Mounds Park Academy

Upper School Division News March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Monday, March 31: No Classes, Eid al-Fitr
Tuesday, April 1: US World Language Finals
Tuesday, April 1: Coffee & Conversation With The Heads, 7:45-8:45 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Wednesday, April 2: US World Language Finals
Wednesday, April 2: US Boys Basketball Banquet, 5:30-8:30 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, April 3: US Science Finals, 8:45-10:15 AM
Thursday, April 3: US English Finals, 12-1:30 PM
Friday, April 4: End of Quarter 3
Friday, April 4: US Math Finals, 8:45-10:15 AM
Friday, April 4: US Social Studies Finals, 12-1:30 PM
Saturday, April 5: ACT Test Date
Monday, April 7: MS/US Students & Screens Parent Meeting, 1:45-3 PM, Recital Hall
Wednesday, April 9: PA Cultural Celebration Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, April 10: Senior Service Project: Empty Bowls, 4:30-6:30 PM, Family Commons & Peacock Family Teaching Kitchen
Thursday, April 10: HeadSpace: Personalized Pathways Through Universal Design For Learning, 7-8 PM, Virtual Meeting
Monday, April 14: No Classes, Professional Development
Wednesday, April 16: US G10 College Counseling Parent Night, 6:30-7:30 PM, Recital Hall

What do you get when you have 27 MPA community members traveling together on a Spring Break trip to Morocco and Spain? This is the question that went through my mind as I boarded the Delta airliner on Saturday, March 8.

The diverse group of travelers, comprised of 9-12 grade students, parents, and faculty chaperones, embarked on a remarkable educational and social expedition through the enchanting cities of North Africa and Southern Spain. Beginning our journey in Morocco, we explored the historic streets of Casablanca, wandered through the ancient medina of Fes, and discovered the coastal charm of Tangier. Our journey continued north as we crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, bridging the cultures (and continents) to immerse ourselves in the rich history of the captivating Spanish cities of Grenada, Seville, Cordoba, and Madrid. Read More

Join Us For Cultural Celebration Day At MPA!

March 27, 2025

The MPA Parents Association invites you to Cultural Celebration Day on Wednesday, April 9 from 3:15-5:30 PM in the Family Commons! Engage with community members who will be sharing their cultural heritage. Enjoy sweet and savory rice dishes from around the world, an international tea bar, and experience beautiful music and dance performances!

Go home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, try your hand at global crafts, learn how to make masala chai (spiced tea from India), master the steps to Bhangra, a traditional Punjabi folk dance, and chat with community members who will have booths set up to share their culture and/or offer samples of their cuisine.

Food and drink tickets ($1 each) will be sold at the event. Zabiha, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available. Read More

Lower School Director Search Update

March 27, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Mark your calendars for Coffee with the Candidate for Lower School parents for April 7, 8, and 9 from 8-9 AM in the MPA Gallery. Each date will feature a different Lower School director candidate.

I’m writing to share an update on the search for MPA’s next Lower School director—an important process that continues to move forward with great momentum and care. First, thank you to all who participated in the community survey. Your input was incredibly valuable in helping to further shape the direction of our search. The position was officially posted on both the Carney, Sandoe & Associates website and MPA’s own site in February. Since then, our search consultant, John Faubert, has fielded interest from a strong pool of candidates while also actively recruiting national and international candidates and conducting initial screening interviews throughout early March.

Over spring break, Dr. Brogdon and I reviewed the dossiers of the most promising candidates, as identified by John. After thoughtful evaluation, we invited a select group to participate in first-round interviews with our Search Advisory Committee, which includes Lower School faculty (nominated by their peers) and administrators. These virtual interviews are taking place this week and will continue into early next week. Following these interviews, three finalists will be invited to campus for full-day visits on April 7, 8, and 9. Each candidate will participate in:

a second interview with the Search Advisory Committee;
a student-led campus tour;
a meeting with the administrative team;
conversations with Lower School faculty, staff, and students; and
a morning “Coffee with the Candidate” for Lower School parents, held from 8-9 AM in the Gallery.

To protect confidentiality, the names of the finalists will be shared with the Lower School community on the morning of each visit. Your feedback will play an important role in the final decision-making process, and I encourage you to attend the parent coffee sessions if you’re able.

My goal is to announce the next Lower School director by the end of April, with a formal start date of July 1, 2025. As always, this timeline may shift slightly depending on the candidate pool and other logistics, and I’ll keep you informed of any changes as they arise.

I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of the Search Advisory Committee for their time, insight, and dedication to this process. And thank you, too, for your engagement and support. With your partnership, I am confident we will select a leader who is a perfect match for our exceptional Lower School community.

Five Things To Know About MPA From Hannah L.

March 27, 2025

PreK-12 life, teachers who care, a 32-acre campus, and more–read about Hannah’s MPA experience through her top five things to know!

1. We are a PreK-12 school.

We are able to connect with students much older than us and younger than us. It helps us learn leadership skills since we see much younger kids throughout the hallways. Having older students in the building sets examples for us to be the best version of ourselves.

2. We are able to have great student-teacher relationships.

Because of the small class sizes, teachers are able to meet with students on an individual level. They really get to know each and every one of us to help us learn better. Teachers at MPA are always available to offer support.

3. You’re able to pursue your passions.

MPA offers a lot of different extracurriculars for you to choose from. It’s great because you get to do what you enjoy and maybe try something new that you may end up loving, including sports, clubs, and more. I personally love to do lots of theater along with choir and orchestra. Read More

Eid Mubarak, Honoring Eid al-Fitr, And Celebrating Inclusion At MPA

March 27, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we approach the joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr, I’d like to reflect on the significance of this holiday and the shared values it uplifts—especially within our Mounds Park Academy community. Eid marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, self-reflection, and compassion. It is a time for gratitude, generosity, and joyful connection—values that resonate deeply with our mission and culture at MPA.

Here at MPA, we strive to cultivate a school where every student, family, and faculty member feels respected and celebrated. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths—it creates a vibrant environment for learning, growth, and deeper understanding. Celebrating cultural and religious traditions, such as Eid al-Fitr, is essential to fostering an inclusive community and honoring the unique identities of all who make up MPA.

On Tuesday evening, I had the privilege of joining over 100 members of our community—students, families, and faculty—for Iftar, the meal to break the fast at sunset. This beautiful evening was organized by our Upper School Muslim Student Association and MPA art teacher, Samah Fahmy. Students shared their beliefs, sang the call to prayer, and led the Maghrib prayer before we all enjoyed a delicious potluck meal together. I was truly honored to be part of such a meaningful celebration of faith, culture, and togetherness. Read More

The Right School Fit

March 19, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the March 22 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

As parents ourselves, we realize that a child’s educational journey only happens once, and that the goal is to find a place where they will love learning, be challenged, feel supported, and continue to be inspired.

We also understand that choosing the right private school fit for your family is a big decision. You’re balancing the importance of finding a community that aligns with your family’s values, a school’s academic and educational approach, the opportunities and offerings, and the overall feelings you have.

The “right school” will mean something different for every family. But above all, your children should feel seen, supported, and empowered at school. Whether it’s through experiential learning or myriad extracurricular opportunities, a warm, inclusive community or a small class size, a school’s culture has a significant role in shaping your child’s confidence, curiosity, and sense of belonging. You’re considering all of these things to ensure your child finds a school community where they will truly thrive.

As you and your family navigate the school selection process, we encourage you to explore our blog post, “Ten Things To Consider When Choosing A Private School.” Through insights from our current community members, this article will help you explore the cultural, communal, and pedagogical aspects that matter most when choosing a private school.

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Five Things To Know About MPA From Ford B.

March 13, 2025

Middle School student Ford B. shares five key things about his MPA experience, including discovering passions, finding his place here, and skills he’s built upon.

1. Everyone is super welcoming.

I joined MPA last year for my seventh-grade year. On the first day, I was afraid to make new friends, until my first class, and someone asked me to sit next to them. It instantly made me feel more at ease.

2. You can try new clubs and sports.

I had heard the Nordic team was fun, but I had never done it before. I still gave it a shot, and it’s now one of my favorite things I do. And now I’m in the school play, which I haven’t done before, but I’m giving it a shot.

3. Homework builds strong skills.

Homework here may be different from other schools, but over time, it became easier once I learned to plan out my homework load and do my best not to procrastinate. Read More

Five Things To Know About MPA From Elizabeth Jacobson Faye

March 12, 2025

Leadership opportunities, getting to explore her passions in the arts, and bonding as a class–these are the five things Elizabeth ’27 wants you to know about MPA.

1. Tenth grade takes an annual trip to Deep Portage.

Every year the sophomore class gets to go to Deep Portage together. It was so fun riding the bus and doing activities while getting to know my grade a bit better.

2. Creativity is encouraged.

In concert choir, we do a competition between sections where our section leaders take a popular song, change the lyrics to make them choir-related, and then we perform for a panel of faculty judges. This year my section (the altos) won, which was exciting.

3. MPA has a variety of offerings.

MPA offers lots of different art classes. Personally, as someone who loves art, it is really cool to try things I’ve never done before like ceramics. Read More

MPA Host Families Needed!

March 7, 2025

We are so fortunate to welcome international students from around the world to MPA through our International Student Program. A $10,200 per student stipend is paid to host families to cover the cost of room, board, and transportation from August to June. Typically, families host for at least one full year and sometimes for a student’s entire MPA experience. As you warmly welcome this student into your home, you will gain a first-hand understanding of another culture, a lifelong relationship with your students, and so much more.

If you are interested …
Contact Cory Becker-Kim, international student program director, at international@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5541. Get started on the host family application form here.

If you know someone outside our community who is interested …
Please share mpa.link/host with them. When they reach out, share your name, and become an approved host family, you will receive a $200 referral bonus in the form of a Visa gift card.

Thank you in advance for your interest and/or for recommending this opportunity to your friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

Ten Things To Consider When Choosing A Private School

March 6, 2025

The arrival of spring brings a new season to all private schools all around the country: admission season! Here at MPA, decisions are released on March 28 and the enrollment deadline quickly follows on April 11. This means families are currently facing a decision—and sometimes, that decision can be difficult. So with the help of our community, we collected a list of ten things families should consider when deciding on a private school.

1. Your Community
When choosing a school, you’re not looking for a community just for your children, but for yourself and your entire family.

The MPA community is robust, and each and every child is known and valued. We are built upon shared values and firmly committed to freethinking, collaboration, diversity, and connection. “We love the connectedness, the openness of the community, and the personal attention for our children,” says MPA Middle School parent Isaac McBroom. “It seems the school really knows them as individuals.”

He also noted how the strength of the MPA community is rooted in character development, one of the fundamental aspects in our educational philosophy and in the curriculum, PreK-12. “The world does not run on math and science alone. Understanding world issues, and how to connect to others with empathy and understanding will hopefully lead to a more fulfilling life,” he added. Read More