Together, We Can Finish Strong By October 1

students with their teacher in the classroomTogether, We Dream: The Campaign for MPA is helping our school accomplish a number of key priorities. We’ve already witnessed the impact of our community’s generosity in our beautiful new Family Commons, and we will soon in our new library.

An additional key priority for the school is securing our future through a strong endowment. A strong endowment ensures our programs continue to be of the highest quality. It allows us to make an MPA education more accessible to more families. Your gift in support of our school’s endowment will leave a lasting impact in the following ways:

  • greater access to an MPA education through financial assistance;
  • enhanced classroom experiences for students through professional development opportunities for our faculty and staff; and
  • supported learning beyond the classroom through experiential education, travel, and enhanced curricular opportunities.

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Homecoming 2019: Dream. Play. Share.

homecoming 2018 soccer playersCome dream, play, and share with us at Homecoming 2019! Students will be celebrating on campus the week of September 23. Families, please join us for the annual Homecoming Pep Rally at 2:20 PM on Friday, September 27 in the Lansing Sports Center.

Saturday, September 28 features a day full of Homecoming activities on and off campus for every member of the community! Check out the full week’s schedule of events in the Homecoming brochure mailed to your home or follow this link.

Sign up to volunteer at MPA’s Homecoming 2019! We need your support to make this exciting event succeed. This fun-filled celebration has so many activities going on including fun runs, inflatables, lawn games, athletic competitions, alumni events, and much more. This incredible weekend for every member of our community would not be possible without the generosity of volunteers who give of their time on Saturday, September 28. If you have an hour or two to spare, volunteering is a great way to get involved with the event and MPA! Click here to sign up. Read More


Save The Date For Grandparents & Special Friends Day

lower school with special friend in library Lower and Middle School Grandparents and Special Friends Day will be held the morning of Wednesday, October 16, prior to an early dismissal at 11:30 AM for grades PreK-11 (there is no school that day for grade 12).

Information is being sent home with how to tell us the names of the grandparents and special friends whom we should invite or you may find a fillable PDF here.

Please ask your child’s grandparent or special friend to save the date prior to their invitation arriving in the mail! Contact Ashley Goetzke at agoetzke@moundsparkacademy.org if you have any questions.

click here for the full agenda >


The Power Of We

middle school student Zara working on her power of we mobileAs their first project of the school year, MPA sixth grade English students were asked to turn themes from their summer reading into visual and written representations of “The Power of We” and “Harboring Each Other.” Though this project contained three different components–written, visual, and oral–Ms. Meras and her students paved a way for them to come together as a whole.

After a deep discussion of the summer reading, students selected specific themes that powerfully resonated with them individually. They picked out phrases and key words to find a quote that represented both their selections and the overall themes of “The Power of We” and “Harboring Each Other.” Students then shared their quotes with each other and Ms. Meras in their online discussion group in order to collaborate together and express themselves through their quotes of choice. Read More


Seeing The Library Of Our Dreams Come True

A&P measuring the library rugThanks to the generosity of hundreds of MPA families and supporters, Together, We Dream: The Campaign For MPA is making a big impact in our new commons, cafeteria, and kitchen and will very soon in our brand new library. Construction is progressing on schedule and we hope to unveil some sneak peeks soon of this beautiful new space.

On Tuesday, Conan Young, the construction supervisor who has overseen our projects with A&P Construction, got out his measuring tape during Ms. Lage’s reading circle to make sure there will be plenty of space for classes to circle up and hear a great book in the new Lower School library area. There will be many special features including flexible seating, quiet study spaces, collaborative areas, and a beautiful fireside seating area for students and groups to gather. Ms. Lage, MPA’s librarian shares, “The new space is being designed with many of the crucial 21st century skills in mind–critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration–that will enable students to co-create new knowledge, not simply be passive consumers of existing information.” Read More


The Impact Of Microexpressions

two middle schoolers working together in the makerspaceby Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I know I am not the only parent who can say that the ride to school with my daughter can make or break my day. A quarrel over the most insignificant matter, a scowl, or a roll of the eyes can send my mood in a downward spiral. Although others warned me, I never realized the degree to which my outlook on life is influenced by my children. On the flip side, the joy, smiles, high fives, and hugs from incoming students at the south entrance in the morning easily lift my spirits.

This phenomenon made sense when I happened upon an NPR story this summer about emotional contagion and how microexpressions influence moods. Microexpressions are fleeting, involuntary expressions of feelings that last a fraction of a second. For some time, science has observed how animals tend to mimic the physical movements of one another. We now know that such automimicry extends to emotions as well. After years of research, Elaine Hatfield and Dick Rapson, researchers at the University of Hawaii, have demonstrated that microexpressions can actually produce the corresponding emotion inside of us. Read More


MPA Parent Food Allergy Aware Training

allergy aware logoThe number of children with food allergies continues to rise. This fact and the desire to best serve and protect our students with food allergies, prompted MPA to make a commitment to becoming an Allergy Aware School. Please join us for the MPA Parent Food Allergy Aware Training on Monday, September 23, from 6:30-7:30 PM in the Recital Hall.

This important and informative session will be led by Kelly Ayd, RN, BSN, PHN for Non-Public Schools, Adventure Connection and Next Step Programs and District 622 Nurse Supervisor. Kelly will be answering questions as well as guiding families through our expanded food allergy policy, how to read food labels, and safe food alternatives for commonly-used foods that contain peanuts or tree nuts.

Childcare will be provided for children ages 3.5 and older. Please RSVP for childcare only to communications@moundsparkacademy.org–no additional RSVP is needed.


Helping New International Students Feel At Home

international and domestic mpa students getting ready for the start of schoolAs the rest of us were squeezing the last bits of summer out of August, the new MPA international students were already hard at work. Ten days before the rest of us walked through the doors of MPA, our new students arrived from four different countries to get settled into their host families’ homes, to get acclimated to their new school, and to have some fun with their new classmates.

While taking math placement exams, discussing plagiarism, and figuring out their locker combos, there was time to build community, too. Several returning international students and domestic MPA students volunteered their time to pile into a 15-passenger van that took everyone off-campus for a bit. Between school supply shopping, bowling, and sharing meals together, the students exchanged stories, answered questions, talked candidly, and shared laughter. By the time the first day of school came around, our new international students felt comfortable with the school and, more importantly, comfortable walking through its doors on day one. Their courage is admirable, and their daily victories, small and large, are awe-inspiring.


Get Your Spirit Wear In Time For Homecoming!

lower school student wearing new online spirit store gearThe theme of Homecoming 2019 is Dream. Play. Share., and spirit wear is one great way to “dream” up a custom design, “play,” with the possibilities, and “share” your Panther Pride! Receive 15% off purchases of $75 or more through September 30 with code SEPT19 at MPA’s online spirit store! Even our littlest Panther cubs can join in on the Homecoming fun and school spirit–our online store is now selling infant and toddler gear! Start shopping here.

We can’t wait to see you in MPA colors and to Dream, Play, and Share with you at all of the wonderful 2019 Homecoming events. Click here for the full agenda and activity details.


Important Safety Reminders From MPA

outside of the south entrance at MPAIt is MPA’s responsibility to provide the safest campus environment possible for you and your children—this is our number one priority. We’d like to share some important traffic safety reminders. Please share this information with all of the drivers in your home, in addition to others who may provide transportation for you. Thank you very much in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

Distracted Driving
Parents and students are asked to refrain from using cell phones (hands free or otherwise) while driving on campus, especially when children are present. This helps us all to be aware of the children moving around us and keep the traffic flow steady and uncongested.

Please Slow Down
Keep your speed at or below 10 MPH, depending upon the time of day and the area of campus. This is particularly important near crosswalks. Read More