Middle School Archives

MPA’s Renee Sonka Honored As AEM Educator Of The Year

October 8, 2025

It had been a handful of months since Mounds Park Academy Middle and Upper School visual arts teacher Renee Sonka learned that she had been nominated for a prestigious honor—Art Educator of the Year.

“I received an email in July from the Art Educators of Minnesota saying I had been nominated (for Art Educator of the Year), and that I would need to submit a variety of application materials to be considered,” said Ms. Sonka. “So, I updated my resume for the first time in a LONG time—it is currently my 28th year at MPA—and I threw my hat in the ring.”

The venture to update her resume was worthwhile, resulting in Ms. Sonka’s selection as Art Educator of the Year at the Middle School Level. An educator at both the Upper and Middle School levels, Ms. Sonka, thrilled to be selected, thought the split might hamper rather than help.

“Since the award is specific to Middle School art, I thought the panel of judges might prefer a candidate who has specialized in Middle School only,” she said. “Now, I’m realizing the combination of my Middle School and Upper School teaching experience may have been to my advantage, perhaps showing breadth and versatility in my teaching.”

Growing Global Citizens

September 26, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the September 27, 2025 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

MPA nurtures dreamers, doers, and right-makers with academic knowledge that will propel them forward as change agents in the world. Our students embrace the responsibility of being global citizens by advocating for social justice, caring for the welfare of others, and promoting human equality, among other pillars rooted in respect.

“Right-making is a seed that is planted in each student and cultivated as they journey through MPA. Not only do we teach character traits like inclusiveness and integrity, we promote a do-right attitude through our actions and words while we learn and grow together. This inspires us to dream big and impact others positively at home and in the world,” Kristine Petersen, MPA Kindergarten teacher, says about global citizenship. Read More

RSVP To Experience MPA On November 9

September 26, 2025

Discover something remarkable at the PreK-12 MPA Preview on Sunday, November 9, 12:30-2 PM!

MPA Previews are signature PreK-12 events designed to introduce you to the faculty, students, and families who make MPA the exceptional learning community that it is. These events are for family members of all ages to attend together.

You’ll hear from a variety of perspectives, be engaged in conversation with academic leaders, participate in experiences led by expert teachers, explore our signature spaces, and leave with a much better understanding of the MPA way.

The Taste Of Ninth Grade

Prospective ninth graders, you’re invited to the Taste of Ninth Grade immediately preceding the Preview at 11 AM. Join us for lunch and the opportunity to learn more about MPA’s ninth-grade program. Students will engage in a hands-on, collaborative activity while parents participate in a Q&A about life in MPA’s Upper School. When this event concludes, students and families will then join the PreK-12 Preview event.

RSVP today to experience the joy and discover why Mounds Park Academy is an exceptional place to learn and grow.

School Spirit Is Everywhere

September 25, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

On Monday morning, I made my usual right turn from Beebe Road onto the school grounds. Seeing “We. Are. MPA.,” not only brought a smile to my face but also evoked an incredible sense of school pride. I must admit, I was caught by surprise. As a new member of the MPA community, it’s a magical experience to feel school spirit. In so many ways it felt like I was arriving home.

I do not take school spirit for granted. It doesn’t magically appear. Rather, school spirit is the energy that grows from the pride, traditions, and shared experiences left in the form of memories and artifacts from years past, and the voices and actions of those who currently move throughout the campus.

I frequently turn to my Responsive Classroom training and seek to define experiences and goals by asking: What does it look like, sound like, and feel like?

This week, school spirit looks like our students wearing themed clothing and hallways decorated with streamers and colorful posters throughout the building. School spirit sounds like our teams clapping and cheering for our Lower and Middle School students during arrival and standing in the hallway, eagerly planning for an upcoming debate tournament. School spirit feels like the surge of warmth that fills my cheeks with joy when I see students across divisions learning a school chant or reading books—together. And it’s not exclusively created by our students. I see it in the ways our faculty and staff create spaces that foster curiosity. I hear it when a family member says “I love you” to their student at the classroom door. I feel it when someone takes a minute to share with me a special moment they had learning from their colleague. Read More

Details For Fall 2025 Conferences

September 24, 2025

Dear MPA Families,

Fall Conferences will take place in person, on campus, on Thursday, October 9 from 3:30-8 PM, and Friday, October 10 from 8 AM-5 PM (no classes for students). All MPA families may schedule to meet with up to four of their student’s teachers.

LOWER SCHOOL FAMILIES
Lower School homeroom teachers will offer 25-minute conferences. Specialist conferences may be scheduled for 10 minutes per student. Families who would like to discuss more than one child with their specialist teacher(s) should set up separate conference times for each child. Families will have a chance to meet all specialists over the course of the Fall and Winter conferences. Please see the designation for sign-up for Fall Conferences below:

PreK: Music and PE
K-1: Music, PE, Art
Grades 2-4: World Languages, Drama, Technology

MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL FAMILIES
Middle School and Upper School students participate in their conferences and are required to attend. Please check athletic and activity schedules before signing up. If you need private time without the student in attendance, please indicate this at the beginning of the conference. All conferences should be scheduled during conference times slotted.

Building Belonging: Routines For Joyful Learning

September 22, 2025

The start of the school year brings fresh routines, expectations, and environments for students of all ages. At Mounds Park Academy, teachers take thoughtful, research-based steps to help learners acclimate and thrive—both as individuals and as a community.

We connected with Ms. Tami Fisher, second-grade teacher, about the intentional routines, language, and classroom structures she uses to create a joyful, respectful, and engaged learning environment in these first critical weeks. The benefit of these intentional routines is that they support both students and the classroom community, fostering responsibility and a positive atmosphere.

How do you set the tone at the beginning of the year so that students know what classroom routines and habits are expected while also being engaged learners?

We use the guiding principles and practices of “Responsive Classroom,” a research- and evidence- based teaching approach. Creating community and incorporating student voices are key. In the first weeks of school, we are doing a lot of “looks like, sounds like, feels like” Y-charts. In terms of the classroom routines and expectations, I like to start with the ‘feels like’ aspect, as that helps us identify what we want and need to see and hear in order to make sure our spaces feel the way we want. We look at routines and materials with intention, never assuming we all know how to use them. We use guided discoveries and modeling as we review available classroom tools: what do we notice about them, how can we use them, how they help us learn, and how we care for them. Read More

Middle School Division News September 18, 2025

September 18, 2025

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

As we make our way through September, the routine of school has started to settle in. Students are learning how to manage their homework and take on assessments and projects in their classes. Habits such as writing assignments in our planners and checking in on Schoology for things that might be missing start to be developed and reinforced. And, our faculty and our students are starting to get to know each other much, much better.

One of the best ways we do that in the Middle School is through our fall orientation trips. For our fifth-, sixth-, and eighth-grade students, three nights away at an environmental/outdoor education center is part of the fall routine. Just yesterday, I helped to load our fifth graders and all of their stuff, including their teachers, onto a bus as they headed out to Osprey Wilds. These trips are an essential way for us to get to know our students, and for them to get to know their peers and their teachers on a whole new level. Sharing meals and bunkrooms together helps to create bonds that are more challenging and take much longer to form here at school. Supporting a classmate (or teacher) as they navigate their own fears—be it up on a ropes course or getting really close to a porcupine—gives them even more to bond over and gives us invaluable examples of learning outside our comfort zones.

One of the ways in which our parents have gotten to know us better is through all of the events and programs that we offer in the fall. We loved welcoming you to campus for Back To School Night in August, and we were thrilled to have so many return to school during our Curriculum Night event the other week. With nearly 70% of our students represented by someone from their household, our faculty felt honored to share their classrooms with folks as they walked through their child’s schedule. We also greatly appreciate all the feedback and helpful suggestions for next year. Read More

Setting & Maintaining Routines In A New School Year

September 11, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

This week marks our first full week of the 2025-26 school year. Typically, the start of the school year is filled with both excitement and nerves. For some, returning to a typical school day is easy, while for others, transitions can take time.

Being in a PreK-12 community provides all of us with the opportunity to be part of our students’ most formative years of growth and development. As adults, we know that students move along a curve of academic, emotional, and physical growth that allows for the strengthening of skills that foster independence, communication, and self-awareness. At the start of a new school year, we know most students need time to adjust to new and familiar faces, daily schedule, and movement patterns throughout the building, and managing the influx of information coming their way within and outside of the classroom setting. Whether your student is age three or 18, there is a lot to absorb, process, and respond to throughout the day. As an adult, I certainly know the same is true for myself, and perhaps you can relate! Read More

Announcing The Promotion Of Josh Wiger!

September 11, 2025

Congratulations to Mr. Josh Wiger for his recent promotion to operations assistant! Josh’s promotion will be effective September 22, and we are thrilled. Read more about him below!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I worked previously for Walser Automotive.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I graduated from Stillwater Area High School in 2024 and participated in Bethel University’s PSEO program from 2022-24. I am currently pursuing my degree at Southwest Minnesota State University. My background includes both academic and professional experiences that have emphasized responsibility, collaboration, and adaptability. Through my work in the automotive industry, I’ve gained valuable skills in operations, customer service, and teamwork, all of which I am excited to bring with me to MPA.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I was drawn to MPA because of its strong sense of community and its commitment to both academic excellence and personal growth. The school’s emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and empowering students stood out to me, as these values closely align with my own experiences in education and the workplace. I admire how MPA encourages everyone to “Dream Big. Do Right.” and I wanted to be part of an organization that not only supports its students but also challenges them to reach their full potential. Read More

Welcome, 101 New Panthers!

September 8, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the September 9, 2025 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

While each student, parent, teacher, and community member experiences the first day of school in their own unique way, a shared sense of hope, wonder, and anticipation for what’s to come brings us all together. At MPA, the start of the new school year brings:

The honor of welcoming 101 new students to MPA. We’re already seeing them beginning to explore their passions, make new friends, join clubs, try different sports, and challenge themselves.
Celebrating growth while embracing the subtle changes. There is comfort in a predictable schedule and familiar faces, but they are coupled with new opportunities, relationships, classes, and discoveries. And while there is so much joy in welcoming the community back, everybody is a little different from the last time you saw them.
An unforgettable first day for students and parents. At MPA, the first day includes so much happiness in seeing friends and teachers, the anticipation of an amazing year ahead, and the comfort of knowing you are celebrated for the person you are.