Head's Message Archives

October 12, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am a loyal listener to MPR. I rely on it to stay current and up-to-date with what is happening in the world and in our community. It also keeps Ari and me company on the commute to and from school from our home in southwest Minneapolis. We listen to it so often that she may be one of the few middle schoolers who considers Tom Crann and Robert Siegel to be celebrities.

As faithful as I am to MPR, I don’t look forward to the seasonal (bothersome) pledge drives. However, I was pleased last fall when Ari asked me if she could use some of her own money to become a member of MPR. Maybe it was the free socks that motivated her but I know she values the conversations we have about what we hear on MPR. I hope she gave because she has come to realize that philanthropic giving is important to us as a family.

The Journey to MPA

October 5, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

My first impression of MPA was in 1995 and came from a neighbor whose son attended MPA. We had just bought a house in Afton and were in the process of meeting our neighbors. Our next door neighbors spoke so highly of the school and their son struck me as both bright and affable and immediately had a favorable impression of MPA. Even though I taught down the street at Hill-Murray, I did not know much at all about MPA. I made a mental note to myself that I should learn more about the school as my interaction with my neighbors peaked my curiosity.

Josh and Trish Hanson, parents of Lower School students Finley, Liv, and Willa, first heard of MPA in a similar way. Josh recalls, “Another neighbor, the Nickoski’s, attend MPA and love it. That was what initially piqued our interest to learn more. We attended an open house and we were immediately hooked.”

Nourishing Since 1982

September 28, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I hope that you were caught up in the wave of school spirit last week during Homecoming. It was a fantastic week as students, parents, and alumni “came back” to celebrate the special place that MPA holds in their hearts. Newly retired athletic director Joe Kordosky remarked that the turnout for Saturday’s events was the largest he could remember. As I moved from event to event, I reveled in the strong school spirit and morale.

We had a wonderful showing of alumni for a happy hour Friday night and a more formal reunion on Saturday evening. Several alums participated in a tour of the school that I led on Saturday morning. Interacting with alumni is an aspect of my job that I really enjoy. You’ve probably come to know that I love to hear people’s stories. It is particularly rewarding to listen to the stories that alumni tell about the influence MPA has had on their lives. Many say that it was, in fact, “life-changing.” For instance: Read More

We Sing. We Dance. We Laugh.

September 21, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

When I first heard that Lower School Music Teacher Mari Espeland was introducing her second graders to musician Lionel Hampton and to jazz, I had to see for myself. I thought I was going to simply observe a class, but I was drawn in as a participant, singing, dancing, and learning alongside the students. As a master teacher, Ms. Espeland wove together the basic musical foundation of rhythm and beat in jazz with a history lesson of race in America through the life of Lionel Hampton. I don’t know about the music education you received at this age, but I know this wasn’t part of mine.

I am continually amazed by the incredible music program we have at MPA. Students benefit from early and sustained music education that not only fosters a life-long appreciation for music, but engages students in making music, aesthetic appreciation, and creating beauty. Education in general, and most self-contained gifted and talented programs in particular, sacrifice time for the arts in favor of time for a narrow STEM-related curricula. I think that is a mistake and counter to good pedagogy. It also runs counter to the MPA mission.

What Are You Afraid Of?

September 14, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am deathly afraid of heights. The higher floors of office buildings or hotels terrify me. Scary movies, too. My mother still teases me about making my father stay up with me to watch A Nightmare on Elm Street when I was home from college one summer.

What are you afraid of? Lower School students gave voice to their fears yesterday morning in the first CHAMP Assembly of the year and made plans to overcome them throughout this school year. Some responses included speaking in front of a crowd with confidence, scary movies, swimming, starting at a new school, competing at a karate tournament, and doing their best in kindergarten.

CHAMP stands for Character Happens At Mounds Park, and is the Lower School character development program. This year’s character trait is courage, defined as “facing your fears with confidence and being brave.” Nelson Mandela was used as a role model as students learned about the courage he demonstrated when he peacefully fought apartheid in South Africa.

“When Everyone Comes Back”

September 7, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” I was recently at a meeting when someone shared that famous quote from Peter Drucker to emphasize the importance of culture as foundational for organizational success. Clearly strategy is important, yet it will certainly fall flat without engaged, motivated, and cohesive employees who share a common purpose.

As we approach Homecoming in a couple weeks, I found myself thinking about the strong culture at MPA. Educational research is clear that a strong culture leads to higher levels of student achievement. In the ISACS survey administered last year, 85 percent of students agreed that MPA is a caring community, high above the independent school benchmark. A whopping 96 percent of parents agreed as well, also above the benchmark. In the words of one parent, MPA “is a positive nurturing environment. It provides the best well-rounded education I think you can get in Minnesota.”

We Make Meaning

August 24, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Walking through the halls today, one can feel the energy and joyfulness as the MPA community comes together once more. I have been struck by the goodwill and genuine warmth as I see students greet one another, parents reconnect with each other, and teachers welcoming students to their classrooms.

Our Solar Eclipse Viewing Party on Monday was evidence of the strength of the MPA community. There was a wealth of opportunities available to view the eclipse offered by towns and libraries, museums, and nature centers throughout the metro area, yet more than 400 choose to experience it here at MPA. Coupled with educational activities, the event expressed what makes MPA unique—hands-on, experiential, and joyful learning.

Joyful is also the word I would choose to describe Back to School Night. Even those who lament getting up early or the return of homework were swept up in the joy of coming back to school. I am continually surprised by how much a child can grow in just a few short months and how much more mature they become. I enjoyed hearing many wonderful stories of summer adventures and achievements.

Ideas for a Learning-Rich Summer

June 8, 2017

By Dr. Bill Hudson, Mounds Park Academy Head of School

Summer was made for students. That might sound counterintuitive for the head of an independent PreK–12 school to say, but please hear me out.

Consider the words that best describe the students who call MPA home: freethinkers, free spirits, risk takers, right makers. Dreamers and doers. Throughout the school year, we promote these qualities across our academic and extracurricular activities. We create days that are filled with wonder so that students emerge from each year even more joyful, confident, and creative than they were in the fall.

Then summer comes. Extra time, a slower pace, and beautiful weather, all set the perfect stage for MPA students, and all children, to continue developing those qualities on their own and with their families.

Full Circle

June 1, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

My grandmother used to say that everything comes full circle, that in one way or another, we end up where we began. As we mark the end of the school year, we celebrate the ways in which the academic careers of our graduating seniors have come full circle.

This past week was the seniors’ last at MPA. They celebrated in a number of ways, including a fun senior “prank.” (I must share with you that MPA is the only school I know of where the seniors work with the administration in advance to plan their prank.) Upper School teachers served them waffles for breakfast and I treated them to Chipotle for lunch. For me, the lunch comes full circle from last fall when I met with them in groups of 10 over lunch and asked them to share with me their college dreams. Having come full circle, they received offers of admission from 113 different colleges and universities in 31 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada. Next fall they plan to matriculate to 33 different schools in 14 states.

Honoring MPA’s Luminares

May 25, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am notorious for having eyeglasses covered with fingerprints and smudges. I don’t always take the time to slow down and clean them on a regular basis. My mother would often exclaim, with equal parts resignation and frustration, “It’s a wonder you can see anything with those glasses!” She tells me the same thing about the windows in our house, admonishing me for letting them get so dingy. Mothers are always right, of course, and when I do clean them, I really do see and appreciate the difference, seeing the world anew, with a degree of clarity.

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