All School Archives

October 29, 2020

The Parents Association invites parents and guardians to get together Wednesday mornings after drop off. We are still walking! Mark your calendars, it will be fun!

Wednesday, November 4 and November 11 will be a 30 minute walk with Michelle Mick. We’ll meet in the Lower School Parking lot by the crosswalk and head out, rain or shine. Chat with new parents and connect with friends. Younger children and furry friends are welcome to walk with us.

Future Wednesday morning walks will depend on the weather.

Remember to bring a mask to all events! Hope to see you there!

Garseng Wong ’11 Shares His Knowledge On MPA Talks

October 20, 2020

Our Virtual MPA Talks last month featured Garseng Wong, an MPA Class of 2011 alum and a passionate mental health advocate. He is currently a resident psychiatrist at NYU and hopes to specialize in child-adolescent psychiatry, focusing his work with queer youth and young adults. In his MPA Talk, he discussed mental health, skills and ideas for maintaining it, and how to address the stigma around it. Watch Garseng’s full MPA Talk here.

We are looking for additional MPA Alumni who want to share their passions and stories with the MPA Community. Contact alumni@moundsparkacademy.org if you are interested.

Freethinker Friday: Making Relocations Work

October 19, 2020

Join us live on Facebook Friday, October 23 at 12 PM for “Freethinker Friday: Making Relocations Work.” Relocations can be complicated. There are many moving parts as families transition their lives somewhere new, sometimes with little notice. Finding a warm school community is one of the most important factors in a successful relocation. Mounds Park Academy has become a premier destination for families relocating to the Twin Cities because of its welcoming, inclusive, and globally connected community. With 3M, Ecolab, The University of Minnesota, Medtronic, Boston Scientific and many other corporations and nonprofit organizations nearby, MPA welcomes numerous transplants from across the United States and around the world.

Whether you are moving within the Twin Cities, from a different state, or from a different country – there’s a lot to learn! Hear from three MPA families, representing all three divisions, who have recently relocated to the Twin Cities, and learn how they successfully navigated the trials and triumphs of relocation.

Important Clarification About Virtual Grandparents & Special Friends Week

October 8, 2020

Due to our essential COVID-19 safety measures, we are unable to host Grandparents and Special Friends on campus next week or gather as a school community for any type of live performance. Instead, we are excited to offer a virtual week aimed at celebrating the special relationships between our students and their grandparents and loved ones. Read More

Important COVID-19 Update

October 8, 2020

Since the spring, we have been hard at work planning and refining to welcome students back to campus. As we have shared all along, we know that while there is no such thing at zero risk while the pandemic continues to impact to so many, one thing has become very clear over the previous seven weeks of school: our layered approach of protective and preventative measures is working.

Thanks to our community’s diligence, we have had zero instances of community spread on campus. Some community members have been impacted by this terrible virus outside of the school hours. During the month of September, four MPA community members contracted the virus due to outside exposure to it. Our planning allowed our teams to quickly mobilize, work with the Minnesota Department of Health, and move through our 49-point flow chart that guides our contact tracing.

As a school, we are committed to ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of our community and appreciate your partnership in addressing rumors or concerns head on. It is also important to reiterate again that if you or your family has been exposed as a close contact to a case of COVID-19 connected to the school, you will hear from us immediately. This is our deep and sincere commitment to you. Read More

More Opportunities To Connect With The Parents Association

October 8, 2020

Parents Connect Wednesday Mornings
The Parents Association invites parents and guardians to get together Wednesday mornings after drop off. Mark your calendars, it will be fun!

Wednesday, October 21 will be a 30 minute walk with Michelle Mick. We’ll meet in the Lower School Parking lot and head out, rain or shine. Chat with new parents and connect with friends. Younger children are welcome to walk with us. Remember to bring a mask to all events! Hope to see you there!

Apple Picking
An apple picking outing to beautiful Aamodt’s Farm in Stillwater is in the works! We’ll wear masks, plus any MPA gear (lanyards would be perfect) you have, and stay physically distant and safe. Stay tuned for more details.

Two MPA Students Receive National Merit Commendation

October 5, 2020

Congratulations to MPA seniors Sean Davis and Josiah Grabanski! Sean and Josiah’s performance each earned a National Merit Competition Letter of Commendation. Commended Students place among the top 50,000 PSAT scorers of all 1.6 million students from 22,000 schools across the country who entered the 2020 competition. And as Minnesota has one of the highest minimum qualifying scores in the nation, Commendation status is a considerable accomplishment. MPA is so proud of you both!

A Virtual Visit From Secretary Of State Steve Simon

October 1, 2020

The MPA Upper School Election Club was thrilled to host Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon for a virtual discussion on voting, and for our students who are not yet old enough to vote, ways to get involved and safely participate. They also discussed unexpected obstacles faced during the unprecedented pandemic election.

Nearly 50 students tuned in on Zoom from home or from the big screen in the Upper School Commons. They came prepared with a variety of questions for Secretary Simon, such as what his office has done to encourage voter turnout. They learned that the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State recently worked to double the number of languages translated for voter education pieces, and they are currently working to find local poll workers for the upcoming election. Thirty thousand poll workers are needed for the election, and those as young as 16 are able to apply, be trained, and work to see democracy in action firsthand at the polls.

Thank you, Secretary Simon, for virtually visiting and having such an invigorating discussion on a topic our students are passionate about.

Picture Day Retake Information

October 1, 2020

Picture Retake Days will begin next week. If your student did not have their photo taken or would like a new one, be sure to get your portrait taken on one of these days! If your student is fully virtual, they may come in any time before 12 PM to have your photo taken.

October 5: Prek-4, grades 7 and 8, Upper School Panther Pride cohort
October 12: grades 5 and 6, Upper School Panther Spirit cohort

Important MSHSL Update & Winter Sports Registration

October 1, 2020

Mounds Park Academy Winter Sports Registration is now live on the Athletic website. The Minnesota State High School League approved this morning that winter sports are a go for 2020-2021. Winter sports will be reduced to 70% of a normal season, 2 meets/games per week. Programs may change due to health and safety recommendations. If you have any questions please let contact the athletics office.

Start dates:
Alpine and Nordic Skiing: November 30
Boys Basketball: November 23
Boys Hockey: November 23
Girls Basketball: December 7

Schedules for each program will be reconfigured to meet the MSHSL requirements. Click here to register >

The Minnesota State High School League voted down tournament play past Sections in all Fall sports. There will be no State tournaments for the Fall season.