Mounds Park Academy

Students Recognized During Youth Art Month

February 29, 2024

Representing MPA, 10 talented students will have their work displayed as part of the Art Educators of Minnesota Youth Art Month. The creations will be displayed at the Faribault’s Paradise Center for the Arts.

Two of our students also won awards within their division levels. Elena M-S. won first place for the middle level, and Peyton won third place for the elementary level!

The other students featured are Rose, Maddy, Maddie, Sophia S., Harper S., Cosmo Vanzyl ’26, Teagan Swanson ’24, and Zephyr Bulera ’24.

Youth Art Month was started in 1961 by the Council for Art Education. The art will be displayed until April 6 in the Carlander Gallery. Congratulations to our incredible artists and for MPA’s dedication to the fine arts!

Athletics’ Role In MPA’s Mission

February 29, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

If you are active on Facebook and Instagram, you have probably seen the news that Delaney Cunnington was the state champion in gymnastics. Congratulations, Delaney! We are incredibly proud of you. Delaney’s success is a testament to her dedication and hard work, as she has spent countless hours practicing and demonstrating exceptional discipline.

You may be surprised to learn that MPA has a gymnastics team. We are fortunate to have established a cooperative agreement with Cretin-Derham Hall and Minnehaha Academy, allowing the three schools to field a gymnastics team. Cooperative teams are becoming more common and enable schools to offer sports that they might not be able to sustain individually. At MPA, students benefit from several cooperative agreements designed to provide opportunities for athletic competition while still benefiting from our rigorous college preparatory curriculum. MPA has 20 cooperative teams, including hockey, golf, and more.

MPA is proud to offer 43 competitive sports for grades 5-12, a significant number for a school of our size. Most schools our size offer 12-15 athletic programs. Programs such as tennis, golf, alpine, nordic, gymnastics, and lacrosse are programs that other schools do not offer. Our athletes and teams have achieved 11 team state championships and 27 individual state championships. Furthermore, 69% of Upper School students participate in sports.

While larger schools may have a larger pool of student-athletes and more competitive teams, there are advantages to being a small school. Regardless of the school’s size, only five players start in basketball and 11 in soccer. At MPA, student-athletes are more likely to have playing time, participate in practice, and have fun, all contributing to a fulfilling athletic experience.

A key aspect of the MPA athletic program is our no-cut policy, which allows all students to participate in a sport, no matter their ability. While this policy does not guarantee equal playing time, especially at the varsity level, it does provide opportunities for students to enjoy the sport, develop their skills, and be part of a team. Our no-cut policy promotes inclusion and sportsmanship and creates lasting memories for our students.

Delaney Cunnington Wins State Title

February 29, 2024

It was a whirlwind week for MPA’s Delaney Cunnington ’25. After qualifying for the Class AA State Gymnastics Tournament as an individual and also helping the Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha Gymnastics team to a team state berth, the state took notice.

Rightfully so, as Delaney became the 27th individual state champion in MPA history, winning the Class AA individual title on the uneven bars via her score of 9.727 at Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

“I’ve put in a lot of time and a lot of effort, so it’s really fun to see it pay off and feel accomplished about it,” Delaney said.

Before getting to that point, Delaney, the Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha team, and her mother, Carrie, took center stage as the Star Tribune featured all three. Carrie was highlighted for her contribution to the team’s coaching staff. When faced with a lack of coaches, Carrie recruited former Gophers gymnast Jonda Hughes and a former Level 10 club gymnast Anja Mundahl to help fill out the Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha coaching roster.

Delaney did her part to earn the feature, helping recruit a former teammate to join the team previously before helping secure the individual and team state berths. Delaney won the Section 7AA meet’s around title with a career-high 38.2. She also won on the bar, beam, and floor routine during the section meet.

The attention brought some pressure to the gymnastics co-op, with the team preparing for the upcoming state meet. “That pressure shifted into motivation,” Delaney said.

Welcome To MPA, Ashley Riihiluoma!

February 28, 2024

Welcome to MPA, Ashley Riihiluoma! Ashley joins us as the Middle School administrative assistant and will begin on March 4. We are so excited to introduce her to our community!

What school/organization are you coming from?
I previously worked for the YMCA of the North.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I went to college and received a degree in child development. I have devoted my entire professional career to working with children. I have worked mostly with early childhood education and have held many roles within the realm. My most recent experiences have been in program director and operational business director roles.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
Mostly the sense of community and belonging. I was thrilled about working with the middle school age group, as it is a new endeavor for me.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I want to make a lasting impact on the students by being a safe, dependable, and respected member of the faculty that they know and rely on. My impact will be the difference I can make in their lives.

What’s your big dream?
To find success in everything that I do. One day, I want to live minimalistic on a piece of land with a cottage-style house and a garden. That would be pure happiness for me.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
We are passionate advocates for advancement in mental health. We believe the whole well-being is important—not just physical health. We are also huge animal lovers and find many of our passions associated with such.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I grew up in a very large family with eight brothers.

Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha Gymnasts Featured For Strong Season

February 23, 2024

The Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha gymnastics team was featured in the Star Tribune today for its recent success, which includes a berth to the state meet. MPA’s Delaney Cunnington ’25 and her mom, Carrie, both played critical roles in the strong season!

When faced with a lack of coaches, Carrie recruited former Gophers gymnast Jonda Hughes and a former Level 10 club gymnast, Anja Mundahl, to help fill out the Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha coaching roster. Delaney handled the competition side of things, recruiting another top athlete to the team and then winning the all-around title with a career-high 38.2. She also won on the bar, beam, and floor routine during the section meet.

With the people in place to help the program excel, the motto has stayed simple to keep moving forward, Delaney said.

“Give it your all, have fun. That’s kind of it. It’s all we do,”

The state competitions are Friday and Saturday at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Please join us in wishing Delaney and the rest of the Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha team the best of luck this weekend. Go Panthers!

Congratulations To MPA’s National Merit Finalists!

February 23, 2024

Congratulations to seniors Zain Ali, Maggie Banks-Hehenberger, Ian Frankel, Miles Niemeyer, and Soumya Raman, who recently were named National Merit Finalists! These seniors entered the competition based on their PSAT performance in the fall of their junior year—earning scores that placed them in the top 16,000 students nationally of the 1.3 million students tested at more than 21,000 high schools. Finalists are eligible to be awarded National Merit Scholarships later this spring, which could come from their chosen college or university, a participating corporate sponsor, or the National Merit Scholarship Corporation itself.

MPA Competes At Harvard National Speech And Debate Tournament

February 23, 2024

The Mounds Park Academy Speech traveled to the prestigious Harvard University National Speech and Debate tournament this past weekend. The tournament included teams from 38 different states, categories exceeding 300 entries each, and is a precursor to the NSDA National Tournament in June. On one of the country’s largest stages in the activity, 14 MPA students shined through three days of competition. Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding achievements:

Akshay Somayajula ’24: Top 100 Double-Octafinalist Oratory
Amal Sastry ’25: Top 60 and tiebroken from Extemp Speaking Octafinals
Nico Bergh ’27: Top 50 and Octafinalist in Humorous
Guy Schwieger ’26: Top 50 and Octafinalist in Humorous
Zainab Lodhi ’25: Top 25 and Quarterfinalist in Informative
Ash Klann ’26: Seventh Place and Semifinalist in Oratory
Paul Fertig ’25: Sixth Place and Finalist in Extemp Speaking

The Harvard National Tournament is considered the most prestigious high school Speech and Debate Tournament outside of the official National Tournament. In her speech accepting her nomination to the United States Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson referenced her experience and success at the Harvard Tournament as the reason for her rise to National Champion, and eventually, the highest bench in the country.

Welcome To MPA, Michael Pappas!

February 22, 2024

Welcome to MPA, Michael! Michael joins us as the communications coordinator. We are so excited to introduce him to our community!

What school/organization are you coming from?
I previously worked for Adams Publishing Group.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I graduated from St. Cloud State University before heading to work for the Union-Times and County News Review as the sports editor.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The school seemed like a very welcoming place for everybody.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I plan to help push MPA to make it even better than it currently is by helping in whatever way I can. Read More

Lower School Division News February 22, 2024

February 22, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Thursday, February 22: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 7 PM, see email for link
Friday, February 23: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 8:15-9 AM, Gallery
Friday, February 23: LS Grade 4 Battle of the Books, 8:45-10 AM, Library
Saturday, February 24: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 10-10:45 AM, click here to join >
Wednesday, February 28: LS Grades 3/4 Orchestra Hall Field Trip, 9-11:30 AM
Friday, March 1: Grade 3 Battle of the Books, 10:20-11:20 AM, Library
Friday, March 1: SnoDaze Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
Friday, March 1: LS End of Trimester 2
Wednesday, March 6: CHAMP Assembly, 8:15 AM (wear CHAMP colors!)
Monday, March 11: Trimester 2 Report Cards emailed home
Monday, March 11-Sunday, March 24: No Classes, Spring Break
Monday, March 25: Classes Resume at 8 AM
Thursday, April 4: LS Art and Music Show

Lower School
Thank you, Lower School parents and the Parents Association, for helping us celebrate a wonderful Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week! It was heartwarming to visit the teaching kitchen each day and snack on delicious treats. My heart always skipped a beat when I saw the coffee cart rolling down the hallway, and I could enjoy a cup of caffeine and a cherry Pop-Tart (oh, how I missed these when living abroad!). As Trimester 2 is coming to a close, please read on for more updates:

CHAMP News
At our CHAMP assembly on February 21, we celebrated Black History Month by exploring some well-known Black Americans who have contributed greatly to our world. We focused on the CHAMP attribute of courage and heard the beautiful words of Amanda Gorman, the first-ever Youth Poet Laureate. We were able to hear Amanda recite her poem “The Hill We Climb,” filmed at President Biden’s inauguration. Amanda is a member of the “speech difficulty club,” (her words) and is a courageous figure for many reasons. Our next CHAMP assembly is March 6, and we will be learning about being cooperative. Please send your child to school wearing their CHAMP colors!

2024 MPA Spring Auction on April 19
Be on the lookout for information about the 2024 MPA Spring Auction: Together, We Can Move Mountains, scheduled for Friday, April 19 at Dellwood Golf Club. This is your chance to attend a night of fun, inspiration, and community building while supporting MPA with fellow parents, alumni, and friends. Read More

Middle School Division News February 22, 2024

February 22, 2024

by Dr. Jenn Milam, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

Thursday, February 22: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 7 PM, see email for the link
Friday, February 23: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 8:15-9 AM, Gallery
Saturday, February 24: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 10-10:45 AM, see email for the link
February 26-March 1: SnoDaze Spirit Week
Monday, February 26: MS Parents/Guardians Coffee with Middle School Director Candidate, 8:15-9 AM, Gallery
Tuesday, February 27: Grade 6 Battle of the Books, 10-11:15 AM, Library
Wednesday, February 28: MS Grade 7/8 BIPOC Affinity, 2:20-3 PM, Panther Center
Thursday, February 29: MS Parents/Guardians Coffee with Middle School Director Candidate, 8:15-9 AM, Gallery
Friday, March 1: MS Parents/Guardians Coffee with Middle School Director Candidate, 8:15-9 AM, Gallery
Friday, March 1: SnoDaze Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
Monday, March 4-Friday, March 8: i-Term 2024
Monday, March 11-Sunday, March 24: No Classes, Spring Break
Monday, March 25: Classes Resume at 8 AM

February days seem long as we are eagerly working our way to i-Term and Spring Break. Please remind your student that the hardest and most rewarding part of being a student is using good habits and routines each day to be successful and realizing that success. Encourage them to keep their focus for just a little while longer until we all get a much-deserved spring break!

NWEA MAP TESTING: Student Reports Coming Home!
We have wrapped up our second administration of the NWEA MAP Growth assessment and we will be sending home student reports next week. These will come to you via mail in hard copy. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email or phone.

i-Term 2024: TRAVEL! PLAY! BUILD! DREAM! LEARN!
In just over a week, on Monday, March 4, i-Term 2024 will begin–a week of passion-driven, inquiry and exploration in a chosen area, alongside peers from all grades in the Middle School, and led by a teacher (or two!) and maybe even a tour guide! Your students have been entered into Schoology courses where they will get updates, information, announcements, and other key information for their week. Read More