Upper School Archives

September 27, 2018

There is still time to join us in thanking the MPA faculty and staff during All School Conferences! During week of October 1, please consider participating in the long-standing MPA tradition of parents and families showing gratitude toward our wonderful staff and faculty. By donating beverages or gift cards, volunteering in the PA Room during the week, and helping staff and plan the evening meals on October 2 and October 4, you are saying “thank you!” in a significant way! Sign up to volunteer here!

Annual MPA Blood Drive

September 27, 2018

Make a difference by donating blood at the annual MPA Blood Drive! Hosted by the Upper School Student Council and the MPA first graders, the blood drive is a tradition that brings the community together for a cause. The drive is Thursday, October 25, from 12-6 PM in the Gallery.

Plus, as a “thank you” for giving blood at the drive, all donors will be automatically entered to win a $500 gift card! Click here for more details and thank you for your support!

School Safety: Reflection, Research, and Action

September 27, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Parenting is tough work. It seems that in today’s world, there are many more things to worry about than 25 years ago. One of those worries is school security. Despite the unlikelihood of a school shooting, the frequency and the publicity of such occurrences have parents and educators alike very concerned. The school shooting in Parkland, Florida last spring still looms large in my memory and has led to further reflection, research, and action on the part of MPA’s administration regarding school safety.

Tragic as it is, it is important to note that less than one percent of violent deaths are “school associated,” yet such instances do indeed feed our fears. No new threat or instance has provoked this communication or MPA’s updated approach that you will read more about below, but rather it reflects our ongoing commitment to keeping our students safe.

First of all, instead of talking only about school security, I would rather focus our efforts and thinking on school safety, a larger umbrella that includes both school security and school culture. It may seem to split hairs, but there is a difference. Security refers to the practices, protocols, hardware, and other such measures and is increasingly referred to as “hard” security. School culture is the set of values and beliefs that connect people to one another. As head of school, my job is to strike the right balance between school security and school culture. Read More

Y’all Come Back Now. You Hear?!

September 20, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am showing my age and asking you to perhaps share yours. Growing up in the 70s, that phrase is very familiar to me. I heard it an inordinately, embarrassing number of times, sprawled on the living room floor, watching reruns of the “Beverly Hillbillies” television show. It is not proper English for a number of reasons and it may well be a stereotype of the South, but I think it conveys a family-like warmth and means, “We all belong here.”

“We All Belong Here” is the message of homecoming at MPA and the reason we celebrate all next week, culminating in a day-long celebration on Saturday, September 29. At many schools, homecoming pertains only to older students, athletes, and alumni. At MPA, homecoming is an inclusive, community-wide celebration. Throughout the week, and on Saturday, students of all ages will take part in the festivities. Parents, grandparents, and all family members are invited to join in the fun. It is for all of us. Read More

MPA Athletics Livestream Available

September 20, 2018

The MPA Athletics Department is excited to announce the installation of a new camera system in the Lansing Sports Center for live streaming of all Upper School home volleyball and basketball games!

“Play On! Sports” is the nation’s leading high school sports media company, streaming more live events than any other company in the country. Play On! operates the NFHS Network, a joint venture of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and its member State Associations.

72 hours after each game, the broadcasts will be free to watch. To watch the games live, there is a subscription fee which provides you with the option of paying monthly, seasonal, or annually. The Mounds Park Academy video page is located here!

Sign-up to keep up with the Panthers! Visit www.nfhsnetwork.com/subscription/retail, select Mounds Park Academy in the “pick a school to support” box, and select the Subscription Plan if you desire. Part of the subscription fee is returned to MPA. Thank you for supporting our school and the Panthers!

A Homecoming Surprise At The Finish Line

September 20, 2018

There is only one more week until Homecoming, and the joy begins at the starting line of the Homecoming Fun Run on Saturday, September 29! The MPA Cross Country team is hosting a 200M run at 8:30 AM. It’s the perfect opportunity for our younger students to participate in the festivities and run with the Panthers! Immediately following the 200M Fun Run, we are hosting a 2-mile race that is open to the entire community. All run participants will receive a limited edition aluminum MPA water bottle, energizing snacks, and plenty of water!

The Upper School Student Council also designed t-shirts for all our 9th through 12th graders! The Lower and Middle Schoolers will get specially designed t-shirts next week in their classrooms/Advisories. We hope our entire student body will wear their t-shirts in celebration next Friday for our Homecoming Pep Rally! Everyone is invited so please join us at 2:20 PM on Friday, September 28 in the Lansing Center.

Rain or shine, we will celebrate our community with a full day of events. Come to campus to catch up with friends, cheer on our Panther athletes, race against other Panthers in our Fun Runs, jump in a bouncy house, get your picture taken, or play lawn games. This year we’ll be featuring the Panther Beanbag Toss, the game Kubb, and Frisbee Golf. And don’t forget to cool off with a Jonny Pop after you’re done playing and cheering! We hope to see you all there! Click here for the full schedule of events. We still have opportunities available to volunteer at Homecoming 2018, too! You can be a part of making this event special by volunteering your time during the day. Email Ilse Larsen at ilarsen@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions and sign up to volunteer here!

September 19, 2018

Registration for the 2018-2019 winter sports season is now open! There are so many opportunities to join the Panthers and be a part of a team at MPA!

Take a look below to explore and visit moundsparkacademy.org/athletics to register. The deadline is September 27, 2018. We can’t wait to see you out there on the course, court, or rink!

Boys and Girls Alpine Ski: Grades 6-12
Boys and Girls Nordic Ski: Grades 6-12
Boys Basketball: Grades 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12
Girls Basketball: Grades 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12
Boys Hockey: Grades 9-12

MPA Students Collaborate With Local Arts Community

September 12, 2018

We are so excited to share a recent opportunity brought to MPA students to engage with and assist the local arts community. MPA alum Kelly Turpin ’04, founder of the Arbeit Opera Theatre, was awarded the Artists Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to produce her own production of “The Consul,” an opera that premieres on November 29 and November 30, 2018. She reached out to MPA to assist in building the set, wanting to directly involve students, since MPA is the place where her passion for art, music, theatre, and singing all began.

“The overall goal of Arbeit Opera Theatre is to fuse multiple forms of art to create a diverse artistic community in order to share the excitement of Opera Theatre with as many communities as possible. Having the MPA community and students involved (will be) be a thrilling addition to this venture,” she said. Read More

Save The Date: MPA Talks 2018

September 12, 2018

MPA Talks is an annual, meaningful, and fascinating event that is completely unique to MPA. Featuring presentations by some of our community’s most intriguing members on inspiring and relevant topics, everyone is invited to come, listen, ask questions, and leave with new lengths of knowledge. Held in the fall and in the evening this year, dinner will be provided.

Save the date to join us as four members of our MPA community share their impactful presentations with you on Saturday, November 10, 2018. This event is designed to bring the community together to gain new perspectives from remarkable stories.

Faculty And Staff Appreciation

September 12, 2018

The best part of the MPA experience is our staff and faculty! Let’s thank them!

All School Conferences begin the week of October 1, coinciding with the MPA Parents Association Staff and Faculty Appreciation Week. Please consider participating in the long-standing MPA tradition of parents and families showing gratitude toward our wonderful staff and faculty. Opportunities include donating beverages or gift cards, volunteering in the PA Room during the week, and helping to staff/plan the evening meals on October 2 and October 4. Sign up to volunteer here!