Mounds Park Academy

March 7, 2024

Save The Date: Retirement Celebration, May 30

Mr. Scott Wilson has shared that he will retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year after 24 years of teaching in Lower School at MPA. He said, “My time at MPA has given me immeasurable special moments and allowed me to be part of an incredible group of professional teachers and staff, both past and present. I am so very thankful for the community of families and their students who have passed through my classrooms. I am honored to have been a part of their educational experience. I will miss the opportunities for comradery and collaboration with my fellow faculty, the spirit of MPA’s mission, and the opportunities to witness the joy of learning. The past 24 years have been quite a ride! I am grateful for all of it.” Read More

The Why Behind i-Term

March 7, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

This week marks an exciting time for Middle School students as they eagerly dive into i-Term, a unique enrichment experience at MPA that embodies our mission of independent thinking and joyful learning. i-Term provides students in grades five through eight with the opportunity to engage in a week-long exploration of their passions and interests far beyond the traditional classroom setting.

Through inquiry-based, experiential learning, students participate in Project-Based Learning (PBL) courses that not only deepen their understanding of a subject but also expose them to new ways of thinking and being in the world. While participation in i-Term is required, students have the freedom to choose a course that aligns with their interests and goals. This year’s offerings include a diverse range of experiences such as Survivor MPA, Woodworking, French Immersion Trip to Quebec, PlaMo Build-A-Thon, and Director’s Cut Filmmaking.

PBL has emerged as a powerful educational approach that engages students in hands-on, real-world projects, fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and preparing them for success in the 21st-century workforce. PBL enhances student engagement and motivation by allowing them to work on projects that are personally meaningful and relevant to their lives. This autonomy and choice give students a sense of ownership over their learning. For example, the idea for Survivor MPA originated from a conversation between Middle School music teacher Michael Claver and sixth grader Sam, both fans of the TV show Survivor, who together brainstormed how to adapt it into an i-Term class. Read More

Launching The Search

March 5, 2024

Original publish date: February 16, 2024

Greetings, MPA Community –

I am pleased to provide this initial update on the progress of launching a comprehensive national search for Mounds Park Academy’s fifth Head of School. To ensure that the community has opportunities to be informed, engaged, and provide feedback, I offer the following:

you are formally invited to a listening session as detailed below;
you are welcome to participate in the community survey linked below;
our head of school search website is live and can be found here;
our dedicated email address, headsearch@moundsparkacademy.org, has been established for you to communicate with the search committee chair, communications director, and me to share your thoughts and provide feedback.

As I shared earlier this week, selecting our next head of school is one of our community’s most important decisions. It is more than just finding a leader to serve in that capacity; this is an opportunity for us to build upon Dr. Hudson’s legacy and collectively shape our community’s future.

We are committed to ensuring a thorough and diligent search process, and we look forward to your engagement in the exciting journey ahead.

Sincerely,
Tiffany Scott Knox
MPA Parent
Chair, Board of Trustees
headsearch@moundsparkacademy.org

Dear Mounds Park Academy Community,

It has been an emotional week for the Mounds Park Academy community. Dr. Hudson’s announcement that he will retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year has provoked an outpouring of gratitude for his extraordinary 11 years of leadership at MPA. I’ve also heard many express excitement as we think about the next step for the school, built upon the strong foundation Dr. Hudson helped advance. And, of course, it’s natural that we also feel a sense of loss mingled with our happiness for Dr. Hudson and his husband, Ross, as they begin to look ahead toward an active and fulfilling retirement. Read More

If This Is What Matters To You, You’ve Found The Right School

March 1, 2024

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the March 1, 2024 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

At this point in the school year, you may be anywhere on your journey to MPA, from first discovering who we are to making an enrollment decision. You’re probably wondering, “Why do families choose MPA?” Here are just a few of the reasons why students PreK-12 thrive at Mounds Park Academy.

MPA academics are demanding–not draining.
In PreK, our youngest students are digging into a dinosaur fossil lesson to explore how the biology and science of the world in the past influences the future. In their senior year, advanced physics students are venturing out into our community to address problems, and then designing, engineering, and manufacturing 3D-printed tangible solutions. Academic rigor with purpose grounds MPA students in the radical idea that their identity in the world is not measured by a test score, but rather by the depth and decency of their impact on the world.

MPA values collaboration over competition.
Students work together in an environment of support and encouragement where teachers are partners on the journey. Meaningful relationships culminate in the Upper School and last a lifetime. “Within my first weeks here at MPA, I was exposed to a learning environment where people were supporting each other instead of competing with each other,” says MPA alum Ella Jones ’20. “Through discussions with my friends, I have learned more about the world and its political issues in just a year than I had in the first 16 years of my life.”

MPA makes learning joyful.
Creating and nurturing a joyful learning environment is at the heart of MPA. Days at MPA are filled with wonder and exploration that comes with hands-on learning. We believe education is not only about academic achievement but also the holistic development of individuals. Infusing education with joy contributes to the overall well-being and mental health of students. Joyful learning spurs creativity and critical thinking, and MPA students are engaged and enthusiastic to think outside the box, ask probing questions, and seek innovative solutions.

If this is what matters to you, you’ve found the right school.

Parent Association News February 29, 2024

February 29, 2024

Cultural Celebration Day

Thursday, April 11, 3-6 PM

Save the date for Cultural Celebration Day at MPA! Enjoy an evening of food, music, and crafts worldwide!

Would you like to be a part of our cultural showcase? Please email sanwarPA@moundsparkacademy.org to reserve a table or booth.

Join the planning committee! We would love your help choosing cultures and cuisines to feature this year. Please email sanwarPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Save the Date for These Summer Events

Saturday, June 22: Minnesota United FC game

Friday, July 26: St. Paul Saints game

Join Dr. Hudson!

Please join Dr. Hudson and fellow book-loving parents in the MPA Library to discuss “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese on April 18. “The Covenant of Water” is “a stunning and magisterial epic of love, faith, and medicine, set in Kerala, South India, following three generations of a family seeking the answers to a strange secret.” We can get you this book in time for Spring Break reading, so sign up here today to read this hotly anticipated novel by a beloved author!

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!

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.