Mounds Park Academy

October 25, 2017

What do you love about MPA?
One word—community. I love that MPA is such a tightly knit community and you have the ability to form close and lasting relationships, whether they are with another student, an MPA parent, or a faculty member. MPA is unique in that it not only provides an opportunity to form close bonds, but that it actively encourages their formation.

How are you encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
Every day in class, we are pushed to consider not just the information that we are learning, but the implications of those concepts on a broader global scale now and in the future. Whether the class is English, science, math, or history, we are encouraged to apply everything we learn to make a positive difference outside the classroom.

What would you tell a family considering MPA?
I can say with the utmost confidence that I would not be the person I am today, with the achievements and ambitions that I currently have, were it not for the outstanding education and community here at MPA. This school provided me with a support system that has allowed me over the years to find my voice, become more outgoing, and think beyond just myself in a way that makes me feel entirely prepared to go off to college and the real world next year. Read More

Laurel Schwartz’s World Premiere

October 20, 2017

Laurel Schwartz ’11 began creating video content about chronic illness when she was just 12 years old through her work with Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Now 24, her documentary “Running Breathless” will world premiere at the Twin Cities Film Festival October 21 (tomorrow!) at 12:10 PM.

This is her directorial, editorial, and acting festival debut. Having spent the last two years as a producer at Leo Burnett’s internal production company, Greenhouse, she is now returning to school to pursue social work at Columbia University. In grad school, Schwartz hopes to explore uses for digital communication in chronic illness management and advocacy. She hopes to use her passion for film and digital media to share stories about chronic illness often left out of popular media.

Meet Ling DeBellis ’19

October 16, 2017

What do you love about MPA?
From the beginning, MPA focuses on every part of learning—curiosity, creativity, and discovery. In Lower School, it’s letting you grow, giving you a solid foundation of asking questions, and experiencing new things. In Middle School, it’s learning how and why things work. There’s emphasis on independence and self-expression. In Upper School, it’s connecting the dots, learning to find deeper meaning and themes within all subjects. MPA has made me a thinker and a better human.

How are you encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
I know it’s okay to be me. I know that I can do what I set my mind to. I’m unstoppable because MPA has taught me to question, to think, and to care in every aspect of my life—academic and social.

If you have attended another school, how has your experience at MPA been different?
MPA is my home. I started in PreK in 2005 (first PreK class).

What would you tell a family considering MPA?
It’s a great place for your kids to grow up—it feels safe. We are a community. And the classes are amazing with even more amazing teachers. Read More

Recycle Items To The Makerspace!

October 12, 2017

The Makerspace is in need of supplies for a variety of projects! Please do not purchase supplies, but if there is something you have at home that you no longer need, consider donating it to MPA. Please see below for examples.

paper tubes
plastic caps (small plastic odds and ends)
metal jar lids
corks
googly eyes
pipe cleaners
scrapbook paper
shoe boxes
beads
felt
larger pieces of fabric
acrylic paint
thread
scrap wood (no longer than 6 feet long)
LEGOs
small metal trinkets or found items (old or mismatched jewelry, toys, keys, door handles, keychains, figurines, gears, etc.)
Duct tape
Command poster strips and hooks
double-sided tape
colored electrical tape
Velcro
packing tape
sponges
sand paper
sanding sponges
hot glue sticks

Please drop donations off in the Development Office. If you are dropping off wood, please bring directly to the Makerspace. Thank you for helping us imagine and create!

Makerspace Dedication Event

October 12, 2017

Thank you to all who came to the Makerspace Dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Each and every one of you made the day fun and special! We hope you enjoyed getting to use your hands and minds in the STEAM activities and learned more about what goes on every day in the Makerspace here at MPA. Whether you went home with a customized Makerspace button to wear or a newfound love for building Rube Goldberg machines, it seemed everyone had a great afternoon of discovery and play. We are proud to show you what our students are experiencing and working with at school. For more photos of the event, visit our Flickr page.

To watch Dr. AnnMarie Thomas’s inspiring and insightful talk to the MPA community during the Makerspace assembly on Friday, October 6, please visit our YouTube channel! She tells a vivid and relatable story of finding her passion, from childhood to college and now as an educator. She truly moved the community at every level.

Lower School Parent Meeting

October 12, 2017

Come meet new parents and catch up with old friends while hearing about educational topics from the MPA faculty! You’re invited to the Parents Association Lower School parent meeting on Thursday, October 26 from 5-6 PM or Friday, October 27 from 8-9 AM. In an effort to accommodate busy schedules, we are offering two meeting times with the same agenda. Both meetings will be hosted in the Porter Conference Room located on the north end of of campus.

If you choose to come to the afternoon meeting, your child is welcome to attend Panther Club at the expense of the PA.

The educational topic will focus on Schoology, presented by Ms. Kitch, PreK-12 Technology Integration Specialist. You will learn how to use this new tool effectively and the answers to questions you may be experiencing, like “What is the difference between the app and the website? Do you contact teachers via email or through Schoology? If you post a message, does everyone see it?” The faculty guest is Ms. Rossbach, founding faculty member and visual arts teacher. She will share the arts department educational philosophy. This meeting is brought to you through the collaboration of Ms. Wright, Lower School director and PA Co-Lower School division leads, Heidi Nelson and Christine Larson.

MPA Blood Drive

October 12, 2017

The first grade and Upper School Student Council have teamed up to host the MPA Blood Drive as their service project for the year. Not only is it exciting for the students to work with each other across divisions, but they are enthusiastic about supporting an important cause.

The students are having the drive to spread a simple message: giving blood is easy, and it will save lives. Much of today’s medical care depends on having a steady supply of blood provided by donors. The philanthropy of it is that donating blood saves lives on a local and global level. Patients in need of red blood cells, transfusions for emergency surgeries, and treatment of illnesses such as Leukemia and other cancers all benefit from your irreplaceable donation.

To support them, please consider offering an hour of your time to donate blood on Thursday, October 26. You may sign-up by going online to redcrossblood.org. Our sponsor code/keyword is Mounds Park Academy. If you know that you are unable to give blood, please be sure to ask friends or relatives! If you have questions about your eligibility to donate please call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767). The first grade students and Upper School Student Council sincerely appreciate it!

The Joy of Giving

October 12, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am a loyal listener to MPR. I rely on it to stay current and up-to-date with what is happening in the world and in our community. It also keeps Ari and me company on the commute to and from school from our home in southwest Minneapolis. We listen to it so often that she may be one of the few middle schoolers who considers Tom Crann and Robert Siegel to be celebrities.

As faithful as I am to MPR, I don’t look forward to the seasonal (bothersome) pledge drives. However, I was pleased last fall when Ari asked me if she could use some of her own money to become a member of MPR. Maybe it was the free socks that motivated her but I know she values the conversations we have about what we hear on MPR. I hope she gave because she has come to realize that philanthropic giving is important to us as a family.

IMAC Championship

October 12, 2017

On a splendid day, you had many splendid performances, including three 1st place finishes and a 2nd place finish, and 5 all conference awards and 2 honorable mention awards.

Our middle school runners started things off with Evan winning the boys race and Emily B. taking the girls race. Louis finished 6th and Ben finished 7th in the boys race, followed closely by Henry G. in 10th place. Soren and Noah wrapped things up for the middle school runners.

Declan led our boys team, and everyone else, winning by over a minute! Tanner finished in 6th place, with Henry S. in 8th place, Isak in 9th place, and Henry P. in 12th place. Isak and Henry P. earned personal best times for their efforts. Matt had a rough outing, not fully recovered from his various ailments. Sumner ran close to his personal best time. Peter ran a personal best by over a minute! Dylan, Aneesh, Travis, and Pranay ran well. Alejandro ran his first full 5,000 meter race, and ran well.

Our boys team narrowly missed the team championship, falling short by 2 points. They ran very well, but Minnehaha ran just a little better.

Margo led our girls team. She shadowed the leaders for much of the race and made a big move during the last 600 meters to take 2nd place. All this in a uniform she stitched to better fit her! Izzy ran well to finish 12th, earning honorable mention honors. Katie ran close to her best on this course. Sarah and Skylar did run their best times on the course. Emily W. was close to her best time. Izzy G. ran well in her debut at Battle Creek. Mari improved her best time by 40 seconds.

You accomplished some big things today. And while the boys team fell 2 points short of a title, they ran very well. With more hard work and a solid taper before our section meet, perhaps you can improve on today’s amazing races.

Results for the middle school boys, middle school girls, varsity boys, junior varsity boys, varsity girls, and junior varsity girls are available at Gopher State Events.

Homework Help … For Parents!

October 10, 2017

The parental end-goal with respect to homework is to have children take full responsibility for their assignments; to truly succeed, their motivation needs to come from within. Achieving that ideal may take years of patience and a healthy dose of self-restraint, but there are some tried-and-true strategies that Mounds Park Academy, a private PreK-12 college prep school in Saint Paul, recommends.

Many parents ask, “What should my role be?!” The most critical factor in assessing the appropriate parental role in homework is a child’s age. Typically, parents need to take a much more hands-on role with Lower School students than they do in later years, as their children are learning what it means to be in school and the responsibilities that come with it. In Middle School, students are studying subjects with ever-increasing intensity and complexity; more is required of them every year. The Upper School is where the academic preparation from elementary and middle school plays out and pays off.

The information below offers several overarching recommendations for parents, across the grade levels, and then outlines some more specific guidance.

Your Role PreK-12

Today’s children confront myriad distractions; it’s no longer just the sibling sitting across the kitchen table. Cell phones, iPads, laptops, social media, streaming videos, and the sibling across the kitchen table all provide ample and at-the-ready distractions from the task at hand. Below are some recommendations to keep your child, of any age, focused.

Create a homework space free from technology and interruption. Provide an environment that is conducive to doing homework (i.e. quiet and consistent place). Collect the cell phones and other electronic devices until it’s a tech-free zone. To the parents of teenagers, this may seem like a daunting, if not impossible, proposition. But a device-free zone is best for student learning.
Cheer on kids to help motivate them. Kids of all ages appreciate encouragement. Compliment how focused they are, how proud you are of their accomplishments, and how hard they’re working. Believe in your student’s capability and resourcefulness.
Leave the pen-to-paper to them. When you’re explaining a concept to your child, sometimes it’s just easier to use the pen and show them how to solve the problem. But resist the urge to do that. Offer support to the student, but don’t do the actual homework. Children need to own their work and feel a sense of accomplishment from a job well done. The goal is for it to be more efficient to work independently than it is to get help.
Set a good example. You may not have homework to do, but you can help model positive behaviors that help your child develop good homework habits. Limit your own screen time, develop healthy sleeping habits, read for pleasure, and manage your own distractions when there are tasks that you need to complete. Talk to your child about your own habits and share ideas that help you.