 18, from 6-7:30 PM, in the Martin Lenz Harrison Library! Light snacks and refreshments will be served. Please RSVP here by Friday, December 5.
Stories In The Snow Book Festival Is Next Week!
There are still a few slots open to volunteer! It’s not too late to sign up to make this festival a success.
Please visit MPA’s very own Scholastic website to…
Book Fair Purchasing Hours
Upcoming Events With MPA Admin!
November 24, 2025
This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the November 25, 2025 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!
You are invited to hear and see the spirit of our manifesto. It is an invitation to every student to be a freethinker, a free spirit, a risk taker, a right maker, a dreamer, and a doer. It is our promise to you. Explore our promise, the MPA manifesto, here.
At MPA, students are not simply learning; they are learning how to learn, how to think critically, solve creatively, and transform the wildness of their imagination into inspiration for others. They immerse themselves in the arts, explore the complexity of the sciences, and grow the roots of social responsibility as they discover who they are truly meant to be.
Our manifesto guides and reflects why we believe students like yours are made for Mounds Park Academy—their type of amazing calls for an education that awakens their senses, unleashes wonder, encourages respectful discourse, and cultivates a lifelong joy of learning.
We hope these words inspire you as much as it inspires us every day. If you have any questions or want to explore what learning looks like at MPA on campus, we invite you to RSVP for the PreK-12 MPA School Day Preview on December 11, or connect with us to schedule your personal tour.