Lower School Archives

July 11, 2023

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

Happy Summer! We hope you’ve had a fantastic few weeks enjoying the sunshine, summertime activities, and making memories with family and friends. So far, here are our highlights of summer:

Meeting new friends at Grand Old Day, Pride, and Wordplay! These community events were magical, many of them coming back from a several-year hiatus. At Grand Old Day, we danced, gave out spectacular prizes, and brought the street to life with decorative chalk drawings. Pride was such a special celebration, and sharing it with our community and the greater Twin Cities was pure magic. And this past Saturday was Wordplay, where we had so much fun celebrating our favorite authors, doing summer reading challenges, and completing a larger-than-life word search!
The progress on our new outdoor track! The base is now completely down, and we already have a new sandpit! The progress is going smoothly and it’s just a matter of time until it’s ready for Panther athletes to train on heading into the fall athletic season.
Summer at MPA! Campers are making the most of summer by launching rockets, testing recipes in the teaching kitchen, engineering in the Makerspace, and improving their athletic skills. Don’t miss the photos!

MPA Dreamers: Parents Of Lifers

June 29, 2023

Picture yourself in the position of a parent of a PreK or kindergartener, perhaps anxiously, but jovially, beginning your school search. If you are looking at a school like Mounds Park Academy, you want your child to grow into a free spirit, a risk taker, a right maker, a dreamer, and a doer. You want an independent thinker. You want your child to be known. You want your child to love school. Your role, as the parent in the school search process, will determine the foundational years of your child’s education. It seems that for parents of the Class of 2023 Lifers, the memory remains clear as day.

Parents of MPA Lifers, the students whose entire K-12 or PreK-12 journey has taken place here at MPA, made a choice for their students and continued to choose MPA every year for all 13 years of their education. Right before they graduated from MPA, we interviewed the Class of 2023 Lifers in a group reflection on their MPA journeys. Their responses and recollections, punctuated with gratitude, nostalgia, and undeniably helpful feedback, led us to further expand on the conversation. We decided we needed to hear from the Lifer parents, as well.

An MPA education emphasizes the value of purposeful academic rigor in a hands-on, experiential, college-prep environment with the goal of instilling a lifelong love for learning. So we asked:

How has MPA accomplished this for your children, helping them find personal and academic success?

Christine (Anthony ’23): Anthony’s a quiet kid, more on the introverted side. And I think one of the things, from preparing personally, is being somewhere this many years and really knowing people and having those longitudinal relationships with teachers, classmates, and other staff at school. It has really been beneficial for him as far as building confidence and being comfortable–coming out of his shell a little bit. The first time he came here, he was 10 days old, so by the time he came as a student, he was super comfortable and felt like it was somewhere that he was familiar with. I definitely think that’s made a difference for him.

John (Freya ’23): When it comes to Freya, one thing that I think has been beneficial for her academic success is the small size of the school and the exceptional students that she’s with. And some of those kids being so exceptional and doing such exceptional work has forced her to become a better student.

Natalie (Henry S. ’23): I couldn’t agree more. One thing I’ve been really pleased about and so proud of is the diversity that Henry’s experienced here. It’s something he was looking for in his college search, which I was just so profoundly impacted by. He’d say, “mom, that’s just not what I’m used to, and I’m looking for a school with more diversity.” That is MPA. I love that. Read More

Please Welcome Annie Stewart!

June 14, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Third-grade teacher

From what school/organization are you coming?
Edina Public Schools and Mounds Park Academy

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in theater in 2015. After working as a full-time stage manager in Minneapolis, I came back to MPA as a building substitute teacher and PreK teaching assistant. In 2019, I completed my Master’s Degree in elementary education from the University of St. Thomas and started working as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher in the Edina Public Schools.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
MPA teaches the whole child and truly helps each student grow and find their unique passions and interests.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
As an alumna, it is an incredible experience to be back working at the school that helped me flourish as a student. I hope that as a Lower School teacher I will be able to spark the same joy of learning in my future students.

What’s your big dream?
My big dream is to one day be an elementary school principal.

What are you passionate about?
I have many passions, but recently I have been spending a lot of time paddle boarding, camping at Minnesota State Parks, and checking off my summer reading list!

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I love to run triathlons. This summer, I will be completing my fifth one!

Optimism In Education

June 1, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

As the 2022-2023 school year draws to a close, we find ourselves in that liminal moment where memory and hope intersect. American folk artist, Grandma Moses, called this intersection a “strange thing.” Memory and hope are two perspectives that both exist and are available in the present moment. Memory allows us to look back to recall the events, experiences, and emotions in the past. Hope is directed toward the future with an enthusiastic anticipation of what is to come. While memory is grounded in the present and the past, hope reaches beyond the present and propels us toward the future.

Over the last nine months, we celebrated the loss of teeth; uniforms that fit so well in September that now rise above the ankle; students who stumbled and stammered in front of a crowd now speaking confidently; the screech of a violin bow that now sings beautifully; and seniors who recall the pain and trauma of adolescence in their senior speeches that have been transcended by a newfound sense of self and resiliency. I could go on and on.

Those of us who work in schools forever live in a liminal moment that not only speaks of the growth and development of our students but also of ourselves. Middle School English teacher Maddy Wolfe captures this so beautifully in an article recently published by the National Association of Independent Schools on their Independent Ideas blog. She writes, “When adults share which teachers impacted their lives, we don’t stop and think about it the other way around, too. Students leave marks on teachers’ lives, as well. In many ways, this student embodied the reason why I became an educator: to watch a student’s growth over the course of nine months, when the only thing you can do is marvel at what young adolescents are capable of.” Read More

Lower School Division News June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

from Ann Jurewicz, Lower School director

Important Dates and Upcoming Events

June 2: Colianni’s Grade 3 and both Grade 4 drama performances
June 5: Grade 1 drama performances
June 3: MPA Commencement 2023
June 6: Grade 4 Moving Up Ceremony, 2 PM
June 7: Last Day of School—Early Dismissal, 10:15 AM

It was wonderful to see so many families at our Lower School Field Day yesterday enjoying the activities and embracing the heat! The students had a fabulous time and tremendous thanks go out to our parent volunteers along with the members of our PE department: Tim Sheehan, Sean Ryther, Jess Powell, Chris Hopkins, and Mike Scinto.

Drama Performances Are On! Break A Leg!
It was a joy to watch Mr. Klein’s grade 3 class perform in our black box theater on Wednesday for classmates, parents, siblings, and other family members. Performances continue on Friday for Ms. Ruane’s grade 3 and both grade 4 classes. Monday we will have grade 1 performances. A big thanks to Ms. Heather Mastel for all of her guidance in these theatrical endeavors! Read More

Parents Association News & Events June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

All-School St. Paul Saints Game!
Sunday, July 30, 2:07 PM at CHS Field
Join us for a midsummer Saints game! Reconnect with school friends and enjoy America’s favorite pastime. You’ll see the St. Paul Saints vs. the Toledo Mud Hens at CHS Field. This is an all-school event. Tickets cost $16 for students and $17 for adults. Tickets can be picked up at Will Call before the game under the name “MPA Panthers.” We’ll be seated together in section 115.

Watch your email for this information from your grade reps. For more info, email Christine Larson at clarsonPA@moundsparkacademy.org or Molly Oliver at molly.oliver1@gmail.com.

Buy your tickets here:
Adults $17
Students $16

Dr. Hudson’s Summer Book Club
Thursday, August 3 at 6 PM
In the mood for some summer reading? Join fellow MPA book-lovers for a lively discussion of the magical book, The “House in the Cerulean Sea” by TJ Klune. “An enchanting story, masterfully told, “The House in the Cerulean Sea” is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.”

An MPA family has offered to host Book Club at their home on White Bear Lake, and the PA will be purchasing books for those who would like to take part. Please let us know if you plan on attending the book club and whether or not you would like a copy of the book provided to you through this Google form. We will arrange book pick-up and share the address via email once the books arrive. Questions, contact Staci at sbhehe42@icloud.com. Read More

Kao Kalia Yang Shares Her Story Of Hope

June 1, 2023

World-renowned author Kao Kalia Yang treated the junior class and Lower School students to readings from her books and shared words of wisdom during a visit on May 30. After two years of Zoom visits with the junior class, Yang was able to visit campus in person for an inspirational morning that expanded to include most of the Lower School.

The junior class read her memoir “The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir” this spring, which tells the story of the ramifications of the Vietnam War on the Hmong people and the Yang family’s journey to settle in Minnesota via a refugee camp in Thailand. While Yang writes beautifully of the challenge and triumphs in her immigrant experience, the chance to hear her read from the memoir deepened the experience and added dimension to the work. After Yang read, she took questions from the juniors and formed response packed with wisdom and poetry. The juniors eagerly shared their admiration with her as she signed their books. The intimate 75 minutes was a highlight for the year and a meaningful way to punctuate the American Studies course.

An author of four children’s picture books as well, Yang also met with the Lower School children in two separate sessions. She shared her autobiographical book, “From the Tops of the Trees” about her life as a Hmong refugee child, born in the Ban Vinai Camp in Thailand. The students were inspired by her story of hope and resilience. Fourth graders created thoughtful questions in advance to share with Ms. Yang. It was an amazing experience for the children.

The Bold Innovation Fund provided the support for this important opportunity.

Welcome To MPA, Stephanie Kollm!

May 31, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Library Media Specialist

From what school/organization are you coming?
South Washington County Schools

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have an undergraduate degree in English, Spanish and Secondary Education from Xavier University, a Master of Arts in English Literature from Villanova University and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I taught high school English for six years before working in higher education marketing. After spending some time at home with my children, for the past two years I have been busy learning the ins and outs of school libraries at an elementary school in Woodbury.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The sense of community and genuine care for the well-being of students and faculty was clear from the moment I stepped on campus. There is a strong commitment to academic rigor while allowing students to pursue their passions. I am excited to work with students in preK-12th grade, too.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I plan on building upon the strong community of readers to help foster a love of literature throughout the school. My goal is to empower students to select books that advance their knowledge, expand their worlds and help them develop empathy for others.

I also will work with the MPA community to build the technology, research and creative thinking skills that students will need when they go pursue their big dreams.

What’s your big dream?
I think I’m about to be living it: Spending my days in a beautiful library, surrounded by great books and sharing that love of reading with others. I love to explore new technologies too, and MPA seems like the perfect place to do so.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
My two girls and I love horseback riding. We’ve been taking lessons together for the past three years and are going to our first hunter/jumper shows this summer. Our family loves to explore parks and new places. Our favorite recent trip was a tour of six national parks out west. We are always planning our next adventure together. And, of course, I love to read.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I spend a lot of time at the dog park with my Goldendoodle Buster.

Welcome To MPA, Amy Gallick!

May 31, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Lower School Music Teacher

From what school/organization are you coming?
Hudson School District, Wisconsin

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have been teaching elementary music (K-5th grades) for twenty-one years. For my undergraduate degree, I attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota where I studied both vocal/instrumental music and French education. Later, I went on to receive my master’s degree in Music Education from the University of St. Thomas, with an emphasis in the Kodaly approach as well as certification in Orff-Schulwerk.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The thing that stands out to me the most about MPA is the strong sense of community. When I first visited the school, everyone was so kind and welcoming. Having grown up just a few miles away in the White Bear Lake area, I was familiar with the school community, and being here truly feels like coming home. I also really appreciate the emphasis on fine arts as a core part of the curriculum, and as an essential part of a child’s whole education.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
As a music teacher, I hope to not only instill the joy of music as a lifelong pursuit in my students, but also to inspire creativity, share ideas through collaboration with colleagues, and just generally share my positivity and love of learning with the community.

What’s your big dream?
My big dream is to teach music to children, and I already get to do that every day! Another dream is to have some of my writing published someday.

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about so many things… writing, learning about other cultures/languages, cooking, playing the piano, and composing/arranging music when I have time. My family and I love to be outdoors, and we enjoy hiking, biking, canoeing, and camping. As a parent of a child with disabilities, I have a passion for inclusion and celebrating individual differences. My dream is that we would all see the good in each other and how each person has something unique to contribute to our world.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I enjoy long distance running and have completed a half marathon.

Welcome To MPA, Ana Wermager!

May 31, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Third-grade teacher

From what school/organization are you coming?
Clara Barton Hawthorne Elementary in the Fargo Public School district

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I earned my bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and Human Development and Family Science from Valley City State University and North Dakota State University in 2020. Most recently, I earned my master’s degree in Teaching and Leadership from the University of North Dakota in 2022. I am currently in my third year of teaching and have taught both third and fourth grade.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
Everyone has been so kind and welcoming; I felt comfortable very quickly! I am incredibly impressed by the learning opportunities MPA offers to students, and I am excited to explore how I can incorporate them into the classroom.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I hope to have a lasting impact on my students by building positive relationships with them and their families. I look forward to becoming involved in the greater school community!

What’s your big dream?
My big dream is to continue to find joy in teaching, buy a home, adopt a puppy, and travel more!

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about photography, empowering others to find and use their unique skills and strengths, and being the lifelong learner I encourage my students to be. There is so much to explore, and I am constantly learning new things about the people and world around me!

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I enjoy spending time at my family’s cabin. In the summer we like to go boating and in the winter we cross-country ski!