Parents Association Archives | Mounds Park Academy News

Parents Association Open House & Upcoming Events

April 10, 2019

We invite the MPA community to attend the MPA Parents Association Open House on Friday, April 19 from 8-9 AM in the Porter Conference Room. Come enjoy coffee and a light breakfast as we discuss our accomplishments this past year and plans for the upcoming school year. Please attend as we would love to get your feedback and ideas. If you are interested in taking on a PA Board or Event Chair position for next year, come to the Open House for more information or contact Kim Jakway at thejakways@gmail.com. We would love to see you and really appreciate your help! Read More

Thank You For Supporting The Parents Association!

March 13, 2019

The Parents Association would like to say thank you for your dues. The $75 per family that you see in the re-enrollment system funds our budget so that we can provide our students, faculty and staff, and our families with great opportunities and events throughout the year.

This year, your contributions supported Faculty and Staff Appreciation, Lower School Holiday Events, Middle School Cafe, Book Festival, the White Out Dance for grades PreK-6 and individual grade level events. Also, through our micro-funding program, we were able to fund the purchase of Robotics kits for fifth graders and the MPA Robotics team. In the coming months, we will fund graduation decorations, the Moving Up celebration, kindergarten graduation and more grade level events. Your funds are essential to help us build community, continue MPA traditions, support our faculty and staff, and be a resource for our families. Thank you!

Thank You To Our Volunteers!

March 6, 2019

We hope you enjoyed the Book Festival last week and appreciate your support! It takes a lot of volunteers and staff to put on such an event and our amazing MPA community is always ready to help. On behalf of the Parents Association, thank you to the following parents, staff, faculty and students for helping make the 2019 Book Festival a success.

Thank you to Seema Anwar, Alex Bolduan, Thomas Connors, Christine Daves, Andy Gibert, Fabiola Grubhofer, Lauren Hernandez, Erica Huppert, Kimberly Jakway, Vern Kissner, Susan Knapp, Nicole Koen, Nancy Lage, Christine Larson, Richard Liu, Sandy Martinek, Tara Matthews-Lafferty, Pat McLees, Yukiko Miyokawa, Jenn Milam, Prashant Nayak, Heidi Nelson Baldwin, Chef Doug Pittman, Susan Robertson, John Schneider, Cari Simonson, Becky Tesdahl, Melissa Tuura-Johnson, Lisa Vale, Natalie Waters Seum, Maddy Wolfe, Renee Wright, Wen Yu, and Evie Zeruhn. Read More

See You At The White Out Dance!

March 6, 2019

We are looking forward to seeing you at the 2019 White Out Dance on Friday, March 8!

From 3–5 PM, students in grades PreK–6 are invited to show off their winter spirit, wear white to school, and join in on a night of fun! There will be crafts, games, dancing, and so much fun for everyone!

Meet in the Lansing Sports Center after school. All Lower School students must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Can’t wait to see you there for an afternoon of fun!

The White Out Dance Is Coming Soon!

February 28, 2019

We are very excited for the ninth annual White Out Dance! On Friday, March 8, from 3–5 PM, students in grades PreK–6 are invited to show off their winter spirit, wear white to school, and join in on a night of fun! There will be crafts, carnival games, and dancing featuring the one and only DJ Dad Makai Catudio! There will be complimentary pizza, snacks, and water for students, too!

Meet in the Lansing Sports Center after school. All Lower School students must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.

Parents, join in on the fun and sign up to volunteer at the dance here!

Conduits For Joy

February 28, 2019

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

It’s true. I am a voracious reader. Throughout my life, I have loved books and can think of few greater pleasures than a good one. Reading fueled my imagination and took me to places I could have never visited. Getting lost in a book and losing track of time is pure joy. For these reasons and many more, the MPA Book Festival, produced by our incredible Parents Association, is one of my favorite MPA traditions. The Book Festival began in April 2000. It was started by the collaborative efforts of parents of alumni Elaine Johnson and Karla Myers, and the library staff. It was also the year MPA librarian Nancy Lage brought in Mary Grand Pre, the illustrator of the American version of “Harry Potter.” Part celebration and part fundraiser for the library, the Book Festival symbolizes so much of what is special about our community.

When I was a child, the library was my favorite place. In the small town I grew up in, the library was an old “mansion” in the center of town. It was warm and comforting, a bit mysterious, and had a wonderful smell. It was my happy place. In college, my use of a library changed dramatically. It served more of a social purpose than an academic one. One of my first experiences of social justice advocacy was participating in a sit in at the college library over its unjust policy banning soft drinks. (Ah, youthful ignorance.) During my graduate work, I practically lived in the library. Buried amidst the stacks, I once more found my happy place. Read More

Join Us Tonight For Book Festival Family Night!

February 28, 2019

Join us tonight for Book Festival Family Night! From 3-6:30 PM on campus, you’re invited to an evening of crafts, games, complimentary dinner and more book-buying. A portion of the proceeds from book sales benefit our MPA library. Used books will also be available for purchase during the week for only .25 cents!

The 2019 Winter Wonderland Book Festival has been wonderful all week. Today is the last day the Bookstore in the Gallery will be open from 8 AM-3:30 PM. The booksellers have an excellent selection of books we love.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this wonderful annual MPA tradition!

Winter Wonderland Book Festival Is Next Week!

February 21, 2019

The 2019 Winter Wonderland Book Festival is next week! The Bookstore in the Gallery will be open daily February 25-28 from 8 AM-3:30 PM. The booksellers are bringing a great selection of popular books, including Middle School titles, and students are encouraged to stop by to browse and buy! Lower School students will visit the bookstore during their library time with Ms. Lage to make their wishlists.

Book Festival Family Night on February 28, 3-6:30 PM, will offer an evening of crafts, games, complimentary dinner and more book-buying. A portion of the proceeds from book sales benefit our MPA library. Used books will also be available for purchase during the week for only .25 cents!

Plus, there is still time to sign up and help out at this wonderful annual tradition! Click here to join us!

The Winter Wonderland Book Festival

February 14, 2019

The 2019 Winter Wonderland Book Festival is coming so soon! The Bookstore in the Gallery will be open daily through February 25-28 from 8 AM-3:30 PM. The booksellers are bringing a great selection of popular Middle School titles and students are encouraged to stop by to browse and buy!
Lower School students will visit the bookstore during their library time with Ms. Lage to make their wishlists.

Please consider signing up to help put on this wonderful annual tradition!

Be Part Of A Wonderful Tradition

February 7, 2019

Please sign-up to volunteer and help make this year’s Book Festival a success! Lots of helpers are needed to put together this wonderful annual tradition at MPA. The goal of Book Festival is to promote the joy of reading, and the MPA Parents Association invites you to come enjoy the many activities offered during Book Festival week, February 25-28!

February 25-28
Bookstore in the Gallery & Used Book Sales During Lunch
Used, donated books will be for sale outside the cafeteria during lunch. All books are $0.25 each!

February 28, 3-6:30 PM
Book Festival Family Night
Lots of activities, games, and crafts in the Makerspace, plus the bookstore and dinner.

If you have any questions or want to get involved, contact Seema Anwar at seema_anwar@hotmail.com.