Alumni Archives

October 8, 2019

Beautiful weather and a variety of activities brought more people than ever to campus on September 28 for our community-wide Homecoming festivities. Sports games included a varsity volleyball tournament with the Panthers as the overall winners and several soccer games and tennis matches. We hosted My Burger food truck, which is owned by MPA alum Mandy Abdo-Sheahan ’92, and concessions were made possible by our MPA Spirit Committee. Our third and fourth grade Lower School students sang the National Anthem for the volleyball and soccer games; three types of inflatables were there for the students including a bounce house, axe throwing, and mini golf; additional lawn games; several goodies and giveaways; community gathering around the fire pit; and face painting and chalk art in the parking lot. We had additional alumni-focused events including a tour of our renovated spaces attended by approximately twenty people, an alumni soccer scrimmage, and reunions on Saturday evening.

Milestone Alumni Reunions were celebrated for the classes of 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2015 at Lake Monster Brewing on Saturday evening. Following the reunions, an alumni social was held for all MPA alumni. We hosted 39 alumni, which was our largest alumni event in four years!

Take a look at the photos from Homecoming and the Alumni Gathering!

Meet MPA Parent Dr. Emily Binstadt ’91!

October 2, 2019

What do you love about MPA?
Almost everything! MPA has an emphasis on inclusion and kindness which defines the community overall. Within that circle, there is a freedom for individuals to explore what drives and inspires them and to develop their own identities and passions. Kids are free to try to do it “all” with a broad sampling of high-quality experiences in arts, academics, and athletics, and/or to delve deeply into a particular interest. I’m amazed by my children’s aspirations and achievements to date at MPA. I’m even more impressed by the confidence they have gained from engaging deeply with material in their academic courses at MPA, and in the organizational, public speaking, empathy, leadership, and teamwork skills they are honing. I am certain they will make a meaningful contribution in whatever area they choose to direct their energy.

How is your child encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
When weighing the financial and personal commitment to enrolling at an independent school like MPA, we worried about our girls being insulated in a school with less socioeconomic diversity than other educational options. And although we continue to be attentive to the impact this reality might have on our girls’ development, we have been astounded by the spontaneous commitment to altruism and advocacy our kids have made at MPA. They are more excited to talk about what’s new in the student-run Social Change Club than in almost any other activity they participate in. We couldn’t have asked for a bigger “win” in this area, which is even more wonderful because this was something we worried about before our kids started at MPA. Read More

Meet Nate Bander ’09

September 30, 2019

Upper School Admission coordinator
Coach
Class of 2009

How many years have you been at MPA?
I’ve been here four years as a member of the admission team and coach. Between 1996 and 2009 I was a student!

What do you love about MPA?
I love athletics at MPA. Our culture has found a way to balance success and participation, skill building and teamwork, competition and collaboration. Athletics were my favorite part of being a student at MPA and have continued to be an integral part of my relationship to the MPA community.

How does MPA nurture students who forever dream big and do right?
MPA is a community of families brought together not by common geography, but by common values. MPA students are surrounded by families who exemplify what it means to be successful high achievers but also global citizens of the world. The abundance of role models in this community makes for well rounded students hungry to emulate the high achievers they surround themselves with.

What would you tell a parent considering MPA?
Mounds Park Academy is an investment in your children. There are families who chose to invest in travel, cabins, and boats, but an MPA family knows prioritizing funds to ensure a strong future for their children is the most important investment. Read More

Be A Part Of Culture Day At MPA!

September 26, 2019

Save the date for Culture Day at MPA on Wednesday, October 23 from 3-6:30 PM! Join us for a gastronomic tour around the world as we share sweet and savory delicacies from 10 countries and an international drinks bar. Attend a cooking demonstration in our wonderful new teaching kitchen, go home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, and try your hand at global crafts like “worry dolls” from Guatemala and Origami, the Japanese art of paper-folding. You will also be able to enjoy musical and dance performances by our talented students! This day full of food, community, and fun is hosted by the MPA Parents Association. Read More

Help Make Dreams Come True By October 1

September 26, 2019

If you haven’t already, now is the time to support Together, We Dream: The Campaign For MPA. Help us reach the $5 million goal by October 1 so we can fully fund each priority and finish the campaign strong. Thank you!

“The endowment is important for future students to have the opportunity to access a welcoming environment of learning regardless of socioeconomic class. This is vital for all in the community.” – Nancy and Dominick Driano, current parents

“The outdoor track will show MPA’s dedication to sports as well as academics. Our alumni daughter participated in track and our alumni son participated in soccer. The fields and track are in desperate need of renovation.” – Dan and Elizabeth Esch, current parents Read More

Come Home To MPA

September 26, 2019

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am a sap when it comes to commercials around the holidays. I may be showing my age but some of you probably remember the Folgers Coffee commercial when the son surprises his mother by coming home from college unexpectedly, making a fresh pot of Folgers that awakens his mother. Tears, every time. There is something about coming home—feelings of love, safety, and acceptance—that stirs our emotions.

Our identities emerge in the midst of community, molded and shaped by our experiences. Our family, religious beliefs, neighborhoods, and schools are all important in introducing and reinforcing a shared set of values that nurture our identities. Schools in particular have a lasting impact not only on our academic development, but our social and emotional development in our most formative years. Read More

Happy Homecoming, Panthers!

September 25, 2019

Homecoming 2019 is here! Did you see the Homecoming chalk art at the north and south entrances on Monday? Thank you to the Upper School Student Council for kicking off the week of festivities!

We have been dreaming, playing, and sharing all week. We hope you can come celebrate with us at the All-School Pep Rally on Friday at 2:20 PM in the Lansing Center.

Please also join us for a day of fun on Saturday! It will be a perfect fall day for catching up with friends, watching a game or match, grabbing a bite to eat, and warming your hands by the fire. Read More

An MPA Education In A Rapidly Changing World

September 19, 2019

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

This summer, I attended a meeting of independent school heads at Stanford University and spent a few days in the San Francisco Bay Area. My custom has been to visit with alumni when I travel and I had the opportunity to connect with David Siegel ’04. David is a techie, philosopher, and creative thinker. Blending his love of technology with a sensitivity to human flourishing, he is driven to understand how technology affects people. He recently launched his own start-up, Glide, which enables users to create an app that turns Google spreadsheets into beautiful, easy-to-use apps, without code.

During his years at MPA, David gravitated mostly toward Spanish, film, writing, and critical thinking. When I asked him what class or experience at MPA he attributes to his success, without hesitation he said, “photography class.” Through photography he learned perspective, empathy, problem-solving, and iteration, all necessary for innovation. When asked for his advice to MPA students he said, “Develop your own theories about problems that interest you, seek out people working on those problems, and explain your ideas to them. View professional challenges as opportunities for creative thinking and devise your own solutions to these problems, rather than succumbing to pressure to behave uniformly.” Read More

Hands-On Opportunities In The Makerspace

September 18, 2019

There are so many opportunities to get creative in the MPA Makerspace this year! We hope to see you bringing your ideas to life at the gatherings and events below.

Fiber Friends will meet every Friday from 11 AM-12:30 PM. This group of knitters, crocheters, seamstresses, and textile gurus is open to all faculty, staff, parents, alum, grandparents, and students. Beginners are always welcome! Upper and Middle School students may come in during their lunch and recess time.

Makerspace Mondays are open for Middle and Upper School students. They may use the Makerspace on Mondays for projects from 3-5 PM. There will be a clipboard to sign-in. If Middle School students are not picked up by 5 PM, they will go to Panther Club.

University of St. Thomas STEM Lunch Discussions occur once a month. Engineering students from UST will be on campus to share their inspiring stories and chat with students about careers in STEM related fields. Faculty and staff are invited to join in the discussion as well. The students will be on campus during the lunch hour on the following dates: October 10, November 7, December 5, February 13, March 5, April 2, and May 7.

Lower School STEAM club will begin in January and meet after school on Thursdays. We will have a winter and spring session. Registration will come out at the end of November.

MPA Maker Fest 2020 will take place on February 22 from 1-4 PM! This free, community event is the perfect place and time to showcase a project or hobby you are passionate about. All are welcome to host a table or attend. Last year we had students of all ages, parents, alumni, faculty and staff, and grandparents participate.

If you have items that you would like to donate or upcycle to the Makerspace, please drop them by anytime! We appreciate all objects to tinker with. There will be a bin outside the Makerspace for donated supplies. Please put your name on the donation or fill out a donation slip (located on the bin) and give it to the Development Office. Please do not donate any items that have been in contact with tree nuts, peanuts, or dairy.

Together, We Can Finish Strong By October 1

September 18, 2019

Together, We Dream: The Campaign for MPA is helping our school accomplish a number of key priorities. We’ve already witnessed the impact of our community’s generosity in our beautiful new Family Commons, and we will soon in our new library.

An additional key priority for the school is securing our future through a strong endowment. A strong endowment ensures our programs continue to be of the highest quality. It allows us to make an MPA education more accessible to more families. Your gift in support of our school’s endowment will leave a lasting impact in the following ways:

greater access to an MPA education through financial assistance;
enhanced classroom experiences for students through professional development opportunities for our faculty and staff; and
supported learning beyond the classroom through experiential education, travel, and enhanced curricular opportunities.