September 28, 2017
Athletics has a new online process for winter sports sign-up and it is live now. Visit www.moundsparkacademy.org/athletics for Middle and Upper School opportunities! Contact Dan Haase, Athletic Director, at dhaase@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions. Go Panthers!
September 21, 2017
MPA Senior and lifer Declan Dahlberg was named as one of the Star Tribune’s Prep Athletes Of The Week!
“He won the Private School Championship at St. Catherine University with a time of 16 minutes, 25 seconds over the 5,000-meter course on a steamy 88-degree day. Earlier this season, the top-ranked runner in Class 1A won the Ron Kretsch Invitational,” the Tribune mentioned.
Last fall, Declan finished as the Boys Cross Country Class A State Champion, running a personal record time of 15:57.1, with the closest finish in meet history.
He is also currently writing posts for “MileSplit,” a popular athletics blog covering high school track and field and cross country news across the United States.
Articles Published In “Freethinker!”
September 21, 2017
MPA’s new student-run school newspaper, Freethinker features stories this week ranging from fostering friendships to nostalgic goodbyes.
“Mr. Meacock – A Final Farewell” is one of the most recent stories published in MPA’s independent student newspaper, “Freethinker.” The article is a heartfelt letter saying goodbye to former MPA Upper School English teacher Mr. Meacock, reminiscing about “the unplanned” days in his classroom and thanking him for encouraging students to “not only to be good academics, not only to constantly question and discuss, but also how to be good people.”
“A Story of Fried Food and Friendships: The Freshman State Fair Retreat” illustrates the famous, massive, and historic Minnesota State Fair and the MPA Freshman school field trip to it. The story captures the importance of independence and building relationships, all while surrounded by meals on a stick.
September 14, 2017
Erik Sand ’08
Check out this feature on Erik Sand ’08 as he pursues his PhD at MIT. Investigating the dynamics of war and peace, Erik Sand brings a perspective shaped by eight years of service in the U.S. Navy to his doctoral studies. read the article >
Mason Ferlic ’11
MPA alum Mason Ferlic ’11 was selected as the USATF Minnesota August Athlete of the Month! Congratulations Mason! read the article >
Hello From Rex Hendrickson ’11
September 14, 2017
After my many years at MPA, I went to the University of Denver (DU). I attended for two years before studying abroad at Semester at Sea for the fall of 2013—my junior year. At DU, I focused on business/economic classes as well as a blend of writing, French and music (thanks to MPA).
Semester at Sea was an excellent study abroad program that I would recommend it to every student researcher—it is a semester aboard a ship, traveling from port to port, learning about the global communication system, vastly diverse cultures and applying hands on experience you wouldn’t normally receive in a classroom setting. My semester circumnavigated the Atlantic Ocean, traveling south across Europe and Africa, moving west to South America and finally landing north in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A whopping 15 countries and 4 continents in a semester’s time made it truly a once in a lifetime study abroad opportunity—something I hold dear to my heart.
September 14, 2017
Join our conversations! The purpose of all of MPA’s social media accounts is to connect the entire community including alumni, faculty and staff, parents, students, and friends of MPA. LinkedIn, specifically, is the social media tool that benefits everyone in the Mounds Park Academy network, from faculty to parents to young alums.
The MPA LinkedIn page and MPA Connections group are resources for professional development and career opportunities, a place to participate in discussion topics, and find information on MPA and local events. The MPA page is primarily used for social sharing. This is where we can share public updates with our followers and where they can find MPA updates and information. Only followers will get updates in their newsfeed! The MPA Connections group, in contrast, allows members to share content, start conversations, post and view jobs, grow your network and stay in touch.
We hope you will join in and enjoy connecting! Your participation and presence will make this presence beneficial to all.
September 14, 2017
We need your support to make all of this fun happen again! Sign up to volunteer at MPA’s Homecoming 2017! This fun-filled weekend has so many activities going on including fun runs, bounce houses, athletic competitions, alumni events, and much more.
This incredible weekend for every member of our community would not be possible without the generosity of volunteers who give of their time on Saturday, September 23. If you have an hour or two to spare, volunteering is a great way to get involved with the event and MPA!
Thank you in advance for your time! If you have any questions, please contact Susan Robertson, Development Manager, at 651-748-5531 or srobertson@moundsparkacademy.org.
September 14, 2017
The MPA community is invited to campus on October 7 for the AnnMarie Thomas Makerspace dedication ceremony, ribbon cutting, and STEAM activities for all ages.
“The AnnMarie Thomas Makerspace is the only creative center of its kind in the Twin Cities for students in grades PreK through 12. Given the long-standing approach at Mounds Park Academy of hands-on, experiential learning that integrates science, technology, math with the humanities and the arts, the Makerspace fits perfectly alongside the work of Dr. Thomas,” said Dr. Hudson. Dr. Thomas will speak to students at an all school assembly on Friday, October 6.
Please arrive before 1 PM if you plan to attend the dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting. RSVP to rsvp@moundsparkacademy.org. We hope to see you there!
September 7, 2017
Welcome back to another school year at MPA! Believe it or not, Conference week is fast approaching, September 25-28, 2017. One longstanding tradition at MPA is to provide nourishment for the 100+ faculty and staff during this week. Our faculty and staff spend extra hours at school during this week and one way to help support them is to provide food all day long. (Dinners on Tuesday and Thursday nights that week are provided by the Parents Association directly).
Contributions from families are essential! Please consider signing up for any item(s) you would like to contribute. We will be using Sign Up Genius this year. Please click here to sign up >
Items may be dropped off in the Parents Association Room in the Cafeteria on the designated day between 7:30 AM and 8 AM, or at your convenience. There is a refrigerator for perishable items. Please leave a note on any items left in the Parents Association room.
Contact Tara Matthews-Lafferty or Mary Messner with any questions. Thank you in advance for your support of MPA faculty and staff.
Ideas for a Learning-Rich Summer
June 8, 2017
By Dr. Bill Hudson, Mounds Park Academy Head of School
Summer was made for students. That might sound counterintuitive for the head of an independent PreK–12 school to say, but please hear me out.
Consider the words that best describe the students who call MPA home: freethinkers, free spirits, risk takers, right makers. Dreamers and doers. Throughout the school year, we promote these qualities across our academic and extracurricular activities. We create days that are filled with wonder so that students emerge from each year even more joyful, confident, and creative than they were in the fall.
Then summer comes. Extra time, a slower pace, and beautiful weather, all set the perfect stage for MPA students, and all children, to continue developing those qualities on their own and with their families.