Mounds Park Academy

February 22, 2018

by Heather Mastel, MPA drama teacher

One of the reasons I love teaching drama is how it resonates with children. There is movement, humor, and creativity. It also teaches collaboration, communication, empathy, reflection, and problem-solving skills for creative challenges. I am excited to bring these learning opportunities to Summer at MPA! Children in Beyond Drama Class will create their own short play, while Beyond Acting! gives lower school students the chance to design, write, and choreograph. The One Act Drama Camp will challenge middle schoolers to rehearse and perform a one-act performance in just one week. We will also go see “Shrek Jr.” and tour the Guthrie Theatre.

For more information about these incredible drama classes and so many other opportunities, visit moundsparkacademy.org/summer. Next week in Panther Post, we’ll share much more about our brand-new summer musical program!

MPA Talks: Meet Hannah Sullivan

February 22, 2018

Hannah Sullivan has been teaching science at MPA since 2004. She grew up in New Hampshire and attended high school at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. She went on to study Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT. She is passionate about science education, the outdoors, and spending time with her own two young boys.

At MPA Talks, Hannah will discuss what it looks like when we create a career that gives us a sense of pride and purpose, how to discover opportunities to use our talents and pursue our passions, and how we can make space to engage our passions in our careers.

We interviewed Hannah so that you could get to know her better before hearing her speak at MPA Talks!

We ask our students to dream big and do right. Do you feel that call to action is important to the future of our society and if so, why?
I think there many different ways to approach dream big and do right. We need people who are making the world a better place on many different levels. We need local leaders, teachers, healthy role models. We need to support our friends and family. We also need national and global leaders. If we can inspire our students to think about how they can make an impact on the community around them, on any scale, then we are setting everyone up for a better future.

Come One, Come All!

February 15, 2018

Come one, come all to the Spring Auction 2018—Under the Big Top! Please join us for our only fundraising event of the year at the JX in Stillwater on Saturday, May 12. 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! Purchase tickets here!

Sponsors receive special recognition on the website and printed materials, and are invited to the exclusive pre-party where they will have special access to the silent auction, great gatherings, and games. Sponsors also support Mounds Park Academy’s faculty and staff by allowing us to provide them with complimentary tickets to the event. Become a sponsor today!

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. View the auction item wish list!

If you have any questions, please contact Susan Robertson, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Manager, at srobertson@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5531. Full event information may always be found at moundsparkacademy.org/springauction.

Thank You From The Parents Association!

February 15, 2018

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in last week’s Faculty & Staff Appreciation event! Families from all divisions donated snacks, drinks and gift cards to show our faculty and staff how much we appreciate what they do for our students, each and every day. A special thank you to Chef Doug and his staff for creating breakfast and afternoon treats and for a delicious faculty dinner last Thursday evening during conferences. Another special thanks to Vern Kissner and his staff in the Maintenance Department for help during set up, clean up, and everything in-between.

Faculty & Staff winners of the $25 Gift Card Raffle include:

Tom Connors, Marina Dale, Andy Gilbert, Lauren Hernandez, Vern Kissner, Nicole Koen, Kari O’Keefe, Pat Reinhardt, Jason Schwalen, Renee Sonka, Jay Springer, Shelley Steingraeber, Renette Stinson, Becky Tesdahl, Karen Widerski, and Dawn Zimmerman.

Anyone who brought in food or snacks in a basket or on a platter can get it back by stopping by the PA Room after school on Tuesday 2/20 or Wednesday 2/21 or email Tara Lafferty at tmattrn@aol.com.

Parent Education With Dr. Jules Nolan

February 15, 2018

The MPA Parents Association invites parents to attend two upcoming talks by Dr. Jules Nolan. Please note that these talks are open to all MPA parents, not just Middle and Lower School. However, the Wednesday discussion will be geared toward Middle School families, so while all can attend, the content will be focused on that age group’s developmental needs.

The Middle School Parent Event is Wednesday, February 21, from 8–9 AM in the Porter Conference Room. Dr. Jules Nolan will present “Social and Emotional Learning: A Better Predictor of Success in School.” This session will explore social and emotional learning, a skill set that is foundational in learning and life, and is currently the focus of new standards and benchmarks from the Minnesota Department of Education. Participants will better understand the five areas of SEL skills and how to develop lagging skills in the areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making.

MPA Athletics Highlights

February 15, 2018

It’s been an extremely exciting past week for Panther Athletics! We’ve summed up the top moments here so you can celebrate and cheer on our amazing students athletes with us!

Senior Blake Henke and the Minnesota Wild sled hockey team for winning their entire championship tournament
Boys Basketball beat conference rival SPA on Spirit Night for an undefeated week
Four Nordic Skiers advanced to State

Connect Deeper, Hug Longer, Remain Steadfast

February 15, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I had almost finished my Panther Post article yesterday when I heard the news of the latest school shooting in Florida. My worst fears as an administrator and as a parent were realized as I scrolled through my newsfeed and in the evening as I watched CNN. In light of this tragedy, it is natural to have questions of our own about the safety and security of our beloved children while at school. Tragic as it is, it is important to note that less than one percent of violent deaths are “school associated,” yet such instances do indeed feed our fears.

Very quickly, I made the decision that my initial message written for today would have to wait for another week. Instead, I offer my thoughts about the safety and security of Mounds Park Academy. In my professional assessment, I have confidence in our security measures and great faith in our school community culture. We can never, and should not ever, take anything for granted or let down our guard. There is always room for growth and we are committed to continuous review and improvement. In order to answer any questions, address any concerns, or allay any fears you may have, I offer the following.

Invite A Friend To Lunch At MPA!

February 15, 2018

Our next admission event will be Lunch at MPA on Wednesday, March 14 starting at 11:30 AM! Invite a friend, neighbor, colleague, or anyone you know who shares your educational values. Guests are invited to campus during a regular school day to meet school administrators over a casual meal and tour the campus to see our students and teachers in action.

Kindly extend our invite and have your friends RSVP in advance for this engaging program at moundsparkacademy.org/RSVP. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admission at 651-748-5577 or admission@moundsparkacademy.org.

A Joyful Valentine’s Day

February 15, 2018

A big thank you to the whole community for spreading love and joy and making Valentine’s Day on campus such a special one! We hope you had fun with our giveaway contest and are so grateful for each and every one of you!

See some adorable Valentine’s Day party photos here! And, yes, that is Ms. Petersen sliding down the bouncy house slide!

Maker Fest 2018 Is Coming Up!

February 15, 2018

Gather your tinkering tools, because the first annual MPA Maker Fest is next weekend! We are so excited to introduce this new community event. The AnnMarieThomas Makerspace has been an imaginative, invaluable, and captivating addition to our campus this year, and this event will bring our makers’ work beyond the classroom and into the community.

Saturday, February 24
1-3 PM
Makerspace & Cafeteria
Come as a spectator (no RSVP necessary)
Or host a display table (sign up here)

Participants can sign up either individually or with a group to host a display table. Participation is open to everyone in our community—students, parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, and more. This is the perfect opportunity to “show and tell” something that you have created and share your accomplishments. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Koen at nkoen@moundsparkacademy.org.