Lower School Archives

December 16, 2021

from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

As we approach the end of the calendar year, the song “Auld Lang Syne” will be sung at New Year’s Eve gatherings, a related song by Dan Fogelberg from 1980 will be repeatedly played on Sirius/XM radio, or folks will sing along at the finale of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I’ve never quite been able to remember, let alone pronounce, the words to the song, “Auld Lang Syne.” Nor can I carry a tune, for that matter. And yet I find the meaning behind the lyrics and music particularly poignant this year.

Just a year ago, there was great hope and optimism that the strife of 2020 would give way to a better year. And yet, in so many ways, it seems as though we are in nearly the same place as a year ago. It is clear to me that we will be battling with the virus for quite some time and working through its aftermath. Over the last year, we have faced both joys and challenges, managed hopes and anxieties, experienced growth and endured hardship, suffered isolation and celebrated community, persevered and remain mired in an all too familiar place.

There is much to be learned by reflecting upon our individual and collective journey over the past year. All of us—students, parents, teachers, and staff—are re-learning what it means to “do school,” how to be in relationship with one another, and the values that hold us together. All the while with masks on our faces and risk mitigation measures that sometimes have the unintended consequence of keeping us apart. Read More

Lower School Division News December 16, 2021

December 16, 2021

from Renee Wright, Lower School Director

Holiday Greetings
There is no time more fitting than the holidays to say thank you for your partnership in educating your child/children. I reflect gratefully on what an amazing Lower School we have at MPA all because of our wonderful students and families. Thanks for all you do at home to support your child’s educational journey as you communicate with teachers, guide your child through homework tasks, and contribute your time and resources to help our Lower School thrive and grow. On behalf of our entire Lower School faculty and staff, I wish you a warm and happy holiday season and a new year filled with much happiness, joy, and peace.

Winter Break (December 20-January 2)
Winter Break is a time to have some fun as a family! Spend time together baking cookies, reading a favorite holiday book, or getting cozy by the fireplace. Encourage your child to play outside in the snow and get some fresh air too! I always remind Lower School students to make time for independent reading during breaks. Keeping reading and writing skills strong is essential. Having your child write thank you notes to family members is a great way to practice writing skills as we go into the new year!

Coming Soon: The Great Kindness Challenge
The Great Kindness Challenge is presented by Kids of Peace, a global nonprofit organization. The Great Kindness Challenge was cofounded in 2006 in an effort to make our world a better place. It has grown into an interconnected network of young peacebuilders world-wide. At the heart of the program is the belief that “kindness is strength.” Students are asked to do random acts of kindness and track them during the week of January 24. By repeatedly practicing random acts of kindness, we will develop the habit of being kind and the outcome will be a more peaceful world. Lower School will work together to prove that KINDNESS matters. Students will be bringing home information about The Great Kindness Challenge and a challenge checklist in mid-January.

LOOKING AHEAD

January 17: No Classes – MLK Day
January 18: No Classes – Professional Development Day for Teachers
January 24-28: The Great Kindness Challenge in Lower School
February 3: Conferences 3:30-8 PM
February 4: No Classes – Conferences 8 AM-4 PM
February 10: Conferences – 3:30-8 PM
February 18: No Classes – Professional Development Day for Teachers
February 21: No Classes – Presidents’ Day

Invite A Friend To Discover MPA

December 13, 2021

Invite a friend, neighbor, colleague, or family member to join us for MPA’s PreK-12 admission event, the MPA Winter Preview! Held virtually on Sunday, January 30 at 2 PM, this event will be a structured program that will allow prospective students and parents to get a sense of what makes MPA an exceptional place to learn and grow.

Kindly invite your friends and neighbors to 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. We can’t wait to meet them!

Early Dismissal Logistical Information

December 10, 2021

After careful review of this afternoon’s forecast, we’ve made the decision to dismiss school at 1 PM today.

All of MPA’s buses will depart school shortly after 1 PM with the exception of District 622 buses. They are not able to depart until 2:10 PM and 622 riders will be cared for at MPA until then. MPA’s St. Paul and Minneapolis routes will be combined into one route. The families of our bus riders should watch for a separate email with their specific route information.

For those who do not ride a bus, Panther Club/Den/Study Hall will not be available after school today and all afterschool activities including games, practices, and meetings are cancelled this afternoon.

Please come pick up your child up at 1 PM—we will, of course, remain on campus until the last child leaves for the day, but Panther Club will not available.

Be safe on the roads and enjoy the beautiful snow!

Connect With The Parents Association

December 9, 2021

December Walks with Dogs
Join Michelle Mick on Friday, December 17 for a walk in a local dog park. Bring your dog or not, we’ll meet at Battle Creek Dog Park, a lovely, big, off-leash dog park with 35 acres at 8:15 AM. Parking is off Upper Afton Road, in the parking lot next to the dog park. Look for Michelle and her dog Rufus (pictured), near the entrance of the dog park. For your GPS, the address is: 2350 Upper Afton Road, Maplewood, MN 55119. The contact person is Michelle Mick, and please feel free to text or call 651-328-7312 if you can’t find us!
Holiday Gift Wrapping
This much-loved tradition is returning! MPA teachers and staff bring in their Holiday gifts and parent volunteers wrap them. This gift of time is greatly appreciated and will really get you into the Holiday spirit. Monday, December 13 from 8 AM-3 PM in the Porter Conference room. You can sign up here.

A Deep Commitment To MPA

December 9, 2021

from Gina Wallraff, Chief Financial and Operations Officer

One Thursday per month you will see a guest Head’s Message from a member of the Institutional Advancement Team. We hope these additional perspectives will help you catch a glimpse inside the innerworkings of your school.

The Board of Trustees for Mounds Park Academy is the governing authority of the school. It has ultimate responsibility for the school’s financial stability and integrity. The board is made up of parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and other professionals. Along with Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school, I have the honor and the privilege of working with this group of dedicated people who are deeply committed to the health and vitality of the school.

Among other roles related to the mission and vision of the school, the Board of Trustees and its subcommittees, like the Finance Committee, has responsibility for the following:

determination of tuition levels;
effective financial oversight; and
realistic budgeting and monitoring of budgets.

This article aims to provide a glimpse into how the board approaches these responsibilities and the annual cycle of budgeting and tuition setting.

The annual budget process for the next academic year begins soon after the current school year starts, 10 months before the start of the next school year. First, an enrollment forecast is created. In this early stage the forecast is an estimate based on historical trends for current students leaving and new students joining. The enrollment forecast is reviewed by the Admissions team and the Head of School to evaluate the reasonableness of the estimated number of new students and projected total enrollment. Read More

Forbes 30 Under 30 Recognizes MPA Alumni

December 3, 2021

MPA acknowledges and celebrates our alumni for being featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list! Congratulations to Laurel Schwartz ’11 and Aaron Millberg ’10, we are so proud of our alums!

Laurel Schwartz ’11 was featured in the Marketing & Advertising category as the brand director of global non-profit organization: Crisis Text Line, which provides free, 24/7 mental health support by text message. In addition to this, Laurel is also a documentary filmmaker. Laurel shares that she is “so thankful for my MPA education that got me here!” Read more here.

Aaron Millberg ’10 was featured in the Hollywood & Entertainment section for his excellent work with United Talent Agency and for representing some very recognizable names such as DJ Khaled and Zachary Levi. Read more here.

Exceeding What We Dared To Dream

December 2, 2021

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

“There are four main ingredients contributing to the success of our school. First is the student body which is made up of a diverse group of individuals, each with their own strengths, talents, and enthusiasm. Second is a dedicated faculty that enjoys and really cares about students and individuals. Third is an administration that truly believes in establishing an atmosphere of support for the students, faculty, staff, and parents. Fourth is a board of trustees which is actively committed to overseeing the entire operation of this school.”

Does that sound like something you might have read in one of my recent Panther Post messages? Perhaps. Instead, they are the words of MPA co-founder Bob Kreischer in a document shared with the founding Board of Trustees of a school with no students, no teachers, no building, and no name on December 11, 1981. Yet there was a vision, what founding Lower School Director Joanne Olson described as “a dream and a shoestring with no assurance of success.” Read More

MPA Parents Association News And Events

December 1, 2021

Thank You!
A big thank you to all those who, over the past six weeks, have shared their Saturday afternoons at MPA helping to clear the ponds and surrounding areas. We began with the area off Larpenteur Avenue and finished with Mr. Thomsen’s area near Upper School. Your help was so appreciated, and really benefited both areas. A hearty and much appreciated thank you!

Thanksgiving Pie Giveaway
Right before the Thanksgiving break, the MPA Parents Association continued the tradition of distributing pies to all MPA employees. A big THANK YOU to our faculty and staff appreciation volunteers, Sage, and the MPA development team for acting quickly to make this happen. There were 130 pies distributed!

Parents Connect: December Walks with Dogs
Join Michelle Mick for two Fridays in December, December 3 and 17, for a walk in a local dog park. Bring your dog or not, we’ll meet at Battle Creek Dog Park, a lovely, big, off-leash dog park with 35 acres at 8:15 AM. Parking is off Upper Afton Road, in the parking lot next to the dog park. Look for Michelle and her dog Rufus (pictured), near the entrance of the dog park. Read More

December 2 Lower School Division News

December 1, 2021

from Renee Wright, Lower School Director

Are you curious about what happens on some Monday mornings in Lower School? Lower School students participate in a Monday Morning Meeting twice each month. This past week Lower School students gathered for a meeting on Monday as we came back together after Thanksgiving Break. The meeting was a wonderful way to reconnect as a community and set the tone for a productive week. Here are some agenda highlights from our meeting:

We got our brains and bodies working together during “Brain Dance” as we mindfully moved to the song “Experience” by the Italian composer, Ludovico Einaudi.
During “Who’s Who at MPA?” we learned about our new Lower School Administrative Assistant, Ms. Holli. We found out that she is a musical theatre major and has been in over 45 musical productions. She truly enjoys singing and dancing on the stage. She is a lovely and caring person and welcome addition to the Lower School Office!
Our Kindergarteners presented a special video message to the song, “My Own Two Hands” during “Student Splash.” They shared how they use their own two hands to make a difference in our world when they care for their pets, recycle, plant a garden, play with a baby sister, learning new things, and reaching out to others.
During the “Joyful Journey” we honored all Lower School students with November birthdays by singing the birthday song. We also welcomed a new fourth grader to our school. This was extra special for all of us!
Two third graders received CHAMP Awards for consistently using CHAMP behavior and showing high integrity through words and actions. We strive to recognize CHAMP behavior on our campus.
During “Word Wizard” a fourth grade Word Wizard was quizzed on two past words of the week. These words were baffled and haphazard. Next, students were introduced to our new word for this week, impeccable. It is rewarding to see Lower School students using these words in their daily writing.
The meeting ended with the singing and signing of the School Song to show school spirit and send students off with a positive feeling about school. Go Panthers!