All School Archives

Wyatt Srsen ’25 Becomes Boys Basketball All-Time Leading Scorer

February 26, 2025

Congratulations to Wyatt Srsen ’25, MPA’s new all-time leading scorer for boys basketball! Srsen passed the threshold of 1,303 during the Panthers contest versus United Christian Academy on Tuesday, February 25.

Now sitting alone at the top of the MPA boys scoring list, Wyatt took a second to reflect on what the accomplishment signifies to him.

“The scoring record means a lot to me, but it’s just a small fraction of what basketball truly means to me and how it has shaped me as both a player and a leader,” Wyatt said. “It stands as a testament to all the hard work I’ve put in over the past four years. I wouldn’t be here without the support of my family, teammates, and coaches.”

Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha Co-op Takes On State

February 25, 2025

Ending a strong season, the Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha gymnastics team took third place at the Class AA state team competition, held on Friday, February 21, at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul! The team scored 146.25 to earn the bronze medal, just behind state champion Owatonna and runner-up New Prague.

The team wasn’t done there, however, as the following night saw Delaney Cunnington ’25 claim some individual hardware of her own! To cap off her high school career, Delaney’s busy day during the state individual competition was highlighted by a runner-up spot for her floor routine that netted her a score of 9.575!

Delaney’s day, once it was all said and done, contained a fourth-place finish on the beam (9.35), a fifth-place spot for vault (9.525), and 31st on the uneven bars (8.65). The combined scores pushed Delaney to a total of 37.15, good enough for fourth in all-around!

We are beyond proud of the showings turned in by Delaney and the rest of the Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha co-op! The high-level performance of the team matched the representation by the athletes for their respective schools.

One Teacher, One Conversation, One Opportunity

February 20, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Delivering a senior performance is a graduation requirement at MPA that I treasure. Each one is unique, thoughtful, and deeply personal. While this tradition is a valuable exercise in public speaking, it is, more importantly, a pivotal opportunity for self-reflection. Throughout their preparations, students confront their own growth, challenges, and transformations, fostering a deeper sense of self-awareness and often realizing how much they have changed along the way.

Senior performances don’t just impact the students delivering them—they resonate throughout the entire community. They strengthen school culture by reinforcing values, traditions, and a sense of belonging. They inspire younger students by putting growth, confidence, and resilience on full display. They foster empathy and compassion as teachers, peers, leaders, and families gain a deeper understanding of each student’s unique experiences and perspectives. They also serve as reminders that growth is often uncomfortable and that meaningful change happens when students are held to high standards in a supportive environment. I try to attend every senior performance, and one delivered recently by Wyatt Srsen ’25 profoundly illustrates the journey of self-discovery and transformation that can happen in a positive school community.

With his permission, I am sharing his performance, in its entirety, below. Spoiler alert: grab a tissue!

Growing up, I was a persistent student who found school simple and straightforward. Elementary school came and went without a challenge, and then came middle school, which was more of the same. Despite a few hiccups here and there, middle school passed me by quickly and without any real problems. I had an abundance of friends and good grades, and I never struggled in school. This was all true until COVID-19 hit. I lost connections with friends; my grades struggled more than ever as I struggled to find motivation while being stuck at home with no real human interaction. Seeing this, my parents decided it was time for a change. The public school system wasn’t supportive or challenging, so they thought that private school was the best route for me to become a better student. Despite my efforts to stay with my friends and continue on the same education path, my family ended up deciding that Mounds Park Academy was the place for me. Read More

Parents Association News And Events February 20, 2025

February 20, 2025

The MPA PA is calling for volunteers! One to two volunteers are needed to pick up 15 boxes of books left over from previous years’ used book sales and take them to a donation place of their choice.

Please contact Jasmin Stees at Jasminstees@yahoo.com if available!

Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha Co-op Heads To State

February 20, 2025

The Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha gymnastics co-op is once again returning to the state meet after winning the Section 4AA team title! The team vaulted to the title for the second straight year, holding off the second-place White Bear Lake by a 143.80 to 141.65 margin.

Delaney Cunnington ’25, a reigning state champion on the uneven bars, again starred for the co-op. Delaney sprang to the all-around title for the meet, totaling 38.225 to advance individually to the state meet. The scoring led her to collect first place on bars and floor while claiming second place for beam and vault. The performances also send Delaney to compete individually in all four events.

Marching on to the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul for the state competition, it will be a busy weekend for the co-op. Cretin/MPA/Minnehaha will first compete in the team championships starting at 6 PM on Friday, February 21, followed the next day by individual and all-around championships, again starting at 6 PM.

Good luck to Delaney and the rest of the team! Tickets to the state competition can be bought here.

MPA All-State And Honors Music Updates

February 20, 2025

Congratulations to Truman Wilgocki ’26, Chali Yang ’26, and Warner Reid ’26, who performed with the All-State Choirs over the weekend! Truman and Chali were members of the Tenor-Bass Choir, while Warner sang with the Mixed Choir.

They auditioned and were selected for membership, attended a week-long camp this past summer, and had a reunion concert at Orchestra Hall. Truman, Chali, and Warner gave a beautiful, expressive, joy-filled performance. All three are members of the MPA Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers.

Finnley Henrikssen-Myers ’28 also had a big weekend singing in the State 9-10 Honor Choir! Finnley auditioned last fall and was selected to be a member of the Tenor-Baritone-Bass Choir under the direction of Marques L.A. Garrett. Read More

Welcome Home, International Students!

February 18, 2025

Last week, we hosted a live event with FindingSchools to give international students and families an inside look at MPA, including a virtual tour, international student college matriculation, and more. View the event recording here! Please note that this event is recorded in English and Chinese, but our FindingSchools profile can also be viewed in Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese.

MPA’s International Student Program is comprehensive and student-centered, allowing our International Student Program director and our faculty and staff to best support our international students in all aspects of their academic and personal lives. Our international students are able to fully experience American culture and live with their host families while having a nurturing and supportive academic experience. Read More

MPA Alpine, Nordic Skiers Compete At State!

February 18, 2025

Congratulations to the MPA boys Nordic ski team, which took third place as a team during the state meet held at Giants Ridge!

The Panthers were led by Eddie Snider ’25, who paced the pack with a third-place finish in the boys pursuit. Eddie was followed by Eli Andre ’26 (17th), Soren Winikoff ’26 (20th), Max Francois ’28 (104th), and Brennen Schertz ’25 (109th). Ansel Streier ’26 and Carter Short ’27 combined to take 16th in the team sprint.

Representing the girls side of the team, Megan Snider ’27 took home 33rd.

We are so incredibly proud of our Panthers! Earning the placement was a true team effort, reflected in the countless hours and hard work dedicated to the sport. Read More

MPA Closed Tuesday, February 18

February 17, 2025

Dear MPA Community –

I have been closely monitoring the forecast, and all classes, activities, practices, and events are canceled on Tuesday, February 18 due to the predicted low temperatures.

This is not a decision we take lightly as we balance the safety of our students and families with the commitment that we make to our students’ time in class. Safety, however, is always our highest priority.

We look forward to seeing you on campus on Wednesday!

Dr. Bill Hudson
Head of School

Join Us For Remember the Time: A Black History Month Showcase

February 13, 2025

Join us for Remember the Time: A Black History Month Showcase as we come together as a community to celebrate Black history, culture, and contributions in a powerful and engaging way on Thursday, February 27, from 4:30-6:30 PM in the Family Commons! Throughout February, students across all divisions will explore themes of fun facts (Lower School), innovations (Middle School), and legacy (Upper School), leading up to an incredible school-wide presentation.

On February 27, the school will open at 3:15 PM for visitors to tour the building and experience the incredible projects and displays created by our students. Then, at 4:30 PM, we’ll transition into a New Orleans jazz club experience for our showcase, featuring live music from Monique Blakey & The Experience and hosted by Pierre Douglas, a Twin Cities comedy staple known for his appearance on Comedy Central’s Hart of the City.

Guests will also enjoy authentic New Orleans cuisine prepared by Chef Ronnie. The celebration will conclude at 6:30 PM.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details! You won’t want to miss this unforgettable event! Please contact Eddie Grant, assistant director of equity and belonging, at egrant@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions.