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Middle School Division News September 12, 2024

September 12, 2024

from Paul Errickson, Middle 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
Monday, September 16: MS G6 Eagle Bluff Trip
Monday, September 16-Friday, September 20: MS G7/8 MAP Testing
Tuesday, September 17: MS G6 Eagle Bluff Trip
Wednesday, September 18: MS Grade 6 Eagle Bluff Trip
Wednesday, September 18: MS G5 Osprey Wild Overnight Trip
Thursday, September 19: MS G5 Osprey Wild Overnight Trip
Friday, September 20: MS G5 Osprey Wild Overnight Trip
Monday, September 23-Saturday, September 28: Homecoming Week
Monday, September 23-Friday, September 27: MS G5/6 MAP Testing
Friday, September 27: MS Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, TBD
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: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons, RSVP here >
Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
Monday, September 30: MS G8 Wolf Ridge Overnight Trip
Tuesday, October 1: MS G8 Wolf Ridge Overnight Trip
Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track
Wednesday, October 2: MS G8 Wolf Ridge Overnight Trip
Wednesday, October 2: MS G7 & New G8 Signs of Suicide Screening

Change is in the air!

We are up and rolling through September! As our students and faculty settle back into the routine of school, we are collectively leaning into a few changes in the Middle School. With our new schedule, we find more frequent movement breaks from class where students never go more than two teaching blocks without a little time, either out at recess or in a flex period, to reset and get ready for their next challenge. We have also moved advisory to the end of the day–every day for 5/6 and every other day for 7/8–and we are using this as a time to organize, help check in, and ensure that our students are heading home with all that they need to complete any lingering schoolwork or homework.

Also new this year, we have introduced a community meeting to celebrate, inform, and share our Middle School happenings with each other. This “Middle School Meeting” takes place every time we have a “B Day” on a Friday, as this is when all students end the week with their advisories. This time together allows students and faculty to share announcements and wonderings with the Middle School. It is also where we hope our community can share their learning experiences with others.

One way of doing this is through our “Dream Big. Do Right.” Advisory Challenge, in which, throughout the course of the school year, each advisory will be asked to do something for the community in the spirit of the school motto and then share what they did with the Middle School at the next Middle School Meeting. These can be small acts of kindness that bring smiles to other’s faces or BIG, audacious ways in which an advisory looks to make MPA, or our greater community, a better place for others. Teacher Claver’s advisory was chosen first, and I will be sure to update you on what they come up with once they present it at our next Middle School Meeting. Read More

Lower School Division News September 12, 2024

September 12, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower 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
Friday, September 20: LS Duty-Free Lunch with Parent Volunteers, 11:40 AM-12:40 PM, Playground & Family Commons
Friday, September 20: PA Rainbow Club Meeting, 12-1 PM, Panther Center
Monday, September 23-Saturday, September 28: Homecoming Week
Monday, September 23-Friday, September 27: G2-4 MAP Testing
Wednesday, September 25: Homecoming-Themed LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-8:45 AM, Family Commons
Friday, September 27: PreK-12 Spirit Wear Day (LS students wear uniform bottoms)
Friday, September 27: G3-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:30-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
Friday, September 27: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons, RSVP here >
Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track

What a great beginning we’ve had since starting school! From creating fairy houses on the playground to conflict manager training to exploring the art and self-portraits of Frida Kahlo, our learners have been quite busy. Please read on for some insights for the next few weeks:

MPA Parents Association Quarterly Coffees

We will soon kick off another season of Quarterly Coffees in the Lower School in collaboration with our MPA Parent Association. The date of the first coffee will be confirmed soon! Read More

Upper School Division News September 12, 2024

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.”

Parents Association News And Events September 12, 2024

September 12, 2024

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.

Division-level Quarterly Coffees are an intimate opportunity to be in conversation with Division leadership and sometimes special guests. We hope to see you at one or more of our coffee dates this year!
Community Coffee Saturday is coming up in October and is a great way to connect with MPA families who live near you. Save the date for Saturday, October 26. Interested in being a local host for your neighboring MPA families? Please email PA@moundsparkacademy.org.

MPA parents are brewing up the community in many ways, including;

Rainbow Club! An LGBTQ+ affinity group for Lower School parents/guardians, faculty and staff. Check out this week’s Lower School Division News for more info.
Panther Sports Committee! For all grade level parents/guardians who are passionate about supporting athletics at MPA. Email Christine Larson at clarsonPA@moundsparkacademy.org for more info.

Upcoming Events

September 13: Fall Grade Rep Meeting, 8-9 PM, Family Commons

September 20: Rainbow Club for Lower School Kick-off Meeting, 12-1 PM, Panther Den

September 23: Staff Appreciation Day hosted by Grades 5 & 6

September 27: MS Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, Porter Conference Room

Parents Association News And Events September 5, 2024

September 5, 2024

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:

Book Festival
Cultural Celebration
Trivia Night
Faculty & Staff Appreciation
Grade Rep Program
Lower School Halloween Party
Lower School Valentine’s Party
Panther Sports Committee
Upper School Events

If you are interested in volunteering to help make these events happen, please email PA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Upcoming Events
September 6: PA Board Meeting, 8 AM, PA Room at MPA
September 23: Staff Appreciation Day hosted by Grades 5 and 6
September 27: MS Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, Porter Conference Room

Reflecting on Safety and Community In Light Of The Recent Tragedy

September 5, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

The recent school shooting in Georgia has deeply affected me, both as a parent and as the head of our school. The tragedy of losing innocent lives in a place of learning is heart-wrenching and fills me with profound sadness. My thoughts are with the families of the students and teachers who were killed and with the Apalachee High School community.

In the wake of such events, it’s natural to have concerns about the safety and security of our own children at school. I want to assure you that I have full confidence in our security measures and a deep trust in the strength of our school community. Nonetheless, we remain vigilant and committed to continuous improvement. I’d like to outline our approach to ensuring safety and security at MPA.

Our focus is not solely on security but also on fostering a positive school culture—a broader concept that encompasses both security measures and the values we uphold as a community. While security involves physical protocols and practices—what some might refer to as “hard” security—school culture encompasses the values and relationships that connect us all. Balancing these aspects is a crucial part of my role as head of school. Read More

Parents Association News And Events August 29, 2024

August 29, 2024

Welcome to the Parents Association, and happy first week of school! It was great to connect with members of our community at our First Day of School Coffee. If you missed it, it is not too late to learn more about the Mounds Park Academy Parents Association (MPAPA), sign up for a committee and/or get involved.

Find more information on the MPA website, @MPAParents Instagram, or email PA@moundsparkacademy.org. Stay tuned through the weekly Panther Posts for upcoming events and opportunities to volunteer!

Upcoming Events
September 6: PA Board Meeting, 8 AM, PA Room at MPA
September 23: Staff Appreciation Day hosted by Grades 5 and 6

Call For Volunteers
Are you ready to bring your team spirit? The MPAPA Panther Sports Committee is looking for 1-2 parents from each Middle School sports team to help build community through the sports programs at MPA. From coordinating a team potluck to decorating athletes’ lockers, you will be sparking a new level of Panther pride for our MPA community! Learn more about the role and contact Christine Larson, our panther sports committee lead, at clarsonPA@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions or interest.

Join MPA’s Grade 7-12 Sailing Team

August 29, 2024

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.

Details:

Practices are held September 3-October 24 (weather permitting) at White Bear Sailing School.
Attendance is free September 3-5—come try out the sport!
MPA’s team is coached and practices alongside sailors from Mahtomedi Public Schools, White Bear Public Schools, and other area schools.
Practices are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-6:30 PM.
Potluck and parent night Saturday, September 7 at 7 PM.
Parent information meeting slides can be found here.
Regattas are optional but encouraged and held on Saturdays on lakes throughout the Twin Cities.
Sailing is a spring and/or fall sport and students can participate in one or both seasons.
Some personal gear is required to ensure safety on the water—some gear may be available to borrow.
The cost is $550 per season and includes coaching and the use of boats and other equipment.

Registration and more information can be found here. If you have any questions, please reach out to MPA’s sailing team advisor, Natalie Waters Seum at nwatersseum@moundsparkacademy.org. We hope to see you on the water!

Get Ready For The Ice Cream Social!

August 29, 2024

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.

Details For Lower School Families
If you are planning to attend, please meet your child at their classroom door and notify your child’s homeroom teacher in advance. Otherwise, we will send your child on the bus or to the drive thru lane as usual. All Lower School students must be directly supervised by an adult to get their ice cream.

Details For All Families
A sundae bar with all of the fixings will be available for students and their families. The ice cream will be peanut and tree nut free and provided by YoYo Donuts. All of the sundae bar toppings will be peanut and tree nut free and provided by SAGE. JonnyPops Organic Freezer Pops will be available at a separate station for food-allergic students. This should be safe for all MPA students, but it is not guaranteed. Ingredients will be available for review by parents or can be found at the link above. Because any frozen treat could be messy on a bus, bus riders will be sent home with allergy-friendly Partake cookies (free of top-9 allergens, gluten-free, vegan, OU Kosher). All students at Panther Club and Panther Den will be taken outside for a treat and supervised accordingly by Panther staff. Middle School students may navigate the event with or without a parent. If they are without a parent, they should be able to manage any allergies they may have.

If you have any questions or would like more information about ingredients, please contact communications@moundsparkacademy.org. See you there!

Emotional Milestones

August 29, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Welcome (back) to MPA and another fantastic school year!

Whether you’re a returning family or a family with one of the 103 new students joining the MPA community this year, it’s a fresh start and a new beginning for all of us.

First, I apologize for not being with you last week for Back To School Night. Instead, I was in Tucson, dropping my daughter off at the University of Arizona for her first year of college. I managed to keep my emotions in check—until we returned home, and I passed by her bedroom. The door was open, her bed was made, and her room was spotless—three things that had never been true before. After 34 years in education, helping launch hundreds of students into their futures, I knew saying goodbye would be hard. I just didn’t realize how hard.

Dropping a child off at college for the first time is a deeply emotional milestone for parents. In many ways, it parallels the experience of entrusting your child to a new school or, even for returning students, beginning a new school year. You and I are likely navigating similar emotions right now—moments that signify significant transitions in the parent-child relationship and mark our children’s growing independence. There’s also the natural anxiety about how our children will adapt to a new environment, whether it’s the magical world of kindergarten, a new grade, or the independence of college. Rest assured, our exceptional faculty and staff are dedicated to ensuring a successful transition and making a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of our students every single day. Read More