Blog Archives

March 7, 2019

by Mark Segal, Upper School Director

Editor’s Note: On the first Thursday of each month, you will find a guest blog post here from one of MPA’s division directors. We hope you will enjoy reading their thoughts and reflections about life at MPA.

I recently celebrated a milestone birthday. It was one of those birthdays where AARP sends you both a birthday card and a membership card in the same envelope. It’s not hard to believe that I have now entered my sixth decade, but rather that I have been an educator for as long as I was a traditional student. Regardless, my experiences as a student are the ones that I often find myself replaying in my mind and on which I rely as I work with MPA students and my own fifth-grade son. The reality is that it is not my successes that draw me back to my childhood, but the challenges that I experienced. The times I did not meet the expectations that I set for myself or were given to me by others. Read More

Summer Enrichment with Ms. Mastel

March 5, 2019

Calling all American Girl fans, as well as dragon, fairy and unicorn lovers! Join Lower School and Middle School Drama Teacher and Director Ms. Mastel for three summer enrichment classes during the week of June 17-21!

In the American Girl Club, students will use the American Girl stories as inspiration for this interactive class. Join us as we play games, do crafts, and create treats from various time periods in history. “What I love about this class,” shares Ms. Mastel, “is that it teaches students about history and friendship through arts and crafts, games, and even cooking.” It is for students in Grades 2-4, and will be from 10:40 AM-12:10 PM.

Imagination Station is for students in Grades 2-4, and will be held from 12:50 PM-2:20 PM. Dragons, fairies, unicorns, and other creatures from our imagination are the foundation for this fun and exciting class. From building fairy houses and writing unicorn poems, to acting out Chinese fairy tales with dragons, the sky is the limit if you use your imagination. When asked what her inspiration was behind the class, Ms. Mastel replied, “When my daughter was in kindergarten, some of her friends started a ‘fairy club,’ which I thought sounded like a lot of fun! I asked her what they did in their club and began brainstorming my own ideas and then extended it out to other magical creatures when planning this summer class.”

Last, but certainly not least, are you ready for a fun-filled week of summertime fun? Join Ms. Mastel for a water day with a slip-and-slide and sprinklers, pitching a tent and roasting marshmallows, creating a lemonade stand, and playing numerous outdoor games. If this sounds up your alley, sign up for Classic Summer Fun for Grades K-4, from 2:30-4 PM!

We’re so excited to celebrate summer in Minnesota with you. For more information and to register, visit moundsparkacademy.org/summer!

Senior Service Makes An Impact

March 4, 2019

As part of their senior service project, Mats Dahlberg and Haley Rhodes wrote a children’s book together entitled “Little Lion Finds His Roar.” They shared their lovely book with the community at last week’s Book Festival.

Haley was primarily in charge of writing the story, while Mats illustrated it. All of the proceeds from the book go to an anxiety research foundation at Rogers Memorial Hospital.

When asked how they chose where to send the proceeds, Haley responded, “It [mental health] is something that’s meaningful to both of us, and we think there’s a gap for children in knowing about topics like this.”

To get your own copy of the book, you can email Mats or Haley at mdahlberg19@moundsparkacademy.org or hrhodes19@moundsparkacademy.org.

Seeking Student Voice

March 4, 2019

What does the term “student voice” mean today? Internationally recognized expert in youth voice and student engagement, Adam Fletcher relates that it goes far beyond the important work of helping students develop their own voices. The concept now implies a much deeper commitment, suggesting that educators have an ethical imperative to engage students in new ways that are vital to school improvement. With student voice integrated into the core values at MPA, even our youngest children help to significantly impact their educational environments and experiences.

MPA’s PreK teacher Debbie LaChapelle describes how her small but mighty students shape their education. One four-year-old girl, for example, requested a PreK art show like the older children have. LaChapelle picked up on the idea, credited the student with it, and shifted her curriculum to include an annual art exhibit. “I witness in my students pride, confidence, respect for themselves and others, empathy, and leadership,” she shares. “When their ideas and thoughts are accepted and validated, it illustrates to them that they matter and can make a difference.”

Kari O’Keefe provides another example of how first graders design their educational environment. “From the moment you walk into the classroom, one sees that the room belongs to the students. They have created everything from the alphabet and number line to the bulletin boards and borders. They came up with classroom expectations and labeled special areas of the space. They have a true sense of ownership as they’ve helped to create every aspect of their classroom.”

Conduits For Joy

February 28, 2019

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

It’s true. I am a voracious reader. Throughout my life, I have loved books and can think of few greater pleasures than a good one. Reading fueled my imagination and took me to places I could have never visited. Getting lost in a book and losing track of time is pure joy. For these reasons and many more, the MPA Book Festival, produced by our incredible Parents Association, is one of my favorite MPA traditions. The Book Festival began in April 2000. It was started by the collaborative efforts of parents of alumni Elaine Johnson and Karla Myers, and the library staff. It was also the year MPA librarian Nancy Lage brought in Mary Grand Pre, the illustrator of the American version of “Harry Potter.” Part celebration and part fundraiser for the library, the Book Festival symbolizes so much of what is special about our community.

When I was a child, the library was my favorite place. In the small town I grew up in, the library was an old “mansion” in the center of town. It was warm and comforting, a bit mysterious, and had a wonderful smell. It was my happy place. In college, my use of a library changed dramatically. It served more of a social purpose than an academic one. One of my first experiences of social justice advocacy was participating in a sit in at the college library over its unjust policy banning soft drinks. (Ah, youthful ignorance.) During my graduate work, I practically lived in the library. Buried amidst the stacks, I once more found my happy place. Read More

Summer Enrichment With Ms. LaChapelle

February 27, 2019

Do your children like the outdoors? Are your children passionate about letters and the alphabet? If so, they should join PreK teacher Ms. LaChapelle this summer for two enrichment classes June 17-21!

The Alphabet and Beyond is “a class for students to learn or master their knowledge of the letters in the alphabet and begin to learn letter sounds,” shares Ms. LaChapelle. “In addition, students will have the opportunity to write the letters.” Join us as we refine letter recognition skills, work and review letter sounds, and review simple sight words in a fun and engaging way. Get ready to become the alphabet master! This class is for children in grades K-1, and will be held from 10:40 AM-12:10 PM.

A Little Bit of Dirt is a nature and art class. This hands-on class will explore nature and the great outdoors, use nature for art projects, and of course, spend time playing in the dirt! Let your appreciation for the great outdoors shine through! This class is for grades K-2, and will be from 12:50-2:20 PM.

Visit moundsparkacademy.org/summer to learn more about our Summer Enrichment Programs and register!

Finding Balance In The Snow

February 21, 2019

By Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Like you, I spent a good part of the day Wednesday shoveling out from another blast of snow. I love the quiet of a snow storm and work to find balance between appreciating the beauty and cursing the extra work it requires. It has also been a challenge to find balance between the safety of our community and our commitment to academic excellence. Cancelling school is never an easy decision, particularly when we have missed so many days already. Finding balance is tough work.

As I was shoveling, I was thinking about another challenging balance that is important to maintain: the three A’s (arts, athletics, and academics) that serve as the foundation of our school’s mission. In particular, I’ve been troubled by the state of athletics, not only in Minnesota, but nationally. There has been a rise of single sport athletes and club sports that affects not only athletic programs, but also athletes themselves. At MPA, we strive to offer a variety of opportunities for our students, maintain a no-cut policy, and be competitive. However, that is becoming increasingly difficult to balance as well. Read More

Together, We Dream And Reflect

February 15, 2019

On Thursday, February 14, the MPA community gathered in the Kreischer Gym for one large, nostalgic celebration. One of the four Together, We Dream priorities allows us to create a shared space—a new commons and cafeteria—where Mounds Park Academy students and teachers alike will enjoy meals from a new state-of-the-art kitchen in the space where the Kreischer Gym currently resides.

We were lucky to have several MPA alumni in attendance who say that the Kreischer Gym is featured in some of their fondest school memories.

“I remember the obstacle course from my phy ed class and how fun that unit was weaving through the Kreischer Gym, hopping from one green step aerobics platform to another, running through a tunnel of gym mats, crawling under jump ropes strung across the course, flying through the air on the rope swing, pulling yourself along with the seated scooters, and tumbling down gymnastics mats,” says Nate Bander ’09. “I also remember flying balsa wood gliders in Middle School science, participating in my first Homecoming assembly in seventh grade, and playing on Mr. Brandon’s ninth grade basketball team in the Kreischer Gym.”

Maddy Wolfe ’12 echoes Nate’s sentiments. “The Kreischer Gym was a really fun home to have for all of the spring musicals I was in,” she says. “That’s where we made memories hanging out backstage and getting ready for the performances. I also remember taking a self-defense class in the Kreischer for my senior seminar.” Read More

A Magical Moment of Kindness

February 14, 2019

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Adults and children alike are asking a question of themselves and others these days: What does it mean to be kind? During a time of societal change and upheaval, the place of kindness in our lives is often taken up by rancor, division, and sometimes violence. I was horrified last week by the incident on I-94 when a driver, overcome with road rage, fired a gun at a school bus driver. Schools are not immune and can be cruel places. It is a sad fact that more than one out of five students nationwide will be bullied this year. Research has demonstrated time and again that when students don’t feel safe, it is difficult for them to learn and grow.

Kindness is not something to be taken for granted. It is important that parents and schools join together and intentionally foster empathy. Ravi Rao, a pediatric neurosurgeon, believes parents should teach feelings as much as they teacher things like color and numbers. She is convinced that for kids to show empathy to us, we need to show empathy to them. At MPA, we believe very strongly in fostering a kind and joyful community. What is at stake is more than academic achievement, it is a sense of self and developing the confidence to fly. Read More

Seventh Graders Help Define Library Dreams

February 13, 2019

When MPA faculty and staff learned of the extraordinary changes that Together, We Dream: The Campaign For MPA was bringing to our school, ideas started circulating about how student voice could be incorporated into the process. With the exact concepts yet to be entirely defined, Ms. Koen, Makerspace coordinator, decided to incorporate the design of our new library into one of her classes: seventh grade students were going to take on the task of turning our shared library dreams into a reality. Read More