Lower School Archives

MPA Students Experience Music Clinic At University Of Wisconsin

February 8, 2024

Three exceptional MPA students had the opportunity to attend a prestigious orchestra clinic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this week. Julia Anderson ’27, Oslo Norcross ’27, and Lucy Mayer ’27 attended intensive rehearsals, guided by university faculty, and all of their hard work culminated in a live concert performance.

“Our MPA musicians are so dedicated to music making and I love that they were able to experience this event,” said Hannah Lawson, MPA’s director of orchestras. “As their director, I want to give my students as many performance opportunities as possible and I’m so proud that they accepted the challenge and can carry this experience with them forever.” Read More

Lower School Division News February 8, 2024

February 8, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, February 9: No LS/MS Classes, Conferences
Friday, February 9-Thursday, February 15: LS Uniform Sale, 8 AM-3 PM, Atrium
Monday, February 12: PreK to Kindergarten Transition Parent Coffee, 8:15-9:15 AM
Wednesday, February 14: LS Valentine’s Day Party, 8:30-2:20 PM, Lansing Sports Center, Allergy Aware Guidelines
Thursday, February 15: Re-enrollment Deadline
Thursday, February 15: LS/MS Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
Friday, February 16: No Classes, Professional Development, Panther Club Closed
Monday, February 19: No Classes, Presidents’ Day
Tuesday, February 20: LS Parent Quarterly Coffee, 1:15-2:45 PM, Gallery
Friday, February 23: LS Grade 4 Battle of the Books, 8:45-10 AM, Library
Wednesday, February 28: LS Grades 3/4 Orchestra Hall Field Trip, 9-11:30 AM
Wednesday, February 21: CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-9 AM
Friday, March 1: LS Grade 3 Battle of the Books
Friday, March 1: SnoDaze Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center

It looks like an early spring is on its way, and there is a palpable hint of warmth in the air. After living in Beijing, China for several years with my family, I will always treasure these special days in late January and early February, when many cultures around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year. In Beijing, that meant gorgeous red lanterns, lively music, sparkling fireworks, and stuffed red envelopes. As we head into the year of the dragon, please read on for more updates:

CHAMP News
At our CHAMP assembly on January 31, the children were introduced to our Lower School “Rainbow Voices.” With this new shared expectation, students are learning about four different voice volume levels and practicing them where appropriate. This whole-Lower School guideline is part of our initiative to continually refer to common understandings across the children’s day, reducing confusion and increasing personal agency and a deeper sense of belonging. Our next CHAMP assembly is scheduled for Wednesday, February 21. We will be focusing on the CHAMP attribute of “courageous” with a special focus on Black History Month. Please be sure to send your child to school on February 21 wearing their CHAMP colors! Read More

Meet International Student Alum Wei Zhan ’22

February 6, 2024

What are you currently doing, professionally and/or personally? What experiences or relationships have inspired you along the way?
I went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and am now attending Santa Monica College. Engaging with a diverse and talented group of individuals fueled my passion along the way.

How was your experience at MPA different than other schools?
MPA has an inclusive and open atmosphere, embracing individuals from all backgrounds and creating a welcoming environment for everyone. Read More

Being An MPA Student Is…

January 30, 2024

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the January 27, 2024 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

Being a student at MPA is a lot of things.

It’s being part of “A generally really diverse, inclusive environment. I fit in like on day one.”

It’s also a place where you will find “Words of encouragement, even when I didn’t really think I needed it,” and opportunities that make you think, “This experience has just made me a much more confident speaker and critical person.”

And even in addition to all of that, it’s “This safe, nurturing, supportive place where I could really explore and learn so many new things.” Read More

Lower School Division News January 25, 2024

January 25, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, January 26: PA Parent Trivia Night, 6-8 PM, Family Commons
Saturday, January 27: MPA vs SPA Varsity Basketball at Target Center, 9 AM (girls), 11 AM (boys), tickets >
Wednesday, January 31: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-9 AM, Family Commons, wear CHAMP t-shirts
Thursday, February 1: MS Class of 2032 Parent Gathering, 3:15-4:15 PM, Library
Friday, February 2: Re-Enrollment Agreements Sent
Wednesday, February 7: MS Class of 2032 Parent Gathering, 6-7 PM, Library
Friday, February 9: No LS/MS Classes, Conferences
Friday, February 9: LS/MS Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM
Friday, February 9: Thursday, February 15 Lower School Used Uniform Sale 8 AM-3 PM
Monday, February 12: PreK to Kindergarten Transition Parent Coffee, 8:15-9 AM
Wednesday, February 14: Lower School Valentine’s Day Party, 8:30 AM-2:20 PM Lansing Sports Center, Family Commons
Thursday, February 15: LS/MS Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
Friday, February 16: Professional Development Day, No Classes
Monday, February 19: Presidents’ Day, No Classes
Tuesday, February 20: PA LS Quarterly Parent Coffee Meet-Up, 1:15-2:45 PM, Gallery

We’re almost at the end of the first month of 2024, and learning is in full swing! Our classes are chugging right along and teachers are looking forward to connecting with families soon at the upcoming conferences. Please read on for more updates …

CHAMP Assembly on Wednesday, January 31
Our next CHAMP assembly is scheduled for Wednesday, January 31. We will be focusing on the CHAMP attribute of compassionate. Please be sure to send your child to school this day wearing their CHAMP t-shirts!

Conferences Coming Up: February 9 and 15
Conferences for Lower and Middle School will be held at the start of February. As previously shared, families have between noon on Friday, January 19, and noon on Friday, January 26 to register for conferences. Once the system re-opens at noon on Monday, January 29, families can schedule up to two additional conferences for a total of five (5) conferences. The scheduling window will close completely at noon on Wednesday, January 31. Kindly note no additional conferences will be scheduled after January 31.

Lower School Winter Used Uniform Sale Coming Soon: February 9 through February 15
Our Used Uniform Sale is coming back this February in the Lower School Atrium. The sale will be available in the Atrium from 8 AM to 3 PM every day, Friday February 9 through Thursday, February 15. Don’t forget to stop by and shop for great deals on slightly used and new uniforms at great prices!

PreK to Kindergarten Transition: Parent Coffee on Monday, February 12
To support our PreK families, we welcome the parents of our youngest learners to meet the kindergarten teaching team, learn more about the MPA kindergarten program, and get any questions answered about the next step in the PreK children’s journey. Please join us on Monday, February 12 from 8:15-9:15 AM. Mrs. Roche, Ms. Petersen, and Ms. Jennifer Le Varge are excited to collaborate with you! Further communication will be shared soon with PreK families.
Read More

Parents Association News January 11, 2024

January 11, 2024

New! Parents Association Trivia Night
Friday, January 26, 6-8 PM
Join us for a joyful evening of dinner and socializing at MPA hosted by Trivia Mafia! Compete to be trivia champions! For parents and guardians of students in PreK-12, $5 per person (adult or child), dinner from Cossetta, childcare available for grades K-6. For more details and to register, click here.

Dr. Hudson’s Book Club
Monday, February 12, 6 PM
One more announcement for our parent readers! Dr. Hudson’s Book Club will be back on February 12, 6:00 PM in the MPA Library. We will be reading “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride. Childcare will be provided. Sign up here to get your copy of the book.

Parent Volunteers Needed for Lower School Valentine’s Day Party
Please contact msotoPA@moundsparkacademy.org if you want to help organize the festivities!

Lower School Division News January 11, 2024

January 11, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Monday, January 15: No Classes, Martin Luther King Day
Monday, January 15: Indexed Tuition Re-Application Deadline
Friday, January 19: LS Duty Free Lunch, 12:15-12:45 PM, Family Commons
Monday, January 22: No Classes, Professional Day, register for Panther Care >
Friday, February 9: No LS/MS Classes, Conferences
Friday, February 9: LS/MS Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM
Thursday, February 15: LS/MS Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
Friday, February 16: No Classes, Professional Development (Panther Care Closed)
Monday, February 19: No Classes, Presidents’ Day

Welcome to 2024! Families seemed to enjoy a restful winter break, and the students are eager and ready to return to the comfort of school routines. Please read on for January updates and beyond:

Conferences Coming Up: February 9 and 15
Our Lower and Middle School Conferences will be held at the start of February. We will be sending scheduling instructions and details soon—please watch your email for registration/scheduling instructions by the end of this week. MPA will once again be using Pick-A-Time for conference registration. You will need to schedule your student’s conferences between noon on Friday, January 19, and noon on Friday, January 26. Families with two or more students at MPA may sign up a day earlier, starting at noon on Thursday, January 18, to help you secure back-to-back conferences for your children. Once the system re-opens at noon on Monday, January 29, families can schedule up to two additional conferences for a total of five conferences. The scheduling window will close completely at noon on Wednesday, January 31. A letter with more information will be coming home soon. Kindly note, no additional conferences will be scheduled after January 31. Read More

A Makerspace Twist On National Novel Writing Month

December 22, 2023

One of the most memorable seventh-grade traditions at MPA is completing NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo is a national effort where participants write a novel throughout November. “It’s one of my favorite units to teach,” said Maddy Wolfe ‘12, seventh-grade English teacher at MPA. “They create well-rounded characters, complex story worlds, and a plot laced with tension, all while learning and incorporating language rules and mechanics.”

This year, in addition to their novels, the seventh graders created 3D frames depicting a scene from their stories. They chose a scene from their novel to highlight, and they needed to define the details that make up the scene in its entirety, translated onto a foreground, midground, and background.

“We used a multi-plane camera process—an old-fashioned way of creating 3D space by painting on glass frames as in the early King Kong movie—to create the illusion of space,” commented Keith Braafladt, MPA’s Makerspace coordinator. “It was a surprise how interested and passionate the students were, especially in terms of using color and painting techniques with paint markers, which is a painting tool we just started using last year with our Gunpla model-making activity. The students had so much more control than learning to use a brush in small spaces.”

When the models are held up to a projector, a 3D image is projected onto the wall behind.
“They turned out really incredible!” said Ms. Wolfe. “Their scenes included so many details from their novels, and it was cool to watch their visions come to life.”

“It was a wonderful collaboration using digital fabrication tools to make the frames and the transparencies using a historical perspective technique that came from filmmaking and animation and building this all around the notion of the creation of the narrative for the students’ novels,” commented Mr. Braafladt.

See photos from this exceptional project here.

A Day In The Life Of An MPA Student

December 19, 2023

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the December 20, 2023 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

What is a day in the life of an MPA student? What do they learn? Where do they study? How do they feel?

To answer all of the above and more, we invite you to join us for the opportunity for to experience life at MPA. Our PreK-12 Preview on January 25, from 8:30-10 AM, gives an inside look at MPA on a school day. This is the perfect opportunity for your family to see yourselves here at MPA. Experience the comfy, cozy library spaces, the Makerspace as bright as your ideas, and the wide-open, welcoming Lansing Center. Your family will be led on a tour by community members and experience delightful surprises that make MPA so special along the way. In addition to exploring our state-of-the-art spaces firsthand, you will also meet the people who make our community the family that it is.

At the Preview, you will discover something remarkable–the type of learning that MPA students do each day. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admission at 651-748-5577 or admission@moundsparkacademy.org. We hope to see you there!

RSVP Today

How We Learn

The Admission Process

We’re Using Robots to Build Kids—With Your Help

December 15, 2023

It’s been 35 years since I graduated from Mounds Park Academy. Had you asked me then, I would never in a million years have predicted my eventual return as both a parent of a senior and, equally incredibly, as a mentor for the school’s FIRST® robotics competition (FRC) Team 3926, the MPArors.

How I came to mentor robotics is a long story. But it’s so much fun, full of energy, intensity, and camaraderie. I’ve watched in real-time as students grow in confidence and leadership. “We’re using robots to build kids” is how FIRST founder Dean Kamen once described it. While the team wisely keeps me away from actually building the robot, I mentor a lot of the other team’s activities: community outreach, public engagement through social media, preparing for regional competitions, fostering inclusivity in STEM, and raising funds to pay for it all.

It turns out that running an FRC team isn’t cheap! Last year’s expenses included $16,000 in robot supplies, $8,000 in registration fees for two competitions, and $14,000 in travel-related costs. The team also has to regularly update aging tools and equipment.

This is our busiest time of the year for fundraising, and I’m touched by all the generous alumni who have supported robotics at MPA. Did you know that roughly half of the team’s funds come from individual donors? We are so grateful that you have helped us start the season strong.

However, there is still a ways to go before we meet our financial goal. So, this giving season, I’m reaching out to my fellow alumni to ask for your help. Perhaps you yourself were part of the robotics team, or (like me) wished the team had existed when you were a student at MPA. Or maybe you simply appreciate the profound impact that FIRST® Robotics has on our kids.

We’d love to hear from anyone interested in supporting the team – or is able to introduce us to potential new business or corporate sponsors (who make up more than 40% of our funding). Learn more at www.team3926.org or the QR code below, or call (651) 777-2555 x462.

Thank you! Go MPArors!

Sirid Kellerman ’88