Class Of 2018: Alissa Krohn, Oakdale, MN

Alissa krohn '18As the 2017–18 school year comes to an end, we’re sharing the college choice stories of several members of the Class of 2018!

In what grade did you come to MPA? 4th Grade

How did you come to choose the college that you did? I was looking for colleges with strong chemical engineering programs, and I greatly appreciated Notre Dame’s strong community and commitment to using one’s education to make a positive difference in the world. I also liked that Notre Dame has a synchronized figure skating team, as this sport has been a major part of my life throughout high school.

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Celebrating The Class Of 2018

dr Hudson eating lunch with seniorsby Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

If you happened to drive through the north parking last Friday, you no doubt noticed the playfulness of the seniors as they celebrated their last day of school. From filling the parking lot with cars parked askew, to the American Ninja obstacle course inside the north entrance that we all needed to traverse, to serving ice cream at 8 AM in the morning, the seniors showed a bit of mischievous humor. For that to serve as a last impression would be a mistake. They are a group of accomplished, multi-faceted, enormously talented, and genuinely good people.

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MPA Gains In Stock Market Game

MPA Middle School students participated in the Stock Market Game MPA Middle School students Mason M., Noah H., Louis S., and Emilia M., participated in the Stock Market Game throughout the school year, ending with an awards ceremony for their success! Mason, Noah, and Louis took first place with an ending portfolio of $116,381.17, and Emilia took second place with an ending portfolio of $113,754.96!

Both teams were ranked against other teams in Minnesota ranging from seventh to ninth grade. The ceremony highlighted how it is so important for communities to be financially literate, especially at a young age. Way to go, Panthers!


Your New Parents Association Executive Board!

MPA kindergarten classThank you to those of you who voted for your new Parents Association Executive Board. The following slate was approved and will begin leading the PA and serving its families on July 1, 2018: Kim Jakway, President; Seema Anwar, President-Elect; Meredith Forgosh, Secretary; Barry Madore, Treasurer; Ginnie Peterson, Grade Representatives Lead; Russ Purdy, Upper School Division Lead; Susan Knapp and Tara Lafferty, Co-Middle School Division Leads; Tiffany Scott Knox, Lower School Division Lead.

In addition, a special thanks to those who are leaving the Parents Association Executive Board for their service this year, and, in many cases, for many prior years: Wendy Cusick, President; Cari Simonson, Secretary; Tricia Hutton, Treasurer, Christine Larson and Heidi Nelson, Co-Lower School Division Leads, Amanda Campbell and Elizabeth Esch, Co-Upper School Division Leads.


Congratulations to MPA Quiz Bowl!

2018 quiz bowlCongratulations to MPA Quiz Bowl on a fantastic season! On May 26 and 27, freshmen Isak Dai, Ryan Ghose, Hana Miller and Peter Manolis competed at the High School National Championship Tournament for Quiz Bowl. They played in 10 total matches and had a finished record of 5-5, and one of their last matches of the season came down to a buzzer beater on the very last question.

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Upper School Percussion & Woodwind Concert

US woodwind ensembleOn Friday, June 1, the Upper School Percussion and Woodwind Ensembles will be performing their annual end-of-the-year recital! You’ve never seen or heard anything like it! It will be a mix of classical and crazy, as the Woodwind Ensemble will be performing a multi-movement work by Beethoven, while the Percussion Ensemble is going completely non-traditional. Please join us at 6:30 PM in the Recital Hall for this incredible way to wrap up MPA’s concert season! In the meantime, please enjoy this Throwback Thursday to last year’s performance!


Volunteer With MPA This Summer!

MPA at MSP maker faireThe MPA Office of Admission is excited to be a part of several fun summer events around the Twin Cities, and we are looking for volunteers to help us share MPA! MPA will be at the MSP Mini Maker Faire and Grand Old Day this weekend, the Twin Cities Pride Festival, and also hosting a Twin Cities Mom’s Blog Community Heroes event here at MPA! Volunteers can sign up here on a first come, first served, basis. Thanks so much for considering and we can’t wait to see you this summer!


One Last Day At MPA

Senior brock bliese with kindergarten friendThere were so many ways we celebrated the Class of 2018’s last day of school last week, but among the most cherished was the class pairing up with the kindergartners to talk about the future and all things MPA. First, the seniors presented a “time capsule” slideshow, displaying some of the major historic events that have occurred since the Class of 2018 were kindergartners themselves! Then, then scattered in the Upper School commons (strategically avoiding the “seniors only” ping-pong area) to interview one another about their plans for the future, what they want to be when they grow up, and how they plan to acheive their goals. Look back at the Class of 2018’s last day at MPA here!


“10 Ways To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse”

zombiesMiddle School students have been hard at work preparing for their upcoming show, “10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse!” The show is a comedy by playwright Don Zolidis, whose one-acts and shows have been performed by students all over the country. Get excited and preview photos of the show here!

The show is Friday, June 1 at 3:30 PM in the Black Box Theater at MPA. Tickets are free and the run time is 35 minutes. This is a performance put on by nine fifth and sixth graders, as well as more Middle School students working backstage, that you do not want to miss!
Please contact Lower and Middle school drama teacher Heather Mastel if you have any questions!


Class Of 2018: Pranay Somayajula, Woodbury, MN

Pranay '18As the 2017–18 school year comes to an end, we’re sharing the college choice stories of several members of the Class of 2018!

In what grade did you come to MPA? 7th

How did you come to choose the college that you did? I realized that for my interest in politics and political science, the best place for me to be is Washington, D.C. Because of its location, George Washington was clearly the right college for me.

What are you most excited about as you embark on your college experience? I’m really excited for the opportunity to be in a bigger environment and interact with students from a diverse array of experiences, backgrounds, and viewpoints.

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