All School Archives | Mounds Park Academy News

April 18, 2019

by Jennifer Rogers, Director of Development and Community Engagement

A lot of exciting improvements are beginning to take shape for our new commons, cafeteria, kitchen, and library! This week, we are sharing the work of several teachers, staff members, and students who have been working hard to help pick our new furniture and fixtures for the spaces! Here is a sneak peek of our color palette and cafeteria furniture for our new space.

Generous families have helped us to reach $3.8 million toward the Together, We Dream initiatives! Thank you to everyone who has helped us to reach this milestone! Our goal is to raise $4 million by May 1 in order to begin construction on the library this summer. Thanks to the generous spirit of our community, we are 76% of the way to our overall goal of $5 million for improvements to our school. Learn more at moundsparkacademy.org/together.

Participate In Screen-Free Week

April 18, 2019

This spring, families around the nation will voluntarily turn off their TVs, computers, and other screens to rediscover that life can be more rewarding with less screen time. MPA is challenging Lower School students and their families to participate in Screen-Free Week by leaving your screens off the week of April 29-May 5.

In the course of a year, American children spend more time in front of the TV and other screens than in school. We think that Screen-Free Week 2019 is a great way to jumpstart our kids into more reading, learning, and active play. It’s also a lot of fun!

We encourage your child and family to participate in Screen-Free Week. We understand that technology is part of the educational and work process, but ask you set the goal to refrain from using screens for entertainment. If interested in participating, return your pledge card to the Lower School office by April 26!

If 45 MPA students and families sign up and “survive” the entire week with no TV, computers and other screens, Mr. Purdy has agreed to color his hair neon pink at the Lower School Monday Morning Meeting in May.

If you have any questions or would like to receive additional information about Screen-Free Week, contact Russ Purdy at rpurdy@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5571.

Thank you for making Screen-Free Week a success!

MPA Spring Auction Preview: Seven Nights In Paris

April 17, 2019

We are excited to announce a 2019 MPA Spring Auction live auction item: seven nights in Paris! Stay in the heart of the St Germain neighborhood in an elegant, light and airy three bedroom pied-de-terre encompassing the entire third floor of a lovely 19th century building.

Located at Rue du Four, you’ll be in the heart of the historic, intellectual and fashionable area of Paris. Steps away from the Musée d’Orsay, The Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower and so much more! Sleeps up to six and includes a fully stocked gourmet kitchen. Read More

Retirement Celebration Save The Date

April 16, 2019

We are celebrating three long-time faculty and staff members as they retire at the end of this school year. Please join us in showing your appreciation for Karen Rossbach, Dave McGaha, and Laurie Foss, by attending the annual Retirement Celebration on Thursday, May 30 from 4-7 PM at Keller Golf Club. An invitation will follow. Mounds Park Academy extends its sincere gratitude for all they have done for our students and community.

“It sounds so cliché, but I will miss the people the most. I could have never imagined working with people who were so supportive and philosophically on the same page about education. And the children brought me so much joy each day,” says Karen. Read More

Allergy Aware Change For The 2019-20 School Year

April 11, 2019

Beginning last school year, MPA made a commitment to becoming an even more Food Allergy Aware School and has been guided in part by the voluntary guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We defined guidelines for our school community, enhanced procedures, and provided additional training and resources for faculty and staff related to all food allergies.

Due to the rising number of students at MPA with life-threatening peanut and/or tree nut allergies, and the rising rate of food allergies in general, MPA will prohibit foods with peanuts and/or tree nuts throughout the school and at all school events beginning July 1, 2019. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies are a growing food safety and public health concern that affect an estimated 4%–6% of children in the United States. One in five children with a food allergy will have a reaction at school. It is important to note that in the United States, fatal or near fatal reactions are most often caused by peanuts and tree nuts.

A Momentous Day For Our Alumni Community

April 11, 2019

by Jennifer Rogers, Director of Development and Community Engagement

Tuesday, April 9 was a momentous day for our MPA alumni community! Our school’s dedicated alumni and parents of alumni joined together to meet the 2019 Alumni Challenge by giving more than $92,000 in support of MPA. This total exceeded the $75,000 goal for this annual day of giving.

Alumni and their parents were given the chance to give for now by supporting the MPA Fund, to give for the future by supporting Together, We Dream, or both! This was a record year for the Alumni Challenge and 139 generous donors from our alumni community made this possible. Thank you to all of the MPA grads and their families who joined in to pay it forward to support MPA students now and in the future. Read More

No School Today April 11

April 11, 2019

Due to the weather conditions predicted throughout today, and the current road conditions, school is cancelled today, April 11. This includes all activities, practices, and events including the Lower School Art and Music Show that has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 16.

This is not a decision we take lightly. We have been in close communication with our bus company, First Student, and we have been monitoring the conditions closely. We believe it is in the best interest of the entire community that we not have school today.

Please stay safe and warm. We look forward to seeing you on campus Friday!

Parents Association Open House & Upcoming Events

April 10, 2019

We invite the MPA community to attend the MPA Parents Association Open House on Friday, April 19 from 8-9 AM in the Porter Conference Room. Come enjoy coffee and a light breakfast as we discuss our accomplishments this past year and plans for the upcoming school year. Please attend as we would love to get your feedback and ideas. If you are interested in taking on a PA Board or Event Chair position for next year, come to the Open House for more information or contact Kim Jakway at thejakways@gmail.com. We would love to see you and really appreciate your help! Read More

MPA Is Seeking Host Families

April 10, 2019

Do you have room to spare? Space in your heart for another family member? A desire to expand your family’s perspective of the world? MPA is seeking host families for several international students for the 2019-20 school year.

Our new students this year are finding great success, experiencing near-daily “firsts,” and loving their MPA journey. Between the adults in their school and home lives, our students feel supported, nurtured, and loved while living so far from their families. This is vital to their success and the strongest testament to everything our MPA host families and staff do to care for our international students.

We would love it if you and your family considered hosting an international student for next school year. As you and your family consider hosting, some logistical questions may arise. The information below is by no means an exhaustive list, but it may answer some of the initial questions you have and prompt additions ones as well:

TRANSPORTATION

Host families are responsible for providing transportation to and from school and school-related activities.
Host families are responsible for providing transportation to and from the airport when the student travels.
Host families will work with their student in scheduling rides for social events.

STIPEND

A 10-month stipend of $9,000 will be directly deposited in equal installments of $900/month on the first of each month for the previous month, September through June.
An early installment of $500 will be deposited on August 1 in preparation of your student’s arrival; the remaining $400 will be deposited on September 1.
The daily stipend rate of $30/day will be taken from and disbursed to host families who are providing respite care for a student, as needed.

MEALS

All international students will receive the MPA school lunch. Host families and students do not need to pack lunches.
Host families are responsible for providing two meals on all weekdays and three meals on all weekend days.

ARRIVAL

New-to-MPA students are being asked to arrive over the weekend of August 17-18, 2019.
New students will have New International Student Orientation on August 20-23.
Returning MPA students will probably arrive on/near August 26, preparing for the first day of school on August 28.

By hosting an international student, you and your family have a unique opportunity to bring the language, culture, and perspective of another country into your home, allowing for a truly rich, intercultural experience. The students will love to share their lives with you while becoming a part of your family, exploring Minnesota, and enjoying MPA student life all at the same time.

We hope you’ll consider opening your hearts and homes to one of our international students. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sarah McFarland, International Student Program Coordinator and Advanced Language & Culture Teacher, at smcfarland@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-777-2555.

Click here to fill out a Host Family Application, and here for more information. Thank you so much for considering!

Today Brings The Annual Alumni Challenge!

April 9, 2019

Today, April 9, 2019, we are challenging you, our alumni and parents of alumni, to show your support for MPA by raising $75,000 and making a difference in both of these critical ways:

Your gift to the MPA Fund covers the gap between tuition and other revenue and the daily operational needs of our school. These gifts provide the foundation for continued support of our outstanding faculty, curriculum, and students. Help to give the gift of an MPA education to more students today.
Your gift to Together, We Dream includes four specific projects that cannot be supported through annual giving or operations. We need your help to improve our facilities and grow our school’s endowment to support the future of MPA.

We are asking you to give for now, through an annual gift to the MPA Fund, and to give for the future, in support of Together, We Dream: The Campaign for MPA. One gift in can help us to accomplish these two important goals. This is an important year in the life of our school and we call on our alumni and parents of alumni to help our students’ dreams come true.

Every gift matters, in any amount—your participation is so important to the future of our school and very much appreciated. Thank you for your support of the Mounds Park Academy students of today and of tomorrow! click here to make a gift >

And follow along on the Alumni Association Facebook page for progress updates throughout the day!

Contact Jennifer Rogers, director of development and community engagement, at jrogers@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5532 with any questions or to discuss your gift.