Lower School Archives

March 28, 2024

Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School, launched HeadSpace as a way to connect with families around big-picture topics relevant to today’s world. Please join him for the next and last informal conversation of the year about a topic that matters, a topic that is worth grappling over. You’ll walk away feeling enlightened, connected, and empowered.

Mental Health Crisis
Tuesday, April 9 | 3:15 PM
Martin Lenz Harrison Library

If you have any questions about HeadSpace, please contact Cherie Honan, assistant to the head of school, at chonan@moundsparkacademy.org.

Join Us For Cultural Celebration Day at MPA!

March 28, 2024

Enjoy an evening of food, music, and crafts from around the world by attending Cultural Celebration Day at MPA! The MPA Parents Association invites you to partake in the event that highlights the many different backgrounds present in our school. Cultural Celebration Day is set to take place on April 11, from 3-6 PM in the Family Commons.

Enjoy sweet and savory street food from around the world and an international tea bar.
Experience beautiful music and interactive folk and classical dance performances.
Engage with community members sharing their cultural heritage.

Other offerings include going home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, trying your hand at global crafts such as Greek laurel wreath making or Rangoli, and learning how to use chopsticks.

Also available will be a food demonstration, an opportunity to learn the steps of Sirtaki, a Greek folk dance, and Kathak, an Indian classical dance! Chatting with community members with booths set up to share their culture and or offer samples of their cuisine is strongly encouraged!

Food and drink tickets ($1 each) will be sold at the event. Zabiha, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available. Please email sanwarPA@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions regarding Cultural Celebration Day at MPA!

Welcome to MPA, Giselle Wynia!

March 28, 2024

Welcome to MPA, Giselle Wynia! Giselle joins us as a Middle School science and design teacher. We are so excited to introduce her to our community!

What school/organization are you coming from?
I previously worked for St. Odilia School.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
Prior to teaching middle school science, I taught courses at the University of Minnesota including human anatomy and worked in the anatomy bequest program. I have a Masters of instruction in human anatomy and physiology. I left the University of Minnesota to teach middle school science, and it is the most fun I have had during my teaching career. I have experience in public and private schools, and I am currently finishing up the year at St. Odilia. I have a passion for lifelong learning and I am excited to share that with the students at MPA.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The sense of community and belonging was evident from the time I walked in the door. I really enjoyed my time teaching in Mr. Milam’s room as the students were eager to participate and a joy to interact with. Read More

The Why Behind End-Of-Term Exams

March 28, 2024

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Editor’s Note: Periodically, you will find a guest Head’s Message here from members of the administrative team. We hope you will enjoy reading their thoughts and reflections about life at MPA.

The pressure to end the quarter on the “right note” is frequently a focus for students and their families this time of year. Next week in the Upper School, most third-quarter English, math, science, social studies, and world language classes will be offering final exams to students in grades 9-11 (seniors do not take final exams.) End-of-term final assessments serve as a crucial tool to assess students in educational systems worldwide. They play a pivotal role in evaluating students’ comprehension, retention, and application of rigorous course material.

Research underscores their significance in measuring learning outcomes and guiding instructional strategies. According to a study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, “Final exams contribute substantially to students’ overall academic performance, with performance on these assessments strongly correlating with their final grades.” End-of-term exams also highlight areas of strength and vulnerability, informing students and their teachers of areas of focus and adjustment.

MPA faculty do a wonderful job of asking students essential questions based upon the material taught and discussions had throughout the quarter. According to the Institute of Education Sciences, “Cumulative and larger end-of-term exams have been proven to improve long-term knowledge retention, cementing the very reason we go to school in the first place.”

Classes Canceled March 25

March 25, 2024

Good morning, MPA Families –

Members of the administrative team and I have been closely monitoring the weather and road conditions since Sunday morning. Unfortunately, due to the storm, we have decided to cancel all classes, activities, and events for Monday, March 25.

We do not take this decision lightly as we balance the safety of our students, families, and employees with our commitment to having students at school. Safety, however, is always our highest priority.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday after what I hope was a wonderful spring break. Enjoy the snow day!

Sincerely,
Dr. Bill Hudson
Head of School

Meet Assistant Director Of Admission Hannah Smith

March 21, 2024

Hannah Smith is the assistant director of admission (Lower School) at MPA, and a parent of two MPA Lower School students and one MPA Middle School student. Continue reading to get to know Hannah and contact her to learn more about Lower School at MPA!

When and how did you first come to MPA?
I came to MPA through my children about two years ago! We found ourselves seeking a different school for our kids, and ended up falling in love with MPA. After we enrolled our kids, I was ready to rejoin the workforce and so hoped to be apart of the MPA community as an employee in addition to a parent.

What memories do you have of your first days at MPA?
Kindness. Every single person in the building came up to me and not only introduced themselves but asked how I was doing and what they could do to help my transition.

How does MPA inspire students who dream big and do right?
By celebrating failure! Students with big dreams are taught that their goals are more than attainable, but nobody gets it right on the first try. MPA also has exceptional faculty to help students achieve whatever their dreams entail. Read More

A Vibrant Place To Learn And Grow

March 19, 2024

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the March 10, 2024 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

In and beyond the classroom, MPA students are inspired to pursue their aspirations with confidence and curiosity.

Last week, Middle School students embarked on Innovation Term (i-Term). This signature MPA Middle School program offers students a learning experience like no other in a single class of their choice. One week long and entirely ungraded, this is inquiry-based, experiential learning that far exceeds what can normally happen in the classroom. Some chose a French immersion experience in Quebec City. Others observed biology in Costa Rica. No matter which class they choose, students in small, mixed-grade classes go out into the world, work with subject-matter experts, and ignite some serious passions along the way. Read More

Micah Hudock Becomes MPA All-Time Leading Boys Basketball Scorer

March 7, 2024

Micah Hudock ’24 wasn’t sure if he would end up becoming the MPA all-time leading scorer in boys history. After missing time due to injuries, the senior needed to make the most of his opportunities on the court.

“I dealt with a lot of ankle injuries on my first, second, and third year playing on the team,” Micah said.

Overcoming the time missed, he was able to do just that, eclipsing the Panthers record for boys scoring by beating the previous high of 1,256. The previous record was held by Brendan Connolly ’17. Read More

Lower School Division News March 7, 2024

March 7, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Monday, March 11: Trimester 2 Report Cards emailed home
Monday, March 11-24: No Classes, Spring Break
Monday, March 25: Classes Resume at 8 AM
Thursday, April 4: LS Art Show, 6-7 PM, Gallery, US Commons, Rossbach Art Walk, Family Commons
Thursday, April 4: LS Music Show, 7-8 PM, Nicholson Center
Wednesday, April 10: No Classes, Eid al-Fitr
Thursday, April 11: Parents Association Cultural Celebration Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
Monday, April 15: LS Visiting Author Yangsook Choi
Wednesday, April 17: CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-9 AM, Family Commons
Friday, April 19: MPA Spring Auction, 6:30-11 PM, Dellwood Golf Club

Spring Break is almost here, yet the learning never stops in the Lower School. Please read on for more updates:

CHAMP News
At our CHAMP assembly on March 6, we celebrated Women’s History Month by exploring some well-known women who have contributed greatly to our world. We focused on the CHAMP attribute of cooperative. Every day at lunchtime for the month of March, Lower School students read a small passage about important women in our world to the rest of the division. Our next CHAMP assembly is April 17, and we will be learning about being accountable. Please send your child to school on that day wearing their CHAMP colors!

Trimester 2 Report Cards Coming Home on March 11
The second trimester has flown by! Teachers shared pertinent updates on all the progress your child has made over the past few months at conferences. On Monday, March 11, please check your email for your child’s Trimester 2 report card. Comments are added to report cards for Trimester 1 and Trimester 3 only. We look forward to sharing more about your child’s learning with you soon.

LS Visiting Author: Yangsook Choi on April 15
I am overjoyed to share that on April 15, the MPA Lower School will have the pleasure of welcoming Yangsook Choi, author of the beloved children’s book “The Name Jar,” as our visiting author. Yangsook is from Seoul, Korea, and she is an incredible writer and illustrator. She will lead writing and illustration workshops for our PreK-Grade 4 students while she is visiting. Please stay tuned for more information about how you can have the author sign a copy of “The Name Jar” for your child!

2024 MPA Spring Auction on April 19
We hope to see you at the 2024 MPA Spring Auction, Together We Can Move Mountains, on Friday, April 19 at Dellwood Golf Club. This is your chance to attend a night of fun, inspiration, and community building while supporting MPA with fellow parents, alumni, and friends.

LGBTQ+ Family Group for Lower School Parents
Lower School parent Rachael Weber is excited to lead the creation of an LGBTQ+ family group for families of children in PreK through Grade 4. The group will focus on allyship, advocacy, and the sharing of resources and experiences in this affinity space specific to the developmental stages of early and middle childhood. Parents who are members and/or allies of the LGBTQ+ community are welcome to contact Rachael at drewleo@gmail.com to join!

MPA Summer Sports Camps

March 7, 2024

Registration is open for our annual Summer Panther Sports Camps with Volleyball Camps coming soon!

Panther Soccer Camp: June 10-13, 9-11 AM
Soccer lovers in grades K-6 can join Mr. Sheehan and the MPA soccer coaches for a fun and challenging week of activities for all abilities! Bring a friend! register here >

Panther PE Summer Camp: June 17-20, 9:30-11:30 AM for grades K-2 and 1-3 PM for grades 3-6
Panther PE Camp offers a friendly space for students of all athletic abilities to participate in a mix of some of the students’ favorite PE activities and games. Bring a friend!
K-2 register here >
3-6 register here >

Panther Basketball Camp: July 8-11, 8-9:30 AM for grades K-4 and 9:30-11:30 AM for grades 5-8
MPA’s Head Basketball Coach, Chris Hopkins, will be running these basketball camps for students in grades K-8. The emphasis will be on shooting, ball handling, and fundamentals for all skill levels.
K-4 register here >
5-8 register here >

See all of the incredible summer offerings, including Skyhawks Sports Camps here!