Mounds Park Academy

September 23, 2021

from Renee Wright, Lower School Director

Monday Morning Meetings In Lower School
On many Mondays Lower School students gather for a Monday Morning Meeting. Our first Monday Morning Meeting of the school year took place on Monday, September 20 at 8:30 AM via Zoom. Coming together for these meetings unites the Lower School and sets the direction for the week ahead.

Our Monday Morning Meeting follows an agenda which encourages student participation. To start the meeting students get moving for “Brain Dance” led by Ms. Espeland. Brain Dance is composed of eight developmental movements that fire up the central nervous system and encourage the brain and body to work together. Often times, students are moving to the music they are learning about in music class. This week students were moving to the music of Esperanza Spalding, a well-known jazz string bass player, singer, composer, and teacher. Students also meet new faculty/staff during the “Who’s Who at MPA?” segment of the meeting. This week students met third grade teacher, Mrs. Colianni. She shared information and virtual photos about herself and her family. Another important agenda item is “Student Splash” when students present what they are learning in the classroom. This week fourth graders presented information about our Conflict Manager program which empowers fourth graders to help Lower School students solve conflicts on the playground. Other fourth graders shared a science lesson on variables. During the “Word Wizard” segment of the agenda a fourth grade student is quizzed on the meanings of the Words of the Week. It is inspiring to see our fourth graders show their vocabulary skills as word wizards. Lastly, as a way to chart the course for the week students hear about events of the week during the “Joyful Journey” segment of the meeting. This week the students heard about Homecoming and the special things they can look forward to next week. These meetings last about 30 minutes and end with the MPA School song as a way to show school spirit and start the week on a high note.

Monday Morning Meeting is a wonderful way to start the week. The meetings are a beautiful collaboration between teachers and students. Everyone benefits from the Monday Morning Meeting experience. Lower School students experience and get comfortable with public speaking and find it rewarding to present at the meeting. Teachers believe the meetings build community within Lower School. These meetings are a highlight of the week for everyone!

Conflict Managers
Fourth graders at Mounds Park Academy received conflict management training during the first few weeks of school for their role as Conflict Managers. Each day for the rest of the school year two fourth graders (on a rotating basis) will assist Lower School students with conflicts as they arise on our playground. This is a wonderful leadership opportunity for the fourth graders and a terrific service to our LS students. It is honorable to see how seriously our fourth graders take this responsibility.

Homecoming Happenings
September 27 – October 1 is Homecoming Week at Mounds Park Academy! This is an exciting time to come together as a community to show school spirit and celebrate our fantastic school. Lower School students will be involved in many of the special events throughout the week as a way to help students experience the Homecoming tradition at MPA. Below you will find the list of Lower School events throughout the week and special opportunities your child may want to participate in.

Monday, September 27: Pajama Day for all LS students.
Friday, October 1: Spirit Day! Students should wear their Homecoming T-Shirt and non-uniform bottoms. We encourage the MPA colors blue and white!

Recess Events:

Recess Photo Booth: Students will have the opportunity to get their photo taken with MPA spirit props at the Homecoming Photo Booth during recess. Photos will be made available to families on Schoology.
Thursday, September 30: All Lower School Students will gather together at the end of recess to sing and sign the MPA School Song as one group. Ms. Espeland will lead the song and our communication office will document this special event with a video. This will also be shared on Schoology for parents to enjoy.

Coloring Sheet
Lower School students took home an MPA Panther coloring sheet this week to promote Homecoming. Encourage your child to color the Panther and return the sheet to school during the week of September 27. We will hang their beautiful pictures in the LS hallway for everyone to enjoy!

Ways To Foster Lifelong Reading Habits

Provide a wide variety of reading material. Children need to experience reading fiction and non-fiction, magazines, graphic novels, and comic books. Children need access to lots of texts to help them discover their interests. You never know what will absorb a child when reading.
Celebrate all reading. Children will read more if given choices in what they read. Do not push children to read harder books, give up picture books or comics, or limit their reading choices when they are selecting books for pleasure. Praise them for reading and show interest in the books they choose.
Limit screen time. The more time children spend using electronic devices and watching television, the less they read. Encourage children to read books or magazines in print to develop reading stamina.

Credit: Eight Ways for Parents and Teachers to Foster Wild and Lifelong Reading Habits, by Donalyn Miller. Miller is an education and literacy consultant.

Dates To Remember

September 27 – October 2: Homecoming Week
September 30, October 7, October 8: Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 8: No Classes
October 20 – 22: No Classes/Fall Break

BIPOC Alumni Join Sid Carlson White ’17 On September 23

September 22, 2021

On September 23, at 6:30 PM Central, the Alumni Committee on Antiracist Practice will be hosting its first community discussion for BIPOC alumni of MPA. One of the many things that respondents to our survey suggested is that alumni of color wanted spaces, digital and in-person, to discuss life after graduating, existing in predominantly-white spaces, and to generally share experiences of life both during and after our time at MPA. This conversation, which will be specifically alumni-only, will kick off the committee and its work with the Antiracism Action Group and the Alumni Board.

Join via Zoom >
Meeting ID: 952 9079 8620
Password: 812473

Meet Alumni Board Member Rex Hendrickson ’11

September 21, 2021

Rex Hendrickson ’11

For what grades did you attend MPA?
K-12

Why did you choose to pursue a position on the Alumni Association Board?
I wanted to get more involved in many aspects of my life. I wanted to engage with the world around me and the world I know. I know MPA quite well after being there for 13 years – it seemed like a natural way to get involved and a way to give back.

In what ways do you see yourself as a supporter of MPA and its mission?
I believe, deep down, we all know what doing right is. We all have our own unique role to play, which gives us purpose and direction. I support MPA’s mission in passing on that wisdom to its students and encouraging them to dream big and do right.

What are you currently doing, professionally and/or personally?
I am an account director at a brand strategy agency called vnzo. We work with other companies to create differentiation in the marketplace – how to claim their own space and increase marketshare. We strategize to come up with solutions; we incorporate that into their brand; and ultimately, grow through marketing.

How did you get to where you are in your career? Did you attend college and if so, where? Are there some career moves or other key experiences or relationships that have inspired you?
I attended the University of Denver for a couple years before moving back to MN to start working. I worked a few odd jobs before meeting a good friend of mine with whom we started a company together. Now, that company is no longer, it started to make me think in an entrepreneurial way and that has been exciting to see.

How did your MPA experience prepare you for your life today? How did MPA help you dream big and do right?
I think one of the major takeaways from MPA was the notion to think for myself. To be learned and to stay curious – to keep dreaming for something bigger and better for my life. MPA also taught me to do the right thing, to have my own moral code and ethics to live by. To have this personal set of rules that governs me and every one of my choices. I think that compass started at a young age.

What’s next? Any aspirations – personal or professional – that you’d like to share?
I would like to continue to work hard and keep my head down. I enjoy personal development and seeing where consistency can take you. I would also like to travel again but for now, home is where I need to be.

What do you to see happen during your time on the Alumni Association Board?
I would like to see MPA continue to grow as one of the premier private education systems in MN.

Please share your favorite MPA story.
My favorite MPA story has to include my time on the soccer team. Going to the state tournament my sophomore and my senior year were memories I will hold close to home.

Homecoming Celebration And Spirit Week Reimagined

September 16, 2021

September 27 – October 2
Join us as we reimagine our annual Homecoming festivities in light of COVID-19 health and safety concerns. We are offering division-specific opportunities for students as a part of a weeklong celebration, building spirit for MPA Athletics and our entire community.

Upper School Activities:

MPA Student Council Spirit Week Dress Up Days: September 27 – October 1
Upper School student only BBQ: October 1, 5-8 PM, Benz Courtyard
Upper School student dance: October 2, 8-11 PM, Benz Courtyard
Free Homecoming-themed MPA t-shirts for all Upper School students

Middle School Activities:

Middle School Game Day: October 1, 10 AM-3 PM, South Lawn (Parent Volunteers needed!)
Spirit Week Dress Up Days September 27-October 1
Free Homecoming-themed MPA t-shirts for all Middle School students

Lower School Activities:

Pajama Day for all Lower School Students: September 27
Spirit Wear Day with Homecoming T-shirt and non-uniform bottom: October 1
Homecoming Spirit Photo Booth and Special Appearances by the MPA Panther: September 27-October 1
Homecoming Panther Coloring Sheets available for students
Free Homecoming-themed MPA t-shirts for all Lower School students

MPA Athletics Schedule Saturday, October 2
Please note: Only athlete household members may attend in person. Join in the fun and cheer on our Panthers by streaming games live! Learn more at https://www.moundsparkacademy.org/athletics/

Varsity Girls Soccer vs New Life Academy 11 AM (available for streaming)
Varsity Boys Soccer New Life Academy 1 PM (available for streaming)
Varsity Volleyball 9 AM-2 PM (continuous streaming viewing)
JV Boys Soccer New Life Academy 11 AM (not available for streaming)
Varsity Girls Tennis vs Como Park and Cretin Derham Hall (not available for streaming)

Homecoming Parent Gathering
Parents, would you like to share your MPA Spirit and support our student athletes? Join the MPA Parents Association for an all-parent coffee and community building meet-up on Friday, October 1 from 7:45 to 10 AM. You’ll find us under the big white tent in the west parking lot, rain or shine. Meet other MPA parents, help to decorate the outdoor fields, and write messages of encouragement for our athletes. Go Panthers!

The Responsibility of Bold Innovation

September 16, 2021

from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I have to admit I am a big fan of dystopia books, film, and television. Favorite books include “The Stand” by Stephen King and “Swan Song” by Robert McCammon, movies such as “The Day After Tomorrow” and “I Am Legend”, and television shows like “The Leftovers” and “The Walking Dead.” It’s not that I like gloom and doom or enjoy blood and gore. Rather, I see dystopian literature, films, and television as windows into the human condition, what humans are capable of in the face of horrific conditions, great suffering, or terrible injustice, and the triumph of the human spirit.

Living through the last several weeks, let alone the last 18 months, has been all too much like a dystopian novel. Wildfires in the west, hurricanes in the south, the drought here in Minnesota combined with the lingering effects of the pandemic, all present a series of challenges that are testing the fabric of our society. Like characters in a dystopian movie, we are learning a great deal about ourselves, what we value, and what we are willing to do to endure.

Imagine my surprise last week when dystopia seemed to invade my professional life when I came across the article “Schooling in the ‘Fifth Season’” by Justin Reich in the latest edition of one of my favorite education journals, Educational Leadership. What caught my attention was a quote from a study conducted by the United States Change Research Program, “Humans are re-engineering the geo-chemistry of the planet to be inhospitable to our current civilization. As average temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more common, there will be more fires, more floods, more freezes, more novel disease events, and accompanying migration, civil unrest, and conflict.” (Reidmiller, et al., 2018) While I’m not sure I agree with this assessment, I believe that conducting school no just like we did 18 months ago would be a mistake. Educational systems must be inherently structured to pivot and change and to become more agile and proactively responsive. Read More

Connecting With The MPA Parents Association

September 16, 2021

Homecoming Coffee
Join us for an all school morning coffee to celebrate Homecoming on Friday, October 1 from 7:45-10:00 AM. Have a hot cup of coffee and, if you choose, show your support for our athletes by helping to decorate the tennis courts and soccer field fence as well as writing messages of encouragement for our student athletes. We’ll be under the tent in the west parking lot, rain or shine. Go Panthers!

Faculty and Staff Appreciation Sign Up
Fall at MPA is filled with traditions…The first day of school, picture day, after school sports, that first missed homework assignment and Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week. Help the PA keep the tradition of supporting our faculty and staff by donating snacks and beverages during this busy week. They’ll be available all week for staff to grab at their convenience. Donations can be brought to your assigned drop off door during morning drop off (LS, MS, or US). To sign up, click the link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084DACA622A5FB6-fall1

Parents Connect: Wednesday Morning Walks
The Parents Association invites parents and guardians to get together Wednesday mornings after drop off with Michelle Mick. We’ll meet at the flagpole near the LS entrance. LS, MS and US families are welcome. Chat with new parents and connect with friends. Younger children are welcome to walk with us.

Remember to bring a mask to all events! Hope to see you there!

Parents Connect: Monday and Thursday Mornings in the Garden
Get your hands dirty after drop off, helping in MPA’s gardens. No experience necessary. Come and help weed, plant, dig, or sow, all are welcome. How long you stay is up to you. If Michelle Mick is not at the flagpole, go around the corner, in the Library gardens, next to Door #2.

Connecting With The MPA Parents Association

September 9, 2021

Parents Connect: Wednesday Morning Walks

The Parents Association invites parents and guardians to get together Wednesday mornings after drop off. Mark your calendars, it will be fun! Wednesday, September 8 we’ll have a 30-minute walk with Michelle Mick. We’ll meet at the flagpole near the LS entrance. LS, MS and US families are welcome. Chat with new parents and connect with friends. Younger children are welcome to walk with us.

After that walk if parents are interested, we can head over to the Farmer’s Market at Aldrich Arena, a short walk from MPA. They have a large variety of great produce and you’ll be supporting local farmers.

Remember to bring a mask to all events! Hope to see you there!

Parents Connect: Monday and Thursday Mornings in the Garden

Get your hands dirty after drop off, helping in MPA’s gardens. No experience necessary. Come and help weed, plant, dig, or sow, all are welcome. How long you stay is up to you. If Michelle Mick is not at the flagpole, go around the corner, in the Library gardens, next to Door #2.

Upcoming garden dates resume on Monday, September 13. Michelle is unable to meet Thursday, September 9.

Remember to bring a mask! Hope to see you there!

News from the MPA Gardens

‘Tis the season to see the beautiful Monarch butterflies fill up, on their way down to Mexico where they overwinter. In the library gardens, this past week there have been lots of butterflies (a kaleidoscope of butterflies!) feeding off the long purple flower at the end of the gardens near the library — the flower is liatris/blazing star, a native, and if you have a chance, do please wander through the gardens, with your student or alone to catch the last glimpse of them before they fly off on their way until next year. This past week we have seen up to 20 of them circling around, landing, dancing in the air — it really is a beautiful sight!

Upper School Division News

September 9, 2021

from Mark Segal, Upper School Director

Renowned independent school child psychologist, speaker, and author Michael Thompson has spent part of his career providing information about the value of building and maintaining strong relationships. Dr. Thompson shares that having, “a unique bond with one special person can seem, in a word, magical. This feeling is perhaps felt even more by the child exploring their first relationships beyond the family unit.” Originally, this caught me by surprise. I would have thought that having many close friends was an important part of adolescence as with many strong and close relationships a student’s circle of influence would be larger. As I thought more about this, however, I began to realize that Dr. Thompson was speaking about the value and importance of authentically real and trusting relationships between students.

At MPA, we often refer to ourselves as a large family, and during the first two weeks of the school year one of the main foci of our teachers and students has been to build relationships with others in both their classes and advisories. For those Upper School students and families new to the community this earnestly began with two gatherings in mid-August where new students met with Peer Leaders on campus. They ate pizza, played games, and toured the building. A week later, new families and Peer Leader families gathered over a BBQ dinner under the big top on the south lawn and deepened the relationships built at the student gathering.

Since the start of the school year the Upper School has held a number of community touch points for students to build and strengthen their relationships. Weekly Monday Morning Meetings are held on the first day of each week (even if it is not a Monday) to bring the full Upper School student body together. Students in grades 9-11 meet on Fridays in their advisory groups (made up of 10-12 students) and find ways to connect with one another and their advisor. Seniors meet as a full class and discuss ways in which their relationships are strengthened as they look ahead to their final year at MPA. And just last week, the ninth grade went an all-day field trip to Afton State Park and played games, went on hikes, and did art projects as a way to unify the Class of 2025 and to look ahead to their next four years in Upper School.

The Making Caring Common Project through Harvard University reported out data last February that shared 36% of all Americans–including 61% of young adults–feel serious loneliness. The Project suggests that to address this, “we must build a physical and social infrastructure in which we must reimagine and reweave social relationships” and “work to restore our commitment to each other and the common good.” The MPA Upper School is committed to providing opportunities for students and faculty to build genuine and authentic relationships which will, in turn, lessen the possibility of our community members to feel lonely and without someone to connect.

I look forward to seeing you on campus soon!

Mark Segal

MPA Covid-19 Symptom Response
As we continue to navigate the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, we ask for your diligence in working with our Covid-19 symptom response and contact tracing team. At the first sign of symptoms, parents should complete the daily AUXS app symptom screening and/or email covid@moundsparkacademy.org. When a negative Covid-19 test is required for student clearance, results must be provided prior to the student’s return. All symptomatic community members, regardless of vaccination status must remain at home pending those results. Thank you for your partnership. For any questions, please contact Jennifer Rogers-Petitt at jrogers@moundsparkacademy.org.

Looking Ahead

Mon, 9/13: All School Picture Day
Tues, 9/14: Concert Choir Rehearsals, 6:15-9 PM, on campus
Thurs, 9/30: Upper School Conferences, 4-7 PM, via Zoom
Fri, 10/1: Upper School Homecoming BBQ & Bonfire, 5-8 PM, Benz Courtyard
Sat, 10/2: Homecoming, all day, on campus
Wed, 10/6: Class of 2022 Cum Laude Induction, 7:30 AM, location TBD
Thurs, 10/7: Upper School Conferences, 4-8 PM, via Zoom
Fri, 10/8: No Classes, Upper School Conferences, 8AM-4 PM, via Zoom

A Commitment To Growth

September 9, 2021

from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

On Wednesday morning I had the pleasure of attending the first Lower School CHAMP assembly of the new school year. If you are not familiar with CHAMP, it stands for “Character Happens At Mounds Park.” My day began greeting students as they entered school wearing a rainbow of designated colors unique to their grade level. The assembly would ordinarily take place in person, but instead students gathered via Zoom to engage joyfully in song, learn about the attribute of the new year, and listen to a book read by librarian Nancy Lage. Afterwards, classroom teachers invited students to share their thoughts and experiences on the theme.

Now in its eleventh year, the CHAMP program will continue to focus on its primary philosophy of guiding students to act with a specific set of traits to produce responsible citizens. As explained by Renee Wright, Lower School Director, classes will continue to focus on the eleven attributes in order to endorse real-life application of Friendship, Compassion, Respect, Inclusiveness, Courage, Self-control, Responsibility, Cooperation, Mindfulness, Integrity, and Perseverance. The focus this year will be on being accountable and students will focus on being accountable to self, family, school, and community. Read More

Lower School Division News

September 9, 2021

from Renee Wright, Lower School Director

Our first CHAMP assembly took place on Wednesday, September 8. I am excited to share that our focus for this school year will be on ACCOUNTABILITY. Students will practice using CHAMP character traits to be the best version of themselves on campus, at home, and in their community. They will learn the importance of making good choices and take responsibility for their words and actions. At our assembly we were all inspired by the book, “I Am Human…A Book of Empathy,” by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Being human means we are full of possibility. We learn, dream big, and wonder. At times we make mistakes but learn from them. We mindfully strive to act with compassion and empathy to others and ourselves.

As a follow-up to the CHAMP assembly teachers led a community circle in the classroom to talk about being responsible. Students shared their thoughts and ideas to the following questions:

What does it mean to you to be responsible?
What have you done in the past week that shows responsibility?

Encourage your child to be responsible at home. Being responsible is an important quality for school success. You can help your child develop these qualities by establishing reasonable rules and procedures in your home and reinforcing them consistently. Expecting your child to complete simple tasks or chores is important to building responsibility. Break jobs down into smaller steps and praise your child’s efforts. Children feel good about being contributing members of the family.

Parent and School Partnership
Mark your calendar for parent/teacher conferences. Please see the dates below when conference times will be offered.

Thursday, September 30–3:30-7 PM
Thursday, October 7–3:30-8 PM
Friday, October 8–8 AM-4 PM (No Classes)

You will receive a communication soon from the Lower School Office with information on how to sign up for a conference. Please make attending conferences a priority. Conferences are extremely important and provide teachers the opportunity to team with parents to help students be successful. Lower School homeroom conferences are scheduled for 25 minutes and specialists conferences are scheduled for 10 minutes.

After-school Pick-up Name Request
If you pick-up your child in the drive-up lane after school it would be helpful if you would place a sign with your last name on the dash, so it is visible in the window on the right side of your vehicle. This will help speed up pick-up procedures. Thank you in advance for your attention to this new procedure!

Dates to Remember

Monday, September 13: Picture Day
September 27-October 2: Homecoming Week
October 20-22: No Classes/Fall Break