Lower School Archives

April 12, 2018

We were blown away by the six-foot wingspans, but our visitors from The Raptor Center were even more blown away by how much Panther Club students know about their local birds!

They were able to name each of the amazing animals that visited campus on Monday, rattling off unique facts and asking intriguing questions to the Raptor experts. View the beautiful birds that our students got to witness firsthand!

Love what you see? Learn more about Panther Club and all of MPA’s extended day programs!

Breakfast At MPA

April 12, 2018

Have your friends and neighbors been asking about MPA? We can’t wait to meet them! Spread the word and invite them to our next admission event, Breakfast at MPA, on April 17 at 8:30 AM! Guests are invited to campus during a regular school day to meet school administrators over a breakfast, tour MPA, and see our community in action.

Please extend our invitation and have your friends RSVP in advance for this engaging program at moundsparkacademy.org/RSVP. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admission at 651-748-5577 or admission@moundsparkacademy.org.

Swim Club Made Waves At State!

April 12, 2018

It’s an exciting time to be an aquatic Panther! The MPA Swim Club finished their season at the State competition last night with an abundance of achievements, spirit, and excitement for next year!

The celebrations began last week, when all of the swimmers competed in the Catholic Athletic Association Championship preliminary meet. More than 1,000 swimmers swam, and the ranks were tough: only the top 16 swimmers in each event were going to advance to the championship finals at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. By the end of the meet, MPA had several Panthers very giddy about swimming in The U’s pool!

The CAA Championship was a huge meet, but most importantly, another opportunity for these swimmers to shine. All of their hard work, determination, and progress throughout the season was exemplified in these races. On the first night, the MPA first and second grade boys medley relay won their race, and the boys third and fourth medley placed second! And at the girls’ meet, the team placed eighth overall!

What started out as a team of three in 2004 has evolved into a team of State champions. We are so proud of our young athletes and can’t wait for them to continue doing what they love. Click here for full meet results, view photos from the meets, and give our swimmers a huge congratulations!

Development Of The Athlete

April 12, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

MPA was founded on the conviction that a balance between academics, the arts, and athletics is an important part of a whole-child education and leads to success in school and in life. The balance is maintained in a number of ways, including a commitment to physical education in the curriculum and offering a robust athletic program. The key to balancing academics, the arts, and athletics is teachers, coaches, and directors who encourage students to participate in a variety of clubs, activities, and sports, and do not make it difficult for them to do so.

At MPA, we encourage students to play a variety of sports. With a no-cut policy, students have the opportunity to try different sports and learn new skills. Multi-sport participation is important at MPA and we take every opportunity to promote its value. Each sport challenges athletes in different ways and skills developed in one sport may help them in other sports. The exposure to different coaches, teaching methods, and teammates may increase their mental toughness, appreciation, and humility, which is helpful in the overall development of the athlete. Having choices helps students learn what they enjoy, and they may discover a love for a sport they had not previously considered.

The rise of specialization–when a student focuses on only one sport–is troubling and impacts the overall strength of a school’s athletic program and the physical well-being of athletes. Specialization is driven in part by the belief that it is the best path to earn a college scholarship. In reality, only four percent of athletes actually earn an athletic scholarship for college. Some in the medical field also believe that the increasing number of sports-related injuries can be tied to specialization. High school athletes who specialize in a single sport are 70 percent more likely to suffer an injury during their season than those who play multiple sports, according to a study released last year commissioned by the National Federation of High School Associations.

Join A School For Dreamers and Doers

April 5, 2018

If you haven’t yet applied, Mounds Park Academy’s regular admission deadline is coming up on Sunday, April 15. This is the date by which all documents should be received and steps completed. more information >

Our next admission event will be Breakfast at MPA on Tuesday, April 17 starting at 8:30 AM. This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet our school administrators over a casual meal and tour the campus to see students and teachers during a regular school day. rsvp >

If you have any questions or need any assistance as we approach these dates, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Admission! We are here to help families navigate the process every step of the way. We look forward to welcoming your family to campus this fall! contact us >

Lower School School Supplies

April 5, 2018

It’s never too early to get a head start on school supply shopping! MPA is offering prepackaged school supplies in Lower School once again, as a convenience to our families. In addition, next year’s Lower School supply lists have been posted under Families > Lower School Resources.

Purchase supply kits >

Lower School lists >

Summer Soccer Camp

April 5, 2018

Another awesome summer activity being offered for boys and girls in grades K-6 is Soccer Camp, June 25-28, 9-11 AM. Tim Sheehan and Mike Scinto, MPA soccer coaches and phy ed teachers, have designed a fun and challenging week of activities for all soccer players, beginner through advanced. Enhance your skills, learn something new and develop team concepts in a fun and friendly environment.

Sample curriculum: dribbling, passing, receiving, turns, fakes and moves, shooting, moving without the ball, passing combinations, individual defending, and defensive support. All campers receive individual instruction and a camp t-shirt. learn more >

Camp Invention Comes To MPA

April 5, 2018

MPA is partnering with the National Inventors Hall of Fame to provide Camp Invention June 25-29, a unique out-of-school-time enrichment experience with a science, engineering and math (STEM) focus. At MPA, this special week will be taught in the Makerspace by MPA teachers Nicole Koen and Debbie LaChapelle.

Camp Invention gives students in grades K-6 the opportunity to take risks, use creative problem solving, and develop an entrepreneurial mindset in fun and challenging ways. During the week-long adventure, students will design and build their own inventions, take apart gadgets, be part of a team, and have FUN! Also, free Panther Care is available 7-9 AM and 3:30 PM.

Arts Education: A Beautiful Gift

April 5, 2018

by Renee Wright, Lower School Director

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

A cherished MPA tradition continues for its 37th year on April 12, 2018, when the Lower School presents its Art and Music Show. You won’t want to miss seeing firsthand the pride on the faces of our Lower School students as they present their beautiful artwork and sing and dance joyfully for family and friends.

The first Lower School Art and Music Show debuted in 1982, never missing a year after that. The early years showcased student learning throughout the school year. Starting in 1989, the shows began to focus on specific themes, thoughtfully selected by the Lower School art and music teachers each year. Earlier themes included Around the World, Songs of America, Animal Fair, Disney, A Wonderful World of Color, Muppets: A Tribute to Jim Henson, Wild West, and many more. This approach has given each Art and Music Show a fresh look and created extraordinary student excitement and engagement.

This year, the students celebrate authors and illustrators of award-winning picture books. Students have studied how stories are conveyed through art and writing. They have learned to analyze the artwork in picture books for color, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. Kindergartners have explored the colorful works of Eric Carle and Richard Scarry. First graders have learned from the creativity and imagination of Ezra Jack Keats and Lois Ehlert while second graders have enjoyed the rollicking rhymes of Dr. Seuss and the engaging characters of Lucy Cousins. Third graders have been charmed by the gentle animals of Jerry Pinkney and Jan Brett and fourth graders have explored the engaging, innovative works of Sara Fanelli, Chris Raschka, and Barbara Knutson. Books by these authors and illustrators have also been the inspiration for movement, instrument playing, and singing in music class during the year. These creative artists have served as talented role models for our students, and now the students are prepared and excited to present their own inspirations to family and friends!

Registration Is Open For Basketball Camp!

March 15, 2018

Mounds Park Academy Basketball is excited to offer our annual Panther Summer Basketball Camp held Monday, June 11–Thursday, June 14, 2018 from 9 AM–12 PM in the Lansing Sports Center. Panther Basketball Camp is open to MPA and non-MPA students alike, who are entering grades 4-9 in Fall 2018. The cost of attending is $60 per camper and includes a camp t-shirt.