Seeking Nominees for the MPA Board of Trustees

December 7, 2017

MPA Board of TrusteesMPA’s Board of Trustees is a self-generative body of about 18–22 trustees, each of whom serves up to two 3-year terms. The Governance Committee of the Board solicits, evaluates, interviews, and recommends to the full Board, for its consideration, potential candidates to serve as trustees.

Over the upcoming weeks, the Board’s Governance Committee is commencing its annual process of identifying, evaluating, and interviewing a slate of potential trustee candidates. Candidates will be presented to the full Board at its May meeting, and candidates who are selected to serve will begin their first 3-year term in July 2018.

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Volunteer At The Middle School Cafe!

December 7, 2017

Boys practicing at Middle School CafeThe Parents Association is looking for volunteers to help with the Middle School Cafe! This a great opportunity to help out MPA and spend some time with your middle school student.

If you would like to be a part of the Middle School Cafe planning team, please attend the meeting on Tuesday, December 12, at 8 AM in the Parents Association Room, located in the cafeteria. Please contact Ginnie Peterson at ginniepeterson@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!

MPA Alum Receives Student Film Production Award

December 7, 2017

Erin Law and Megan McKinley with their Crystal Pillar AwardErin Law, Class of 2012, received a Crystal Pillar Award at the the Chicago-Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences last weekend! The Crystal Pillar is NATAS’ highest award for student productions.

Erin is in her second year of graduate studies, mastering in digital media and storytelling. Erin’s documentary, created with Megan McKinley of California, was “Dress For Success.” The mission of Dress For Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Congratulations, Erin! We love how you are dreaming big and doing right!

MPA Debate Succeeds at State

December 7, 2017

Pranay and Meg at StateThe MPA Upper School Debate team competed at the State Debate Tournament last weekend, placing third overall! The varsity team of Pranay Somayajula and Meg Wilkening were semifinalists, losing on an extremely close decision. As a senior, Pranay was both proud and nostalgic as the tournament came to a close.

“I’m really proud of Meg and myself for getting as far as we did. Competing at state was definitely a little bittersweet for me, as it was my last high school debate tournament and debate has meant a lot to me over the last four years,” he said.

Though he’ll be graduating from MPA this spring, he is anticipating a lot of success for the team he is leaving and knows that they’re ready to learn more and conquer new challenges next year.

“The competition was definitely tough, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen MPA compete at the State Tournament with more determination than we did this past weekend, and that’s been reflected throughout the season. I was really happy to see my debate career at MPA end so well,” Pranay said. “I’m also especially proud of our younger debaters who are easily the most dedicated and successful group of novices I’ve ever seen. After what I saw this weekend, I’m confident MPA debate is in a great spot for next year and years to come.” Read More

The Importance of Play and Movement

December 7, 2017

Two students sledding at schoolby Renee Wright, Lower School Director

Lower School students participated in Sports Week the week of November 27. This Lower School tradition is a joyful way to promote physical activity, and as I watched the students immersed in sports activities, I reflected on my own childhood and realize how much I had missed in being a student prior to the enactment and implementation of Title IX. I did not have the opportunity to try out different sports or compete on a sports team. How joyful to watch our students—girls and boys alike—celebrating sports and cheering on each other.

Throughout the week students had the opportunity to tell their sports story and were reminded of the importance of being physically active. On sports dress-up day, students came dressed as soccer players, skiers, dancers, football players, skaters, and more. I was so impressed with the pride Lower School students showed when sharing their sport or talking about the physical activities they participate in individually, on a team, or with their families. When asked why sports are important to them, kindergarteners shared, “Because it is fun to play sports with friends, being active gives you more energy, and playing sports makes your body healthier.”

The kindergarteners were right in identifying the importance (not to mention the fun) of staying physically active. Research shows that sports participation is a significant predictor of a young adult’s participation in physical fitness activities. Three in four adults aged 30+ who play sports today played sports as school-aged children. Only three percent of adults who play sports did not play when they were young (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard University/NPR, 2015). Read More

Faculty & Staff Holiday Appreciation

December 5, 2017

PA holiday gift wrappingShow your appreciation for MPA Faculty and Staff by volunteering to wrap holiday gifts in the Porter Conference Room on December 11, 2017 from 8 AM-3 PM! Shifts are flexible! Spend one or two hours, or split the day and wrap a little in the morning and a little in the afternoon. Sign up here to volunteer! Thanks for all of your help!

MPA Sails Through The Great Oaks Regatta

November 30, 2017

MPA sailing at the Great Oaks RegattaMPA juniors Karan Jain, Toby Sullivan, and Jose Varela came in second in the Great Oaks National Invitational Regatta in New Orleans!

The Great Oaks Regatta is a national championship for schools with small sailing teams. Teams need to qualify in a regional regatta in order to be invited to compete in New Orleans. This is the MPA team’s third consecutive year of qualifying and participating and it was their best result yet. Go Panthers!

Generosity Improves The Black Box Theatre

November 30, 2017

students behind the scenes of Peter panRenovating the Black Box Theatre was MPA’s Fund A Need from the last Spring Auction. In less than five minutes, our community raised nearly $100,000 to make necessary improvements. The Fine Arts Department was humbled to be spotlighted and supported by the community in such a profound way.

The Middle School Play, Peter Pan, sold out four performances in the newly-remodeled space, and everyone noticed a difference in the new lighting, costume shop, infrastructural updates, and learning spaces that proved to be valuable to the students and their teachers throughout the entire production.

Heather Mastel, drama teacher and Middle School Play director, shares the difference: “I overheard many positive comments about the updated look with the new risers and chairs. The curtain made the Black Box look so polished. My favorite part of the remodel was the costume shop though … looking at it now, I don’t know how we even got by with the previous space. The new space allows for collaboration and work in the shop!”

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Lower School Kid Of The Game

November 30, 2017

lower school students playing basketballMPA students in grades PreK-4 are invited to be a Lower School Kid of the Game at an MPA Boys Varsity Basketball home game!

The Kid of the Game will first be introduced before the game, then join the Panthers and coaches on the court for pregame warm ups, and receive an MPA basketball gift and concession stand item. Being a Lower School Kid of Game is free and siblings are welcome to be Lower School Kid of Game on the same night.

Sign up here to join the fun!

MPA Students Selected For State Honor Choirs

November 30, 2017

Solveig Svennevig-Brosi (Class 2020) and Jordan Akers (Class of 2020)Congratulations to Solveig Svennevig-Brosi (Class 2020) and Jordan Akers (Class of 2020) who auditioned online and were selected to be members of the 9-10 ACDA-MN State Honor Choirs!

Solveig will sing in the SSAA Honor Choir under the direction of Jennaya Robinson from Luther College.

A second-year member of the SATB Honor Choir, Jordan will sing with Jonathan Talberg who teaches at California State University.

Jordan and Solveig will prepare their Honor Choir music for a day long festival in February culminating with a performance in the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Solveig and Jordan both currently sing in the MPA Concert Choir and Madrigals Singers. Best wishes to our musicians!