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Lower School Division News November 13, 2025

November 13, 2025

from James Ewer, Lower School director

As we move deeper into the school year, I find myself feeling especially grateful for this community and for the trust you place in us every day. Your children walk through our doors with big ideas, big feelings, and a desire to be seen.

Our commitment is simple and steady. We build our decisions around their experience. How do they feel in the classroom? How are they challenged in their thinking? How are they known, affirmed, and held accountable with care?

Thank you for partnering with us, asking thoughtful questions, and standing with us as we work to make school a place where your children feel both a deep sense of belonging and a push to grow.

Peace and love,
Mr. James

Small Nook. Big Reading Wins.

Making reading fun at home is important. A great way to start this is by creating a special reading nook that your child can help design! When children have ownership over their space, they feel more excited and invested in using it. Let them choose cozy items to be in the reading space. Items like a cozy blanket, stuffed animals, special lights, bean bags, and of course, a basket of their favorite books within reach. By giving your child a say in how their reading area looks and feels, you’re encouraging a positive connection to reading and helping build a lifelong love of books!

Middle School Division News November 13, 2025

November 13, 2025

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

As we keep rolling along with our November, we have an exciting way for our thespians and fifth and sixth grade students to end the week, as we will have the opening shows of “Dracula: A Comic Thriller!” As the show is described, “Count Dracula and his devoted Draculettes have already munched their way through most of rural Transylvania, and now they’ve set their sights on London—where every citizen looks like a midnight snack. Unless someone stops them, the whole city may soon be on the menu!”

This is our largest Middle School production to date, with 27 students in sixth through eighth grade and over 40 stage-crew members in fifth through 12th grade! Opening night is Friday, with Middle School performances this Friday (fifth and sixth grade) and next Friday (seventh and eighth grade) in the morning. The show runs this weekend and next weekend, and if our preview at yesterday’s Middle School meeting is any indication, folks will be rolling in the aisles.

Also happening this month around the Middle School is an increased focus on developing our sense of gratitude and inclusion of others. Last week, I asked our students to think about what they are grateful for, who they are grateful for, and why. I reminded them of those things we value and celebrate at MPA, such as joy, intellectual ambition, respect and integrity, effective communication, and diversity in all of its forms—race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression and identity, sexual orientation, and religion. And I asked them to consider how we can continue to thrive as a more inclusive community as we head into a new quarter, striving to learn from missteps in the first quarter. As we look to find gratitude in others, how do we look to be someone that others are grateful for? Read More

Upper School Division News November 13, 2025

November 13, 2025

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Last week, I had the privilege of visiting our partner school, Vanke Meisha Academy (VMA), in Shenzhen, China. During my on-campus meetings and classroom visits, I explored both the similarities and differences in the Upper School experience at our two schools. What struck me most were the many similarities between our schools and educational systems; curiosity, resilience, collaboration, and the joy of learning were abundantly visible in both settings.

At the same time, I discovered differences in daily schedules and routines, class pacing, and curricular and extracurricular offerings. These differences are not obstacles, but rather invitations that offer us a mirror to reflect on our own practices, and an opportunity to broaden our students’ and teachers’ perspectives. A study from the Centre for Global Education shares, “international school partnerships encourage students to deepen their learning experiences through learning activities that explore global themes.”

My trip offered me a meaningful window into how our two schools can learn and connect across our cultures and reinforced the benefit of ongoing international travel and partnerships. Even though I was very tired, I returned home energized, inspired, and even more committed to deepening our school’s global engagement. My goal is to apply ideas from my recent visit and find ways for our teachers and students to collaborate on projects, classroom experiences, and cross-cultural understandings that will better prepare our students to be global citizens. Read More

Your MPA Journey—Here’s What’s Next

November 13, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the November 13, 2025 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

Thank you to all who attended the PreK-12 MPA Preview on Sunday! Whether you had lunch and conversation with us at the Taste of Ninth Grade or experienced hands-on learning the MPA way, spending the day with each of you was wonderful. If you love what you discovered here, we encourage you to apply today.

If you’re looking to experience life at MPA firsthand, we’re excited to provide a guide of upcoming opportunities to do so! At this point in the year, families are often asking us what next steps they can take in the admission process. Consider this your quick guide to exploring MPA–now is the perfect time to check these off your school search to-do list. The best part? Your contact in the MPA Office of Admission will be your guide every step of the way. Read More

An Update From Former Teacher Karen Franke

November 10, 2025

Being a teacher has many rewards. None is as great as bumping into one of your students years later and feeling humbled that they recognized you, even though 25 years have passed.

This is what happened to my husband, Tim Franke, this past summer, when he was on the same flight as one of our former students from Mounds Park Academy (MPA).

My name is Karen Franke, and Tim and I had the pleasure of teaching at MPA from 1993 to 1999. It was a unique experience for us as we not only could work in the same school but also within the same grade level, sharing the same students (I taught fifth-grade social studies and language arts, and Tim taught fifth and seventh-grade science). Although this part of our life was a long time ago, we had very fond memories of our time at MPA. So much so that we have reconnected with many of our students on social media over the years. And what we have discovered about those fun, intelligent, well-read, and inquisitive students did not surprise us in the least. Their bright futures were evident to us way back then, given the dedication of the MPA community to ensure that every student reached their full potential. We both smile, thinking, “We knew them when!”

Then & Now: Speech And Debate

November 10, 2025

From Ryan Ghose ’21

Since its founding, MPA has taught students to think critically and communicate effectively—and it seems to be working! Nowhere is this excellence more evident than in MPA’s enduring speech and debate programs, where ambitious students join dedicated coaches every day of the week for practices and competitions. I got the chance to catch up with speech coaches Kari Kunze and Tanner Sunderman, and debate coach Katie Murr, to chart how the activities have evolved over the years and what their hopes are for the future of the programs.

Speech

Some quick facts about the speech team:

Team Size

2000: 7 students
2003-2008: 100 students (peak)
2025: 40 students, but most students compete in two categories (“double entering”).

Format

Most categories have stayed the same since the 90s, with the exception of:

Duo Interpretation: Introduced in 1996, two people perform an interpretive piece of any genre.
Program Oral Interpretation: The newest category, students can compile multiple pieces of writing from different mediums to tell a connected story.
Extemporaneous Speaking and Discussion: The advent of Wi-Fi has given way to online databases and the option to search the web for evidence mid-tournament.

Coaches

Many alumni have come back as assistant coaches, but the biggest shift has been a new head coach, Tanner Sunderman, who took over in 2015!

MPA continues to push boundaries in speech, competing in more national tournaments and earning its first national speech and debate association title in 2025. Additionally, Tanner Sunderman shared with me that students last year successfully presented in front of the MSHSL to change the format of Great Speeches to allow for analysis of any type of communication. Check out a tournament next year to see the impacts of MPA students’ advocacy! Read More

A Message from Isaac Marshall ’11

November 10, 2025

When I started at Mounds Park Academy in eighth grade, I was uncertain about how I’d fit into a community that had already been together for years. Rather than making me feel like an outsider, the small class sizes and welcoming peers helped me settle in and find my place. I quickly came to know everyone, and everyone knew me.

MPA gave me more than just a sense of belonging. From analyzing diverse perspectives to tackling problems across disciplines, MPA’s curriculum taught me to approach challenges creatively and think critically. Ms. Conway’s constitutional law class ignited my interest in conducting legal research and structuring arguments years before I knew I wanted to attend law school.

Even today, I’m continuing to discover the value of the foundation MPA helped me build. Read More

Parents Association News And Events November 6, 2025

November 6, 2025

In case you missed it, stay in the loop with the Parent Press: November Edition!

Save The Dates!

Below is a preview of exciting opportunities for families to build community at MPA through the winter. Don’t miss your chance to volunteer, donate, and/or show up for the fun!

Monday, December 1: Community-Wide Parents Association Meeting
Monday, December 8- Friday, December 12: Book Festival!
Friday, January 23: Family Trivia Night!
Thursday, February 12: Lower School Valentine’s Day Parties!

More details to come. We look forward to seeing you around school in the coming months! Please email PA@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions.

Upcoming Events

Friday, November 14: Lower School Family Forum, 8-9:45 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Tuesday, November 18: Coffee & Connections With The Head of School, 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Tuesday, December 9: Middle School Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
Friday, December 12: Upper School Quarterly Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, PCR
Thursday, December 18: PA Book Club with Dr. Brogdon, 6-7:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library, RSVP here >

Where Every Gift Shapes Tomorrow

November 6, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

When interviewing for the head of school role at MPA, I remember meeting with various members of the community who shared with me their “MPA moment.” Some were tied to a specific experience, while others were connected to a feeling or overarching theme. Now, as a member of the community, it’s a beautiful feeling to be able to share my own MPA moment, or moments, as it seems I experience a new and memorable one each day!

One of my favorites thus far has been hearing from our seniors their own MPA moments. Much like when I interviewed, they share the significance of experiences such as an overnight school trip, a class or club that ignited a new interest, or the friendships made from playing in the band, on a team, or being part of the musical. What I love most is that their memories span from Lower School through senior year.

These MPA moments, and those to come, would not be possible without the incredible support of our community. From November 16-22, we will honor MPA’s mission by coming together to support the 2025 Fall Campaign: MPA, Where Every Gift Shapes Tomorrow.

Your gift toward the fall campaign makes it possible for each member of our community—current and future—to experience their own MPA moment. From curricular and extracurricular experiences to supporting our incredible faculty, staff, and facilities, your generosity ensures the continuity of our impressive program, as well as the school’s ability to turn new dreams into reality. Read More

Meet Your PA Board!

November 4, 2025

Meet the remaining PA board members! We asked board members how long their families have been at MPA, the names and grades of their children, one of their favorite MPA traditions, and if they could swap with their child for one day at MPA, what they would look forward to the most.

Adi Boeder Risner ’02 | Treasurer

This is my eighth year at MPA with my own family, but as an alum, I’ve actually been part of the community for 18 years. My children, Luke (fifth grade) and Levi (second grade), love being part of MPA as well. One of my favorite traditions is the pairing assemblies—I still remember having a fourth-grade buddy when I was in kindergarten, and it’s incredibly special to see my kids enjoy the same experiences. If I could swap places with them for a day, I’d most look forward to going to the library. Having dedicated time to discover new books in a peaceful setting sounds wonderful—and, of course, I wouldn’t miss lunch! These kids are so lucky.