Caitlin Lock Coomes ’01, 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee

September 8, 2023

Launched earlier this year as a way to celebrate MPA’s rich athletic tradition, MPA is proud to announce the 2023 Hall of Fame inductees: Joe Kordosky, athletic director and coach, Bev Docherty, teacher and coach, Mason Ferlic ’11, alum athlete, and Caitlin Lock Coomes ’01, alum athlete. Please take a moment to read thoughts from Caitlin below!

What is your happiest memory of 13 years at MPA?
Sitting on the steps outside the Upper School, putting on shin guards and cleats with my friends and teammates before soccer practice on fall afternoons. Or maybe the anticipation of preseason practices, the excitement of being back together again? Or Back To School Night when we got to meet our new teachers each year. Sitting on the carpet as Ms. Lage read pictures books to us in the library. Pie at Baker’s Square after choir concerts. The Heritage Fair in the cafeteria. Too many happy memories to choose just one!

How did your time at MPA shape your future?
The most important things I got out of my time at MPA were enthusiasm for learning and school, and the deep-rooted sense of self that continues to guide me. The supportive, positive environment MPA provided during those early years created a stable foundation for everything that came after.

In what ways did the school support you during your time at MPA?
I remember how good it felt to have teachers congratulate me after the soccer team had a good game, or after a track meet went well—to know that these adults really cared. The school was also supportive and flexible about our family living in rural Chile for three months during my sophomore year. My teachers adapted their curriculums to help me make the most of that unique life experience.

Who at MPA had the greatest influence on you?
I can’t say enough about the positive impact of the soccer and track coaches, Mike Scinto, Al Greimel, and Bev Docherty. Their encouragement and confidence in me allowed me to be myself and grow in the most joyful way possible. I can only hope that my own kids find coaches/human beings of the same caliber to nurture them in the same way. In fact, I can say the same thing about every single one of my teachers and coaches at MPA.

What is something about you or your time at MPA that few people know?
The morning of my first day of kindergarten, I woke up at 3 AM, put on my uniform and my backpack, and woke my parents up to let them know I was ready to go to school.

Mason Ferlic ’11, 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee

September 8, 2023

Launched earlier this year as a way to celebrate MPA’s rich athletic tradition, MPA is proud to announce the 2023 Hall of Fame inductees: Joe Kordosky, athletic director and coach, Bev Docherty, teacher and coach, Mason Ferlic ’11, alum athlete, and Caitlin Lock Coomes ’01, alum athlete. Please take a moment to read thoughts from Mason below!

What was your greatest accomplishment in your four years at MPA?
After a successful junior year track season, I set the lofty goal of winning the state cross country championships. It was the first time I called my “shot” and let everyone know that was my goal for the season. When the day came, I defeated my rival in a duel over the last kilometer. Winning that race transformed my mentality as an athlete and opened my eyes to what was possible with self-belief and work ethic. I also have very fond memories of that time with the team—every day was a blast, and we all trained with a purpose.

How did your time at MPA shape your future?
Without the excellent coaching and supportive environment, I would not have had the same level of success that got me recruited to the University of Michigan and eventually make an Olympic team. MPA fostered my love for running and competing—I grew as an athlete and a person. Looking back, much of my success can be attributed to my formative years in high school. I learned to win, lose, and deal with challenges. MPA started my athletic career, but it certainly did not end there.

What is one piece of advice that you would share with MPA athletes?
Be bold and set ambitious goals. Real challenges require real sacrifices; hold yourself accountable to achieving those dreams. I spent many weekends, holiday vacations, and after-school hours training and preparing so that when the opportunity came, I could truly test my limits. When you wholeheartedly commit to a goal, do so with conviction and clarity. Remember, the journey is the ultimate reward.

Who at MPA had the greatest influence on you?
My MPA coaches, Bev Docherty and Dan Ethier, profoundly impacted my development as an athlete and person. They were the first to recognize my talent for running and cultivate the drive to be a champion. They were not just mentors on the track or cross country course but also in life. They instilled in me the essence of being a true athlete, emphasizing the importance of physical and mental preparation. Like all great coaches, their wisdom revolved around the power of patience, teaching me not to rush toward short-term achievements but rather to trust the process and focus on long-term growth. They were always there to balance my enthusiasm and disappointment, imparting valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the realm of sports. Their guidance has left a lasting mark on my character and approach to challenges.

Kindness

September 7, 2023

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Daily, I am touched by the kindness of the MPA community. Most recently, the many cards and expressions of care regarding my mother’s death have helped my family and me through a very difficult time. In my experience over the last ten years, I’ve taken kindness for granted at MPA because I see it so often. I see it in the way members of the community greet one another, how students go out of their way to welcome new students, how they clean their tables after they eat, and the respect between adults and students, to name a few.

I’ve been thinking a lot about kindness or the lack of it in today’s society. People seem angrier, less patient, more rude, and sometimes cruel. At the grocery store, on TV talk shows, in line at a drive-through, on the freeway, or in restaurants, we seem to have lost our humanity. I worry about the direction our society is heading and have been struggling with what my responsibility is as both an individual and as head of school to counteract these troubling, negative trends. Read More

Lower School Division News, September 7, 2023

September 7, 2023

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

  • Friday, September 8: Picture Make-Up Day, Non-Uniform Day
    • MPA Ice Cream Social, 3 PM, South Lawn
  • Thursday, September 14: Curriculum Night, 6-8 PM
  • Monday, September 25: No Classes, Yom Kippur. Register for K-8 Panther Care here.
  • Tuesday, September 26-Saturday, September 30: MPA Homecoming Week
  • Friday, September 29: Homecoming Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
  • Saturday, September 30: Homecoming Events
  • Friday, October 6: Picture Retake Day
  • Monday, October 9: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
  • Thursday, October 12: All School Conferences, 3:30-8 PM, MPA
  • Friday, October 13: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8-5 PM, MPA
  • Wednesday, October 18: Lower and Middle School Grandparents and Special Friends Day (details coming soon!) (note: Dismissal is at 3 PM.)
  • Thursday, October 19-Friday, October 20: No Classes, Fall Break

Welcome (back) to MPA Lower School! It has been wonderful to welcome the children back to school for a fun year of learning. Since the first day, the children have embarked on their exciting learning journey for the 2023-24 academic year. Every other week, an issue of Division News will come to your inbox, chock full of helpful information, reminders and news. Please read on for some insights for the next few weeks:

FastBridge Screening: September 4-15
The MPA Lower School offers FastBridge Learning screening tests up to three times each academic year. These screeners help our teachers to identify the current phase of development in literacy and math skills for each child so that we can offer more personalized learning opportunities for students. The teachers review the screening scores as one piece of data in context with other information gathered about each child’s learning journey. As a result of the screeners and other educational data collected by teachers, some students are identified as potentially benefiting from additional support to help them meet their learning goals. In this case, our learning specialists will be in touch with families to set up a plan for additional support. Your child’s FastBridge screening results will be shared with you by our learning specialists, Ms. Alyssa Andretta (aandretta@moundsparkacademy.org) and Ms. Robyn Kramer (rkramer@moundsparkacademy.org). Please feel free to reach out to them with any questions you may have. The fall screening tests have started and will be offered during the following assessment windows: Read More

Middle School Division News, September 7, 2023

September 7, 2023

from Dr. Jenn Milam, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

  • Friday, September 8: Picture Make-Up Day
    • MPA Ice Cream Social, 3 PM, South Lawn
  • Monday, September 11-Wednesday, September 13: Grade 6-Eagle Bluff Overnight
  • Thursday, September 14: Curriculum Night, 6-8 PM
    • Informational Meeting for Grade 5 Overnight
    • Informational Meeting for Washington DC Trip (new students!)
  • Wednesday, September 20-Friday, September 22: Grade 5-Osprey Wild Overnight
  • Monday, September 25: No Classes, Yom Kippur. Register for K-8 Panther Care here.
  • Tuesday, September 26-Saturday, September 30: MPA Homecoming Week
  • Thursday, September 28: Middle School Parent Coffee, 8:15 AM, PCR
  • Friday, September 29: Middle School Homecoming Games
    • All School Homecoming Assembly, 2:20 PM, Lansing Sports Center
  • Friday, October 6: Picture Retake Day
  • Monday, October 9: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
  • Thursday, October 12: All School Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
  • Friday, October 13: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8-5 PM
  • Wednesday, October 18: Lower and Middle School Grandparents and Special Friends Day (details coming soon!) (note: Dismissal is at 3 PM.)
  • Thursday, October 19-Friday, October 20: No Classes, Fall Break

Happy second week of school! It’s been delightful to welcome your young people back to school and our hallways are once again bustling with energy, laughter, learning, and lots of JOY!

Every other week, I will share new information, important dates, and upcoming items that require your attention. It’s always my suggestion to get out your planners and family calendars and get these items noted so they don’t sneak up on you. Middle School is a busy, busy time, and your student (and their frontal lobe!) need your assistance in keeping up with it all!

Picture Day–Make-Up Date
If you missed Back to School Night and/or having your picture taken then, please plan for your student to take their picture this Friday, September 8. Picture retakes (if you do not like your school photo) will be in October!

Middle School Study Hall
Study hall has been moved under the umbrella of Panther Programs. Students who would like to remain on campus after school to complete homework are asked to register for Panther Den. A quiet space, for working and studying, will be offered, as needed for those Middle School students interested. Read More

Upper School Division News, September 7, 2023

September 7, 2023

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Looking Ahead

  • Friday, September 8: Make-Up Picture Day (for those who were not photographed at Back To School Night)
    •  Ice Cream Social, 3 PM, South Lawn
  • Wednesday, September 13: Upper School Student Club and Organization Fair
  • Thursday, September 14: Curriculum Night, 6-8 PM, MPA
  • Thursday, September 21: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
  • Monday, September 25: No Classes, Yom Kippur
  • Tuesday–Saturday, September 26-September 30: MPA Homecoming Week
  • Friday, September 29: All School Homecoming Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sport Center
    • Upper School Student BBQ and Bonfire, 5-8 PM, Benz Courtyard
  • Saturday, September 30: Homecoming Events @ MPA
    • Upper School Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM, Upper School Commons
  • Tuesday, October 3: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
  • Wednesday, October 4: Class of 2024 Cum Laude Society Inductions, 7:30-8 AM, Recital Hall
  • Thursday, October 5: PA Upper School Parent Quarterly Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, PCR
  • Friday, October 6: Picture Retake Day
    • Senior Retreat & Dinner, 8-6:30 PM, Off Campus and MPA
  • Monday, October 9: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
  • Wednesday, October 11: Grade 10 & 11 PSAT Testing
  • Thursday, October 12: All School Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, 3:30-8 PM, MPA
  • Friday, October 13: No Classes, Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, 8-5 PM, MPA

Earlier this week, I walked into a darkened first block Upper School classroom where the students sat silently. I was on “a mission” to deliver an item forgotten in a parent’s car at drop-off, and my interruption temporarily distracted the class from the task at hand—settling in for the day and the classes that lay ahead. The faculty member easily recentered the students and asked them to focus on the noises that they hear; conspicuous or inconspicuous. As a visitor to the classroom, I silently participated in this activity. I heard a door creak, a student shuffle in their chair, a locker close, and the shallow breathing of the student seated in front of me. Read More

Parents Association News and Events, September 7, 2023

September 7, 2023

Welcome to the PA, Panther Parents! Our goal is to enrich the MPA experience through community building, continuing traditions, supporting faculty and staff, and acting as a resource for all families. All MPA families are members of the Parent’s Association, and we would love to see you attend or volunteer at one of our events. We offer activities across all levels of the school community, and we want to connect with you. If you’re interested in learning more about what we have to offer, please email, PA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Upcoming Events
September 8: PA Board Meeting, 8:30 AM, PA Room at MPA
September 28: MS Coffee Talk, 8:15 AM, Porter Conference Room
October 9-13: Staff Appreciation, donation and volunteer sign-up coming soon!

Safety and Security Update

September 7, 2023

THANK YOU to all of the parents and guardians who are already in the habit of wearing their nametags!

It is MPA’s number one priority to provide the safest campus environment possible for you and your children. We ask that you share this critical information with all of the drivers in your home and others who may provide transportation for you.

Drive-Thru Lanes
In the interest of safety, courtesy, and efficiency, we ask that drivers refrain from pulling in front of another car or “leap-frogging” to the front. To make the process as efficient as possible, please pull up all the way to the crosswalk to allow maximum space in the drive-thru lanes. Please help ensure no gaps are present in the drive-thru lanes, even if that means your child needs to wait or walk further to enter the vehicle.

Entering and Exiting the Car
Children may only enter and exit the car from the right/curbside in the drive-thru lanes. If you need to leave the vehicle to help your children in or out, please park in the lot and walk them in, using the appropriate crosswalks. No Lower School student should cross the crosswalk into the parking lot without an adult caregiver by their side. Read More

COVID-19 Community Update

August 31, 2023

As you may have seen in the news or within your social circles, there has been a recent uptick in new COVID-19 infections. MPA recommends guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this school year to keep students healthy and on-campus learning as much as possible.

If your student or someone at home is experiencing symptoms or is aware of a known exposure, please follow the CDC’s guidance on masking, testing, and isolation by clicking here.

If your student or someone at home has tested positive for COVID-19, please click here for recommendations and a helpful calculator for masking and isolation. In general, if someone has tested positive for COVID-19, they should do the following:

  • Isolate at home through day five (counting from day 0 as the day of symptom onset or positive test).
  • Monitor for moderate-to-severe illness. If moderate-to-severe illness occurs, isolate for ten days.
  • After five days, isolation may end, but individuals should continue wearing a mask around others through day 10 OR once two negative antigen test results have been received at least 24 hours apart.

Additional details regarding exposure and steps to take after testing positive are available at the links above. In addition, please email covid@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions or concerns. If your student needs to be away from school due to illness, including COVID-19, please use the appropriate absence notification steps based on their division.

The State of Minnesota has again provided free at-home COVID-19 tests for students and school personnel this school year. If your family needs a supply of these tests, please email covid@moundsparkacademy.org to request them.

Thank you for your partnership as we work toward a safe, healthy, and happy learning community this school year!

Make Plans for Friday’s Ice Cream Social!

August 31, 2023

Friday, September
3-4 PM
South Lawn

Let’s celebrate the start of an incredible year! Make plans to join us for a beloved MPA tradition, the Ice Cream Social! This is an all-school opportunity to connect with one another, enjoy a sweet treat, and meet our new families.

Details:

  1. A sundae bar with all of the fixings will be available for students and their families. All of the sundae bar items will be peanut and tree nut free and provided by SAGE.
  2. JonnyPops Organic Freezer Pops will be available at a separate station for food-allergic students. This should be safe for all MPA students, but it is not guaranteed. Ingredients will be available for review by parents or can be found at the link above.
  3. All Lower and Middle School students must be directly supervised by an adult. No Lower or Middle School student will be allowed to have a treat unless they have an adult with them.
  4. Because any frozen treat could be messy on a bus, bus riders will be sent home with an allergy-friendly pre-packaged Enjoy Life cookie.
  5. All students at Panther Club and Panther Den will be taken outside for a treat and supervised accordingly by Panther staff.

If you have any questions, please contact communications@moundsparkacademy.org. See you there!