Alumni

Maker Fest 2020: Debbie LaChapelle

January 29, 2020

Debbie in the makerspace with her classWe’re interviewing the Makers you’ll meet at at Maker Fest 2020 on Saturday, February 22 so you can get to know them ahead of time! Debbie LaChapelle is MPA’s PreK teacher who loves to use the Makerspace to channel her students’ and her own creativity.

What (or who) inspires you to make?
I like to learn new things and have wanted to be crafty. I sewed in junior high and my mom made most of my clothes and draperies–I guess my mom inspires me.

What do you enjoy making?
Infinity scarves, oven mitts, tissue holders, bags, baby blankets, cord keepers, placemats, and coasters.

What are the most rewarding challenges?
Doing something over and over again, not giving up, and finally getting it right. Not being afraid to make mistakes. Not being afraid to use your seam-ripper; it is your friend. Read More

Golden Tickets Go On Sale Saturday!

January 29, 2020

spring auction 2020 logoDon’t forget! Golden Tickets for the 2020 Spring Auction: Light Up the Night go on sale this Saturday, February 1. Only 100 tickets will be sold, and the winner will receive the live auction item of their choice! Don’t miss your chance to win one of these fabulous prizes.

Family and Business sponsorships are a great way to get your tickets for the event this year, and receive additional perks such as reserved premium seating, a free Golden Ticket, and helping to underwrite the cost of tickets for MPA teachers and staff to attend the event for free! A limited number of business and family sponsorships remain.

Contact Jennifer Rogers-Petitt, Director of Development and Community Engagement with questions or to learn more.

Purchase Your Spring Auction Golden Ticket!

January 23, 2020

mpa spring auction 2019 guestsIntroducing a brand new opportunity for you to support MPA and potentially win one of nine incredible Live Auction items, each worth thousands of dollars at this year’s 2020 MPA Spring Auction: Light up the Night! 100 Golden Ticket raffle tickets will be sold for $150 each, with the winning ticket holder picking the Live Auction item of their choice. These Golden Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will go on sale February 1. You may purchase up to five Golden Tickets for your family, and additional tickets as gifts for loved ones or MPA faculty and staff. Live auction items include:

  • US Open Premium Seating
  • Dinner with Bill Hudson, Head of School
  • 7 Night Stay in Paris at Rue Du Four
  • Find Adventure in Montana Cabin Stay
  • Xcel Energy Center Box Seats to Jingle Ball 2020 Concert with Multiple Headliners
  • Explore Donegal, Ireland the Coolest Place on Earth
  • St. Thomas Fun Under the Sun
  • Colorado Escape over MEA
  • Evening of Wine with the Piedmont Guy

Read More

Join Us For Open Gym At MPA

January 23, 2020

girls basketball in the lansing centerThe Lansing Sports Center will once again be open most Saturday mornings this winter for MPA families and their friends. If you know a family who might be interested in learning more about our school, this would be a great opportunity to welcome them to campus!

Saturday, January 25, 9 AM-12 PM
Saturday, February 1, 9 AM-12 PM
Saturday, February 8, 9 AM-12 PM
Saturday, February 15, 9 AM-12 PM

You are welcome to come and use the track, sports center and fitness center. If you have any questions, please contact the Athletic Office at 651-748-5630.

Join Us For MPA Maker Fest 2020!

January 22, 2020

students and maker at maker fest 2019Join us for MPA Maker Fest 2020 on February 22 from 1-3 PM in the AnnMarieThomas Makerspace and Family Commons, where you can either host your own table or come as a spectator! Maker Fest is free is open to everyone–students, parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, friends, family, and more!

You can sign up here to share your Maker talents, either individually or with a group to have your very own display table at MPA Maker Fest. This is the perfect opportunity to “show and tell” something that you have created and share your accomplishments with the community. We can’t wait to see your creations!

Contact Nicole Koen at nkoen@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions.

Meet Juliana Wu ’19

January 22, 2020

Juliana wu visiting campus What do you love about MPA?
I love the inclusive environment MPA offers to each and every student that goes there.

How were you encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
I started to play cello right after submitting my college application during my senior year. Now, it has become one of my favorite ways to get away from the heavy workload at Carnegie Mellon and a great hobby of my life in general. Thinking back, it is still a bold and somewhat “reckless” decision that I made to begin a new instrument at the end of high school, but without the encouragement of MPA, I wouldn’t have made that decision and I would have missed out on a lot of the fun I have playing cello. Read More

Invest In The Future: Choose A Private School Education

January 17, 2020

8th grade students watching a robotThere aren’t a lot of sure things in life. Financial markets are volatile; fashion is fickle, and this year’s winning team can snooze next season. In an unpredictable world, one of the best bets you can make is investing in a rigorous and empowering college prep education that will pay life-long dividends for your child.

Research from the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) demonstrates that independent schools—including private institutions like Mounds Park Academy—prepare students for academic success, with graduating seniors at NAIS schools achieving substantially higher SAT results. Additionally, independent schools strengthen 21st century skills, with graduates spending more time asking questions in class, evaluating the quality or reliability of information, and looking for alternative solutions to a problem.

Independent schools also nurture in students the desire for a future that combines economic success with social responsibility and personal fulfillment. The data shows that graduates from NAIS schools were more likely than public school graduates to feel it is important or essential to be community leaders or become successful in their own businesses.

Excellence And MPA
Mounds Park Academy is one of the top two private schools in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area and one of the nation’s top STEM schools. We have a proven track record for excellence that seamlessly merges academics, arts and athletics in a welcoming environment that provides personalized attention. MPA cultivates each child’s strengths and fosters a love of learning, equipping students to make their mark individually and improve our global community. Mounds Park Academy families hail from 64 different zip codes throughout the greater Twin Cities and western Wisconsin, and reflect a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Read More

Share Your Passion At Maker Fest

January 16, 2020

Makers at MPA Maker Fest 2019Do you love to craft, create, tinker, and make? Join us on February 22 from 1-3 PM for Maker Fest 2020! Sign up here to share your Maker talents, either individually or with a group to have your very own display table at MPA Maker Fest. This is the perfect opportunity to “show and tell” something that you have created and share your accomplishments with the community. Maker Fest is free is open to everyone–students, parents, grandparents, alums, faculty, staff, etc. We can’t wait to see your creations!

If you have questions, please contact Ms. Koen at nkoen@moundsparkacademy.org.

Who Mentored You?

January 16, 2020

alumni and mpa senior talking at the alumni mentor network programby Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

My earliest recollection of my career aspirations is from when I was four or five. I remember having it narrowed down to two possibilities: gas station attendant and trash collector. I hope enough of you are old enough to remember when there were attendants who pumped gas, washed windshields, and checked the oil. For most of us, our thoughts about a career in our early years come from our role models, those we looked up to and wanted to emulate. My aspirations changed as I did and teaching became my desired career path.

Mentors and role models play a crucial part of our academic, ethical, and professional development. Their influence cannot be taken for granted as they help shape our values, actions, and behaviors. In the professional world, mentors and role models can influence our career paths as well as provide practical advice and insight into the workplace. They can also help to form and strengthen valuable connections that often lead to future employment. As it is said, “it isn’t what you know, but who you know.” Read More

Friendships And Connections Through Alumni Mentorship

January 14, 2020

Dorothy (Schilling) Tiernan '02 and Grace Holloway '20The MPA Mentorship Program entered into its second year with MPA Alumni being paired with a member of the senior class. The MPA Alum and seniors exchange three emails throughout the months of November and December. This year was wildly successful with more alumni interested in the program than we had seniors. Mentees and mentors were matched based on interests, hobbies, career goals, college choice, etc. It was clear from the first email exchange that having the mentorship program based upon similar common interests has been yielding more quality relationships. The Mentorship Program concludes with a Networking Event held at MPA with Alumni and Parents of Alumni networking with the Class of 2020. Unfortunately, due to MPA alumni living all over the world they are not always able to attend. Therefore, they take opportunities to connect in person outside of the Networking Event.

“MPA has such a unique fabric of experience and I’ve found it really fun to learn about someone else in this shared space, where I feel like I understand so much about where this student has come from—this academic environment and their academic development, and in a small way, have also been a part of their experience, and through it all, discovering all of these individual, remarkable talents that each student has, and the extraordinary qualities that are unique to them,” said Dorothy (Schilling) Tiernan ’02. “With every email, I am so impressed at what these students are thinking, asking, and doing.” Read More