February 29, 2024

Parent Association News February 29, 2024
February 29, 2024
Golden Tickets On Sale Tomorrow!
February 29, 2024
We are thrilled to offer our Golden Ticket raffle once again! Golden Ticket holders purchase a 1 in 100 opportunity to win a Premier Auction item. The drawing will be held during our MPA Spring Auction: Together We Can Move Mountains program at the Dellwood Country Club on Friday, April 19 (not necessary to be present to win). Purchase and win a priceless dream package you choose at checkout for just $150 per ticket.
Packages include:
• Take Me Out to the Ballgame
• Tuscany Culinary Escape
• Dinner with Bill Hudson, Head of School
• Blanton Battle Experience
• Find Adventure in Montana
• Getaway in the Hear of Music City
Learn more and buy tickets or sponsorships and get your Golden Tickets on March 1 by visiting this link!
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!
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:
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