Invite A Friend To Lunch At MPA!

lunch at mpaOn Tuesday, May 15, at 11:30 AM, MPA will host the final admission event of the 2017-18 school year–Lunch At MPA! Invite a friend, neighbor, colleague, or anyone you know who shares your educational values. We can’t wait to meet them!

Guests are invited to campus during a regular school day to meet school administrators over a casual meal and tour the campus to see our students and teachers in action.

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Parent Resources For “13 Reasons Why”

middle school students at recessOn Tuesday, May 15 from 6-7 PM in the Recital Hall, MPA student support staff will host an information night for grade 7-12 parents regarding the upcoming second season of “13 Reasons Why,” which is stated to be released on May 18, 2018.

The evening will include conversation and resource sharing for parents in preparation for the release of the show. “13 Reasons Why” is a Netflix series that has prompted significant controversy and concern among parents, educators, and mental health professionals. The show depicts a central character who dies by suicide, leaving behind 13 tapes for different people in her life who affected her negatively. Mental health professionals have expressed concerns that the show fails to make any mention of the underlying mental illness that is present for the vast majority of young people. Furthermore, the show has received intense criticism for romanticizing suicide. The show also fails to adhere to “Recommendation for Reporting on Suicide” guidelines developed for media outlets by prevention specialists who discourage describing suicides in graphic detail.

Students are welcome to attend the informational gathering as well.

 


Sign Up For Fall Sports!

MPA girls volleyballNow is the time to get excited about 2018 MPA fall sports and register now! Please note that there are new opportunities for students going into grade five!

MPA believes athletics complement the academic experience, provide balance to our students’ lives, and foster school spirit. We offer one of the broadest prep-school athletic programs in the Twin Cities with first-rate facilities. MPA coaches are teachers, and the fields are extensions of the classroom. Athletics at MPA encourage students to participate, engage, and dream big. Through this, student athletes develop commitment, character, perseverance, initiative, leadership and teamwork! With options including cross country, volleyball, tennis, and soccer, we are so excited for another outstanding fall season!

Sign-up for fall sports here!


Volunteer With MPA This Summer!

summer volunteers at TC prideThe summer is almost upon us! The Office of Admission is excited to be a part of several fun summer events and we are looking for volunteers to help us share MPA. We will be at the MSP Mini Maker Faire, Grand Old Day, and the Twin Cities Pride Festival. Volunteers can click on this link to sign up on a first come, first serve, basis. Please let me know if you have any questions and we’ll see you this summer!

Sign up to volunteer here!


Thanks For An Amazing #ShareMPAMonth!

Olivia Lantz for share mpa monthThank you for sharing your love of MPA throughout all of April! We received more than 100 reasons why you love MPA and are elated to see all of the things that makes our community special and impactful. Because of how many replies you sent, we will be sharing them periodically on MPA’s social media, so keep an eye out for yours! For now, enjoy a few to share the joy:

“I love how caring and thoughtful the teachers are.” – Lia S.

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Teaching Students to Make a Difference

middle school students in class discussionby Erica Brewinski ’96, Middle School Director

Editor’s Note: On the first Thursday of each month, you will now find a guest blog post here from one of MPA’s division directors. We hope you will enjoy reading their stories and reflections about life at MPA!

“You can change the world.” When I think back on my education at MPA, these are the words that always come to mind. Maureen Conway, retired Upper School history teacher, repeated them to her students so many times that no one could doubt that we had the ability to shape the future for the betterment of the world around us. After graduating from MPA, I put these words into action by creating a new program in which Brown University students were paired with developmentally disabled adults in the Providence community so that the latter could learn and practice important life skills. While the rest of my college friends volunteered in pre-standing programs or, more likely, didn’t bother with service at all, I felt both empowered and compelled to take action to address a need that I knew would make a difference. MPA provided me with the skills, courage, creativity, and perseverance necessary to create something from scratch, including programming, budgeting, advertising, locating and working with a large number of community partners, and more in a place where I could no longer rely on family and friends for help. It also guided me to choose a career in education, since I could think of no better way to make a difference than by guiding the next generation.

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Meet Ms. Johnson

Teacher with student at laptopMiddle and Upper School world language teacher

How many years have you been at MPA? 14 years

What do you love about MPA?
Everything! I love the MPA community.

How does MPA nurture students who forever dream big and do right?
By providing them with multiple opportunities in school as well as out of school. i-Term in the Middle School, is a great example.

If you have worked at another school, how has your experience at MPA been different?
What a I truly love about MPA is having all grades PreK-12 on one campus. We all benefit from seeing all age levels on any given day.

What would you tell a parent considering MPA?
This is a great school! Students want to learn and be successful. They are kind and supportive of each other and make great connections with students, teachers, and the community at large.

In what ways are you preparing students for life in the 21st century?
To be thinkers, doers and to have the confidence to go out there and make change in the world.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your MPA experience?
As an educator, I am constantly being pushed intellectually. I appreciate the support and opportunities to do so, be it through conferences, lectures, classes, traveling, etc.


Henry Is The Head For The Day!

lunch in the PCRMeet Henry S., MPA’s Head of School for the Day! Henry is a fifth grader who loves solving challenging math problems and skiing on MPA’s Alpine Ski team. He spent the day exploring the many daily components of the school, from business in the Athletics Office to a tour of the school (including the roof and its solar panels).

To start the day, Henry greeted students arriving at school through the south entrance with Dr. Hudson. They were so delighted to see that their friend was in charge today!

He then visited the Communications and Marketing department, where collected some brand-new MPA swag and quickly mastered graphic design and photography in order to publish his own custom display screen on campus. He even starred in a promotional video that will be shown at the Spring Auction.  Read More


Upper School Parents Association Meeting Tomorrow

upper school gym classTomorrow, April 27, from 8-9:30 AM is the Quarter Four Upper School Parents Association Meeting! Please note meeting is being held in the Porter Conference Room (PCR).

Parents of incoming 2018-19 freshmen are encouraged to attend for a glimpse into Upper School at MPA! This meeting will cover a welcome to incoming freshmen parents, an overview of the Upper School Fine Arts Programs at MPA by Faculty of the Fine Arts Department, Quarter Four calendar events, and an all-call for the 2018-2019 MPA Parents Association Upper School Division Lead.

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Tell Your Friends About Lunch At MPA!

upper school girls huggingOur next upcoming admission event is Lunch at MPA on Tuesday, May 15, starting at 11:30 AM! Invite a friend, neighbor, colleague, or anyone you know who shares your educational values. We can’t wait to meet them!

Guests are invited to campus during a regular school day to meet school administrators over a casual meal and tour the campus to see our students and teachers in action.

Kindly extend our invitation for lunch and have your friends 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.