September 12, 2024
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, September 13: PA Grade Rep Meeting, 8-9 AM, Family Commons
- Sunday, September 15: New Student Admission & Indexed Tuition Applications Open
- Tuesday, September 17: US G9/New G10 Students Signs of Suicide Screening
- Wednesday, September 18: US G11 Signs of Suicide Screening
- Thursday, September 19: US Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
- Sunday, September 22: Twin Cities Partnership College Fair, 1-3 PM, Breck School
- Monday, September 23-Saturday, September 28: Homecoming Week
- Friday, September 27: PreK-12 Spirit Wear Day
- Friday, September 27: G3-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:30-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
- Friday, September 27: US Homecoming BBQ, 5-7 PM, Courtyard, US Commons (rain back-up)
- Friday, September 27: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons, RSVP here >
- Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
- Saturday, September 28: US Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM, MPA Campus
- Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track
- Tuesday, October 1: US Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
- Saturday, October 5: Debate Tournament, 7 AM-4 PM, US and MS Classrooms
One of the most wonderful things about being an Upper School administrator is that I get to be a fly on the wall of the social and academic lives of young adults. Having the ability to sit in the Family Commons as they eat lunch, drop into a classroom to listen to their discussions, and casually watch them as they engage with one another in the Upper School Commons is a benefit that comes with the job. This year has been different than past years as students have focused on their interpersonal relationships and in-person communication rather than being distracted by their cellular telephones.
In a recent article for Educational Leadership, classroom teacher Matthew Kays shared, “The focus on and distraction of cell phones took up more and more class time, and had a noticeable (negative) effect on the amount of work students got done.” With this realization, last spring Kays’ school required that students “separated” from their phones. Within just a few weeks, Kays and his colleagues reported that “Students’ production during work periods went back to what we were seeing from 2006-2016. … almost none of our interactions were about managing (and taking) students’ phones.”
Connection is brewing! You don’t have to drink coffee to take advantage of the way coffee brings people together. Throughout the school year, the MPA Parents Association hosts social events that build community between families and between families and school staff.
Did you know Mounds Park Academy is a place for parents, too? The MPA Parents Association (MPAPA) is your place to directly build community, continue traditions, support faculty and staff, and find resources as an MPA family. Each year, the MPAPA is looking for volunteers to give their time to lead, support, and assist with the following events:
from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school
Did you know that MPA has a highly competitive and successful sailing team? While sailing is not an MSHSL sport and is run as a club at MPA, our sailors have competed at the regional, national, and collegiate levels annually for many years. No experience or boat is needed to join, and all are welcome from grades seven through 12. In fact, it’s free for the first week! Sailing is a lifelong sport that is both technical and physical, and it is a great way to make friends from MPA and other schools.
Let’s celebrate the start of an incredible year! Make plans to join us for a beloved MPA tradition, the Ice Cream Social on Friday, September 6, from 3-4 PM on the South Lawn! This is an all-school opportunity to connect with one another, enjoy a sweet treat, and meet our new families.
from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school
from Mark Segal, Upper School director 
from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director