Middle School Mathcounts Results
February 12, 2019
MPA placed fourth out of 10 teams at the North Capitol Chapter of Mathcounts this past weekend!
Out of 77 students, MPA’s top individuals were eighth grader Anthony T. in sixth place, seventh grader Soumya R. in 16th place, eighth grader Kensi B. in 23rd place, eighth grader Griffin J. in 28th place, seventh grader Lia S. in 29th place, seventh grader Lily R. in 30th place, seventh grader Ian F. in 33rd place, and eighth grader Audrey J. in 34th place.
Nice job, Panthers!
Enjoy Our Free Food For Thought?
February 7, 2019
We had a wonderful response to last Friday’s Free Food For Thought, in partnership with SAGE Dining. Please watch for additional dates to come for both students and parents to try MPA’s program.
If your student enjoyed the experience, Middle and Upper School students can add lunch for the remainder of the school year for $430—equivalent to just $5.75 per day. Lower School students can add lunch for the remainder of the school year for $380—equivalent to just $5 per day. Contact Amanda Platson, student billing coordinator, at aplatson@moundsparkacademy.org or 651748-5502 to do so.
February 7, 2019
We hope you are excited about the wonderful opportunities coming to the facility for students PreK-12! If you haven’t heard, please click here to learn more!
To make way for this progress, Panther Club will be moving to room 150 (former i-Lab) starting next Monday, February 11. This room can be found by walking down the main hallway to the end, taking a right at the “T,” and entering the fifth door on your right. Signage will be posted for your convenience. Read More
February 7, 2019
See our community’s hard work come to life at Maker Fest in the AnnMarie Thomas Makerspace on Saturday, February 23 from 1-3 PM. Anyone is welcome to attend as a spectator. No RSVP is necessary! Participation is open to everyone in our community—students, parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, and more–showcasing a variety of skills, crafts, inventions, and activities.
Maker Fest is the perfect opportunity to “show and tell” something that you have created and share your accomplishments. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Koen, Makerspace coordinator, at nkoen@moundsparkacademy.org.
Together, We’ll Meet The Changing Needs
February 7, 2019
by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School
We are fortunate to live in an older neighborhood in Minneapolis. Our house, built in 1915, is more than 100 years old and has a warm, comfortable feel to it. However, with two parents, two children, two dogs, and aging parents, we made the decision several years ago to add on a new kitchen, a bathroom on the first floor, and a family room in the basement. The old kitchen was so small that I could touch the counter and cupboards on one side and easily touch the sink and counter on the other side. Cozy doesn’t quite capture the feeling of what it was like to cook in that small space and it limited what we were able to prepare and serve for our family and loved ones.
We love our house and can’t imagine living anywhere else. However, as our family evolved, our needs did too. We needed to change how we lived. Schools are like that too. Over time, our vision of education changes and the needs of our students emerge in ways that cause us to outgrow the spaces that served us so well for so long. Mounds Park Academy is no exception. Throughout the history of the school, we have renovated and added on to the original building constructed in 1958 to better meet the changing needs of our students. Read More
Middle School Quiz Bowl Results
February 4, 2019
Congratulations to the Middle School Quiz Bowl team who competed in the GEMSTONE Middle School Quiz Bowl Tournament in Burnsville this past weekend!
MPA A (Anthony T., Sophia S., Aidan H., and Gabe M.) finished 3rd out of 40 teams.
MPA B (Akshay S., Maya A., Molly V., Ben M., and Ian F.) finished 5th out of 40 teams, which qualifies them for the NAQT National Tournament in Chicago in May.
Additionally, out of 183 players, Akshay S. placed 5th (Trophy Winner), Anthony T. placed 13th, Gabe M. placed 22nd, and Ben M. placed 33rd.
Way to go, Panthers! Good luck at the National Tournament in May!
Social Media: Online And On Edge
January 31, 2019
by Jenn Milam, Ph.D., Middle School Director, Mounds Park Academy
Just last week I had the privilege of sitting among fellow Middle School parents to hear a presentation prepared and expertly delivered by Ms. Mohn’s Upper School women’s literature students about the power and dangers of online vulnerability that exist in and through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and any number of newly emerging applications. This parent education session serendipitously followed my attending a screening of the new film, “LIKE: A Documentary About the Impact of Social Media on our Lives,” with my family just a few days before.
What is clear to me as I write this piece is that now, more than ever, we must have open, honest, informed, and critical conversations surrounding not only how we (yes, you and I) and our children are using social media; but more, how it is using us. While online interactions in these virtual worlds may seem somewhat disconnected from reality, make no mistake the influence of the social connections, comments, tweets, direct messages, chats, and images that are exchanged online spill over into the very fiber of our daily lives, and into our beings as humans.
It is present each day that the Middle School students walk through the halls at MPA, when they play basketball afterschool, and attend Quiz Bowl tournaments on the weekend. It’s likely present in Lower School students’ experiences as they attend birthday parties and playdates and parents post pictures with captions on Facebook. And, yes, in Upper Schoolers’ interactions as they navigate college acceptances, celebrations, personal life moments, and social dynamics and move into adulthood.
Does this seem overwhelming? If you answered yes, you are not alone. The good news is, we can change our behavior and therefore, change the impact that social media has on our lives and those of our children. Read More
January 31, 2019
Friday, February 1 is Free Food For Thought Friday at MPA! This is a wonderful opportunity for students who normally don’t take hot lunch or who haven’t for a while, to try MPA’s program.
A MESSAGE FROM SAGE: SAGE is excited to partner with Mounds Park Academy for this fun event! Come and enjoy lunch on us! We know you’ll love the selections we have to offer. That day features a crowd favorite—house-baked chicken tenders, quesadillas, and brown sugar sweet potatoes. You’ll also find a build-your-own California Cobb salad, creamy baked mac and cheese, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, and much more. Our team will be proud to serve you. Come and experience the passion and care that goes into every meal we create here at Mounds Park Academy!
Read More
Choosing A School Path That Inspires
January 25, 2019
There are so many things to think about when you’re raising a child, but there are few things more important than their education. A child’s educational journey only happens once, so it’s important to guide them down the path that is right for them.
For many, a private school education is the right choice because of the personalized attention students receive. Complementing the academic experience, many private schools teach students to be responsible community members and encourage them to make a positive impact on the world.
A strong focus on each child’s unique abilities
At Mounds Park Academy, our focus on every child’s individuality is one of the things that makes us so unique. We embrace every child, celebrate their differences, and help guide them to discover who they are truly meant to be. Teachers are not bound by test- score data as the sole measure of a student’s abilities, so they have more freedom and flexibility to accommodate individual students’ needs. Small class sizes allow teachers to better evaluate their students’ academic and personal strengths and challenges. Teachers engage with students every day in ways that help them thrive. Read More
January 24, 2019
by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School
Last week, a new lunch group was launched in the Middle School. Seventh and eighth grade girls were invited to participate in a “Girl Power Friendship Group” over the course of eight weeks. During lunch, Middle School girls are coming together to learn about how to navigate difficult emotions, confidently communicate with others, and build strong friendships. The new group, under the guidance of Ashley Cooper, Middle and Upper School counselor, and Aria Fiat, Ph.D. candidate from the University of Minnesota, is a proactive way to address the social, emotional, and mental health challenges that appear developmentally in adolescent girls.
Just last week in my head’s message, I reiterated a vision of MPA that reframes the understanding of “whole-child for whole-life.” Such an education is collaborative, experiential, and interdisciplinary, which values the assessments of broader aims—those skills, dispositions, and mindsets most necessary to live, learn, and thrive in today’s 21st century globalized society. A crucial aspect of which is the social, emotional, and mental health of our students. Read More