Middle School

MPA Students Win 28 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards!

February 6, 2026

The Visual Arts Department is thrilled to announce that MPA student artists won 28 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards this year!

Congratulations to the artists for their achievements, and good luck to the Gold Key winners whose work will go on to compete at the national level.

Gold Key Award Recipients

  • Ansel Streier ’26, Ceramics, “Green Jar”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Painting, “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”
  • Elizabeth Jacobson Faye ’27, Ceramics, “Growth Through Unity”
  • Hazel Pelszynski ’28, Ceramics, “Ceramic Tiles”
  • Jenny Liao ’28, Drawing, “Crimson Rest”

Silver Key Award Recipients

  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Ceramics, “Chimera Fwan (Fawn + Swan)”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Painting, “From Sunrise to Sunset”
  • Nicole Kim ’27, Fashion, “Safety Is a Luxury”
  • Jenny Liao ’28, Illustration, “Busy Stroll”
  • Jenny Liao ’28, Painting, “Archangel Saint Michael”

Honorable Mention Recipients

  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Painting, “An Extinction”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Drawing, “Moroccan Horse and Wrangler”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Painting, “Moroccan Horse and Handler”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Painting, “Drawn”
  • Camille Hirsch ’26, Mixed Media, “A Bug’s Eye View”
  • Amy Xiang ’26, Painting, “The Art of Raw”
  • Amy Xiang ’26, Mixed Media, “Broken Space”
  • Yujin Byambatsogt ’26, Drawing, “Feeling Blue!”
  • Yugin Byambatsogt ’26, Painting, “Across Borders”
  • Thomas Dickson ’26, Painting, “The Heron’s Landing”
  • Ash Klann ’26, Painting, “Bleeding Hearts”
  • Alona Vietrova ’26, Painting, “MPLS”
  • Olivia Collister ’27, Ceramics, “Melting Memories”
  • Evie Minear ’27, Drawing, “Architectural Study in Ink”
  • Hazel Pelszynski ’28, Ceramics, “Historical Coil Pot”
  • Leo Stout ’28, Painting, “5-String Bass”
  • Sofia K. ’30, Drawing, “Bubbles”
  • Rosalie M. F.  ’30, Printmaking, Flower Mandala

See an album of their award-winning work here!

State Of The School Report

February 5, 2026

Lower School students enjoying themselves. from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

As I reflect on the first half of the 2025-26 school year and look ahead to what remains, I am filled with pride and gratitude to be part of the Mounds Park Academy community. In recent Panther Posts, our division directors have shared thoughtful reflections on the current strengths and future priorities of the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. Today, I invite you to step back with me and consider the broader picture—how these division-level experiences come together to shape a cohesive, meaningful PreK-12 journey for our students, families, faculty, and staff.

On behalf of the faculty and staff, thank you for believing in the educational growth and experience MPA works hard to deliver each and every day. Working in a PreK-12 school is a rare and special experience. Our shared campus creates natural moments of connection—from simple waves of hello and high-fives to impromptu conversations in hallways between students of all ages and adults. There is a shared ownership, appreciation, and respect for the space we all inhabit together throughout the day.

A Community Rooted in Belonging
For many, MPA is a second home—one where students and adults spend more waking hours learning, studying, volunteering, and growing together than they do in their own homes. Community is built everywhere and often. Lower School CHAMP assemblies, along with Middle and Upper School gatherings, provide consistent opportunities to celebrate shared values and reinforce what it means to be part of this community. Read More

Join Us For The 2026 Spring Auction: Rooted In Purpose!

January 30, 2026

A member of the MPA community enjoying the spring auction.Join us for the 2026 MPA Spring Auction: Rooted In Purpose, on Friday, April 17, at the Lowlands in St. Paul! We look forward to gathering as a community to celebrate the mission we share and the people who make Mounds Park Academy such a special place. This joyful evening will bring together families, alumni, staffulty and friends to raise critical support for our school, all while enjoying great company, food, and a little fun along the way.

Sponsorships are now available. This is the perfect time to consider a Business or Family Sponsorship. Sponsorships include:

  • admission to the event for two or more
  • reserved priority seating
  • access to our Sponsorship Pre-Party
  • recognition across event materials
  • interactive auction opportunities, depending on the level
  • early access to our silent auction
  • and the chance to underwrite tickets so our incredible staffulty can attend at no cost.

Family Sponsorships can be purchased here, and Business Sponsorships can be bought here.

We are committed to making this community-building event accessible to all. If ticket pricing presents a barrier to attending, please contact Ashley Goetzke, director of development and community engagement at agoetzke@moundsparkacademy.org to discuss reduced pricing options based on need.

State of the Middle School: Growing, Connecting, Exploring

January 29, 2026

A pair of boys playing floor hockey. from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

As we reach the midpoint of the school year, our division directors are pausing to reflect on what is thriving, what is evolving, and what lies ahead. These updates reflect the unique character of each division and, together, highlight the shared commitment to learning, belonging, and growth that defines Mounds Park Academy. Watch for a state of the school report with a PreK-12 perspective from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school, in next week’s Panther Post.

As I reflect on the year so far, I continue to be inspired by the energy, curiosity, and joy your children bring to Mounds Park Academy’s Middle School each day. Serving 165 students in grades five through eight, our division is a vibrant, student-centered community where intellectual exploration, personal growth, and joyful learning come together in meaningful ways. I’m grateful every day to partner with you as we support the growth of your young adolescents—academically, socially, and emotionally. While it has been a challenging year with a lot going on outside of school, we are so fortunate to have such a safe, inclusive, and joyful school where our middle schoolers can learn and grow.

A Well-Rounded, Engaging Academic Experience

One of the aspects I am most proud of is the richness of our Middle School curriculum. Every student takes art, drama, English, health, math, music, physical education, science, social studies, and world language—every year, in every grade. This ensures that students develop wide-ranging skills and the confidence to try new things. Our concerts and project presentations have been a joy to experience, and our faculty continue to collaborate to create meaningful, authentic experiences for our students.

Our daily structure is intentionally designed to support balance. Students love having a 50-minute lunch and recess period and a 30-minute Flex period, which supports homework completion, clubs, extra help from teachers, and music lessons. This Flex period was restructured and enhanced this year, moving it from the Panther Center to our Family Commons, creating an intentional and productive space and allowing us to add many more clubs. We now have more than 30 extracurricular opportunities—from robotics and sailing to quiz bowl and D&D club! Read More

Small Acts, Shared Belonging

January 22, 2026

A group of Lower School students cheering. from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

Lately I’ve felt, as I suspect many of you have, a heavier, quieter kind of worry. Over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, I took time to reflect on peace, equality, and the lessons my parents taught me about service: that small acts of kindness truly change lives. Hearing our youngest students at their Lower School assembly speak about Ruby Bridges and ways to practice kindness and fairness gave me chills and renewed my hope. I then had the good fortune of walking through the Upper School Commons, where I could see some Upper School students helping one another and connecting across grades, along with their teachers, which makes it very evident to me how our daily choices to connect create belonging.

This week, a group of MPA students, faculty, staff, caregivers, and administrators attended the Pollyanna National Conference: Building Stronger and Kinder Communities. The original plan was to hold the conference in Minneapolis, but organizers pivoted to virtual at the last minute. Though not the same, seeing over 40 schools from across the nation gather and focus on communities offered the encouragement so many of us have been looking for. The conference reminded me why MPA’s commitment to community and deepening relationships matters.

I want to take a moment to offer a few takeaways from two keynote speakers from the conference.

Read More

Middle School Division News January 15, 2026

January 15, 2026

A pair of Middle School boys working on a projectfrom Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Greetings, Middle School families!

There is so much good going on around the Middle School that I want to share to help balance all that our students and families are navigating in the world outside of school.

During our Middle School Meeting this week, we had an inspiring presentation from our Middle School BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) group about January being Muslim American Heritage Observance Month and the upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. They shared the story of Yarrow Mamout, an African American Muslim former slave who overcame great adversity, purchasing his own freedom and becoming a Washington financier. They also shared some quotes from Dr. King and a segment of his “I have been to the mountain top” speech (his final speech prior to his assassination) to remind us of how Dr. King dreamed big and did right for others.

We are also quickly coming to the end of our first semester/second quarter this Friday. Students have worked very hard, and as we wrap up the first half of our school year, we encourage you to review their accomplishments, comments, and grades in Schoology to help your child celebrate their learning and identify one or two areas to improve. We will have our second round of family conferences coming up in early February (evening of February 5 and all day on February 6). Our signups for those conferences will come out very soon. Read More

Save The Date For The 2026 Spring Auction: Rooted In Purpose!

January 9, 2026

Mark your calendars for Friday, April 17, 2026! MPA’s largest and most spirited fundraising event of the year is back, and this time we’re bringing the party to Lowlands in St. Paul!

This year’s theme, Rooted in Purpose, is a celebration of everything that grounds us—our values, our community, and our unwavering commitment to empowering students to dream big and do right.

Enjoy an unforgettable evening with:

  • Delicious food and hosted bar
  • Live and silent auctions packed with can’t-miss experience
  • A lively crowd of parents, alumni, and friends who care deeply about MPA
  • And plenty of surprises along the way!

Many sponsorship packages with special perks are available! Visit moundsparkacademy.org/springauction to purchase your family or business sponsorship package!

For questions or to donate an auction item, contact Ashley Goetzke, director of development and community engagement, at agoetzke@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5536.

Entering The New Year With Purpose

January 8, 2026

A Middle School student coloring on glass. from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

Though we have only been back in school for nearly one week, it seems like winter break was a long time ago. Much has happened in our world since the start of 2026. It is difficult for me to personally reconcile between the joy I felt at times over break with the heaviness of events and stress that continues to surround us. Until recent years, I was accustomed to winter breaks and New Year’s events reaping more joy and peace. However, I have also learned that even through difficult times, it is essential to appreciate those moments of joy, for they should not be forgotten, and instead be held onto.

My relatively newfound appreciation for the unpredictability of winter break has also spread its way into how I look at New Year’s resolutions. For as long as I can remember, every winter season commercial and marketing material reminds me to think of resolutions that fit the motto, “New Year. New You!” Several years ago, I abandoned that idea of creating a new me. The anxiety and self-induced pressure to set goals on something usually bigger than I would ever actually attain typically led me to feel a sense of failure. Instead, I now follow a different motto, “New Year, a continued growing version of me.” And based on some current articles and websites, it looks like I may not be alone. A recent article in Edutopia.org was titled, “New Year’s Resolutions: Don’t Do it!” On Heart.org, the author recommended making healthy resolutions modest and manageable. Finally, on lefbrainbuddha.com, the article “A Mindful Approach to New Year’s Resolutions” focused on intentions, process, and alternatives to approaching resolutions. Read More

Middle School Division News December 18, 2025

December 18, 2025

A Middle School student reading her book. from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Greetings and welcome (almost) to winter break. I would like to share some of our “happy happenings” in the Middle School over the past two weeks and one exciting change we are implementing (hint: it has to do with helping our students spend less time on their screens).

We have had a lot of fun and excitement around the Middle School over the past two weeks. Last Friday, our eighth graders met with the Upper School Peer Leaders to gain valuable insight into what is waiting for them in ninth grade. Those Peer Leaders talked about the opportunities, freedom, change in social dynamics, and responsibility that awaits in our Upper school. They also gave our eighth graders tickets to the hot cocoa bar they hosted on Monday.

Yesterday, we had a Middle School meeting in which a couple of our advisories shared their Dream Big, Do Right Challenge tasks, including a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House by Ms. Phillips’ advisory and Ms. Nagle’s advisory, making slime for our kindergarten Ba Ba Boutique to sell. Some of our eighth-grade students also shared advice on mindful breathing and other relaxation techniques that students can use when feeling anxious or stressed. We ended the meeting with Ms. Meras sharing that we have decided to give the students a break from their laptops as well as from school. Read More

NEW! MPA Ski & Snowboard Club

December 18, 2025

MPA skiers at the Afton Alps We are very excited to announce MPA’s Ski & Snowboard Club for grades seven through 12 at Afton Alps! If 15 students—who don’t already have season passes—sign up, we will be eligible for Ski Club discount tickets. If we can hit our goal, lift tickets will be $39 and rentals will be $37. Click here to sign up!

We plan to go every other Friday, after school. Students and families will need to provide their own transportation. Permission forms are available for anyone who would like to coordinate a carpool.

Waivers and rental forms must be completed in advance. Please fill out these forms and either send them to Sean Andrews at sandrews@moundsparkacademy.org or drop them off in the tech office on campus.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Sean Andrews at sandrews@moundsparkacademy.org!