Middle School

February 12, 2026

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha

Greetings from the Middle School! As we move through February, we find ourselves holding both gratitude and anticipation. A couple of weeks ago, following a weekend marked by turmoil and loss, we gathered for an impromptu Middle School Meeting. We came together as a community to support one another and to acknowledge that these are challenging times. While the weight of current events is felt differently by each middle schooler—depending on what they are experiencing, hearing, where they live, and how their families are personally connected—we wanted every student to know they are not carrying that weight alone.

I shared that our students know how to do hard things. That, at MPA, they know how to dream big and do right. And that, especially when times are challenging, and folks are more vulnerable, they must live our values; in particular, mutual respect and meaningful service. Our students and our families have stepped up with donations of food and clothing—Mr. Peterson’s advisory clothing drive literally filled his SUV full of clothes to donate!

We talked in that meeting about how to create space and have grace with each other. We offered students rooms and spaces where they could talk and ask questions about what is going on, and also spaces where they could just be, where they could sit and color, listen to music, or read a book. We wanted to recognize that, when folks are stressed or vulnerable, they don’t always say or do what they mean, and that we need to allow grace and meet each other with empathy and curiosity. And our students have done a wonderful job finding these spaces and seeking out help, when needed, for themselves or their friends. Read More

January 29, 2026

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

January 15, 2026

from 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

December 18, 2025

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