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Lower School Division News October 30, 2025

October 30, 2025

from James Ewer, Lower School director

As October comes to a close, we enter a season that calls us to slow down, notice, and give thanks. This is the time of year when students begin to settle into routines and friendships deepen. It’s also a perfect moment to pause and help our children reflect on the people and experiences that fill their lives with meaning.

Gratitude isn’t just about saying “thank you.” It’s about recognizing how others contribute to our joy and growth. When families take time to name moments of kindness—big or small—it helps children understand empathy at a deeper level. They begin to see the world not only through their own eyes but through the experiences of others.

Try weaving gratitude into your family rhythm. At dinner or bedtime, ask your child:

Who made your day better today, and how?
What’s one thing you’re grateful for that you didn’t notice yesterday?
When did you make someone else’s day better?
What did you learn about yourself through something that didn’t go as planned?

These moments of reflection help our children grow in compassion, humility, and joy. Gratitude grounds us. It reminds us that even in a busy world, connection is what matters most.

Peace and Love,

Mr. James

SEL in the Classrooms
Lower School students will take part in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons every other week. These lessons will help students build skills in self-awareness, empathy, communication, and problem-solving. In addition, we’ll be offering small groups and lunch bunch opportunities to further support students’ social growth and connection within our school community. Read More

Middle School Division News October 30, 2025

October 30, 2025

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

And just like that, we are at the end of October and the end of our first quarter of school! As we wrap up our first quarter of the school year, I want to encourage you all to practice the art of reflection. With our students, we want them to reflect on their learning and look for ways to honor their hard work and accomplishments, while also looking for potential areas of growth. With our faculty, we have been reflecting on what we have learned about our learners (through providing them feedback on assignments, getting to know them better on our orientation trips, and even looking at their MAP data) during the first quarter and looking for ways to help them grow and improve. And, as a division, we are always looking for ways to help support our families and provide you with the information and resources you may need to be able to dream big and do right with your child(ren).

Your i-Term Forms Are Due By Friday, October 31!

Last week, we announced our i-Term 2026 courses to all students and emailed Middle School parents our i-Term course brochure and sign-up form. Those forms need to be filled in by the end of the day on Friday so we can start to build course rosters and move forward on planning these courses. We are so excited to have a wide breadth of new and returning favorite courses to offer to our students this year, and we will work hard to ensure that each student gets one of their top choices. Read More

Upper School Division News October 30, 2025

October 30, 2025

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

As we draw to the end of the first academic quarter, it is important for students (and their families) to reflect on their achievements and challenges experienced during the first quarter of the 2025-26 school year. Looking ahead to the second quarter of the school year presents an opportunity for students to celebrate their first quarter successes while at the same time identifying areas of challenge they can improve upon during their subsequent quarters, starting with the second quarter.

Education expert and champion of progressive education John Dewey shared that, “we do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience.” Taking time to assess what has been learned can lead to greater motivation moving forward. Transitioning into the next quarter requires a mindset reset. Students should consider what strategies worked well for them and which may need a little more attention or “adjustment.” They can (and should) spend time evaluating their study habits, seeking and using additional resources, and establishing goals for the upcoming quarter. Carol Dweck, a psychologist known for her work on mindset, shares, “The view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.” Embracing a growth mindset can empower students to look ahead to the new quarter with renewed energy.

As students reflect on their first quarter, it is important to engage with peers, teachers, parents, and administrators. Collaborative discussions can provide new perspectives and valuable insights that can help in setting realistic goals for the upcoming quarter. Building a strong support network fosters an environment where students can thrive personally and academically. As students (and their families) prepare for the second quarter, it is important to remember that growth often comes from the challenges we face and the support we give (or receive) from one another. Read More

Parents Association News And Events October 30, 2025

October 30, 2025

Halloween Pop-Up Book Fair On October 31 From 7 AM-4 PM! Shop around Halloween Parties, before, or after school. Local bookseller, Liz, will be selling a variety of books in the Martin Lenz Harrison Library. Preview the books or shop online at BookBizLiz.com. All proceeds benefit our library!

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, November 18: Coffee & Connections With The Head of School, 8 AM – 9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Monday, December 1: Community-Wide PA Meeting, 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Monday, December 8-Friday, December 12: Annual MPA Book Festival, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Thursday, December 18: PA Book Club with Dr. Brogdon, 6-7:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library | We will be reading “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. Please look for our RSVP form in the upcoming Parent Press!

Parents Association News And Events October 23, 2025

October 23, 2025

Ways To Help Make Halloween A Hit At MPA!

Contribute To The MPA PA Costume Drive | In anticipation of Lower School Halloween celebrations on October 31. All MPA families are welcome to donate new or gently used costumes between October 20-30. Donation bins will be located at Doors 1 and 7. Costumes will be displayed for families to “shop” in the atrium by the second and third grade classrooms from October 21-31.
Volunteer At The Lower School Halloween Party! | Help with a variety of activities during students’ P.E. time between 8:30 AM-2:20 PM. Parent volunteers are welcome to stay for as little or as long as they can. We need all the help we can get!
Check Out The Halloween Pop-Up Book Fair | On October 31, from 7 AM-4 PM, shop around Halloween Parties, before, or after school. Local bookseller, Liz, will be selling a variety of books in the Martin Lenz Harrison Library. Preview the books or shop online at BookBizLiz.com. All proceeds benefit our library!

Deep And Meaningful Connections

October 23, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

As I reflect on the past two weeks, the theme that stands out most to me is connection. The foundation of Mounds Park Academy’s community rests on the deep and meaningful connections developed among our students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Last Monday, before taking a deep dive into our ISACS work for MPA’s upcoming re-accreditation, most of our faculty and staff spent several hours in the Manitou Forest. This time was dedicated to appreciating the opportunity to be outdoors, where we could connect with nature and each other. The results of our time together were seen in the smiles, heard in the songs faculty and staff sang as they walked the leaf-covered paths, and felt in the warm sunshine and crisp air. The experience filled everyone with cheer and levity.

The week continued with an incredible Grandparents and Special Friends Day, where classrooms and hallways were filled with students beaming with pride as they shared MPA with their loved ones, further deepening the connection between their school and home lives. Read More

Alumni Update: Kristen Bourne ’13

October 18, 2025

After graduating from MPA, I went on to get a bachelor’s degree in sports science from Northern Michigan University and a master’s degree in exercise physiology from The College of Saint Scholastica.

I’m currently a World Cup Coach for the US Cross Country Ski Team. I work with the top athletes on the national team as we prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano/Cortina in February. My job takes me all over the world, from New Zealand to Scandinavia and anywhere in Europe that has snow. I coach many athletes on the national team, including Julia Kern, a two-time World Championship medalist and individual World Cup podium athlete.

Much of my love for coaching and high performance came from the wonderful coaches I had throughout my time at MPA. My passion for elevating women in sport came from having head coach, Bev Docherty, as a role model and example of the power of women in leadership roles. Much of my coaching philosophy comes from the coach-athlete experience with her.

I currently live in Truckee, California. When I’m not traveling, I’m running in the mountains with my corgi, Pico.

Why I Coach At MPA From Nick Gardner ’14

October 17, 2025

Why did I choose to return to MPA to coach?

I chose to return to MPA as a coach for so many reasons. First, the coaches I had in high school left a huge impact on me. Dan Ethier and Bev Docherty. It makes a huge difference to have coaches who believe in you, who value you as a student, an athlete, and as a multi-dimensional person outside of MPA, but still push you to be your very best when you compete.

This is what I was blessed to have in them, and I wanted to pay that forward and be a cheerleader and supporter in other people’s lives. Second, I love working with young people. At the time, I had a job without a lot of social interaction, AND there was a pandemic which really restricted the new relationships we formed—I found the team SO energizing to work with. I think for all of us, the ski team (both the camaraderie and the training regimen) became a real source of uplift every day. Relatedly, I love a challenge! Learning to ski is hard, and so is teaching it.

What does it mean to me to mentor the next generation of student athletes?

To mentor the next generation of athletes feels like the least I could do—my own experience as a Panther athlete left such a significant impact on me. I felt honored to endeavor to bring about personal growth, facilitate friendship, and help students hone their abilities. Read More

Then & Now: MPA’s Multigenerational Educators

October 17, 2025

“I worked at MPA for five years before Emma was born,” Deedee recalls. “When she joined our family, it was obvious only a parent could tend to her. She was ‘full blast,’ as one of her five-year-old friends put it.”

Deedee stepped away from her classroom to embrace life at home, nurturing Emma’s energy and individuality.

“When she reached school age, I was worried about how she would navigate the large class sizes and stricter rules in a public-school setting,” Deedee said. “Emma started kindergarten at MPA because we realized she needed a place where she could be feisty and still survive the adults she would encounter.”

Growing up surrounded by MPA’s mission and community left a lasting imprint.

“Being raised at MPA, Emma knew she was charged with making the world a better place,” Deedee said.

A Message from Phillipe Thao ’14

October 17, 2025

In March 2018, I visited Richard Meacock at his home above Squire House Gardens. To no one’s surprise, his walls were adorned with eclectic paintings, and the tea was already brewing by the time I walked up the steps. In a way, it felt like being back in his classroom at Mounds Park Academy. For the next few hours, we caught up with one another—discussing everything from queer literature to making the best peach cobbler.

Before leaving, I made sure to thank him for helping me find my voice and love for writing. “Please send me your stories as you write,” he said to me. I still wonder what snarky comments Richard would leave as I write to this day.

When I think about dreaming big, it’s not just about changing the world. Dreaming big is also about making a difference within your community, whether that’s on your block or at your school. From Richard Meacock’s English classroom to Barbara Bradley’s Black Box Theatre to KaTrina Wentzel’s yearbook room, each of these educators taught me how to dream fearlessly. It was in these classrooms where I had many firsts that would lead me to my current career in film and writing: my first time using Adobe InDesign, my first time writing a one-act script, my first time producing a show.

Maureen Conway always taught us that history repeats itself. I can vividly hear her cheers soaring through the halls when Governor Mark Dayton signed the same-sex marriage bill in 2013. As a closeted teenager, I was afraid to openly celebrate who I was, but I drove to the State Capitol with my friends after school to rejoice with thousands of other Minnesotans. Twelve years later, LGBTQIA+ rights are still under attack, with our trans community being dehumanized through harmful legislation. Our black and brown neighbors are being targeted and kidnapped from their families. These are the very same atrocities that we learned about in Conway’s lectures and textbooks. Read More