Mounds Park Academy

December 15, 2025

The calendar year is drawing to a close and the holiday season is kicking into full swing! It feels like the perfect moment to reflect on an eventful year and look forward to everything 2026 will bring.

The diverse strengths of MPA students shone brightly throughout 2025. The debate team’s strong showing at the Classic State Debate Festival, the qualification of several athletes for fall state tournaments, including the boys soccer team, and the selection of multiple musicians for honor band and honor choir showcased the excellence of MPA students in and out of the classroom.

Strong alumni engagement and participation were also highlights for 2025. The Alumni Association Board is incredibly grateful for the myriad ways alums have given back.

Advancing Learning For All

December 11, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

As we approach winter break, our school days feel especially full of both celebration and meaningful learning. This time of year is filled with performances, competitions, culminating academic projects, and the excitement of new seasons for athletics and clubs. Students, faculty, and staff are working hard to finish strong before winter break, while many families navigate an active calendar of events and begin planning for the weeks ahead. Amid this energy, I find it equally important to pause and reflect on the ways our community continues to learn, grow, and support one another.

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at the inaugural Community-Wide Parents Association Meeting. With parents, caregivers, faculty, and staff from all three divisions gathered, the meeting was a beautiful reminder of the strength of our community. It also provided an opportunity to recognize the Parents Association board, their incredible efforts, and the many volunteers whose time and care have brought so many joyful moments to life since the start of the school year. Read More

Parents Association News And Events December 11, 2025

December 11, 2025

“Stories In The Snow” at the Book Festival has lived up to its name this week! Thank you to all the families who have joined and the parent volunteers who made it happen. There is still one day left to make purchases!

Please join us tomorrow during the following times or order online:

7:30-8:30 AM
12-1 PM

As we head into winter break, please look ahead for upcoming events in 2026 via the MPA calendar.

Welcome To MPA, Ms. Lauren Palumbo!

December 10, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Lauren Palumbo! Ms. Palumbo joined us on Wednesday, December 10, as a business office administrative assistant and transportation coordinator, and we are thrilled to introduce her to our community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Oklahoma universities. I studied at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, and then continued at East Central University to pursue a Master of Science in human resources. I come from a long history of working for the state of Oklahoma. I was an administrative assistant and business office manager when I was employed at the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I love the opportunity to work in a school setting, creating a safe and welcoming environment for all those who enter MPA.

Congrats, MPA Debate Team!

December 8, 2025

Congratulations to the MPA debate team on a fantastic performance at the Classic State Debate Festival. Fifty students represented the school and debated about the benefits and drawbacks of the U.S. military commitment to South Korea. Their countless hours of research, thinking, and practice contributed to numerous successes across the three divisions of competition—novice, junior varsity, and varsity and to the team finishing third in the sweepstakes competition.

We call the tournament the Classic Debate Championships in novice and junior varsity. In the novice division, the team of Maahi Bhalla and Alice Van Keerbergen advanced to the quarterfinal round. In the junior varsity division, the teams of Truman Wilgocki and Soren Winikoff and Drew Buhr and Harper Short advanced to the octafinal round. The team of Kelvyn Boddipalli and Nico Bergh advanced to the quarterfinal round.

The varsity division is called the Minnesota State High School League Classic Debate State Festival, as the MSHSL sponsors the awards for this event. Three teams had standout performances. The team of Yusuf Ali and Liam Kimmerle narrowly missed advancing to the elimination rounds and finished tenth. The team of Josh Murr and Lucille Mayer advanced to the semifinal round of competition, losing on a narrow 2-1 decision. Finally, the team of Ash Klann and Mina Kim advanced to the final round of the tournament, finishing as runners-up in a very close round. Read More

Experience MPA On A School Day!

December 8, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the December 10, 2025 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

During your school exploration process, have you asked yourself, “What is a day in the life of an MPA student like?”

To answer all of the above and more, we want to remind you of tomorrow’s opportunity to experience life at MPA on a school day. Our PreK-12 School Day Preview this Thursday, December 11, from 8:30-10 AM, will give you that inside look at MPA and it is not too late to RSVP!

This event is the perfect opportunity for your family to see yourselves here. You will be led on a small group tour and experience the joyful learning that happens here, in and out of the classroom. In addition to exploring our state-of-the-art spaces firsthand, you will also have the opportunity to meet and engage with academic leaders–bring your questions!

RSVP below to discover something remarkable. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admission at 651-748-5577 or admission@moundsparkacademy.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP Today

How We Learn

The Admission Process

Lower School Division News December 4, 2025

December 4, 2025

from James Ewer, Lower School director

As we head into our upcoming break, I want to pause and simply say thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your little ones. Thank you for the countless ways you show up, ask thoughtful questions, and partner with us. We are deeply grateful to have your family in this community.

A long break is a gift. I hope you use it to take care of yourselves and come back feeling blessed, grounded, and ready for the months ahead. A few simple ideas:

Protect some true “off” time. Choose a day or an afternoon when you do not schedule anything extra. Just be together. This will be my focus.
Read for fun. Let your child see you reading something you enjoy and invite them to curl up with a book next to you, maybe with your favorite snack. We do apples and peanut butter!
Get outside every day. Even a short walk or time at a park can reset everyone’s energy. Yes, even when it’s cold!
Talk about feelings. Ask your child what they are proud of so far this year and what feels hard. Listen more than you respond. The question I love is “What gave you the most joy today?”
Plan one thing you are excited about when we return. Naming it now can help children shift back to school with more ease. I haven’t decided on mine yet, but I will.

Middle School Division News December 4, 2025

December 4, 2025

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

I love December. I love the snow, and I don’t mind the cold too much. I love that we have sledding at recess and our annual Hour of Code week coming up. I love our Winter Concert next Thursday night and our Founders’ Day Pancake Breakfast that Friday. And I love how we send our students off into their winter break on Friday, December 19, with a day of service and fun for our fifth- and sixth-grade students and a winter carnival for our seventh- and eighth-grade students. Most of all, I love how this time of year reminds us of the progress we have made so far, and gives us the space to celebrate that learning.

One of the best ways we do this is with our Middle School Winter Concert. Next Thursday evening, December 11, all sixth- through eighth-grade students will perform in both their choir and band/orchestra groups. For parents and friends who arrive early, I encourage you to walk around the Middle School and Family Commons to see some of their amazing artwork that is on display—there has been so much inspiring work this fall! Here is more information about the concert timing and attire.

Also coming up next week, we have our quarterly Middle School Parent Coffee. At our last meeting, families were asking about the Upper School program and how we help to transition our students into the Upper School. We have asked Upper School director, Mark Segal, to join us on Tuesday morning, December 9, from 8-9:30 AM in the PCR to talk about the wonders of our Upper School and answer any questions you might have. If there’s something specific you hope for him to address or a lingering question you might have, please email me ahead of time, so I can be sure he is ready for us. Read More

Upper School Division News December 4, 2025

December 4, 2025

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

All Upper School students are invited to attend our annual Semiformal Dance on Saturday, December 13, at the historic Union Depot in St. Paul. School social events like this play an important role in fostering connection, joy, and belonging among our community members while offering them a space to build memories beyond the classroom. Bringing together all grade levels in the Upper School strengthens our sense of unity and allows students to celebrate as one community, reinforcing the relationships that make MPA such a vibrant and supportive place to learn and grow.

The Semiformal Dance is scheduled for 8-11 PM. Tickets went on sale this week and will continue to be sold through next week. Both cash and credit cards are accepted for payment. It is wonderful that this event is being held off campus at the Union Depot, and there will be signage directing students to the event space where the dance is being held: the Red Cap Room.
Read More

Parents Association News And Events December 4, 2025

December 4, 2025

Thanks to all the parents who joined our inaugural PA Community-Wide Meeting on Monday! We’ll report back in the January edition of Parent Press. In case you missed it, here is our December edition.

Last Chance To Join The Book Club With Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon

Please join Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon and fellow book-loving parents for a discussion of Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” on Thursday, December 18, from 6-7:30 PM, in the Martin Lenz Harrison Library! Light snacks and refreshments will be served. Please RSVP here by Friday, December 5.

Stories In The Snow Book Festival Is Next Week!

There are still a few slots open to volunteer! It’s not too late to sign up to make this festival a success.

Please visit MPA’s very own Scholastic website to…

Set up your child’s e-wallet (families may still pay with cash or credit card at the event).
Donate funds to Share the Fair.
Preview the books at our Book Festival.
Shop online from Monday, December 8-Friday, December 21 (25% of every online purchase directly benefits our library).

Book Fair Purchasing Hours

Monday, December 8-Tuesday, December 9: 7:30 AM-3:30 PM
Wednesday, December 10: 7:30-8:30 AM, 12-1 PM, 2:30-4 PM (open later due to the after-school event)
Thursday, December 11: 7:30-8:30 AM, 12-1 PM, 2:30-3:30 PM
Friday, December 12: 7:30-8:30 AM, 12-12:30 PM

Upcoming Events With MPA Admin!

Tuesday, December 9: Middle School Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
Thursday, January 15: Upper School Quarterly Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, PCR (Date Change)