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Applied Painting Completes 14th Annual Painted Piano

May 3, 2026

Every year, Upper School Applied Painting students at Mounds Park Academy paint a piano together. The first piano was painted in 2012, making this the 14th annual piano! The painted pianos are part of an ongoing partnership between the MPA Art Department and Keys 4/4 Kids, a local non-profit that refurbishes pianos and supports art and music programs in under-resourced communities.

The painted pianos are placed around the Twin Cities as part of the Pianos on Parade program. The piano that Applied Painting students painted last year is currently on display at Red Balloon Book Store in St. Paul.

A theme is decided each year, based on ideas submitted by students and also considering the design and era of the actual piano. This year’s piano included flowers carved into the molding on both sides of the front panel. This detail created a natural match for the delicate flowers seen in Christi Belcourt’s work. Belcourt, a prominent Métis artist from Canada, granted students permission to reference her painting, “Bird Song,” for this project.

Students began their study by going on a field trip to see Christi Belcourt’s piece, “It’s a Delicate Balance,” at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and also Dyani White Hawk’s exhibit Love Language at The Walker Art Center. The field trip helped students compare and contrast the two Contemporary Native artists, both of whom are heavily influenced by traditional beadwork, yet apply that inspiration in very different ways.

Students worked collaboratively to paint the piano; They signed up to complete needed tasks throughout the various stages of the process, including painting the base, mixing the colors, drawing the design, transferring the design, and painting dots. Lots and lots of dots! Students learned that Belcourt uses knitting needles to create dots, and so they emulated that technique.

In addition to working on the piano in shifts, students each created a pair of related paintings. Students selected and researched a Native Artist or Native Art Form of their choice to influence their compositions. The group selected a wide variety of topics to study, including painting, collage, tapestry, quillwork, and beadwork. With the intention of learning and honoring, not appropriating, students credited their influences on the tags, while also incorporating their own ideas into the work.

Please enjoy viewing the connections between collaborative and individual work—a wonderful blend of both unity and variety!

Parents Association News And Events April 30, 2026

April 30, 2026

Join In!

Upper School Parent Social | Saturday, May 2: 8-10 PM, Lucky Guys Distillery, Hudson, Wisconsin, RSVP >

Lower School Division End-of-Year Party | Monday, June 1: 3:30-5:30 PM, Fun City, Maplewood, RSVP >

Middle School Division End-of-Year Party | Wednesday, June 3: 12:30-3 PM | Urban Air, Coon Rapids, RSVP >

Upper School Division End-of-Year Party | Wednesday, June 3: 11 AM-1 PM, Smash Park, Roseville, RSVP >

Coming Up Next Week

Upper School Division Coffee | Monday, May 4: 8 AM, PCR

Current Upper School parents and Class of 2030 (rising ninth grade) parents are warmly invited to join us for the final Parents Association Upper School Quarterly Coffee of the year. This gathering will center on an “If I knew then what I know now” theme, with current Upper School parents sharing insights, reflections, and practical advice from their personal experiences to help families early in their Upper School journey and/or those preparing to enter Upper School.

In addition, Upper School director Mark Segal will share important information about the end-of-year Upper School calendar, along with key details related to graduation.

We hope you’ll join us for this helpful and community-building conversation as we wrap up the school year and look ahead!

MPA Parents Association National Teacher Appreciation Day | Tuesday, May 5: 8 AM-3 PM, Peacock Family Teaching Kitchen

MPA PA Middle School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, May 7: 8-9:30 AM, Gallery

Living Our Mission To Its Fullest

April 30, 2026

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

At Mounds Park Academy, our mission calls us to, “… teach students to think independently, communicate effectively, and act with respect and integrity in a diverse community that models intellectual ambition, global responsibility, and the joy of learning.” Our deep belief in our mission provides us with the momentum and desire to develop meaningful ways to live our mission to its fullest.

Over the next two weeks, we are honored to welcome a small group of students and administrators from our partner school, Vanke Meisha Academy (VMA) in Shenzhen, China, into our community. Their presence in our classrooms, hallways, and homes enriches the daily experience of learning, not only for them, but for all of us. These moments remind us that education extends far beyond textbooks; it is found in shared conversations, new perspectives, and the courage to connect across cultures. During their time here, the VMA students and administrators will also spend time visiting notable sites in the Twin Cities, as well as visiting college campuses. We hope to send interested MPA students to visit VMA in the spring of 2027.

This exchange is also part of a broader commitment to global partnership. We are excited to continue this journey next year with an exchange program with La Escuela Italiana in Mendoza, Argentina. Students from La Escuela Italiana will visit MPA in the fall, with an opportunity for students in our Spanish program to travel to Mendoza for two weeks over spring break. These opportunities reflect our belief that global responsibility is not an abstract idea. We practice this through relationship building, creating shared experiences, and further stretching our understanding of cultures different than our own. Read More

MPA Student Earns Top Honors At Two Regional Art Exhibitions

April 29, 2026

Congrats to Camille Hirsch ’26, who earned top honors at two major art exhibitions!

Her piece, “From Sunrise to Sunset,” was awarded best of show at the White Bear Center for the Arts Vision and Verse Exhibition, a juried show that highlights the connection between visual art and poetry. The work was also featured in the White Bear Press.

In addition, Hirsch’s piece, “Exclusion Zone,” received the top senior award at the COMPAS Emerging Young Artists Exhibition, which recognizes outstanding work by high school artists from across the Twin Cities. Hirsch is the first Mounds Park Academy student to receive either award.

The awards highlight Hirsch’s notable achievement and reflect continued success for the arts program. Way to go, Camille!

MPA Speech Team Places Second At State Meet!

April 27, 2026

Congratulations to the MPA speech team on a successful showing at the MSHSL Class A state tournament, earning a second-place team finish behind a series of top individual performances during the meet at Park Center High School.

Ash Klann ’26 (Original Oratory), Guy Schwieger ’26 and Nico Bergh ’27 (Duo Interpretation), and Warner Reid ’26 (Serious Interpretation of Poetry) each finished on top in their respective fields, all claiming state championships.

Not far behind were Sidd Sastry ’27 in Extemporaneous Speaking, Mina Kim ’26 in Great Speeches, and Oslo Norcross ’27 in Informative Speaking, all securing runner-up placements.

Additional top-five finishes included Andrew Buhr ’28, who placed fifth in Extemporaneous Speaking, Kelvyn Boddipalli ’26, who took fourth in Humorous Interpretation, and Andrea Pugh ’26, who finished fourth in Serious Interpretation of Prose.

We are so proud of how MPA wrapped up the MSHSL season at state, earning individual championships and a second-place finish as a team. Way to go, Panthers—you earned this!

Parents Association News And Events April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026

Join us for a fun evening of connection and celebration as we look ahead to end-of-year festivities at the Upper School Parent Social on Saturday, May 2, from 8-10 PM at Lucky Guys Distillery in Hudson, Wisconsin. Click here to RSVP!

We’ll gather after sending off the prom boat—come toast the moment and enjoy time together. Light appetizers will be provided. All Upper School parents are welcome—whether or not your student is attending prom.

Upper School Division Coffee | Monday, May 4: 8 AM, PCR

In addition, Upper School director Mark Segal will share important information about the end-of-year Upper School calendar, along with key details related to graduation.

We hope you’ll join us for this helpful and community-building conversation as we wrap up the school year and look ahead!

MPA Parents Association National Teacher Appreciation Day | Tuesday, May 5: 8 AM-3 PM, Peacock Family Teaching Kitchen

MPA PA Middle School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, May 7: 8 AM-9:30 AM, Gallery

Division End-of-Year Parties
Please RSVP for fun celebrations to close out another wonderful school year. We can’t wait to celebrate together and make the end of the year extra special!

Lower School | Monday, June 1: 3:30-5:30 PM, Fun City, Maplewood, RSVP >

Middle School | Wednesday, June 3: 12:30-3 PM | Urban Air, Coon Rapids, RSVP >

Upper School | Wednesday, June 3: 11 AM-1 PM, Smash Park, Roseville, RSVP >

Upper School Division News April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Over the next couple of weeks, Mounds Park Academy is excited to welcome eight students and two adults from our partner school, Vanke Meisha Academy in Shenzhen, China, to campus. During their time in Minnesota, our guests will fully engage in the life of the Upper School, attending classes alongside MPA students and participating in the grades 10-12 Upper School Prom scheduled for the first weekend in May. In addition to campus life, the group will visit college campuses and cultural landmarks throughout the Twin Cities, offering them a firsthand experience of our local communities and region.

International exchange experiences like this play a meaningful role in preparing students for an increasingly interconnected world. Research consistently shows that students who participate in global learning opportunities develop stronger cultural competence, adaptability, perspective taking, and communication skills, qualities that colleges, employers, and MPA (think about our mission statement that refers to global responsibility) identify as critical for success. Exposure to different educational systems and cultural norms helps students move beyond stereotypes, deepen empathy, and better understand the global context in which they live and learn. These exchanges enrich the academic experience by extending learning beyond the classroom and grounding it in real-world relationships.

Importantly, the benefits of international exchanges extend to both travelers and host communities. Visiting students gain confidence, independence, and a broader worldview, while host students sharpen their intercultural communication skills and learn to see familiar routines through new perspectives. For school communities, these partnerships foster meaningful relationships, strengthen global citizenship, and affirm the idea that learning is enriched when diverse voices and experiences are welcomed into shared spaces. Hosting students from Vanke Meisha Academy allows our community to practice curiosity, hospitality, and respect, all values central to MPA’s mission.

Middle School Division News April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

With so much going on around school over the final two months, I wanted to take some time to share with you some of the “Thinking Big” that our Middle School faculty did last week, during our professional development time together. In the morning, we continued our school-wide conversation about AI, and departments were asked for their feedback on how they hope to use and limit the use of AI in their classrooms. In the afternoon, our Middle School faculty explored several topics with time to “Dream Big” in these areas. At the end of our time together, they shared their reflections and recommendations.

Some Middle School faculty discussed how we can be more intentional with technology use during both classes and Flex. Teachers shared the importance of setting clearer expectations around when laptops are needed and when they should remain closed, including the possibility of designated storage spots in classrooms when devices are not in use. Faculty also raised the idea of keeping sixth-grade laptops at school—similar to our current practice in fifth grade—to help students build healthy tech habits. In addition, we are exploring updates to our “Flexpectations” in the Family Commons (no-tech Flex) so that laptop use during Flex would only be permitted in classrooms and with faculty permission.

Another group of faculty examined our Middle School advisory program, taking time to articulate what we value most, where we see limitations, and how we might “dream big” about the future of advisory. Teachers highlighted the strong relationships that advisory fosters and the importance of creating more consistency and structure across groups. We also discussed the success of the Dream Big, Do Right Advisory Challenge and identified several promising ideas for strengthening the program, including using Wednesday Flex (opposite Middle School Meeting) as a longer advisory block, incorporating tech-free advisory time, aligning SEL programming between advisory and seminar, and bringing more circle work into our weekly routines. Read More

Lower School Division News April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026

from Julia Ross, Lower School learning specialist

It is hard to believe that the end of the year is quickly approaching! As we get closer to the final FastBridge assessment of the school year, which begins on May 11, we’re excited for students to have the opportunity to show how much they’ve grown over the course of the school year.

At school, homeroom teachers will be talking with students about how this assessment is a chance to show what they know, reflect on their growth, and put forth their best effort. We remind students to take their time, not to overthink, and to trust all the learning they’ve done this year.

Continuing this conversation at home can be incredibly helpful. As it gets closer, encouraging your student to simply try their best and feel confident in their progress can make a big difference in how they approach taking the test. It is also important, as always, to make sure they get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast on testing days to help them feel focused and ready to try their best!

We are so proud of the growth our students have made and look forward to celebrating all they’ve learned. Please reach out to me, Julia Ross, Lower School learning specialist, with any questions!

from Dana Distad, Lower School counselor

As we reach the end of another school year, it’s hard not to pause and reflect just how much growth has taken place—not only academically, but socially and emotionally. Our students have spent the year learning how to name their feelings, navigate friendships, repair when things feel hard, and advocate for what they need. These are skills that don’t always show up on report cards, but they are the foundation for everything else. Read More

MPA Speech Team Wins Section 4A Title!

April 22, 2026

Congratulations to the MPA speech team on an incredible performance again, repeating as the Section 4A champions! We’re excited to celebrate our state qualifying entries (students placing third place or higher):

Discussion: Finnley Henrikssen-Myers
Dramatic Interpretation: Veronica Finc
Duo Interpretation: Guy Schwieger and Nico Bergh
Extemporaneous Speaking: Sidd Sastry, Andrew Buhr, and Josh Murr
Great Speeches: Mina Kim, Tyyna Hall, and Kai Nguyen
Humorous Interpretation: Kelvyn Boddipalli
Informative Speaking: Oslo Norcross
Original Oratory: Ash Klann and LuaClaire Robert
Poetry Reading: Warner Reid
Prose Interpretation: Lucille Mayer, Hazel Reid, and Andrea Pugh

These students will advance to the state tournament on Saturday, April 25, at Park Center High School. Good luck to all our students advancing—the community is cheering you on every step of the way!