Speaking To Children About War

October 12, 2023

Like the rest of the world, we have watched the horrific events occurring in Israel, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank with heavy hearts, and as a community, we must recognize that many of our students, families, faculty, and staff are deeply, personally, and painfully affected by violence in this region. Understanding that this conflict has deep historical roots and complexities, we nevertheless, without exception, condemn acts of terrorism, the targeting of civilians, and the loss of innocent lives.

Our focus during this time, as it always is, is firmly centered on our students’ sense of safety and well-being. Please know that teachers will support our students in developmentally appropriate ways, just as they do every day in the classroom.

If you are looking for information on how to talk about the conflict with your child, I’d like to offer a few resources. As you consider your child’s age, stage, and readiness for a conversation about war, here are some resources for your consideration. Read More

Parents Association News & Events October 12, 2023

October 12, 2023

Lower School Halloween Party Volunteers
We are seeking volunteers to help out during the LS Halloween Party in the Lansing Center. Kids will enjoy games, crafts, activities, and an obstacle course. Join us for part of the day or the whole day. Sign up to volunteer here. The LS Halloween parade will follow the party at 2:30 PM. Should you have any questions, please email msotoPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

The Community Grants Initiative
The Parents Association Community Grants Initiative provides grant-based funding for projects and programs, existing or new. The funds are available for use by student clubs and organizations, as well as for adult-led initiatives that support the mission of the MPA PA. To access community grants, interested groups must fill out an application.The application will be reviewed by the PA Board. This program is supported by the Parents Association dues, which are paid by MPA families. Instructions and the form can be found on the Parents Association section of the MPA website.

Volunteer in the MPA Garden
We are looking for volunteers to help with the MPA garden before the weather gets too cold. No previous gardening experience is necessary. No long-term commitment is necessary either. We typically meet either Thursday or Friday mornings after drop off, but can also meet at other times as well. If interested, please contact Sara Carroll at smtanaka@gmail.com or Tenia Kalogeropoulou at tenia2@yahoo.com to coordinate. Read More

Homecoming 2023: Rain or Shine, Wild With Panther Pride Was A Huge Success!

October 6, 2023

Thank you to students, parents, faculty and staff, volunteers, alumni, and friends of MPA who joined in to make this year’s Homecoming festivities a wonderful time for all. After a week of celebration and school spirit, Friday and Saturday were festive days with MPA athletics, camps, and honoring MPA alumni.

Congratulations to this year’s inaugural Hall of Fame Inductees, who were honored at a banquet on Friday Night: Joe Kordosky, Bev Docherty, Mason Ferlic ’11, and Caitlin Lock Coomes ’01. Be sure to check out the digital display in the Lansing Sports Center lobby honoring their accomplishments.

Kudos to fall athletes who played hard through challenging weather conditions, including members of the soccer, volleyball, football, cross country, and tennis teams.

School spirit was high throughout the week, with dress-up days, Upper School BBQ and Homecoming dance, face painting, a visit from the Panther mascot each day, two school assemblies, alumni reunions and tours, and much more!

A special thank you to our volunteers who assisted with concessions, Lower School clinics, and so much more!

Final Scores

Volleyball won over St. Agnes: 22-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-20,15-6
Girls Tennis took second place: lost 3-4 to Visitation, defeated Cretin Durham Hall 4-3
Boys Varsity Soccer won over Legacy Christian Academy: 2-1
Girls Varsity Soccer lost to Legacy Christian Academy: 0-4
Boys Football lost to Columbia Heights: 14-20

Visit the full album of photos from Homecoming Day here.

Blood Drive at MPA

October 5, 2023

first graders reading to a blood drive donorOctober 26, 12-6 PM
Gallery

Dear MPA Families,

As you are preparing for the upcoming seasons and holidays, we would like to remind you about an important upcoming event. The first grade class and Upper School Student Council are joining together again to host this year’s blood drive for a joint community service project. Please take note of the date and begin thinking about how you can contribute to our event. We are asking for an hour of your time to donate blood on Thursday, October 26. If you know that you are unable to give blood, please be sure to ask as many friends or relatives as you can to take your place. Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: Mounds Park Academy to schedule an appointment.

*16-year-olds need an official signed parental consent form (available in the Upper School Office). They will also need to sign up for the drive with Ms Johnson.

Why: Giving blood is simple and easy, and it will save lives. You can touch the lives of people you have never met by giving blood for patients needing transfusions for emergency surgeries, or treatment of illnesses such as Leukemia and other cancers.

There is no substitute for human blood. Blood cannot be manufactured, and much of today’s medical care depends on having a steady supply of blood provided by healthy volunteer donors. Each time you give blood, you can help a few patients in need with your plasma, platelets, and red blood cells.

Who: Most people who are in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds, and are at least 17 years of age are eligible to give blood every 56 days. If you have questions about your eligibility to donate, please call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767).

Contact Evy Johnson, at ejohnson@moundsparkacademy.org if you have any questions

A Commitment To Open Discourse

October 5, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

On two occasions last weekend, I had the pleasure of showing our new Martin Lenz Harrison Library to alums who had not been in the building since graduation. Two members of the Class of 1994 were in town for their class reunion and came to school Saturday to help celebrate Homecoming. Several others attended Friday night’s first annual Athletic Hall of Fame dinner. All were in awe of the warm and beautiful library, which opened in January 2020 in the space that was previously our cafeteria and kitchen.

A few alums shared how glad they were that we still prioritized books. During the design phase, I remember being urged to drastically cut back on the number of books and the space dedicated to housing them. I’m glad we let our mission guide our choices—we created a library centered on books that is welcoming, safe, and comfortable. There are 20,993 books in our collection, intentionally curated and culled to represent different genres and perspectives. With fiction and nonfiction books appealing to different ages, the collection is intended to support academic research and encourage reading as a lifelong pleasure. In the first month of school, students checked out 2,212 books, and we had 80 whole class visits to the library across all grades and divisions.

Several alums noted our celebration of Banned Books Week and the displays of books throughout the library that public libraries and schools have banned. They were proud of their alma mater for still valuing intellectual freedom, independent thought, academic rigor, and open discourse. Read More

Upper School Division News October 5, 2023

October 5, 2023

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

A Look Ahead

  • Friday, October 6: Picture Retake Day
  • Friday, October 6: 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, All School Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, 8-5 PM, MPA
  • Wednesday, October 18: Special Upper School Programming
    • 9th Grade: 8-3 PM, Off-Campus Activity
    • 10th Grade: 8-12 PM, Pre-ACT (noon dismissal)
    • 11th Grade: 8-12 PM, Mock-ACT (noon dismissal)
    • 12th Grade: No Classes, day used for college visits or applications
  • Thursday, October 19: No Classes, Fall Break
  • Friday, October 20: No Classes, Fall Break
  • Thursday, October 26: MPA Upper School Blood Drive, 12-5 PM, Gallery
  • Friday, October 27: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
  • Wednesday, November 1: Grade 9 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
  • Wednesday, November 1: Upper School Instrumental Concert, 7:30-9 PM, Nicholson Center
  • Friday, November 3: End of Quarter 1

In the fall of 1983, my ninth-grade math teacher was Ms. Robson. She and I had what some would describe as a challenging relationship. Her role was to teach me algebra and my role was to do all I could not to be kicked out of class due to my disruptive behavior. As this was before email and Schoology, communication between school and home was limited to telephone calls, and Ms. Robson was not the type of teacher to call home. I remember my parents sharing with me that they had a parent/teacher conference scheduled with Ms. Robson and asked if there was anything that they should know. I thought to myself, “Where should I start?!”

Parent/teacher conferences play a pivotal role in fostering effective communication and collaboration between educators and parents, forming an important relationship in a student’s educational journey. Conferences provide a dedicated space for parents to gain insight into their child’s academic progress, social development, and progress within the school environment. Read More

Parents Association News & Events October 5, 2023

October 5, 2023

Faculty and Staff Appreciation
Tuesday, October 10-Friday, October 13
The Parents Association and MPA parents and families are continuing the tradition of donating snacks and treats to help our staff get through conferences and to show our appreciation to all MPA employees. Please consider donating a beverage or snack for Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week. Remember to adhere to MPA Peanut/Tree Nut Policy when choosing snacks. Suggestions can be found on Sign Up Genius. Thank you from the MPA Parents Association! (Contact Tara Lafferty tlaffertyPA@moundsparkacademy.org for questions).

We are also planning to have a friendship bracelet making station in the Family Commons on Thursday and Friday during Conferences. Stop by and make a teacher or staff member a Friendship Bracelet! Upper School students looking for service hours are welcome to help. Sign up here.

Volunteer in the MPA Garden!
We are looking for volunteers to help with the MPA garden before the weather gets too cold. No previous gardening experience is necessary. No long-term commitment is necessary either. We typically meet either Thursday or Friday mornings after drop off, but can also meet at other times as well. If interested, please contact Sara Carroll at smtanaka@gmail.com or Tenia Kalogeropoulou at tenia2@yahoo.com to coordinate. Read More

Meet Second Grade Teacher Tami Fisher

October 3, 2023

Tami FisherWhen and how did you first come to MPA?
I learned about MPA from Randy Comfort, former MPA guidance director, who is an extended family member. I first helped out as a proctor for a variety of Upper School tests. He spoke highly of the school and was always trying to bring me into the fold. At the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, my substitute teacher position morphed into a year-long position as the second second grade teacher.

What memories do you have of your first days at MPA?
It was a bit of a whirlwind, but I just dove right in. It was a unique year, due to COVID restrictions and scheduling, and both cohorts shared teaching duties. It was wonderful to get to know the entire second grade that first year

What’s the best thing about being a teacher at MPA?
The students and their families. The smaller class sizes allow you to really develop strong relationships. I am also appreciative of the collaborative environment among colleagues.

Describe your typical day.
Our days are busy. We start each day with our morning circle which includes a mindful moment, a greeting, a share, an activity, and announcements. I truly believe this grounds us in community, provides opportunities for each student to be seen and heard, and establishes a cooperative classroom. Math is usually our first core subject of the day, then depending on the day, students are engaged with anywhere from 3-5 specialists, and then return in the afternoon when we focus on literacy and end our day with community as we reflect on our accomplishments, challenges, and share a joke of the day. Read More

Homecoming Is For Everyone

September 28, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

The energy in the building has been ramping up all week as we celebrate Homecoming. Students have been enjoying a series of special events, coloring contests, themed dress-up days, and assemblies. In many schools, this is associated with a Friday night football game and alumni events. At MPA, Homecoming is for everyone and is a week-long celebration of affinity for the school that includes all members of the school community—students in grades PreK-12, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends.

For many students, MPA is a second home to them. Throughout the fall, I invite seniors to have lunch with me in small groups of 10-12. Over lunch, I ask the seniors to share their “MPA Moment,” an experience that encapsulates the essence of MPA. Inevitably, they talk about the sense of family they feel, the strong relationships they have with their teachers, and how much they belong at MPA.

Many years ago, I read the book, “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community” by Robert Putnam. The title may seem strange but bowling alone serves as a metaphor for the loss of community in American society. In the 1990’s and 1980’s, bowling was the fastest-growing sport in the United States, all the while participation in bowling leagues dropped precipitously. Putnam found that fewer people are participating in social clubs, attending church, and even having dinner together as a family. Read More

Parents Association News & Events September 28, 2023

September 28, 2023

Lower School Quarterly Coffee
Tuesday, October 3, 8:15-9:45 AM
Join us for the first LS Quarterly Coffee of the year. Meet the new Lower School Director, Ms. Jennifer Le Varge. There will be a Fastbridge information presentation by Learning Support Specialists Alyssa Andretta and Robyn Kramer. Hear Chef Chris explain “All About the Cafeteria.” There will be a time for feedback and planning for future meetings. The last half hour will be reserved for informal conversations. This event will be held in the Gallery after drop off, from 8:15-9:45 AM.

Upper School Parent Coffee
Thursday, October 5, 8-9:30 AM
Join us for the first Upper School Coffee of the year. Talk with Mark Segal and other parents about the latest US happenings. We’ll meet in the Porter Conference Room (PCR).

Faculty and Staff Appreciation
Tuesday, October 10-Friday, October 13
The school year is getting into high gear, and the first round of Parent/Teacher conferences is coming up. The Parents Association and MPA parents and families are continuing the tradition of donating snacks and treats to help our staff get through conferences and to show our appreciation to all MPA employees. Please consider donating a beverage or snack for Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week. Remember to adhere to MPA’s Peanut/Tree Nut Policy when choosing snacks. Suggestions can be found at the link below. Thank you from the MPA Parents Association! Contact Tara Lafferty tmattrn@aol.com with any questions. Sign up here. Read More