Mounds Park Academy

Lower School Division News January 30, 2025

January 30, 2025

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, January 31: Returning Family Re-Enrollment Agreements Sent
Friday, January 31: January Uniform Sale, 8 AM-3:30 PM, Atrium
Tuesday, February 4: LS/MS Lunch & Learn: G5 Pizza Panel, 11:35 AM-12 PM, Rooms 150-151
Thursday, February 6: LS Duty-Free Lunch with Parent Volunteers, 11:30 AM-12:40 PM, Playground and Family Commons
Thursday, February 6: LS/MS Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
Friday, February 7: No LS/MS Classes, Conferences
Friday, February 7: LS/MS Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM
Wednesday, February 12: All School Pairing Assembly
Thursday, February 13: LS Valentine’s Day Party, 8:30 AM-2:30 PM, Lansing Sports Center and Family Commons
Friday, February 14: No Classes, Professional Development
Friday, February 14: Panther Club and PreK Closed
Saturday, February 15: Returning Family Re-Enrollment Deadline
Monday, February 17: No Classes, Presidents’ Day
Monday, February 17: Panther Club and PreK Closed
Wednesday, February 19: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-8:45 AM, Family Commons

The Lower School students had a blast celebrating Lunar New Year on January 29, with some Upper School students. We enjoyed learning about the different ways that the new year is celebrated in different countries; we inquired into our zodiac signs, played games, and made crafts, and we had fun watching a wonderful lion dance performance with a local dance troop. Happy Year of the Snake!

Winter FastBridge Assessments

All kindergarten students engaged in the FastBridge assessment for reading and math with learning specialist Mrs. Ross from January 15-24. Students in first through fourth grade who are currently in intervention groups for reading, writing and/or math also completed the FastBridge assessments for the subject(s) in which they receive intervention. Your child’s results will be shared with you at Winter Conferences. Please sign up for a time to see Ms. Ross to discuss your child’s progress.

Semester 1 Reports Sent Home on January 28
Report cards for semester 1 (September through January) were sent home earlier this week. Please let the office know if you need assistance with the report or have any questions. Read More

State Of The School Part Two: Strengthening Our Future, Together

January 30, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we continue through the school year, I want to offer part two of my state of the school report by taking a moment to reflect on the incredible progress we have made as a community and share key updates on the state of Mounds Park Academy. Our commitment to academic excellence, inclusion, faculty support, and institutional sustainability remains stronger than ever. With thoughtful planning and strategic initiatives, we are building a future that ensures every student thrives.

Strengthening Our Community of Belonging
One of MPA’s greatest strengths is its inclusive and welcoming environment. We are proud to have launched the Upper School Student Belonging Group, a student-led initiative aimed at fostering a space where every student feels free to be their authentic self. This group is collaborating with our Equity & Belonging team to develop a meaningful Black History Month program that will engage the entire school community.

MPA’s commitment to diversity extends beyond our campus. A delegation of 13 students, faculty, staff, and trustees recently attended the 2024 People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Denver. In addition, we are honored to be the official sponsor of the second annual Minnesota Student Diversity Leadership Conference in partnership with SPA. Read More

MPA Seeking International Student Host Families

January 27, 2025

Do you have room to spare? Space in your heart for another family member? A desire to expand your family’s perspective of the world? MPA is seeking host families for international students for the 2025-26 school year!

Between the adults in their school and home lives, our international students feel supported, nurtured, and loved while living so far from their families. This is vital to their success and the strongest testament to everything our MPA host families and staff do to care for our international students.

We would love it if you and your family considered hosting an international student for next school year. As you and your family consider hosting, here are some topics that may arise. The information below is by no means an exhaustive list, but it may answer some of the initial questions you have and prompt additions ones as well:

Stipend

A 10-month stipend of $10,200 will be directly deposited in equal installments of $1,020/month on the first of each month for the previous month, September through June.
An early installment of $500 will be deposited on August 1 in preparation for your student’s arrival; the remaining $500 will be deposited on September 1.
The daily stipend rate of $30/day will be taken from and disbursed to host families who are providing respite care for a student, as needed.

Transportation

Host families are responsible for providing transportation to and from school and school-related activities.
Host families are responsible for providing transportation to and from the airport when the student travels.
Host families will work with their students in scheduling rides for social events.

Meals

All international students will receive the MPA school lunch. Host families and students do not need to pack lunches.
Host families are responsible for providing two meals on all weekdays and three meals on all weekend days.

By hosting an international student, you and your family have a unique opportunity to bring the language, culture, and perspective of another country into your home, allowing for a truly rich and genuine intercultural experience. The students will love to share their lives with you while becoming a part of your family, exploring Minnesota, and enjoying MPA student life all at the same time.

We hope you’ll consider opening your hearts and homes to one of our international students. If you have any questions, please contact Cory Becker-Kim, International Student Program Director and Advanced Language & Culture Teacher, at cbeckerkim@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-383-8961.

Click here to fill out a Host Family Application, and here for more information. Thank you so much for considering!

Five Things To Know About MPA From Maren G.

January 24, 2025

As an eighth grader, Maren speaks to leadership opportunities in Middle School, competing on the Nordic ski team, the value of a closely-knit community, and more!

1. We have i-Term in Middle School.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Quebec, Canada last year for i-Term. I learned so much about French-Canadian culture and ate a lot of local cuisine.

2. Athletic team experiences are memorable.

I ski every winter on MPA’s Nordic team. It is a great experience and has provided the opportunity to meet new friends, enjoy the Minnesota winter, and improve my skiing!

3. There are so many fine arts opportunities.

The options MPA provides to excel in fine arts has made me a more well-rounded person, and I enjoy being able to play both violin and sing in choir.

4. Students are encouraged to lead.

MPA encourages students to join clubs or create their own. My friends and I run Design Club in the middle school. Some of our past projects include designing the middle school planner, locker posters, and appreciation gifts for our teachers.

5. We have a small, close community

I am grateful for the opportunity to attend MPA with my three sisters. I have one older sister who is a sophomore, and two younger sisters who are in sixth grade and third grade. I am lucky to see them at school thanks to the cohesive community bond we have between divisions.

State Of The School Part One

January 23, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

It is my custom to provide a yearly “state of the school” report in January, and I will use my Panther Post messages today and next week to highlight key updates and insights into our progress and future direction. Let me say upfront that MPA is in excellent shape and in a strong position locally, regionally, and nationally. Your partnership, support, and trust make it possible for MPA to continue thriving as a school community dedicated to cultivating a love of learning and fostering excellence in our students.

Enrollment Growth and Community Strength
I am thrilled to share that our enrollment for this year stands at 571 students, exceeding our forecast and marking continued growth. This is a testament to the exceptional reputation of MPA within the broader community. Once again, the demand for Lower School is a primary driver of this growth, with as many new students joining Lower School as the Middle and Upper Schools combined. We are proud to report that several grades, including kindergarten, first grade, third grade, sixth grade, and seventh grade, are fully enrolled with most other grades having just a few spots open.

Community member recommendations have emerged as the most common way that new families discover MPA, reflecting the power of word-of-mouth and the strength of our community’s commitment to our school’s mission. Additionally, attrition rates are at their lowest in several years, particularly during key transition years such as PreK to kindergarten, fourth to fifth grade, and eighth to ninth grade. This retention demonstrates the confidence families have in the continuity and quality of an MPA education. Looking ahead to the 2025-26 school year, we anticipate maintaining or slightly increasing enrollment. This steady, incremental growth aligns with demographic trends in the east metro area of the Twin Cities. Read More

MPA Takes On Future City Competition

January 23, 2025

Three teams were selected from the nine teams that participated in the Future City Competition from MPA. The three teams, Larmes (Holland B., Sylvie W., Mason R., Brooke S., Lily M.), AuroraVann (Mia K., Jaclyn L., Ford B., Maren G., Violette N.), and Makarapolis (Declan S, Sukey R., Tori M., Olivia K., Madelyn K.) attended the regional competition, which was held on Saturday, January 18, at Metro State University St. Paul campus. Teams spent the morning giving their seven-minute presentation twice to two different teams of City Model/Presentation judges. Teams had to present what makes their city innovative and keeps its citizens healthy and safe. Judges then had 8-10 minutes to ask the teams questions about their city.

When teams were not giving their presentations to the City Model/Q&A judges, Special Awards judges visited them and asked them questions specific to the Special Awards. Each team could select up to six Special Awards for which they wanted to be interviewed.

AuroraVann made it to the afternoon judging, where the top five teams of the competition presented. AuroraVann received an honorable mention and an award for having the most points for their city model. Makarapolis won an award for Readiness for Natural and Human-made Disasters, given to the team that has demonstrated the most thought into addressing risks to its infrastructure and populace stemming from potential natural and human-made disasters. We are so proud of our Panther representatives!

Photos from the Future City Competition can be found here.

Parents Association News And Events January 23, 2025

January 23, 2025

We are trying something new this year for Faculty and Staff Appreciation, which is being hosted by different grade groupings throughout the year, and it has been a huge hit. Last Friday, parent volunteers from seventh through ninth grade hosted candle-making, special breakfast drinks, and a raffle. Thank you to all who chipped in to show our love for the faculty and staff at MPA!

MPA PA Trivia Night

Join us for the second annual MPA PA Trivia Night on Friday, January 24, in the Family Commons! This will be a joyful night out for dinner and socializing! There will also be friendly competition against fellow parents for the chance to hold the title of Parents Association Trivia Night Champion!

Details

All parents and guardians of students in PreK-12 are welcome.
Upper School and college students are welcome with their parents, although this is primarily a parent event.
Limited childcare for students in grades K through six with pre-registration by Upper School student volunteers. Please note that the MPA PA is unable to provide childcare for children in PreK or younger.
Dinner will be provided for parents and children by Cossetta.
Cost is $6 per person, adults and children. Registration is required to help us plan food quantities. Registration must be completed in advance for childcare.

MPA Book Festival

Get ready to fall in love with reading at the MPA Book Festival from February 10-13 in the MPA Gallery!

Each year at MPA, our community supports the Martin Lenz Harrison Library and the joy of reading through the Book Festival. This is a time-honored MPA tradition for all MPA families to get new books into the hands of students while supporting Library initiatives and a beloved local bookstore. The book festival is for everyone!

Why Alumni Are Choosing MPA For Their Children

January 22, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the January 22 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

The full-circle moment of welcoming alumni back when they bring their own children to MPA is very special. As such a young school, we’ve started to see an upward trend of alumni bringing their children to MPA in recent years. And because the fabric of our alumni community is so unique, we hear a lot of different reasons why; joyful memories of their time here, aligning values, an overall feeling of home, and crediting MPA for preparing them for the world.

“A lot of who I am and who I came to be started in this building and continues to stay with me today,” says Spencer Butts, a class of 1999 MPA alum. “I’ve seen both of my boys, since they’ve been at MPA, learn better study habits and learn how to challenge themselves without being prompted. I think their self-confidence–socially and academically–has changed and improved. MPA really beautifully walks along that fence of making sure that students understand that rigor is an important part of life. But, I think it’s also understood that you have to be able to understand failure to succeed at the end of the day.” This is why Spencer chose MPA for his children.

Like Spencer, our alumni have had transformative experiences at MPA, and they want their children to benefit from the same environment that shaped their own growth–both academically and personally. Alumni returning, and bringing the next generation with them, reflects the lasting impact MPA strives to have on students for a lifetime.

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A Message From Clare Halloran ’03

January 21, 2025

What interested you in pursuing the career that you are in now? What did the process look like to go into your career and what does it look like now? Did you always know what you wanted to dedicate your time to? How do you spend your time outside of your career?

I paused—these were good questions from my mentee, a senior at MPA. It made me think back on my career path and the turns that led me to the niche I find myself in today. I thought back on the years of figuring out “what I wanted to be.” Now I have the opportunity to share my experience—what would have been helpful for me to hear 20-plus years ago?

I first started participating in MPA’s Mentorship Program a few years ago. As part of this program, development manager Angie Gerstner thoughtfully pairs each MPA senior with an MPA alum who shares the interests or career field that the student is thinking about pursuing.

Over a few months, each mentor and mentee share a few emails with the senior leading the questions to help get to know one another, discuss college and career paths, and share challenges and general advice. The program concludes with an informal Alumni Meet & Greet each January on campus (open to all alums, not just mentors!), during which MPA seniors can ask questions of alums across all career sectors and during which alums can reconnect. Read More

Please Welcome Back Ms. Sarah McFarland To MPA!

January 17, 2025

MPA is excited to announce the return of Ms. Sarah McFarland! She will take over as a long-term substitute physical education and health teacher and will teach fifth-grade health, fifth through seventh-grade P.E., and ninth and 10th-grade P.E. We are thrilled to reintroduce her to the community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I previously taught at MPA before teaching middle school math at a local public school.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I am a familiar face at MPA, returning after a brief hiatus teaching middle school math at a local public school. While new to the Middle and Upper School P.E. department, I’ve worn many hats over the years (math, English, ESL/AL&C, Program coordinator) and am super excited to don this one, too!

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I love MPA’s gentle embrace of the awesome, quirky, and depthless potential of every student—especially the Middle Schoolers who are near and dear to my heart. Likewise, I have found community here (for my own quirky, awesome self!) that cannot be matched anywhere else. There is so much good to be found here!

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA and its students?
I simply want to carry students kindly and thoughtfully through this ever-changing world and their ever-changing selves. I hope they see themselves as dynamic, amazing, forever-learning, endlessly capable humans who strive to dream big while doing right.
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